Pastors and Evangelists - Isn't Rick Warren Both?

There's an interesting article in Newsweek about how Pastor Rick Warren is not and will not be the next Billy Graham. Much of this is in the midst of hand-wringing from the political left around Pastor Warren's invitation to give the ivocation at Barack Obama's inauguration despite Warren's support of Proposition 8, the successful California initiative banning gay marriage and his strong words condemning both abortion and the "safe, legal and rare"-mantra which is often spewed by pro-choicers. I was impressed and surprised somewhat by Pastor Warren's courage and conviction to speak frankly about positions which may very well spend much of the "political capital" which was gained from his burgeoning reputation as a warm-and-fuzzy Christian nice guy which everyone on the political spectrum can love. Well, it was nice while it lasted.

Interestingly, the article draws a distinction between the role of a pastor and evangelist, drawing from a conversation between Jerry Falwell and Billy Graham: "There is no question that your role and mine are opposites," Falwell told Graham. "You are an evangelist, I am a pastor. I have prophetic responsibilities that you do not have." What seems to be implied, at least in the article, is that the evangelist is focused on saving souls for the afterlife while a pastor is primarily focused on engaging the culture in this world.

With due respect to Reverend Falwell and perhaps not completely understanding the context, I'm not sure sure I agree with such a distinction. I don't necessarily think Pastor Warren does either. His own chief of staff says: "His calling is as a paramedic—not a policeman—for the Kingdom of God, to preach the good news of grace, assist the poor and care for the sick." The role of a pastor requires him to be an evangelist. Does the role of an evangelist require him to be a pastor as well?

What does it mean when Jesus says, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel?" What does the coming of the Kingdom of God mean in terms of what needs to be preached? Repentence is certainly paramount, but there also are necessary implications that flow out of this. In other words, if the evangelist is to preach the coming of the Kingdom - does the charge to respond go beyond a matter of personal repentance and salvation?

Consider something my pastor once wrote in my Elder examination in response to one of my answers: "Actually the kingdom of God is not exclusively a spiritual realm—and this is pretty important for understanding the gospel in its fullest meaning. “Kingdom” is not a place but an action—which has led many theologians to describe the kdm of God as the “rule [not the realm] of God through his Messiah.” And since the Messiah is the second Adam who has come to reverse the fall in all of its aspects and manifestations, then the kingdom of God shows up wherever King Jesus manifests the values of his kingdom. It shows up in beautiful music, in acts of justice, in the decisions of a company to treat its employees well, in the acts of dependent prayer of God’s people, and so forth. The concept of the kingdom is why we are wholistic in our vision as a church. The rule of Christ at the moment is not always acknowledged as such—but we have the inside scoop and we know that he is at work, often despite people’s intentions. Look at the opening statement in the lesson on God’s judgment in the church and you will see how wide the concept of the kingdom is."

Finally, a word on the last paragraph on the article, which states that President Obama needs a Billy Graham-type who will pray for God's insight and compassion. That Pastor Warren holds views contrary to some in Obama's circle and Obama himself doesn't disqualify him for that role. I'd like to think that President Obama can count on Pastor Warren's prayer for both of those things - as well as the prayers of many others.