On Tuesday, Feb 11th author and former senior pastor of Saddleback Church Rick Warren deleted a tweet that used the Crucifixion to suggest that Jesus Christ would be a political centrist. The viral post received more than 3 million views after several Christian leaders and influencers criticized him and accusing him of misinterpreting the Bible.
On Feb. 11, Warren posted an image of Jesus hanging on the cross in between the two thieves with the caption: “John 19:18 ‘They crucified Jesus with two others—one on each side & Jesus in the middle.’ The guys on both sides were thieves. If you’re looking for the #realJesus, not a caricature disfigured by partisan motivations, you’ll find him in the middle, not on either side.”
Although Warren removed his post some time between Thursday (Jan. 13) night and early Friday morning, hundreds of replies scolding Warren are still visible.
Referencing Saddleback’s removal from the Southern Baptist Convention in 2023, William Wolfe, executive director of the Center for Baptist Leadership, wrote, “With every post, Rick Warren proves the wisdom of Southern Baptists in kicking him out.”
Evangelist Justin Peters described Warren’s post as “embarrassing” and “inexcusable,” saying that “this is, sadly, typical of Rick Warren’s approach to scripture. This would have been laughed out of biblical hermeneutics on day one.” Peters continued, “Basic hermeneutics dictates that you strive for authorial intent, and this is definitively NOT the point the author was making. This is not only embarrassing, it is inexcusable.”
Podcaster and author Allie Beth Stuckey called Warren’s post “possibly the worst Biblical interpretation I’ve ever seen, and that’s really saying something.” She said, “Jesus is not ‘in the middle’ on the murder of children, gender deception, the definition of marriage, or anything else, for that matter. In fact, I seem to remember Him having a particular disdain for the lukewarm.” (Stuckey is, of course, making reference to Jesus’ rebuke of the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22)
“Except that the thief to Our Lord’s right is in Heaven, and the thief to His left is in Hell. Not the best analogy for the point you wish to make,” conservative Christian political commentator Michael Knowles wrote.
Babylon Bee managing editor Joel Berry told Warren, “If you’re going to misuse the story this bad, you should also point out that the thief on the Right is the one that went to heaven lol.”
Seth Dillon, Babylon Bee’s CEO, replied to Warren’s post, saying, “Yeah, because if there’s one thing Jesus was known for, it was his desire to meet in the middle and compromise on the issues that matter most.”
Reporter and author Megan Basham said, “The fact that this is the pastor from whom millions of Americans found spiritual guidance for years explains a lot about the state of our theology.”
Pastor Gabriel Hughes said that Warren needs to “repent” for what he posted. “The ratio and the responses have been amusing. On a serious note,” Hughes said, “Warren needs to repent for this—personally before God, and publicly for twisting Scripture, putting his politics above God’s word and above people.”
Worship leader and activist Sean Feucht wrote, “I refuse to be found ‘in the middle’ or even worse—disengaged—on the gleeful slaughter of the unborn, the mutilation of kids or trafficking of 300k children across the Open border.” Feucht added, “While this theological approach to politics may have worked in the 90’s, it fails to account for how openly demonic the Left is today.”
Pastor Shane Idleman said, “Rick, Jesus hanging on the cross is not about politics. This post is a clear support of the Left and your distain for the Right.”
“It’s sad when Trump Derangement Syndrome hits the pulpits of America,” Idleman continued, “as we see here and as we also see in pastors who have to apologize from the pulpit for posting something political. God give us courage again, and men filled with the Spirit.”
Justin Dean, marketing director for Tithe.ly and former communications director at Mars Hill Church, expressed his admiration for Warren but shared that he didn’t agree with his post. “Love you Rick,” Dean said. “But this is a bad take and twisting of scripture to fit your narrative.”
Carl Hargrove, who is a pastor on staff at Grace Community Church and associate professor of pastoral ministries at The Master’s Seminary, described what Warren wrote as “hermeneutical foolishness.” Hargrove said, “Hermeneutical foolishness driven by @RickWarren’s desire to appease the crowds, which is so unlike the Jesus to whom he refers. Just when one thinks they’ve heard it all…”
Pastor Greg Locke called Warren’s words “unbiblical” and said, “No matter what ‘side’ someone is on, THIS IS SO UNBIBLICAL IT’S NAUSEATING. This is one of the most ridiculous things you’ve ever said. Revelation 3 says the total opposite.”
Former Trump campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis said that Warren’s post “is an example of proof texting scripture so badly that you should be embarrassed to call yourself a pastor.” Ellis, who also defended John MacArthur and Grace Community Church in their dispute with the state of California over COVID-19 gathering restrictions, went on to say that “Jesus is not a moderate or ‘in the middle’ when it comes to truth. To characterize him as such simply because of the placement of his cross is perverting an historical fact into a symbolic meaning to serve your own ideological agenda.”
Pastor Tom Buck described Warren’s post as an “abuse of scripture,” saying, “From the man who thinks Daniel 1 gives instructions on nutrition and 1 Timothy 2:12 allows for women pastors. Now Jesus falls victim to Warren’s abuse of Scripture.”