Rick has a series he calls "UNCOMMON
COURAGE." Take note at how the UN on "common" is emphasized
and how it is in RED as he promotes this series at his Saddleback website. Why? What is the difference between "uncommon" and "uncommon"? You just have to wonder....
This series, (from saddlebackrescources,com) is apparently targeting those afraid to speak up for their
convictions.... people who are worried, anxious about decisions and even
cautious about taking risks.
Wow. The last thing you ever want to do is be wary of "risk taking" ... right?
Really?
Is he serious? Is doing the "sure thing" undesirable.
So... are you any of
these things?
Afraid, worried,
anxious, cautious about taking risks?
Apparently, these are
bad traits to have and you
need help, but help is here…see, Rick
will help you....
It's a five part sermon series that consists of:
1. Standing Courageously for the Faith
2. The Courage to Keep Going
3. Courage to follow Your Calling
4. Finding the Courage to Face Your Faults
5. The Courage to Let Go of Your Past
Take note: It is all about "you" and your doing.
Silly Ricky.
It's not supposed to be all about "You."
It's about your convictions..... your courage…your
calling..... It's about you facing your faults.... your past.. and ultimately
your ability to do all of the above, because Rick, (who,
apparently, knows everything about everything and more...) has helped you
overcome these negative things. Note
too, that courage is not even listed in scripture as a fruit of the Holy Spirit…like
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and self control all is. So, it is really “uncommon courage” or is it
really just “common” courage with a big UN in front of it?
In his sermon he asks:
"Do you realize how important it is
that you not be a coward about your faith?"
How important is it? (You might wonder.) Is cowardice a sin? When was the last time you were "afraid?" Now, while you are wondering about it, answering Rick's question, Rick then begins his talk by using a book called
"The Message" to prove his point that it is important you not be a coward about your faith. He teaches "scripture" from that book telling us that Jesus said, (quoting Matthew 10:32) "Stand up for
me against world opinion and I'll stand up for you before my father
in heaven."
It sounds reasonable to say that.... somewhat like the Bible we know and love, but did Jesus command or direct or even ever tell his disciples, "Stand up for
me against world opinion ?" No. Peterson made that up!
Is that what Jesus did? (Stand up against world opinion?)
The King James Bible, (KJV) reads:
" Whosoever
therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father
which is in heaven."
The
New International Version (NIV) reads:
Funny, the Bible talks about "confessing" or "acknowledging" Jesus Christ before men,,,, but the Message avoids making this
known.... it just says, "Stand up for me against world opinion."
It’s a defensive act, as if we have to defend Jesus. It is almost defiant… like an argument rather than merely a confession of a belief congruent with one's heart. Also in the Message, is an element of "tit for
tat..." (If you do this and I will do that. )It appears to be sort of a bargain...
as if … IF your do this, then I will do that for you. Funny, but Jesus is not like that. He is love and in the scriuptures we have his statement as a promise... not a "works" I must do in order for him to respond to me. It's a statement too of hope and truth for those who simply confess with their mouth that Jesus is
Lord.
Why does the Message change the spirit of this. More importantly, why does Rick choose this book to
quote from? One can only wonder.
It seems the message has a message…. And it’s not the same message as our traditional bible "translations." Be reminded, the Message is a paraphrase, not a translation. Rick, by slickly inserting the Message in place of a true translation is being quite shrewd. He gives the appearance that he knows all the "bibles" out there... and he tickles hears and changes the truth of who God is and what Jesus has said. If The Message by Eugene Peterson is not even a translation, just a readable novel to be enjoyed.... then why does Rick, (and others) treat it and use it as if it is?
Perhaps the Message has a purpose? Interetingly, crowbars have a purpose too.
A crowbar, is a tool used to lever attached items
apart. They are utilized to remove
stuff, like nails and parts, and usually, this is for the purpose of
demolition. Rick inserting the Message
is like him using a crowbar to change up the way you think about the things the
scriptures say, for the Message does not say the same thing in the same spirit
that the scriptures properly translated actually say.
Rick commonly uses this approach. He craftily removes grace, replacing it with
works. Instead of preaching gospel he
preaches law. He even replaces Jesus
with his favorite word… “Purpose.”
“Healthy churches are
built on purpose!”
A healthy church
balances the Five Purposes by Rick Warren
Ephesians tells us that the church is "built
on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone."
The bible does not say the church is built on anything else.
“Successful ministry is:
building the church on the purposes of God”
Secrets to serving your
generation in your time by Rick Warren
We have to wonder….
Why isn't a “healthy church” built on
the Rock of Ages, Jesus Christ?
Every church is driven
by something: tradition, programs, finances, events, seekers, and even
buildings. But to be healthy, it must become purpose driven.”
Becoming a Purpose
Driven Church, Part One
Rick Warren
It must what?
It must become what?
Apparently, it must become under Rick Warren's control,
and it must be built on purpose…IF it is to be a
"healthy" church.
This infers, doesn’t it, that every other “church” is not
healthy.
How To Use The Crowbar Approach
1. Secure the object you are demolishing.
Rick has done a good job in securing the
object he wants to demolish.
He has successfully
marketed his purpose theory and some
pastors stop
preaching from the Bible and use his sermons instead.
Yes, Rick has
overpowered them with his grand image and has even
subsequently taken over whole congregations (for
six week intervals)
where he has orchestrated teaching young and old
about how God
made them for a purpose, even Christians. Rick’s is highly thought of
as being is a picture of Christianity, a picture
of everything a pastor should be,
after all, he is relaxed, friendly, rich, smart, successful,
philanthropic,
and he has a good grip on the church now. People even believe
him when he
asserts how much he knows.
But when it comes to having a good position and a
grasp
on the
church, Rick has a lot of help from friends.
There are famous names like TIME magazine, Newsweek,
even
Christianity Today, or Oprah, for example, who
promote Rick
and his products and his sermons and sermon
series'. Rick’s followers
promote his
tweets, repeat his sermons, buy his books and his sermons from
the internet (some are sold to them for as much as
$26.00 for a set.)
Yes, they believe him when he tells them to be
leaders like himself and when
he tells
them that he has a plan for peace in the world.
After all, they are no
doubt
interested in serving the world, finding their purpose
and their unique shape for ministry… (Rick’s
specially designed
methodology
of helping you learn more about YOU…
(using manmade methods of determining spiritual
giftedness and personality types.)
2. Find a narrow crack within which to insert the
crowbar.
(Rick often uses different translations and
renderings, choosing of course to use whatever version of the "Bible"
best suits his application at the moment. Thus he has craftily inserted
his crowbar. In the Message passage that Rick chose during the series
"Uncommon Courage," he basically inserted an angry overbearing
Jesus.
Lets look at the passage from the message in
context. Please take note that the
spirit in this is quite different from the spirit of a loving and forgiving…
merciful and gracious God.
32 "Stand up for me against world
opinion and I'll stand up for you before my Father in heaven.33 If
you turn tail and run, do you think I'll cover for you? 34 "Don't
think I've come to make life cozy. I've come to cut - 35 make
a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and
mother-in-law - cut through these cozy domestic arrangements* and free you for
God. 36Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies. 37 If
you prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me. If you prefer son or
daughter over me, you don't deserve me. 38 "If you don't
go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. "
Matthew
Chapter 10, The Message by Eugene Peterson
3. Step Three, once the pry bar is inserted, is to apply force
slowly until the two pieces, once attached, separate.
Quite interesting is the title of Lesson Five in
the "UNCommon Courage Series." It is titled, The Courage to
Let Go of Your Past. To what in your past, dear friends, will
you "let go."
What does this mean?
Will
it be your doctrine, learned as truth from God's Holy word?
Will
it be believing that Jesus is the Only way to God?
Will
it be your friends... who vociferously
warn
you about the dangers of the
teaching of a man like Rick
Warren?
Will
it be your "Christian "family ties?
Will
it be your TRANSLATION of the Bible?
Will
you replace your translation with the
Paraphrased
“Message” or some other ‘best selling” or
"Purpose
Driven" title?
4. Step Four is
simply to claim any levered off parts for yourself and make yourself the sole
visible leader
of it all, and call it a
"New Reformation."
"I believe we’re on the verge of a second Reformation in the church. 500 years ago we had the first Reformation. It was about beliefs. This one is going to be about behavior. It’s not about what the church knows, it’s about what the church does....We need to reattach the hands and the feet to the body of Christ. About 50 years ago the hands and the feet got cut off, and all that’s left is a mouth. Evangelicals in particular are known more for what we talk about than what we do. A lot of times we’re known more for what we’re against than what we’re for. I intend to change that. So this second Reformation will be about being the church in the world. Reformations don’t happen overnight. They take fifty years. I can give twenty years to it. But that’s probably all I’ve got left in my life, is another twenty years. The next generation will be the Reformation generation. My goal is to train them, to prepare them to finish the task."- Rick Warren
Rick
Warren Interview by Paul
Grant (Urbana.org)
“This
weekend, I will begin teaching the most important series of messages we've ever
taught in 23 years…We believe it is part of the beginning of a Spiritual
Awakening, a Global Movement, a New Reformation.”
-Rick Warren,
Nov.
2003 Peace Plan Letter to Saddleback Church
"The Bible calls the church the body of Christ. And, in my opinion, for about the last 50 years at least, the, the legs and the arms, and the hands, and the feet of the body of Christ have been amputated, and all that's left was a big mouth. We're better known at, at speaking than doing. And usually we're known more for what we're against than what we're for. "
- Rick
Warren
Interview
With Rick Warren, Prayer in America, the Duncan Group. 2007
But be of good cheer! The Crowbar Approach does not always work. If in
the past, you have repented of your sin and believed on Jesus Christ for your
salvation, do not be moved. Stand. Jesus saved you. Simply stand in your conviction and in the connection by which you have been "attached." If you lack anything... fear anything, simply ask of God. IT helps to know the scriptures and the doctrine given to us by the Word. Truth be told, Jesus is the foundation of His
Church... not purpose. Not only that, but faith in Jesus Christ is rock solid strong and the
gates of hell cannot prevail against it!
Matthew
16:13-18
When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his
disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And
they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others,
Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them,
But whom say ye that I am? And
Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art
the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed
art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee,
but my Father which is in heaven. And
I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it.
