Posted on 11/21/2006 5:49:44 AM PST by TommyDale
Millions and millions of people have purchased his books.
His California church attracts thousands every Sunday.
He seems to be the go-to guy whenever the establishment, ultra-secular press wants to quote an evangelical leader they like.
I'm talking about Rick Warren, author of "The Purpose Driven Life" and the pastor of the Saddleback Church.
Ever since I first pointed out the way he betrayed the persecuted church and our Jewish brothers and sisters living in captivity in the totalitarian police state of Syria, I have been expecting to get blasted.
Millions and millions of people have purchased his books.
His California church attracts thousands every Sunday.
He seems to be the go-to guy whenever the establishment, ultra-secular press wants to quote an evangelical leader they like.
I'm talking about Rick Warren, author of "The Purpose Driven Life" and the pastor of the Saddleback Church.
Ever since I first pointed out the way he betrayed the persecuted church and our Jewish brothers and sisters living in captivity in the totalitarian police state of Syria, I have been expecting to get blasted.
I thought for sure I would hear from these millions of well-educated, well-informed, biblically astute purpose-driven disciples.
It has been six days. God created the whole universe in that amount of time. And, so far, I haven't heard one cogent argument, apologia or rationalization for Warren's actions by any of his flock.
I'm told he's got one of the best PR machines money can buy. He sure is not getting his money's worth.
On the other hand, I can tell you hundreds of thousands of people are reading my critiques of his misadventures in misguided foreign policy. We can actually count those readers on WND. And they are being spread far and wide in a viral way by e-mailers and bloggers.
Is the strategy now to ignore Farah?
Is the strategy to pretend WND doesn't exist?
Is the strategy to ignore the hard facts presented here about what Rick Warren said and did in Syria and hope the controversy blows over?
I've got news for you. It's not going to blow over. I won't let it.
I demand an apology from Rick Warren – not to me, for heaven's sake, but to Christians in Syria who choose to worship outside the state-approved churches he toured. I demand an apology to the Jews who suffer the humiliating life of dhimmitude in Syria today while Rick Warren tells the world they don't exist.
This is a world I know something about.
It was just about a year ago that my Jerusalem bureau chief, Aaron Klein, was prevented from entering Syria for one reason – he's Jewish!
Funny, I don't remember Rick Warren protesting that action – minor, really, compared to the indignities Jews in Syria live with daily, but well-publicized nonetheless.
Perhaps Rick Warren hasn't seen the Syrian TV show – a big hit in Damascus – that renews the blood libel direct from "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion," entertaining millions with a graphic story of a rabbi who slits the throat of a young Christian boy so he can use it to prepare the Passover motzah.
Perhaps Rick Warren hasn't noticed that the Syrian government has published an updated version of the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion," an anti-Semitic story that claims Jews run the world by proxy.
Perhaps Rick Warren is not aware of hundreds of years of genocidal pogroms that have taken place in Syria at the expense of the Jews.
But of course he must know about all these things, because he says he's an avid reader of my column and an expert on the Middle East because of his membership in the Council on Foreign Relations.
Rick Warren thinks it is commendable that Syria has opened its arms to Christians fleeing Iraq. What he doesn't know or doesn't say is that many of those Christians fleeing Iraq are fleeing bullets and bombs and terrorists that have entered Iraq through Syria. He also doesn't explain President Bashar Assad's penchant for keeping his friends close and his enemies closer.
I'm not going to let this matter slide. Not me. Not this Syrian-Lebanese-American Christian journalist. If Rick Warren thinks dialogue with everyone is so great – let the dialogue begin right here. The persecuted church in Syria can't speak for itself. But I will stand with them in answering Rick Warren's lies about their tormentors.
Seems to me that Warren is a lot closer to the Apostle Paul's values and practices than anyone else I've read on this thread.
BTW, I'll continue to ask whatever (hopefully thought-provoking) questions seem fitting to me. I don't recall assigning anyone boss over my questions.
I'm still quite skeptical he would stoop to near so low.
I don't know how to explain a lot of his recent disturbing assocaitions etc. But I still choose to applaud the Godly things he has done and does and to pray for him.
Otherwise, the question is absurd to anyone who knows me even slightly.
I think, dear heart, that Rick Warren threads are the paragon of the absurd on the religion forum. And that is a big statement.
And sometimes it doesn't but satan succeeds in getting lots of "Christians" to label it so.
INDEED.
Anyone who knows me even slightly on these threads knows that asking me if Paul's writings should be thrown out is an absurd question.
I also doubt that Paul would invite Caligula to come speak with him at his church. Obama, as an abortion supporter, is no better.
Agreeing that Christ came in the flesh and with the basic doctrines of the faith (Christ's criteria)
AND
adding folks to The Kingdom as Holy Spirit uses one's ministry to facilitate drawing them to Christ . . . and maturing folks in Christ . . .
how folks can knock such fruit still boggles my mind.
However, I've been on the FR religion forum plenty of years sufficient to realize . . . a lot of things.
I'm aghast at associating with Obammmmamammaa.
I'm also not in his head, heart or prayer life about such matters. And I'm not his judge.
Please know my comment was meant as sarcasm. I was given PDL as a gift, but have not opened it.
I have maintained throughout my life that the Bible is all that is needed.
Which is why I brought up Antichrist. Let's see, Bashar is a good guy and Obama is someone to invite to speak to the flock. In the very least, he is a horrible judge of character.
Add to that the knowledge that he lied to Farah. Not a good start. The Bible says by their fruits you shall know them. It also admonishes us to beware of the same kind of teachers people heap up to tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
Sorry, Quix, Warren is disturbing.
Actually, I find the attitudes toward him hereon
MORE
disturbing.
That's just sad.
My New Testament indicates Jesus was of similar attitude and mind about such things.
I don't mind being in His company.
At all.
About which things? Embracing Israel-haters? Allowing abortionists to speak in your church? Joining super-secret groups bent on global rule?
That's just pineapples on his shirt! :-0
This is all too interesting.
I and my husband went along with our small church in going through "the Purpose-Driven Life", for the 40 days/6 weeks. We had small groups that met for 4 weeks. Our services were based on it during that time.
We just finished last week with a "celebration" to mark the end.
I'm very interested to hear about this.
I'm afraid it is much worse than that!
You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness,
2 Peter 3:17
His inviting Barack Hussein Obama to preach at his church tells me all I need to know about Mr. Warren and what his true agenda is!
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