He did not think before writing it.
Rick Warren, the founder of Saddleback Church, recently apologized after facing criticism for a post he made on X (formerly Twitter) that many interpreted as political. In his original post, Warren suggested that because Jesus was crucified between two thieves, He would have been a centrist in today’s political landscape. The post, which gained millions of views before being deleted, sparked backlash from various Christian leaders who felt that Warren was misinterpreting the Bible to make a political point.
In his apology, Warren clarified that his intent was not to portray Jesus as a political figure, stating that Jesus transcends all politics and should be the center of believers’ lives. He acknowledged that he wrote the original message poorly and deleted it after realizing it had been misunderstood. While some appreciated his apology, others continued to express concern over the way Warren framed the Crucifixion in political terms.
Prominent voices, such as preacher Justin Peters, criticized Warren’s approach, arguing that it lacked sound biblical interpretation. Peters emphasized that Warren’s message deviated from the intended meaning of the scripture, calling his interpretation both embarrassing and inexcusable. Despite the apology, some critics argued that Warren’s post had already caused confusion and harm by introducing modern political ideas into ancient religious texts.
Others, like Robert A.J. Gagnon, expressed disappointment with Warren’s apology, arguing that he did not fully address the underlying issue. Gagnon accused Warren of using scripture to justify a political position, particularly regarding controversial topics like abortion and LGBTQ issues. Meanwhile, Sean Davis of The Federalist accused Warren of trying to gain favor with liberal cultural elites by distorting the message of the Crucifixion.
While some, including pastor Kevin Foster and professor Sean McDowell, thanked Warren for addressing the criticism, the situation highlighted ongoing divisions within Christian circles about how religious teachings should intersect with modern politics. Warren’s apology was seen by some as a step toward reconciliation, but the controversy remains a topic of debate.