Life Is Like a Game of Poker

"See Martha, I told you..... and you know, you have to be a pretty smart feller, like Pastor Rick, if you want to understand this thing called life.  See, all you have to do is know how to play your cards right. "

Some pastors rightly teach that sin means missing the mark of God's perfection.  Rick however, claims that the flaws in you... everything that you think is a "flaw" is simply to be thought of as a "mark of uniqueness."

He says,
"Life is like a game of poker. You have to play the hand you're dealt. So what is the hand? What are the cards?" The First Card, he said, is Chemistry -- your biology. "We are all intentionally flawed to make us unique. ... You need to reframe everything you think is a flaw in life as a mark of uniqueness."                                                        
                                                                                                                                        Rick Warren on Oprah Winfrey's Life Class

You see, you just do not have it right.  

Your thinking is all wrong until you listen to Rick who says that

  we are all intentionally.... biologically... flawed 

and apparently, we are born that way on purpose...

made this way by God... who wanted you to be unique.  

So don't look at a flaw as a flaw anymore....

 just think of your flaws as making you unique!

And what is a game of poker like anyhow? 
Luck?  Chance?  Win or loose? 

 Is it comforting to know that life is like a game of "poker"?

 Rick doesn't just say something once or twice... 

he repeats himself over and over and over. 

It's a lot like one of those commercials on TV,  like, paid advertising.

But what is Rick "advertising" for?

He has been using this poker/ cards lines 

for months now; since at least August 2012.

Talking like this is not really talking to you, but at you. 

If you hear it often enough, will you will believe 

the message?  "Life is like a game of poker."

Is it? 

Do you believe that life is like a game of poker? 
Chance, luck of the draw...... playing your cards right.

Nowhere in the scripture does it say anything like "life is like a game of poker."  Nor will you read there that when it comes to life, you just "have to play the hand you are dealt."  No.  Rick just made that up, and besides, that is just kinda a given.  Rick is getting a lot of mileage with the anaalogy thought.  He is certainly repeating the same idea over and over.. His sermons, his interviews and he writes about it in his blogs.  Why?  Maybe because it is not so antithetical to what people are into and what they are apt to believe.  

You know, there was a day when the preacher man warned his listeners about the evils of gambling and playing cards; Now the preacher simply tells his listeners that life is just like a game of cards.  

He assumes everyone plays poker and says, 
"Life is like a game of five stud poker. You don't get to mix your cards. You don't get to choose your cards. You have to play the hand you're dealt."   Rick Warren, Purpose Driven.com Even Your flaws Bring Glory to God         
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8/16/12      

Where is the gospel (good news) in thinking life is like this?  

Nowhere.

There is no good news in that.  

As usual, the gospel is missing from "inspirational" words of Rick.

See, the "good news, "(if life, as Rick says is a "poker game" )

is that God has played all the right  "cards" on your behalf.  

Against all odds, Jesus Christ was born, lived a sinless (unflawed) life, 

died and rose again from death for you.

All you have to do is believe on the one God sent,

Jesus Christ...and trust in his winning "hand of victory over sin and death."

Jesus, you see, played out your lousy cards... your bad hand, 

your wrong choices and flaws of every kind, and gained

victory for you when he died on the cross.

This is a sure thing in a life of bad hands, chance and gamble.

But Rick doesn't say that.

Rick doesn't point a person listening him to Jesus, but then 

maybe Rick is not interested in the spiritual matters.   

He never mentions that part of our human 

flaw is our "sin," though he does bother to talk about how 

each person has flaws they were born with that are not "sinful.".

Rick says that he bought a pair of jeans once that had a tag that read,
"These jeans have intentional flaws in order to make them unique. Your 'genes' are the same way: They have flaws that make you unique. Those flaws are part of your custom design and God planned them for his purpose and glory."

                                                                 Rick Warren, Purpose Driven.com Even Your flaws Bring Glory to God   8/16/12     

Rick says, 

"You cannot become all that God created you to be until you embrace your identity — the unmistakably unique and flawed you that God intentionally made for a purpose."

                                                                   Rick Warren, Purpose Driven.com Even Your flaws Bring Glory to God   8/16/12     

So to Rick, Life is just like five-card-stud "poker."

You have to play the cards that you have been given.

And by the way... do not expect to win at that game... 

until you listen to Rick... and learn to: 

1.)  believe in yourself... (a.k.a. "embrace your (flawed) identity") 

and  2.) believe that "God INTENTIONALLY made "you" flawed for a purpose."

"God made you for a purpose" is not the gospel.

Believing in yourself.... discovering that God made your flaws....
 so you would be uniquely you....is NOT the gospel.
 A victorious life... a Christian life, is not lived 

or achieved by believing in your flawed self   

or believing that God intentionally made you flawed for his glory.    

 This is all just confusion.

The gospel is the good news of God keeping his promise and sending Jesus Christ,

It is the good news of his birth, his life, his death and his resurrection from death.

In Jesus, because of God's love, mercy and grace, our sins are forgiven....

and THAT is Good News!

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved! 
(Belief in yourself or in God's purposes will not save you.)

John 3:17

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;

but that the world through him might be saved.

John 10:9

(Jesus speaking,) I am the door: by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Acts 2:21

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever 

shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 4:12

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 

Yes...the gospel according to Rick is that there is hope in  your ability to play the poker hand of life.  Flaws and all, you can rejoice because there is that wild card.... the joker.

"You may not be able to control the hand that you have been dealt, but you can use your wild card to change the way you live your life by the choices you make."

                                                                             Daily Hope by Rick Warren, The Wild Card: Your Choices 8/19/12

The funny thing about that "wild card" Rick talks about on his blog, is that the wild card is YOU... and your ability to choose to do the right thing, (to play the right cards) in the "poker game" of life. 

Rick Warren Poem click here.

"Get Angry"?

Apparently, the best way to handle conflict, according to Rick Warren, is to get angry. 

Rick says, 

"In Nehemiah 5 the Israelites face conflict for the same reason we do today - selfishness.  So 

what can we learn from Nehemiah about handling conflict?

1. Get angry."   Nehemiah’s 5 Steps for Handling Conflict by Rick Warren September 12, 1012  @ pastors.com

Does this sound like good biblical advice?  

Is getting angry the first thing one should do in handling conflict?

Hardly.

Rick is, however, giving this advice to his minions.  

He attempts to cover this antithetical-to-scripture advice with warning not to ignor the second step he 

offers and he also used a verse from the with scripture, James 1:19 and 20... which talk about "being 

slow to anger."  Which is it?  Should one get angry.... or make angry wait a really really long time 

before you fetch him?   There is a big difference  between getting angry in order to handle conflict 

and then thinking... as Rick Warren suggests in this article, verses being prayerful and thoughtful first 

and being "slow to anger" as the scripture says. 

A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he

 that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

Proverbs 15:8

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

 longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,

 faith, Meekness, temperance: 

against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22

A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil:

 but the fool rageth, and is confident.

Proverbs 14:16

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: 

fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

Psalm 37:8

An angry man stirreth up strife, and a

 furious man aboundeth in transgression.

Proverbs 29:22

And what about Colossians 3:8?

I will let you look that one up yourself, 

but I will give you a clue; it doesn't say

 pastors should "get angry" in order

 to deal with conflict.

Four Laws of a Blessed Church

Four Laws of a Blessed Church


"Laws of a Blessed Church?"  


Did God already set forth his commandments in stone?  Didn't God already fullfill the requirements of the law on our behalf in Christ?  Yes... and yes!  What on earth is Rick talking about these "Four Laws of a blessed church for?


True as it is that God has already fulfilled the law in Christ, recently posted at pastors.com was this article,  Four Laws of a Blessed Church, by Rick Warren.  It seems to be a remake of a 2009 Purpose Driven article, of a similar title, Four Laws of God's Blessings. It's probably changed to appeal to a newer audience now, so it is slightly different, but the effect of reading it remains the same.  Gullible readers will be believing that "God's blessing upon your church "brings responsibility." Apparently there are Four Laws (laws that you have to be keeping) if you are, or want to be, that "Blessed Church" Rick is speaking about.

Rick's concepts are biblical, aren't they?  After all, churches do have responsibilities to carry out.  not only that, but Rick is a "pastor" and like all pastors, he uses some impressive quotes of the scripture to make his points in the mind of his readers and hearers.  He even sounds quite well versed and literate because he quotes from all kinds of "Bibles." 


Some readers, however, might be unaware of the difference between a translation and a paraphrase and they might just be glad to hear someone using the bible as they speak!  Well hooray for them, but sad for Rick who misleads people in the hows and why's of getting God's "blessing."  


Look at Rick's Laws and you will see that these "Laws" are not really "laws."  He doesn't even write them that way.  Rick just calls them laws as he teaches them to his hearers.  Look also how he uses the Bible to back what he says.


The first law, according to Rick, is for blessing to flow outwardly.   

"1. Blessing should flow outwardly."

From the Book of Genesis, he shows us how God told Abraham, "I will bless you and you will be a blessing to others." 

What blessing is he referring to?  He does not say.  and while Abraham is a great example... it is notable he doesn't mention the blessings we have in Christ.  Are you thinking yet that Rick is referring to earthly possessions and material blessings.... like finances?

Is that number one even a law?  It sounds more like a suggestion. ("Should flow?")  

 "2. When we bless others, God takes care of our needs.'

Oh, now he mentions Jesus.  Jesus "guaranteed," "Anyone who gives up anything for the kingdom of God will certainly receive many times more in this life and will receive eternal life in the next world to come." 


Is this number two, another law?  It sounds more like a principal. Furthermore, if it is a "Law" then who bound to keep this law?  God?  


So, when you bless others, God reciprocates?  (And it's a law?)  Hardly.
Rick has it backwards. 
 Someone even wrote a hymn that says, "Praise God from whom all blessing flows....."  


 "3.  Our blessings to others will come back on us."

Is this a LAW?  ( If it is, it actually sounds like the Buddhist "law"of Karma.  We do know that we reap what we sow...  Jesus tells us that.  We do know too that the measure you use, it will be measured to you.. (Luke 6:38) But Rick gives his hearers some motivation for blessing others.... (while quoting the Message by Eugene Peterson, which is not a Bible translation but a paraphrase.)  Rick says, in support of blessing others, "Luke 6:38 tells us, "Give your life away and you'll find your life will be given back.  But not merely given back.  Given back with bonus and blessing."

Christian, are you a follower of Jesus, for "the bonus?"  Are you in Christ for the bonus and the blessing Peterson and Warren insist God will be passing out if adhere to this third so-called "law" or are you in Christ because of what Christ has done for you on the cross.  

4.  The more we're blessed by God the more he expects us to help others."


Again, is this written as a law? (No.) More importantly, is this a law of God?
Statements like this are written in order to provoke people to give.  Instead however of giving out of generosity or with a cheerful spirit, one is urged to GIVE because of guilt and out of abundance.  


(Which of God's infamous Ten Commandments requires one to GIVE anything to anyone?)


To make his point, Rick uses words from the Living Bible, a paraphrase, stating that God says, in Luke 12 that, "Much is required from those to whom much is given. For their responsibility is greater." Rick neglects however to mention what verse in Luke this is and he fails to convey that this verse, in context, even in the Living Bible is about punishment specifically for those who know the master's will and do not do it.  It is not about the proper reciprocation and distribution of goods or finances as Rick infers when he asks, "If your church is blessed with resources that others around the wold do not have, how do you think God wants you to use them to help (or plant) other congregations?"  Rick makes blessing all about money.  

 So, what is a blessed church and what does it look like?


The picture Rick paints  of a blessed church as one who has wealth and worldly possessions.  His Four Laws all reflect allusions to what can only be described as monetary "blessings" from God and being  given and being received back in bonus too.  Rick attempts to makes your motivation for giving all about being motivated to get "God's blessings" in return.    However, when it comes to serving, helping and even to "giving,"  Christians do not give in order to get.  No, they operate under greater principles than Warren's bizarre  repackaging of the "law" of Karma for Christians.  They are instructed in the bible to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, (and they do) .... how he said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive.'  (Acts 20:35) 


 Jesus gave us a very different picture of a church blessed by God... (Matthew 5)

• Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
• Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
• Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
• Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
• Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
• Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
• Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
• Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

What is Church?

"Church is not a place you go to but people you belong to."
Rick Warren Tweet... March 29,2012

Really?  I thought that was family.

" Church is the people you belong to." 
                                                Rick Warren

Funny, the Bible teaches that the church consists

of those who belong to the Lord.

Rick's Acronym for "church".... (The Church, the Hope of the World, 2009)


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.

C.H.U.R.C.H.

While acronyms are sometimes helpful, this one offered by Rick 

deserves to be scrutinized by thinking individuals who would call themselves the church.

We can assume he is speaking in reference to AIDS....

but there are more problems than AIDS in this world.

and there is one solution....

Jesus Christ and him crucified for sin.

The solution is not the church as a group of concerned people who  volunteer their labor in testing for AIDS or counselling or who champion "healthy" behavior by offering condoms helping with medication reminders and advocating good nutrition.  No.  The church while concerned and caring stands looks to one greater than even John the Baptist....

and it's not Rick....(even as "great" as he makes himself and his care

  and compassion for the world and for those suffering with AIDS to be...)

The solution is Jesus Christ and we belong to Him

He bought us with a price and He paid for our sin. 




See also http://rickwarrenquotes.blogspot.com/2011/03/church-hope-of-world-rick-warren-and.html

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.