People who are free have power and these people have the power to choose for themselves what they think, wear, eat, do with their time and who they pay tribute to. People with power, also tend to have influence as their decision making affect others. There is a strange phenomena however, that of gaining through your own influence the power of of others... when this takes place influence has gone awry.
Everybody has influence, but there is a problem when a person's thinking begins to focus primarily upon themselves. They will then begin using their own natural influence to change and manipulate others for their own personal benefit. Symptoms include the use of multiple logical fallacies in conversation, as well as ignoring facts in order to advance some kind of agenda. Flattery, boasting, false humility and doublespeak, as well as partiality to people of influence, and name-dropping are all symptoms of it's infection. An unbridled willingness to do and say "whatever it takes," to make a sale, make a friends, or get your way, often without thinking of long term consequences, is common. For the sake of discussion, we will call this kind of influence-gone-awry, "influence-a." Make no mistake, left unchecked and allowed to fester, "influence-a" soon becomes a highly
contagious little bugger.
True "influence-a" has one primary purpose, and that is to alter the influence of other people to the host's personal advantage and liking. This is usually done via some stealth method of verbal manipulation that preys upon the naivety of others. This strange mutant form of unhealthy influence, if not exposed to light, acts like a virus as it plagues the
human psyche with a propensity for acquisition of friends, fame or finance. In most cases, the organism subconsciously causes a person to unduly justify the means with which it covertly operates, favorable results are all that matters. "Influence-a" should be recognized for the problem that
it is, exposed to the light and always handled with care, in truth and love... in hopes of arresting the lytic cycle of this hazardous threat.
Enter, Rick Warren:
"Listening is influencing with your ears. See James 1:19" -Rick Warren
Rick Warren, Tweet 1-2-13
He appears to be a bad
case of "influence-a." He is, were are told, quite influential, often influencing others and now he advocated influence coming out of people's ears!
This is serious.
The cure for those infected and
affected by this terrible condition of "influence-a" is nothing short of a miracle. In all actuality the cure is pretty simple, but it requires a drop of pure, honest-to-goodness humility, obtained only when the affected recognizes something is terribly wrong and repents. Once this happens, the inflated influence deflates to normal size and the infected individual can see their need for Jesus and appropriately apply the truth of God's holy and infallible Word to all their wound and wounding that they have caused to others by their sin. This
simple and cost effective treatment works wonders and when reapplied frequently "influence-a" remains dormant and unable to reproduce.
There are many treatments, but this is the only known cure to actually quell the deficiencies in us that create that overwhelming desire to win
friends and influence people in order to find our own purpose and significance in the world and to be thought of as great in the eyes of human beings. Once cured by this amazing knowledge of God's love, and subsequently freed from the bondage and slavery of our own sin, the disease is arrested. Living in the light of truth and genuinely learning to love one another as Jesus said, can and will prevent any further uncontrollable outbreaks of the disease.
Romans 12 : 2-3 tells the Christian,
"....be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.There is an
influence craze. It is pretty much epidemic in the world. As
Anne Lennox in her song says, "Everybody is looking for something." "
Sweet Dreams are made of these...."
"Influence-a", considered by many to be the key to "change" and "transformation," (even though change from what to what often goes completely undefined.) Masters of influence know that if you learn to master others via "influence-a," it can grow to astronomical proportions affecting things you never thought possible and only dreamed of, but often they do not know, or they fail to tell you that it is intoxicating. In fact, "influence-a" is the kind of thing that can drive you as an individual to do things you may one day regret doing.
Take Rick Warren, he's a nice guy with a desire to do "good" things. He has a best selling book that
made him a lot of money, and so because of this and
the notoriety that comes from being a nice guy with a lot of money,
he believes he now has a lot of influence, and he does. As a person of influence, he has the
capability if making impressions on people just by the use of his name, (like
on the foreword of a book.) Like E.F. Hutton, when Rick Warren speaks he hopes people are listening. Fluent in the mechanics of influence, Rick himself, describes what influence is, this way:
"Influence isn't inborn. Influence
can't be demanded. You only have it if people think you deserve it and
GIVE it to you."-Rick Warren
Rick Warren, Tweet 11-23-12
Influence itself is a good thing.
It is described as the power to affect a person, thing, or change a
course of events, and it often operates without any direct or apparent force.
Problems with undue influence frequently arise when influence becomes an
"art"
or a "science" used
to covertly deploy your natural
influenceon other (unsuspecting) people. Salesmen, marketing agents,
business executives
and all sorts of people managers quite frequently employ special
techniques of
influence
in order to manage affairs and affect circumstances and the people around them
in order to build a business or make a profit... sometimes this is done the right way.... other times it is not. Many will pay big
bucks to go to lectures and conferences to listen to the masters of influence
spout their wares and learn to follow in their footsteps of perceived success. There are a lot of experts.... John
Maxwell, Anthony Robbins, Ken Blanchard, and no doubt, Rick Warren, to name a few.
Take Rick Warren for example.... he is so full of influence... that all
he has to do is listen, and he can influence other people? That's
right.... he knows all about it. Remember, his "tweet?"
"Listening is influencing
with your ears. See James 1:19"
There is not anything in the Bible
about influencing people with your ears..... even in James 1:19.
The part about influencing people
with your ear... sounds "good" but who knows where it came from? Maybe Rick made it up. Maybe he got that idea from reading
Scientific American Magazine and
thought it helpful so he is passing it on to you and me via tweet... Whatever the case, ears take in information and do
not influence much of anything, but you can bet Rick Warren is influencing people to repeat his tweet, as if it were gospel. Rick Warren has influence over a lot of of people, like... Mark Driscoll.
If you never heard
of Rick Warren, but you know about Mark Driscoll, then Mark Driscoll might
influence you to be influenced by Rick. Amazing how it works in a kind of domino effect. Not only that, but influence-a can set up
a sort of invisible, obscure hierarchy under one leader. The question is,
"Who leads and mentors you?" Once under the headship of your leader.... you will likely, because of the amount of influence they have over you, do what your leader suggests you do.. In the case of Warren, you might have never even
met the man or read his book, and you might not know Driscoll either, but if your friend endorses them and is influenced by them, you might also allow them to have a degree of influence, over you.
Mark Driscoll heartily endorsed Rick
Warren for the
2012 Resurgence Conference telling you and me how much Rick
deserves to influence us. He elaborated on all the accomplishments of
Rick and told us how he is even named by a leading
and influential magazine publication as "one of the 100 most influential
human beings on the earth." And wouldn't you know.... Rick Warren's
topic, at the R12 conference was.... drumroll please.... (have you guessed
it?)..... "Influence." And speaking of influence, Rick is so
influential, according to Driscoll, that "If you "google" Rick Warren, your
computer will explode!"
Interestingly, all that you have to
do to learn from Rick is buy a ticket to this
Resurgence Conference so that Rick's influence can affect
you... or is it infect? Anyhow, there you could learn from him how to use your influence too, or
rather, "How to Maximize Your Influence... For Jesus."
(Apparently Jesus does not
have enough on his own and needs to use some of yours.)
Have you ever wondered why John the Baptist
said he must decrease.... (not increase...
nor "maximize?")
Of course to learn from Rick and Mark, you must be
able and willing to buy a ticket for this incredible opportunity to hear them speak, and one ticket will cost you $99.00.
Odd isn't it? Have you ever read anything in
scripture about pay a fee in order
to hear the master, Jesus, speak?
Yes, $99.00. That equates to a lot of fish!
However, there will undoubtedly be a lot
of resources you do not want to be without that these men will have
for sale, books, DVD's ect... that you will want to share with your friends, so maybe you will want to bring your wallet with you. And while you are packing, note that Mark
Driscoll recommend you bring your ears.
Driscoll tell the listing
audience, "Come with ears to hear, and hear what he would have to
say."
Well, that kinda sounds like Revelation 2:29.... Jesus
speaking.
Wait a minute! Is Rick replacing Jesus?
Dricoll began his introduction of
Rick telling us that Rick has something to teach us...."
if we are
humble enough" to learn it.
He says, this conference is something
"you do not want to miss."
Apparently.... since you must be "humble enough" to come and learn from Rick, it logically infers that those who are proud and arrogant do
not come to learn... from Rick.
Are you humble enough?
(BTW, Driscoll is using verbal manipulation.)
Also by telling me what I want and do not want,
Driscoll is certainly attempting to
exercise influence over me by
making my choice in the matter for me,
instead of letting me decide for myself.
..
According to Driscoll, the
"story" of Pastor Rick Warren, is really phenomenal. Poor
Rick, started out as a guy who was broke and wow, look at him. Now he is a millionaire! He tells us that Rick's story is an amazing rags-to-riches one but to be sure
we do not think it is "all about money," Driscoll assures us that the influence
Rick swaggers before our eyes, is "all about Jesus."
Driscoll further plays up the
reputation of Rick, swooning at how amazing it is that Rick not only "pastors" a mega- church, meets with presidential candidates
and even brings them together under his roof, but he stops AIDS epidemics,
writes New York Times Bestselling books, and to top all of that, Rick Warren..... (another drum roll please.) gives
ninety percent of his income to his church and lives off of ten percent!
Have you ever seen a more amazing feat of humility?
Driscoll also notes how amazing we
should think Rick Warren is by telling us that Rick he has "refunded" to his
church, Saddleback Church in southern CA, the entire 25 years of salary he was paid as pastor! Rick
of course now tithes that ninety percent.... to this not for profit entity, and works solely as "a volunteer" for his church.
Aren't you impressed?
Subsequent to his "paying" the church
back...
it appears that Rick is now in no way indebted to the church,
he paid them back EVERYTHING they...
through their generous giving, (or was it tithing?)
ever gave, (or was it paid?) to him!
They instead are indebted to... or at least have
the majority of projects funded by his contributions to them.
And Rick, who no longer" has" to work
is free now to speak at conferences
and charge you money to come and see and hear...
and be influenced by him.
"Listening
is influencing with your ears. See James 1:19" -Rick Warren
Let's be like a Berean and
check out James
1:19. What does it say about listening with your ears?
"Wherefore,
my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to
wrath." KJV
Interesting.... nothing about
influence there. It says, "be swift to hear." Does it sometimes seem like Rick
reads a completely different text? Does he just make stuff up? How on earth does he do it?
In May 2005, when Rick Warren
first introduced his P.E.A.C.E. plan to his church and to the world news about it was everywhere! An
article in the Christian Examiner reported on how Rick Warren, as he explained it, came to understand what to do with all his new found fame and fortune,
due to the success of his best selling book, The Purpose Driven Life. The
Examiner reported:
..."I prayed Lord, what do I
do with this stewardship, this affluence, this influence.” Warren said the Lord led him
to Psalm 72. “It was clear,”.... “I’m
to use my notoriety to help those throughout the world with no notoriety, the
immigrant, the sick, the homeless, the hurt. For the next 25 years I’m focused
on the rest of the world." Rick Warren
Enters 26th Year of Ministry with New Vision;‘Purpose’ Pastor Unveils Global
Peace Plan By Christina M.
Testa, CHRISTIAN EXAMINER
So, and this according to Rick, God answered his request with Psalm 72.
It was God who gave Rick the insight about what he was supposed
to do with all the money from his God intended book.
that was in 2005. More recently, Rick was was publically interviewed by
Piers Morgan.... and again he recounted once more the tale of Psalm
72.... about Solomon asking God for "influence"... "power,"and "fame." Rick told Piers:
"It sounds like the most
self-centered prayer you can imagine. 'I want you to give me influence, give me
power, give me - spread the fame of my name to every country,'... until you
read the motivation behind it. And in it he says, So that the king may support
the widow and orphan, defend the defenseless, release the depressed and prisoners.'
Today he'd talk about all the margin. See, he says care for the
immigrant."-Rick Warren
Yes, Rick is right, praying for
fame and power does seem a bit self-centered. But Psalm 72 is not actually about Rick. And how is it that it doesn't seem to matter to Rick or to God that "Solomon" prayed in a selfish
manner? God seems to have answered Solomon's "self-centered" prayer... (given
him exactly what he asked for,) and Rick seems convinced and convincing to us that this is just great.
It would seem that the
end, regardless of the approach, justifies the means. as we can see here, Solomon had good intentions, to help the poor.... so, God seeing that blessed him!
But....did Solomon
really ask God to make him famous, give him a fortune of money?
And did God respond to
Solomon's bold, "self-centered "request for funds?
No.
No such thing.
(And I am not even a
"pastor.")
Stories of
this kind, by Rick, are told and retold. Sometimes they are retold by Rick and sometimes
by other pastors who are unduly influenced by Rick. Rick himself, has retold this story time after
time. He told the "life-changing "story pf Psalm 72 another
time at a global gathering of influential people conferring about
research and ideas, science and culture, called,
TED:
"Being a Pastor I started
reading the Bible. There's a chapter called Psalm 72 and it's Solomon's
prayer for more
influence. When you read this prayer, it sounds incredibly selfish, self
centered. It sounds like he says, "God I want you to make me
famous." That is what he prays. He says, " I want you to make
me famous, I want you to spread the fame of my name through every land. I want
you to give me power. I want you to ...." -
Rick Warren
Sorry to interrupt.
Odd. And did you know, have you EVER read, that
Solomon demanded anything from God or even
asked God for things in this frame of spirit? Did
he demand
(tell God, "I want,") of God for fame and power?"
something quite different.
Why didn't Pastor Rick use this as
an example of
"Solomon's prayer?"
Perhaps Rick Warren has amnesia, or some other strange side
effect of "influence-a?"
Also, Psalm 72 is a Messianic Psalm
written by or for "Solomon"
and it is ultimately about the Messiah.
It is not about Rick Warren.
Sorry this post is so long, but would you believe, yet another time Rick
Warren spoke about Psalm
72. This time it was on a forum for thinkers, movers and shakers, you
know, influential people.... those considered "experts" in their various but highly specified areas of
interest, called,
Big Think.
Warren related his amazing story once again, saying,
"Solomon was the wisest man
of the world, the wealthiest man in the world. He was the King of Israel in
Israel’s apex in history. The divided kingdom; it was the kingdom that was the
most expanded ever in history. And in that prayer Solomon says, “God,
I want you to make me rich.” Not
rich, he said, “I want you to make me famous. I want you to give me power. I
want you to bless me. I want you to spread the fame of my name to many
countries.”
"And it sounds very self-centered until you read why. And in that he says,
“So that the king may support the widow and orphan; defend the defenseless;
speak up for the oppressed; care for the immigrant, the foreigner.” -Rick Warren
Let's
look at that now famous Psalm 72 (KJV) and see what it says.
"1 Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.
2 He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
4 He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in
pieces the oppressor
5 They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
7 In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.
8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
9 They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer
gifts.
11 Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
12 For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him
continually; and daily shall he be praised.
16 There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall
shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
17 His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be
blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.
18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.
19 And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory;
Amen, and Amen.
20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended."
Does Solomon make any demands to God saying, "“God, I want you to make me rich,” or "I want you to make me powerful"?
Does Solomon make proclamation about himself doing all these "wondrous things" or of his name being famous, people praying to him?
No.
Something is odd about Rick's Psalm 72 presentation, it looks viral.
