For People Who Hate Church

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."   -JESUS  John  13:34

In front of the Muslim Affairs Council, March 2013, Rick Warren reminisced about how he started his church. He recalls:

"We were driving to this little condo, and I said, Don, do you go to church anywhere?"

He said," No, I hate church."

I said, "Great. You're my first member.. I'm starting a church for people who hate church." ~ Rick Warren 

Spoken to the Muslim Affairs Council, March 7,  2013, C-Span.org, Video and Transript.

People who hate church?
He recalls the story offten over the years:

"So then I asked myself, what kind of church are we going to be? And I decided, why don’t we be a church for people who hate church? There are plenty of good churches around here. Why don’t we have church for people who hate church? "  ~ Rick Warren

Rick Warren, Pew Forum, Myth of the Modern Megachurch , 2005, 

Faith Angle Conference on religion, politics and public life.

See also, Prophet of Purpose by Jeffery L. Sheller, book cover (click "read more")

Or read the book free;

and 

 In the Name of Purpose by Tamara Hertzell, quoting Rick warren Chapter 10, pg 135.

and read, 

News with Views,Hating Church, by Paul Proctor, June 19, 2005

And how does Rick do this?  

First you abandon thinking and speaking in a godly fashion and learn how to think and speak differently than "Christians" do:

"If you look at most church advertising, it’s obvious that it was written from a believer’s viewpoint -- not from the mind-set of the unchurched. When you see a church ad that announces, “Preaching the inerrant Word of God!” who do you think that ad appeals to? Certainly not to unbelievers! Personally, I consider the inerrancy of Scripture as a non-negotiable belief but the unchurched don’t even understand the term. If you’re going to advertise your church you must learn to think and speak like unbelievers. The spiritual terminology that Christians are familiar with is just gibberish to the unchurched." ~ Rick Warren

Rick Warren, "We Must Learn To Think Like Unbelievers" originally posted at Pastors.com, Ministry Toolbox 

You do not, according to Rick, start with scripture texts, (ever though Paul said to preach the word both in and out of season.) Instead he recommends you ... um.... basically trick people with something they, (in their unregenerate state of being) like, and then you can give them what they don't like, the Bible:

"The ground we have in common with unbelievers is not the Bible, but our common needs, hurts, and interests as human beings. You cannot start with a text expecting the unchurched to be fascinated by it. You must first capture their attention, and then move them to the truth of God's Word. By starting with a topic that interests the unchurched and then showing what the Bible says about it, you can grab their attention, disarm prejudices, and create an interest in the Bible that wasn't there before."

  ~ Rick Warren

, Purpose Driven Church, p. 295

He also recommends that  churches, during the worship service, ditch the traditional "Christian music"  they are using for music that unregenerate people want to hear:

"Although music is usually the most controversial element of a seeker service it is a critical element that cannot be ignored. We need to understand the incredible power of music, and harness that power by being willing to set aside our own personal preferences and use the music that will best reach the unchurched for Christ."                                                                                         ~ Rick Warren

Rick Warren, Selecting Worship Music, July 29, 2002

This is odd, because if you look in the Bible, taking Daniel as an example, we see how diespite the commands of the king, Daniel worshipped God, He kept on doing exactly what   he had always done, praying and worshiping and obeying God as a believer in Him, and not trying to please or perform for man, even the king. It got him put in a firey furnace.

Rick also tells the church that they must " be sensitive to the hang-ups of unbelievers" when it comes to the worship of God:

"We must be willing to adjust our worship practices when unbelievers are present. God tells us to be sensitive to the hang ups of unbelievers in our services."   ~ Rick Warren

The Purpose Driven Church  by Rick Warren, pg 243

And did you know, few people can think?  Rick says people cannot be converted on intellectual grounds,and this, while the Bible says, "Come, let us reason together,"

 Rick teaches pastors and leaders that you want to forget about actually reasoning with people.  Forget communicating in words that can reach their intellect.... instead,  use the music most appealing to them, (see above) for this will help them feel the presence of God.
Then of course, you help them feel better about themselves and provide for their felt needs."
Telling people that mmusic is the important part of service, not prreaching or teaching is antithetical to Hebrews 4:12 that teaches us, 

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. "

Meanwhile, Rick says, 

"Worship is a powerful witness to unbelievers – if God's presence is felt, and if the message is understandable. God's presence must be sensed in the service. More people are won to Christ by feeling God's presence than by all our apologetic arguments combined. Few people, if any, are converted to Christ on purely intellectual grounds. It is the sense of God's presence that melts the heart and explodes mental barriers."   

                                                                                                                                       ~ Rick Warren

Pastors.com, Ministry Toolbox article, quoted in "Church Growth Gone Mad,"by Clay Miller, Associate Pastor, 

Outreach Ministries, Grace Community Church

Faith comes by hearing.... the word of God, not music of anykinds that one just happens to prefer.

And what is Rick warren's goal with the writing of his book?

"The goal of 'The Purpose Driven Life' is to help people develop a heart for the world." ~ Rick Warren

The Purpose Driven Life helps readers determine the focus of their lives, by Rick Warren; pastors.com)

It is rather unfortunate, for Rick and some of his friends, that the stated goal of what they are doing in the purpose Driven movement is not to help people develop a heart for God. Nope, there is evidently, and according to Rick himself, something completely different in mind. 

His statements are telling.... if you have ears to hear what the spirit is saying to the churches, (Revelation 2:7 and other places.)  Rick's goal is to "help people develop a heart for the world," and this via.... a congregation of people who "hate church,"  

1 John 2:15-17

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.   For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Rick Warren on Building Your Life

Father's Day 2014
"In-In the Bible, God often compares... living your life to building a building.  And he says.. that just like with a building, you can build a good life, or a bad life, a strong life or a weak life, you can build a life that leaves a legacy, makes an impact, a life of greatness... or you can just blow your life, you can waste it, you can, you can do nothing with it.  You have really three options to do with your life.  You can, you can waste your life ... you can, you can spend your life or you can invest your life....."



"....You can waste your life....There are lots of ways to waste your life: You can spend your life, you can spend your life watching TV. you can spend it reading stupid novels and dumb magazines, you can waste, you can spend your life shopping, you can spend it on the golf course, but at the end of it nothing is going to matter.  You can actually build a great life... this fathers day that is what I want to look at, "How can I build a great life, a life of purpose"

Rick Warren, 6/16/2014, Sunday Sermon

Where in the bible does God compare living your life to building a building?
Rick does not say.

Rick tells us that "he says," ( "he" there, refered to God) "... "And he says, that just like with a building, you can build a good life, or a bad life, a strong life or a weak life, you can build a life that leaves a legacy, makes an impact, a life of greatness... or you can just blow your life, you can waste it, you can, you can do nothing with it. "

God says this?  Where?
I recall something about building... with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and stubble, but Rick talked about building a life of greatness.
Greatness?
Impact?
Legacy?


What is the foundation upon which you build your greatness?
Purpose?  ....Or something else?

...And ... a "good life," what does that look like?

It's probably the kind of life that would never admit to being normal or even mediocre...
 weak... needy... helpless or even wretched, pitiful, or blind.    (2 Cor 12:9-11)(Revelation 3:17)
After all, the goal is greatness and impact.  Right?


And all those "builders".... doing those wonderful works....of impact and legacy and greatness,  what is the foundation of hat is being built?  (Acts 4:11)

Purpose?

Or something esle?

Matthew 7
Jesus speaking:

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Rick Warren's "Fabulous" Fables

This verse, the part about the fables in particular, makes me think of Rick Warren and his ministry:

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables.” 

2 Timothy 4: 1-5 kjv

A pastor is to correctly handle the scripture, preach the Word…. and have sound doctrine. Doctrine is important, and you get sound doctrine from the Bible.

This is what Warren Says about doctrine in an article in Preaching Magazine, titled: Purpose-Driven Preaching: An Interview with Rick Warren by Michael Duduit. That old link above at Rick's own webstie, pastors.com, no longer works. you may access the same article here, at preaching.com.

Warren speaking:

“Now, what is the purpose of the Bible? Well, it says in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work.

But people misread that verse most of the time. The purpose of the Bible is not for doctrine, not for reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. Those are all "for this" in the Greek. ‘For this … for this … for this … in order that.’ The purpose is in order that. So doctrine in itself is not the purpose of the Bible. Reproof in itself is not the purpose – correction or training is not the purpose. The bottom line is to change lives: "That the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work." So every message must be preaching for life change."~Rick Warren

Preaching Magazine, An Interview with Rick Warren by Michael Duduit

The man is gravely mistaken. He is telling you a fable, particularly as he tells you that the Bible "is not for" the very thing the bible tells you it "is for."   Preaching is suppose to tell you the truth about God, about yourself and present you with the gift of God, eternal life through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, not some generic form of life change.  Rick is wrong.

If the bible is not for doctrine, (like Rick Warren slickly says,) why did Paul tell Timothy that the scriptures "were profitable" for it as such? If the purpose of the Bible is not for doctrine and all those other things, but for .... (drum rolls please) "life change," like Rick says, who do you believe? Slick Rick is saying that if you think it is about doctrine, you are wrong.

If Warren were right, and if the Bible "is not for" doctrine (or correction or reproof, etc,)  but for life change, why would Paul write such things to Timothy? Why would Paul write to tell Timothy to watch his life and doctrine closely, if doctrine was not important or even an important part of what Pau already taught, long before Rick came alone and wrote his own book?  Also, if doctrine is not the purpose of the bible, then where does doctrine originate from? Who has spoken through tthe prophets and in these last times spoken through his own son?

Rick?

No.

.....And I want to know,(Rick Warren)  exactly, which "people" (names and examples please, "misread that verse."  He names no one, offers no examples so that you must take Rick at his word.... imagine in your mind who this might be.   It is everyone but you.  You are not amooung the rest because you, unlike them, learn to do it right from.... you guessed it, Rick!   (*Who reads that verse right.)

 "Anyone" who doesn't subscribe to, submit to, or tolerate Rick  audacious teaching on the matter has it wrong. The "select few" who really understand, think just like Rick! These are they who hang on his every word, buy his every book, so Rick can teach them everything they need to know, about church and leadership and missions and bible preaching and teaching... etc.... because Rick..... not the bible, not the Apostle Paul writing to Timothy, is the fount of biblical understanding and knowledge. The "misreaders" believe the Bible is for doctrine and reproof and correction and instruction in righteousness, but Rick says, in a manipulative way, they are wrong.

Go figure.

People who are Christian.... it is high time to think about what you believe, isn't it?

Hopefully you do not believe every single teaching coming from Mr. Rick. The man is mistaken. He has been fooled into thinking he is wise, but he is not.


He disregards the bible teaching and turns it into his own profit as he subtly undermines the very word of God. He knows his bible only enough to use it to gain followers for himself.


This is satanic.


Sidenote here about that same article… another fable.


Warren, the self-proclaimed, ans greatest, expert on preaching, has us look at Jesus and his teachings, and then tells us the exact opposite of what it says.

"In my two-day seminar on preaching, I just keep coming back to, ‘Now let's see how Jesus did it. Now, look how Jesus did it.’ You take the greatest sermon in the world — which is the Sermon on the Mount — and He starts off, ‘Let me tell you eight ways to be happy.’ "(Jesus never said there were eight Rick is making this up!.)"Happy are you if you do this … You are happy if you do this. Then He talks about anger: don't get angry. He talks about divorce: don't divorce. He talks about worry — let me give you four reasons why not to worry: it’s unreasonable; it’s unnatural. He talks about all of these practical things and then He says, ‘Now, if you put this into practice you are a wise man. If you don't, you are a fool and you’re building a house on a rock." ~Rick Warren

Preaching Magazine, An Interview with Rick Warren by Michael Duduit.

Fools build their house on a rock? Really? This is what Jesus said? Tick's true colors are waving in the breeze.  Will you be fooled by "pastor" Rick or do you know the truth of what Jesus really said?

Rick is wrong. He makes up stuff..... to suit his own end. He uses the bible to talk about moral living, and loving God, even talking about "Jesus," but then he simply makes up things that he wants you to think, even when it comes to tell you what Jesus said. Strange isn't it? 

Satanic.

Why does Rick insist on not reading the scriptures as they are?

Rick Warren's moralistic hijackings of biblical purpose, church doctrine and the gospel of salvation by grace through faith is fabulous, but it is wicked to the core.  His number laden, falsified rendition of words that Jesus (supposedly) says, his misguided use of every bible version to prove his own agenda and sway your mind is highly sophisticated.  How marvelous is his idea that "building your house on a rock" is a negative thing, and spoken this way by Jesus, when actually, it is a positive thing in the scripture, Jesus himself being the very rock the entire church is built upon.

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Listen to the scriptures of Paul and Peter and speak up to your friends about the truth of God in Christ.... warn them about Rick.


"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." 

2 Peter 1:16 kjv

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."

1 John 1 9-11 kjv

Leadership and Roots

Leaders, like Hitler, Mao and Lenin, "nearly took the world,"  Rick Warren said.  How? Why?  Don't you know, it was the radical devotion of their followers.  

One must ask Rick, "Why is Adolf Hitler, (and these other men,)  even held up as an example of "taking" the world via their followers devotion to their leadership?"  This is especially interesting since Christianity is not about us and our radical devotion to God, nor our ability to keep his law and earn his favor for our good works.  Christianity, with it's roots based in Jesus Christ and all he stands for, is about God's radical devotion to mankind.  Rick told his crowd:

"In 1939, in a stadium much like this, in Munich Germany, they packed it out with young men and women in brown shirts, for a fanatical man standing behind a podium named Adolf Hitler, the personification of evil. And in that stadium, those in brown shirts formed with their bodies a sign that said, in the whole stadium, "Hitler, we are yours." And they nearly took the world."  
                                     ~Rick Warren,April 17, 2005, at Angels Stadium, Unveiling his P.E.A.C.E. Plan

So what?  By God's grace, that didn't happen. 

Rick was evidently moved by the devotion of such followers.  After giving mention of Chairman Mao and Joseph Lenin, he stated,

"When I hear those kinds of stories, I think ‘what would happen if American Christians, if world Christians, if just the Christians in this stadium, followers of Christ, would say ‘Jesus, we are yours?

                                        ~Rick Warren,April 17, 2005, at Angels Stadium, Unveiling his P.E.A.C.E. Plan
Isn't it odd that in Rick's mind, Christians especially those gathered in the stadium have never  done that?  Isn't it odd that Rick Warren staged people in T-shirts (albeit green, not brown) and passed out prepared signs for them to hold up saying they were willing to do "whatever it takes" and pledge their own radical devotion while they were listening to Rick, their "leader" who was standing behind the podium in the stadium there that day? 

And furthermore, what makes anyone think this idea of "doing whatever it takes" is a good thing?  Hitler, and his henchmen,  did a lot of" whatever" to see results, didn't he?  For some people, "the ends justifies the means."  (Food for thought on the subject here.)

Rick trains "leaders" (who have Rick at their helm,) saying,

"Leaders don't do what they WANT to do; they do whatever is necessary."                                                                                                     ~Rick Warren, Tweeted 5-24-11

 Rick Warren then happily instructs his students on what they need to be doing, and doing and doing through his many books, video's and sermon series'.  He even told the crowd that day what to do, and they did.  

"So what I want you to do is take the card, and in just a minute, and if you say 'Rick, I am willing to serve God's purposes in my generation.'I want you to open up to the sign that says 'Whatever it takes.' Whatever it takes."                     

~Rick Warren,April 17, 2005, at Angels Stadium, 

                                                                                                              

                                                                                                       

Article: here

"I'm looking at a stadium full of people who are saying 'whatever it takes'.  Whatever it takes, God. Time, talent, energy, money, effort, vision... God, whatever it takes.  Whatever it takes, that's what I'm going to do. And I believe that today we are making history. We're making history that's going to start a movement that will bring a new Reformation in the church of God and a new spiritual awakening in our world."       ~Rick Warren, April 17, 2005, at Angels Stadium, Unveiling his P.E.A.C.E. Plan

Yes..... Rick has them all busy as bees, reforming the church to bring a new spiritual awakening in our world.  And since that time, he has been busy being a leader to leaders and running campaigns.

About those "campaigns," you know, 40 Days of Purpose, 40 Days of Love, 40 Days of Community, 40 Days of Peace.....40 days to a Healthier Life.... (etc, etc, etc....)  Where did Rick learn to do that?  He will tell you.....

"You know, (Rick stuttered a little bit here,)" by- by-- by doing these, um, "campaigns...." (His tone changed a little bit, ) "I-I actually learned the idea of a campaign, from the communists, (Rick laughs a little... probably nervous laughter,) "of all people." (Still almost chuckling, he continued explaining, )"Years ago, there was a book written, called, Dedication and Leadership. It was written in the fifties, by the head of the Communist Party of England, who converted to Christ. He actually became a Catholic. And he wrote this book on what the Church could learn from the Communists... not about doctrine...but you know, we know our doctrine, but "what were some of the tools that they used to help win converts to Communism," and he wrote this book called Dedication and Leadership. It is still in print, by, a Notre Dame Press. It's not a very well-known book.... but it's Douglas Hyde--if you are a pastor and you want to pick it up..."

Rick Warren, Interview with George Wood, 2009

Douglas Hyde?  Douglass Hyde is apparently someone Rick Warren thinks that Christian pastors should learn from.  This is weird.  Jesus suggested that his followers and would-be followers, learn of him.  

Jesus Christ said to his disciples,  "make disciples." Rick Warren says, "make leaders."  Jesus said, "follow me," and gave us an example of being a servant and washing the feet of one another in love;  Rick says, lead, and encourages christian men and women to think themselves better than average.... over all the other leaders around them.  Jesus, being God, humbled himself and became man, and made himself of NO reputation,(Philippians 2:7) and died obedient to God even unto death to give us life;  Rick says one of the world's most desperate needs is quality leaders. 

"One of the most desperate needs in the world today is the need for quality leaders. There is a severe shortage of men and women with character who can lead the three sectors of our society (business, non-profit, and government)." 

                                                                           - Rick Warren, Six Laws of Leadership, Nov. 8, 2011.

(YOu amay even notice that he defines quality in other talks.  A quality leader has is stamp of approval, properly balancing the five purposes of god.  They are those under his directive, "healthy," (by his definition) and of course, "Purpose Driven." 

"The test of leadership is: IS ANYONE FOLLOWING? If you want to know if you are a leader just look over your shoulder! If no one is following you, guess what? There’s an old proverb, that says “He that thinketh he leadeth and hath no one following him is only taking a walk!” 

     - Rick Warren, Six Laws of Leadership, Nov. 8, 2011.

(Note: This proverb is not a bible proverb, and may actually be a John C. Maxwell quote.  Interestingly, to the untrained ear, this proverb from the pastor might soundeth like it cometh directly out of the King James English.)

Then more recently we hear about Rick using a propaganda poster previously used by the Mao Zedong regime on his Facebook page, saying to his followers that this picture demonstrates:

Screen shot by Kathy KyoungAh Khang
.

“The typical attitude of Saddleback Staff as they start work each day."

~Rick Warren, Facebook, posted with a picture of a girl in a Red Army Uniform, subsequently removed 

by Warren when people vocally commented about it being an awful example to be using.

But did Rick think this uniformed person was an appropriate example?  What is that red colored ban on this woman's arm?  Weird.  

Did the expert on "leadership," (who uses methods he learned from the communists) really have no idea what kind of uniform that woman donned?  Did he know what he was doing or was he uneducated on the matter? Do his followers even have an idea of what communism or Red China was, is?   Was it funny?

"People often miss irony on the Internet. It's a joke people! If you take this seriously, you really shouldn't be following me! Did you know that, using Hebrew ironic humor, Jesus inserted several laugh lines — jokes — in the Sermon on the Mount? The self-righteous missed them all while the disciples were undoubtedly giggling!" - Rick Warren, Facebook page post, September 2013, (See photo below)

A joke?  Hebrew humor?
Ironic?

Really?

Rick first insisted it was a "joke," and inferred that those who didn't laugh about his joke didn't laugh because they missed it, kinda like those who missed the "laugh line" at the Sermon on the Mount because they were  "self righteous." To his honor, eventually, Rick Warren did apologize for the post.  But, let's be real here, Rick is no stranger to communist thought.  

Rick is happy to employ methods learned from communists, He reads and recommends communist writers like Douglas Hyde.  At his P.E.A.C.E. Plan unveiling he mentioned notorious leaders, ruthless men, Hitler, and Mao and Lenin as leaders of note.  He encourage his gathering telling them that it was because of the devotion of the people who followed them, that they "nearly took  the world."

Rick is happy to employ the methods he boasts of using in your church.... the things he teaches to all those wanna-be "leaders."  He certainly recommends learning about devotion and leadership from men like Hyde.  He does not recommend that you learn things from your bible, but from himself as he brags about himself, and talks about "radical" devotion of the heart.  

"There's a lot of things I can teach you about how to build small groups – we've got over 4,000 of them," Warren said. "There's a lot of things I can teach you about how to baptize and bring unbelievers in – this year we baptized 2,800 new believers. There's a lot of things I can teach you about how to send people overseas in mission – we've sent over 8,000 people.... I can teach you those things. But you've got to start in the heart, and you've got to start with radical devotion." 

Rick Warren, Christian Post, February 2010

Radical devotion to what?   Rick does not say.  It's open-ended, undefined.  Then there is the Radicalis conference.

Rick says that the point of Radicalis is roots. Apparently,Christians and in particular Christian pastors, don't have any "radical" roots by which they are connected to God.
    
“You need to be radical in your connection to God so that you are rooted – no root, no fruit.”  

Rick Warren, Rick Warren Urges Pastors to Say Radical "yes" to God, by Eryn Sun,  2/23/20211, Christian Post 

But then, Rick has a rather low opinion of Christians.

“There are two reasons that nonbelievers don’t know Jesus Christ.   One is, they’ve never met a Christian. The other is, they have.” 

~Rick Warren, Spoken at the Radicalis Conference, Saddleback Church, CA 

Source: Rick Warren Urges Pastors to Say Radical 'Yes' to God By Eryn Sun, Christian Post, Feb 23, 2011

See more on Rick Warren's quotes on leadership here.

It Takes a Village to Sell a Book

Ask any book publisher, endorsements are an important part of selling a book. Many publishers recommend that you get at least two to be visible on the back cover.  This is because it is believed that the named people who endorse your book will give validity to it, promising to the people in their own book community that your book, like theirs, has value, encouraging them to read it.  The belief is that a book cannot simply stand on it's own merit.  Publishers are always thinking in terms of making financial profits and you can only do that if you give the village books that the village wants to read.  You see, it takes a village.... to sell a  book. 

In order to be a successful author in today's market of ideas, you need clout and your manuscript needs to be endorsed by someone else, preferably someone who is viewed by the village as important or successful, someone that others will think is worth listening to so that their audience will want to listen to you too. Getting someone to endorse your work is like having the opportunity to stand upon on the shoulder of a giant.  It make you more visible that if you were out there on your own, and for the publisher it means the possibility of greater sales.  Sometimes, for the endorser, it means an opportunity to put their name on a good book. that they would like to be associated with too.

To give an endorsement, the endorser reads the manuscript and issues a statement of approval.  Like a handshake on a promise, an endorsement signifies acceptance, quality work and they are saying in essence that they are willing to stake their name and reputation on the material and information contained within the pages of the book.  contents of the book..

So....  who's work does Rick Warren lend his name, reputation and approval to?    Who and what does Rick Warren endorse?  Let's take a look...

This book, Catholics Come Home by Tom Peterson, has ten endorsements.  One of which is Rick Warren, who says,

“The mission of Tom Peterson and Catholics Come Home to bring souls home to Jesus and the church is critically important during this challenging time in our history. I fully support this new evangelization project.”

                                                        —Rick Warren, endorsing Catholics Come Home

(Note: this is not capitalized in his quote but it is a proper noun.) 

Bringing those lost "souls home to Jesus and the church?"

 What church? 

(Does Rick refer to the one on the cover of the book?)

See photo: Catholics Come Home

Rick says that he fully supports this project.  To earn more about what this New Evangelization project is,  click here. Read about it too in the National Catholic Reporter News, click here.  

Mark Hyman's book, The Blood Sugar Solution has a a lot of people endorsing, and Rick would be helpful in getting you on board too.  Why not?  It's intended to help with a terrible problem, diabetes.  Surely it sounds like a good idea, especially since  Hyman says the book is intended to start a "national conversation"..." a revolution" to take back our health together.

(From where are you taking your health back?   Who are you doing this "together" with?) 

As you likely know, Hyman's book is heartily endorsed by Rick Warren through the Daniel Plan, but it also boasts endorsements from other big names like Mehmet Oz, President Bill Clinton, Deepak Chopra, Arianna Huffington, Jack Canfield, Christianne Northrop, and James S. Gordon.  Now there's a crew..... all promoting for Mark Hyman, his program.  What do they all have in common?  Why do they endorse this book?

Standing on his merits regarding his own "Purpose Driven Life" book, Rick Warren's hearty endorsement reads:.

“Don’t Wait Till Tomorrow! Start Today!”
“Dr. Mark Hyman makes managing your health simpler than you ever thought possible. There's no time like the present to get started. Don't wait till tomorrow! Start today!”  —Rick Warren, endorsing Mark Hyman's book.

Start what today Rick?  Listening to Dr, Hyman? 

Start managing our "health" the ways Hyman recommends?

What if Dr. Hyman teaches Christians that they have a "monkey mind?"

What if he teaches new believers to listen to the wisdom of the Buddha 

or embrace Buddhism (as he claims to have done in his own life?)

What if Hyman teaches readers to "do nothing," and practice yoga meditation

 in order to "empty their minds?"  

Will people really "empty their minds" as he recommend when they 

embrace your hearty recommendation of this book?

Will they still think thoughts of God with an empty mind?

(Go to Hyman's blog: Why doing nothing is the key to happiness)

 Another book, by Matt Chandler and Eric Wilson,  "The Explicit Gospel." is endorsed by Rick Warren.  He says,  

“If you only read one book this year, make it this one. It’s that important.” —Rick Warren, talking about a book by Matt Chandler.

Wow. He thinks that this book is "that important."

It's funny... in a sick sort of way, that Rick Warren's "one-book-to-read" recommendation is not the Bible. Weird huh? 

Strange indeed.
But Rick Warren is not the only endorser of Matt's book. Nope. There are at least eight, including several other "pastors". Besides Rick, there is Pastor Dave Platt, Pastor Mark Dever, Pastor James MacDonald and Pastor Mark Driscoll. Driscoll suggests this book is so amazingly good that you should buy extra copies to give away to your friends.

(Hmmm. That is interesting.  Why not buy your friends a bible?)

. 

Brad Lomenick, of Catalyst, puts Matt Chandler; on a pedestal and gives this book authority and certainly .priority. It seems  as if yoru life depends upon every word that comes out of Matt. Lomerick states: "When he speaks, I listen, and when he writes, I read." The implication is that all those young people at "catalyst" who look up to Mr. Lomrnick, will be reading and holding on to every word spoken and written by Matt Chandler too.

Apparently Matt's book has an important message... So, what is it? 

Well, you can read a good biblical review of Matt's book, here. (The author of this blog recommends that if you do read this book, read it with caution and a bible in your hands, as he also suggest, you should read everything.) In a nutshell, Matt teaches his readers about the gospel on the air and the gospel on the ground, (two concepts uniquely Matt Chandler's,) and then he will give you the corrective "3-D lenses in which to properly combine the two.

Another book that Rick Warren endorses is Sleeping Giant, No movement of God without Men of God, by Kenny Luck and Tom Crick.  I counted seventeen "endorsements. 

Rick says,

"Saddleback Church is built on a strong foundation of men—strong, respected, godly men who lead by authentic example, through honest communication and inspirational action in our church. In Sleeping Giant, my men's pastor Kenny Luck gives you a local church blueprint for moving men from being an audience sitting in a seat to becoming an army marching on the field in your congregation. Discover the pathway to engaging the men in your church to be all God intended them to be as they serve as leaders, counselors, shepherds, husbands, and fathers. Sleeping Giant shares the secret to building a healthy leader-making growth and development engine that supports the vision of your church." —Rick Warren, endorsing Sleeping Giant.

Yes, the strong foundation of Saddleback is told to us here.  Rick says that it is "men," strong men, godly men who lead by "authentic example."  

This book, (note: this book has just replaced your bible).... will be the blueprint for you to use to move men in your audience to becoming an army marching on the field in your congregation, (at least according to Rick.)  "Blueprint."  Now there is an interesting term.  They must be building something on that foundation of men.   

Now,in case you do not know, the Bible tells us about the foundation of the church (1 Peter 2) and it does not say that the church is built or is to be built on the foundation of "men," (even "godly" ones.)

 Interesting too is that this book,Sleeping Giant, (not the bible), is what you supposedly now need, especially if, (instead of making disciples, as the Lord directed, ) yo.like rick, embark on the process of making "leaders."   Rick says that in this book you will discover the "secret" to building "healthy" ones.  A secret is something hidden, not revealed, and so, to get in on that unrevealed thing, Rick recommends you read this book so you get the secret to building a  "healthy leader-making growth and development engine." It's like the ingredient God missed making explicit to you the bible.... it is in THIS book.  

You would not want to be without one of those engines now, would you?  

God As He Longs for You to See Him by Chip Ingram, is yet another book Rick Warren endorses.  It is endorsed by eleven people total.  There's  J. I. Packer, James MacDonald, Andy Stanely, Joseph Stowell and some others.  The publisher's description of this book reads,

 "...You'll see God in a whole new light. It will change the way you pray, the way you live, and the way you think about the world around you.  God longs for you to know him as he really is. Get ready to meet God again for the first time."

So... this book offers not to teach you to pray, but change the way your pray.  

The book promises to help you "meet God again for the first time."  

(That sounds "zen," don't you think?)

IThis book will help you to see God in "a whole new light" too. 

A whole NEW light?

Wow!  What light is that?

Where does this new light come from?

the book offers a new way to live, 

 and a new way to think about the world around you too....

and it is endorsed, right n the front cover, by Rick Warren:

"The principles of this book will inspire, encourage and empower you." Rick Warren, endorsing God as He Longs For You To See Him.

But you have to read the inside to see that he actually says, "The principles of this book will inspire, encourage and empower you..... to be more like Jesus Christ"

How about this one:  One Month to Live, Thirty Days to a No-Regrets Life, by Kerry and Chris Shook

Imagine if you only had thirty days to live.  Knowing you were going to die in just thirty days, wouldn't you be motivated to live your life differently?   This book intends to teach you how to live life as if you were dying...to  teach you to appreciate the little things in life...to, " live life to the fullest." This book is endorsed by Joel Olsteen, Craig Groeschel, Ed Young, Mark Batterson, Lee Strobel, Bill Hybels, and ours truly, 

Rick Warren in his forward for the book writes::

“ Kerry and Chris Shook want you to grasp an amazing insight: Embracing your mortality sets you free to live a meaningful and significant life without regret. Like Queen Esther, God put each of us in the world ‘for such a time as this.’ One Month to Live is a great way to discover the purposeful, joyful, abundant life God created you to enjoy.”  Rick Warren, endorsing  One Month to Live

"Embracing your mortality sets you free?"

"Embracing your mortality sets you free to live a meaningful and significant life... without regret?"  Really?  

Where does the Bible teach this?  It doesn't.  The Son sets you free, and if he sets you free you are free indeed!  Now why didn't Rick's long winded endorsement tell you that?.

The person without regrets, who lives their life without any at all, might also not be sorry for the wrongs they do and might not ever see their need for forgiveness of sin by God.

ask an author, selling books is tough indeed, it takes a village to sell a book. 

Whose book are you endorsing?

For another listing of other books forwarded (and endorsed) by Rick Warren, click here.

More than a Diet...., the Daniel Plan is the "Power of Community"

"The Daniel Plan is far more than a diet...."

~ Rick Warren Charisma News 12/19/2013, 

Rick Warrren's Daniel Plan Debuts on NYT Best-Seller List by Kristin Cole

".... in order to find long-lasting health and strength, you absolutely need a small group of friends to support you."

~Rick Warren, The Daniel Plan Journal, Day 35,

Chapter titled, No Lone Rangers

"The Daniel Plan is not a book; it's a movement...... 

Says Mark Hyman, who is not Christian yet is co-author of the book.marketed to the church. 

Hyman then explains what it is this "community" does together

:

.....It is the power of the community. They shop, cook, eat and exercise together. And that accountability—the love factor—is what helps people change."

~Mark Hyman, Charisma News 12/19/2013, 

Rick Warrren's Daniel Plan Debuts on NYT Best-Seller List by Kristin Cole

"Community if (typo? for "is"?) the cure for healthy living."

Dr.  Mark Hyman- as quoted on the Curriculum Page at The Daniel Plan, December 2013

There are to be no "lone rangers."  No one can ever "go it alone."
 Interestingly, Jesus is supposedly our  example.  Rick uses Ecclesiastes 4:12 to 

assert that  you need a community to belong to from which you can get

 health and the support you need..  

"Even Jesus didn't go it alone. He had a circle of twelve friends and three close buddies."    

~Rick Warren, The Daniel Plan Journal, Day 35,

Chapter titled, No Lone Rangers

And....are you resistant to change?

Are you resistant to receiving help or support? 

(Is "resistance" sinful?) 

"If you are resistant to receiving help or support, why do you think that is so? "

Faith Question from the Daniel Plan Journal, Day 35

Traditionally speaking, believers learns to rely on God and his word. 
 The believer says,"I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me."

  In Rick's Daniel Plan the participant is taught instead
 that they can do all  things, thanks to faith and friends.

"These last two components (Faith and Friends)  are what I call the "secret sauce" that makes the Daniel Plan so effective.  When you have God and a group helping you, you now have far more than will power helping you make positive changes and you are far more likely to stay consistent."

                                        The Daniel Plan, Chapter One, by Rick Warren, Daniel Amen and Mark Hyman,

Other interesting  and related tidbits to read include:

At a Big Church, a Small Group Health Solution  By Tina Rosenburg's New York Times article

Zondervan's 10/16/2013 Release Info  on The Daniel Plan book

Article by Rick Warren- When Your Church Doesn't Match the Community

Unity and Community article by Berit Kjos

Belonging and Genocide book by Thimas JuHne 

Resistance is Futile: You Will be Assimilated Into the Community lecture by Chris Rosborough

Rick Warren Poem here