Posted on 11/22/2006 7:13:43 PM PST by Tim Long
Official state news report quotes 'Purpose-Driven' author criticizing U.S.
Syria's Grand Mufti Sheik Badr al-Din Hassoun and Rick Warren
California mega-church pastor Rick Warren, author of the best-selling "Purpose-Driven Life," reportedly told a Syrian-controlled news agency the U.S. should have been holding dialogues with Damascus; Syrian Muslims and Christians co-exist peacefully; and the Syrian leadership is responsible for the nation's tolerance and stability.
That's according to the news agency SANA, which has issued a number of reports this week as Warren visits Syria and meets various leaders and officials, much to the dismay of many in the U.S.
"We at VCY America Radio network are appalled and angered that Rick Warren is praising a nation that has long supported international terrorism and that desires the utter destruction of Israel," said a statement from the broadcasting organization.
(Story continues below)
"The U.S. State Department reports that Syria – along with Iran – gives the Lebanese militia Hezbollah 'substantial amounts of financial, training, weapons, explosives, political, diplomatic, and organization aid.' The State Department also has documented that Iranian arms destined for Hezbollah pass through Syria on an ongoing basis," the group continued.
"Syria has also let Hezbollah operate in Lebanon and attack Israel, the results of which were seen in the July, 2006 violence between Hezbollah and Israel in which many lost their lives," the statement said.
The SANA reports included statements that:
"Pastor Warren hailed the religious coexistence, tolerance and stability that the Syrian society is enjoying due to the wise leadership of President al-Assad, asserting that he will convey the true image about Syria to the American people."
"Syria wants peace, and Muslims and Christians live in this country jointly and peacefully since more than a thousand years, and this is not new for Syria."
Warren told Syria's Islamic grand mufti there could be no peace in the region without Syria and 80 percent of Americans reject the U.S. administration's policies and actions in Iraq. The comments attributed to Warren contradict documentation by the International Counter Terrorism organization and U.S. State Department of Syria's extensive use of terrorism for its political goals.
The ICT said "frequent use of the 'terror weapon' has been made by Syria against Lebanon, Jordan and the Palestinians" in an attempt "to impose Syrian hegemony over them and bring them into line with Syrian policy."
"The main Lebanese leaders killed by Syrian proxies were: Bashir Gemayel (who was accused by Syrian propaganda of being a 'Zionist proxy'); and Kamal Jumblatt (accused of being a 'traitor' and an 'American agent.')," the ICT said.
Syria also has used terror tactics against Egypt and Iraq, although less successfully, the ICT said, but it has been used against Christians in 1978 and in the city of Zahle in 1980, and even against Muslim residents of Beirut.
The broadcast group says Warren "has no business involving himself in any role that appears to be representative of the United States and his promise to Syria to present a brighter view of that nation to America and Saddleback members demonstrates his willingness to serve as a mindless shill for a nation that embraces terror as a legitimate way of solving problems."
Messages left with Saddleback requesting a comment were not returned immediately.
But Mark D. Tooley, writing in FrontPageMagazine.com also noted "Warren has reportedly promised to carry that state sponsor of terrorism's propaganda message back to the U.S."
He accused Warren of being adrift in a religiously left direction.
"The supposed quote from Warren reads like a news release from Assad's propaganda ministry. Perhaps, the translation into Arabic and back into English does not do Warren justice. We can hope," he wrote.
"Needless to note, there was no mention by the Warren delegation, at least not as mentioned by SANA, about Syria's one-party police state, its political prisoners, its chambers of torture, its support for Hezbollah terrorism in Lebanon, and its continued devotion to the destruction of Israel," he wrote.
Freedom House notes Syrian people have no way to change their government and no influence into its policies.
This is a nation, Tooley wrote, "where only the ruling Baathist Party and its allies are permitted to win elections, where all news media are owned or controlled by the government, where independent labor unions are prohibited, where universities must proclaim Baathist Party policies, where clerics are appointed by the government, where the president by law must be Muslim, and where women's limited rights are governed by Islamic Sharia law, even though the government is ostensibly secular."
No new Christian school has been allowed to be built in 40 years, and all schools by law must have Muslim principals, Freedom House said.
"It is a sad story, repeated often. Big-name U.S. preachers, often otherwise sensible and orthodox in their faith, visit despotic regimes and naively curry favor with police state thugs," Tooley wrote, resulting in "a propaganda bonanza for the tyrants."
Saddleback, with 30,000 members, was begun by Rick and Kay Warren in 1979 and now has more than 200 ministries in the Orange County area.
His popular book, which has sold about 12 million copies, focuses on worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and evangelism. It tells readers the life is "not about you," and shows how God can enable each one to live for His purposes.
Warren already is scheduled to preach in North Korea next year.
Someone else has a theory that the HIV/AIDS work may just be a front to push the PD agenda. People here have posted links to a blogger who is critical of Warren - please note the 5th comment in comments section of the thread at the link regarding the aforesaid theory.
http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/archives/2006/11/christianity_to_7.php#comments
"Friends, I am aware that inaccuracies, misquotes, and misperceived motivations get reported about me in the press daily. Most of the time, I just ignore them. Jesus said, "If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.” (John 15:18 - NCV)
I love the paraphrase of Matthew 5:11-12 (Msg): “Count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble."
Talk about the height of hubris, arrogance and delusion! To equate receiving criticism for Warrens foolish and ill advised trip to Syria and his socialist, utopian, "SLOW" step “global P.E.A.C.E. program”/false "gospel" with the persecution that the world heaps upon believers for their faith in Jesus Christ and those who faithfully proclaim the genuine Gospel of salvation from sin and deliverance from hell through faith in Jesus Christ alone to the saving of one's soul borders on the absurd and delusional!
As for his global "P.E.A.C.E. SLOW program", Mr. Warren defines his four step AIDS "SLOW" model for combating AIDS and sexual immorality for us so there is no misunderstanding;
"SLOW" stands for Supply condoms, Limit the number of partners, Offer needle exchanges to addicts, and Wait for sex as long as possible."
According to Mr. Warren; giving people free condoms, free clean needles to shoot up with and telling them not to have sex with too many different people in a given period of time, instead of proclaiming Jesus Christ is his answer to sexual sin and reducing the number of people infected with AIDS!
For a biblical critique of Warren's so-called "global P.E.A.C.E. plan" see:
http://www.abrahamic-faith.com/James/Rick-global-peace-plan.html
For Mr. Warren to equate what he is experiencing to being persecuted for Christ's sake is ridiculous!
Mr. Warren, do you want to know and experience what real Christian persecution is then; go to communist China, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, etc. Go out onto ANY street corner of your choice and proclaim this:
“I believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son, that He has come into this world to save us from our sin. EVERYONE who can hear the sound of my voice is a sinner. We are ALL separated from a holy God because of OUR sin and on our way to a literal Hell of torment and fire. God’s Word, the Bible, says that we can not save ourselves through religion, the State or by good works. God knew this and sent His unique Son to become a man, live a sinless life, die upon the cross in order to pay for all of our sin and rise again from the dead. If you will call out to Christ in faith, believe in Him and accept Him and what He accomplished upon the cross for you, you will be saved from your sin, become a child of God and will have eternal life and deliverance from your sin.”
Mr. Warren, I guarantee if you do the above, you will be genuinely hated by this world and you will experience genuine Christian persecution first hand. Until then, spare us the whining rhetoric and false claims of persecution by the world.
Don't be deceived, the world is not persecuting Mr. Warren, this world loves him and the Christless, sinless, powerless "gospel" he proclaims.
The last time I checked, Mr. Warren is doing everything within his power to be conformed to and accepted by the world in order to reach all those non existent "seekers"
God's Word, not Warren's is crystal clear: "THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD" (Romans 3:11)
The only criticism he is experiencing is coming NOT from the world but from those who know Christ and the true gospel.
And the modern church slides further into apostasy.
Expository preaching is the greatest need the Church throughout the world has today.
As for me; Porterhouse, medium rare please :o)
Charismatics love this guy.
I have no clue why.
I was told he has a McDonald's in his church complex.
Rick Warren has a church that claims to have over 10,000 in attendence on Sunday's
I might be off on the number, but not by more than a 1000
I'm a Catholic and have a problem with Catholics. ;)
"There is only one mega church here that has a solid reputation."
Is that pastor Haggee's church?
Or a moron. You left that out!!
"Joseph [Farah], why didn't you contact me first and discover the fact I said nothing of the sort? The trip was a favor to my next-door neighbor, had nothing to do with policy, and was done with the State Department's knowledge.The above article (Megapastor Warren denies praising Syria) was posted (November 16) the day after the article we're discussing here.
...
He continued: "Why Syria? The simple truth is that I was invited by my neighbor! We were talking over his backyard fence a couple months ago when my Muslim neighbor, Yassar, said, "Rick, you visit so many countries, I want to show you mine." I was touched by this invitation from my friend and promised, "The next time I'm traveling that direction, I'll visit your home with you." It was a favor for a friend, not a political statement."
Here's another WorldNetDaily article (posted November 16): The purpose-driven lie. From the article:
If I were a betting man, I would wager that Warren will come home and allege he was widely misquoted. He probably was. I HOPE he was. But here's the problem: When you place yourself in the position of being used – and you ARE used – whose fault is it?From the above I'm not sure we can determine exactly what happened.
Well then.
That explains the whole story.
Rick Warren has different views on many topics;I don't think that having more than one point of view on life creates evil or makes him an idiot. How many of us will go to a family gathering today and find our family with 20 views on the state of the country, but generally all have a sound sense of values. This is what happens with someone like RW too. He was not taken in by the Klintons and said so tp his church.
The point of the internet is to get out the truth not to throwup lies. /rant off
Problems arise when simple citizens allow themselves to be manipulated by the enemy into saying or appearing to be sympathetic -
In the past,Jesse Jackson intentionally inserted himself; this guy Warren hopefully just bumbled into it....
We can watch this situation and decide -
Have you read T. Austin Sparks? I think you might like him. You'll find his teachings on line.
Well .. I guess you can look at it that way .. except that the God I serve doesn't demand that you serve him too, and HE doesn't demand that you kill people as a way to heaven. Since HE created you and gave you free will - HE already knows that you can make a choice not to serve HIM.
Muslims serve their god out of FEAR - I serve my God out of love for the sacrifice He has already made for me.
God says that HIS reward is eternity with HIM in heaven - but the muslims are promised virgins in paradise - a promise which rewards them in death with those things they are denied (as being sinful) in life.
Muslims do not believe they have "free will" - but as a human being they were created that way. People have to understand that from the time these people are born - they are constantly indoctrinated with the Koran's message of hate and death.
So .. WE ARE AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE MESSAGE .. I believe in life and they believe in death. Even Osama said that very statement. He believes that because they embrace death they have the better message. They're wrong.
God is love, and God is life. The god the muslims call "Allah" is a false god based on false promises and NO HOPE. Their future is to die - our future is to live and make life better for ourselves and others.
The reason you think we're the same is that you've never studied either. Do some homework before you try to tell a Christian they're not a Christian or that we're the same as the muslims. That's very ignorant!
I see these same characteristics in regular church members in many congregations.
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