He who lies down with dogs....
will rise up with fleas!"
(1791, Pindar; Rights of Kings 32
Think Email.
When you forward an e-mail to someone what does it mean? It means you give your approval to the message written up and that you want the recipient to read it too. In the instances below, Rick Warren FOREWORDS these books. Therefore, he must think that they are of value for your reading; else... why would he forward and endorse them?
If you're inclined to think that Dr. Rick knows what he is talking about when he talks about the Bible and Christianity, even Jesus Christ our Lord, then his endorsement, his name on the cover and his words opening the book, introducing it to you, the reader, will alert you that he recommends you add it to your personal reading collection. The problem is that some of these books are anything but a reflection of scriptural thinking and wisdom. Often they are quite contrary indeed.
Because this is the case, some people, scratch their heads and wonder why it is that Dr. Rick is happy to "walk" with these authors, put his stamp of approval, even his "good" name on things so contrary to the word of God. They wonder what it is that they are selling people and why such confusion is coming from the likes of Rick. Yes, they scratch their heads in amazement.... a bit confused.... but Rick is the one doing the confusion. One thing is for certain. Confusion does not come from God.
Observe Warren's Endorsements:
1. From Learning to Soar by Avery and Matt Willis
"With the forward by Rick Warren and the preface by Henry Blackaby, this experience will allow you to grow in new ways toward spiritual maturity. discover incredible blessings in unpleasant circumstances.
BENEFITS AND FEATURES:
• Encourage you to leave your comfort zones
• Motivate you to respond to God's stirrings within your heart
• Help you take the risk of trusting God and stepping out into abundant living
• Show you how to soar to unimaginable heights with God, by faith
Did Jesus teach these talking points? ...."leaving your comfort zone" (Actually, no. Jest said, "Come to me and I will give you rest." God gives comfort.) ....He never said, "risk trusting God"....(You see, t "trusting God" be a "sure thing." Did Jesus teach anything about "stepping out of your contentment into something called, "abundant living"? (Well, Jesus promised eternal life; but.... "abundant living.?" Did he teach you about soaring to "unimaginable heights"....with God. (and this "by faith?)
If you are a Christian, and you think about it, doesn't this all sound a little reminiscent of the event in Luke chapter 9.?
There, in the gospels, we read about how Satan took Jesus and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time and offered him the opportunity to risk jumping and soaring to great heaights (with God.? After which he also offered him authority and glory... aka "abundant living," (you might say.) Satan told Jesus, (not a verbatim translation, mind you, "Throw yourself down from here...even though it is risky. "Whats the matter dude, are you afraid to REALLY trust God? Do this, and I will give you all the kingdoms of this world. What is the matter, JEsus, don't you have enough faith in God?"
Aparently Avery and Matt Willis want to teach you and me, "How to Soar."
And Rick Warren, happily lends them his endorsement.
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2. From the product description from Why Faith Matters by Rabbi David Wolpe, (foreword by Rick Warren )
"Why Faith Matters is an articulate defense of religion in America. It makes the case for faith and shows its relationship to history and science. Refuting the cold reason of the atheists and the hatred of the fanatics with a vision of religion informed by faith, love, and understanding, Rabbi David J. Wolpe follows in a literary tradition that stretches from Cardinal Newman to C. S. Lewis to Thomas Merton—all individuals of faith who brought religion and culture together in their own works."
It seems FAITH, not JESUS , matters most here, and note, the individuals of "faith" that matter most here... the ones who synthesize, or rather, work "to bring religion and culture together." We will learn from a Jewish "Rabbi," about the faith of .Cardinal Newman.... CS Lewis.... Thomas Merton, but what, exactly, is their "faith."
The three are Roman Catholic men.
IS it possible that Rick Warren happily endorses all religions, in particular the religion of these three religious men?
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3. From the book description from Life's Healing Choices by John Baker (foreword by Rick Warren)
"A guide based on the Beatitudes of Jesus identifies eight choice-based strategies for healing and promoting personal happiness, in a resource that shares inspirational stories about people who have overcome the pain of past difficulties through their faith."
It is no surprise really that this book is endorsed by Warren because it's all about Celebrate Recovery, Rick Warren's "Christianized" version of Bill and Bob's "Alcoholics Anonymous." Celebrate Recovery, would appear to be a scriptural program too, teaching that "sin" is really every man's ultimate problem and even offer that there is a cure (see pg.18) but the cure offered is...according to Mr. Baker... the author of Life's Healing Choices... not Jesus...
Baker says, "the cure is strange." He adds that is comes from a "humble heart " and "admitting weakness," (and these things are partially true...) The cure is Rick Warren's AA program that he calls, "Celebrate Recover" and human friends.
"What about Jesus and faith in Him to forgive us... and subsequently free us from our sin?"
Baker's solution does not pivot on this very Christian, biblical and most important foundation in his book... no no. The pivot for "recovery"....,and this once the reader understands they are powerless over this sin and need some help, is.... to find someone they can confide in, a person that they can tell all their dirty laundry to... and of course, if they can find no one, they can find a Celerbrate Recovery Group in their hometown that will furnish them with exactly what they need. Jesus isn't even mentioned at this point.
And then... there are 8 Choices, did you count how many? Eight, and that is a lot! That a person who is needful now must make... and one can only hope all eight of them will not be wrong but be correct. Contrast this to the simple directive of Jesus, the author of salvation himself, who told us what to do.
Jesus said, "Come." and "follow me."
In all fairness, Baker does eventually talk about his own faith in the Lord Jesus in his book. But do observe that this crucial instruction to the reader in how to be free of sin.. how to find the "CURE" excludes, not includes, the gospel truth of Jesus Christ. Jesus, is replaced with something else here, and Rick endorses Mr. Baker heartily because what Baker endorses is Warren's pet project, Celebrate Recover.
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4. From the description of the book given on Dr, Lavern Adams' Facebook page for her 10-10-2010 book release, Driven by Destiny: 12 Secrets to Unlocking Your Future and again, note the (foreword by Dr. Rick Warren)
"In this helpful destiny travel guide, your future is presented as a “metaphorical journey” through divine dimensions that usher you into revelation, realization, and realignment with your purpose in life. This dynamic journey to transformation will get on the right road to fulfilling your destiny and cause you to be fully engaged in this dynamic process. This destiny roadmap is your vehicle to a better life to help you to:
DIALOGUE with the Creator about your divine purpose
DISCERN the road blocks and detours to your destiny
DISCOVER the hidden riches and secrets on the inside of you
DEVELOP new disciplines to help you live the life of your dreams"
And note:
( Dr. Adams, is "Senior Pastor," " Teacher," and "Vision Architect" at the Cathedral of Praise, Community Church and International Kingdom Strategy Center For more information you can contact: Cathedral of Praise Community Church and International Kingdom Strategy Center 6400 Haverford Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19151 215.474.2680 phone • 215.474.7586 fax www.CathedralofPraiseInternational.org www.TheDoctorofDestiny.com)
Offering "secrets" to the reader...( or to the hearer....) Adams offers to help one discover even more "secrets".... not the revealed things of the Bible, Jesus Christ, or the prophets, and Rick Warren endorses her book. Dr. Adams offers to teach you about those "secrets" inside of you. The purpose of it all is, of course... to help YOU live the life of YOUR dreams and discover what it is that is keeping you from your destiny.
Unfortunately, she seems to fail to mention exactly what the Lord said our "destiny" is.... after life here upon the earth.... (hell) unless of course, your sin is forgiven by God in Jesus Christ... which, by the way, she fails to make mention of as well. (This destiny in Christ, being what we commonly know is all about you having the life of your dreams.
She is interested in teaching her readers to talk to God about their purpose in life, and have them be able to discern what is keeping them from fulfilling that purpose. She will help them draw out the good riches and secrets they can find within themselves.... and then, like Rick, (who as mentioned, forwards her book to his own audience of people, including pastors, thinking some may be itching for such material as this,) she will teach, "new disciplines" that you, the reader, can work to learn and keep..... (also known as LAW) in order to finally...."live the life of your dreams"
Luke 12:1.
"In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude
had gathered together, so that they trampled one another,
He began to say to His disciples first of all,
'Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.'"
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