Paradigm Shift: From “Serve us” to "Service."

Rick tells people in the church they need to move from  “Serve us” to "Service," however we do call a church service a church service.... not a church "serve us,"  This is because at church, the body of Christ... those who believe or who want to hear God's word... (who do not want to  be programed by "programs") serve one another as servants of the Lord.  It is where those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, who are empty, are filled.  It is where the hopeless, find hope.... where sinners find forgiveness, and where those who are weary and heavy laden find peace for their souls.

But Rick has some other bright ideas of his own about service:

 Rick Warren tells the church,

" Why would God pour more maturity and wisdom into a stagnate reservoir? Following the same thought, the last thing many believers need is to go to another Bible study; What they need are opportunities to serve - where they can exercise their spiritual muscles. Your example will teach the members of your congregation to shift from an attitude of “serve us” to "service." 

Transform your congregation through service, by Rick Warren, June 2, 2004  here

Yes... we know "God"  "Why would he

" put more maturity and wisdom into

a "stagnant reservoir" ?  

Gee, you just have to wonder!

Could it be that
Rick Warren's God 

is somehow different than the God 

who gives life to the dead

and calls into being

things that were not.
like the scriptures teach us in
Romans Chapter 4?
 

Besides calling the church a "stagnant reservoir" and criticizing "selfish" activities Christians engage in, (like Bible Studies... meanwhile back at Saddleback Ranch... people are getting their own personal trainers to loose weight for a year..... which by the way is "serve us Rick" mentality)   an interesting theme in Rick Warren's words here, to the church in particular, is how we need to be concerned with the issue of  "serving."

Christians do serve in many capacities, and for many reasons.... they use their gifts and talents  in various ways, not because they are forced to, not because they are organized in such as way as to meet the needs of others, but because they do the things God has purposed they do and ultimately because he is the one who meets our needs.  The way Warren talks, however,  he would have his listener believe that Christians never did anything of service to help anyone except themselves.   

Although I have heard him say the exact opposite of that as well.... (he is double minded on that issue.)

Here, he paints the picture that Christians are selfish... and only interested in doing something if there is something in it for them, ("they already know far more than they are putting into practice. ")but the tables turn of course, when they become his brand of Christian, which is "Purpose Driven." Because to Rick, ( as the one who knows everything about churches) churches should be "built on the five purposes" perfectly balanced, and much like a vending machine, doing things in service to meet the needs of the world.  

This is not to say that the church does not take a role in caring and loving people, for history and even Rick, will attest to that.... but the Christian knows where his help comes from... it comes fromt he Lord, maker of heaven and earth.... and he directs others to the same source.  

Rick, convenient to his own ideas, here paints a picture that Christians come to church to have their needs met, making them "selfish."  They are also painted as lazy.... not "exercising their spiritual muscles."  (But... if you were to  listen to him,....your job (pastor) would be easier... and he will teach you to teach them how to paradigm shift into Rick's ideas... This begins when you drop the bible study, buy Rick's books, synchronize with the world, start purpose driven programs and form small groups.. everything  based upon the five purposes of a church that no one ever knew until Rick came along, and train your little martha's not only to perfectly balance everything all the time, like minions do.... but to actually be of service to the world, for a change.

Meanwhile back at Warren's Saddleback Ranch... 

 Rick says,
 " Why would God pour more maturity and wisdom into a stagnate reservoir?"

What is that unhealthy,"stagnant" thing?  

Could it be the church?  Could it be your pastor?

AND

Can you think of any Bible verses
that address Rick's all important question:

"Why would God pour more maturity and 

wisdom into a stagnate reservoir?"

Do you think of Abraham or Sarah?

Let's hear what he says about Bible Study, one more time:

"Following the same thought, the last thing many believers need is to go to another Bible study; they already know far more than they are putting into practice." "

.

The last thing they need?
Perhaps he would like to make Bible Study extinct?
Then, of course,  he would need to replace it
in the lives of believers
with his own programs like

C.L.A.S.S, or Celebrate Recovery,
or one of his many "40 Days of"  programs..
Purpose, Community, Peace... and this is just the beginning.
 Oh, and plan on starting small groups too....but probably no  Bible study--
Rick says, you knoe,
that is the LAST THING many believers need.

Rick is manipulating people.

Rick's complaint is slightly reminiscent of Lazarus' sister Martha, who complained about her sister Mary.  She wasn't trying to sell books on "how to serve" like Rick , but she was complaining just the same because Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to his words while she was busy serving.  It was to this woman, Martha,  that Jesus said:

"Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled 

about many things:But one thing is needful:

and Mary hath chosen that good part, which

shall not be taken away from her."

Rick Warren insists:

"But as we mature in Christ, the focus of our lives should increasingly shift to living a life of service. The mature follower of Jesus stops asking, “Who’s going to meet my needs?” and starts asking, “Whose needs can I meet?” Do you ever ask that question?"
We Are Commanded to Serve God  by Rick Warren, August 19, 2009

The "mature believer" (contrary to what Mr. Warren says.)
knows WHO  IS GOING TO
MEET ALL THEIR NEEDS... 

Yes, actually. They KNOW him... 

and love him... 

and worship at his feet.
His name is Jesus...
and he
is God.

They serve him, and love him

because he first loved them 

and bought them with a price.

The mature believer 

points others to the One 

who can also meet their needs,
JESUS
because He is God.

Rick says,
"Your call to salvation included your call to service. They are the same."

A Christian Who Doesn’t Serve Is a Contradiction by Rick Warren August 12, 2009

"Your call to salvation" and  

"your call to service are the same." ?

One thing is certain, no matter how
you care to interpret that, and this is that it is 

quite odd for someone to juxtapose the words, 

"salvation" with "service" here, the way that he does.

Christians understand that they are

"saved by Grace through Faith... not of ourselves".. 

"not of our works"

Christians understand that 

Salvation is a gift of God.

The also understand this verse 

telling them that salvation by God's grace

and salvation by works are not the same

"And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; 

if it were, grace would no longer be grace."

(ROMANS 11:6) 

Rick says,
"As we serve together in God’s family, our lives take on eternal importance. Paul said, “I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less . . . because of what you are a part of” (1 Corinthians 12:14a, 19 MSG)."
We find our significance in Service  by Rick Warren, Daily Hope, August 21, 2009

Serving makes you more "significant?"

  "Where is that in scriptures? 

Oh!  The MSG.  (That means "Message")
Rick uses the Message a lot... 
It's a book that is like the Bible, 
but it's not a TRANSLATION. 
Taking another look at the verse Rick quotes, 

 this is what that verse says in the

King James TRANSLATION:

"For the body is not one member, 

but many..... and if they were all one member,

where were the body?(KJV)

The Message is actually written to be a novel
and it is all written by Eugene Peterson. 

Compare!

See also: here.

and...

Beware!

Rick says,

“Whoever wants to be great must become a servant” (Mark 10:43 MSG). "

We Serve God by Serving Others By Rick Warren 3/26/2009

Again, it's Eugene Peterson's "Message"  that Rick is quoting, 

which is not a translation, 

and if you look at a translation, 

you'll see that in it, Jesus says something different than,

“Whoever wants to be great must become a servant”  

                                        Jesus said, 

^"...but whoever wishes

to become great among you 

shall be your servant;"

 (Mark 10:43 NASB)  

                                              and he, Jesus,  is in fact, the one 

who washed the disciples feet and 

the one who died for our sin.
Jesus also said,
"For even the Son of Man 
did not come to be served, 
but to serve, 
and to give his life 
as a ransom for many.”
(Mark 10:45) 

Rick says,

"Anyone can be a servant."

  QUESTION: Must such a "servant" be "Christian?"

"All it requires is character."
  QUESTION: Does he mean, morality? ethics?  Is this Rick giving superiority to law over the gospel of Christ??

"  It is possible to serve in church for a lifetime without ever being a servant. "
 ,,, You can  hear his disdain for the church and those who are in it.  If you listen to Warren, before long... you'll be critical of Christians in your fellowship, who like Mary are not out serving, being Marthas in the world, but instead are sitting at Jesus' feet.  But remember, Jesus told Martha, who was concerned about this, that Mary, "hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

" You must have a servant’s heart.  How can you know if you have the heart of a servant? Jesus said, “You can tell what they are by what they do” (Matthew 7:16 CEV)."~ Rick Warren

  We Serve God by Serving Others By Rick Warren 3/26/2009

Let's check that verse.
Did Jesus say, 

"You can tell them

by what they do,"

or "by their  fruits ?"

"You will know them by their fruits.

Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes

nor figs from thistles, are they? (NASB) 

JEsus speaking-Matthew 7:16

 

Concerning where a bible
quotation comes from,

Warren simply 

uses whatever 

choice, dainty morsel fits
his agenda at any given moment.
He rarely uses
the same reference
book more than
twice in a row.  

"The Bible says what is in your heart is what you really are, not what others think you are, or what circumstances force you to be (Proverbs 27:19).Your heart is the real you. ....

When Serving God, Listen to Your Heart by Rick Warren Purpose driven.com 1/23/2-1-2010

Your heart is the real you.... 

which is why you need to be cleansed of sin...
be born again made anew.

Rick fails to mention what God says in the Bible about your heart and who you are.  He praises his hearers heart... (all the while neglecting to mention what the prophet Jeremiah, speaking for the Lord, declared.... in Jeremiah 17...)

“The heart is deceitful above all things,

and desperately wicked; Who can know it?
I, the Lord, search the heart,  I test the mind,  

Even to give every man according to his ways,

according to the fruit of his doings."

 

 Warren  uses whatever

he can to purposefully,and skillfully,

to say things quite antithetical to

the true Christian faith.
He does this for the purpose
of proving his particular principal 

or point to be correct.

Dor example, did you know, the Bible in Acts 13:36 tells us that "David is "purpose driven?
Well, not exactly, but Rick Warren will tell his audiences that this is what it says:

“After David had served his generation according to the will of God, he died” (Acts 13:36 NLT). My life verse is Acts 13:36, where we’re told David is purpose-driven." 
 ~ Rick Warren
Serving Your Generation in Your Time   by Rick Warren,5/5/08


Let's look closer at Acts Chapter 13 and the part about David.

 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation,

he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.  

But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. 

Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through 

Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.  

Rick says, "David served his generation in his time and then he died."  
This is true.  
But the point of Acts 13:36 is not to tell the reader that David was Purpose Driven.  No.  The point of this verse is to point the reader to Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Promised One, the Son of Man... the One who was and is and is to come.  It is to proclain Jesus' death and resurrection and God's forgiveness of our sins... the gospel message.... His plan to give those who believe on the one whom he sent, eternal life.... 

Acts 13:38-41

Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, 

that through Him (JESUS) forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,  and through Him (JESUS) everyone 
who believes (This could mean you!) is freed from all things, 
from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.
 Therefore take heed, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets

may not come upon you: 

    BEHOLD, YOU SCOFFERS, AND MARVEL, AND PERISH;
         FOR I AM ACCOMPLISHING A WORK 

IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, 

THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD DESCRIBE IT TO YOU.'

Acts 13:38-41 

God Sized Dreams and Dreaming

Bruce Wilkinson  interviewing Rick Warren: 
Bruce: “Everybody has a dream inside of their heart
Rick: “Oh absolutely – I think – because we’re created in God’s image, God made us to be dreamers – God is a dreamer  and we’re most like him when we’re creative.”
 Bruce Wilkinson  interviewing Rick Warren on You Tube

 "You go through the faith-phases of Dream, Decision, Delay, Difficulty, and Dead End . . . and then comes Deliverance."

The Six Phases of Faith by Rick Warren 7/10/2009

This is not the Christian faith process.  

If it is, then he should demonstrate that it has some biblical backing, 

prove to his listeners that such great ponderings

and wisdom, such  "D" words like this, 

is actually from God. 

.

Jesus stated it plainly,

only one phase for
"faith" in Him 

is required, for "deliverance"
and that is simply to  

believe! 

"The first thing God does to build your faith is give you a dream. When God wants to work in your life, He’ll always gives you a dream—about yourself, about what He wants you to do, about how He’s going to use your life to impact the world."-Rick Warren

How God Builds Your Faith: Dream By Rick Warren 7/10/2009

Rick tries to make the point that
"It's not about you"  

(See the book he wrote titled, Purpose Driven Life.)

Now he says, the first thing that God does...

and that God ALWAYS does this, 

(when he wants you to be impact-ful)

is to give you a dream.... 

(a DREAM about....about....  um, what.. or who?)

 about none other than little ol'YOU!

(but remember, he also says 
"It's not about "YOU!")

Gee, that is confusing.  Which is it?
not about you, or about you?

"Every person, every ministry, and every church needs a dream. If you’re not dreaming, you’re dying. I don’t believe there’s any such thing as a great person. I believe there are only ordinary people committed to great dreams. When an ordinary person is committed to a great dream, it makes that person a great person. If you want to be healthy, you’ve got to have a dream to live for. ""-Rick Warren,
How to Dream Bigger, by Rick Warren, Christian Post Jan. 31 2007

If you are not dreaming, you are what?  

 (Dying)

Now, "dreams" are biblical, 

but Rick is suggesting is that, 

if you are not on this dreaming bandwagon,  that he is 
trying to create, the one he

 now presents, 
then you're "dying"

(and therefore " unhealthy")

.... and you can almost garuntee, that 
all those on the bandwagon with Rick will now

 make the same claim as Rick

(or at least think you who are not 

are "not healthy"..."dying on the vine"
in their now "dreamy" "healthy" minded heads.)

And in the church, 
such a thing as this

will be the impetus, 
a lever 
you might say,
for 

nothing but division 
between those 

in Christ Jesus,, 
who otherwise

would be
Christian
friends.

"That’s what I like about Jabez in the Bible. We don’t know much about Jabez – but we know he stood out above the crowd. The first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles is all genealogy. You’ll find more than 600 names in that genealogy. And Jabez is the only one God singles out for special recognition....Why?.... One reason is that Jabez had a dream."
~Rick Warren Dream Big, Pastor by Rick Warren, Pastors.com Ministry Toolbox, Issues #448, 10-20-2010 

Do you conclude from reading this, 

that you should want to be like that man, Jabez,

and dream and pray such a prayer as his 

and get your special recognition?

"While Jabez's friends were satisfied with being average, Jabez asked God to bless him and enlarge his territory. He didn't want to be ordinary."
~Rick Warren
Dream Big, Pastor by Rick Warren, Pastors.com Ministry Toolbox, Issues #448, 10-20-2010

Likewise,  "while your friends are"satisfied with being average"  

(but you are purpose driven, and listen to Pastor Rick,)

 you should want to be like this man,

Jabez,

 dream of greatness,

 pray like he did,

ask God to 

"enlarge personal territory."

Jesus on the other hand, 

taught us to pray, like this:

(not my kingdom a.k.a." territory" come, )

but to pray to God, "thy kingdom come."

and "thy will be done."

God does give dreams,  as he did to Joseph and to Joseph, husband of Mary, mother of Jesus Christ while he was here on earth, and while God no doubt, does great and extraordinary things through people of faith too, but the seeking of having one's own big, God-sized "dreams fulfilled"  and personal enlargement of one's own territory... and of  "greatness" were never the focus of the great things done by men and women of faith.  Our examples in the book of Hebrews in the Bible includes men and women, like Able, Enouch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Ruth  and Samson who's faith in God and in His Word are examples for us to emulate.  Yet with Rick, thought he is a master of deflecting his intentions, the focus of his preaching is to demonstrate the and validate, the smartness, value, ability and all around greatness of  "you."

When some disciples, seeking an understanding of who could attain  "greatness," came and asked Jesus, who is the greatest in the kingdom... Jesus never suggested it would be the one who had the biggest dream, nor the biggest church congregation, fastest growing ministry, nor the biggest, most popular and best-selling book.  No, He did say something about the importance of humility...and he used the example of a little child. to show who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God.  (Matthew 18:1-9 )  

Scripture would teach us to be humble and content much in the way a child is.  

In contrast, with Rick, if you are tired of the status quo.... want to do something God-sized, like Rick, because you are discontent, or want some special recognition (like Jabez,) Rick's solution is DREAM "Big" "God-Sized dreams,"

There is also another passage of scripture where Satan tempts Christ by inviting him to think about the opportunity before him, to enlarge his territory, you might say.  Satan offers Jesus too to fulfill his God-sized dream to  "take possession of all the earth."  But there was one stipulation:  Jesus would have to bow down and worship something besides the Lord, (worship Satan to be exact.) 

Jesus declined.  He refused, and the rest is history..... this because Jesus stood fast and hard upon the things which God had said.  He knew what God had said,  and refuted satans attacks.  Jesus, a man who loved God with all his heart mind and strength, and loved others too, told the devil, a truth all Christians need to stand upon, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."  

Meanwhile, back at Saddleback Ranch, 
pastors and "leaders" are being trained to serve the world.

""Transformational leaders realize that the transformation
they pursue in is a reflection of their own spiritual quest--
that they must serve the world through their giftedness 
because that is the only way they truly fulfill their life mission. "
Erik Rees, pastors.com

"Bold Vision -"Kay Warren wants to change 

how we serve the world, 

one church at a time""

(Pop-up add at 

http://www.purposedriven.com

3-3-11)

But when tempted of Satan to worship and serve, something besides the Father, Jesus did not concede.  In fact, when Satan, acting like an agent of change, suggested that Jesus make some changes to get what he really wanted at that moment of great temptation, (you know, fulfill his dreams for food while he was hungry... prove he was God's offspring, heir to the kingdom of all the earth, Satan offered his "wise" counsel to Jesus... something about how with a word, he could have what he wanted, you know, change the stones to bread.  Jesus reminded him, (much as he reminds us who read the Bible, even today,) that,  "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."   (Luke 4)

 One gets the idea that  Jesus knew where real life is.

But was it reality or just a "dream?

Rick, he says he is a big dreamer and he encourages you too, to become one too.  He suggests having "God-sized" dreams.   He finds fault with the church, he murmurs and complains... his mouth speaking such great and swelling words.. And he certainly has person's admiration because of advantage, as he works so hard to get you to separate yourself from believers content with being simply, "Christian" and quite  "ordinary."  

But as Jude said, 

 "Beloved, remember ye the words 

 which were spoken before 

of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And in Deuteronomy we read,  

"If a dreamer of  dreams arises among you 

and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign 

or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, 

 and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ 

which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’

you shall not listen to the words of that prophet 

or that dreamer of dreams. 

For the Lord your God is testing you, 

to know whether you love the Lord your God 

with all your heart and with all your soul. 

You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him

and keep his commandments 

and obey his voice, 

and you shall serve him and hold fast to him."   

(ESV, Duet 13:1-5)

Jeremiah 23: 25-28 reads thus:
"I have heard what the prophets said,
that prophesy lies in my name,
saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. 
How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? 
yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; 
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.  
The prophet that hath a dream, 
let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word,
let him speak my word faithfully.  "

Meanwhile Rick tells people that he has ...   and they need to have, what he calls,  "God-sized" dreams. 

Pastors.com ...ministrytoolbox/archive/2010/10/20...../dream-big-pastor.... here.

Interestingly, faith in Jesus, looking unto him as the author and finisher of our Christian faith is an important issue that Rick Warren purposely circumvents, but he does encourage a life of purpose and the fulfillment of their grandiose, "ministry" (God kind of)  dreams...

and yes, he says the word, "sin" once in a while to gain approval of the Christian masses, but like a famine,  there is hardly ever a "repent of sin and believe in Jesus' name," when he publicly speaks.  HE is busy and quite content himself to tell their all the little listening Christians, that all they need to do is "change" their minds... and their beliefs... enlarge their territory like an obscure little man named Jabez. 

If you are not content with being "average," or your old fashioned bible thumping pastor.... if greatness and fulfillment, and finding purpose is what you think is for you, then Rick's got the plan, the program and the book.... and study of the book as well.  You can listen to him, preach his sermons,  buy his books. "The last thing many believers need is another bible study, " says Rick on page 231 of The Purpose Driven Life,; instead he now says what they need is to get themselves, some really big, audacious, "God-sized" dreams.

It is the kind of wisdom that begins by proclaiming,

" Many Christians misinterpret Jesus' promise of the "abundant life" to mean perfect health, a comfortable lifestyle, constant happiness, full realization of your dreams, and instant relief from problems through faith and prayer. In a word, they expect the Christian life to be easy.

~Rick Warren Purpose Driven Life,




 And then in the next breath teaches, 
"God made us to be dreamers – God is a dreamer."  ~Rick Warren
Interview with the  author of Prayer of Jabez, Bruce Wilkerson...  video here:

Learn more about 

Dreams and Dreamers 

in the Bible by

clicking here.

"For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness.

Rather, fear God. I

f you see oppression of the poor

and denial of justice 

and righteousness in the province, 

do not be shocked at the sight; 

for one official watches over another official,

and there are higher officials over them.  

After all, a king who cultivates 

the field is an advantage to the land. "

Ecclesiastes 5:7-9

Move Over Bob The Builder, Here Comes Rick!

Rick is building...

"At Saddleback church, we have a group of CEOs and business owners who are trying to make as much as they can, so they can give as much as they can to further the kingdom of God. I encourage you to talk with your pastor and begin a Kingdom Builders group in your church."  

~Rick Warren

"The greatest churches are yet to BE! Built on God's purposes by guys who learn from mentors. I intend to help them succeed" ~Rick Warren  2009

“Successful ministry is: building the church on the purposes of God”

Secrets to serving your generation in your time by Rick Warren

".... nine foundations are crucial foundations for real life change." ~Rick Warren Foundations of Change Part 2

The Purpose Driven Youth Ministry product description reads,that it is the

"The definitive volume for youth ministry today, detailing nine foundations for purpose driven ministry." 

Nice, but the scripture tell us:

 For no one can lay any foundation

other than the one already laid, 

which is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11

 Rick Warren, he is building something and  he has a lot of TOOLS!  In fact his sermons are "tools" for pastors.... he intends to let them use his tool collection too, for a fee, some of them, are FREE, of course, but the really good ones, will cost you a small fortune.

Furthermore... if a sermon is put n the internet to be heard... a gift to the listener... to learn about and be drawn to Jesus and be saved, why does Rick have some he sells, while others are "freely given."
But most importantly, what are these tools for pastors and how does Rick expect them to be used?  

Oh yes, tools to help your church GROW.... (because two or three gathered together in Jesus' name (Matthew 18:20)  is simply not a "healthy" church to be?)

What about tools?  Welk, there are not only 

Three Tools Saddleback Uses To Help People Grow,  by Rick Warren

(article at  Christianity Today)

Yes, Tools, Tools, Purpose Driven Tools!   are everywhere, just waiting for small churches to purchase at high prices too... although some, small churches may get something at low cost, or no cost, and sometimes things are  free!   But all these things for pastors are intended to be utilized in building the church Rick Warren's way.


Build on the foundation of purpose, these  healthy products will "ease your preparation," and since they are from Rick, you can be assured that " Church members cannot help but be captivated" by the "tremendous examples of the preaching art, " as he tells us on his purpose driven freebie page.

His ministry,  Toolbox for Pastors  is the "pastors' community," a "place to share tools and resources you've found or created that have helped you in your ministry. In the future we'll be adding tools such as WordSearch training, an online interactive Bible, and other sermon preparation tools."

And "(If you would like to contribute your tools and resources to the site or you want to suggest tools or categories of tools you'd like to see here, please use the Discussions section of this group to communicate to the community. We'll take these suggestions into account as we develop this section of Pastors.com.)

 But what is he building? 
With all these ministry tools, outreach tools. organizational tools and strategies... d on God's church. you can bet it is something really, really BIG!  


But what tools does God use in building his house and how does he do it?

  Let's see.....

1 Kings 6:7 reads:

"The house, 

while it was being built, 

was built of stone prepared at the quarry, 

and there was neither hammer 

nor axe 

nor any iron tool heard in the house 

while it was being built."  NASB

Interesting.  Does it remind you of 1 Peter 2:5? 

Stone upon stone, this passage in Kings tell us that the temple of God was being built and no tool was being used while it was being built on the site.  All the work, all the labor had been done according to the proper specifications already, all the craftsmanship was done at the quarry where the rocks originated from... right there.  They were brought in ready for service and it was built this way.  

Meanwhile,  Rick is so intent on bringing all sorts of tools in to be used within the church to build (and grow) the church. 

TOOLS
        TOOLS
               TOOLS...



There are so many "tools" that one must certainly wonder, "What tools could you be possibly missing that have not been in existence for the last 2000 years?"  All kinds of tools are available for sale in Rick Warren's "Ministry Toolbox."  



A recent ad at Saddleback's webpage, saddleback.com advertises" preaching tools."... It reads, "Revolutionize your sermon preparation by using the library of tools that Rick Warren uses"

But wait, there's more..
  The many "tools" here: include:


 C.L.A.S.S. Materials, (Christian Life And Service Seminars) 

 ("Created by Pastor Rick Warren..... C.L.A.S.S. (Christian Life And Service Seminars) is a simple process for moving people from unchurched and uncommitted to becoming mature believers who fulfill their ministry in your church and their life mission in the world....C.L.A.S.S. is made up of four stages: Membership (C.L.A.S.S. 101), Maturity (C.L.A.S.S. 201), Ministry (C.L.A.S.S. 301) and Missions (C.L.A.S.S. 401). At the end of each C.L.A.S.S., members are asked to make various commitments to deepen their spiritual growth and increase their level of commitment within the church"

Conference Resources  (Like Radicalis, )."geared to help build a healthy church through effective preaching and implementing the Purpose Driven paradigm."

Here a tool, there a tool, everywhere a tool, tool.   He even sells Christmas tools.


(Search out the word "tool" on his webpages, there are plenty to go around!)


He is building
              building
                  building the church on PURPOSE  (it's new foundation, five purposes, actually, all  invented by Rick,    He even offers a two-year strategy for "breaking new ground, reaching new people, and building a new community of faith."

Make no mistake, he is building something NEW.


So,what tool do YOU use, what, in Christ, is it that you lack and what is you are building?  
Most of all, make sure you are building on a tried and true foundation that will stand.  

" 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.’ 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
Purpose-Driven Preaching: An Interview with Rick Warren  by Michael Duduit

The Church, the Hope of the World- Rick Warren and the "Global Church"

Rick's Purpose Driven Network Summit was a conference in 2009, that " brought together Pastor Rick Warren and distinguished Christian Leaders to discuss Christ's most significant entity ever created: "The Church - The Hope Of The World."  As God's chosen instrument of blessing and change for more than 2,000 years, the church is purposed to bring people to Christ, help them discover their purpose, and work as one body to bring the gospel to every nation."

 To Kay and Rick, C.H.U.R.C.H. is an acronym,  and they use it to address the issue of AIDS.
It stands for:


Care for and support those infected and affected;
Handle testing and counseling;
Unleash a volunteer labor force;
Reduce stigma;
Champion healthy behavior;
and
Help with medication and nutrition.

Rick Warren also wrote an article that appears on Kay Warren's webpage, kaywarren.com, titled,  The Church, the Hope of the World.  

Why is the church the hope of the world? Rick says it is because it has seven distinctive.
These are explained by Rick.

.#1.  ... It is big!   

 "There are 2.1 billion members of the church worldwide, which is one third of the world’s population. The church is bigger than any nation or organization.... can you imagine, he says, "if even half of this gigantic volunteer labor force could be mobilized!"

...IT's a great market place to sell stuff

# 2

...It has the potential for world-wide distribution

"There are millions of local churches scattered across the globe; they are in every corner of the world. The church is more widely distributed than any business franchise...." "Through this unique distribution channel of local churches, information, training and resources and relief can be easily disseminated.There are millions of local churches scattered across the globe; they are in every corner of the world. The church is more widely distributed than any business franchise"

#3.

.....The church is simply administrated by single entities on local levels, giving help to those in need 

This means that both "public and private partners" can easily "come alongside and assist the local church on their initiatives when the burden is too large for their church to carry it alone." 

 #4.

....It has the fastest expansion rate of anything on the earth...!

"The Church is growing at 60,000 converts a day!  The church is even growing faster than the spread of HIV/AIDS, which is growing by 11,000 new infections every day.  To stop an epidemic, there must be something that grows even faster"  Rick then says, " the church is the answer.  No other organization can match that growth!"  (HE means his church ..C.H.U>R.C>H>  not the one already in existence.... the "healthy" church )

# 5.

...IT has a track record of long continuation

"The church has been in existence for 2000 years, longer than any nation, business or organization. It will be in existence until Jesus returns! "

# 6.

...The authority of God

"In the Great Commission, Jesus said “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to you, therefore go…” With authority comes power!  God has given us his authority and his is power to go and share the hope that is only found in him.  No man-made organization has given us the mandate to go into all the earth; our authority comes from God."

  #7.

 "We are God’s representatives in the world, and we serve the least of these in his name.  Because he loves, we love.   Governments can’t love, businesses can’t love, but the church of Jesus can love. Others serve for a variety of reasons – many of them good reasons – but the highest motivation is out of love. 

The church, with all of its flaws, is still God’s chosen way of getting his work done.  We have the privilege of making the invisible God visible (Col. 1:15) to a hurting world through our service. " 

Together, explaining the PEACE PLAN, Rick and Kay Warren say :

"The P.E.A.C.E. Plan is a massive effort to mobilize 1 billion Christians around the world into an outreach effort to attack the five global, evil giants of our day. These are the worlds biggest problems, affecting billions, not just millions, of people: spiritual emptiness, corrupt leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy.

These five global giants ravage the lives of billions of people worldwide and all work together to constrain them and cut them off from knowing the saving grace of a loving God who sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die for their sins allowing them eternal hope and security. There is no organization or government that can effectively eradicate these giants. The only successful solution is the global Church of Jesus Christ."

                                          But why isn't it, "Jesus Christ?"

 They point out that, 

"The P.E.A.C.E. Plan is a massive effort to mobilize 1 billion Christians around the world into an outreach effort to attack the five global, evil giants of our day.  These are the worlds biggest problems, affecting billions, not just millions, of people: 

spiritual emptiness, 

corrupt leadership, 

poverty, 

disease, 

and 

illiteracy.

These five global giants ravage the lives of billions of people worldwide and all work together to constrain them and cut them off from knowing the saving grace of a loving God who sent his son, 

 (O.K.  So, if this is true, if these "evil giants" ...."

all work together to cut people off from knowing 

the saving grace of a loving God..."

Is Satan real?  IS, God's stroy real? 

Could it be we just have these....

"evil giants working against 

humanity that need to be conquered 

by the collective of "us."?

And if it is "evil" from the "evil one," a.k.a. "Satan,"

and if we believe in the Son God 

sent into the world, then why not preach Jesus 

as the savior of all... the comforter 

in our trials of life, the actual hope 

and solution to our earthly, mortal problems 

of death and sin?  

 

 These five global giants ravage the lives of billions of people worldwide and all work together to constrain them and cut them off from knowing the saving grace of a loving God who sent his son ,Jesus Christ, to die for their sins allowing them eternal hope and security. There is no organization or government that can effectively eradicate these giants. 

(Now there is a hearty admission! 

" There is no organization 

or government 

that can effectively eradicate 

these giants. "

 

Jesus said that the poor would always be 

among us.... and we should always care for them....  

now, Rick declares that poverty is

an "evil" thing, and "evil giant" that must

be erradicated from amoung us?

How on Earth is is planning to do THIS?

Ask Rick, "Who is to be the leader of this new 

and improved church you are creating, 

the head of a "think global, act local" 

you?  church like this?  Is it going to be  little o' Rick?  or

Little Ol Rick and friends?   

(Think United Nations, Agenda 21, here; 

the comprehensive, 

green, sustainable, 

"think global, act local" 

World Summit 

Leadership

e sort of thing.)

"The only successful solution," (says the Warren's) 

            is the global Church of Jesus Christ."

Really? 

Did he not just say how great the church WAS...

and the work it has been doing?  

So, is the church healthy or unhealthy?

Does it need a purpose?

He even said it had a purposed focus in the world....

He said, the church is :

-"More widely distributed than any business franchise.." 

-" bigger than any nation or organization." 

-"God's chosen instrument of blessing and change for more than 2,000 years," and 

-"purposed to bring people to Christ."

Now he want's it to be changed?
He wants it to change the church and give it a "new" purpose..
Maybe this is because he, ike some people,
finds this CHURCH, establish by God and unbridled by man,
as it is and has been for 2000 years, to be looking a little bit undaunting,
like maybe, God might win?

And note the churches "devastating effects"...
it is big,
continual,
chosen by God,
unchanging,productive and
even "purposed."
TO BRING PEOPLE TO JESUS CHRIST!

Apparently, the church, 

is a thing faster growing that the AIDS epidemic itself  It just

grows and grows.  Rick Warren says that it grows at least 
"60,000 converts a day! " 

How interesting that out of the same mouth,
Rick preaches and preaches 

that the church is unhealthy and  ineffective 

and that it really needs to CHANGE,

(under his direction and leadership.)

Apparently, the church needs to be harnessed and managed, integrated....
and become the "hope" of the world that it isn't yet.

Most often refered to by Rick as "unhealthy" and "ineffective"
burdensome to burned out pastors and "dead,"
churches are targets for convincing that they need Rick's expertise
in order to change and become
the kind of churches they ought to be....
"Purpose Driven"
"Healthy"
and under his management.

And he has a plan,  for the world too,

a PEACE plan to create a 

global church of 

"world-class" Christians,
those "Christians" who unlike every Christian
that ever lived before them,
believed the Bible and took God at his word, 
th kind who "really" care about and serve the world!

Imagine that!

It appears that the far-reaching church 

(headed now by Jesus Christ...
build on Him as the Cornerstone,
and the apostles and prophets of old, is

is not only "unhealthy" 
and in need of Rick and Kay's leadership
and this Plan of  P.E.A.C.E.
After all, as Rick is known to say about the Church,
it, unfortunately, "is nothing but a big mouth," 

But it can be saved.... reformed, 
changed and made healthy again 
 by pastors all over the globe, partnering with and learning
everything there is know 
from Pastor (and Mrs.) Rick Warren.


They want you to know that "the Church,"
in all it various forms, denominations and in fact, 
all people 
of all faiths everywhere...

...is the hope of the World.

And, speaking of a P.E.A.C.E. Plan for the world.... Who is Rick Warren going to award the  next "International Medal of Peace" to?  (This is according to an article in Christianity Today magazine dated February 15, 2011. ) 

 None other than the next person he wants to "partner"  with, Mr. Tony Blair , who works to connect people of faith to people of faith and promotes what he calls,  "interfaith service."   

What, exactly, (one should ask Rick to clarify specifically, ) IS the "Hope of the World?"   Is it truly the "church" or is it maybe just people of all faiths working together to distribute goods and services all around the world?

Funny.  I thought that Jesus Christ himself, the resurrected Savior, was the only true and actual "hope" we humans had in this perplexing and ultimately perishing world.