Three years ago, mega-church mega-star Rick Warren agreed to come to Key West and speak to two-dozen members of the media, including yours truly, at a seminar hosted by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. This was akin to going into the lion’s den, as journalism is among the most secular professions in America. Although Pew tends to invite reporters and editors with an interest in religion, the skepticism of this evangelical preacher was still palpable. And some of the journalists present had not even previously heard of Warren, which the author of the greatest best-seller in U.S. history suggested diplomatically might be more our fault than his.

Warren made this point by noting, in passing, that his big book, The Purpose Driven Life, had sold 18 million copies before it received a single review in an American newspaper. The gasps around the table were audible. Most of those present had written books themselves, and understood the significance of this feat. As if to ease the blow (and it didn’t),Warren then chirped cheerfully, “And I’m not even a writer!”

I thought of that scene last night as Warren moderated his “civil” debate between Barack Obama and John McCain. Now Warren can add to his résumé the distinction of being one of the best political debate moderators alive. And he’s not even a political journalist.

Officials of Saddleback Church told me candidly at a small dinner after the event last night that they had been a bit worried that Warren would inject too much of himself into the proceedings. Warren stays abreast of the news, travels a great deal, has deep passions and, well, can get a little preachy—after all, he’s a Christian pastor. This was the opposite concern of many other leaders on the Religious Right, who feared that out of respect for Obama, whom Warren clearly likes personally, and because civility is so important to him, Warren would shy away from tough questions on issues such as abortion. Both fears proved unfounded, and America is richer for it today.

You can read news accounts of the event itself, or download the transcript provided by Saddleback Church. If you’re looking for Loose Cannon’s take on the event, however, look no further: I’ll be succinct. Three principals were involved in last night’s forum; all accomplished their missions. Let’s start with Warren. He is seeking to expand the reach of the evangelical movement—that’s what evangelism means—and he believes the movement needs a less partisan, less stern face than some who have gone before. This is not only a liberal complaint: it was a prominent Republican politician who once described Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson as “agents of intolerance.” Last night, Warren came across as tolerant, bipartisan, even ecumenical—values venerated by this blog.

“We believe in the separation of church and state, but we do not believe in the separation of faith and politics,” Warren said in his brief opening remarks. “I don’t happen to agree with everything either of the candidates teach or believe, but they both care deeply about America. They’re both patriots and they have very different views on how our nation can be strengthened. We’ve got to learn to disagree without demonizing each other and we need to restore civility in our civil discourse and that’s the goal of the Saddleback Civil Forum.” Well, that goal was achieved.

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“It means I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and that I am redeemed through Him.That is a source of strength and sustenance on a daily basis. I know that I don’t walk alone. But what it also means, I think, is a sense of obligation to embrace not just words, but also through deeds and expectations that God has for us. And that means thinking about 'the least of these'—acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with our God.”

The “least of these” is an allusion to a passage in the Gospel of Matthew, and it’s important to remember that Democrats who wanted to be president of the United States—who were presidents of the United States—once talked this way routinely. What Obama is saying is that they can, and should, do so again.  

McCain’s political problem is nearly the opposite from his rival’s. It’s been much-noted that McCain is uncomfortable talking about his personal faith; at times, he’s seemed uncomfortable in the presence of those who do. It was McCain, you may have guessed by now, who issued that colorful denunciation of Robertson and Falwell. But it was also McCain who was receptive to Falwell, who called at the outset of this campaign to seek a rapprochement.

Last night, McCain manfully tried to answer Pastor Rick’s faith questions, but the audience could see that God-talk is still not his thing. Yet McCain did not fail himself; quite the contrary. He made the point bluntly that on the issues conservative Christians care about, ranging from abortion to fighting terrorism, he has a long record in the Senate of being there for them. McCain also used humor, stories from his days as a prisoner-of-war in Vietnam, and accounts of previous Senate fights to illustrate something broader to voters who are both religious and non-religious: namely, that he’s experienced more of life than Obama, is more practiced in politics, and is plenty tough enough for the job of commander-in-chief. The lone religious allusion McCain employed that did not seemed forced was when he told Warren that, if necessary, he’d pursue Osama bin Laden to “the gates of hell.” 

It was jarring and reassuring all at the same time, which seems a fair description of the Saddleback Church event itself. Nice job, gentlemen.