Rick Warren, 2009 interview with George Wood
In the Saddleback model of such "campaigns, a typical home fellowship or "Bible Study" gets changed from a study of God's Word to a study of the Purpose Driven Life. Instead of being taught via persons who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, to and who are well acquainted with the bible's text, as well as Christian doctrines of things like atonement for sin, the group can be led, or rather, "hosted," by "anyone. Yes! I tis that simple. And now we know that Rick didn't just think up this idea of communicating his message to people on his own. After all, he did not learn this in Bible seminary. No, we heard it sheepishly revealed publicly to George Wood, Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Churches, way back in 2009, and now we can know where he got this methodology from. Rick told Woods,
"You know, (he stuttered a little bit here,)" by- by-- by doing these, um, "campaigns...." (His tone changed a little bit, ) "I-I actually learned the idea of a campaign, from the communists, ...of all people." (Nervously chuckling, he continued explaining, how he learned the idea... )
"Years ago, there was a book written, called, Dedication and Leadership. It was written in the fifties, by the head of the Communist Party of England, who converted to Christ. He actually became a Catholic. And he wrote this book on what the Church could learn from the Communists... not about "doctrine"...but you know, we know our doctrine, but "what were some of the tools that they used to help win converts to Communism," and he wrote this book called Dedication and Leadership. It is still in print, by, a Notre Dame Press. It's not a very well-known book.... but it's Douglas Hyde--if you are a pastor and you want to pick it up..."
Listen here to the George Woods interview
Click here to read RWQ post
It leaves one wondering....
What did God leave out of his
word that the Church, the Bride of Christ,
needed to learn from the Communists?
What did God leave out of his
word that the Church, the Bride of Christ,
needed to learn from the Communists?
Do the "Communists" really
know what is best
for the people of God?
Apparently Rick thinks they had some great ideas and he even a-plies them to his own campaigns, run in many churches across America today. George Woods was pretty impressed with Mr. Warren.... and his campaign techniques as well as perhaps Warren's insight into how there were not enough Assembly of God churches and his large 10,000.00 donation to the cause. Rick's idea, is transformation of congregations.... and in case you are wondering, "transformation" is another word for "change."
Where else have we heard that word lately? "Change!"
Do you believe in change?
Rick does! He changes Bible studies into studies of his own books. He changes titles of leadership positions too. In fact, the title of what previously would have been known in the church as a "Lay Pastor" or "Lay Shepherd or Teacher, or even "Leader," in such a Purpose Driven group, or rather, "Bible" study, gets changed... to "Host."
What does it mean to host a group in your home? It means,
H- Have a heart for people
O- Open up your home
S- Serve something to drink
T-turn on your DVD player.
Apparently, according to Rick, its that simple. They can be a teenager or an adult and they do not even need to know much about Christianity or the Bible. Just find someone willing to HOST and then let Rick take over via DVD. He will teach them.
Apparantly, Rick learned from those who he thinks have it right, who "really" are in the know about the power of a "campaign", and he took their advice.
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