The Mother Teresa Principle (by Rick Warren)

EWTN  is Rick Warren's "favorite" Christian channel, and the program, "Chaplet of Divine Mercy" is his "favorite show" (one that he likes to relax to... along with his wife Kay, after a stressful day.) It renews and restores him.... helps him to worship, relax, reflect and meditate.... or so he says:

"I’m an avid fan of EWTN. I make no bones about it. I probably watch it more than any Christian channel. Well, you know what? Because you have more, more, uh, shows that relate to history. And if you don’t understand the roots of our faith, that God had been working for 2,000 years, regardless of what brand of believer you are, God has been working for 2,000 years in His church. And if you don’t have those roots you’re like the cut flower syndrome. Or you’re a tumbleweed. One of my favorite shows, which you repeat often is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Which I love. And when I’ve had a very stressful day, I’ll come home, I’ve got it taped and Kay and I will both, we’ll listen. We’ll put it on and just sit back, relax and worship. And in the time of reflection, meditation and quietness I find myself renewed and restored. So thank you for continuing to play the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. " ~Rick Warren 

Interview with Raymond Arroyo of EWTN on his program World Over, April 2014

With all his flattery aside, the way that Warren embraces EWTN's religious television program, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy... which is reallyu more of a Rosary recital than  "program," you would think he was Roman Catholic. Maybe he is.

After all, Rick Warren, his pastors.come website, and even his wife Kay, have been known to endorse and promote people, past and present, of Roman Catholic faith in their protestant arena.  Figures like Mother Teresa,Thomas Merton,   St. John of the Cross, Brother Lawrence, and Teresa d Avil,have been talked about as Christian heroes for their listeners to admire and emulate.  Rick and friends quote them, name-drop their names and endorse their "mystical" practices as something spiritually profound, something to be desired in the walk of Christian faith.

Rick, just loves to name-drop......

"To mature your friendship, God will test it with periods of seeming separation—times when it feels as if he has abandoned or forgotten you. God feels a million miles away. St. John of the Cross referred to these days of spiritual dryness, doubt, and estrangement from God as "the dark night of the soul. Henri Nouwen called them "the ministry of absence." A. W. Tozer called them "the ministry of the night." Others refer to "the winter of the heart.""  

~Rick Warren, 

God is Real No Matter How You Feel by Rick Warren, Daily Hope With Rick Warren,  5/21/2014

He used Brother Lawrence, to teach people to practice "breath prayers' originally in his Purpose Driven Life book.   And he repeats the "Brother Lawrence" story to this day.  Now, your "work" is suddenly transformed into communication and communion with God... but only IF...you learn to develop the skill of practicing the presence of God... From Rick and Brother Larry too..

 

"Everything you do can be “spending time with God” if he is invited to be a part of it and you stay aware of his presence. The classic book on learning how to develop a constant conversation with God is “Practicing the Presence of God.” It was written in the 17th century by Brother Lawrence, a humble cook in a French monastery. Brother Lawrence was able to turn even the most commonplace and menial tasks, like preparing meals and washing dishes, into acts of praise and communion with God. "

~Rick Warren, 

Be In Constant Communion With God by Rick Warren, Daily Hope With Rick Warren,  5/21/2014

Rick often endorses Roman Catholic books.  He wrote the forward to Tom Peterson's Catholics Come Home. (Check their website and see what they have to say to Protestants and Evangelicals.) The Vatican rightly promotes the notion that Jesus Christ founded one Church, but they also falsely believe that they, (and only they,) are it, with the Pope at their head.... they say, Jesus Christ willed that the apostles and their successors - the bishops with Peter's successor at their head - should preach the Gospel faithfully, administer the sacraments, and rule the Church in love.  "This particular book by Peterson is a call to all Christians to "come home to Rome" and be Roman Catholic.  Rick Warren wrote the "forward" to it.

 (See: Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23; Psalm 118:22;   1 Corinthians 11:3; and Colossians 2:10.  Who, does scripture tell us is the head of the church?)
 

Rick often quotes  "Mother Teresa," a well-known Roman Catholic.   This is the same Mother Teresa who in her book, Life in the Spirit: Reflections, Meditations and Prayers, (Pg 81-82 ) said,

“We never try to convert those who receive [aid from Missionaries of Charity] to Christianity but in our work we bear witness to the love of God’s presence and if Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists, or agnostics become for this better men — simply better — we will be satisfied. It matters to the individual what church he belongs to. If that individual thinks and believes that this is the only way to God for her or him, this is the way God comes into their life — his life. If he does not know any other way and if he has no doubt so that he does not need to search then this is his way to salvation.”

According to Mother Teresa, making humanity better--- "simply better" (not making disciples as Jesus directed)  is the point of her ministry. They do not preach the good news of JEsus, bear witness of Him, or of God's love... no.  Instead they "bear witness to the love of God's presence." (You have to wonder. Who is doing the love?)   Mother Teresa appears to believe that the way for a person to be saved is unimportant.  In fact, they are saved anyway they want to be, for what a person believes, be they Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists, or agnostics, makes no difference.  

Interestingly, Mother Teresa's religious convictions....  are a lot like "Pastor" Rick's.

Rick, speaks to Muslim audiences without sharing with them the gospel.   Rick admits, Mormons are not Christian, but apparently this doesn't matter as long as they have purpose and buy his books.  With Rick, salvation via faith in Jesus Christ so that your sins are forgiven is really not his message.  His message is about how a person needs to have purpose... and health... power and influence over others. His is  "another gospel."  His message, just like Mother Teresa's is about the betterment of humanity.... the common good.   

For those who want power and influence and who desire the honor of men, Rick has devised a "principle" to live by.... one that he calls, the "Mother Teresa Principal." 

"The more you care about the powerless, the more power you have. The more you serve those with no influence, the more influence God gives you. The more you humble yourself, the more you're honored by others" -Rick Warren

 Forward to: Mother Teresa at 100, The Life and Works of a Modern Saint by Richard Lycayo, 2010 TIME Publishers

You'll notice, this "principle" is not a reflection of what Jesus taught in the Bible.  Rick, just simply made it up.  Yet, he teaches it as a "principle,"  one that.... if you follow.. and the more you do what the principle teaches,  promises to give you power, influence.  Apparently the acquisition of power and influence is important, as well as is being honored by other men.

Do you desire power, influence and the honor of other men?  Maybe it would be wise to remember who is powerful (Answer: God) and who is not.... and then remember what Jesus said:

 Luke 20: 45-47 ...."Then in the audience of all the people he (JESUS) said unto his disciples, Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts..... "