Posted on 07/07/2009 7:28:10 AM PDT by TheBattman
An Open Letter to Pastor Rick Warren By Jan Markell
On July 5 the Washington Times online reported that Pastor Rick Warren told his Islamic audience, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA,) that he envisions "a coalition of faith." Whether Pastor Warren knows this or not, this is just another term for the coming one-world religion outlined in Revelation 13. It is further outlined in Revelation 17. I have not taken on the issue of Rick Warren all that often, but after reading what the Washington Times has to say about his message to a group of spiritually lost Muslims, I feel I must address this in an open letter to who many say is the most influential pastor in America and some would say the world.
Pastor Warren, you pleaded with 8,000 Muslim listeners on Saturday, July 4, to work together to solve the world's greatest problems by cooperating in a series of interfaith projects. You said, "Muslims and Christians can work together for the common good without compromising my convictions or your convictions."
Pastor Warren, you needed to compromise the convictions of the Muslims in attendance. To just say that "My deepest faith is in Jesus Christ" was not enough to a thoroughly lost crowd. The hour is too late to withhold a gospel message without which they will face a Christless eternity, and you will be held accountable. The "world's greatest problems" will always be with us and the Bible says so in Matthew 26:11. Sin is at the root of them. I have to conclude you are more interested in ecumenical unity and solving AIDS, poverty, and other social issues. Last Saturday you were given a golden opportunity that 99.9% of American Christians could never get.
You said you were not interested in interfaith dialogue, but you seize every opportunity to talk to all religions and you always leave out the gospel. You even address Jewish groups but you tell them how to grow a mega-synagogue like your own church, Saddleback. In this "can't we all get along?" generation, you usually leave out the only good news left: There is salvation in Christ and Christ alone (Acts 4:12), and the hour is late, so make a conscious decision to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
You told ISNA, "Talk is cheap but love is something we do together. We must do something to model what it is to live in peace, to live in harmony." Pastor Warren, you know your Bible better than that, don't you? The Bible says there will never be peace and harmony in this world until the Messiah rules from His theocratic kingdom. The U.N. spews the same kind of pagan "peace concepts." Aren't you above that? You would likely never suggest your Muslim audience pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm122:6), yet you push for foolish and hopeless ecumenical peace!
In your speech you included three suggestions: 1) Create a coalition to end religious stereotyping; 2) Work together to restore civility to American society; 3) Take a common stand against attacks on freedom of religion and freedom of speech. There is civility in American society so why are you even suggesting there might not be? But you won't find much of it in Islamic society. Go see the film, The Stoning of Soraya M, the true story of what happens to a lot of innocent Muslim women. It's a lot more gross and bloody than any horror flick and this is reality, not fiction. The Muslims you addressed know all about this procedure. ISNA wants Sharia Law everywhere on earth! You missed a golden opportunity to challenge them to stand up to Islamic governments that perpetrate such atrocities.
Pastor Warren, you then went on to say the media was clueless as to what Christians and Muslims believe. They know very well what both faiths believe. They believe Christians are the new Taliban, and they press for hate crime legislation that will protect Muslims. You then said, "It's the truth that sets us free." Why did you take John 8:32 out of context? You twisted the very words of Jesus when you should have been proclaiming the words of Jesus.
The ISNA stated how impressed they were with your charitable work. What charitable work have they done? As terror expert Steve Emerson says, "ISNA has has been an umbrella and a promoter of groups that have been involved in terrorism." Here again you could have challenged them, but then you would not be invited back had you done so.
Joseph Farah says, "Suffice it to say the ISNA is no friend of Christianity or America." Yet in 2007, Rick Warren was one of many "evangelical leaders" who signed a document begging forgiveness from Muslims for all the evil deeds perpetrated against them by Christians. What evil deeds have true Christians committed against Muslims? Now, Pastor Warren, you've gone beyond pandering and are sounding like a fool along with all others who signed that document.
Even the secular Washington Times noted, "Mr. Warren was sparse in his mentions of Jesus and God." But since works and good deeds were stressed, this reinforced the belief of ISNA members that works will help them get to Heaven.
Pastor Warren, you stated you were committed to "the common good" and that you are commanded to "respect everybody." You don't want to deal with the verse that says we are to preach to gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15). It seems to me that you are more interested in marching hand-in-hand with other faiths down the winding road to the coming one-world religion.
There is literally a mini-revival going on with Muslims turning to faith in Jesus, particularly out of the U.S. It would have been nice, Pastor Warren, if you would have thought of that and tapped into it. We don't expect you to give altar calls at such meetings as this one. We do expect you to lift high the Name of the Prince of Peace who is coming again and who offers eternal life to all who ask, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30, Acts 16:31). Many just wanted some variation of that quoted among your many ecumenical statements and how to solve the world's problems -- impossible without God's help.
Awaiting His return,
Jan Markell
This man truly bothers me. Regardless of his position at Saddleback, if he is truly a Christian, then why does he so freely and willingly compromise the Gospel? He has had numerous opportunities to stand for Christ over the last few years in the media and in his own statements - and has chosen nearly every time to hide or water-down the truth of Jesus Christ.
Rick, nor you, nor I, are responsible for other peoples relationship with God.
I dont see anything in here that Rick said that is a compromise. I see the author interpreting it as such. This is the authors opinion.
This is just another hit piece, regardless of your personal opinion of Mr Warren.
He’s an 0bama conservative as well as an 0bama Christian.
BTW..flame on if you wish...I have asbestos underwear on,so go for it.
I fear he is spending a lot of time working on social issues at the expense of issues of the faith. Disappointing.
I happened to be staying at one of the hotels which hosted the ISNA in DC this past weekend. Interesting to read some of the slogans attendees were wearing on their shirts.
Except that the reported statements of Mr. Warren seem to match up with previous actions and statements by Mr. Warren.
I have repeatedly heard him in public forums shy away from agreeing that Jesus Christ was the ONLY way to the Father/Heaven.
He has disavowed support for Prop. 8 in California
Right in the first paragraph of the letter I posted - Mr. Warren “envisions a coalition of faith”...
Or this:
“Joseph Farah says, “Suffice it to say the ISNA is no friend of Christianity or America.” Yet in 2007, Rick Warren was one of many “evangelical leaders” who signed a document begging forgiveness from Muslims for all the evil deeds perpetrated against them by Christians. What evil deeds have true Christians committed against Muslims? Now, Pastor Warren, you’ve gone beyond pandering and are sounding like a fool along with all others who signed that document.”
This was an “open letter” that addresses a real pattern of behavior and denial on the part of Rick Warren. A pattern that has been growing and developing for some time now.
No, I am not responsible, directly, for anyone’s relationship with God. But I am responsible to God Almighty to follow HIS Word and commission - to preach the Gospel to all. Rick Warren, as an ordained minister of the Word is called out (if indeed he is truly called) to do the same - with a special level of responsibility.
There is but one solution to what ails the world - and it isn’t a cooperative relationship with Islam. The solution is Jesus Christ.
From appearances, Rick Warren’s purpose is about self-glorification.
Care to share?
Do you know who Jan Markell is? Usually when a "hit piece" is penned, it is with a particular axe to grind - personal or business/financial.
What does Markell have to gain by a "hit piece" on Rick Warren? Markell is a conservative Christian writer/columnist who is heavily burdened for the Truth of Jesus Christ.
Rick Warren’s purpose is about self-glorification
Yup. Another one bites the dust of this world.
Luke 12: 51-53
Beware of false prophets! Wright is wrong.....
Militant
.....make that “Warren is wrong!”
Getting my false prophets mixed up!
Militant
Its easy to criticize others. I dont know RW. I have read two of his books. He introduces people to Christ. Its up to people to drink the water or not. I think he believes he is following the example. Its not up to me to judge his motives. Posters on this thread should know that. I see few people who come close to making the impact that he has.
There are way too many other flawed people in this world doing real damage. Seems like there are axes grinding here, either intentionally or unintentionally.
You know it is interesting that you mention Billy Graham. I think that we need to add him to our group of greats...Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul II, Margaret Thatcher and Billy Graham. I think we miss him in our mentioning the greats of the 80’s.
I take exception at that statement, bordering on being offended.
You lump pastors into one group. I will not deny that there are preachers/pastors who are in it for the glory - a FAR cry from the Biblical roll of the pastor. Then again, many "churches" have ventured very far from what the New Testament paints as "the church" (which, according to scripture, is a local body of baptized believers).
And any congregation that "sits at the feet" of a pastor, if I am reading your meaning, is mislead at best.
Preaching, with the preacher standing in a "higher place" was common in the early churches - out of necessity as much as anything - so that people could see and hear. If I, as a pastor, stand on the platform/stage/etc., behind a podium for anything but bringing the Word of God, expounding and "rightly-dividing" the Word of God - then I am doing a disservice to my position.
I approach the "pulpit" with overwhelming humility because I understand the gravity and responsibility of what I am there to do - and that I am ultimately not accountable to man, but to God.
Pastors are to shepherd by not only words, but by example. If I were to go into a public forum and deny that Christ is the ONLY way, then I have abandoned the Gospel.
One had Arabic writing with the translation (I presume) which said “We will not be quiet”. I would have asked but had my small kids with me and didn’t want to get into some heated diatribe on the elevator.
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