"Not Just Believe"

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

"You Are Called To Belong, Not Just Believe"

~Rick Warren

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

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

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

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

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

Rick laments:

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

Imagine that!

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

Rick is here to help:

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

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

"Following Christ includes belonging, 

not just believing."~Rick Warren

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

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

It's a double whammy!.  

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

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

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

.... Not Just Believe.

The Communists and Rick

Rick Warren's 40 Day of "Community" campaign, like his  many other campaigns, were made to sell with a specific target for sales... the church.  They became so popular that now, sometimes,  you can even get them "free".  The goal in marketing these "campaigns" was intentional, and the goal was to move the church into a NEW way of thinking.  It's wasn't always obvious, because, as Warren says, the Purpose Driven movement was "stealth."

Warren has "thanked" God in prayer for what he calls a “stealth movement flying beneath the radar that’s changing literally thousands of churches around the world.” He describes himself saying,  "I've been the stealth evangelist."  Stealth?  Really????  In a world where the heaven's declare the glory of God, and the skies proclaim the world of his hands,  is it likely that God's desire is for Christians ( or pastor's like Rick) to be "stealth?  No, it's not very likely. Do you put a lamp under a bushel?  (Matthew 5:15)  No. YOu pur it where it can be seen. However, Rick calls what he has done, a "stealth operation" and he's on a mission.  His intention is that of changing churches all over the world. 

 Part of the "stealth" behavior on the part of Pastor Rick is to change the very foundation n which the church  has been established. " Good-bye"  to simple faith in Jesus and "hello" to  purpose!

"Healthy churches are built on purpose! " 

~Rick Warren  ,Forget Church Growth, Aim for Church Health,  5/07/2013

"Strong churches are built on Purpose!" ~ Rick Warren
 (Link above is now obolete, please see, Sermoncentral.com The Purposeful Church by Rick Grimes, who quotes Rick Warren on this..
 

"Nothing precedes purpose." ~ Rick Warren

The Purpose Driven Church, Chapter 3

(Readers might do well to examine, Matthew 16:18; John 15:5; and John 1:1)

Nothing precedes purpose?  ("In the beginning... Purpose"?)

It is part and parcel of the  paradigm shift implemented in  a "stealth operation" flying under the radar, and thus begins a whole new way of thinking for the "church."

"But the word “repentance” is a wonderful word—metanoia—which means in Greek “to change your mind.” Repentance is just changing the way we think about something by accepting the way God thinks about it. That’s all repentance is. The new words for repentance are “paradigm shift.”  ~Rick Warren

Nine Preaching Tips That Will Change Lives by Rick Warren, Sermon Centraal, Radicalis Conference, 2011

The Purpose Driven Church book cover  reads, " Rick Warren believes that in order for a church to be healthy it must become a purpose-driven church, built around the five New Testament purposes given to the church by Jesus." So incredibly popular, how could Rick be wrong when he says that you must do this if you want to be healthy?  And did you notice, if you do not then, then you are the opposite of "healthy," which is unhealthy, sick, or  diseased. 

In case you think Rick's wrong, he has added that these are "the five New Testament purposes given to the church by Jesus."  If you are not on board with Rick, you will look to both believers who buy into the principles in his book, and those who have no idea what Jesus actually taught, as if you are not doing what Jesus said to do if you are not enthusiastic about being purpose driven.

Jesus was not stealth, and Rick's ideas, like his 40 Days "campaign" ideas didn't come from the Bible.
Rick learned how to do "campaigns" he says, from Douglas Hyde.  

"You know, by- by-- by doing these, um, "campaigns.... I-I actually learned the idea of a  campaign, from the communists,  of all people.  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, AGTV, March 2, 2009

Ir's also where he obtained his philosophy of "Purpose"

"In the book Dedication and Leadership by Douglas Hyde a former communist who became a
Christian (he was head of the communist party in England), he talks about the communists know
you attract people by requiring a big commitment and by offering a big goal to go for. The best-kept secret, I think, in motivation is that vision is a tremendous motivator. People are looking for something to give their lives to. That is the best-kept secret in the world. People are looking for a goal, for a purpose, for a vision, for a mission in life that makes their life meaningful and worthwhile. Anybody that comes along will attract people like that if they have vision."

                                                                                                                                  ~Rick Warren
                                                                                                      How to Communicate Your Vision, Lessons for Leaders on Vision, Leadership Lifter  PDF

If your're looking for purpose, Rick will be happy to sell you his book to help you find yours.
He learned it, from all people, the communists!

Jesus, not Purpose

 Jesus, Not Purpose

"God's yoke is that we follow his purpose for our lives, and when we do that, things work out a whole lot better. When we go our own way in life, we hit one brick wall after another. In a sense, God says, "Put on my purpose, my plan for your life."

~ Rick Warren

Day 173 of your Bible Plan, Rick Warren's Daily Devotional, 
God's Load is Light, by Rick Warren,  May 21, 2014

"In a sense..." says Rick... "God says, 'Put on my purpose, my plan for your life.'" And so, Rick speaks for God... making up his own version of what God said, promoting himself an his own ideas of "purpose," rather than tell you what God actually said.  In fact. when Jesus talked about taking his yoke upon you, he then said, "...and learn of me." 

God's yoke?  It's his yoke.... and through and through. Odd, isn't it.. that according to Rick, God tells you to put on "purpose"?  (but not really... just  "In a sense."  And of course. putting on purpose, (as sold and told to you by Rick,)  is equivelent to putting on God's "plan for your life."  

Note, there is no mention of Jesus, even though Romans 13:14 tell us. to put on Christ." (It does not tell us to put on purpose.)    Then there is also Galatians 3:26.  Here to we are told, in God's word,  about putting on Christ....not "putting on" purpose.  

Rick just made up the notion hat God said to put on his purpose.  Of course he prefaced it saying, "In a sense, God says," but in reality, it never happened.  God never said what Rick claims about him.  Rick is speaking for God, but speaking words that God never said, as if he did.

At the article posted at RickWarren.org, it reads,

"There may be some things in your life that you're doing that God never intended for you to do. You need to get quiet before God and ask, "What do I need to cut out of my life?" 

Discuss this with a friend: To live in the center of God's will is a lighter load than to live out of God's will. 

 
Rick  mentions no repentance for sin.... (just cutting things out of your life will apparently suffice....  and there is no mention of Jesus for salvation, though there is just enough Jesus to help Rick make his point about "purpose." 

"Lighter" and "more relaxing" and even "more enjoyable"....is the life of purpose.....


"To live in God's purpose and plan for your life is a lighter, more relaxing, more enjoyable load than for you to live your own life any old way you choose. "

~ Rick Warren

God's Load is Light, by Rick Warren,  May 21, 2014

Jeus, in Matthew 11:29:
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Remembering Rwanda - 2014

In 2005, TIME Magazine reported that Rick Warren had been asked by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, to help his country become a "Purpose-Driven nation".[ In response to Kagame's request, Warren enlisted over 2,000 Saddleback Church members to go to Rwanda . Business leaders and leaders of parliament in Rwanda were also involved.   Well it's 2014 and Warren is in Rwanda again, with an update on the project of making Rwanda a Purpose Driven nation.  The Christian Post, recently reported on his visit and the "Purpose Driven Church Congress" that met there.  

"I have been working with and watching the churches of Rwanda for nearly 10 years, and I believe now is the time for them to be a model to the world. It would be just like God to take a small nation like Rwanda on which the world turned its back 20 years ago in its greatest need and use it for God and for good." - Rick Warren

Rick Warren in Rwanda Announces Plans to Host All 54 African Nations at Purpose Driven Church Congress

by Alex Murashko, CHRISTIAN POST 8//13/1204

What happened in Rwanda?  20 years ago?  How did the world turn it's back on Rwanda? 

It was a  terrible thing that happened, 20 years ago.   In case you do not know or understand, what happened was that within 100 days, approxamately 800,000 people were murdered in what can only be described as genocide.  Wikipedia records that "the genocide was planned by members of the core political elite known as the akazu, many of whom occupied positions at top levels of the national government."  "The atrocious acts were carried out by the "ranks of the Rwandan army, the National Police (gendarmerie), government-backed militias including the INterahamwe and Impuzamugambi, and the Hutu civilian population."  

It was a nightmare.

"The militia typically murdered victims by machete, although some army units used rifles. The Hutu gangs searched out victims hiding in churches and school buildings, and massacred them. Local officials and government-sponsored radio incited ordinary citizens to kill their neighbors, and those who refused to kill were often murdered on the spot."  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Genocide

Back to the article:
The Christian post article reports, 

"The 12 pastors who serve on the Rwanda PEACE Plan Board of Directors joined Warren for today's press conference along with eight of more than 25 leaders that serve as Master Trainers for PEACE."

"Master Trainers?"  That's a new one... a new "title."  They are not bishops or pastors or teachers, but "master trainers. Not only that, in the article, Rick says, (emphatically so you will agree with him on the matter,)  they are "world leaders."

"These men, whether you realize it or not, are world leaders. What they are doing with churches in Rwanda is being watched by churches all around the world."- Rick Warren

Rick Warren in Rwanda Announces Plans to Host All 54 African Nations at Purpose Driven Church Congress

by Alex Murashko, CHRISTIAN POST 8//13/1204

Which churches in Rwanda?
What kinds of churches and religions are there?

Wikipedia reports that according to 2012 census, it looked like this:
56.9% Roman Catholic
26.0% Protestant
11.1 % Seventh Day Adventist
4.8% Islam
1.8% Indigenous and others 

It's interesting that the Roman Catholic Church is largest in Rwanda.  They were pretty big in 1994 too. In fact there's a lot of criticism of the church's involvement in the genocide.  

 Chris McGreal's recent litetary publication, “Chaplains of the Militia: The tangled story of the Catholic church during Rwanda’s genocide,” digs deep into the events that took place during the genocide from the perspective of those who actually witnessed the 100 days of massacre. The story doesn't paint a pretty picture of the churches, especially the Roman Catholic church.  Interestingly, now all these "churches"  whichever ones they are, are working together.  It's a P.E.A.C.E. thing .. and they are all (apparently) working together with their government and business leaders ... under the influence of Pastor Rick.

And would't you know, Rwanda has been selected by Rick, to be the example for the world of his P.E.A.C.E. Plan?  It is also being dubbed by Rick and Kagame as, 'the First Purpose Driven Nation." The video at the previous link tells us, the President Paul Kigame, read Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life, and being "Purpose Driven" himself, invited Rick Warren, to come over and do 40 Days of Purpose.... with 600 churches.   (Eh.... Which ones?)

Rick gets credit for boldly... although occasionally, talking "about" Jesus Christ and for talking about forgiveness, and for personally reaching out to help a hurting world.  Seriously. But something sure seems odd when his work and talk is not focused there and instead is focused on a uniting of different churches.   Even odder is Rick Warren in the spotlight with an emphasis on the wonderfulness of Rick's Purpose Driven Life book and plan for P.E.A.C.E. in the world.  And Rick, even after these many years, still sticks to the slogans we have already heard, about the uniqueness of his special P.E.A.C.E.  plan.... and of course telling us all how "the church" might actually be able "to do good..."
if 
....he is able to mobilize the church.

"What makes The PEACE Plan unique is that it is done by local churches, in local churches, in the community," said Warren. "I could take you to 10 million villages around the world where the only thing there is the church. The church is the biggest organization on the planet and has most potential to do good if mobilized."- Rick Warren

Rick Warren in Rwanda Announces Plans to Host All 54 African Nations at Purpose Driven Church Congress

by Alex Murashko, CHRISTIAN POST 8//13/1204

Apparently, out of all the organizations... on the planet.... the church  has the most  "potential" to "do good"....  IF.

Then, speaking about the current Middle East conflict, Warren urged other countries to draw lessons from, no, "emulate," Rwanda. Warren said,

"The Middle East countries should emulate Rwanda. If the world wants to find peace and reconciliation then we can use Rwanda as a case study. The country has reconciled in the shortest possible time (after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi that claimed over 1 million people), and rebuilt itself to what it is today." -Rick Warren

Rwanda: 'Rwanda Shima Imana' Attracts 34 Countries by Athan Tashobya  8/11/2014, www.AllAfrica.com

Well, that is interesting.  Rick talks about peace and reconciliation and wants people to see "Rwanda" as the example.  Christian Pastors usually talk peace and reconciliation and use Jesus as our example.  Rwanda is still working on lots of issues.

 Rick is known for picking whatever fanciful bible version Rick thinks happens fits the particular moment and using what sounds good to support his own ideas of things, rather than coming under the jurisdiction of any one particular text.  He evidently thinks it sounds good to make Rwanda "a case to study" and learn about peace and reconciliation, but is it? 

No.  The "peace" in Rwanda, is fragile.  People still hurt and mourn.  Rwanda is not known for "freedom."  

The 2013 Amnesty International report on Rwanda says, "There was almost no space for critical journalism in Rwanda. The aftermath of a 2010 clampdown on journalists and political opposition members left few independent voices in the country. Private media outlets remained closed. Efforts to improve media freedom through legislative reform, technical improvement and private sector investment, were undermined by the continued imprisonment of journalists for their legitimate work. Defamation remained a criminal offence."  In other words, to speak or act, it is expected that one be "politically correct."

And that Paul Kagame.... the current president of Rwanda.  Who is he?  What do people see in the man and his leadership?  Why had he called upon "America's Pastor," Rick Warren, to come and help him in his cause?  You have to wonder.


Rick did award Kagame with the "International Medal of PEACE" in 2009.

Rick has called upon Rwandans to create a national "Thanksgiving" holiday, 'Rwanda Shima Imana.  (Shimi Imana, translated, means, "Thank God,") and the holiday, inaugurated in 2012, by Warren, (according to Athan Tashobyu, of allafrica.com,) now has a presence in most Christian churches in Rwanda.

Rick says, 

"It is my prayer that this day becomes a national holiday just as it is in some parts of the world. Twenty years after the genocide, we are now a new Rwanda. We have seen the country develop and have nothing to hold against God, other than celebrating what He has done for our country."- Rick Warren

Rick Warren in Rwanda Announces Plans to Host All 54 African Nations at Purpose Driven Church Congress

by Alex Murashko, CHRISTIAN POST 8//13/1204

A couple of questions:

Rick declares, "We" are a new Rwanda." and he says, "our country."  Is this just friendly talk or is he this tight with the President?  Is Rwanda really Rick's "country?"  

And another question,( as Rick talks about God.)  It's really nice that the people have "nothing to hold against God" and that now they are giving thanks to God for the new beginning and the country's development; but, "God" who?    

Does this "God" have a name?  

 ......Just wondering.

Built Upon....

Unfortunately Rick replaces Jesus Christ with his own idea.... "purpose."
"Healthy churches are built on purpose! " 

~Rick Warren

,Forget Church Growth, Aim for Church Health

"Strong churches are built on Purpose!" ~ Rick Warren


"Nothing precedes purpose." ~ Rick Warren

The Purpose Driven Church, Chapter 3

Truth is...


Healthy churches are built by faith in the Rock, Jesus Christ.  (Matthew 16:18)

Strong churches are branches, built on the vine... Jesus Christ. 

                          For without him, we can do nothing. (John 15:5)

Nothing precedes Jesus Christ.  (John 1:1)

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

This Is The Bridge That Rick Built

"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. 

"I am starting a church for people who hate church.  Ha ha ha..."

                                                                               ~ Rick Warren

"Ha ha"?

This is supposed to be funny?   

Maybe he is naive?

Rick Warren calls himself a Christian. He also has convinced many who would call themselves, "Christians" that he is one of them. Meanwhile he started a church for people who hate church... and he has made a really good show of implementing his programs based on purpose... five purposes actually.  Rick Warren has masterfully convinced a lot of church haters to join up with him and change everything about church, including changing the foundation from "Jesus Christ alone" to "purpose."   

"Healthy churches are built on purpose! " 

~Rick Warren

Forget Church Growth, Aim for Church Health, by Rick warren, pastors.com

"Strong churches are built on Purpose!" 

~ Rick Warren

"Nothing precedes purpose." 

~ Rick Warren

 The Purpose Driven Church, by Rick Warren, Chapter 3

(John 1:1 tells is what preceeded all things and it says nothing about purpose being preeminent.)

If you are not rooted and grounded in the true foundation,  after hear Rick Warren speak you are apt to believe that God is incapable... unable to produce any healthy churches without Rick's insight into what it takes.  

When Rick is not preaching purpose, browbeating Christianity or promoting himself, (boasting numerically about his personal successes, or the notoriety of his books,(such as  the Purpose Driven Life,) Rick is busily building..... all sorts of things, like "healthy" churches, the "kingdom"... and, bridges. 

There are application bridges... time bridges...seeker and family bridges too.

Here a bridge, There a bridge, everywhere a bridge, bridge.  But the bridge is always something else besides Jesus.

Makes you wonder, "Why?"

It's a simple gospel about Jesus.....

but then some people hate church....and the gospel is not important to them.

They just build their own... religion.

"We need to build civility into our society... I come here tonight as a Christian pastor and I reach out my hand to the Muslim community and I say, "Let us work on these issues together....let us work on these issues together," and just maybe some good stories will start coming out in the media...."                                                                                                                  ~ Rick Warren

“We build bridges of love - from our hearts to hearts of even those who hate us - so that Jesus can walk across."

-Rick Warren, 

Rick Warren Stresses Need for Christians to Build Bridges, by Eric Young, Christian Post, July 2009

"I am looking to build bridges with the Orthodox Church, looking to build bridges with the Catholic Church, with the Anglican church, and say 'What can we do together that we have been unable to do by ourselves? "

~Rick Warren     

Read more: http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/05316/605324.stm#ixzz2uq1llaMh"

"Building a bridge has nothing to do with compromising your beliefs."                                                             ~Rick Warren,

                                        The Christian Post::Rick Warren:'Flat Out Wrong' That Muslims, Christians View God the Same by Alex  Murashko,

The Purposes of Christmas 2012

December 23, 2012 Rick Warren appeared on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace.  Wallace announced Warren's appearance, stating that he would talk about the Sandy Hook Massacre and the meaning of Christmas.  Amazingly, there was also a lot of talk about the re-release of Warren's book, the Purpose Driven Life, and mention of Rick Warren's  "new campaign." (Watch the video interview and note the visual of his book as well as discussion.)    During that interview, the two men talked about how our whole nation mourned the event at Sandy Hook elementary, Rick gave a little talk about dealing with grief, talked about his book, talked about his PEACE plan project and gave the nation his "message" for the holiday season.

Noting how TIME Magazine called this shooting an "assault on innocence," Rick said it was, "...actually a phrase from the first Christmas where Herod killed baby boys under 2 at Christmas time."

"Actually" a phrase? 

From what source is the phrase taken?  
Rick makes you think it is from the Bible.  Is it?

Does he mean a phrase from a book by that title?  Does he mean a phrase from the Bible?
And when exact was the "first Christmas?  Was this murdering of children ordered by Herod "The "First Christmas?"

Moving into the topic of dealing with grief, Warren informed us that there were some long term things we needed to deal with...(regarding what had taken place) but he said that right now, we just needed to deal with the deep grief.  He sympathized and offered some wisdom, saying,

"As a pastor I deal with grief every day of my life, and I've discovered is that grief is actually a good thing.  It's the way we make transitions in the losses of  life.  Jesus said, "Blessed are they that mourn, they shall be comforted... "                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                   -Rick Warren  

Note... Jesus did not say grief, in itself is "good." (Rick said that.)

 Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

Jesus offers hope and comfort.  

These, comfort and hope) ( not the grief, not the morning,) 

 are the "good" things. 

Jesus has more to offer us than just this nice saying 

about people being comforted, by other people, when they mourn.

Jesus does comfort us because he understands our sorrow and 

because he was raised from death to life.  Through faith in him,

 with hope of eternal life...with him, and not just a hope

 for life in this world where people do evil things,

we find  comfort.

But Rick didn't touch on that.

But hooray for Rick.  He did mention "Jesus."

Next Chris specifically asked Pastor Rick Warren to look past the "long term solutions" he had alluded to preiviously... the issues of gun control, better mental health care and trying to deal with things like the cultural of violence we see in video games and film production,,,,, and to address what the spiritual solution was.  Chris said, "But, in a deeper, more spiritual sense, what's the problem and what's the solution?"

Rick responded to this by agreeing with Chris that this was indeed a spiritual issues and then went on to change the subject elaborating on all those things that Chris directly invited him to skip.  During this time Rick informed us on the importance of health care saying that  we in America, (you know, "that bad place, "America") are not taking care of those struggling with mental illness like we should be.  Then he told us about how we had a "civil safety issue, which is gun control and these assault weapons."  HE mentioned the culture of violence too...(with statistics,)  saying how by the time students are 18 they have killed 10-20 thousand people on video games..... "without any remorse for it."

Finally, he acknowledged the "spiritual issue," and the solution, saying,

"But, at the deepest level is the spiritual issue, which is the emptiness inside of people, that causes people to be enraged, like this. Um, when we -- when we don't have peace in our hearts, we're not going to have peace with each other. That's why Jesus, the prince of peace, came at Christmas.  So, It starts in the heart."                                                                  

                                                                                                                                - Rick Warren


So, you see, the spiritual issue is one of "not having peace" with others.  According to Rick, lack of peace is why Jesus came at Christmas.  

But just to be sure we understood Rick right, and since Saddleback sermons 
are notorious for fill in the blank notes during church.
Let's pretend we are at Saddleback Church, and answer these 
questions about what has been taught here.
Just fill in the blanks:

According to the teaching above on Fox News by Rick,

1. Man's deepest spiritual issue is __Emptiness that causes me to be enraged, no peace in my heart_

Correct BIBLICAL answer is:  Sin and separation from God because of that sin

2.  The deep spiritual issues inside of people cause them to _be enraged and shoot other people_

Correct answer is: SIN.  They display their desires, lusts, selfishness.. (James 4:1-2)

3.  When we do not have peace in our hearts _we won't have peace with other people_

Correct answer is: Without Jesus in our hearts, God's gift of Grace and peace,

we die in our sin and cannot escape the snare of Satan, 

and the place of punishment for all sin, hell. 

4.  The reason why Jesus, the Prince of Peace, came at Christmas is                           ?                         _

Correct answer is: God sent a promised Messiah and

 came to save His people from their sin.

Odd that Rick would not give biblical answers.

(He did talk about Jesus though.)

This moved the conversation into a discussion of Rick and his book, his latest campaign and his plan for P.E.A.C.E.  Rick's "public profile" was about to reemerge....

" I intentionally a- was absent from the scene... for the last ten years, I've been in a lot of small villages around the world, Africa...and places like that that most people never even heard of. "    - Rick Warren

This is not very specific.

Also, do you suppose most people never heard  of "Africa?"

"We started... a... with the proceeds of the book... we took that and put it into a thing called the Peace Plan, P.E.A.C.E. ....stands for Promote reconciliation, Equip leaders, ethical leaders....Assist the poor, Care for the sick and Educate the next generation..."                                                                                  - Rick Warren

Too bad that "P" is not for "Preach the Word"

Too bad that "reconciliation" is not  specifically mentioned as sinners reconciling 

And that part about "ethical" leaders....who's ethics?

What  does Rick really mean by this?

You might have to look back to the first time he announced it, because 

his words have been  repackaged since then.

He is not talking about "leaders," he is talking about pastors in churches.

He was very specific about who these ungodly, unethical  "leaders" 

he considered "evil giants" wer, church leaders.  Of them he said,    

"Not only have these leaders not gone to seminary or Bible school,

 they haven’t even gone to high school or primary school. They have no

 training whatsoever -- and yet they lead the church. This must be remedied."

What if your church is not  deemed "healthy",

What if you reject purpose driven or if you do not have the "purpose driven DNA"

Read, The Characteristics of a Purpose Driven Congregation by Rick Warren, 2006

Was this news program really about helping people through the Sandy Hook Massacre and talking genuinely about the meaning of Christmas?  Seemed more like it was about Rick....his rereleased book and new "campaign."  Chris' lead in was, "...your public profile has not been as high in the last few years, but you're just about to begin a new campaign...."

"The new campaign is.... I realize that when I wrote the book, The Purpose Driven Life, What on Earth Am I Here For, that a girl who was twelve years old when that book came out is now 22 and she needs to learn the purpose of life."                        

                                                                                                               - Rick Warren

At 22, "this woman" now needs to learn "the purpose of life" from Rick?
Apparently she needs Rick's book... not the  advice of her parents 
and teachers and friends, not even the bible... just his book....
 in order to learn the purpose of life.

Badmouthing "America" again, he said, 
       "People are pretty disillusioned with the American Dream...."  

                                                                                                                - Rick Warren

Chris Wallace gave Rick another opportunity to speak on spiritual issues.  He said, "You talk about a nation in decline, divided as it's been since the Civil War.... a need for a Spiritual reawakening....could you explain that?"

Rick replied in a typical Rick-like fashion.  Skirting any Bible references, he simply turned the subject at hand, "spiritual re-awakening," into a promotion for his book and world unification project.

"The answer to our unity, I believe, it's not going to be in politics. Uh, because we are going to have different degrees of... uh,uh, all over the spectrum on that ... but when we come together on the things that matter most...and there are three fundamental question...The question of significance, that is, "Does my life matter? The question of Intention...."What is my purpose" and the question of existence, "Why am I here?" These are spiritual issues They are not political issues, and they can provide a rallying cry,... a purpose....that can help us unify. We are not ever gonna agree on policies but we can agree on direction...."   - Rick Warren   

He suggested that we all look to the things we have in common to find unity.  He pointed out how "people want the same things".... safety, security... a job.....health.  The problem, according to Rick, is that we "disagree on how to get there."  The answer to Chris' question about "spiritual awakening" is "unity"... (or in other words, everyone getting what they "want.")  Rick then began dropping taglines attached to the promotion of his book and talking about his plan for world peace.  Of course we must make mention that Rick plan for world peace is everyone "of peace" under the banner of  "peace" (with the right "DNA") working together to rid the world of  those five "evil" giants.

  

Mark Ellis, reporting in March 2011,on the state of missiary work, 

summed the PEACE Plan up this way:  "Saddleback’s PEACE 

Plan seeks to make an impact door-to-door, church-to-church, village-to-village. 

His teams always look for a person of influence when they enter

 a new area. “It’s very important to find a ‘man of peace’ in each village,” 

Warren said. “I’ve found you can find a man of peace in every village,” he said.

“It could also be a woman,” he added. “The man of peace could also

 be a Muslim, a Hindu, or an atheist.” 

Even though the answer was not in politics, the two then embarked on a discussion of politics. They discussed the president and what "Warren thought" of the job that Barak Obama, was doing. Apparently. "it" is not about "politics" much the way "it " is not about you.

Chis Wallace, then ready to conclude the interview, said, "Pastor, ......we still look forward to Christmas,.. Do you have a message for all of us, myself, all of our viewers this year, sir "

Vague as ever about the gospel, neglecting to mention the name of Jesus, (by which men might be saved, ) Rick Warren. took us back to the "first Christmas," and  gave a message "for us all."   Ad wouldn't you know, he didn't talk about Jesus.  He didn't mention the gift of God, eternal life through simple faith in Jesus Christ,  He didn't even mention God's long time promise of sending a savior into the world, and how that had been fulfilled by a baby miraculously being born, in Bethlehem or of how God had come to dwell among men,   He did  not even quote the bible.  He did however bother to inform us all that Christmas has "purpose."

"Ya.... You know Chris, the purpose of Christmas is actually found in the three statements that the angels made at the very first Christmas.   Christmas is for Celebration, it's for Salvation and it's for Reconciliation." -Rick Warren