I'm not into hero-worship or idolatry, but if this Rick Warren guy is teaching that the Gospel=the Cross then God-speed; if not,he needs to be hammered!
I find plenty of The Cross and Jesus in Rick's writings.
However, it seems clear to me that he has felt convinced of The Lord that he will be more productive for The Kingdom if he avoids
--with his target population--the unchurched--
if he avoids running around grabbing people by the throat and screaming the 4 spiritual laws etc. while shoving all the THOU SHALTS AND ESPECIALLY THE THOU SHALT NOTS down their throats.
I've been raised by a very abrasive and very direct and very coarse, uncouth, well meaning mother with a heart of gold. And, I've ended up being most of my life intensely direct and confrontive.
I have learned the hard way that not only sometimes but much more often than I'd prefer, the shortest way between two points can be a walk through the woods to grandma's house or at least around the pond a time or two.
I have tended to saddle up to people and if they were Christians expect and virtually demand a 24 year best buddies level of intimacy in the first 5 minutes. That has not worked well very often.
Yes, there is a place for hell fire and brimstone and some do that well led of The Spirit. Rick Warren is not one of those. One size does not fit all as Paul mentioned and Jesus demonstrated.
I used to deplore chit chat and parties. Hated both with a passion. Still not my favorite. But I have learned that many people need tons more chit-chat to feel comfortable enough to move toward vulnerability.
I have to respect that, to some degree and especially initially.
Rick Warren has learned that well. He applies that well. He uses that fact well. And people shred him for it.
Go ahead and go down on main street and wear your sandwich board about the world coming to an end and hell fire falling out of the sky any minute if the passers by don't immediately tack themselves to THE CROSS WITH !!!YOUR!!! HAMMER as you grab them by the throat and hit them about the head and shoulders 7 times with your KJV family Bible that weighs 15lbs.
But avoid being surprised when the white coats come and haul you off. And avoid being surprised if you fail to get more than 1 out of 100,000,000 converts.
Rick Warren has, by God's Grace and Holy Spirit near perfected the 'feed the 5,000' miracle of meeting people's needs and then thereby earning the right to present the solid Gospel. And HE DOES THAT.
I will NOT THROW ROCKS AT THAT.
And, I believe that people who do are earning AT LEAST God's head shake in dismay and some of them God's anger.
I find plenty of The Cross and Jesus in Rick's writings.
However, it seems clear to me that he has felt convinced of The Lord that he will be more productive for The Kingdom if he avoids
--with his target population--the unchurched--
if he avoids running around grabbing people by the throat and screaming the 4 spiritual laws etc. while shoving all the THOU SHALTS AND ESPECIALLY THE THOU SHALT NOTS down their throats.
I've been raised by a very abrasive and very direct and very coarse, uncouth, well meaning mother with a heart of gold. And, I've ended up being most of my life intensely direct and confrontive.
I have learned the hard way that not only sometimes but much more often than I'd prefer, the shortest way between two points can be a walk through the woods to grandma's house or at least around the pond a time or two.
I have tended to saddle up to people and if they were Christians expect and virtually demand a 24 year best buddies level of intimacy in the first 5 minutes. That has not worked well very often.
Yes, there is a place for hell fire and brimstone and some do that well led of The Spirit. Rick Warren is not one of those. One size does not fit all as Paul mentioned and Jesus demonstrated.
I used to deplore chit chat and parties. Hated both with a passion. Still not my favorite. But I have learned that many people need tons more chit-chat to feel comfortable enough to move toward vulnerability.
I have to respect that, to some degree and especially initially.
Rick Warren has learned that well. He applies that well. He uses that fact well. And people shred him for it.
Go ahead and go down on main street and wear your sandwich board about the world coming to an end and hell fire falling out of the sky any minute if the passers by don't immediately tack themselves to THE CROSS WITH !!!YOUR!!! HAMMER as you grab them by the throat and hit them about the head and shoulders 7 times with your KJV family Bible that weighs 15lbs.
But avoid being surprised when the white coats come and haul you off. And avoid being surprised if you fail to get more than 1 out of 100,000,000 converts.
Rick Warren has, by God's Grace and Holy Spirit near perfected the 'feed the 5,000' miracle of meeting people's needs and then thereby earning the right to present the solid Gospel. And HE DOES THAT.
I will NOT THROW ROCKS AT THAT.
And, I believe that people who do are earning AT LEAST God's head shake in dismay and some of them God's anger.
Well .. if people aren't willing to read his book - then no comment is appropriate.