Posted on 12/31/2006 8:41:18 AM PST by Gamecock
Looks like he will be one more "evangelist" to go the way of all flesh.
Pride goeth before a fall...always.
You said -- "But if God CAN use RW, then God WILL use RW. God ALWAYS has His way. I only wish I could be so used by God."
Well, let's think about this a bit. From what I understand about the "Word of God" and how God uses His word -- I see that a drunk, a prostitute, a drug dealer, an atheist can all be used by God, even as they deny God in their hearts -- by them saying something about God's word (perhaps a quote, or a phrase) which will then be heard by someone else and then take seed in that other person's heart -- because it's God's word that does the work and not the person saying it.
So, in that sense, I'm sure God can use Rick Warren. I understand God also used the enemy nations of Israel to do "His work", in punishing Israel. So, even enemies of Christianity and God and Jesus Christ can do His work, exactly the way He wants them too.
But, that doesn't say very much for those particular kinds of individuals who are doing God's work. They will still find themselves in Hell for their rejection of His Son.
As far as Rick Warren is concerned, I'm sure that he understands who Christ is and is saved. However, what he is doing is questionable in regards to whether he's really bringing others to Christ or not. He sounds like he's pointing everyone to himself, rather than to Christ (even if he personally does know Christ). And for all those who are "coming in" from the outside world and don't know Christ -- that is no service to them, at all. If they ever do manage to find Christ, somewhere behind all the Rick Warren paraphernalia, it will only be because someone else made clear who Christ is, versus, who Rick Warren is.
One might say that all that Rick Warren built up in his so-called "success" will be the straw, hay and stubble that will be "burned up" at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Rick Warren may the one of those who barely gets into heaven -- smelling of smoke, for all his burned up "works" that he did for himself, as opposed to what he could have done for Christ.
Regards,
Star Traveler
Welllllllllllll let's just hold up a tad here with our claws, shall we?
I see a major flaw in this author's 'thesis'. He asserts that any church worth its salt, any church truly teaching God's word, would be a "thorn in the side of the surrounding community"........and that is utter bovine feces.
I attend an evangelical church of over 1000 members that is growing rapidly and is VERY....and I mean VERY......grounded in God's word. The surrounding community, including everyone from local politicians to law enforcement to the local media, have tremendous respect for this church and its pastor. I suspect the same everywhere. The author of this piece has a serious misunderstanding of evangelical churches.
You said -- "Some of his stuff is good warning and caution but he went way too far, imho."
That sounds more like someone's ox is getting gored... (and I have no idea which ox it is).
Regards,
Star Traveler
LOL.Just ignore them. I do. I don't even open the ones from PDL defenders. Sin IS sin. Period. Keep on keeping on.
Those who lead are held to a higher standard. Those who lead and guide their flocks to the acceptance of low standards, will be held accountable for that. Especially when those lower standards result in big time money.
Maybe, but his politics suck.
The Republicans may not be God's party, but the Democrats are certainly on the other side.
I never read PDL or "The Prayer of Jabez". Having been a
Christian for many years, This same stuff keeps coming
back in different packaging to attract the tickling ears.
When someone recommends a Scriptureal book, I want to hear
the name of Jesus and His nature, God's love for me, Grace,
Mercy, Justice. These book describers used words like
wealth, me, I, power, prosperity, success, money, my comfort,
me, me, me and so on.
Jabez ignored the context of Scripture and lead people to
go begging to God for wealth and prosperity.
My purpose in life? "I am determined not to know any
thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified"
(1 Corinthians 2:2).
My philosophy? Always safer to go to the original, rather
than the knock offs. Works for me.
Not really.
Been a long time since I read Dave' stuff.
Though he's very hostile to Holy Spirit operating a la Acts 2; I Cor 12-14 in our era.
As I recall, he took over from Dr Walter Martin. Walter Martin knew better than to pooh pooh Holy Spirit's actions in our era as his throat Doc was commissioned via a message in tongues and interpretation to become a missionary to Muslim lands--he was Armenian, I think. So, Dr Martin ended up with a much more balanced, charatible and Biblical attitude toward all such.
Dave Hunt was narrow, rigid, hostile, parochial, prissy, arrogant, etc., in his attacks on many good men of GOD who mainly just didn't happen to see peripheral things as he did.
I think that's horrible.
You said -- "I just got a Freepmail saying that because i would want SIN called SIN, I was abrasive and uncaring, and delighted in pissing people off."
I'm sure that Jesus was considered abrasive, uncaring and that he delighted in pissing people off, too. Consider what the Pharisees were probably saying about him.
And many people consider God, the Father, the same -- uncaring and abrasive, delighted in pissing people off.
That usually comes from those who have pet sins that they don't want pointed out. Or rather, they think if they don't criticize someone else's sin, then they'll get a free-ride on theirs, too (a sort of religious "I'm okay, you're okay... thing).
Regards,
Star Traveler
Not even sure you needed that sarc tag. It's quickly becoming the truth.
Rick Wybel was a High School friend of mine. LOL!
Thanks for the correction. BILL HYBLE it is.
Rick, if you're out there... phone home!
-- Jo --
"The Purpose Driven Church" and "The Purpose Driven Life"? No thanks, Rev'rin Warren! I'll stick with "The Christ-Driven Church" and "The Christ-Driven Life".
I agree with you wholesale.
HOwever, RW threads are designed to be CLAW EXHIBITIONS.
Save your typing fingers trying to get them drawn in.
Sin IS sin. Period
= = =
As are the sins of causing unnecessary, unBiblical division and strife in the Body of Christ.
As it should be.
I don't know what his politics are.
A few incidents and isolated sentences here and there with ambiguious words doesn't define it for me. Context also gets tossed in the trash in such tirades.
Regardless, he's sound on the basics of the faith.
He is powerfully productive in facilitating folks finding and maturing in Christ.
That's a lot, to me.
Yeah, I would agree. He'll see his rewards lessened because of that and much of what he's done burned up in the refiner's fire.
Regards,
Star Traveler
[...I see that a drunk, a prostitute, a drug dealer, an atheist can all be used by God...]
Agree with you. King Solomon said, "all is vanity".
The Christ-Driven Church" and "The Christ-Driven Life".
= = =
His stuff IS THAT.
Just spelled out more in kindergarten terms for young and potentially young believers.
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