Warren Is Loved By The World
Secular stores and companies promote Warren's PDL books. He is on multitudes of secular tv shows, conferences, etc. In other words, there's a reason his books are selling like hotcakes. At Warren's Purpose Driven Life site they quote the following:
"The Times ( London) - “ Business and political leaders across America are turning to Rick Warren for guidance.”
TIME - “Movie stars and political leaders aren't the only ones turning to Rick Warren for spiritual guidance. Millions of people – from NFL and LPGA players to corporate executives to high school students to prison inmates – meet regularly to discuss The Purpose Driven Life.”
Notice they aren't discussing Scripture. They aren't turning to the Lord Jesus Christ. No, they are getting their ears tickled by a man who's selling them the Loreal cosmetics line, "because you're worth it". And you know what? He learned it from marketing guru Peter Drucker as well as Warren's mentor, New Age heretic, Robert Schuller. When God-haters swarm to you, buy up your books, love you, applaud you, etc., you know something is wrong, right?
Scripture says in contrast to the world loving Jesus Christ's disciples, that :
Luk 6:26 "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets."
Joh 15:18 "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Rick Warren Is Pro-Homosexual
Warren isn't sure if homosexuals go to Heaven or not and leaves room for homosexuality to not be a sin.
http://christiannews.net/2012/11/29/rick-warren-uncertain-if-homosexual-behavior-is-sinful-says-gays-go-to-heaven/
"Gay Dads celebrate Father's Day with Rick Warren, author of 'The Purpose Driven Life'" :
This Father’s Day, a group of LGBT and straight-ally families will spend their holiday in a way that is both extraordinary and profoundly commonplace: they will attend services at Saddleback Church, the mega-church founded by Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life.
The following day, the families will join leaders from Saddleback Church for a private meal and conversation.
The visit is the conclusion of a six-week journey, a gay-friendly family road trip, to initiate dialogue with mega-church congregations across the nation. In December 2007, organizers of the project - which is called The American Family Outing - invited the leaders of six major mega-churches to match families from their congregations with LGBT families for a meal and conversation. Then, on Mother’s Day 2008, the outing began with a visit to Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas...
“The meetings have been an occasion to clear up misperceptions on both sides and to begin to focus on what we have in common,” says Jeff Lutes, Executive Director of Soulforce and one of the organizers of the American Family Outing.
End quote.
That is code for: to convince "Christians" that homosexuality is normal and that God doesn't deem it a sin nor damnable. The problem is that God does:
1Co 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not
inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral,
nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
1Ti
1:10 the sexually immoral, men who practice
homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers,
and whatever else is contrary to
sound doctrine,
Jud 1:7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding
cities, which likewise indulged in
sexual immorality and pursued unnatural
desire, serve as an example by undergoing a
punishment of eternal fire.
There's also Romans 1:23-27, 1Cor. 5:11, and Matt. 11:24.
Warren praised Obama appointing homosexual activist and Episcopalian priest:
"But then Robinson was selected this week to give the invocation at the inaugural opening ceremony at the Sunday afternoon concert on the Mall."
"Warren issued a statement praising Obama for selecting Robinson, saying the president-elect "has again demonstrated his genuine commitment to bringing all Americans of goodwill together in search of common ground. I applaud his desire to be the president of every citizen."- The Washington Post
“I was trying to point out I’m not opposed to gays having their partnership. I’m opposed to gays using theterm marriage for their relationship.” - Rick Warren as reported by OneNewsNow . He also says something similar in his interview with beliefnet.
****Another Update****
April 8, 2009
Rick Warren lies about his support for Prop 8 and blames the media (however "indirectly") for people thinking he's against homosexuality. He makes his support FOR it clear. However it seems not many are buying it; even the liberal homosexuals are still upset with him.
Whenever a "Christian" compromises on a clear biblical doctrine, I've often found there's a relationship at stake. He does just that. But then, he's not a Christian.
Rick Warren is a Universalist
“I happen to know people who are followers of Christ in other religions.” —Rick Warren, Aspen Ideas Festival, The Aspen Institute, July 6, 2005, “Discussion: Religion and Leadership,” with David Gergen and Rick Warren
“...You may be Catholic or Protestant or Buddhist or Baptist or Muslim or Mormon or Jewish or Jain, or you have no religion at all. I’m not interested in your religious background. Because God did not create the universe for us to have religion. He came for us to have a relationship with him.” —Rick Warren, United Nations, Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, September 2005
Warren says those of other faiths together with "Christians" "serve the same Lord". Source: Christianity Today as quoted by Lighthouse Trails Research
He holds hands with all religions for the sake of poverty instead of being seperate from them and proclaim the Gospel as 2Cor. 6 commands. ~ A Little Leaven
Rick Warren's False Gospel
In regard to his PDL book John MacArthur noted "some significant points where the thrust of the book is [at] odds with the message of Scripture. He pointed out, for example, that the truegospel is a call to self-denial, not self-fulfillment. The gospel is a message about redemption,not about life's purpose. The gospel according to Scripture deals with God's law, His grace,human depravity, redemption from sin, justification, sanctification, holiness, the nature ofsaving faith, and the lordship of Christ. And the true gospel's most essential features are thecross of Christ and the truth of the resurrection. None of those subjects is dealt with
adequately or biblically in The Purpose-Driven Life."--Grace To You Statement
Rick Warren said on Hannity’s show in 2008, on how to get to heaven: “Give as much of yourself as you understand to as much as you understand about me and then keep growing in it.”
That isn't biblical. Jesus said we MUST believe in Him as the resurrected Master,God and Savior and to repent of our sins and trust in only HIS work, not our's (see John 8:24,58; John 14:6;Mat. 3:2; Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:22 for instance). He says we are to count the cost and die to Self (Luke 14:26-27). We are saved in and by Truth:
Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Col 1:4 since we HEARD of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of thehope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL ,6 whichhas come to you, as indeed in the whole IT IS BEARING FRUIT AND GROWING --as it also does among you,since the day YOU HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD THE GRACE OF GOD IN TRUTH,
2 Thes. 2: 13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit AND THROUGH BELIEF in the TRUTH. 14 He called you to THIS THROUGH OUR GOSPEL , that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom 10:14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someonepreaching 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are thefeet of those who preach the good news!" 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing throughthe word of Christ.
In an interview with inter-faith website "beliefnet" :
To the question (the question itself reveals a wrong view of unbelief as if its merely a mistake, but I digress): "So why wouldn’t he [God] if we get to the gates of heaven and say “I didn’t believe in you. Boy do I have egg on my face,” as it were. “It was a horrible mistake.” Why wouldn’t he forgive that too?"
Warren answers: "I think that it’s not just a matter of knowledge. I think God’s gonna take care of a matter of… I don’t know about people who don’t know. I really don’t know. I know that the Bible says that Jesus is the way to heaven. I do, I do know that."
However, to not believe in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ means no entry to heaven. To not know means one is not believing. Its that simple. God has indeed revealed Himself to all people and no one is without excuse to worship Him (see Romans 1:17-20; Heb 11:6).
But again, he is like Graham and Schuller: “I happen to know people who are followers of Christ in other religions.” —Rick Warren
Warren's Low View of Scripture: Its not his only authority:
Again, in Warren's beliefnet interview he says, "And we believe that when God speaks to us that’s called inspiration. When Satan speaks to us that’s called temptation. And when I’m talking to myself and I think it’s God, that’s delusion."
Inspiration is not God talking to us. Inspiration is God speaking out words. Its not about us. But notice the underlining authority issue. If Scripture is inspired and a man who claims God is talking to him, and that's "inspired", now you've got competing "inspirational authorities".
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Mat 4:4 But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Warren goes on in his beliefnet interview:
"I do accept the Bible as a standard of authority and I judge my experience by it not vice versa."
So Scripture is merely “a” standard of authority for Warren. Its certainly not THE standard for him. That's why he can say there are people in other religions that are saved.
God says HIS Word is THE Standard:
Is. 8: 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Heb 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Rick Warren Denies the Doctrine of Justification and Total Depravity:
He continues in his interview:
"But going back to this thing about heaven and getting into a perfect place. Let’s say we got a scale of 1 to 100. Let’s put Hitler at zero and Mother Teresa at 100 OK. And Steve you’re at 85 and Larry’s at 65 and I’m at 45. The truth is, some people are better than others, there’s no doubt about it. Some people are more moral than others, they’re nicer, they’re less selfish, less self-centered, things like that. But the truth is, nobody makes [it] to perfection… And so somebody’s got to make up that difference. And that’s the gift I believe Jesus came to – to make up the difference between my zero and my 100 or my 45 and 100 -- somebody’s got to make up that difference. "
This is entirely contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ! No one makes up the difference. This assumes there’s some good in people, and what, Jesus makes up for our lack? He’s actually using man as the standard….if someone is 10% good, Jesus adds 90%? No! Jesus did NOT come to add to our goodness. This is a denial of the doctrine of Justification which assumes our total sinfulness. Scripture says:
Rom 3:10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."
Eph 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--Eph 2:3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Rom 4:4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
Warren says God's Gift Is Also A Curse:
"The greatest gift God gave us is also our greatest curse, which is the free will. We are made in God’s image, the Bible says, which means we have the ability to love him or not love him, to reject him or not reject him."-Rick Warren, beliefnet interview
God’s “greatest gift” is a curse? Where is that in Scripture? The Bible states that ALL God does is good. HIS gifts are all good:
Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Mat 7:11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Rick’s view of God’s “greatest gift” which is also accursed apparently, is very man-centered. Scripture says we do not have the ability to love God or not reject Him. Instead it says we are born hating Him, in bondage to sin:
Rom 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Eph 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins Eph 2:2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--Eph 2:3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
1Co 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
Rom 8:7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.
Folks, there is no such thing as being neutral toward God and sin, ever, for any person at any time.
In addition, Rick says we are made in the image of God therefore we can choose to not love Him---how is the choice to sin "being made in the image of God"? God has no choice to sin.
Heb 6:18 "so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie...."
1Jn 1:5 "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."
Rom 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ....5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
1Jn 4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
We are born hating God. It is ONLY AFTER being justified and saved that God pours HIS LOVE INTO OUR HEARTS that we can THEN love HIM and others.
Warren doesn't make sense. But his statements sure reveals his strange view of God.
Warren Denies the Absolute Sovereignty of God
Warren continues in his interview with beliefnet:
"No body works correctly – we all have problems with our bodies. The weather doesn’t work correctly – tornados and hurricanes and stuff like that. It’s the result of living on a broken planet. That’s why we’re to pray “Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven” ‘cause in heaven it’s done perfectly.
God’s will is not done most of the time on earth. When people go, “oh, that hurricane must have been God’s will” – baloney! That wasn’t God’s will. God’s will is not done most of the time. If I go out and get drunk and run over a pregnant mother and kill her and her baby, that’s not God’s will, that’s my will." ~Rick Warren
As for our bodies and infirmities, etc., its good to remember God is still in control of that too, even though they are the affects of The Fall:
Exo 4:11 Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf,or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?
Ps. 119: 71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.
2 Cor. 12: 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Gal. 4: 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.
Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Contrary to Rick’s god, the true God of Scripture takes credit for the weather, as it is His tool to do His bidding:
Exo 9:18 Behold, about this time tomorrow I will cause very heavy hail to fall, such as never has been in Egypt from the day it was founded until now.
Job 38:22 "Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, 23 which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?
Psa 78:47 He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamores with frost.
Psa 105:32 He gave them hail for rain, and fiery lightning bolts through their land.
Psa 148:7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, 8 fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!
Because God is Sovereign and Creator, He does as He wishes with the weather. The Flood is a good example of this, as is the drought of three years during Isaiah’s time. God’s is actively bringing about His plan---His plan revealed is called prophecy. It seems that Rick has issues with this.God is truly in control of His whole creation and this is cause for great comfort and peace:
Ps. 33: 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. 9 For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. 10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
Dan 2:20 Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. 21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
Rick Warren Says Doctrine Doesn't Matter
Warren also said:
"And I think that one day, everyone of us is gonna stand before God and he’s not gonna say, “What religion were you? Were you Jewish? Were you Christian? Were you Buddhist? Baptist?” I don’t think he’s gonna say, “What church did you go to?” I think he’s gonna say first thing, first, “What did you do with my son who I sent to earth? Did you ever really get to know him? Did you even check him out? Did you trial test faith in him?” You know, “What did you do?” It’s about a relationship not a religion." - Warren in his beliefnet interview
Remember, Rick has already stated:
“I happen to know people who are followers of Christ in other religions.” —Rick Warren Aspen Ideas Festival, The Aspen Institute, July 6, 2005, “Discussion: Religion and Leadership,” with David Gergen and Rick Warren
“...You may be Catholic or Protestant or Buddhist or Baptist or Muslim or Mormon or Jewish or Jain, or you have no religion at all. I’m not interested in your religious background. Because God did not create the universe for us to have religion. He came for us to have a relationship with him.” —Rick Warren United Nations, Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, September 2005
Also, Rick signed the unity letter to the Muslims, declaring that Christians and Muslims worship the true God. We know that is not true because Islam denies Jesus Christ who is God and they deny the Trinity.
Scripture states, "2Jn 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." We know that "Allah" is not Jehovah because Allah has no Son, is mutable (he had to perfect his light and also add mercy to himself), and "is the greatest of deceivers" according to Islam itself!
On page 34 of his PDL book, Warren says, “God won’t ask about your religious background or doctrinal views. The only thing that will matter is, did you accept what Jesus did for you and did you learn to love and trust him?”
Which Jesus? Which God? Accept what, exactly, about Jesus? If God asks people if they "checked out Jesus" and they rejected Him (this assumes people are neutral, and not born haters of God, HIS enemy), will God then be obligated to welcome them into heaven? After all, they could answer yes (Rick has challenged people to give "Jesus a 60 day try"). Acts 17:30 says that God commands all men to repent. This isn't a "try out Jesus" or "check Him out" like a mere object of interest that he's trying to sell. Where is the fear of God here? That's something to really consider.
2Thes. 2: 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they REFUSED TO LOVE THE TRUTH and so be saved.
Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Fatherexcept through me.
Gal 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to adifferent gospel-- 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort thegospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the onewe preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching toyou a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 10 For am I now seeking the approval of man,or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Warren continues in his beliefnet interview:
"And the second question is gonna be the question of, “What did you do with what I gave you? The talent, the ability, the resources, the network, the opportunities, the health, the freedom?” And we are going to be evaluated and judged NOT on our relationship to other people, in terms of, ‘well he did better and he did worse,’ but what did you do with what you were given. So, a retarded person, who does not have mental capabilities will be judged on a totally different scale. In fact the Bible says that people who don’t even have the ability to acknowledge God or to accept Christ, that they’re safe. They are safe. That’s why I believe babies automatically go to Heaven. Every baby does go to Heaven. "~ Rick Warren
He gave no Scripture for this either. There is none. He's lying. He's making something up that isn't in Scripture anywhere. That's quite a dogmatic statement considering its nowhere to be found in all of Scripture.
In fact, Scripture tells of only one way to be justified and to be saved: by faith in Christ Jesus alone. See Rom. 4 & 10:9-10.
Rom 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."
What God does with babies or "retarded" people is not addressed in Scripture. There can be no dogmatic statement made on such an issue simply because God doesn't give any. Opinions are not Scripture, remember.
It seems that Warren doesn’t believe that all men are born sinners, hating God, but God does and this is the bottom line issue:
Eph 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Rom 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
1Co 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
More here on Warren and The Shack.
April 8, 2009
Rick Warren lies about his support for Prop 8 and blames the media (however "indirectly") for people thinking he's against homosexuality. He makes his support FOR it clear. However it seems not many are buying it; even the liberal homosexuals are still upset with him.
Whenever a "Christian" compromises on a clear biblical doctrine, I've often found there's a relationship at stake. He does just that. But then, he's not a Christian.
Rick Warren is a Universalist
“I happen to know people who are followers of Christ in other religions.” —Rick Warren, Aspen Ideas Festival, The Aspen Institute, July 6, 2005, “Discussion: Religion and Leadership,” with David Gergen and Rick Warren
“...You may be Catholic or Protestant or Buddhist or Baptist or Muslim or Mormon or Jewish or Jain, or you have no religion at all. I’m not interested in your religious background. Because God did not create the universe for us to have religion. He came for us to have a relationship with him.” —Rick Warren, United Nations, Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, September 2005
Warren says those of other faiths together with "Christians" "serve the same Lord". Source: Christianity Today as quoted by Lighthouse Trails Research
He holds hands with all religions for the sake of poverty instead of being seperate from them and proclaim the Gospel as 2Cor. 6 commands. ~ A Little Leaven
Rick Warren's False Gospel
In regard to his PDL book John MacArthur noted "some significant points where the thrust of the book is [at] odds with the message of Scripture. He pointed out, for example, that the truegospel is a call to self-denial, not self-fulfillment. The gospel is a message about redemption,not about life's purpose. The gospel according to Scripture deals with God's law, His grace,human depravity, redemption from sin, justification, sanctification, holiness, the nature ofsaving faith, and the lordship of Christ. And the true gospel's most essential features are thecross of Christ and the truth of the resurrection. None of those subjects is dealt with
adequately or biblically in The Purpose-Driven Life."--Grace To You Statement
Rick Warren said on Hannity’s show in 2008, on how to get to heaven: “Give as much of yourself as you understand to as much as you understand about me and then keep growing in it.”
That isn't biblical. Jesus said we MUST believe in Him as the resurrected Master,God and Savior and to repent of our sins and trust in only HIS work, not our's (see John 8:24,58; John 14:6;Mat. 3:2; Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:22 for instance). He says we are to count the cost and die to Self (Luke 14:26-27). We are saved in and by Truth:
Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Col 1:4 since we HEARD of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of thehope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL ,6 whichhas come to you, as indeed in the whole IT IS BEARING FRUIT AND GROWING --as it also does among you,since the day YOU HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD THE GRACE OF GOD IN TRUTH,
2 Thes. 2: 13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit AND THROUGH BELIEF in the TRUTH. 14 He called you to THIS THROUGH OUR GOSPEL , that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom 10:14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someonepreaching 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are thefeet of those who preach the good news!" 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing throughthe word of Christ.
In an interview with inter-faith website "beliefnet" :
To the question (the question itself reveals a wrong view of unbelief as if its merely a mistake, but I digress): "So why wouldn’t he [God] if we get to the gates of heaven and say “I didn’t believe in you. Boy do I have egg on my face,” as it were. “It was a horrible mistake.” Why wouldn’t he forgive that too?"
Warren answers: "I think that it’s not just a matter of knowledge. I think God’s gonna take care of a matter of… I don’t know about people who don’t know. I really don’t know. I know that the Bible says that Jesus is the way to heaven. I do, I do know that."
However, to not believe in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ means no entry to heaven. To not know means one is not believing. Its that simple. God has indeed revealed Himself to all people and no one is without excuse to worship Him (see Romans 1:17-20; Heb 11:6).
But again, he is like Graham and Schuller: “I happen to know people who are followers of Christ in other religions.” —Rick Warren
Warren's Low View of Scripture: Its not his only authority:
Again, in Warren's beliefnet interview he says, "And we believe that when God speaks to us that’s called inspiration. When Satan speaks to us that’s called temptation. And when I’m talking to myself and I think it’s God, that’s delusion."
Inspiration is not God talking to us. Inspiration is God speaking out words. Its not about us. But notice the underlining authority issue. If Scripture is inspired and a man who claims God is talking to him, and that's "inspired", now you've got competing "inspirational authorities".
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Mat 4:4 But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Warren goes on in his beliefnet interview:
"I do accept the Bible as a standard of authority and I judge my experience by it not vice versa."
So Scripture is merely “a” standard of authority for Warren. Its certainly not THE standard for him. That's why he can say there are people in other religions that are saved.
God says HIS Word is THE Standard:
Is. 8: 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Heb 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Rick Warren Denies the Doctrine of Justification and Total Depravity:
He continues in his interview:
"But going back to this thing about heaven and getting into a perfect place. Let’s say we got a scale of 1 to 100. Let’s put Hitler at zero and Mother Teresa at 100 OK. And Steve you’re at 85 and Larry’s at 65 and I’m at 45. The truth is, some people are better than others, there’s no doubt about it. Some people are more moral than others, they’re nicer, they’re less selfish, less self-centered, things like that. But the truth is, nobody makes [it] to perfection… And so somebody’s got to make up that difference. And that’s the gift I believe Jesus came to – to make up the difference between my zero and my 100 or my 45 and 100 -- somebody’s got to make up that difference. "
This is entirely contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ! No one makes up the difference. This assumes there’s some good in people, and what, Jesus makes up for our lack? He’s actually using man as the standard….if someone is 10% good, Jesus adds 90%? No! Jesus did NOT come to add to our goodness. This is a denial of the doctrine of Justification which assumes our total sinfulness. Scripture says:
Rom 3:10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."
Eph 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--Eph 2:3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Rom 4:4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
Warren says God's Gift Is Also A Curse:
"The greatest gift God gave us is also our greatest curse, which is the free will. We are made in God’s image, the Bible says, which means we have the ability to love him or not love him, to reject him or not reject him."-Rick Warren, beliefnet interview
God’s “greatest gift” is a curse? Where is that in Scripture? The Bible states that ALL God does is good. HIS gifts are all good:
Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Mat 7:11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Rick’s view of God’s “greatest gift” which is also accursed apparently, is very man-centered. Scripture says we do not have the ability to love God or not reject Him. Instead it says we are born hating Him, in bondage to sin:
Rom 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Eph 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins Eph 2:2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--Eph 2:3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
1Co 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
Rom 8:7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.
Folks, there is no such thing as being neutral toward God and sin, ever, for any person at any time.
In addition, Rick says we are made in the image of God therefore we can choose to not love Him---how is the choice to sin "being made in the image of God"? God has no choice to sin.
Heb 6:18 "so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie...."
1Jn 1:5 "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."
Rom 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ....5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
1Jn 4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
We are born hating God. It is ONLY AFTER being justified and saved that God pours HIS LOVE INTO OUR HEARTS that we can THEN love HIM and others.
Warren doesn't make sense. But his statements sure reveals his strange view of God.
Warren Denies the Absolute Sovereignty of God
Warren continues in his interview with beliefnet:
"No body works correctly – we all have problems with our bodies. The weather doesn’t work correctly – tornados and hurricanes and stuff like that. It’s the result of living on a broken planet. That’s why we’re to pray “Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven” ‘cause in heaven it’s done perfectly.
God’s will is not done most of the time on earth. When people go, “oh, that hurricane must have been God’s will” – baloney! That wasn’t God’s will. God’s will is not done most of the time. If I go out and get drunk and run over a pregnant mother and kill her and her baby, that’s not God’s will, that’s my will." ~Rick Warren
As for our bodies and infirmities, etc., its good to remember God is still in control of that too, even though they are the affects of The Fall:
Exo 4:11 Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf,or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?
Ps. 119: 71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.
2 Cor. 12: 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Gal. 4: 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.
Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Contrary to Rick’s god, the true God of Scripture takes credit for the weather, as it is His tool to do His bidding:
Exo 9:18 Behold, about this time tomorrow I will cause very heavy hail to fall, such as never has been in Egypt from the day it was founded until now.
Job 38:22 "Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, 23 which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?
Psa 78:47 He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamores with frost.
Psa 105:32 He gave them hail for rain, and fiery lightning bolts through their land.
Psa 148:7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, 8 fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!
Because God is Sovereign and Creator, He does as He wishes with the weather. The Flood is a good example of this, as is the drought of three years during Isaiah’s time. God’s is actively bringing about His plan---His plan revealed is called prophecy. It seems that Rick has issues with this.God is truly in control of His whole creation and this is cause for great comfort and peace:
Ps. 33: 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. 9 For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. 10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
Dan 2:20 Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. 21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
Rick Warren Says Doctrine Doesn't Matter
Warren also said:
"And I think that one day, everyone of us is gonna stand before God and he’s not gonna say, “What religion were you? Were you Jewish? Were you Christian? Were you Buddhist? Baptist?” I don’t think he’s gonna say, “What church did you go to?” I think he’s gonna say first thing, first, “What did you do with my son who I sent to earth? Did you ever really get to know him? Did you even check him out? Did you trial test faith in him?” You know, “What did you do?” It’s about a relationship not a religion." - Warren in his beliefnet interview
Remember, Rick has already stated:
“I happen to know people who are followers of Christ in other religions.” —Rick Warren Aspen Ideas Festival, The Aspen Institute, July 6, 2005, “Discussion: Religion and Leadership,” with David Gergen and Rick Warren
“...You may be Catholic or Protestant or Buddhist or Baptist or Muslim or Mormon or Jewish or Jain, or you have no religion at all. I’m not interested in your religious background. Because God did not create the universe for us to have religion. He came for us to have a relationship with him.” —Rick Warren United Nations, Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, September 2005
Also, Rick signed the unity letter to the Muslims, declaring that Christians and Muslims worship the true God. We know that is not true because Islam denies Jesus Christ who is God and they deny the Trinity.
Scripture states, "2Jn 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." We know that "Allah" is not Jehovah because Allah has no Son, is mutable (he had to perfect his light and also add mercy to himself), and "is the greatest of deceivers" according to Islam itself!
On page 34 of his PDL book, Warren says, “God won’t ask about your religious background or doctrinal views. The only thing that will matter is, did you accept what Jesus did for you and did you learn to love and trust him?”
Which Jesus? Which God? Accept what, exactly, about Jesus? If God asks people if they "checked out Jesus" and they rejected Him (this assumes people are neutral, and not born haters of God, HIS enemy), will God then be obligated to welcome them into heaven? After all, they could answer yes (Rick has challenged people to give "Jesus a 60 day try"). Acts 17:30 says that God commands all men to repent. This isn't a "try out Jesus" or "check Him out" like a mere object of interest that he's trying to sell. Where is the fear of God here? That's something to really consider.
2Thes. 2: 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they REFUSED TO LOVE THE TRUTH and so be saved.
Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Fatherexcept through me.
Gal 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to adifferent gospel-- 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort thegospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the onewe preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching toyou a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 10 For am I now seeking the approval of man,or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Warren continues in his beliefnet interview:
"And the second question is gonna be the question of, “What did you do with what I gave you? The talent, the ability, the resources, the network, the opportunities, the health, the freedom?” And we are going to be evaluated and judged NOT on our relationship to other people, in terms of, ‘well he did better and he did worse,’ but what did you do with what you were given. So, a retarded person, who does not have mental capabilities will be judged on a totally different scale. In fact the Bible says that people who don’t even have the ability to acknowledge God or to accept Christ, that they’re safe. They are safe. That’s why I believe babies automatically go to Heaven. Every baby does go to Heaven. "~ Rick Warren
He gave no Scripture for this either. There is none. He's lying. He's making something up that isn't in Scripture anywhere. That's quite a dogmatic statement considering its nowhere to be found in all of Scripture.
In fact, Scripture tells of only one way to be justified and to be saved: by faith in Christ Jesus alone. See Rom. 4 & 10:9-10.
Rom 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."
What God does with babies or "retarded" people is not addressed in Scripture. There can be no dogmatic statement made on such an issue simply because God doesn't give any. Opinions are not Scripture, remember.
It seems that Warren doesn’t believe that all men are born sinners, hating God, but God does and this is the bottom line issue:
Eph 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Rom 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
1Co 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
Warren Built a "Church" For Unregenerate Enemies of God:
As I stated here, Warren also inquired unbelievers what they wanted in a church. You will start to notice same terms used by both men in describing unbelievers ("un-churched"):
In “The Purpose Driven Church”, Warren said, “As I shared in chapter 1, I began Saddleback by going door-to-door for twelve weeks and surveying the unchurched in my area. Six years earlier I had read Robert Schuller’s book “your Church Has Real Possibilities”, which told how he had gone door-to-door in 1955 and asked hundreds of people, “Why don’t you go to church?” and “What do you want in a church?” I thought this was a great idea…” (p. 190).
An article on Rick Warren in Reader's Digest (no longer supporting PDL magazine):
In “The Purpose Driven Church”, Warren said, “As I shared in chapter 1, I began Saddleback by going door-to-door for twelve weeks and surveying the unchurched in my area. Six years earlier I had read Robert Schuller’s book “your Church Has Real Possibilities”, which told how he had gone door-to-door in 1955 and asked hundreds of people, “Why don’t you go to church?” and “What do you want in a church?” I thought this was a great idea…” (p. 190).
An article on Rick Warren in Reader's Digest (no longer supporting PDL magazine):
Warren changed a great deal as he progressed from a preacher who wanted to "build a church for people who hate church" to worldwide religious leader. He spoke with Reader's Digest—whose parent company recently launched his new magazine, Purpose Driven Connection—twice in recent months.
I pulled off the highway, and we walked into this real estate office and met an agent named Don Dale….We were driving to the condo with him and I said, "Hey, Don, do you go to church anywhere?" He said, "No, no. I hate church." I said, "Great. You're my first member." We started with my family and his family. Our first service was on Easter Sunday in 1980, with 200 people. For Easter in 2008, we had 14 services back-to-back, with 45,000 people. Don is still a member here.
Warren and Social Justice
His infamous PEACE plan: The dangers with this is dealt here and here.
At Urbana 06, Warren taught about his five stages of renewal: "Personal Renewal, Relational Renewal, Purpose Renewal, Structural Renewal, and CULTURAL RENEWL - “A changed church will change their culture,” said Warren, and will ultimately impact their surrounding communities and culture."
His infamous PEACE plan: The dangers with this is dealt here and here.
At Urbana 06, Warren taught about his five stages of renewal: "Personal Renewal, Relational Renewal, Purpose Renewal, Structural Renewal, and CULTURAL RENEWL - “A changed church will change their culture,” said Warren, and will ultimately impact their surrounding communities and culture."
Holds hands with unbelievers to promote social justice, just like Keller:
Speaker at TED conferences: “In recent years, Warren has become a prominent steward of social justice, speaking out on poverty relief and encouraging spiritual leaders to play a role in guiding the planet toward sustainability. (He even attended the premiere of An Inconvenient Truth, after meeting Al Gore and producer Lawrence Bender at TED2006.)” TED is full of unbeliers like J.J. Abrams, Peter Gabriel, Tony Robbins, Amy Tan, and Al Gore.
Speaker at TED conferences: “In recent years, Warren has become a prominent steward of social justice, speaking out on poverty relief and encouraging spiritual leaders to play a role in guiding the planet toward sustainability. (He even attended the premiere of An Inconvenient Truth, after meeting Al Gore and producer Lawrence Bender at TED2006.)” TED is full of unbeliers like J.J. Abrams, Peter Gabriel, Tony Robbins, Amy Tan, and Al Gore.
Warren Promotes Inter-Faith, Eastern Mysticism, and Emergent Church Movement Leader Dan Kimball:
The Tony Blair Faith Foundation aims to promote respect and understanding about the world's major religions and show how faith is a powerful force for good in the modern world.
Faith is vitally important to hundreds of millions of people. It underpins systems of thought and of behaviour. It underpins many of the world's great movements for change or reform, including many charities. And the values of respect, justice and compassion that our great religions share have never been more relevant or important to bring people together to build a better world.But religious faith can also be used to divide. We have seen throughout history and today we still see how it can be distorted to fan the flames of hatred and extremism.The Tony Blair Faith Foundation is a response to these opportunities and challenges. We will use the full power of modern communications to support and step up efforts at every level to educate, inform and develop understanding about the different faiths and between them.
End quote.
Rick Warren promotes the heresy of panentheism
In reporting on "The Shack" Warren Smith reveals more error with Rick Warren, and The Shack
In reporting on "The Shack" Warren Smith reveals more error with Rick Warren, and The Shack
Quote:
But God is not in every single human being. God is not in everything. One of the many reasons I wrote Deceived on Purpose was because Rick Warren presented his readers with this same “God in everything” teaching. Quoting an obviously flawed New Century Bible translation of Ephesians 4:6, Rick Warren — whether he meant to or not — was teaching his millions of readers the foundational doctrine of the New World Religion. Describing God in his book, The Purpose-Driven Life, he wrote:
“He rules everything and is everywhere and is in everything.” (p. 88)Describing God in his book, The Purpose-Driven Life, he wrote:“He rules everything and is everywhere and is in everything.” (p. 88) Compounding the matter further, “immanence” has been taught as part of the Foundations class at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church. An ill-defined reference to immanence on page 46 of the Saddleback Foundations Participants Guide plays right into the hands of the New Spirituality/New World Religion by stating:“The fact that God stands above and beyond his creation does not mean he stands outside his creation. He is both transcendent (above and beyond his creation) and immanent (within and throughout his creation).”
More here on Warren and The Shack.
Warren endorses Lectio Divina prayers:
How to think like a world class Christian by Rick Warren:
“Begin asking the Holy Spirit to help you to think of the spiritual need of unbelievers whenever you talk to them. With practice, you can develop the habit of praying silent "breath prayers" for those you encounter.Say "Father, help me to understand what is keeping this person from knowing you."”
How to think like a world class Christian by Rick Warren:
“Begin asking the Holy Spirit to help you to think of the spiritual need of unbelievers whenever you talk to them. With practice, you can develop the habit of praying silent "breath prayers" for those you encounter.Say "Father, help me to understand what is keeping this person from knowing you."”
More on Warren promoting Breath Prayers here.
Saddleback Community Church offers : Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina by Michael Casey, and Eat This Book: Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading by Eugene Peterson
Warren’s Pastors.com site, author James Emery White promotes Eastern mystic Desert Fathers and Thomas Merton, along with Roman monk Benedict who promoted Lectio Divina:
Quote:
“In his catalog of wisdom from the desert fathers of the fourth century, Thomas Merton tells of a certain brother who went to Abbot Moses in Scete and asked him for a good word. The elder said to him, “Go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything.”
The power of silence and solitude has been recognized throughout the history of spiritual formation.
“Silence is the absence of sound and quiet the stilling of sound,” writes Frederick Buechner.
“Quiet chooses to be silent. It holds its breath to listen.” The rule of St. Benedict speaks of cultivating silence in our lives.
End quote.
“In his catalog of wisdom from the desert fathers of the fourth century, Thomas Merton tells of a certain brother who went to Abbot Moses in Scete and asked him for a good word. The elder said to him, “Go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything.”
The power of silence and solitude has been recognized throughout the history of spiritual formation.
“Silence is the absence of sound and quiet the stilling of sound,” writes Frederick Buechner.
“Quiet chooses to be silent. It holds its breath to listen.” The rule of St. Benedict speaks of cultivating silence in our lives.
End quote.
Warren Deals With Dissenters
Joseph Farah of World Net Daily comments on what Rick Warren says about disunity:
While mega-pastor Rick Warren has joined a group of 100 church leaders calling for interfaith dialogue and the building of "common ground" with Muslims, he has a slightly different outlook toward Christians with whom he disagrees.In his latest missive to fellow pastors, he writes: "You've got to protect the unity of your church. If that means getting rid of troublemakers, do it."
"As pastors, as shepherds of God's people, it's our job to protect our congregations from Satan's greatest weapon – disunity," he writes. "It's not always easy, but it's what we've been called to do."
...Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren that pastors have been wrong? Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren that pastors might teach unbiblical principles? Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren no earthly pastor is the recipient of all Divine revelation? Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren that pastors have led entire flocks into grave error that may have eternal consequences?
Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren that he, too, might be capable of such mistakes? Rick Warren makes a spiritually fatal error when he proclaims, without any biblical authority, that Satan's greatest weapon is disunity. That is simply not true. The Bible reveals over and over again that even one spirit-filled believer can stand up against Satan. God is not impressed with numbers. He doesn't need numbers for victory. He doesn't care about big churches. He doesn't care about the cathedrals of men. He wants numbers only because He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
No, Satan's greatest weapon is hardly disunity. His greatest weapon since his fall and since the Garden of Eden has been deception. In fact, Satan loves unity – as long as those unified are knowingly or unknowingly serving him. He'd love for all of us to "go to hell in a handbasket."Are more people led to death by debate within the body of Christ or by spiritual leaders who demand absolute obedience to themselves?
Paul warned us about this, too, in Acts 20:29-30: "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."
For heaven's sake, nothing could be clearer from Scripture than that no man has a monopoly on truth. That is why Paul even had to correct Peter (Galatians 2:11-14). Besides worshipping God, this would seem to be one of the principal purposes of the church.
The church is warned over and over about false teachers throughout the Bible. Surely Rick Warren is familiar with those warnings. Why would he assume all pastors to be righteous and assume all lay dissenters to be unrighteous?
And, equally curious, why does Rick Warren eagerly seek to find common ground with Muslim leaders while, at the same time, so ruthlessly advocating the disfellowship of Christian believers?
End quote.
Now, I don't know Farah's theology well, and I don't agree with his interpretation of 2Peter 3, but his points about dissent from error and false teachers and shepherds are good ones.
“The WSJ [Wall Street Journal, "Veneration Gap - A Popular Strategy For Church Growth Splits Congregants," written by WSJ reporter Suzanne Sataline, 9-5-06] article accurately showed that "Congregations nationwide have split or expelled members who fought the [Purpose Driven] changes," and that Purpose Driven training for pastors and leaders meant "help[ing] them leave if they don't stop objecting" and "when those congregants join a new church ... pastors should call their new minister and suggest that the congregants be barred from any leadership role."”
Here's an excellent article from Crossroad on how Warren and the PDLers deal with dissenters.
Warren Promotes Eastern Mysticism
As Bob DeWaay notes in his article:
"Warren also promotes “breath prayers” which are endless repetitions of short phrases (Warren: 89). Jesus forbids this type of prayer: “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 6:7). It is a pagan practice that has the effect of shutting down the mind. Warren suggests that God will share His secrets with us if we follow Warren’s techniques (Warren: 91). He promises that the meditative techniques he promotes will “let God speak to you” (Warren: 91). He says, “In the next chapter we will see four more secrets of cultivating a friendship with God” (Warren: 91)."
More on his promotion of Eastern Mysticism here.
Rick Warren is a theological mess. Moreover he’s a snake (to use an N.T. term), because saying a lot of things that sound ok, he’s pulled the wool over many eyes. He is false teacher and does not know the Gospel. He finds agreement with the enemies of the Cross (contrary to 2Cor. 6:14-17 that states be not unequally yoked with unbelievers/ there's no common ground between unbelievers and believers.)
I suggest reading a few articles:
Richard Bennett on the "gospel" of the Purpose Driven Life.
John MacArthur on PDL’s lack of the biblical Gospel and assurance of salvation based on error.
Side by side comparison of what Warren says versus what Scripture says, throughout the PDL book here.
Various articles on PDL here.
Remember, error isn't always in what is said, but can often be in what is NOT said.
As Bob DeWaay rightly put it:
“Warren’s explanation of God leaves out many important truths and emphasizes those qualities that make God feel close and safe. This does not result in a full, Biblical understanding of God. You will never hear about God’s wrath against sin from Warren. You will never hear the warnings in the Bible about God’s coming judgment. You will not learn about God’s holiness from Warren. You will not hear passages like this: “See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less shall we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven” (Hebrews 12:25).”
Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.7 Therefore do not become partners with them;8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
1Jn 2:21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
Mat 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Mat 7:17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
2Tim. 4: 14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
I'd like to leave you with this:
Dr. Harry Ironside, pastor of Chicago’s Moody Memorial Church from 1930-1948 said:
“Error is like leaven, of which we read, ‘A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.’ Truth mixed with error is equivalent to all error, except that it is more innocent looking and, therefore, more dangerous. God hates such a mixture! Any error, or any truth-and-error mixture, calls for definite exposure and repudiation. To condone such is to be unfaithful to God and His Word and treacherous to imperiled souls for whom Christ died.”
Joseph Farah of World Net Daily comments on what Rick Warren says about disunity:
While mega-pastor Rick Warren has joined a group of 100 church leaders calling for interfaith dialogue and the building of "common ground" with Muslims, he has a slightly different outlook toward Christians with whom he disagrees.In his latest missive to fellow pastors, he writes: "You've got to protect the unity of your church. If that means getting rid of troublemakers, do it."
"As pastors, as shepherds of God's people, it's our job to protect our congregations from Satan's greatest weapon – disunity," he writes. "It's not always easy, but it's what we've been called to do."
...Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren that pastors have been wrong? Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren that pastors might teach unbiblical principles? Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren no earthly pastor is the recipient of all Divine revelation? Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren that pastors have led entire flocks into grave error that may have eternal consequences?
Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren that he, too, might be capable of such mistakes? Rick Warren makes a spiritually fatal error when he proclaims, without any biblical authority, that Satan's greatest weapon is disunity. That is simply not true. The Bible reveals over and over again that even one spirit-filled believer can stand up against Satan. God is not impressed with numbers. He doesn't need numbers for victory. He doesn't care about big churches. He doesn't care about the cathedrals of men. He wants numbers only because He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
No, Satan's greatest weapon is hardly disunity. His greatest weapon since his fall and since the Garden of Eden has been deception. In fact, Satan loves unity – as long as those unified are knowingly or unknowingly serving him. He'd love for all of us to "go to hell in a handbasket."Are more people led to death by debate within the body of Christ or by spiritual leaders who demand absolute obedience to themselves?
Paul warned us about this, too, in Acts 20:29-30: "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."
For heaven's sake, nothing could be clearer from Scripture than that no man has a monopoly on truth. That is why Paul even had to correct Peter (Galatians 2:11-14). Besides worshipping God, this would seem to be one of the principal purposes of the church.
The church is warned over and over about false teachers throughout the Bible. Surely Rick Warren is familiar with those warnings. Why would he assume all pastors to be righteous and assume all lay dissenters to be unrighteous?
And, equally curious, why does Rick Warren eagerly seek to find common ground with Muslim leaders while, at the same time, so ruthlessly advocating the disfellowship of Christian believers?
End quote.
Now, I don't know Farah's theology well, and I don't agree with his interpretation of 2Peter 3, but his points about dissent from error and false teachers and shepherds are good ones.
“The WSJ [Wall Street Journal, "Veneration Gap - A Popular Strategy For Church Growth Splits Congregants," written by WSJ reporter Suzanne Sataline, 9-5-06] article accurately showed that "Congregations nationwide have split or expelled members who fought the [Purpose Driven] changes," and that Purpose Driven training for pastors and leaders meant "help[ing] them leave if they don't stop objecting" and "when those congregants join a new church ... pastors should call their new minister and suggest that the congregants be barred from any leadership role."”
Here's an excellent article from Crossroad on how Warren and the PDLers deal with dissenters.
Warren Promotes Eastern Mysticism
As Bob DeWaay notes in his article:
"Warren also promotes “breath prayers” which are endless repetitions of short phrases (Warren: 89). Jesus forbids this type of prayer: “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 6:7). It is a pagan practice that has the effect of shutting down the mind. Warren suggests that God will share His secrets with us if we follow Warren’s techniques (Warren: 91). He promises that the meditative techniques he promotes will “let God speak to you” (Warren: 91). He says, “In the next chapter we will see four more secrets of cultivating a friendship with God” (Warren: 91)."
More on his promotion of Eastern Mysticism here.
Rick Warren is a theological mess. Moreover he’s a snake (to use an N.T. term), because saying a lot of things that sound ok, he’s pulled the wool over many eyes. He is false teacher and does not know the Gospel. He finds agreement with the enemies of the Cross (contrary to 2Cor. 6:14-17 that states be not unequally yoked with unbelievers/ there's no common ground between unbelievers and believers.)
I suggest reading a few articles:
Richard Bennett on the "gospel" of the Purpose Driven Life.
John MacArthur on PDL’s lack of the biblical Gospel and assurance of salvation based on error.
Side by side comparison of what Warren says versus what Scripture says, throughout the PDL book here.
Various articles on PDL here.
Remember, error isn't always in what is said, but can often be in what is NOT said.
As Bob DeWaay rightly put it:
“Warren’s explanation of God leaves out many important truths and emphasizes those qualities that make God feel close and safe. This does not result in a full, Biblical understanding of God. You will never hear about God’s wrath against sin from Warren. You will never hear the warnings in the Bible about God’s coming judgment. You will not learn about God’s holiness from Warren. You will not hear passages like this: “See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less shall we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven” (Hebrews 12:25).”
Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.7 Therefore do not become partners with them;8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
1Jn 2:21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
Mat 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Mat 7:17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
2Tim. 4: 14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
I'd like to leave you with this:
Dr. Harry Ironside, pastor of Chicago’s Moody Memorial Church from 1930-1948 said:
“Error is like leaven, of which we read, ‘A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.’ Truth mixed with error is equivalent to all error, except that it is more innocent looking and, therefore, more dangerous. God hates such a mixture! Any error, or any truth-and-error mixture, calls for definite exposure and repudiation. To condone such is to be unfaithful to God and His Word and treacherous to imperiled souls for whom Christ died.”
