Rick Warren’s Political Interpretation of Crucifixion Draws Christians’ Ire: ‘Embarrassing’
Saddleback Church founder and former senior pastor Rick Warren drew scorn on social media for implying that Jesus Christ would be a political centrist today because He was crucified between two thieves.
“‘They crucified Jesus with two others — one on each side & Jesus in the middle,” Warren tweeted Tuesday, quoting John 19:18. “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.”
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. pic.twitter.com/wYmLyayqsZ
— Rick Warren (@RickWarren) February 11, 2025
Several prominent Christian voices on X took the bestselling author of The Purpose Driven Life to task for what they deemed a questionable application of the biblical text.
“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,” tweeted Babylon Bee managing editor Joel Berry.
Justin Peters, who heads a worldwide expository preaching and teaching ministry, rebuked Warren for what he characterized as sloppy biblical interpretation.
This is, sadly, typical of Rick Warren's approach to scripture. This would have been laughed out of biblical hermeneutics on day 1. Basic hermeneutics dictates that you strive for authorial intent, and this is definitively NOT the point the author was making. This is not only… https://t.co/PJCpLeooyS
— Justin Peters (@JustinPetersMin) February 12, 2025
This is an example of proof texting scripture so badly that you should be embarsssed to call yourself a pastor.
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…
— Jenna Ellis 🐊 (@realJennaEllis) February 12, 2025
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