"Not Just Believe"

Dear Christian reader, since you know the true gospel is "believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved," are you now going to believe that "believing" is not the only thing that God want you to do?   It would seem that belief.... is secondary.

"You Are Called To Belong, Not Just Believe"

~Rick Warren

You Are Called To Belong, Not Just Believe  BY RICK WARREN — MAY 21, 2014

"Don’t Just Believe. Belong!"~Rick Warren 

"Don’t Just Believe. Belong!"  BY RICK WARREN — MAY 21, 2014

Who, Christian, do you belong to?  Why, you belong to the one who puchased you with his own blood!  But curiously Rick doesn't talk about you" belonging" to Jesus, but rather, you, belonging to a "community." It's rather odd, (don't you think, Christian,) that he fails to teach that when a person believes in Jesus they DO belong... to the Lord. (see Mark 9:34)

 "Belonging" is not some secondary thing that one must accomplish on their own in addition to believing, however, if you believe in Jesus, Rick wants you to realize that simple faith in Jesus is not enough.  No.... there are lots of requirements and expectations now placed upon you.  It would appear to Rick that those old- fashioned churches that just accept you and love you, give you a place to come and be discipled... you know, learn about God, get it wrong.  They do not place requirements and expectations on you, like Rick does.

Rick laments:

"In churches, membership is often reduced to simply adding your name to a roll, with no requirements or expectations."

Imagine that!

Imagine, if you can fathom it, a church being so lame as to be a place whereby membership comes about with no requirements or expectations placed upon you.  All they dare to do is accept you and maybe  add your name to a roll.   (This would be that kind of church whereby you are a member because you simply heard the gospel and responded in faith, making proclamation of your faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior and then you attend church to learn more and grow in your knowledge of who God is and to be a part of that church!  Can you imagine that membership in a church would even be that simple?

Rick is here to help:

"We need to recover and practice the biblical meaning of membership."~Rick Warren

He means you must tithe to your church.... ten percent, show up all the time and volunteer your time too.  It's required for membership.  

"Following Christ includes belonging, 

not just believing."~Rick Warren

You must understand... you not only to believe.  You have to also belong!  Isn't it great to know that being a Christian is not easy? In addition to a membership covenant with your church... you will need to buy study materials, attend all the appropriate classes, and go on missions but only after you make yourself useful... that is, once you discover the purpose God made you for, but you'll need Rick's best selling book.

.....and while you' at it, besides  believing and belonging, you must also master the art of balancing the "five purposes" God has for you.  (What happens pray-tell if you cannot balance them right?)  And be aware, that task actually doubles, because in addition to you balancing the five purposes,  you need to know that there are five purposes for the church too.

It's a double whammy!.  

"God’s purposes for his church are identical to his five purposes for you."~Rick Warren

Whoever said that all a person had to do to was "believe?"

Simple  faith, (the kind of faith a little child has when you tell them something; what is that anyway?

.... Not Just Believe.

Putting "Church" First

'We Have to Learn to Love the Church' ~Rick Warren

"Too many Christians use the church, but don't love it. 

This is a hard message for many of us to hear. We've been deeply hurt by members of the church, we've been disappointed, we can be discouraged. But the Church is the Bride of Christ. It's the Hope of the world, the vessel

 through which God works out his plan. We have to learn 

to love the church. For some of us that means there's

 people we need to forgive, for others it means we need to get involved in service, and for others it means 

we need to change how we talk of the church. Jesus

 loves his church. If for no other reason than that-

 we must love the church also"

                                                            ~Rick Warren, Facebook page, Dec. 9th, 2015

 Did you ever notice how some people talk bad about the church and "Christians" all the time.?  And while you might think that it's a "pastors" place to correct the flock of it's folly, to tell Christians how awful they are, you might want to think again.  And think about it... As Rick whines and complains and talk about changing the way Christians are and are not, is he encouraging Christians to love the Lord their God with all their hearts?  No.  He is actually attempting to replace that concept.  According to Rick Christians have it all wrong.  They "must love "the church."

It's tricky business being a change agent.  You got to be pretty sly, and Rick Warren has repeatedly referred to "pastors" as change agents, including himself.  Here he is telling those who listen to him, (Christian or not,) how unforgiving, lazy, and unlike Jesus "Christians" are. In fact, his message is probably one that is hard for most Christians to hear.  (Is it hard for you?)  Riddled with the problem of unforgiveness towards others, neglecting to serve and wrongly thinking church is for them to become equipped and mature, Christians have things all wrong.  Rick has a message for Christiand though.... one that will help them change.

Christians "must love the church."

To this, any discerning ear should wonder, "Does he means Rome?"

Discerning ears know the thing Christians are commanded to love is God. (See the first commandment) However Rick will happily employ people with the notion of loving "the church" first and foremost, even in place of God, if people let him do this; and they do.  He would help someone discover their "purpose" instead of Jesus and working hard to please God, instead of entering into God's rest by relying upon the finished work of Jesus Christ upon the cross.  Oh, Jesus is often mentioned... but only to lend credence to Rick's divulged "secrets" he will teach you if you only extend to him that "itchy" ear.

Rick  offers people the "secrets" of a healthy church, the "secrets" of successful weight loss through his "Daniel Plan,"as well as all the "secrets" of  a fruitful ministry, like his.  He offers hearers the "secret" to finding happiness and the "secret" of how to get yourself some answered prayer, and stresses the importance of knowing, not what Jesus did for you, so much as just how much YOu are worth, a the while saying, in case your listening to him speak, that really, it's not about "you. "

"There isn't a better thing you can do to raise your confidence level than to start believing what God says about you. As I read through the Bible, chapter by chapter, and find a verse that speaks to me, I write it down on a card, memorize it, and then I affirm it back to God: "Father, thank you that I am valuable; I am significant; I am forgivable; I am capable."

~Rick Warren, Eliminate Negative Self Talk by Rick Warren, May 21, 2014, rickwarren,org

"...... But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."
Jesus, Revelation 3:17

After all, Rick doesn't really mind too much if you are thinking that you are somehow worthy of God's love,  just like Jesus; and that you were created for serving others and doing your "fair share," if not more.

"You weren’t created just to consume resources—to eat, breathe, and take up space. God designed you to make a difference with your life. You were created to add to life on Earth, not just take from it. God wants 

you to give something back. "

~ Rick Warren

Rick Warren: God Calls Us To a Life of Service,  by Rick Warren, Ministry mag.com

So much for for the free   "gift" of God.  You Christians better get busy and make a contribution to society.

, Rick does not hold  "Christians" in high esteem. In fact, the very thing he  suggests "Christians" are guitly of, (talking bad about the church,) he himself does.  There is a word for this.  It is called hypocrisy.    Matthew 23 tells us all about it.

 And while Rick suggests that Jesus loves the church and you should too, Jesus himself told his disciples that love of God was the most important thing...( not the love of "church." as Rick suggests.)  In fact, Jesus used some strong language (see Luke 14:26) to insure his disciples put God first, and love the Lord God with all their heart.

It's a sad day when truth is abandoned and replaced with fine sounding human notions.   Little does Rick know, but Christians are actually knit together in love.  Its a fine sounding argument to say that Christians must learn to love the church, and it's sounds profound to suggest that the church is the hope of the world... but church is not the answer to the ills of man.  Jesus is.  Jesus is the hope of the world.... and John tells us clearly, God "so loved the world" that he gave us his Son, that who soever believes on him would have eternal life.  Believing in Jesus is one thing.  Believing in the church is something else.

Jesus is the hope of the world and we who belong to Jesus are called to love God and others.  Christians do love God and others, not because we do everything perfect all the time, but because Jesus did and not because we MUST learn to love, as Rick suggests, but because of who Jesus is and what he did; and because, God first loved us.

The Power of Community

Ah... yes. the "power of community."  What could be more powerful than community? 

Rick says that Saddleback Church believes strongly in the power of community. and to that end he is now ateaching about the 10 Building Blocks of Community.  These are, he says, frequency, authenticity, mutuality, courtesy, sympathy... and that's the first five.  He is only teaching them five at a time. and sad to say, he just kinda picked verses here and there to support his idea... the idea of there being 10 Blocks of Community is not actually in the Bible, he just kinda made that up!  

Rick does this  often.  

According to Rick, "community" is a Greek word, from the Bible.  It's a "modern term", he says, for an "ancient word" that refers to biblical fellowship. Then with a little more twist of definitions, right before your very eyes, the meaning of biblical Christian "koinonia" emerges in a brand new light.  It's his very own, new-and-improved, definition of being committed to Jesus and being in community.

"Small groups are extremely important at Saddleback because we believe so strongly in the power of community. Community is a bit of a buzz word in today’s church culture, and I think that’s a good thing. We need to understand it. It’s really a modern term for an ancient word – fellowship. The Greek word for fellowship in the Bible is the word koinonia. And koinonia means being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ."

Rick Warren, Nov. 7, 2014;
 The 10 Building Blocks of Community, posted at pastors.com,  

It's not a new concept of Rick's.  He has presented it before.... more than once or twice.

“..koinonia (the Greek word for fellowship) is "being as devoted to each other as we are to Jesus Christ."

Church membership covenant: Expect what the Bible expects By Rick Warren  10/25/02)

"The word for loving other believers is “fellowship.” Unfortunately, like “worship,” the word has been misused and watered down. Today fellowship is reduced to coffee and cookies and casual conversation. But real fellowship is being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ." 

 Rick Warren, Pastors.com Ministry Toolbox Issue 198, 

Easter, What Am I Here For? March 16, 2005

Rick has been repeating this definition for years, telling the same false definition, over and over and over.... informing people on what koinonia "really" means. People who blindly follow Rick Warren's Purpose Driven methods unwittingly repeat it too. Bible teachers will use the original greek definition of the word when they are teaching what the Bible says,  but Rick tells a different concept.... and he tells everyone quite plainly,  he and his church associates,  (a.k.a. "we") have their own definition:

"In our church, we define koinonia (fellowship) as" being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ."

Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church,

for a review of this book, click here

 and then, maybe also here. 

Koinonia does mean fellowship, but it does not mean  "being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ," and yet, Rick Warren has a whole lot of people believing and repeating his new definition of what koinonia means.  This is how some forms of propaganda work.  ( If you tell a falsehood long enough, over and over, people begin to believe it. Then they repeat it.   Where in the Bible does it teach that Christians are to be as devoted to one another as they are to Jesus Christ?  

It doesn't.  If this were the case, who would be their master?  (Matthew 6:24) 

In the gospel of Luke we hear Jesus teaching this:

^" If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, 

and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own 

life also, he cannot be my disciple.'.

Luke 14:25

Jesus here isn't advocating "hate" nor is he giving you permission to neglect your parents or to  treat them unkindly.  He is not suggesting that you hate your siblings or yourself.   He is however, clearly asserting the importance of his role and place in the life of someone professing faith in Him.  

 No one comes to the father except through him,(John 14:6) and this faith in Christ, is a very narrow gate with which to enter in...(Matthew 7:14) .  All the world will try to keep you from entering in... if you let it, even well meaning family and friends.  The moral of the story is that Jesus must be first and foremost of importance above all others, if one is to be a disciple, but rick wants you to be as devoted to yourr little group within his church as you are devoted to Jesus Christ. 


Rick has sometimes used 1 John 3:16 to attempt to validate his point... This verse says:

".....because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

Yes, we are to love the brethren and to love them as Christ loved us, maybe even lay down our life for another, but this is different than "being as committed to others as we are to Jesus Christ."  It's a tricky switch-up of things.  It is a different gospel than the one a Christian has already believed in, and at it's core it is legalistic, for like a law, you now must be as devoted to you group as you are to Jesus.     

Let's say that you belong to a group...  or even a family.  Could your attachment to the group, your desire for a sense of belonging, ever be strong enough, so strong  that you would choose to go along with them rather than stand for Jesus, even if you knew the crowd was wrong?  Of course. It's called peer pressure, and it works most all the time unless you have a conviction of heart and stick to it.  Peer pressure is even employed intentionally on some people.  God however.. in his wisdom, gave us each freewill to choose or reject him. 
To stand for Jesus, who was crucified before Pontius Pilot will not always be an easy thing to do especially if it means being ostracized from a group of people you love.... as much as you love Jesus..

 The Greek word kononia  means: (a) contributory help or participation, (b) sharing in, communion, (c) spiritual fellowship, a fellowship in the spirit.  In true Christian community, there are all these things. and yet, it is not the same as the secular concept of "community."

As Christians, we are certainly called to love others.... to love our mother and father and wife, and children and brethern and sisters..and no doubt we are also called to look out for the needs of others... as we feed and cloth ourselves.  Despite this, Jesus is God, and God is supposed to be first and foremost above all these things.  Following the direction of a favorite crowd for fear of being hated or shut-out of the group instead of following the truth of God in Christ, is not what a witness or for that matter, a friend, of the Lord Jesus is supposed to do.  Peter did that, three times, and by the grace of God, he was restored by Jesus, personally, but not without deep regret for what he had done in denying the Lord.

It's hard to go against the flow.... and if the truth be told, sometimes a Christian must take a stand.... for Jesus, for correct doctrine or for the truth of a situation; and sometimes the people around a Christian might hold a differing opinion or they may not like to hear and know the truth. On occasions like these, what is is Christian to do? If your commitment to the members of your particular group is equal to your commitment to Jesus Christ, you might have a difficult time deciding who holds your allegiance... men or God.

" ...they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straightly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said,
 "We ought to obey God rather than men."" 
  Acts Chapter 5: 27-30

The word "koinonia" is not always interchangeable with the word  "community."  It has several meanings and applications.  It also has real definitions and it does not simply mean "being as devoted to one another as we are to Jesus Christ."  

While it is not a bad idea to encourage believers to be devoted to loving and caring for fellow believers,(and to unbelievers too,)it is a bad idea to hijack the Greek word for fellowship between Christians, (koinonia,) and make up one's own definition.

"'Community'..... It’s really a modern term for an ancient word – fellowship. The Greek word for fellowship in the Bible is the word koinonia. And koinonia means being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ."         ~ Rick Warren

Rick Warren is prettuy open about what he is doing.  He is changing the church and the foundation of the church,, and in it's place he is attempting to build something completely different.... community. 
 

"So Close to Hell That I Can Smell It"

Hell?

The reality of a place called hell is an rather unpleasant thought, for it is a place where God is forever unreachable.  If hell has a smell, it would likely be more unpleasant that anything we know in this world.  Strangely, in his article, 8 Acts of a Healthy, Growing Church, by Rick Warren, he states that he wants "to get so close to hell that he can smell it." It's a rather weird thing to say, but then, in light of scripture, so are some of the other things Rick touts.

In, 8 Acts of a Healthy Church, Rick  uses the book of Acts in the bible, to show his readers the characteristics of the early church, and teach how, (if we want God's blessing,) we can do the same as they did, (Note: this is not necessarily what the bible says, but what is being taught by Pastor Rick.)  Rick's catch on the deal with God, is that you have to learn these 8 "acts" (of a "healthy" church,) from Rick. 

"There are a lot of churches that want to play it safe. They get as far away from unbelievers as they can so they don’t get tainted. I want to get so close to hell that I can smell it!" - Rick Warren

Rick accuses churches, a "lot" of them, of "playing it safe," being unwillling to take risks, like Rick, who evidently is so risky that he's willing to get close to "hell" then those other churches and Christians dare to get.) 

Rick, who claims to know almost everything, is out to convince you that he knows all about The book of Acts, but more importantly, that he knows how to get God's blessing.  The key to getting the blessing of God is apparently doing church like it was done in the book of Acts, with a catch..... it must be interpreted for us, by Rick. 

He begins the article by dropping names like B.H. Carroll, C. Peter Wagner, and G. Campbell Morgan.  You might not even know who those people are.   Rick probably never met B.H. Carroll or G. Cambell Morgan personally, but he did know C Peter Wagner well.  Droping the names of some popular names, one of which is a personal friend, Rick hopes the legacy of these men will validate what he has to say about the book of Acts.  Promising you and me a "blessing," from God.... IF....  we accept his wisdom about the early church.... validated by those three men of course, Rick teaches:

"If we echo the actions of the early church, we can expect God’s blessing on our church."  

Now that he has you trusting that he knows so much about this, and has validated it for you and me who are impressed with his wise associations of Carroll, Wagner and Morgan, it is expected that you will see...as Slicky Ricky teaches...that the Holy Spirit living inside of you is not sufficient.  

Nope.  you need to have Rick's teaching.  He says:

"If you’re a Christian, you already have the Holy Spirit living inside you, but...."  -Rick Warren

 But?...  

But what?  What follows is a long list of things that you MUST do in order to be "blessed" by God. 

Here is his list of things YOU (he says "we" so he himself is included....) "must" DO, (besides receive the Holy Spirit, because that is not enough:)

"We must maintain a warm fellowship."

"We must multiply small groups."

"We must magnify our vision of God."

"We must maximize the power of prayer."

"We must model Christ-like generosity."

(Must... must..... must.... must...must...must....must... and....)

"We must move out with God’s mission." -Rick Warren

8 Acts of a Healthy, Growing Church, By Rick Warren, October 10, 2013

Rick  has a long list of things for the Christian with the Holy Spirit "living in side of them," to get busy doing.   The thing is, those are Rick's commands, use here  to get you on his own programs.  there is no loophole, no rest... not even a choice on your part.  The Holy Spirit living inside of you when you put your faith in Jesus Christ, is not enough.  You MUST also do all these things Rick mentions.... as MUSTS.

Rick has people running themselves ragged, moment by moment doing their best to please God by maintaining warm fellowship with people in their small groups.  They must also be working to multiply and grow their groups, as well as be busy "magnifying" the "vision of God", (What is "God's vision" by the way?  Is that in the Bible or one of Rick's books?)  They must also be busy "maximizing the power of prayer," (as if we possess that power in and of ourselves.) and we must also be "modeling" of "Christ-like generosity." (Perhaps he means tithing?) As for  "mobilizing God's mission," this means promoting Rick's "movement of God."   

In his Purpose Driven materials he claims, "This campaign is all about the Kingdom of God, fulfilling his agenda in His world. Nothing brings more glory to God than having his churches, small groups, and his people fulfilling His Purposes. Because 40 Days of Purpose is about God's Kingdom, it is much bigger than any individual, church or denomination. We must work together "to serve God's purpose in our generation." (Acts. 13:36)   I hope and pray that your church won't miss out on this movement of God. I invite you to join us. We're waiting to partner with you on the journey of a lifetime!"  -Rick Warren

                                                                                   (Check Acts 13:36b here for meaning.)

People under Rick's tutelage, must do, do, do.  If you remember, the church, according to Rick, for the last fifty years, has been nothing but a big mouth, (better known for speaking than doing,) that is..... until Rick came with new insight from God.  Rick was tired with the big mouth church that never did anything to help people....and was always negative.

" The problem for the last fifty years is that the church has been the body of Christ, but the hands and the feet have been amputated and all that’s left is the mouth. Most of the time, we’re known for what we say and not for what we do in culture. And we’re more known for what we’re against than what we’re for. I’m tired of that and I intend to change it. "  ~Rick Warren                     The Purpose-Driven Student, An Interview, Jan. 14th, 2007

So people must now do everything perfect... perfectly balancing the five purposes laid out by Rick .  Churches and Christians are by default, labeled not "healthy."  And evidently, you should never be tired or feel ill for this is certainly a sign that God is not with you, because, as Rick states,  that:

 "one of the characteristics of people who try to minister in a church without God’s Spirit is simple – tiredness, fatigue."         8 Acts of a Healthy, Growing Church, By Rick Warren, October 10, 2013

This is a problem.  It's not the truth.

 We do get tired and weary..  Jesus himself got tired.  This does not mean Jesus did not have the power of God with him.  Christians are to live lives by faith and trust the Holy Spirit living in side of them always, not listen so some man who puts himself up on a pedestal and who does nothing but find fault with the church so that he can, by his own ideas and programs, improve upon it.  

According to Rick in this article, the early church in the book of Acts, chapter 8, did not even do church right.  "They didn't spread the gospel." 

"They didn't spread the gospel. So God applied pressure by allowing persecution to get them to spread. The Bible says, 'On that day a great persecution broke out against the church of Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered through Judea and Samaria.' Notice that: the pastors stayed home but all the people were scattered into Judea and Samaria. Why? Because that’s where He wanted them to go..." -Rick Warren

8 Acts of a Healthy, Growing Church, By Rick Warren, October 10, 2013

The disobedient church refused to share the gospel with others.  Persecution didn;t come because they refused to share the gospel, rather, it came because they did share.... after all, Saul, who later became Paul, was out to destroy the church.   He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison, (Acts 8:3) and this while all the while thinking he was doing a good service unto God. Saul was wrong. Meeting Jesus personally and realizing his sinful errors and repenting of them, Saul became a Christian himself and leaving the old man behind, he became known to the church, not as Saul, but as Paul.


The way to be "church"  according to Rick, has nothing to do with people having faith in Christ Jesus as Lord. 

"We will be the New Testament church when we magnify the vision of God, pray like they prayed, when we are filled with the Spirit and when we are generous with each other." -Rick Warren

8 Acts of a Healthy, Growing Church, By Rick Warren, October 10, 2013

...and while Rick talks about being "filled with the Spirit," note that he does not say, be tilled with the "Holy Spirit."  

Filled with what "spirit?"   (1John Chapter 4) 

It would be easy to assume, he means the Holy Spirit, but he is vague.  HE a pastor, he talks about Jesus and he even says that he himself is a "believer."

"I am a believer and I know I’m going to heaven. Nothing can take that away from me. But between now and when I go to heaven, I want to take as many people with me as possible. I hope you’ll commit to that same thing."
 

Rick's words, are like clouds without rain.  His words are all about himself, and the object of true Christian faith is invisble.  while he claims that he wants to "take people to heaven with him,"  he does not give any opportunity for someone reading this article to put their faith in Jesus Christ.... even though he hopes they will "commit" to the same thing he's committed to, (a thing that is undefined and ambiguous.) We find him not sharing the gospel, but soliticing  people to follow his teaching  and do,do, do, do, all the things he says that  they "MUST" do to be  the "church" ....without any mention of the Savior.

 
People of all faiths can be classified as "believers" for they all "believe" in something.   

Religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Mormonism and other various cults all have their followers and their own particulars of what one is to "believe" ( and do) to be called of that religion.  Rick's a "believer?"  In what?  

He does not say.

Rick also says knows he is "going to heaven,"but so does a Muslim who practices jihad.  Meanwhile, he never mentions the way to heaven is only one way, nor tell you that Jesus is the only door.... and he wants to sell you his books and programs and ways of thinking about the book of Acts.  Apparently some people are not only perfect as doing everything God demands, but are also busy working to make converts.  Unwilling to be open about the truth of God, they simply make clones of themselves... or worse.  


Christian pastors proclaim the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  They encourage others to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation from sin and death ( and without hypocracy, this faith is the same that they believe.) Their hearers, actually have the opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and receive God's gift of eternal life and thereby, with sin forgiven, be able go to "heaven."  Rick Warren, has his own agenda.  To get you interested in his programs and his P.E.A.C.E> plan and his teachings, like a bully, Rick paints churches in a negative light.  He is also quick to tell you that he is so much better than they are.

"There are a lot of churches that want to play it safe. They get as far away from unbelievers as they can so they don’t get tainted. I want to get so close to hell that I can smell it! "

Weird.    

The Sleeping Giant

http://purposedriven.com/blogs/dailyhope/a-god-fashioned-life/

"The best kept secret in the Church is that people are dying to make a contribution with their lives. We are made for ministry! When everyone uses their unique, God-given SHAPE to make a difference for Jesus’ sake in your community, you’ll make a tangible, visible difference in your community. The church that understands this, and continually calls people to a vision where every member can express his or her uniqueness in ministry, will experience amazing vitality, health and growth.  The sleeping giant will be awakened and it will be unstoppable." ~Rick Warren

Restate Your Churches Vision Every 30 Days, by Rick Warren, pastors.com

The church that "continually calls people to a vision where every member 
can express HIS OR HER iniqueness in ministry" will do what?

"Experience amazing vitality, health and growth." (according to Rick Warren.)  

These "words of wisdom" about what makes for a vital and healthy church is misleading.  The church's vision is not you and your uniqueness.  The churches vision is to be, Jesus . 

Have you, church, ever sang the song, "Be thou my vision?"
Have you, Christian, ever read in the scripture about "looking" (vision) "unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith?"
People of God, did you ever read the book of John?  Do you not remember the prayer of Jesus Christ, Son of God most high, who prayed to God the Father that we all would be one? (John 17)  Do you not know, God, our Father, answers Jesus'  prayer?  Do not be mislead into believing you are God's gift to the world.  You are not; and Jesus Christ, truly is.  If your uniqueness is your vision, you might want to have your "I"s examined. 

Rick is not teaching the church to be the church; he is attempting to awaken something that is dead.  This is something that he calls "a sleeping giant."  This "giant" will (supposedly) awaken, bringing health and vitality to us all.

But God does not sleep nor slumber, (Psalm 121) and Jesus is risen from the dead.  In fact the book of Ephesians First Chapter, (read towards the end) tells us that God, Our Father, raised him, Jesus, from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and abovebevery name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. It tells us also that God has put all things under His, JEsus',  feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is His body,and that he has RAISED us up together, and made us to sit in heavenly places in (the Anointed) Jesus.  MEanwhile Rick says the church is sleeping.... good for nothing without Rick's help, and that it's arms and legs are amputated. 

 (See "Frankenstein Jesus" on this blog)

Rick is wrong. The Lord is not slack as some count slackness, and he is not without arms and legs and hands and feet. God's holy spirit, is alive and well and doing exactly as God commanded.   Rick has some friends, who agree with him though.  They too write books and articles promoting this same nonsense, reapeating the "wisdom" of Rick while leaving their bible and doctrine behind.   .

Kenny Luck, of Saddleback Church fame, wrote a book called Sleeping Giant. that advertises "to revolutionize men’s ministry, free men spiritually and ignite spiritual health worldwide."  Let it be known, this is a Saddleback program whose target is YOUR CHURCH and it's stated purpose is to revolutionize, (in other words:alter, modify, overturn, bring down, overthrow,  or inspire) .your already established MINISTRY and then create an army... that will change things at every level of society... and make the church  "a center of masculine transformation and greatness, again."

There is a problem here.  

Jesus is the one who frees men (and women too by the way,) spiritually, but Jesus is not offered as the solution, instead this book and program are.  The claim that being part of this movement, learning from this book and materials for your church will help men "find the untapped potential in your lives and illuminate the purpose of your lives."  Thjey make no mention of Jesus.  The sleeping giant is you.... and your untapped potential.... your purpose.  This is a very different gospel message than the one already embraced by the church.  This is a very different spirit and it's in our  midst.

The teaching is to "kick some enemy butt." (see: Sleeping Giant pt 2, DVD)

........."watch this video to see how God is raising up men to form 

ranks around leaders in their church to kick some enemy butt."

Is this spirit of the Holy Spirit? (No.)

The men's pastor of Rick Warren's Saddleback Church, Kenny Luck, is teaching to men is that  "the world is waiting for us to rise." (pg 5, Sleeping Giant Core Team Workbook)  Too bad he is leading people in churches away from the Bible and into reading and studying his own book.   Instead of encouraging people who follow Jesus and serve God, to follow Jesus and serve God, he will draw them after a different gospel and train them to be Pharisaical leaders, men who have discovered their greatness, and "kick some butt" as they serve the world.  

Repeating the words of Rick Warren that the "hope of the world is the church" adding that "the hope of the church is God's men."   (see pg 20 in the Core Team Meeting  Video Session 1 Questions and Answers)   Someone needs to tell Kenny that Jesus, not his bride, (the church,)  is the "hope of the world."  "God's Men, as not the hope of the world either.  Circumventing the true  hope of the world, the one whom God sent, Jesus Christ, (see John 3:16) Kenny Luck (and his friends who repeat Rick instead of scripture)  gets things wrong. Instead of preaching the good news and making disciples, they are busy being leaders and building :leadership engines that support their own vision, and it's all about their own great uniqueness.  Rick endorsed the book saying,

“In Sleeping Giant, my men’s pastor Kenny Luck gives you a local church blue print for moving men from the audience to the army in your congregation. Let him help you build a leader making engine that supports the vision of your church.”
                               Rick Warren, senior pastor, Saddleback Church; author, The Purpose Driven Life

                                             

Read this enlightening article by Paul Proctor, asking, "Are You A Church Worshipper? 

Tim Peters at pastors.com says, "The church is the hope of the world."
James Emery White learned this "vision:" concept, from Bill Hybels, 
and shares many views  like this with Rick Warren.

"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, John 17:14

C.H.U.R.C.H.

Magazines tout him as "America's Pastor," but Rick doesn't speak very highly of any church not marked by Purpose Driven (TM) He likes those that are listening to him, doing things his way.   He tells his own congregation he loves them, and he would have you believe he loves "the church," but he sure talks bad about church pastors and Christians a lot of the time.

An overseer of God's flock, (see 1 Peter 5:2-4 ) should love the people of God and be an example to the flock, which would require mingling with them, but to do that, one must actually be involved with the people in their congregation.  Rick quit being a shepherd long ago.  In fact, Rick created his own idea of leadership in church.  Instead of a Shepherd, he's decidedly a "Rancher."

"As the church grows you must change roles from Shepherd to Rancher. The Rancher helps oversee the under-Shepherds. Practically everybody on my staff does more weddings and counseling than I do (in fact, I do very few now because I don’t want to show favoritism among our 17,000 members)."

Eight Steps to Grow Your church -by Rick Warren, posted by: T&W Church Solutions 

And while driving all those "unders-Shepherds (and subsequently their sheep) he's made a distinction as to which churches and pastors in the world are to be deened "healthy" and "unhealthy."  The "healthy" ones are those who subject themselves to his leadership as "Rancher."  the rest are "inhealthy."

(You do not want to be sick, do you?) 

"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  Rick Warren

(If you want to be"healthy" what must you do?)

And you know, to do what Rick suggests.... for YOU to take it upon yourself and grow your church bigger than it is, you first have to want to be bigger and then...you need to change.  Listen to Rick tell you what it takes to grow your church:

"It takes an incredible unselfishness.  They must be willing to die to some traditions, to some feelings, to some relationships in order for the kingdom of God to be advanced.  That takes a lot of maturity. "

Rick Warren, Eight Steps to Grow Your Church, T & W Church Solutions.com

You have to be unselfish, (unlike all those other churches who are "small" and insignificant.) You have to let those ancient church traditions "die." (In other words, disregard Proverbs 22:28;  Job 12:12; Jeremiah 18:15; and  2 Thessalonians 2:15) You have to have a lot of "maturity," (unlike all those other child-like, simple,  churches who are "small," (Rick says they are content with the "status quo,") and presumably the opposite of mature, which would be, "immature."

If you look at Rick and think, "Wow, I wish I were successful in ministry like he is," or if those dollars signs of having a larger, tithing congregation wave before your eyes, as he speak,  then you will probably want to learn from him, learn just how he does it.  Right?   Never mind that  he has just labeled everyone who does want to listen to him as selfish and immature   Is it possible that in your own desire to be great, like Rick, you might not have even noticed?

Rick, you see, inserts all sorts of innuendos when he talks that really is quite telling about his affections.  Without his direct influence over it, the church is all wrong, unhealthy and  just  plain, "baaa-a-a-ad."  If your church is one where the pastor just preaches and preaches.... warning people of hell, sin, and the judgement to come.... telling people about Jesus, persuading them to believe on him and be saved.... teaching Bible stories, holding bible studies and discussing doctrine in order to bring sheep ion and to keep sheep safe from harm and help them grow in the faith.... Rick just might take issue.  Besides, according to Rick, "most churches" are nothing but a "big mouth:"

"The Bible calls the Church the Body of Christ, yet most churches today have their hands and their feet amputated. Most of our churches are just one big mouth!   People know what we’re against, but they don’t know what we’re for. And we’re for helping the poor. When we do that, we’re investing in eternity."   

Rick Warren, A Purpose Driven Giving Plan by Rick Warren  10/15/2006

This really is quite rude.  It's a poor view of the church and of what God himself has established and loves.  People who hold the same negative view of church and it's work in the world are quick to agree.

Rick also often speaks against the "American" way of life.  According to him, the church... specifically the "American church"  is "self centered."  He's not though and superstar pastor that he is.... he is going to be the one to rescue it.

"My goal is to move the American church [away] from self-centered consumerism."                                                   Rick Warren, Interview with Charlie Rose 

Strangely, Rick sells books, sermons, CD's, DVDs, workbooks, study  guides, journals, bookmarks... all kinds of "consumer" materials and he targets the church with it.  In other words, he encourages people to be "consumers."  Apparently, to Rick " consumerism"  is fine, just not the "self-centered" kind that he claims is happening in the (bad behaving)  "American" church.

Speaking of churches, according to Rick, Saddleback is superior to most other churches.  In fact, most Christians in all those other "American" churches, could never measure up to Saddleback... in fact they are so deficit that they would not be allowed to join!  The membership requirements for Saddleback are too rigorous for most people...

"The membership requirements at Saddleback are so high most American church members could not join us, "    

                                                                    Rick Warren, Modern Reformation Magazine Interview, 2004 

This is intended, of course, to make you want to be one of the few, to prove you are better than "most," if Saddleback lets you in.  Christian, what is the requirement of God to be in His church?
Is it so high that most American church members could not join?

Another problem Rick sees in America's church is too much teaching.  Apparently, all that Bible teaching is keeping people from helping and caring about other people.

"Listen to this... The problem at a lot of churches today is that they are teaching people too much.  There's a wide gap between knowing and doing in American Christianity, and it's caused by too much teaching.  Before people actually apply what it is, they actually go on to the next thing and they can't handle it, they can't change that much."                                       

                                                                                          Rick Warren, Desiring God Conferences, 2010

And as for those "Christians?"  Rick hardly knows any good ones.

“Very few Christians I know live a truly God-centered life on a daily basis.”

Rick Warren, A Purpose Driven Phenomena An Interview With Rick Warren

Modern Reformation  Magazine

“Most Christians do not behave the way they claim to believe…The typical believer never shares his faith, never helps the poor, never visits those in prison, and never does many of the other things Jesus commanded us to do”         

Rick Warren, A Purpose Driven Phenomena An Interview With Rick Warren,;Modern Reformation  Magazine

But the church bashing doesn't stop there.  Pastors, well "most" of them, are all beneath the wisdom level of Rick.  Most pastors.... they just do not know as much as he does.

“I find most pastors do not understand the power of preaching. But even more important than that is they don't understand the purpose of preaching.”

Rick Warren, Purpose-Driven Preaching: Interview by Duduis  

So Pastor, if you know more than most pastor do... like Rick does.... you'll understand, and agree with Rick, that those other pastors just don't get it.  Right?   Or maybe by hearing him say such a thing,  you'll be intimidated into wanting to understand, and learn from all-knowing and highly successful Pastor Rick.  This way that Rick talks is degrading to other pastors and very manipulating.

Rick has no use for the church as it is.  He dislikes the "American" church.  He even thinks himself better than "most" other pastors.  Rick wants to re-form, re-incarnate, re-invent, re-imagine  and/or re-define anything and everything about "church."  His goal is to make the church something that the world can finally respect!   He wants the church to change.  In fact he even has a cleverly invented acronym for church:

C.H.U.R.C.H.!

C- Care
H- Handle
U- Unleash
R- Remove
C- Champion
H- Help

Wow.  Who knew?

 It was in a July 3, 2011, in a  CNN article, where Rick spelled out C.H.U.R.C.H. and gave us his idea of what the church was to be about.  The first letter, "C," according to Rick,  is "Care"  He says, "Care for and support the sick," and added, " Caring requires no money, just a willingness to offer compassion and kindness." Rick Warren

The assumption, of course, is that we 

need Rick's  redefinition, "acronymizatiom"  of the word

to understand  and to "care."

"H" is for "Handle"  (Note, it is not for HIV testing even though it does stand for "Handle HIV Testing." ) Rick says, "At the least, churches can encourage members to get tested, with the pastor leading the way. Everyone should know their HIV status." Rick Warren

And note, pastors" should be" leading the way" in making 
sure everyone gets tested for AIDS 
and knows their "HIV status."

Why is he not suggesting the doctors do this?
Why "pastors?"

 "U" is for "Unleash"....
–"Unleash volunteers. There will never be enough professionals to fix all that is wrong in our world. The Christian church claims 2.3 billion followers worldwide. If only half could be mobilized to care for those with HIV and AIDS, the fight would look very different."

Rick Warren  

Not so sure what it is that Rick is desiring to "unleash" upon the world, but  he insists that it is volunteers.

Apparently the church, (with all those millions of people)
 is going the wrong way, doing the wrong things. 
Rick wants to have them, at least half of them fall away.
After all they are teaching too much....
the pastors do not understanding the power of ,
 (or purpose of, ) preaching....
and all those Christians certainly are self centered people 
not having a "god centered"  life on a daily basis....
(things like that.)

 Imagine if only half of them would get on board with Rick's ideas!
Imagine, if instead of doing what they do,
if they would put themselves under his leadership,
 how different and better the world would be!  
  
Imagine, someone, someone like Rick, 
finally leading all those Christians

 along the right path and finally fixing 
all those terrible things that 
are so wrong in the world. ....
like AIDS.

The "R" for Rick's acronym, CHURCH, stands for "Remove the stigma..."Rick says, " Jesus never asked a sick person, “How did you get sick?” He asked, “How can I help you?”
                                                                                                                           Rick Warren

Remove what stigma?   His meaning is unclear. 

But, to further the unclarity of his murky words, Rick makes Jesus out to be a much like a store clerk who simply takes your order.  He is one who apparently responds appropriately to you, desiring to fulfill your request on demand.  This is a travesty.

Rick then makes the declaration, "it is not sin to be sick," this as  if "the church" (outside of his wise leadership and jurisdiction) believes that it is.  This is not what the church believes. 

Rick, while he speaks of Jesus,

is not pointing people to have faith in Jesus Christ,
but to see him as a vending machine to get what they want.

Is it salvation from sin they want or just more medical care?

Quite curiously, Rick has just made himself, a mere man,
 so much greater, so much more full of "compassion" 

than the entire (and quite mediocre) Christian "church." 

"The next letter, a second "C" (according to Rick,) is for "Champion"

  

Encouraging listeners to, "Champion healthy behavior,"  Rick reports, "HIV is almost completely preventable. While new reports suggest that accessing HIV treatment at an earlier stage of the illness is a vital way to prevent transmission, the cost may be an impediment. Behavior change will continue to be the most effective way to cut down on new infections."  Rick Warren

Don't you want to be a "champion" and champion "healthy" behavior?

How will you do that?

Rick here is quite honest as he informs us that AIDS is almost "completely" preventable, and he does mention something about behavior change... but he does not call homosexual behavior a problem or even a sin.  When he talks about it being "almost preventable," what, do you think, is he referring to?  

What that means, exactly, is really anybody's guess.

Behavior change to cut down on new infections in Rick dichotomy
 likely means being willing to educate people on the use of condoms for prevention 
and is likely involves doing HIV screening at the local health departments

 so that treatment for HIV and AIDS

 can happen at an earlier stage.

Then you are labeled a "Champion."

And finally, he tells us,  "H"... is for "Help--- help with antiretroviral drugs for HIV patients. The simplest way to cut down on new infections, to help infected individuals live longer, and to prevent children from becoming orphans, is to create accountability with medication compliance. Church volunteers can make daily visits or phone calls, reminding individuals to take their medication." Rick Warren

Rick says, 

"In America, we’d heard public leaders, including pastors, make pronouncements about AIDS that implied that those infected were enemies, or at least deserved their illness."

                                                                                                                                                                                   Rick Warren

Rick has just suggested that American leaders and pastors have done this.  Have they?  

Answer:  They may have or not. This is more America bashing by Rick.   You can assume rick is telling the truth, but it's just his own words.  You have no proof that what Rick just told you is true... or not and if you believe him without some evidence, then he has just turned YOU against America's "public leaders" and "pastors." You now believe they are rotten and he's the "good guy" amoungst them all.

Truth is... AIDS is a public health concern.  Truth is that many different people have many ideas about it and they have said and thought many different things, both true and untrue, right and wrong. Rick is making accusations, but he offers no proof of this accusation against America's public leaders and pastors.  He has not even provided one quote proving that this is what has been taught by American leaders and ministers of God.  He has done nothing but captured your attention and left you with the impression that they are somehow, all of them, involved in doing this "evil" thing.  He, Rick Warren, on the other hand, is not.

"Pastor" Rick, is here to change you and change your mind and give you a  new and improved kind if church.  In this "new thing" even the "hope of the world" is changed too.  It used to be Jesus, but things are different in light of Rick's teaching.  Rick says the hope of the world is... the church!

Which church does he mean?

 "Truly the church is the hope of the world!!" Rick Warren

Rick Warren, The Church the Hope of the World, The Peace Plan, kaywarren.com