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Sinners are going to be separated from God in hell. Hell is a lake of fire for eternity—for ever and ever. The only way that you can escape hell is through forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Whether you're a Muslim, a Buddhist, or a Hindu, Jesus Christ died for you and shed his blood on Calvary's cross. He can come into someone's heart and cleanse them, if they are willing to surrender to him.

Should the US constitution limit marriage to one man and one woman?

Marriage is both biblical and secular. Two males cannot produce children and two females cannot produce children. It takes a male and a female. It's obvious that God made sex for the human race to have existence. Not only is it a secular institution, but it's a biblical institution. God instituted marriage. It's a holy commitment when we take an oath between a man and a woman. We cannot change those standards that God gave us.

When you prayed at President Bush's inauguration in 2001, you prayed, "Now, O Lord, we dedicate this presidential inaugural ceremony to you. May this be the beginning of a new dawn for America as we humble ourselves before you and acknowledge you alone as our Lord, our Savior, and our Redeemer. We pray this in the name of the Father, and of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Should Rick Warren pray in the name of Jesus at the inaugural?

I would hope he does because he's a minister of the gospel. There's no other way to pray. A Muslim should not be offended. [Warren] has no other way to pray than in the name of Christ. No one should be offended, because Rick Warren should be who Rick Warren is, and that's a minister of Jesus Christ.

Do you believe Rick Warren has become "pastor to presidents" in a similar fashion to your father?

I don't think you take on that role. It's something that God gives. Time will tell. My father has been friends with every president since President Truman. There's no other American that has had more influence on the White House. Maybe Rick Warren will have a relationship with presidents in the future. It's not something that you seek. My father never sought it; God just gave it to him. If Rick Warren is faithful to God, and he doesn't compromise, God will continue to open doors for him.

I know you said a month ago that your father would not be serving as a spiritual adviser to Barack Obama.

He's 90 years old. He's just happy to get up in the morning.

The news is mostly all about nothing. It's a few people on the far left who feel that Obama should not have any evangelicals or Christians involved in the inauguration. Millions of Christians voted for Obama, and they have every reason to be at the table. This is his inauguration, and Obama has every right to do that. Those that are making noise have forgotten that it's not their inauguration. It's Obama's inauguration.

Do you have any advice for Rick Warren?

My advice to Rick is to stay true to your convictions, and don't back up one step. I don't think he will. When you have the far left and the gay advocates mad at you, you must be doing something right. I'm proud of Rick. He hasn't backed down one bit and he shouldn't.

I just pray for the president-elect, for God to guide him as he makes decisions that affect all of us. The president has a mess in front of him. Unfortunately, I don't think he can solve the problems we're facing. The problems we're having in the Middle East, the problems of natural resources and global warming, are beyond any one person. It's going to take God sending his son back to redeem this world.

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December (Web-only) 2008, Vol. 53