The Bible teaches that faith comes by hearing... not by having an "imagination." Rick Warren is teaching strange things, once again. At the start of the new year, 2016, his theme is "imagination."
"In order to have faith in the promise of eternity,
Christians must be able to believe things that they cannot immediately see." ~ Rick Warren, Fox News, 1-12-16; Christianpost.com
Who is he talking about?
What is he telling then they must do?
What would happen if they do not do this directive of his?
Rick's choice of wording is bizarre.
Apparently, the gospel is not about putting your faith in Jesus anymore, or, for that matter, that the good news is so simple that even a small child could understand. No, rick complicates it. He say's that "in order to have faith in the "promise of eternity, Christians MUST BE ABLE to believe things that they cannot immediately see." Christians are singled out here too. Apparently, you are not a "Christian", able to have faith in "the promise of eternity" unless you have this special ability he speaks of.
It's a curious theology here, for having faith in Jesus is not mentioned by Rick; but having "faith in the promise of eternity" is..... and just for the record, there will be an eternity for everyone. The beauty of the gospel is God's forgiveness for our sin and "eternity" spend with God (instead of hell... which by the way, is an eternity too.) God's gift of eternal life through faith in the one whom he sent, Jesus Christ is not something you have to be able to grasp completely with your mind for it to be a reality. It's not something you cannot have unless you have this ability to believe things you cannot immediately see either. Faith comes by hearing.... and hearing comes via the word of God.
It's that simple. A person hears and believes... no special, prerequisite ability of believing things you cannot see needed. And, one has to wonder, why is it only "Christians" that need this special ability?
How about if Christians simply believe what they hear as it is recorded in the bible, (which if you want to get technical, IS a book that they can see?
What if pastors with big enormous churches, like "Pastor" Rick, just preached the word... in season and out.... instead of making stuff up?
What if pastors with big enormous churches, like "Pastor" Rick, just preached the word... in season and out.... instead of making stuff up?
"Hebrews 11 is God’s Hall of Fame. When you read through the heroes of faith, you realize that every one of them became heroes of faith because they used their imagination."
He calls Hebrews 11 the hall of "fame." (That's funny.) It's usually thought of as the Hall of FAITH, not "fame." The scriptures talks clearly about them using faith... faith in God and faith in His word, not using their imaginations.
For example, the text of Hebrews 11 says,
"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command."
Hebrews 11:2
Rick insists on twisting the scriptures. Instead of Abraham simply believing God,, taking him at his word, believing God, Rick Warren's Abraham has to be able to "visualize,"
"What is God doing when he tells Abraham to go count stars? He is activating his imagination. He’s saying, “I want you to visualize what I’m going to do in your life.”
Rick would lead you to believe God is incapable of making anything happen unless you do your part and visualize your own concept of things, just like Abraham did. But rick is wrong. Truth be told, God only needs to speak the word, and a thing is done. God does not need you to visualize anything. His word stands good.
Rick neglects tp read Hebrews,, that ol "Hall of Fame." He apparently skipped the parts that tell us how Abraham, by faith, (not by imagination,) obeyed God and used reasoning, (not imagination) to determine that God was capable of raising the dead. All Rick would have to do to get things right is read Hebrews 11, but he prefers to simply make things up.
And what does the scripture teach us about our imagination?
IT was an antediluvian problem:
Genesis 6:5
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
There is such a things as an evil imagination:
Jeremiah 7:24
But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.
Jeremiah 13:10
This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.
Romans 1:21
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
So what is a "Christian" REALLY to do? It's easy. quit making stuff up. Hear what God says, and believe God who sent Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for sin, so that by believing you could have eternal life with Him.
This is not a bible verse....
"Imagination shapes your life
because it is essential to living by faith. "~ Rick Warren
This, on the other hand, is:
2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
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