A few years ago, Rick asked his listening world if they were World-Class Christians or Worldly Christians. Once a Christian learns from Rick which one they are, and which to be,.. (the correct answer is "world class," by the way...) Then he will teach them, How To Think Like a World-Class Christian. Rick Warren's words are posted here in black.)
How to think like a world class Christian
by Rick Warren
Shift from self-centered to other-centered thinking
The Bible says, “My friends, stop thinking like children. Think like mature people...” Children only think of themselves; grown-ups think of others. This is the first step to becoming a world-class Christian. God commands, “Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too.”
Of course, this is a difficult mental shift because we’re naturally self-absorbed and almost all advertising encourages us to think of ourselves. The only way we can make this paradigm switch is by a moment-by-moment dependence on God. Fortunately he doesn’t leave us to struggle on our own. “God has given us his Spirit. That's why we don't think the same way that the people of this world think."
" With practice you can develop the habit of praying silent “breath prayers” for those you encounter."
What are breath prayers? Are they really something to be practiced by Christians, by those who profess Jesus Christ as Lord???
Look up "breath prayers" on the Internet and you will see that "breath prayers" are equivalent to mantras used in Hinduism, occult practices and forms of roman catholic mysticism. One must surely ask if this is an appropriate way to pray when Jesus answered the disciples about prayer quite differently. He told Christians to pray to God in Spirit and in truth.... to tell him what was on our mind and heart, not to" breath" at him as if he was some inanimate thing. I have to wonder if "breath prayers, particularly as describes is nothing more than what the Bible calls, “vain repetition.” IF you do not believe me, or do not believe the Internet search you do, listen to Rick's own words....
Rick tells his reader:
"Breath prayers are nothing more than mantras. Say “Father, help me to understand what is keeping this person from knowing you.”
"Your goal is to figure out where they are in their spiritual journey and then do whatever will bring them a step closer to knowing Christ. You can learn how to do this by adopting the mindset of Paul who said, “I don't think about what would be good for me but about what would be good for many people so that they might be saved.”
"Your goal is to figure out where they are in their spiritual journey and then do whatever will bring them a step closer to knowing Christ. You can learn how to do this by adopting the mindset of Paul who said, “I don't think about what would be good for me but about what would be good for many people so that they might be saved.”
"nothing more than....mantras?"
So then, every Christian should have a mantra, and practice praying repetitiously like yogis who are Hindus do when they chant short words like "OM?"
This is not true. There is nothing in the Bible that would inspire a person to talk to God this way... it is not the way Jesus taught his disciples to pray.
Furthermore, to put yourself in the position of "figuring out what others need" and "where they are on their spiritual journey" is judging them and thinking that YOU have all the answers is pride. We do not even always know what to pray, but we are assured, the spirit in us does and he also intercedes. The way to bring someone closer to Christ is to tell them about Jesus Christ and love them as Christ loves us.. and God in Christ loves them as well.
Rick continues,
"Shift from local to global thinking "
and
"God is a global God."
THis is not preaching Christ at all, this is a political agenda. Actually, for the record here, God is a more than "global", he is universal... omniscient and omnipotent.
IF you want to think about a global entity and call it "god" you might want to think of Gaia, for "Gaia" (the green goddess of old.) This would, however, be best described as a pantheistic god (or rather, goddess) But God created the globe and in much bigger. He is the eternal one who put the stars in place! God, our God, is much more than merely "Global".
IF you want to think about a global entity and call it "god" you might want to think of Gaia, for "Gaia" (the green goddess of old.) This would, however, be best described as a pantheistic god (or rather, goddess) But God created the globe and in much bigger. He is the eternal one who put the stars in place! God, our God, is much more than merely "Global".
"He has always cared about the entire world." says Rick.
Yes Christian, and you should already know at least this... for the Bible tells us ..John 3:16...“For God so loved the world...” Why does Warren want to use scripture to assure Christians he, not the Bible, is right about God and in how he loves the world, how God is a "global God?" Could it be so that Christians can think he is talking now to unbelievers and think he is evangelizing them with some point in scripture all the while Rick is merely working to change what Christians think by calling God a "global God?"?
"From the beginning he has wanted family members from every nation he created. The Bible says, “From one person God made all nations who live on earth, and he decided when and where every nation would be". God has done all this, so that we will look for him and reach out and find him. Much of the world already thinks globally."
Rick, Are they doing "breath prayers" too?
And if they were all jumping over a cliff
like lemmings, should we do that too?
Maybe Christians, sine they support missions in every country...
do think "globally."and believe that every
toungue and tribe and nation will be gathered
together in praise before the Lord.
This idea of thinking globally
is purely political at best...
earthy.
Rick says, "Much of the world already thinks globally"... but he might as well say, "But you, Mr and Mrs. America...but YOU, American Christian person, there is a problem, "you don't"
Ahhh yes....those Americans, those none gloabbly minded thinkers...
(Think united nations and soverignty here)
American churches are must have no idea that God really does love all people from all nations. and Amercians must have no idea that most of the clothes we wear come from other countries... so, why buy American? Go ahead.. give in. You know, we are just more connected that we realize....
Evidently those Americans are too supportive of their country and what it stands for... (How selfish!)
(Think united nations and soverignty here)
American churches are must have no idea that God really does love all people from all nations. and Amercians must have no idea that most of the clothes we wear come from other countries... so, why buy American? Go ahead.. give in. You know, we are just more connected that we realize....
Evidently those Americans are too supportive of their country and what it stands for... (How selfish!)
And if you are not a "world class" Christian, one who is busy serving the world... connecting with Rick, connecting with the world and adopting it's ideologies...you are in the unhealthy camp. or simply labeled as "selfish" or "self-centered," or someother thing by Rick. If Rick thinks this is so, then he is simply wrong.
So, Are you a world class Christian doing your breath prayers... under the tutalage of Rick Warren? Are you a World Class Christian?
Your C omission by Rick Warren 7/31/07
The Great Commission is your commission, and that means you have a critical choice to make: You will be either a world-class Christian or a worldly Christian.Worldly Christians look to God primarily for personal fulfillment. They are saved, but self-centered. They attend concerts and enrichment seminars, but you’ll rarely find them at a missions conference because they aren’t interested. Their prayers focus on their own needs, blessings, and happiness. It’s a “me-first” faith: How can God make my life more comfortable? They want to use God for their purposes -- instead of being used for his purposes.
World-class Christians, in contrast, know they’re saved to serve and made for a mission. They’re eager to receive a personal assignment and excited about the privilege of being used by God. World-class Christians are the only fully alive people on the planet. Their joy, confidence, and enthusiasm are contagious because they know they’re making a difference. They wake up each morning expecting God to work through them in fresh ways.
Which type of Christian do you want to be?"
Yes, you can click the link and read the whole article or find this article somewhere else on liine... but let's talk about this:
Rick says,
"Worldly Christians" look to God primarily for personal fulfillment. They are saved, but self-centered.
Where do you look for your personal fulfillment? Do you look to the world and worldly things... or to God? And, do you look to God for your personal fulfillment? For example... to answer a prayer, solve a problem, give YOU...hope strength, peace, wisdom, guidance, sustainance.. children... the things you need...like maybe YOUR daily bread? Is this selfishness?
What on Earth is this man saying?
Now one can perhaps make the point that Rick could be talking about people who want God to be a genie and grant them every worldly wish.... every dream come true. Maybe that the assumption presented here is just plain wrong.... but he also says so many other things... like,
"You’ll rarely find them at a missions conference because they aren’t interested"
Interpreted, this means that those "worldly one wont be at a purpose driven mission conference.... you see, because they are the unhealthy, worldly Christians, not the world class ones.
It's true, you probably won't see Christians who are not Purpose Driven at Purpose Driven missions anything, unless of course they are there for infoirmation. You see, there is another kind of Christians Rick neglest to inform you about. That would be the ones who walk humble with God and tremble at his word. You see, these are those who have heard and who know the voice of the good shepherd and they do not have to get their marching orders from Rick .
The worldly Christians in Warren's book, are those who reject his commercialized gimmicks, who are not so easily amused by his clever acronyms and alliterations, nor impressed with everything he says he knows. No. These are they who love the Word of God and they love and follow God.
It's true, you probably won't see Christians who are not Purpose Driven at Purpose Driven missions anything, unless of course they are there for infoirmation. You see, there is another kind of Christians Rick neglest to inform you about. That would be the ones who walk humble with God and tremble at his word. You see, these are those who have heard and who know the voice of the good shepherd and they do not have to get their marching orders from Rick .
The worldly Christians in Warren's book, are those who reject his commercialized gimmicks, who are not so easily amused by his clever acronyms and alliterations, nor impressed with everything he says he knows. No. These are they who love the Word of God and they love and follow God.
Rick tells us, "World-class Christians, in contrast, know they’re saved to serve and made for a mission. "
Yes, according to Rick these are those who have bought into his slogans...and now they know they are
world class...(world minded, global thinking citizens) who know how to pray breath prayers and have a mission to serve.... the world.
world class...(world minded, global thinking citizens) who know how to pray breath prayers and have a mission to serve.... the world.
Rick tells us, "World-class Christians are the only fully alive people on the planet. "
Funny how he doesn't really talk about being born-again.
"Their joy, confidence, and enthusiasm are contagious because they know they’re making a difference. They wake up each morning expecting God to work through them in fresh ways."
By "fresh, does he mean, "new" as in, "ways" he conjures up, the next level of an important Rick Warren plan? One can only wonder.... and remember the wisdom of Ecclesiastes, in Chapter One, who tells us in his wise observation, "there is nothing new.. under the sun."
Is there anything of which one can say,
“Look! This is something new”?
It was here already, long ago;
it was here before our time.
No one remembers the former generations,
and even those yet to come
will not be remembered
by those who follow them.
Ecclesiastes 1:9-11
What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there anything of which one can say,
“Look! This is something new”?
It was here already, long ago;
it was here before our time.
No one remembers the former generations,
and even those yet to come
will not be remembered
by those who follow them.
1 Peter 1:25
but the word of the Lord stands forever."
And this is the word that was preached to you.
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word....
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