IMO this is treading on very thin ice, as should be immediately obvious to anyone with even a perfunctory understanding of the original gospel.
I find it particulary chilling to observe this man, with his "worldly salvation plan", aligning himself with a "man of great charisma" -- someone who can woo nearly any and every crowd with little if any effort -- a man who is (pardon the expression) "half-christian/half-muslim", who is, like Warren, apparently of a mind to "unite the world as one." (note square quotes to denote the essence of the message, not a quote-literal.)
I am not comforted when I see him (Warren) being sponsored jointly by the most prominent media magnates (Rupert Murdoch) and the U.S. government (the Department of Defense):
Note too, his attachment to the philosophy of Joseph Schumpeter, who is oft considered a marxist/socialist (and, oft-denied, which is in itself curious). For giggles, check out all the conjunctions between Schumpeter and Gramsci. Their names turn up so many times in close conjunction with each other (when examining the results of a web search on both names) that one almost gets the image of two stars orbiting each other.
Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church and author of The Purpose-Driven Life, will be preaching to a global audience over Christmas thanks to Rupert Murdoch and the U.S. Defense Department.
I'll close by mentioning that on a sheerly "media-aware" basis, the one person that I am most reminded of when I see Warren in "full battle dress" (his "Ugly American" costume, of Hawaiian shirt, Bermuda shorts, and sandals), is none other than Michael Moore, whom also embraces a "jes' fo'ks" affectation via similar haberdashery techniques.
Frankly, I trust one as much as I trust the other.
Aiiieeee... "note square quotes" indeed!
Better yet, note fatigue-typing. I obviously meant to say "scare quotes".
Sleep... must sleep....
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Good post, Don Joe!
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(Very discouraging situation. The phrase that keeps ringing in my ears is from Matt. 24:24: "...if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.")
See my post 428 and note that this warning in Galatians is repeated which raises extra red flags.
He teaches what might be called "another" gospel -- one that promises worldly peace, if only the "purpose-driven" rules handed down by Warren will be obeyed.
= = =
Hogwash.
SCRIPTURE SAYS--BLESSED ARE THE PEACE MAKERS. JESUS SAID THAT.
Now if he ends up joining in the Anti-Christ's waging war with peace--we'd have a different situation. But I see no convincing evidence of that.
I am happy to give him a lot of grace as a boundary worker for The Kingdom.