Purpose Driven or Purpose Drivel?

The discerning side of my mind

[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.

[alpha-8-25-02]

there was a very good thread on this topic,posted by pikamax on 7/11/04.
title was,how one man's gospel tale became a global best seller.
go into search by title/date.

[Lasher]

thanks I will

[stayathomemom]

I really don't know too much about this book. I have seen it discussed on the discussion site called LutherQuest. One of the posters there had written an article, for which he posted a link, about the book . Just from the title of the book it sounds like a confusion of law and gospel to me. That is, turning the gospel into a law which we as sinners can never fulfill.

[drstevej]

When I go to a garage sale I do not load everything into a truck and cram it into my house. In fact, if I find only a few good pieces that fit into my home decore I consider it a good day.

I approached The Purpose Driven Life with the "Garage Sale mindset" and found a numer of useful things therein. I felt no compulsion to buy it all and start a PDL franchise.

Having done it this way, it was worth the price of the book easily.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I thought it was a pile of rubbish.

Becky

[Quix]

There's nothing

MORE purpose driven than The Gospel.

I applaud and cheer Warren on

as,

undoubtedly, does Jesus and Holy Spirit and The Father.

Eventually, you'll learn their attitude on it rather emphatically.

Until then, you might ponder this . . .

jealousy, prissy phariseeism and the like are not wonderful Christian traits.

JESUS SAID those not against Him were with Him when the disciples started finding fault with those not doing it quite to their prissy standards. Jesus rebuked them soundly.

Not sure what words were so hard to understand in that.

Sigh.

Warren and team will undoubtedly end up bringing many 10's of thousands MORE (and that lastingly) into The Kingdom than all those detractors and their entire churches, COMBINED. Given all the angels rejoicing over that, one would think it wouldn't take a rocket scientist to know when to join in the rejoicing.

I praise and thank God that FINALLY there are SOME churches where seekers can explore, investigate The Gospel and corporate Christian expressions of it without running into stuffy, cliquish, pharisee driven, sanctimonious, self-righteous, dead, frozen, hypocritical, harsh, brittle, prickly, sober-faced so-called Christianity.

Given Holy Spirit's responsiveness obviously using it to LIFT UP CHRIST and DRAW SINNERS TO HIM . . . God must approve of it a LOT, too.

[thePilgrim]

How did the church get along for 2000 years with Rick Warren?

Quix: Warren and team will undoubtedly end up bringing many 10's of thousands MORE (and that lastingly) into The Kingdom than all those detractors and their entire churches, COMBINED.

And just how exactly did that book do that? Are the seekers hanging out at the bookstore just waiting for their opportunity to find Jesus in Rick Warren's book? Amazing.

Quix: I praise and thank God that FINALLY there are SOME churches where seekers can explore, investigate The Gospel and corporate Christian expressions of it without running into stuffy, cliquish, pharisee driven, sanctimonious, self-righteous, dead, frozen, hypocritical, harsh, brittle, prickly, sober-faced so-called Christianity.

Finney could not have said it better.

The problem with Rick Warren's book is not that it is that bad, but Christians with bad doctrine, who have been sucked into Finney's seeker sensitive ideas, are going nuts over the books. It is a far cry from Christ, who actually drove people away with the preaching of the truth. He certainly didn't preach any seeker sensitive garbage. He never decked out the church with hip new worship styles and waited for the seekers to come in; he went out and found them. Too bad the Rick Warren crew seems to have forgotten that.

To be honest, the seeker sensitive movement has done more harm to the mission effort than all other unorthodox movements. Thankfully, there are still a few Baptist churches who haven't forgotten the great missionary spirit of their past.

Cordially,
Christian.

[thePilgrim]

No, I haven't swallowed seeker sensitive junk. I actually believe the Bible when it says that there is no such thing as a seeker.

Christian.

[Corin Stormhands]

I got thru about half of it. Quite honestly, some of what he said was good and practical. I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with the book or what's in it. It's the marketing.

Same thing with The Prayer of Jabez, same thing with Promise Keepers. Some good points in all.

Unfortunately tho, some use these books to replace the Scriptures. That's where the dangers lie.

[xzins]

Corin speaks truth.

Some useful stuff; some not so useful stuff.

The same with PDChurch. I placed it aside a while back to think on it.

[Commander8]

My church sticks with what works; screechin' 'n preacjin', old-fashioned hymns and the King James Bible.

[jude24]

I might have a different viewpoint of Rick Warren.

I don't have my copy of Purpose Driven Life where I'm at. I lent it to my dad. But, as I recall, it was dead-on as far as it went. But the framework Warren uses is that man was created with certain purposes:

1. You were planned for God's pleasure
2. You were formed for a family
3. You were created to become like Christ
4. You were were shaped for serving God
5. You were shaped for a misson (of evangelism)

I challenge anyone to show me where this is in error. This may be simple theology -- heck, it's the basics, but it is quite Biblical.

Ultimately, how is this fundamentally different from the old Reformed viewpoint, embodied by the Westminster Catechism -- that the "chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever"?

[Commander8]

PING

[jude24]

I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with the book or what's in it. It's the marketing.

I agree about this.

[lupie]

I can see no reason to read it, much less spend money on it. I don't have nearly enough time to be spending in the Word, allowing it to work His way in me. I see no Good reason to give up time spent in His word to read someone else's view of it.

[thePilgrim]

jude24: But the framework Warren uses is that man was created with certain purposes.

Which men? Certainly not all men! The Scripture says to the Pharaoh, "For THIS very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth."

Your brother,
Christian.

[LiteKeeper]

Some critiques of Rick Warren's theology (or lack thereof).

[Lasher]

thank you. And wonderful screen name.

[Lasher]

can't say I agree with you that people are getting saved THROUGH the PDL material. Maybe this is the first taste of the Gospel, but it is not the full brunt of it. The word makes clear. Faith comes through hearing. And hearing the word of Christ. I only saw Christ preached as a friend, and confidante. I did not see any mention of Hell, God's wrath, judgement, Man's hopeless condition, and the need to embrace the substitutionary atonement for the punishment Man deserves. The Cross of Christ was never meant to be a feel good message.