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Rick Warren Aids summit aims to 'disturb' Christians

by Michelle Vu, Christian Today US Correspondent
Posted: Friday, November 30, 2007, 8:49 (GMT)
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"I don't believe in compromising biblical convictions," he responded, according to World Net Daily. "I don't believe in that at all. If it's in the Word, then that's the way it should be done. I do believe in treating people with respect, even people that I disagree with. I think Jesus did that."

The megachurch pastor noted that he can work with people in areas of common interest to help others although he might disagree with them in other areas.

"I see Jesus as my model, not politics," Warren said. "And I think too many people look at issues from a political viewpoint, and they choose politics over saving lives.

"To me, if someone is dying on the side of the street, and I need help to save that person, it doesn't matter to me if they are Republican or Democrat, or Jewish and Christian, Muslim or atheist," the Purpose Driven Life author said. "If they will help me get that person to the hospital, I want their help."

Warren affirmed, however, that his church's "number one goal" is still to "help people to get into heaven".

Saddleback Church has baptised more than 20,000 new believers in the last 10 years, Warren said.

"There's not a church in America that wins more people to Christ than Saddleback Church. So this in no way has diluted our evangelistic efforts."

As an example, he pointed to David Miller, the founder of a radical gay-activist group ACT Up, who became a Christian after he was invited to Saddleback's first Aids conference.

"I have watched the transformation in this man," said Warren, from someone who hated the church all his life to becoming a follower of Jesus Christ, according to WND.

Based on the Warrens' principle to work with many different people, Senator Hillary Clinton (Democrat, New York) spoke in person at the Summit on Thursday, in which she said that Aids was a "plague of biblical proportions".

She called for $50bn to work towards prevention, and provide treatment and care to Aids sufferers around the world.

Fellow presidential contenders Senator Barack Obama (Democrato, Illinois), former Senator John Edwards (Democrat, North Carolina), former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Senator John McCain (Republican, Arizona.), and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will appear via satellite.

Following the Global Summit, the first-ever Youth Summit will take place on Saturday, December 1 - World AIDS Day - with video messages from rock star Bono, pop artist Jordan Pruitt and the cast of TV show "One Tree Hill", and a personal appearance by US First Daughter Jenna Bush. This portion of the summit will be simulcast to more than 200 churches across the US.



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