Rick.... promoting "change" and "transformation," indoctrinating pastors of churches to as "the most strategic "change agents" in the world,* is definitely attempting to change the church and the ay people look at life, Jesus on the cross, the Bible and the gospel. Are you believing Him... or God?
*Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1995), page 20.
Prove all things.... hold fast to what is true.
(Just a little note from 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5.)
The teaching of Christianity is that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Christiantiy teaches that even in death on the cross Jesus, Lamb of God, never sinned against God. He never sinned against man either. Jesus is our hope, and believe it , or not, the symbol of the cross, serves for many people, as a reminder of what he did for us. Rick however, "changes" that all up.
Watch this innovate for Jesus (I4J) video where Rick tells us , "Jesus said, 'You've got to deny yourself take up your cross, and follow me'"
-Rick Warren
He is right, Jesus did say that, only Rick continued,".... We don't understand the implications of that, because today, the cross is a symbol of hope. we wear it we wear it around our necks like it is a pretty symbol, but to wear a cross in those days would be the equivalent of wearing an electric chair around your neck today. The cross was not a symbol of hope, it's a symbol of torture; and what he is saying is, come and die."
-Rick Warren
Rick teaches the man sitting next to him that we don't understand the implications of what Jesus said.... because we (wrongly?) believe that "the cross is a symbol of hope."(It is "not a symbol of hope," (as you apparently wrongly think or rather, do not understand.) The cross is/was "a symbol of torture." Rick also goes on... (See it here) to teach that the cross of yesteryear is equivalent to an "electric chair" used today.
Is he right? (No. Keep reading.)
Is the intent of the electric chair that of inflicting some kind of "tortureous death" upon a person, much like the cross was used in those yester-years of Jesus' day and age? (No. Keep reading.)
If you know anything about criminal justice, you might know that the use of the "electric chair" was introduced into society under the notion that it would be less cruel than other forms of inflicting death upon a person than all previous methods used by those enacting "justice" on individuals who had legally been condemned to death as a penalty for their crimes. Whether or not this was accomplished in the use of the chair is another story.
While there is debate, has been debate, and will be debate over how to punish criminals for their crimes against humanity, of how to justly recompense an eye for an eye with human law, by human standard of 1890, the electric chair was supposed to be the most instantaneous, humane and painless method possible to inflict death upon a tried criminal, as compared to death by poisoning (or lethal injection,) suffocating, (gas chamber) beheading, hanging or being shot by a firing squad.
So then, is the "electric chair" even comparable to the cross of the Romans? Please read the Aug. 15, 2012, Gospel Coalition FactChecker post by Glen Stanton... here. He makes some vital points, including that "... the truth is, an electric chair and a cross are similar in only one way: each is designed to kill criminals. Otherwise, they are nothing alike." Rick teaches they are.
Why?
Jesus was no criminal. He did however, interestingly enough, take the place of one that was convicted and condemned... awaiting death on death row....who was set free as Jesus took his place. Jesus, guilty of nothing was beaten and tortured to death by men, and still did not sin. An "electric chair" would have been a walk in the park compared to what happened to him... not to mention the rejection.
Everyone rejected him. But even alone, faced with hardship, cruelty and death, even death on a cross.... Jesus showed love.
Christianity also teaches us about love... God is love, (1 John 4:8) Christianity teaches that God loved so loved the world... so much.... that he gave us his son....Jesus Christ... to save the world from sin and death and the condemnation for sin we who live in the world have done against him.
John 3:14-17
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
Rick, the ultimate opportunist, took the opportunity this week at purposedriven.com, to teach people about love. He said a lot about love, but he never said how to be saved from sin.
"The only reason you can love God or love anybody else is because God first loved you. And he showed that love by sending Jesus Christ to Earth to die for you. He showed that love by creating you. He showed that love by everything you have in life; it’s all a gift of God’s love...." -Rick Warren
We Love Because God First Loved Us by Rick Warren, Daily Hope, purposedriven.com 11/28/2012
(Jesus... Rick neglects to mention
that Jesus also rose from death to life.
He neglects some good news for sinners too:
that Jesus also rose from death to life.
He neglects some good news for sinners too:
Acts 16:31
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and you will be saved...
you and your household."
and you will be saved...
you and your household."
Rick avoids that message.
But he does say Jesus died for you and
"God loves you
and he created you ..
(just the way you are) and even
gave all the material things you have
in life in order to show his love...
But he does say Jesus died for you and
"God loves you
and he created you ..
(just the way you are) and even
gave all the material things you have
in life in order to show his love...
"....In order to love others and to become great lovers, we first need to understand and feel how much God loves us. We don’t want to just talk about love, read about love, or discuss love; our need is to experience the love of God..." -Rick Warren
We Love Because God First Loved Us by Rick Warren, Daily Hope, purposedriven.com 11/28/2012
Feel?
Experience?
"... We need to reach a day when we finally, fully understand how God loves us completely and unconditionally. We need to become secure in the truth that we cannot make God stop loving us." -Rick Warren
We Love Because God First Loved Us by Rick Warren, Daily Hope, purposedriven.com 11/28/2012
Hmm.. nothing about "repentance from our sin."
Nothing about believing on Jesus for salvation...
and.... if one must come to that "day"
of understanding God's love for us...
When will it be?
Today?
or some arbitrary moment
in time and space?
Nothing about believing on Jesus for salvation...
and.... if one must come to that "day"
of understanding God's love for us...
When will it be?
Today?
or some arbitrary moment
in time and space?
Rick addresses the world on "Big Think" on the topic of love... God's love for us, saying,
..."And our model for that is God. If God gave us what we deserve, none of us would be here. He gives us what we need, not what we deserve. He gives.. That’s called “grace”. Grace is when you get what you need, not what you deserve" -Rick Warren
He mentions nothing about Jesus on the cross.
He does mention God as our "model" for love, but clearly neglected to mention the love of God in Christ Jesus. He makes God out to be a stingy miser who only gives you "what you need," but God has given us everything we need and more... and our loving, gracious God is oh so generous with this thing called Grace.
"Love," says Pastor Rick, "is the opposite of selfishness." -Rick Warren
Thanks funny. "Opposite?"
Up... Down
Left...Right
Rich....Poor
In..... Out
Love....Hate
Most five year-olds would be able to tell you that love's opposite is "hate." Just ask them if they like to eat a particular food. If they HATE it, this means they will refuse to eat it. The do not "love" to eat it. In fact they might not love it so very much that they would even unselfishly let you eat it instead of them!
Jesus said that love and hate were opposites, in Matthew 6:24, he made it clear....
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon."
"The reason for Saddleback's growth and Saddleback's spiritual maturity and Saddleback sending out fifteen thousand missionaries, " says Rick, is because we move people.... from "Come and See" to "Come and Die".... we have a systematic...sequential...catechism...that moves people...for 31 years... through the stages of discipleship....moving them from no commitment to extreme commitment .. to be willing to die for Christ." -Rick Warren
Rick is in the business.... of moving... the church.... from "no commitment to extreme commitment." And the funny thing is he contradicts the words of Jesus Christ about serving two masters. He says that we are to have this "extreme commitment" to both Jesus and to each other, but can a man serve two masters? Can he be committed to both the one AND the other?
"REAL fellowship is being as committed to one another as we are to Jesus Christ."
-Rick Warren
Six Reasons You Need a Cell Group by Rick warren, pastors.com, Ministry Toolbox, 10/13/2010
1 Sam 12:23-25
"Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin
against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you:
but I will teach you the good and the right way:
Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart:
for consider how great things he hath done for you.
But if ye shall still do wickedly,
ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king."
Luke 4:4-8
"And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto
him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee,
and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me;
and to whomsoever I will I give it.
If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me,
Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,
and him only shalt thou serve."
But the plot thickens.
As you move... Church, move away from your Bible too.
"We need more than the Bible in order to grow; we need other believers. When others share what God is teaching them, I learn and grow too!"
-Rick Warren
Six Reasons You Need a Cell Group by Rick warren, pastors.com, Ministry Toolbox, 10/13/2010
Rick, is sharing with the world what "God is teaching" him,
The inference here is to stop thinking your Bible is all you need.
You should be looking to people,
(especially famous, reverse-tithing Rick,)
because this Purpose Driven paradigm
is a new revelation
"from God"
Rick calls it, "God's intention"
"But all this is not about us. God's intention
is much bigger than the book. It's all
about the global glory of God!
The Peace Plan Letter, by Rick Warren, 2003
He reinterated once again , this time in Christianity Today,
how, "In the dusty, dimly lit basement of that
university library, I heard God speak to me:
'That's where I want you to plant a church!'"
Meanwhile,
We are supposed to be
listening to God's Son.
"We need more than the Bible to grow we need other believers." -Rick Warren
Chapter 17, Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
Those poor believers.
They must be in the dark on
this very important "growth" issue.
How would they ever
know this information
or "grow" without
hearing from Rick?
According to Rick, you need more than the Bible; however, Jesus quoted scripture to Satan.
"No matter how wonderful a translation, it has limitations."
Chapter 27 Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
No matter what "wonderful" bible translation you hold in your hand.... Rick says, it has "limitations." (Seriously?) Apparently, but only apparent if you believe Rick, instead of inerrant....something to look to and hold fast to, your Bible, no matter the translation, is imperfect, limited, and has defects and failings.
"The last thing many believers need today is to go to another Bible Study."
Chapter 29, Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
But they do need a small group studying his book?
Wasn't it wise ol Solomon who said:
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life:
but perverseness therein
is a breach in the spirit.
2 Timothy 3:16
"All scripture
is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable
for doctrine,
for reproof,
for correction,
for instruction in righteousness"
According to Rick, "most people" misread that verse. He says,
"Now, what is the purpose of the Bible? Well it says in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work." People misread that verse most of the time. The purpose of the Bible is not for doctrine, not for reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness. Those are all "for this" in the Greek. For this, for this, for this, in order that. The purpose is in order that. So doctrine in itself is not the purpose of the Bible. Reproof in itself is not the purpose; correction, training are not the purpose. The bottom line is to change lives. "That the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work." So every message must be preaching for life change”
-Rick Warren
Purpose-Driven Preaching: An Interview with Rick Warren Michael Duduit, Editor (September-October, 2001
