LONG BEACH, Calif. – Under fire for opposing gay marriage, influential evangelical pastor Rick Warren said Saturday that he loves Muslims, people of other religions, Republicans and Democrats, and he also loves "gays and straights."

The 54-year-old pastor and founder of Saddleback Church in Southern California told the crowd of 500 that it's unrealistic to expect everyone to agree on everything all the time.

"You don't have to see eye to eye to walk hand in hand," said Warren.

Warren also defended President-elect Barack Obama's invitation that he give the invocation at the Jan. 20 inauguration in the keynote speech he delivered at the Muslim Public Affairs Council's annual convention in Long Beach.

Obama's choice of Warren earlier this week sparked outcry from gay rights and other liberal groups, who said choosing such an outspoken opponent of gay marriage was tantamount to endorsing bigotry.

"Three years ago I took enormous heat for inviting Barack Obama to my church because some of his views don't agree (with mine)," he said. "Now he's invited me."

Warren said he prays for the same things for Obama that he prays for himself: integrity, humility and generosity.

Obama defended his choice on Thursday, saying that he has also invited Joseph Lowery, a Methodist minister and civil rights leader who supports same-sex marriage and gay rights, to deliver the benediction.

"During the course of the entire inaugural festivities, there are going to be a wide range of viewpoints that are presented. And that's how it should be, because that's what America's about. That's part of the magic of this country ... we are diverse and noisy and opinionated," Obama said.

Toward the end of his speech on Saturday, Warren also talked about singer Melissa Ethridge, who performed earlier in the evening. Warren said the two had a "wonderful conversation" and that he is a huge fan who has all her albums.

The openly lesbian gay rights activist even agreed to sign her Christmas album for him, he said.

Warren gained a prominent role in the presidential election in August when he hosted the Civil Forum on the Presidency, a two-hour televised show in which he interviewed Obama and his Republican opponent John McCain for an hour each on faith and moral issues.

Warren has won kudos from some liberal quarters by focusing less on traditional conservative issues such as abortion and gay rights, and instead calling on evangelical leaders to devote more attention to eradicating poverty, fighting AIDS in Africa, expanding educational opportunity for the marginalized, and global warming.

But the preacher ignited the ire of many liberals when he publicly supported California's Proposition 8, which amended the state Constitution to ban gay marriage.

Although Warren has said that he has nothing personally against gays, he has condemned same-sex marriage.

"I have many gay friends. I've eaten dinner in gay homes. No church has probably done more for people with AIDS than Saddleback Church," he said in a recent interview with BeliefNet. But later in the interview, he compared the "redefinition of marriage" to include gay marriage to legitimizing incest, child abuse, and polygamy.

Warren founded Saddleback Church in 1980 in Lake Forest, about 65 miles southeast of Los Angeles. He is the author of numerous Christian books, including "The Purpose Driven Church," which has sold more than 20 million copies.

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Note: This is the true spirit of christmas

Note: This is the other gospel of christmas

Note: This is the other Jesus of christmas.

2 Cor. 11:4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.

2 Cor. 11:13-15 For such ones are false apostles, deceitful workers transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And did not Satan marvelously transform himself into an angel of light? It is not a great thing, then, if also his ministers transform themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

two scriptures come to mind here on this post based on comments made by Mr. Rick Warren

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howard

I have felt strongly that we need to pray for God to move in the hearts of these men. We need to ask in faith believing. I have left off of spinning wheels commenting on these men's shortcomings and have resigned myself to pray earnestly for them. We know their faults, but we need to lift them up before God.

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Robert Wurtz II

John Baptist had his head chopped off for rebuking Herod. Warren wants everyone to love him, and I guess he's done a good job of that. He receives his applause from men. 4,000 babies killed daily in America, if anyone cares.

In spite of all Warren's problems, and Obama's problems, Scripture commands us to pray for our leaders. What is wrong for showing up and doing that?

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Jimmy H

As much as I disagree with Warren on many issues... I haven't really had a problem with this. Doesn't take "rocket surgery" to figure out that this is an astute political move on Obama's part... an attempt to garner favor with evangelical Christians. I dont think Warren is a stupid man, and I believe he is saved. So why not have a saved man at the podium when the most liberal president in our history takes office? Sure beats having Jeremiah Wright up there.

Krispy

I wouldn't participate in anything Warren touches, i consider him to be a clown and deceiver and somewhat blasphemer. Here are two videos that are an embarrassment to Christianity and a Holy God. Take heed saints

a warning before clicking and watching, these are not edifying videos, they are worldly and with worldly humor and cant create anything but grief in your heart.

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_f4sO7Eje0]VIDEO OF WARREN 1[/url]

[url=http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=148506&title=rick-warren]Warren on the Daily Show[/url]

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CHRISTIAN

"i consider him to be a clown and deceiver and somewhat blasphemer."

The quote above does not describe the character of a believer.

"I dont think Warren is a stupid man, and I believe he is saved."

No comment needed on this quote as it is clear what this person thinks of the same person the first quote is in reference to.

What does God think and would he have us receive such a person into fellowship.

What would an apostle(i.e., Peter or Paul), or John the baptizer, or the early believers in the first century, have to say to such a person.

Would they receive him into fellowship and tell him that of a truth Christ is in you.

Or might they rebuke him sharply and tell him to repent or perish.

Surely, 21st century american christianity has men in a swoon.

Again, the evidence of what I noted in the beginning of this thread has manifested before our eyes.

Note: This is the true spirit of christmas

Note: This is the other gospel of christmas

Note: This is the other Jesus of christmas.

2 Cor. 11:4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.

2 Cor. 11:13-15 For such ones are false apostles, deceitful workers transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And did not Satan marvelously transform himself into an angel of light? It is not a great thing, then, if also his ministers transform themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Luke 8:17,18 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be uncovered; nor concealed, that shall not be known and become manifest. Take heed how ye hear: for to him that hath, shall be given; and from him that hath not, shall be taken even what he thinketh he hath.