The Source of Church Health.. Rick Warren

Rick Warren himself set the standard of what the "health" of a "church" is.... and in 2006 he awarded,  churches with his "Church Health" Awards,.something he simply made up to stroke egos and reward those who adopted his programs and way of thinking about "church."

"A highlight of the conference will be the 2006 Church Health Award Winners. These annual awards acknowledge churches that have made great strides in church health and balance through introducing and deepening the Purpose Driven principles in their congregation."           ~Purposedriven.com  

2006 Conference Overview

http://web.archive.org/web/20060318014352/http://purposedriven.com/en-US/Events/PurposeDrivenChurch/PDC_Overview.htm

Apparently, to be "above average" (or to get a high grade in being a church) you have to have at least 90 members.  (Funny, Jesus said, 2 or more was good enough for him; He would be there.... and Jesus is more than "above average."

"Do you realize that if your weekend attendance totals about 90 people, you’re an above average church (at least in the United States and when measuring by such numbers)?"

~Rick Warren, Eight Steps to Grow Your Church, 

pastors.com and ministrytodaymagcom

You do not want your church to be one of those "dying"  "unhealthy" churches do you?  Apparently the only cure for a dying church, according to Rick, is his teachings on how to have a healthy church.  This is nothing but manipulation to get you on board his ideas as he would have people leave behind the scriptural notion that nothing can stop God, not even a small., less than 90 person congregation.  After all, not even the gates of hell can destroy the church.

"Since the church is a living organism, it’s natural for it to grow if it’s healthy. The church is a Body, not a business – an organism, not an organization. It’s alive. If a church is not growing, it is dying.

http://pastors.com/health-not-growth/

Rick has harsh words for churches that do not join him in his thinking. He paints them as unloving toward "the lost" and self-interested.  Meanwhile, instead of talking about Jesus as our example, or talking about how Jesus showed his love, Rick uses the example of what he has accomplished....

and then he casts doubt on those who hold fast to the gospel that he just ignored.

"The most overlooked principle for church growth is we have to love people the way Jesus did. That's it! The motive behind everything we've done at Saddleback is that we love and care about lost people. The reason Jesus attracted such large crowds is because He loved people. On the other hand, I've heard churches justify their lack of growth by saying, Were small because we haven't watered down the gospel. But maybe the real reason they don't have a crowd is because they don't want a crowd! They love their own comfort more than they love lost people." ~Rick Warren

Becoming a Purpose Driven Church, Part One By Rick Warren, CBN.com,

originally posted at Rick's Toolbox for Pastors, Pastors.com

Rick says, growing a church is difficult.  

"But growing a healthy church is not that easy or simple. It involves many different factors and requires certain leadership skills. Anytime you hear a person say, This it the one way to growth, you can be sure they're wrong because there are many keys to growth."  ~Rick Warren

Who is in charge of managing a church?  You.  (Note, not God.)

Also, growing a "healthy church" will require leadership skills and other important information of all kinds that you can only get from someone who knows all the key issues, who knows what it takes...and what it will take in the future... .....Rick.

That's why I'm convinced that the key issue for our congregations in the 21st century is church health - not church growth. Focusing on church growth is the wrong focus. If we'll focus on developing healthy churches, they will grow automatically."~Rick Warren

Becoming a Purpose Driven Church, Part One By Rick Warren, CBN.com,

originally posted at Rick's Toolbox for Pastors, Pastors.com

Rick, tell us, please, How on earth do you get one of them-thar "healthy" churches?

"You must set up a purpose driven structure that allows the church to become more than just an extension of its pastor. Every church is driven by something: tradition, programs, finances, events, seekers, and even buildings. But to be healthy, it must become purpose driven." ~Rick Warren

Becoming a Purpose Driven Church, Part One By Rick Warren, CBN.com,

originally posted at Rick's Toolbox for Pastors, Pastors.com

Yes, it must become "Purpose Driven" to be "healthy"....but if it's not Purpose Driven, just like Saddleback, then what?

Walker: 

In other words, you're not interested in Saddleback clones.

Warren: 

Absolutely not! Not one of the dozens of mission churches we've planted is doing it exactly like us. We believe every church must have its own unique thumbprint. That's what The Purpose Driven Church is all about.

Becoming a Purpose Driven Church, Part One By Rick Warren, CBN.com,

originally posted at Rick's Toolbox for Pastors, Pastors.com

Now here's a parting thought to consider....

Who's hand, who's "unique thumbprint"... (really,) do you want to have as an identifying mark upon your church?  Your's....or the one on the right hand of God?

It is better to be:

" Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; 

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,

 despising the shame, and is set down

 at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 12:2 

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, 

and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; 

and they shall never perish, neither 

shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

John 10:27

Earmarked for Adventure

Do you like movies? If you do, you can understand how God made you and I for adventure, at least according to Pastor Rick.  He assumes a lot about what kind of movies we find appealing... and completely disregards books as an example.... but movies, it seems, is what he thinks will prove that you and I were made for "a great adventure."

"You and I were made for a great adventure—it’s why we like movies." ~Rick Warren 

God Created Us For Adventure by Rick Warren Ministry Today Mag.com, 

Life itself is actually an adventure in and of itself, but apparently we have to long for adventure.  Did you know that God made us to long for his adventure? 
(Note: "h" is not capitalized in "his.")

"God made us to long for adventure — his adventure.”

~Rick Warren 

God Created Us for Adventure by Rick Warren 12/16/2011

http://purposedriven.com/blogs/dailyhope/

Rick often quotes from the Message... originally written as a novel by Eugene Peterson.... subsequently turned into a "Bible," but it's not a translation.

“God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of His Son and our master Jesus.” 1 Cor. 1:9 (Msg)"                                                                        ~Rick Warren 

  Saying Yes to God (Printable Message Notes)by Rick and Kay Warren http://purposedriven.com/day10/

And so why does he use The Message?   

 He uses it because the translations of the original languages do not say what he wants to present to the "church."  He only wants to make his own point.  You see, he rather scratch your adventurous ears than tell you about fellowship with Jesus and how you need Him.   He rather talk to you about you getting to have a "spiritual adventure" (like a great movie) one that "God" wants to take you on... with Rick Warren leading the way.  

However, there is nothing about a spiritual "adventure" in the verse Rick references in any of these other, truly translated, presentations of the Word.  Like a pied piper, Rick is misleading those who have itchy ears away from truth with his craftily selected words.

KJV reads: "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son                         Jesus Christ our Lord."

NIV reads: " God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus                         Christ our Lord."

NASB reads:  "God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with 

                     His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

TLB reads: "God will surely do this for you, for he always does just what he says,                             and he is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with                           his Son, even Christ our Lord."

Even the Living Bible, which is not a translation, does not fabricate the tale being told by Rick Warren about God giving you some kinds of a spiritual adventure.  What God actually did, was give you life and if you are a believer, he has given you eternal life.  He brings you into fellowship (friendship) with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who, by the way, is Lord, does not "Lord it over" us.  /in fact, he calls us friends.

 Rick says that God's will for you is to "live and lead in a spiritual adventure."  He says that God's plan is not for you to lead a mundane life.

"Never forget that.” God’s will for you is to live and lead in a spiritual adventure. The life that God plans for you is not a mundane boring life. It is an adventurous life."        ~Rick Warren 

http://pastors.com/re-ignite-passion-ministry/

So much for being a mom at home with little ones... that must not be God's will or plan, as that can be pretty "mundane," dull, boringm tedious, monotonous, tiresome, wearisome, uneventful, unexciting, uninteresting, repetitive, ordinary, routine, .... commonplace.  Rick offers a adcenture, a spiritual adventure instead.

You might wisely think to ask yourself...."Spiritual"  .... What spirit might that be of?  (The Bible, you might know, says that you should try, (test)  the "spirits," whether they are of God... for  many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1.)   

In 2006, PurposeDriven.com told people that the spiritual adventure was Rick Warren's P.E.A.C.E. Plan.  We wwere also told that Pastor Rick was created by God to implement this P.E.A.C.E. Plan.  It was described as a "wild ride" an "amazing spiritual adventure."   

"Please prayerfully consider attending this workshop to begin the process of preparing your church to engage in the P.E.A.C.E. Plan. Rick Warren has said repeatedly, “This is why God made me. Everything else I have done was simply preparation for the P.E.A.C.E. Plan.” If you choose to lead your Church to participate in the P.E.A.C.E. Plan it will be a wild ride and an amazing spiritual adventure for your members as they get God’s heart for the world, as God uses them to change lives, and together we bring global glory to God! 

http://web.archive.org/web/20060318015829/purposedriven.com/en-US/Events/PurposeDrivenChurch/PDC+PEACE+Seminar.htm

John 17:14

"I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."     ~ Jesus Christ

Matthew 24:9

" Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.  ~ Jesus Christ

"The influence of the book keeps amazing me everyday as I get requests for autographed copies. I have signed books for 1) All the Supreme Court Justices 2) One for Fidel Castro (!) 3) One for the President of Peru (these last 2 were spanish editions), and I even got a note saying that everyone on Air Force One was reading the book recently.  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! We intend to leverage the attention that the Purpose Driven Life has garnered to bring about a whole new way of thinking and acting in the church about our responsibility in the world. "

~Rick Warren

Peace Plan Letter Saddleback.com

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        RICK WARREN POEM  Click Here

Driving Purpose ...Under the Influence of Rick Warren

First, before reading this, ask yourself... does God "drive" the church or "lead" the church? What is the spirit of the things he does?

"Be willing to let people leave the church. And I told you earlier the fact that people are gonna leave the church no matter what you do. But when you define the vision, you're choosing who leaves. You say, "But Rick, yes, they're the pillars of the church." Now, you know what pillars are. Pillars are people who hold things up ... And in your church, you may have to have some blessed subtractions before you have any real additions." - Rick Warren
"Building a Purpose-Driven Church" seminar at Saddleback Church, January, 1998.

Pillars  "hold things up"?

There is Tricky, word manipulating Rick, again.

Pillar of the church...do they "hold things up"

or do they "hold things up?"

Galatians 2:9

" And when James, Cephas, and John, 

who seemed to be pillars, 

perceived the grace that was given unto me, 

they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; 

that we should go unto the heathen, 

and they unto the circumcision"

1 Tim 3:15

 "But if I tarry long,

that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave

thyself in the house of God, 

which is the church of the living God,

the pillar and ground of the truth.." 

According to Rick, the body of Christ is not "healthy."  "Balance" is what it needs, and Rick will help everyone learn how to balance and be "healthy" again, the way church ought to be....

"When a human body is out of balance we call that disease.... Likewise, when the body of Christ becomes unbalanced, disease occurs.... Health will occur only when everything is brought back into balance. The task of church leadership is to discover and remove growth-restricting diseases and barriers so that natural, normal growth can occur." -Rick Warren

Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren, pg 16 

Rick apparently thinks the body of Christ is disease ridden

and he has the cure.

Also Rick believes it is the responsibility of the pastor 

to weed out from his congregation those

diseases (those "pillars")  who (to Rick) 

are nothing but "growth restricting "diseases."  

Many a pastor has been listening to Rick's advice...

implementing Ricks plans and methods and teachings.. 

but thank God they can always change their minds

and submit to God instead of man.

Many Christian people demand from their pastors

the things Rick tells them to demand..

.but the question is... who's word 

is profitable to listen to?  God's or Ricks?

And, consider also, 

What is the task of being a leader.. or an overseer of the church?  Is it their job to remove the people they think are tares... or "growth-restricting diseases and barriers"?

Matthew 13 27-30

"So the servants of the householder came and

said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? 

from whence then hath it tares? 

He said unto them, An enemy hath done this.
The servants said unto him, 

Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, 

ye root up also the wheat with them.  

Let both grow together until the harvest: 

and in the time of harvest 

I will say to the reapers, 

Gather ye together first the tares,

and bind them in bundles to burn them: 

but gather the wheat into my barn."

Titus 1:6-9

"An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, 

a man whose children believe and are not open 

to the charge of being wild and disobedient.

Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, 

he must be blameless—

not overbearing, 

not quick-tempered, 

not given to drunkenness, 

not violent, 

not pursuing dishonest gain.

Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, 

who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 

He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught,

so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine

and refute those who oppose it."

All one who follows Rick has to do is follow Rick's Rules:

 "Rick's Rules of Growth.... Third, never criticize what God is blessing,"`

Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren  pg 62

Translated, this means never criticize Rick.