“They have consistently produced mature believers who walk the walk, talk the talk, live the life…”
As always, it’s the little things that are so telling…How many Walk the Talk?
Commitment cards and covenants are tools to manipulate people; far removed from making disciples. Warren is sly - whether he means to be or not. Most folk do not discern the angle of departure from God’s Truth and end up so far afield they know not where they are.
Some hold to what is called the “normative principle” - that which is not prohibited in Scripture is permissible. I give you Robert Schuler and Rick Warren as exhibits 1 & 2.
Others hold to what is called the “regulative principle” - that which Scripture permit and direct, do. Spurgeon comes to mind.
If we hold the Bible loosely, we will sin against God - individually or corporately as a church. God alone is our refuge and His Word alone is our true revelation of Him and His will for us.
“The Message”, beloved by Warren, is NOT the Bible.
Well since he SAYS they do, I guess that settles it!
Do you walk the talk?
Then I guess you don’t need the gospel. The gospel is for sinners, those of us who realize we don’t do what we want to do, and the things we don’t want to do, ‘that I do.’ Who will deliver *me* from this body of death? I haven’t gotten the answer from any Rick Warren messages I’ve heard. From him I’ve heard it’s ME that has to do it using his little ‘tools’ where he cuts up and processes Scripture like baloney (using any ‘translation’ that suits his fancy at the time) and expects us to not know the difference. Sadly, many don’t.