Rick Warren Stands Up to Piers Morgan: 'I Fear the Disapproval of God More Than I Fear Your Disapproval

Pastor Rick Warren reaffirmed his opposition to gay marriage in an appearance on CNN's "Piers Morgan Live," saying he fears "the disapproval of God" more than he does Morgan's -- or society's -- disdain for his views.

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"While I may disagree with you on your views on sexuality, it does not give me a right to demean you, to demoralize you, to defame you, to turn you into a demon," Warren said in an interview broadcast Friday evening.

He added, "See tolerance, Piers, used to mean we treat each other with mutual respect, even if we have major disagreements. Today tolerance has been changed to mean 'all ideas are equally valid.'"

The preacher said that shift is "nonsense" and that all ideas are not equally valid.

Morgan then openly took issue as he has in the past with Warren's stance against gay marriage, asking, "as a Christian man ... how can you espouse genuine equality if you don't allow gay people the same rights to get married as straight people?"

Rather than focusing on the rights associated with same-sex marriage, Warren said that he is more opposed to redefining what marriage -- a term he said has historically been reserved for men and women -- truly means.

"I don't think other groups get the opportunity to redefine a term," he explained.

Morgan then said the Bible, which defines marriage as being between men and women, has many sentiments in it that wouldn't be accepted today and wondered whether the definition of marriage should be treated so rigidly.

Morgan asked whether Warren could ever see himself -- or Christianity more broadly -- evolving to embrace gay marriage.

"I cannot see that happening in my life," Warren responded. "I fear the disapproval of God more than I fear your disapproval or the disapproval of society.”

Watch the exchange via CNN:

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