Posted on 07/26/2004 1:57:27 PM PDT by Lasher
Would like to know if there are any other Christians out there that have not swallowed Rick Warren's version of the Gospel. I left my "seeker-friendly" Church after much prayer and ponder, and it took several months to make the split. I still must speak with my former pastor about this, so until I do, I will not name my former Church. I have noticed that most who follow the "Purpose Driven" material are emotionally attached to it, much like true Christians are emotionally tied to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I've read C.S. Lewis on that score, too. It's true. But I forget the precise wording.
It's difficult to imagine that you are getting that from Rick Warren's words. Evidently you have a very different dictionary than I do.
Or else, your biases are so controlling of you and so off the wall that you have little choice but to be so distorting of what Rick says.
Amazing.
Blackwashing a fine servant of The Lord like Rick Warren
warrants some large red fonts.
Sheesh.
1) Someone says that Rick Warren is all fluff, no stuff.
2) I prove that's a falsehood by the Scriptures Rick uses.
3) They claim that doesn't apply because anyone can use Scriptures and wrap them in loads of fluff.
4) I prove that Rick Warren did the opposite by the very Scriptural and very potent words of Rick's own writings.
5) They still wholesale ignore, deny, side-step the truth and rant on very assaultively still blackwashing Rick's fine work.
Just when is it fitting to stand up and scream, if not then?
Actually, if it isn't based on mere belief that Jesus is in fact God in the Flesh and that He died for your sins and was resurrected on the third day, the rest of it is irrelevant.
And once the decision has been made about belief one is left with this:
1 Corinthians 3:10-16
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
Heh, heh. Boy to many of your comments, I have been there, done that. There are all sorts of motivating factors in "Christians." I have really enjoyed some Christian books and been really troubled by others. The Left Behind series of books gives me the heeby jeebies.
I liked The Spirit Driven Life and The Spirit Driven Church. Not my favorites, mind you, but they both made me think - which is really the whole point here.
Yes, I would agree. But realizing GOD'S SON DIED FOR OUR SINS should give one pause to the gravity of the situation. I would suggest reading John 8. While many "believed" in the Christ, they were quick to turn their backs on Him.
Joh 8 (excerpt) As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." ...(and by the end of the discord) The Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?"
If you were defending Jesus Himself against nay-sayers, I would have no problem with standing up and screaming the Gospel. But that's not what you're doing. You are elevating a man, and you will not tolerate any disagreement with your own assessment of him and what he does. Perhaps you should remember what opinions are like, and realize the truth that everyone has one, and they all smell basically the same.
I'm not much for screaming for any reason, really, but if you must, then scream for the right reason. Scream for Jesus, not for Rick Warren. I would hope he'd be the first to tell you to calm down, and quit taking wholesale shots at good Christians who disagree with your particular take on things.
I'm done being mis-characterized, but feel free to have the last word.
Well Said.
Thank You for not losing sight to what is really important.
Jesus Christ is the only path to salvation!
Do me a favor and read what I wrote, not what you thought I wrote.
Someone left the cage doors open again. The we-hate-rick crowd is on the loose once again.
Someone's gotta talk to the handlers.
I'm very skeptical that Rick is anyone's pawn.
Though I believe that he is a love slave of Jesus The Christ.
I don't think that Druker ever claimed to be an evangelical Christian. Still, he has done workers the world over a lot of good. Often more good than the "Christian" bosses who relucantly hire him.
Yeah. Publishing is a mess. Even good Christian bookstores sell nonsense. So, you going to retreat to a cave and read only Biblical cave paintings? Holy Spirit in me teaches me to throw the bones out and some things to avoid entirely.
Not many bones to spit out, of Rick Warren's stuff. Very Biblical. Sorry you fail to see that.
Fleshicizing The Gospel is the opposite of what Rick Warren is about. He's thoroughly about infecting unbelievers with Jesus and His Holy Spirit. It's very sad that you fail to see that.
It's Jesus habit to take our weaknesses and turn them into His strengths in us.
If you truly have no bias, I suggest you get ready to be translated or raptured--you're too holy for the rest of us or this world.
Prayer is good--especially Spirit led prayer. Thanks much.
Blessings to you and yours.
This is what is wrong with site,s like free republic.
We all assume everybody has have common knowledge on a certain topic.
I,m sorry for any misconceptions.
If you have any questions of why I hold the position on the Purpose Driven Movement,Please contact me through private message or open forum.
Well, the Cardinals took a vow of silence, so Warren makes a good backup target...
Let's hope the Yankees do the same!
I don't feel nor think that I'm lifting up Rick Warren at all.
I am, however, happy and honored to bend over and pick his name and ministry up out of the sewer some are so eager to shove him into hereon. How can I do any less for an honorable, Godly, Spirit-led Christian Brother?
In terms of opinions, I believe I word my opinions tentatively and as opinions far more often than the chronic naysayers hereon--who seem to have a compulsion to word whatever they say as flawless eternal edicts from Mt Sinai.
It's not really my desire or preference to take shots at Christian brothers. But I have no hesitation to try and shred hideous untrue blackwashing of a Christian brother doing a great work for Jesus. I have no hesitation to try and shred phariseeism and the like wherever it rears it's ugly head. Jesus seemed to have a similar value.
I apologize for any and every place or point or factor I misrepresented you on. I have no desire to do that. I prefer to be as accurate as possible in spite of my inclination toward hyperbole.
Thanks for your reasoned reply.
Amen!
Well, I don't know about that, but, someone is, at least.
Quality? I guess we are now creating a double-tier Christian class? Quality-Christian and Average-Christian? What happened to the Scriptural "all my righteousness is like dirty rags?"
Sounds more like the opposite of fluffery, to me.
Ok so where's the call to repent from your sin in all that? Where is the warning that ONLY JESUS can deliver you out of your BONDAGE to sin and save you from your natural destination of Hell.
Jesus Christ once said, 'Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.'" Mat 16:25
Actually no, he said (in context) "Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
(emphasis added) Does he ever speak about 'finding oneself'? that's New Age psychobabble.
You really need to read Deceived on Purpose by Warren Smith. It will take you step by step through the tons of errors included in Rick's teaching. This is NOT a good book. It is not even fit to 'pick and choose' from. It's like picking meat off a dead carcass. Go to the real meat, the Scriptures, and DON'T use the corrupt Message paraphrase. It is full of new age terminology and compromise on the idea of sin and repentance. Just search for the words like "sin" "judgement" and "evil" in the keyword search engine, and the Message translation, which Warren so heartily endorses, at www.bible.gospelcom.net and then look at each verse in context - and THEN switch over to another REAL translation (e.g. King James, even New KJ, NASB or NIV) and see how different the ideas are. You can also do it backward - look those words up in one of those translations and then switch over to see how the Message translates it. It's abominably poor work, if he meant to do it honestly at all.
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