Faith Requires....Imagination???

The Bible teaches that faith comes by hearing... not by having an "imagination."  Rick Warren is teaching strange things, once again.  At the start of the new year, 2016, his theme is "imagination."

 "In order to have faith in the promise of eternity, 

Christians must be able to believe things that they cannot immediately see." ~ Rick Warren, Fox News, 1-12-16;  Christianpost.com

Who is he talking about?
What is he telling then they must do?
What would happen if they do not do this directive of his?

Rick's choice of  wording is bizarre.

Apparently, the gospel is not about putting your faith in Jesus anymore, or, for that matter, that the good news is so simple that even a small child could understand.  No, rick complicates it.  He say's that "in order to have faith in the "promise of eternity, Christians MUST BE ABLE to believe things that they cannot immediately see."  Christians are singled out here too.   Apparently, you are not a "Christian", able to have faith in "the promise of eternity" unless you have this special ability he speaks of.

It's a curious theology here, for having faith in Jesus is not mentioned by Rick; but having "faith in the promise of eternity" is..... and just for the record, there will be an eternity for everyone.  The beauty of the gospel is God's forgiveness for our sin and "eternity" spend with God (instead of hell... which by the way, is an eternity too.)    God's gift of eternal life through faith in the one whom he sent, Jesus Christ is not something you have to be able to grasp completely with your mind for it to be a reality.  It's not something you cannot have unless you have this ability to believe things you cannot immediately see either.    Faith comes by hearing....  and hearing comes via the word of God.

It's that simple.  A person hears and believes...  no special, prerequisite ability of believing things you cannot see needed.  And, one has to wonder, why is it only "Christians" that need this special ability?

How about if Christians simply believe what they hear as it is recorded in the bible, (which if you want to get technical, IS a book that they can see?

What if pastors with big enormous churches, like "Pastor" Rick, just preached the word... in season and out.... instead of making stuff up?

"Hebrews 11 is God’s Hall of Fame. When you read through the heroes of faith, you realize that every one of them became heroes of faith because they used their imagination."

He calls Hebrews 11 the hall of "fame."  (That's funny.)  It's usually thought of as the Hall of FAITH, not "fame."  The scriptures talks clearly about them using faith...  faith in God and faith in His word, not using their imaginations.  

For example, the text of Hebrews 11 says, 

"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command."

Hebrews 11:2

Rick insists on twisting the scriptures.  Instead of Abraham simply believing God,, taking him at his word, believing God, Rick Warren's Abraham has to be able to "visualize," 

"What is God doing when he tells Abraham to go count stars? He is activating his imagination. He’s saying, “I want you to visualize what I’m going to do in your life.”

Rick would lead you to believe God is incapable of making anything happen unless you do your part and visualize your own concept of things, just like Abraham did.  But rick is wrong.  Truth be told, God only needs to speak the word, and a thing is done.  God does not need you to visualize anything.  His word stands good.  

Rick neglects tp read Hebrews,, that ol "Hall of Fame."  He apparently skipped the parts that tell us how Abraham, by faith, (not by imagination,) obeyed God and used reasoning, (not imagination) to determine that God was capable of raising the dead.  All Rick would have to do to get things right is read Hebrews 11, but he prefers to simply make things up.

And what does the scripture teach us about our imagination?

IT was an antediluvian problem:

Genesis 6:5

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

There is such a things as an evil imagination:

Jeremiah 7:24

But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.

Jeremiah 13:10

This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.

Romans 1:21

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

So what is a "Christian" REALLY to do?  It's easy. quit making stuff up. Hear what God says, and believe God who sent Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for sin, so that by believing you could have eternal life with Him.

This is not a bible verse....

"Imagination shapes your life 

because it is essential to living by faith. "~ Rick Warren

http://rickwarren.org/devotional/english/faith-requires-imagination

This, on  the other hand, is:

2 Corinthians 10:5

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 

 

Giants in David's Life, Before Golaith

David, according to Rick Warren, faced four giants before he faced the menacing giant named Goliath. According to Warren, these four "giants" were amazingly powerful ones too.   Who were these giants,? (You might ask.) They were the "naysayers," says Pastor Rick, in the life of David, who as you know, is one of the people in the Bible.  

And these "naysayers," (which the scripture never mentions as "giants" of any kind,) are apparently pretty powerful.  Rick says,

"Nay-sayers can actually stop the will of God."  ~Rick Warren

Wow!  That powerful!  Those menacing naysayers must certainly be more powerful than that giant Goliath.  After all, everyone was fearful of the murderous and relentless adversary named Goliath, even the mighty warriors of his day.  David, however, was able to do Goliath in with one swoop of his shepherds sling.

It's amazing really.  Right before your very ears, as words come forth from the mouth of Warren, the story of David and Goliath changes.  It's not about David defeating Goliath anymore.  The story as Rick tells it, is  better and bigger than even you could possibly imagine!  Instead of one giant... there's five!  Rick makes the addition of four others, (those menacing "naysayers,") before Goliath even arrives upon the scene. And the story is not just about David anymore, but it's bigger than that.  It's about David and YOU.

Yes, you get to take center stage as the story miraculously becomes a story about YOU.  Rick becomes the mouthpiece from God interpreting the scriptures to help you deal with all the menacing giants in your own life... if you want to be as successful in your life as he is.  He tells his people too, that they must listen to and learn from him, if they want what he offers them.  Yes, just like the scripture says in 1 Timothy chapter 3, verse 9, this is pure folly.    

Job declared that God was all powerful, for Job 42:2, says just the opposite of Rick.  The reality of who God is makes stopping his plan and purpose impossible!  Acts 5:39, xample makes it clear that God is sovereign.  There are many verses to this point, including Isaiah 14:27, which reitterates that nothing can stop the will of Almighty God.  Meanwhile, back at Saddleback Ranch, there's a completely different story as Rick Warren shamelessly teaches that, "Nay-sayers  can actually stop the will of God."

Listen to him yourself:  Learn How to Ignore the Naysayers in Life with Rick Warren  November 2, 2015 

Rick Warren says determination and desire are not enough to be successful in life.  No.  You need tools and skills to succeed in life... and  of course, he has the tools you need.  He even trains "pastors" to teach, just like he does.  

In this "sermon" Rick leads his listeners into the book of 1 Samuel Chapter 17, where, by looking at the life of David in the bible, they learn that Goliath of biblical history was not the only giant in David's life.   There were, according to the pastor, "four other giants."  Pastor Rick identifies them for us and teaches us that these were the "naysayers," people in David's life who didn't appreciate Davids God-given greatness and held him back from fulfilling his dream. Akin to Goliath,  these giants were enormous problems for him because they were actually stopping the will of God in his life. 

Are you like David?  Are there giants in your life who hold you back?  Never fear, Rick is here!  

Pastor Rick  says you can probably relate to David and the naysayers in his life.  You can probably feel the same emotions David did... Can't you?  In love for you, Rick offers to be the one to help you overcome them, just like David did.  Speaking from his own experience, he knows everything about overcoming such giants.... (who really are just people you'd like to label as "negative" in your own life.  Rick is positive.  He loves you... but the "giants" in your life do not have your best interest in mind, as Rick does.  

The manipulation that takes place is rather mind-boggling.

Pastor Rick, he tells us, has had the misfortune of dealing with a lot of naysayers in his own life. After making sure we understand how he has been successful in his own life and ministry, telling us about his best-selling book and gigantic Saddleback campus as well, Rick paints himself as a picture perfect example for us to look at and therefore, learn from.  If anyone knows how to overcome all these giants.... it's Rick!  Having learned from his own experience, he can give you and I the skills and tools that we will need to fend off these giants, (not mentioned as such in the story of David) and their "negativity."  Like your negative, naysaying, parents. Did you know that, just like in David's life, your parents are likely your biggest enemy? 

 Rick teaches that David's dad "held him back" from experiencing his God ordained greatness.  As the first giant in David's young life, his dad delayed him from realizing his "dream."

"The first negative... or naysayer, that David had to face was actually his own Dad; and so, write this down: "His dad held him back." (minute 11:14-17 on the sermon video)

Rick directs the audience to write the sentence down, and goes on to read verses 12-17.   He then directs then to then circle the words, "held back."  (Go to minute 11:33-11:53 in the sermon video.)

"That's the first naysayer, and often times a parent will be somebody who holds you back and keeps you from becoming all God wants you to be." ~Rick Warren

"Often times"???
"Often times"  a parent will be somebody who 
holds you back and keeps you from 

being all God wants you to be?

What is this STRANGE wisdom?  Did he really just say that?

Contrary to Rick Warren, back in the pages of the bible, God's instruction to people is to honor their father and mother; to, like young David, "obey" parents, not think of them as people who keep you back from "being all God wants" you to be.  Not only that, but there is a natural affection between parents and their offspring. They are not naturally adversaries.... like murdering, Goliath type of "giants." But Rick teaches differently than this, that "often times", parents are the enemy... "giants" to be, at the very least, ignored.

He reads from 1 Samuel 17 : 12-15 and says, "David was held back (by his own dad.) to care for  the sheep in Bethlehem," insinuating that David's dad was a" bad" guy and out to thwart the will of God.  After all, anyone destined for greatness, like David was, would never be given the demeaning job of tending a flock of sheep, and David's dad, in doing this, was holding David back. 

Is that what the scripture says?

Compare some versions of 1 Samuel 17:12-15 here, here. and here... or use your own Bible.  Rick reads this passage of scripture and paints David's dad in a negative light.   It is amazing that this strange teaching then gets repeated . over and over and over, by his students... many of them in the capacity of church leaders, "pastors." who learn from Rick.. "How to grow"and change, into the appropriate role of "rancher" and lead,( rather than minister to) a congregations.  This theme of David being held back from his dream by his own dad is recurrent, even written into "devotionals" by Rick. 

"In David’s case, his dad held him back from the dream."

~ Rick Warren, The Giants Between You and Your Dream, Rick Warren, Jan 28, 2015, posted at www.rickwarren.org.

.

Then Rick makes it personal to his hearers.  He suggests that this concept, this notion that people, like your parents, like David's dad... "holding him back" from God's dream for his life, is familiar to you. He works linguistically to makes certain that no one listening to him can rationally disagree:

"Have you ever been held back by anyone?  Of course you have.  This is the first barrier to your dream, when somebody holds you back, a delay."

Prest-o Change-o!

If this has ever happened to YOU..... it's likely that you can relate and now understand exactly how David of the Bible felt when his Dad, (the first one of the four giants in David's life, besides Goliath,) was hindering him from realizing his dream... his "God-given" one at that!

Now that you are struck with a new way of looking at those dream killing "giants" that David of Biblical fame had to deal with, Rick moves in fast. Emotions are engaged and now, that all those authority figures like parents, family, friends, and "experts" are recognized by you and labeled "nay-sayers," just like David's negative Dad.

Are there giants in your own life who need to be reckoned with, just like that nasty Goliath?  Of course there are, and your friendly  pastor, Rick presents the solution.   It begins with listening to Rick who minces no words in asserting himself as dominant teacher of all things Bible...  and it ends with turning a deaf ear to whatever anyone else, but Rick, says.

Then he takes it even further, while dissing parental authority and labeling naysayers as evil "giants," who oppose God's dream for you, personally.  Rick Warren actually dares to assert that he loves you and is concerned for your welfare more than anyone else. Rick sets himself up as the person who loves you.  You need to listen to him, because he will help you find "your purpose," help you know how to fulfill that "dream" that God has for you... despite  among all the naysayers in your life.

Yes, listen to Pastor Rick....  and before you know it, you'll not only be brainwashed, but jumping through all sorts of "purpose driven" hoops.  You will be taking one Warren-designated "step"  after "step," after step, totally occupied with learning and keeping all the "biblical" laws,
stages of growth and requirements needed in order to be happy or  healthy, or get a blessing from God.  Rick will teach you.

He will teach you how to ignore those naysayers and soon have you taking his classes, buying his books, going through his campaigns with everyone in your congregation and if your are only five years old, you can bet, you too will be  taking notes at his sermons.   Rick' teaching and wisdom is THAT important.

                                                                        Rick tells people exactly what to write and what to circle

and what to remember from his sermon on 1 Samuel 17.

But what he tells the to write is a misquote of the scripture.

The false teachings fall like a torrential rain that would, if it could, remove the truth in order to make way for the new thing Rick is teaching.  Let's note how Rick says nothing about how the story of David, points us to Jesus.  He fails to properly mention how all those years tending the sheep taught David many important qualities and gave him skills that he used in his lifetime, things that helped him not only defeat Goliath and save the nation but helped him in understanding the heart of God as he served the entire nation of Israel with mercy and compassion as he served them as king. He delivers instead, dose upon dose of self-centered philosophy,  as well as his own ideas, such as there were other "giants" before Goliath,  to go with the bible's text.

The bad philosophy here in this sermon is one that says it is okay to ignore your "giant" naysaying parents, and subsequently in this sermon, he add, family, friends, and "experts,"  (even those who might actually know what they are talking about) if they are perceived by you as hindering your "dream.".  The only justification he gives for ignoring them, is the person listening to Rick has perceived  some "negativity."  

This is a problem.  

 Rick Warren not only 
misquotes scripture, but tells people what to write down 
 and remember.
. 
 It's cult-like to set-up people to dismiss authority figures

 in their lives while flattering them
and telling them that unlike these "negative people," 
(in his first example, parents,)
who are hindering spiritual growth and personal

 happiness, but that Rick, 
on the other hand, (and he tells them this in this video, )
he "loves" them., cares for them and 
want's God's "dream" for their lives.  

(Again, listen to the message, particularly
 minutes 3:09 thru 3:20 in the sermon)
  

In teaching 1 Samuel 17, Warren does not teach how great it was that this giant was slayed.  No. His rendering is about you slaying the giants that Rick verbally inserted into this text.  People are not learning about how David was a good shepherd and how he often he willingly risked his own life to care for his father's flock.  There is no mention of how David slew that giant that no one else could because God gave him victory, or how h did it, with a rock.  We do not hear about David's faith in God., or how it was that with a sword David removed Goliath's entire head making sure that he would never be a pest again.  Instead we learn the enormous qualifications of Rick Warren and how we should learn, from him, how to identify and ignore "giants" in our own lives, jut like David did.

David has a dream... and he told his dream to his brothers.  And as Rick says, if we learn like David, to ignore and kill giants..... once all the delays and hindrances are gone, we will see our "dream" come true.  David did.

And Rick... he dares you..."dream big!"

It kinda reminds a believing bible reader of Jeremiah 23...and having big dreams and the benefit of telling your dreams to everyone:

Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.  Jeremiah 23:27

Rick Warren Disses the "American Dream"

"When you commit yourself to a great dream, it draws something out of you and helps you become larger than you would become any other way." ~ Rick Warren

The "American Dream;" What is it?  

The American Dream is a rather ethereal thing; it is at the very least, an\ shared  ideology of people 
who are free and who support the idea of freedom.  It's an idea very much rooted in the Declaration of Independence, It is an ideology that stems from a concept of freedom and everything that  "freedom" entails: like freedom from tyranny, freedom to worship God without fear of persecution,, freedom to pursue your own happiness in life.  The amazing thing about "the American Dream"  is a shared dream of liberty is to be secured for everyone who calls this land, the United States of America, their home and at it's core is the notion that all men, rich or poor, have the same inherent value, for they are all created equal.  

(And, let's not forget that while the American Dream is often attributed to the USA, "America" would technically include the continents of both North America, and South.) 

There is a certain beauty to this American dream concept that is not simply about thinking too highly of one's self for within this concept, there is the ideal that every person is to be respected and has value.  Individuals are each to be given the equal opportunity to learn to read and write and to make their own way in the world, safe from harm, free to think, free to  speak their minds and to live and work where they want to as their pursue goals and work hard, striving to doing a good job at what they do and to live in accord with other people. The American dream allows people to own personal property, do business in the marketplace and raise a family without interference of others, endeavors which are perceived to come about by the noble  character traits of  determination, integrity, dedication and hard work.

According to "Wise Geek" :"The idealistic vision of the American dream often disregards discrimination based on a person's race, religion, gender and national origin, which might inhibit his or her ability to achieve specific goals. Critics also point out that many versions of the dream equate prosperity with happiness, and that happiness is possible without wealth or even in poverty. To some people, the American dream might be more about personal fulfillment than about economic success or owning property."

In regards to the "ideal" American dream, they write:
"Capitalism and consumerism have been wholly embraced by the country at large, and the socialist agenda cannot be reconciled with the rich and famous American dream. Most Americans link socialism with communism and associate the doctrine with the Soviet Union and Cold War fears."


 This "American dream" concept is really not such a bad thing, but Rick Warren and  friends like Derwin Grey (See the video: When the American Dream Disappoints) would have their audiences believing that the " American dream" is a nightmare, or at the very least, something derogatory.  and, "Why not?" They have something better to offer... something to replace that old "American Dream" if you let them....

"You have to decide not to settle for the American dream."  ~Rick Warren, rickwarren.org  God's Dream for Your Life, Part 1 

Instead of the American dream, and instead of the gosprl, the idea is to get you to embrace this unusual concept of   "God's Dream." 

First, realize how special you are..... and you need to learn from Rick.

"Most people miss God’s dream because they’re not looking at God; they’re watching what everybody else does. If you’re trying to imitate somebody else, you’re going to be a carbon copy instead of who God made you to be. You need to be more concerned with God’s dream for your life than the American dream...  

And then you "dis" the American dream of being a free individual, working to procure a life for yourself and your family.  In fact, the American dream is a burden, but never fear... Rick has a solution and he's here to help you sort things out.

....The American dream and God’s dream are two very different issues. The American dream used to be pretty affordable and pretty simple. Today, the American dream is all-consuming."

                                        ~Rick Warren, How Do You Get God's Dream For Your Life, idiciple.org

Weird, isn't it?  Why is he dissing the American Dream?  

The American dream used to be good, you know, "affordable" and "simple"... but today, it has become not only "all-consumming" but worse than that, it has become the antithesis of  "God's Dream."

" If you want to get serious about discovering God’s dream for your life, you have to decide not to settle for the American dream."                                                                                  ~Rick Warren, How Do You Get God's Dream For Your Life, idsciple.org 

The really weird thing here, that the idea is to put your focus on what Rick Calls, God's Dream.  Whatever happened to putting one's focus on the author and finisher of our faith?

Not only that, but in order for the individual to attain to the God dream in Rick's new ideology, they must get serious about making it happen for themselves. Getting God's dream, is not something this generic unnamed God who is apparently sleeping and dreaming big dreams for you gives freely,in response to faith;no, apparently, the person seeking something better than the American dream must work hard and  earn the reward for themselves. It sounds difficult, but  Rick herre offers to  teach "how to believe in and be faithful to God's dream for your life."

Sadly, and contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, neither the Christian nor the non- Christian listening to Rick Warren in his series is directed to focus on God, nor  the one individual whom God, (the true and living God of the bible) sent into the world as the Lamb of God to free sinful mankind from the penalty of sin.  The focus is God's dream... whatever that is.

If even for minute this strange philosophy Rick is preaching is to be a matter of faith,  "faith" becomes a very complicated thing,  He teaches that faith is six-phase process, one that will take lectures from Rick, time to implement and to understand.  The  individual must be  dedicated and committed to doing whatever God tells the person to do... or God's dream will never be realized.

It's the kind of thing that should make bible verses like  Matthew 23:15 and Colossians 2:8 come to mind if you have read the Bible before.

Instead of telling people the good news of Jesus Christ, Rick is telling them all the things that they MUST do, all the dedication and commitment that  they must have in order to get something completely different... "God's dream," He  never encourages the reader or listener to put faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins which is an oddity for a Christian pastor.  This is in stark contrast to the Christian teaching that  Jesus Christ is actually the only person to ever be fully dedicated to God and the only person fully committed to doing the will of God.   Read Philippians 2:8.  Jesus, God incarnate, was obedient without fail to all the requirements of the law, even unto  death upon a cross.

Rick is teaching a works-based performance which will enable the individual to pursue "God's dream" instead of teaching about Jesus.  The person who wants "God's dream" as presented by Rick,
must do whatever God tells them to do, but there is a catch.  They must learn how to do it from Rick.
No, you can;t simple learn about it from the Bible,.... it's not there.  You must learn to interpret the scriptures through Rick's private lens... (And that means you will have to buy his many books, workbooks, CDs and other  materials, like sermons and podcasts in order to know what to do. you will not find any teaching about pursuing or living "God's Dream"  in your bible alone.

To begin a person on the journey Rick conveniently offers his sermon series called Everything is Possible with God, and you can obtain them only by purchasing them (or for a donation of at least $28.00.) 

"In these six eye-opening sessions, Rick takes you through what he calls the “six phases of faith,” exploring subjects like how God builds your faith, how to make wise decisions, and moving from dead-end to deliverance."

While the apostles taught people to put their faith in Jesus Christ and receive God's gift of eternal life, Rick Warren moves people from Dead end to deliverance as they learn to attain God's dream.  As Jesus taught his disciple to have the simple faith of a little child, (Matthew 18:3) and taught us how even faith as small as a mustard can move mountains, Rick teaches us that small or weak faith is of little or not value and teaches that a person must  understand the six phases of faith before they are even able to cooperate with God in the process of faith and character building.  

Advertising on this eye-opening product description reads:

"God says, “You get to choose how much I bless your life. You believe, and I’ll do it. You believe, and I’ll bless.”

Pardon the simple observation here, but the Bible does not record that God ever says such a thing as that. In fact, it might already seem to you that this kind of dialogue is doctrinally sound, in fact, it is what is commonly known as Word of Faith teaching!

Believing this stuff as preached to the world by "Pastor Rick" will only serve to lead one to believe that sin is not the enemy, but the American dream is. Those who find themselves unsatisfied in life, groping about in hopes of finding God, and listening to Rick will be lead astray. Instead of resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ they will be spending a lot of valuable time and money on a plethora of Saddleback activities, classes and materials in hopes of being able to attain what Rick Warren calls, " God's dream."

"We Dared To Dream Big"

The Christian Post article of March 23, 2015, reported on the  35th Anniversary of Rick Warren's Saddleback Church telling how Rick said, "We dared to dream big and God has done big things in the life of this church."   The article also mentions how Saddleback Church started small and has grown to now boast of "14 campuses on five continents."   

It would appear that dreaming big is required.  The article emphasizes for us how it was the vision of the founding members that has made Saddleback the huge success it is today.   It would also appear that the size of your dream matters to God.    Think big, God responds with big. 

But before you start thinking that Rick's big success is because he or the people of Saddleback did something to deserve success, Rick announced humbly,  "God has blessed Saddleback church in an unusual way, but it has nothing to with us being deserving."

"Unusual?"

He's right about that.  There is something unusual about it all.  Usually, it's the gift of God in Christ, that of forgiveness, salvation, eternal life, that we do not deserve,  which a pastor will "preach" on, not the gift of "greatness."    

Perhaps he completely misses the fact that while he just said that is has nothing to do with them "being deserving" he also says that the blessing came because of something they "dared" to do.  He then goes on to dare you, to dream BIG.


"I dare you to dream big dreams for God." Rick Warren


"Dare?"

To dare someone to do something is not necessarily the same as encouraging them to have the courage in doing the right thing.  For example... someone might "dare" another person to do something dangerous or wrong.  The key to understanding a right response to a provocative "dare" is  to know what it is you need to do.  Sometimes there is wisdom in not acpting such a challenge' for example, Jesus, when the devil basically dared him to trust God and "cast himself down" from the pinnacle of the temple.  JEsus relied on what was written in the scriptures and we should too.

 The scripture was us of being vain in our imaginations.  See Romans 1:21, (KJV) We are to cast our vain imaginations down.... see 2 Corinthians  10:5.  It's best to give God control over both your heart and mind. The scripture tells us of filthy dreamers.... so why then does this man tell the church to "dream big".... and tell them to do this "for God."

 It sounds good....  but where in the scripture are we told we are to "dream" and does God need for us to dream "big dreams" for Him?   And what does Rick Warren mean when he says,

"All of our biggest dreams and best days are ahead of us." 
                                      Rick Warrnen, Christian Post article by Anugrau Kumar, MArch 23, 2015, www.christianpost.com

Is your faith in your dreams or in your ability to dream dreams....(big ones)....?  Is your hope in greatness and doing "big" things for God, or is your faith in Jesus Christ? 

Rick is teaching the notion that if you believe it, it will happen for you.... if you can visualize something, God will work on your behalf to make it real.  This is also known as "positive thinking," which is not taught as Christian doctrine in the bible. 

Contrary to Rick's encouraging words of how we must dare to dream big, the Bible encourages us to be humble and not to think of ourselves more highly that we ought to.  (See Romans 12:3)  While Rick teaches people that their prosperity is found in their ability to dream big and tells them that the best days are ahead, the Bible talks of our prosperity being found in Christ and kept by God.  The bible informs us to expect tribulation in the days ahead, but to take courage because God is for us, after all, God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, Jesus and the gospel of truth.... that whosoever would believe on him would have eternal life.  It's the gift of God!

What good news!

 Jesus Christ died in our place.... and He rose from death to life.  He has overcome the world. 

Remember who is big and great.  It's God and he can do immeasurably more than we could even  dream.... or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)

More Effective Than a Sermon

"In many ways, your personal, authentic testimony is more effective than a sermon."-Rick Warren 

            Pastoral Leadership Means Sharing Your life Message by Rick Warren

What, exactly does he mean by "sermon." Would it be during the "sermon" time at church that "you" would talk about your "personal, authentic testimony?"

What does he mean by "sermon?"

Does he mean reading or teaching from the scriptures?

Here is Rick's list of parts to "YOUR" life message....

"There are four parts to your life message:

• Your testimony: The story of how you began a relationship with Jesus.
• Your life lessons: he most important lessons God has taught you.
• Your godly passions: The God-shaped issues you care about most.
• The good news: The message of salvation."

Pastoral Leadership Means Sharing Your life Message by Rick Warren, AoG Enrichment Journal 2008

Interesting how "your testimony" supersedes the "message of salvation."  Interesting too, is that you are the one who "began this relationship with Jesus" that Warren mentions here too.  Christian, does  God love you because you first loved Him?  No... not according to the scriptures.  God loved us first, and he did so while we were yet sinners.  While Rick would like very much to have a person believe him when he says, "It's not about you" (the famous first sentence in his book, The Purpose Driven Life,) but the teaching is mysteriously followed by teaching you how to teach YOUR testimony...YOUR life lessons, YOUIR godly passions... and the "good news" which he calls simply, "the message of salvation," which could refer to almost any religious belief of how one is "saved."

Interesting here is also how it is that "your life lessons" are more essential than the "good news" of "The message of salvation." Note how even "your" passions... "the issues you care about" most rank higher than the salvation message on Rick's list of parts to "your life message."

Why? Rick says that it is because:

" Many people who will not accept the authority of the Bible will listen to a humble, personal story. "-Rick Warren

                                               Pastoral Leadership Means Sharing Your life Message by Rick Warren, AoG Enrichment Journal 2008

Did you catch that?  He is telling people to preach what people want to hear.... YOUR story.... your "HUMBLE"  (really?) "personal, story" and this in place of what he calls biblical "authority" that man people "will not accept."  And people in the church believe Rick is right?  Why?

They are bewitched.  Like that man in Acts named Simon, Rick has convinced them that he "himself was some great one." (Acts 8:9) To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God."

They were deceived... bewitched, and so was Simon, until he repented of his sin.

If you are believing Rick, then it's time for an "AH-ha" moment...

First of all, Jesus is humble.  Second of all, the thing to be preached is not YOU... not your life, your passions or issues that you care about most, but God's Word.  This is why Paul told the young pastor, Timothy,

"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, 

rebuke, exhort with all long suffering 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 unto fables."

2 Timothy 4:2-4

This is why Paul taught and admonished, (and admonishes even today) the church, saying, 

" But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any 

other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, 

let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again,

 if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, 

let him be accursed.  For do I now persuade men, or God? 

or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men,

 I should not be the servant of Christ." 

Galatians 1:8-9

If you listen to Rick, he will have you ignore God's Word and write your own book of wisdom to teach from... like Solomon did... we would theoretically create whole books of life lessons to learn from instead of the Bible... Yes, imagine for just a moment, will you....

 " Imagine how much needless frustration could be avoided if we learned from each other’s life lessons." -Rick Warren

"Write down the major life lessons you have learned so you can share them with others. We should be grateful Solomon did this because it gave us the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, which are filled with practical lessons on living.  Imagine how much needless frustration could be avoided if we learned from each other’s life lessons."

Pastoral Leadership Means Sharing Your life Message by Rick Warren, AoG Enrichment Journal 2008

Rick would apparently encourage you write down and teach your own life lessons... believing that these were "more effective than" a sermon. (And what did he mean by that word?)

Can you imagine, really...imagine... "how much needless frustration could be avoided if we learned from each other's lessons?"  If you imagine hard enough, you might even believe Rick and do what he says and teach from your life lessons... instead of the authority of the Bible, because as he said earlier...

" Many people who will not accept the authority of the Bible will listen to a humble, personal story. "-Rick Warren

Jeremiah wrote:

"And the Lord saith, Because they 

have forsaken my law which I set before them, 

and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein; 

But have walked after the imagination of their own heart..."

Jeremiah 9

Romans 1:21

King James Version (KJV)

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."

2 Corinthians 10:4-6

King James Version (KJV)

"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled."

*****************************
        RICK WARREN POEM  Click Here

Picture It!

"The picture-it method of Bible study is useful because the Bible is full of stories.  In this method, you put yourself into the scene of a biblical story as if you are an active participant.  Then you ask yourself, "How would I feel if I were involved in this situation?  hat would I say?  What would I do"  When you do this, God's Word becomes flesh in your life, and it'll change your life."
Rick Warren... @ purposedriven.com

Is this how" God's Word becomes flesh?"

Really?

According to Rick Warren it is.

Apparently, this idea of the Word of God  "becoming flesh"

  is about you putting yourself into the stories in the scriptures,

 (any of them you like.)

Remarkable.   

 I mean, considering that Jesus is the very Word of God,

 and that as such he was born into humanity as a man 

and that he died upon a cross for the sin of of humanity, and rose again...

 it is quite remarkable that a "Christian pastor"

 would teach this about the word of God becoming flesh in you

by you simply imagining yourself in the story, any story, in the text.  It is as if he is teaching that 

our flesh and blood can somehow attain to the kingdom of God, 

which is not the way it is at all.

It is as if he simply made up this so-called "method" of meditation

 and is instructing both Christians and would-be Christians,

 to believe it as he tells and instructs his hearers to 

 imagine themselves in the Bible's stories 

and tells them that this is how the Word becomes flesh.

This is not true.  Jesus is the word made flesh.  Not you.

He says, "...That's a truth that you can apply today--all because you stepped into the words of scripture and let it become "flesh" in your life.  You can do this with any character in the story or any story in the Bile.  It'll change how you read your Bible."

Rick Warren

Yes, Rick Warren, ( the change agent,) wants to" change " how you think , PERIOD.

Wherefore previously you might have thought (or been taught or even taught others) 

 that Jesus was the Word made flesh as it reads in this chapter of John...

he would like you to think otherwise...

and have you  imagine yourself

 as that Word of God, made flesh.

Strange.

If you listen to Rick, then soon you will be using,( rather than believing) the Bible,

and using it to exalt yourself into higher realms of consciousness....

 or at least imagine yourself  there, and instead of believing the bible is about Jesus, 

 you will believe that the Bible is not only all about YOU, but simply a nice

 collection of stories to be used for your own daily

  imagination/meditation exercises into higher realms of consciousness.... 

(remember those breath-prayers.)

 Before long, you will be just like Jesus, imagine yourself as God and 

 falsely believe you are the word of God in your flesh.

  He has an acronym for it too...

S.P.A.C.E.  P.E.T.S.

Space Pets?

This notion and term comes from the Rick Warren Bible Study Methods Book, 

subtitled, Twelve Ways You Can Unlock God's Word.

He is using it in his 40 Days in the Word study too.

Is it really up to you to do the unlocking?

Is God's word hidden from you?

  The premise of Rick, after all, is that you use his "method"

to "unlock" what is locked up.

Odd.... 

You see, God gives wisdom like he gives grace... freely to all who ask.

God is also in the business, you might say of revealing himself, truth, his Word,

 his Son, and even "mysteries" to those who simply ask,or seek, or knock.  

(Matthew 7:7)

Not only that but the apostles have set forth

 the truth and the scriptures quite plainly...

preached to the whole world and even 

written the Bible  in nearly every language ever spoken by man.

Yet, Rick sells this "Picture-It" method

 of "meditation" as a key,( one of many) to unlock God's Word

 as something biblical.

 In essences though, "Picture It" is just another form of what is known as guided meditation... 

where you visualizing things you imagine in your mind's eye...

and place yourself into the scenario prescribed by you or by someone else.

It is a "spiritual," exeercise, perhaps,

 but quite contrary to simply hearing the Word 

and  reasoning and thinking as a

 human; reading, hearing and understanding

 what the scriptures say and knowing they are real.

and right, and true and good....

 not imaginary or  imagined.

They are historical and real... as is his salvation of mankind through the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ.

Which reminds me of a verse:

2 Corinthians 4: 1-5

Therefore seeing we have this ministry,

 as we have received mercy, we faint not;

 But have renounced the hidden things 

of dishonesty,

 not walking in craftiness,

 nor handling the word of God deceitfully;

 but by manifestation of the truth 

commending ourselves to every man's conscience 

in the sight of God.

But if our gospel be hid,

 it is hid to them that are lost: 

In whom the god of this world 

hath blinded the minds 

of them which believe not,

 lest the light of the glorious gospel

 of Christ, who is the image of God, 

should shine unto them.

  For we preach not ourselves, (or our own books and Bible Study methods)

but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves

 your servants for Jesus' sake.