Honorary Doctorate of Laws x 2

Christian Post (CP) reporter, Stoyan Zaimov reports that Rick and Kay Warren will each receive honorary degrees at Biola University's Spring 2014 Commencement to celebrating the couple's enbracing of "God's greater narrative."

Greater narrative?  Interesting choice of words.

What does "God's greater narrative" mean?  

Is God simply narrating some sort of a story. or is he the very word itself?  Is there a "greater" narrative than the one already told of Jesus Christ?  Is the word of God in its simple form living, active, sharp and flawless or is it lifeless until you like an actor picking up a role, take the stage?

Christian Post reports:

"Kay Warren embodies a life of faith and courage, demonstrating what it means to fully embrace God's greater narrative... Her work for the global church and those suffering from HIV and AIDS across the world is a model of the kind of conviction and courage that Biola seeks to develop in all of our graduates."                Biola President Barry H. Corey.

“It’s a way of the university recognizing them as a significant contributor to the world or to the kingdom of God.”

Brian Shook, administrative director for the office of the president of Biola.

Which is it?  A contribution to the world... or to the kingdom of God?
And are we talking dominion-ism here?
What kind of doctorate will they both recieve?

According to the Biola CMIMES, Kay and Rick will be "graduating" with the Doctorate of Laws, one of several types of degrees.  "The Doctorate of Laws is based on a generic type of public service rather than something as specific as evangelical work."

This makes sense.  Rick and Kay have definitely  been doing generic public service and NOT evangelical work, (although they have done a great job of making it look "evangelical" to a lot of people.)

 So, what is an "honorary doctorate?"  

According to wisegeek.com, the idea of conferring honorary degrees on someone may cause considerable controversy.  Critics worry that the degree and the title of "doctor" could be used to mislead others about the recipient’s qualifications.   This is because while the honor recognizes some "achievement," it does not necessarily indicate the same level of knowledge expected of someone who has completed the university's traditional doctoral program. People are also concerned that the awarding of "honorary degrees" are often given with the motive of association to that particular person based on their notoriety and fame, or to secure large donations for the university if the person is wealthy. 

In the case of the Warren's, they are both famous, and wealthy.  In fact, the money keeps rolling in as each new book, church campaign and resource or sermon they produce rolls off the press.  Sermons are not free.  People by them.  Attending church is not free either, you MUST, tithe.  Hmmm, wonder how much he gets for a speaking engagement?  When he gets important ones, what does he say neglect to say?

It might be rather "strategic" for the Warren's to attach Dr. to their names since they have mastered the art of promoting all things healthy.  There is church health and balance , (Purpose Driven Church)  sexual health, (HIV and AIDS) spiritual health, (Finding Purpose) personal physical health through diet and exercise, (via the Daniel Plan,) and most recently, mental health, (The Gathering.)  Biola U. got it right in dubbing them "Dr. of Laws"  Lots of law comes out of Rick. His bottom line is not salvation, it's change and transformation.  You have to find your purpose and be just like Jesus.

Rick might encourage you to think like Jesus, feel like Jesus, be like Jesus and act like Jesus. He will even sell you all the tools he believes you need in order that you meet that end.  However, Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father, Son of the Promise, Son of God and Son of man.  You, no matter how hard you try, will never fulfill the law of God perfectly like Jesus.  You are not co-equal to God.... Jesus, and only Jesus, is.  The way to salvation is to believe on the ONE God sent... Jesus Christ... and recieve God's gift, forgiveness of your sin and eternal life... at least that is what the Bible says.

It is not by works of righteousness that I have done, but according to his mercy he has saved us.

In case you are interested, Here is the award presentation given at Biola to the Warren's:

Ashley Smith

Rick Warren on CNN:
 "I just wish the message had got there sooner, that maybe Brian wouldn't have taken four lives before he got the “good news”. But I was thrilled that Ashley was able to have the presence of mind to talk to him. And when he got the concept, it changed his life.”

Brian Nichols held Ashley Smith at gun point but subsequently released her unharmed.  It was national news and it put Rick Warren on TV.  He was on the world viewed news because Ashley Smith, during the ordeal, had read to Nichols from Warren’s book, the Purpose Driven Life!

It was nothing short of a miracle that  Ashley was released from the known killer unharmed. It was also a miracle that the catalyst for the miracle was the book and words of Rick Warren.  CNN reported that reading from Warren’s “best selling book” is what actually changed Brian Nichols life. 

On the day of Ashley’s abduction, March 15, 2005, Nichols had been on a killing spree that caused what was being reported as “the largest manhunt in Georgia’s history.” It lasted 26 hours.

As it was reported, Nichols was being escorted to trial for rape charges when upon arrival to the courthouse he overpowered his female escort.  Leaving her beaten, he stole her gun, held three people captive then went into a courtroom where he proceeded to shoot the judge in the head, and kill the court reporter.  He shot and killed a deputy sheriff, too, leaving the scene calm, cool, and collected.  Nichols simply escaped to the streets.         

He stole several cars at gunpoint, and spent the day baffling police and terrorizing the people he encountered as he made his way through Atlanta’s city streets.   The whole state was on the hunt for an escaped killer… His name and face were everywhere, there were plenty of witnesses and videotapes to identify him too and the news of his escapade spread from coast to coast.  Officials offered a $60,000 reward for his whereabouts.  

Later in the day, after a failed robbery, Nichols found another victim.  Shooting and killing him he took his truck, and drove away.  Shortly thereafter, he met up with Ashley Smith.

The story is that he forced his way into her apartment when she was returning from the store.  He tied her up, took a shower in her apartment, and somehow she began to earn his trust.  She even accompanied him to hide the truck, they returned to her apartment where she made him pancakes and he let her leave to visit her daughter at her aunt’s house, from where she called police.  

It was excellent news that day for everyone as CNN reported that police apprehended Nichols, but better was the news that the woman he had kidnapped, Ashley Smith was found unharmed, but there was a twist to the story... the media was especially amazed because Ashley was a Christian and the word was that her reading to Brian that day about God from a book by Pastor Rick Warren from Saddleback Church was what actually saved her life.  They reported that the message of the book made Brian turn himself into authorities!  It was a nationally talked about conversion... and Rick Warren who authored the book, rushed to the scene to congratulate her. 

Regarding the incident, Rick Warren said in camera  “I just wish the message had got there sooner, that maybe Brian wouldn't have taken four lives before he got the ‘good news’. But I was thrilled that Ashley was able to have the presence of mind to talk to him. And when he got the concept, it changed his life.”

    

Rick Warren assured a watching and astonished world, that Nichols got “the concept.”  But what exactly is “the concept” that Brian got that day that “changed his life?”  Rick’s concept, of the Good News was not about Jesus, but that  “God loves Brian and had a purpose for Brian’s life.”

It is “good news,”very good news,  that Ashley Smith was not raped or murdered by Nichols.  It is good news that Nichols is in prison where he is less likely to hurt another person.  However, it is apparent that “the concept,” whatever it was, wasn’t Jesus Christ, it could not have been, for Brian didn’t repent.  He didn’t even admit his guilt.

It was a glorious day for Rick when CNN gave him this free airtime, to tell what happened that day with Ashley Smith and to tell the world what the message... the good news was!  Rick Warren  was on National News and he had a golden opportunity to tell the world the good news too.... and he did!  We all heard so well how it happened, how reading the Purpose Driven Life, saved Ashley’s life and helped Brian turn his life around, because now he understood that his life had purpose and meaning after all!