Attacking the Global Giants....Like Ungodly, Corrupt, Egocentric "Leadership"

Remember Rick's  Five Evil  Giants?  One of them was "Ungodly Leaders." When it was introduced to audiences, his reference for these "ungodly leaders" was in the context o making an accusation of the "church." The E. in his P.E.A.C.E. Plan stood for educating, or rather, e-educating, the  "ungodly leaders" in the church.  It was the church that was denoted as the responsible party for the problems in the world, and her leaders were denoted as one of the fiive "evil giants."

Isaiah 5:20 comes to mind.

Rick later changed his wording, multiple times.  He has since referred to the problem of, "egocentric leaders," "self serving leaders" , "corrupt leadership"....even,. a "lack of servant leadership," all with the idea of "equipping leaders."  This refers to his equipping all the pastors in the world with his "healthy," "purpose driven" "church-in-a-box"  materials so that they could be under the tutelage and command of  none other than, "America's Pastor," (as so dubbed by various media sources, ) Rick Warren, himself.  He will do the equipping.... and sell another of his books.  It's his P.E.A.C.E. Plan, and his PEACE Plan has no JESUS and the problems of the world exclude the major problem of sin.  Christiantiy is his target, and those terrible leaders in the church were also conviently labeled, for Christian and not Christian alike, as is one of the major "evils" in the world.  

"Not only have these leaders not gone to seminary or Bible school, they haven’t even gone to high school or primary school. They have no training whatsoever -- and yet they lead the church. This must be remedied." ~ Rick Warren, Peace Plan Unveiling, Nov. 2003, Notes

http://www.saddlebackfamily.com/peace/Services/110203_high.asx   

This, is to be "remedied"?

Apparently, Pastor Rick has not had time to read in his bible......

Acts 4:13

When they saw the courage of Peter and John 

and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men,

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called.

Not many of you were wise by human standards; 

not many were influential; 

not many were of noble birth. 

But God chose the foolish things of the world

to shame the wise; 

God chose the weak things of the world

to shame the strong.

He chose the lowly things of this world

and the despised things — 

and the things that are not —

to nullify the things that are,

so that no one may boast before him."

And  make no mistake.... leaders who have not read Rick's book on how to "Lead Like Jesus" keep things messed up.  If they had read Rick's book and learned to "lead like Jesus"  most of the world's problems... like disease and all these other things, would be solved right now.

 "Most of the problems in our world would be solved right now--disease, poverty, all these other things--if we had leaders who thought more about others than about themselves.... the problem is a severe shortage of servant leaders--leaders who lead like Jesus." ~Rick Warren"

Global Day of Prayer Focuses On Praying Agaist the Five Global Giants, by John Rutledge, 5/27/2005

  Lead like Jesus, by Rick Warren, Ken Blanchard and Bill Hybels.)

Rick assumes he has the problems of the world pegged, and he has a remedy that will solve it.  He called it the P.E.A.C.E. plan.  Odd, isn't it, that he has it all figured out, and there is not one mention of Jesus as the solution.  

"There are five giant problems in the world... Spiritual emptiness is the No. 1 problem, egocentric or corrupt leadership is the second biggest problem. No. 3 is poverty. Half the world lives on less than US$2 a day, one billion people live on less than a dollar a day. Fourth is disease—all kinds of diseases. Five hundred million people will get malaria this year. And fifth is illiteracy—half the world cannot read or write! "

 ~ Rick Warren

"If we’re going to defeat the giants of spiritual emptiness, corrupt leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic disease, and rampant illiteracy, it won’t happen by just mobilizing the superstars and experts in those fields. There’s just not enough. We've got to mobilize everyone."   ~ Rick Warren,

Attract More Volunteers With the ‘Good Enough’ Principle by Rick Warren, pastors.com

So, what if you see through the veneer?  What if you are a pastor who chooses to follow Jesus.  What if you are a pastor who chooses not to participate in one of those "campaigns," or maybe you simply don't want to give your church over to Rick so he can mobilize your congregation as part of his PEACE Plan?   Well, you will likely don the label "unhealthy," or perhaps be thought of as egotistical, self- centered, and quite possibly, acting like a rebellious "lone ranger!"  After all, YOU need Rick and his expert advice.  Besides, cooperation is the key, and it is also part of God's model for manhood.

"God wired the universe in such a way that we need each other. I need you, and you need me." ~ Rick Warren

Change Requires Community by Rick Warren, purposedriven.com

"The phrase “one another” is used 58 times in the New Testament: Love one another, care for one another, encourage one another, support one another, pray for one another, greet one another, share with one another. God never meant for you to go through life as a lone ranger. Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto! "  ~ Rick Warren

Change Requires Community by Rick Warren, purposedriven.com

" God is looking for men who put cooperation before competition. Paul was one of the most gifted men in the history of the church. Yet he realized that we accomplish more when we work together. If you really want to make an impact with your life, you need to cooperate with others. You don’t become a Lone Ranger." ~ Rick Warren

God’s Model for Manhood by Rick Warren 

In an effort to combat the "evil" leaders in the church who are not team players, not in cooperation with Rick, a full-on onslaught of propaganda is launched by those that are part of Rick paradigm.  The idea is to convince you and others, that those who are not on board Rick's bus, going where it is going, going here he is driving it, are egotistical, self centered and therefore the problem with this world.  The solution of course, is to get rid of them, or convert them by heling them understand and deal with the "F' word, (Failure.) Never fear though, pastors.com, rick's website for pastors, is more than willing to help pastors who fail.  They even host conferences.

Admit it, you need help.... and your help comes from people.... (like Rick and his associates.)
From Brandon Cox, a frequent posted at Rick's website, we hear:

"Leader, you really ought to consider the damage you’ll do by pursuing lone ranger leadership. You’ll effectively put a lid on the organization you lead, whether it’s a church, company, or committee. You’re not talented at everything. You don’t know everything. You can’t handle everything. So you need help, and the Kingdom of God needs you to realize you need help.

Why not commit today to leaning on the shoulders of others? Don’t be a lone ranger leader, lead with a team. You’ll last longer, look smarter, and earn a greater return on all that is invested for the Kingdom’s sake! " ~Brandon Cox, ( (His own website)

Article at pastors.com     No Lone Ranger Ministry Allowed by Brandon Cox

We hear from Joe McKeever how those notorious pastors are all a bunch of failures....

"Pastors are notorious for their lone ranger approach to ministry. It’s what I call the number one failure of 90 percent of pastors. They prefer to go it alone.  Even Jesus needed a buddy. “He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘So, you men could not keep watch with me for one hour?’” (Matthew 26:40)"

The Number One Failure of 90 Percent of Pastors By Joe McKeever, posted at pastors.com

And, according to McKeever's article, at pastors.com, let us not forget that even Jesus

 just could not "go it" alone.  He needed a buddy, like Peter.

Yes, it's a PEACE Plan directed by Rick to save the world from the five evil giants.....poverty, disease, illiteracy, People who lead, but not like Jesus and spiritual lostness.... (whatever that means.)   The solution is not Jesus or those who follow him, who take God at his word.  It's a new purpose driven brand of leadership in the church and every person, great and small, being mobilized to irradicate the five evils in the world.
________________________________________________________________

"For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always." ` ~Jesus

Mark 14:7

Rick the Gold Miner

Rick Warren, recognizing the power that one could wield if they could bridle the church has found himself a goldmine. All he must do is convince you, dear pastors, to submit to his wisdom and ways....

Apparently, you have a sleeping giant in your  midst....

"Pastor, you've got a sleeping giant in your church."

~ Rick Warren, Mining Untapped Gold Mines in Your Church by Rick Warren, pastors.com

Sleeping giant? 

Is God asleep?

Are the members of your church inept?  Lazy?  Good for nothing?

 

"Each Sunday, church pews are filled with members who are doing nothing with their faith except “keeping” it." 

~ Rick Warren, Mining Untapped Gold Mines in Your Church by Rick Warren, pastors.com

 What does he despise about the church that he speaks of it this way?

(Members who are doing nothing...")

"Nothing" is a BIG word.

How does he know?

 Is this a salesmanship line or does he know your church "members"

Is you church just a bunch of "members" or are they the precious people of God.... family?

?

 Why does he cast such "doubt" to you pastor, about your lazy,good for nothing, "sleeping giant church?"

Because Rick Warren wants to bridle your church..... and make it his own.  It's a goldmine!

And he can mine it, right under your nose.

"Mining Untapped Gold Mines in Your Church

                                                                        by Rick Warren,"

He is a gold digger, anxious to harness your congregation.

 

He has his own idea of what "the church" should be.

All he has to do in convince you, he knows better.

Will you release your members to him?

"If we can ever awaken and unleash the massive talent, resources, creativity, and energy found in the typical local church, Christianity will explode with growth at an unprecedented rate."

~ Rick Warren, Mining Untapped Gold Mines in Your Church by Rick Warren, pastors.com

"Most evangelical churches believe in the concept that every member is a minister. Many even give it a major emphasis in their preaching and teaching..."

Of course they do. 

It is a major emphasis... to make disciples of Jesus. 

Rick, however,wants to change this and make them all disciples of Rick.  Tto do this he will

play on your own insecurity and tell you ......

 

"......Still, most members do nothing but attend and give."

He says this, but really, he has no idea, (and neither do you,) about the amazing things 

God does and how he uses people in your church as they are listening 

to you preach God's word, minister to family and friends, 

sharing as they work at their jobs. These little important things 

are not good enough for Rick.

He would rather you be doing a "campaign" in your church.

Then comes the commercial.....for you to buy into the notion that YOU need Rick and 

that you, dear pastor, should hand over your congregation to his programs.: 

"That’s what our C.L.A.S.S. system is all about at Saddleback—turning your attendees into members, disciples, ministers and missionaries."

Rick Warren's "Fabulous" Fables

This verse, the part about the fables in particular, makes me think of Rick Warren and his ministry:

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables.” 

2 Timothy 4: 1-5 kjv

A pastor is to correctly handle the scripture, preach the Word…. and have sound doctrine. Doctrine is important, and you get sound doctrine from the Bible.

This is what Warren Says about doctrine in an article in Preaching Magazine, titled: Purpose-Driven Preaching: An Interview with Rick Warren by Michael Duduit. That old link above at Rick's own webstie, pastors.com, no longer works. you may access the same article here, at preaching.com.

Warren speaking:

“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.

But people misread that verse most of the time. The purpose of the Bible is not for doctrine, not for reproof, correction, and 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 or training is 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

Preaching Magazine, An Interview with Rick Warren by Michael Duduit

The man is gravely mistaken. He is telling you a fable, particularly as he tells you that the Bible "is not for" the very thing the bible tells you it "is for."   Preaching is suppose to tell you the truth about God, about yourself and present you with the gift of God, eternal life through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, not some generic form of life change.  Rick is wrong.

If the bible is not for doctrine, (like Rick Warren slickly says,) why did Paul tell Timothy that the scriptures "were profitable" for it as such? If the purpose of the Bible is not for doctrine and all those other things, but for .... (drum rolls please) "life change," like Rick says, who do you believe? Slick Rick is saying that if you think it is about doctrine, you are wrong.

If Warren were right, and if the Bible "is not for" doctrine (or correction or reproof, etc,)  but for life change, why would Paul write such things to Timothy? Why would Paul write to tell Timothy to watch his life and doctrine closely, if doctrine was not important or even an important part of what Pau already taught, long before Rick came alone and wrote his own book?  Also, if doctrine is not the purpose of the bible, then where does doctrine originate from? Who has spoken through tthe prophets and in these last times spoken through his own son?

Rick?

No.

.....And I want to know,(Rick Warren)  exactly, which "people" (names and examples please, "misread that verse."  He names no one, offers no examples so that you must take Rick at his word.... imagine in your mind who this might be.   It is everyone but you.  You are not amooung the rest because you, unlike them, learn to do it right from.... you guessed it, Rick!   (*Who reads that verse right.)

 "Anyone" who doesn't subscribe to, submit to, or tolerate Rick  audacious teaching on the matter has it wrong. The "select few" who really understand, think just like Rick! These are they who hang on his every word, buy his every book, so Rick can teach them everything they need to know, about church and leadership and missions and bible preaching and teaching... etc.... because Rick..... not the bible, not the Apostle Paul writing to Timothy, is the fount of biblical understanding and knowledge. The "misreaders" believe the Bible is for doctrine and reproof and correction and instruction in righteousness, but Rick says, in a manipulative way, they are wrong.

Go figure.

People who are Christian.... it is high time to think about what you believe, isn't it?

Hopefully you do not believe every single teaching coming from Mr. Rick. The man is mistaken. He has been fooled into thinking he is wise, but he is not.


He disregards the bible teaching and turns it into his own profit as he subtly undermines the very word of God. He knows his bible only enough to use it to gain followers for himself.


This is satanic.


Sidenote here about that same article… another fable.


Warren, the self-proclaimed, ans greatest, expert on preaching, has us look at Jesus and his teachings, and then tells us the exact opposite of what it says.

"In my two-day seminar on preaching, I just keep coming back to, ‘Now let's see how Jesus did it. Now, look how Jesus did it.’ You take the greatest sermon in the world — which is the Sermon on the Mount — and He starts off, ‘Let me tell you eight ways to be happy.’ "(Jesus never said there were eight Rick is making this up!.)"Happy are you if you do this … You are happy if you do this. Then He talks about anger: don't get angry. He talks about divorce: don't divorce. He talks about worry — let me give you four reasons why not to worry: it’s unreasonable; it’s unnatural. He talks about all of these practical things and then He says, ‘Now, if you put this into practice you are a wise man. If you don't, you are a fool and you’re building a house on a rock." ~Rick Warren

Preaching Magazine, An Interview with Rick Warren by Michael Duduit.

Fools build their house on a rock? Really? This is what Jesus said? Tick's true colors are waving in the breeze.  Will you be fooled by "pastor" Rick or do you know the truth of what Jesus really said?

Rick is wrong. He makes up stuff..... to suit his own end. He uses the bible to talk about moral living, and loving God, even talking about "Jesus," but then he simply makes up things that he wants you to think, even when it comes to tell you what Jesus said. Strange isn't it? 

Satanic.

Why does Rick insist on not reading the scriptures as they are?

Rick Warren's moralistic hijackings of biblical purpose, church doctrine and the gospel of salvation by grace through faith is fabulous, but it is wicked to the core.  His number laden, falsified rendition of words that Jesus (supposedly) says, his misguided use of every bible version to prove his own agenda and sway your mind is highly sophisticated.  How marvelous is his idea that "building your house on a rock" is a negative thing, and spoken this way by Jesus, when actually, it is a positive thing in the scripture, Jesus himself being the very rock the entire church is built upon.

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Listen to the scriptures of Paul and Peter and speak up to your friends about the truth of God in Christ.... warn them about Rick.


"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." 

2 Peter 1:16 kjv

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."

1 John 1 9-11 kjv

Cat Out of the Bag

On October 4, 2013, Rick Warren posted a picture on Facebook saying,
"Legendary Cat Stevens came by to see me today as I worked at home on a sermon." 

 ~Rick Warren, Source (with screenshot of a the photo posted by rick Warren), 

Between the Lines, Rick Warren Meets Cat Stevens, by Jospeh Farah 10/11/2013

Curiosity causes one to ask questions like:

Who took the photo? 

Is this a publicity stunt? 

 Did "Stevens" drive over solo, or were there body guards around? 

 Does "Cat Stevens" just happen to drop over to visit friends like Pastor Rick while he is busy writing sermons in  his den?  You have to wonder. Rick sure made it sound as if Cat Stevens just casually stopped by.  

It's odd. It is so odd, in fact, that he has since removed this post; but it can be googled.

1. Pastor Rick Warren - Facebookhttps://m.facebook.com/pastorrickwarren?v=feedTo connect with Pastor Rick Warren, join Facebook today. ... Legendary Cat Stevensdropped by to see me today while I was studying at home for a sermon.
2. 
   

In the post, Rick wanted people to know that he was being visited by someone named "Cat Stevens."  He was not being exactly true about the identity of this man..  "Cat Stevens" is who this man used to be, but this is no longer this man's name, or identity.  Rick didn't introduce him using the man's real name.  Curious isn't it?  Besides, what is it that makes Cat Stevens so "legendary?" 

The man in the photo with Rick, was once a famous American musician who went by the name Cat Stevens in the American music industry.  He wrote classic songs, like Peace Train, Moonshadow, and even a rendition of the hymn, Morning Has Broken, that is sung in churches.  He is an artist that a lot of the younger generation today probably do not even know because he kinda disappeared from the music scene when he changed his life and identity in order to embrace the religion of Islam.  Stevens' conversion to Islam in 1977, much like the conversion of Cassius Clay in 1975, was a very high-profile conversion.  His new name is Yusuf Islam and he touring the world, singing, teaching.... even spending time in America to promote his religion.

(What does he promote?  Hear Yusuf Islam teach here or here.)

Stevens was raised by Christian parents and thereby exposed to Christianity as a child and he says that he believed in God when he was young, but he says that he never did embrace the Christian faith completely in his heart.

“Religion was constantly making me feel guilty, warning me about immorality and dangers of this fleshly life,” writes Yusuf Islam, (formerly Cat Stevens) on his webpage as he reminisces the events that lead him “to Allah.” He said that the world of Christianity he was born into, “produced only guilt” in his life of sin, so he ventured into Transcendental Meditation, Buddhism, Zen, Hinduism, Astrology, I-Ching, and Sufism to find answers. Eventually, while praying to God to save him while he was drowning in the sea, a wave came and rescued him, which he attributed to Allah.  The Institute of Islamic Information and Education writes proudly about Stevens’ conversion at their webpage. They quote Yusuf Islam as saying, “Guidance was something that eluded me, no matter how hard I tried, until I was shown the Qur'an. Now I realize I can get in direct contact with God, unlike Christianity or any other religion.”

So, let us let the cat our of the bag.... Rick Warren should have introduced his visitor to readers of his posts as Yusuf Islam.  That is who this man in the photo really is.

At his embrace of Islam, Stevens changed his name, denounced his U.S. citizenship, left behind the person he once was and renounced the evils of the stringed instrument, the guitar; by giving them all away.  Yusuf Islam is now, and has been, since 1978, Moslem.

Religious songs sung by Moslems are either sung without any musical instruments or sung only with percussion type of instruments.  In Moslem countries,, like Iran, his is because Muslim scholars and leaders consider music made with strings, to be Haram, which means, forbidden.  In Saudi Arabia, Islamic lessons have classes that teach music is forbidden. As an adherent to the teachings of Mohammed as Prophet of Allah, Yusuf  wanted to be obedient to the teachings of the prophet in this regard.  He also asked the record companies with which he had contracts with to stop selling his albums.  Read more about the Cat and his musical career, here.

For twenty years, Yusuf did not play one string, then for some reason, he changed his tune. He now believes that stringed music is halal, that is, permissible, particularly if it is in praise of Allah or used to proselytize the Islamic religion in other countries around the world.  It is with this new outlook that Yusuf Islam has re-immersed himself in the music world and has been returning to the limelight in America.

Yusuf Islam’s return on the music scene began with Islamic texts he recorded in Arabic. The first was called The Life of the Last Prophet, (1995.) He then made other recordings including Prayers of the Last Prophet (1999.) and a recording for children titled, A Is for Allah, (2000.) It’s wasn't until 2006 that he recorded, Footsteps in the Light, a compilation of his own songs, both old and new, sung mostly in English. Then December 19, 2006 Yusuf did something the world never thought they would ever see again.  He took the stage in front of a live, invitation only, US audience in Manhattan with a guitar and played some of his old Cat Stevens’ songs such as The Wind, Oh Very Young and Peace Train.

Yusuf has a new outlook.

The justification he uses for this change in his point of view is the argument that music in Islam is actually "controversial." He says that he didn't know enough about the issue of music when he first converted, but that after studying the Qur’an for 20+ years, he has been able to come to his own conclusion on the matter and he has decided to play the guitar.  He has even has posted his position paper on his website, where addresses the issue. It's found in a file he titles, “Music: A Question of Faith or Da'wah?” In it Yusuf says that he writes the paper to silence those who would oppose or criticize him for going public with his music. (see: www.mountainoflight.com.)

His position is that besides music never having been a clear issue, the people of the Book (Jews and Christians...specifically named as those “people”) need to be converted.  As a Moslem, he believes that he is required to perform Da’wah, (proselytizing,) so he is being a missionary to those people.  As he picks up his guitar, he claims that music is not a matter of faith, but of understanding.  His return to the music scene is to give the rest of the listening world Allah’s invitation to live according to Allah’s will.

In January 2007, New York Times interviewer Deborah Solomon asked Yusuf Islam bluntly about his return to the music industry, noting his previously highly publicized conversion and vocalization of his strong religious beliefs regarding his playing the guitar.. His response: “I never actually committed myself to stating or believing that musical instruments were prohibited by Islam. It was just a gray area, so I stayed out in order to avoid conflict."  

Yusuf also preferred to avoid conflict when in 1989, the Ayatollah Khomeini made the fatwah, (a legal edict for a death sentence to be carried out) against novelist Salman Rushdie over his fourth novel, Satanic Verses. Yusuf’s silence on the fatwah issue was so loudly proclaimed that major radio stations in America  decided to stop playing old Cat Steven’s music. One station, WNEW FM in New York, promoted freedom of speech by offering free copies of Rushdie’s book, Satanic Verses to listeners who sent in their old Cat Stevens records.  Even as a million-dollar reward for Rushdie's death was offered by a top Muslim official, and Ayatollah Khomeini called for zealous Muslims to execute the publishers of the book as well as Rushdie, Yusuf Islam was silent.  Freedom of speech is not something valued in Islam.

It was July 2000 when BBC and ABC News headlines reported that Yusuf Islam was denied entry to Israel with allegations that he had donated tens of thousands of dollars to the Islamic terrorist group, Hamas. The connection was believed to have come through a charitable organization based in Canada that Yusuf Islam supported at the time, then called the Jerusalem Fund for Human Services. When questioned Yusuf Islam claimed to have never heard of terrorist groups like Hamas.  He insisted that his money goes to “charities, not terrorists.”

When he was questioned about saying that he didn't know about Hamas, he said, "At the time I was reported to have done it, I didn't know such a group existed. Some people give a political interpretation to charity. We were horrified at how people were suffering in the Holy Land."and “I never knowingly gave any terrorist group money.” He also said, “I've helped to buy ambulances in the Holy Land. Obviously quite clear and supportable aims.”

Despite his own thinking that he was simply giving aid to needy people, he remained suspicious to authorities and four years later a plane he was on was denied entry into the US and Yusuf was forced to return to London.

Yusuf still claims he is not a terrorist or a terrorist supporter, insisting always that as a Moslem he is a man of peace. In fact he was the recipient of the “Man of Peace” award for 2004, a prestigious award that was presented to him in Rome by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev (and a committee of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates.)  Gorbachev stated that the award was given to Yusuf Islam "for having dedicated the most part of his life in the promotion of peace and reconciliation among peoples and for having condemned terrorism."

Gorbachev praised Yusuf Islam for "condemning terrorism," but to "condemn" something means to pronounce judgment upon, or disapproval of.  A person does not truly “condemn terror” when they approve murder for money  or by remaining ignorant about terrorist groups in the Holy Land.

Yusuf Islam has chosen to be silent about many things, but one thing that Yusuf  is not silent about is Islam.  On the other hand, (and unfortunately for those who hang on Rick's every word, Rick Warren is not very interested in sharing his "deepest faith in Jesus" with people who have never heard the good news that Jesus resurrected from the dead and that by faith in Him people can have forgiveness of their sins and the incredible gift of God, eternal life.  He has another interest; that of helping people of all faiths maintain their separate traditions and their convictions without compromise...and this while working together for the greater good of everybody in the world. (Read his transcript saying exactly this here.) Most of all, he is interested in getting everyone in the world involved in his very own P.E.A.C.E. Plan and as a leader of leaders, he has an incredible interest in overseeing "interfaith projects."

"You know that obviously as an evangelical pastor, my deepest faith is in Jesus Christ. But you also need to know that I am committed not just what I call the “Good News,” but I am committed to the common good. And as the Scripture says “Love your neighbor as yourself.” I am commanded to love and I am commanded to respect everybody. Everybody. Now I was asked to speak to you about how Muslims and Christians can work closer together for the greater good, in our world. And I will tell you that I am not interested in interfaith dialogue, I am interested in interfaith projects."

~Rick Warren, Transcript from the 46th Annual Islamic Society of America Conference, 2009 Source: www.beliefnet.com.

2 Corinthians 6:14

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:"

Leadership and Roots

Leaders, like Hitler, Mao and Lenin, "nearly took the world,"  Rick Warren said.  How? Why?  Don't you know, it was the radical devotion of their followers.  

One must ask Rick, "Why is Adolf Hitler, (and these other men,)  even held up as an example of "taking" the world via their followers devotion to their leadership?"  This is especially interesting since Christianity is not about us and our radical devotion to God, nor our ability to keep his law and earn his favor for our good works.  Christianity, with it's roots based in Jesus Christ and all he stands for, is about God's radical devotion to mankind.  Rick told his crowd:

"In 1939, in a stadium much like this, in Munich Germany, they packed it out with young men and women in brown shirts, for a fanatical man standing behind a podium named Adolf Hitler, the personification of evil. And in that stadium, those in brown shirts formed with their bodies a sign that said, in the whole stadium, "Hitler, we are yours." And they nearly took the world."  
                                     ~Rick Warren,April 17, 2005, at Angels Stadium, Unveiling his P.E.A.C.E. Plan

So what?  By God's grace, that didn't happen. 

Rick was evidently moved by the devotion of such followers.  After giving mention of Chairman Mao and Joseph Lenin, he stated,

"When I hear those kinds of stories, I think ‘what would happen if American Christians, if world Christians, if just the Christians in this stadium, followers of Christ, would say ‘Jesus, we are yours?

                                        ~Rick Warren,April 17, 2005, at Angels Stadium, Unveiling his P.E.A.C.E. Plan
Isn't it odd that in Rick's mind, Christians especially those gathered in the stadium have never  done that?  Isn't it odd that Rick Warren staged people in T-shirts (albeit green, not brown) and passed out prepared signs for them to hold up saying they were willing to do "whatever it takes" and pledge their own radical devotion while they were listening to Rick, their "leader" who was standing behind the podium in the stadium there that day? 

And furthermore, what makes anyone think this idea of "doing whatever it takes" is a good thing?  Hitler, and his henchmen,  did a lot of" whatever" to see results, didn't he?  For some people, "the ends justifies the means."  (Food for thought on the subject here.)

Rick trains "leaders" (who have Rick at their helm,) saying,

"Leaders don't do what they WANT to do; they do whatever is necessary."                                                                                                     ~Rick Warren, Tweeted 5-24-11

 Rick Warren then happily instructs his students on what they need to be doing, and doing and doing through his many books, video's and sermon series'.  He even told the crowd that day what to do, and they did.  

"So what I want you to do is take the card, and in just a minute, and if you say 'Rick, I am willing to serve God's purposes in my generation.'I want you to open up to the sign that says 'Whatever it takes.' Whatever it takes."                     

~Rick Warren,April 17, 2005, at Angels Stadium, 

                                                                                                              

                                                                                                       

Article: here

"I'm looking at a stadium full of people who are saying 'whatever it takes'.  Whatever it takes, God. Time, talent, energy, money, effort, vision... God, whatever it takes.  Whatever it takes, that's what I'm going to do. And I believe that today we are making history. We're making history that's going to start a movement that will bring a new Reformation in the church of God and a new spiritual awakening in our world."       ~Rick Warren, April 17, 2005, at Angels Stadium, Unveiling his P.E.A.C.E. Plan

Yes..... Rick has them all busy as bees, reforming the church to bring a new spiritual awakening in our world.  And since that time, he has been busy being a leader to leaders and running campaigns.

About those "campaigns," you know, 40 Days of Purpose, 40 Days of Love, 40 Days of Community, 40 Days of Peace.....40 days to a Healthier Life.... (etc, etc, etc....)  Where did Rick learn to do that?  He will tell you.....

"You know, (Rick 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, (Rick laughs a little... probably nervous laughter,) "of all people." (Still almost chuckling, he continued explaining, )"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..."

Rick Warren, Interview with George Wood, 2009

Douglas Hyde?  Douglass Hyde is apparently someone Rick Warren thinks that Christian pastors should learn from.  This is weird.  Jesus suggested that his followers and would-be followers, learn of him.  

Jesus Christ said to his disciples,  "make disciples." Rick Warren says, "make leaders."  Jesus said, "follow me," and gave us an example of being a servant and washing the feet of one another in love;  Rick says, lead, and encourages christian men and women to think themselves better than average.... over all the other leaders around them.  Jesus, being God, humbled himself and became man, and made himself of NO reputation,(Philippians 2:7) and died obedient to God even unto death to give us life;  Rick says one of the world's most desperate needs is quality leaders. 

"One of the most desperate needs in the world today is the need for quality leaders. There is a severe shortage of men and women with character who can lead the three sectors of our society (business, non-profit, and government)." 

                                                                           - Rick Warren, Six Laws of Leadership, Nov. 8, 2011.

(YOu amay even notice that he defines quality in other talks.  A quality leader has is stamp of approval, properly balancing the five purposes of god.  They are those under his directive, "healthy," (by his definition) and of course, "Purpose Driven." 

"The test of leadership is: IS ANYONE FOLLOWING? If you want to know if you are a leader just look over your shoulder! If no one is following you, guess what? There’s an old proverb, that says “He that thinketh he leadeth and hath no one following him is only taking a walk!” 

     - Rick Warren, Six Laws of Leadership, Nov. 8, 2011.

(Note: This proverb is not a bible proverb, and may actually be a John C. Maxwell quote.  Interestingly, to the untrained ear, this proverb from the pastor might soundeth like it cometh directly out of the King James English.)

Then more recently we hear about Rick using a propaganda poster previously used by the Mao Zedong regime on his Facebook page, saying to his followers that this picture demonstrates:

Screen shot by Kathy KyoungAh Khang
.

“The typical attitude of Saddleback Staff as they start work each day."

~Rick Warren, Facebook, posted with a picture of a girl in a Red Army Uniform, subsequently removed 

by Warren when people vocally commented about it being an awful example to be using.

But did Rick think this uniformed person was an appropriate example?  What is that red colored ban on this woman's arm?  Weird.  

Did the expert on "leadership," (who uses methods he learned from the communists) really have no idea what kind of uniform that woman donned?  Did he know what he was doing or was he uneducated on the matter? Do his followers even have an idea of what communism or Red China was, is?   Was it funny?

"People often miss irony on the Internet. It's a joke people! If you take this seriously, you really shouldn't be following me! Did you know that, using Hebrew ironic humor, Jesus inserted several laugh lines — jokes — in the Sermon on the Mount? The self-righteous missed them all while the disciples were undoubtedly giggling!" - Rick Warren, Facebook page post, September 2013, (See photo below)

A joke?  Hebrew humor?
Ironic?

Really?

Rick first insisted it was a "joke," and inferred that those who didn't laugh about his joke didn't laugh because they missed it, kinda like those who missed the "laugh line" at the Sermon on the Mount because they were  "self righteous." To his honor, eventually, Rick Warren did apologize for the post.  But, let's be real here, Rick is no stranger to communist thought.  

Rick is happy to employ methods learned from communists, He reads and recommends communist writers like Douglas Hyde.  At his P.E.A.C.E. Plan unveiling he mentioned notorious leaders, ruthless men, Hitler, and Mao and Lenin as leaders of note.  He encourage his gathering telling them that it was because of the devotion of the people who followed them, that they "nearly took  the world."

Rick is happy to employ the methods he boasts of using in your church.... the things he teaches to all those wanna-be "leaders."  He certainly recommends learning about devotion and leadership from men like Hyde.  He does not recommend that you learn things from your bible, but from himself as he brags about himself, and talks about "radical" devotion of the heart.  

"There's a lot of things I can teach you about how to build small groups – we've got over 4,000 of them," Warren said. "There's a lot of things I can teach you about how to baptize and bring unbelievers in – this year we baptized 2,800 new believers. There's a lot of things I can teach you about how to send people overseas in mission – we've sent over 8,000 people.... I can teach you those things. But you've got to start in the heart, and you've got to start with radical devotion." 

Rick Warren, Christian Post, February 2010

Radical devotion to what?   Rick does not say.  It's open-ended, undefined.  Then there is the Radicalis conference.

Rick says that the point of Radicalis is roots. Apparently,Christians and in particular Christian pastors, don't have any "radical" roots by which they are connected to God.
    
“You need to be radical in your connection to God so that you are rooted – no root, no fruit.”  

Rick Warren, Rick Warren Urges Pastors to Say Radical "yes" to God, by Eryn Sun,  2/23/20211, Christian Post 

But then, Rick has a rather low opinion of Christians.

“There are two reasons that nonbelievers don’t know Jesus Christ.   One is, they’ve never met a Christian. The other is, they have.” 

~Rick Warren, Spoken at the Radicalis Conference, Saddleback Church, CA 

Source: Rick Warren Urges Pastors to Say Radical 'Yes' to God By Eryn Sun, Christian Post, Feb 23, 2011

See more on Rick Warren's quotes on leadership here.

Here a Purpose, There a Purpose