Posted on 02/12/2005 6:49:09 PM PST by P-Marlowe
BTW has anyone actually read the book?
I've read it.
Another excellent book is 'Why You Can't Stay Silent" by Tom Minnery of Focus on the Family. It is about a Christian's responsibility to step out in faith to make a difference in the world, especially when it comes to confronting evil and corrupt government. He is not impressed, at all, with John MacArthur (sp?). Thinks he is too compliant when it comes to obeying government officials. Not a fan of Cal Thomas, either.
Oh yes. Rick was my pastor before I moved.
Also check out The Purpose Driven Church. It's excellent.
Yes, it's replacing the Bible in many progressive evangelical churches. In some churches, people call studying Rick Warren works "Bible study."
That's not good. Rick definitely never intended for his book to replace the Bible.
"Not a fan of Cal Thomas, either."
He's been annoying and disappointing, lately. I don't know anything about that book, but I had to chime in with that. I don't even remember what it was he said/wrote that annoyed me, but I was most annoyed.
"progressive"
Yep. Anything "progressive" seems to be loony.
I think that may be anecdotal hyperbole. Can you show me one congregation in the nation that has substituted Rick Warren's book for the Bible? Nearly every church has a web site. If what you said has any truth to it, then surely you can find one.
Read the intro to the book and you will see that indeed, he would like for it to at least be on the same level as the bible. He wants to you interact with the book, make it come alive, and such.. sigh
Well maybe that was hyperbole too. ;-)
We've heard that. We've also been called a cult. Usually by people who have never been to a Saddleback service.
I don't see that at all. Can you point me to the relevant paragraphs?
Really?
I don't have a copy. I've never read the book.
Could you be so good as to get your copy and then post exactly what Rick Warren said that led you to believe that?
So where do you go to church now? Do they even have Churches in Seattle?
I'm not talking about officially. I'm talking about excitement. In my own church even the Bible is often so weakly translated, like in The Message version or Living Bible, that it's lost its impact. And quotes from the Warren books begin to replace scripture in the bulletins. Christians used to be excited about their own discoveries in the Bible. Now, they rarely make discoveries in the Bible unless they are directed by a Christian expert or popular speaker.
Yes, there are a few, believe it or not. I read somewhere that Washington is the most unchurched state, and it shows.
We did find Grace Community Church in Auburn that we've been attending, but we're still not settled. (I guess Saddleback spoiled us.) Tomorrow we visit a new one in Tacoma. I can still access the Saddleback services on the internet, but there's no substitute for the fellowship of bricks and mortar.
Bringing pleasure to God is called "worship."
No where in Scripture is this a definition of "worship" - he bases this "prinicple" on a paraphrased version of the Bible called "The Message." I like Eugene Peterson, but his paraphrase distorts thr actual text constantly.
Additionally, his theology is about an inch deep. His formulaic prayer for salvation is "Jesus, I believe in you and receive you into my life." No mention of sin, repentance, redemption...
In his writing on the church, he advocates a dialectic approach: encourage unbelievers (anti-thesis) to move believers (thesis)to compromise on their "aboslutist" believes to change the Church (synthesis). Folks - that is just WRONG.
For a critique of Rick Warren's book/campaign see this link
When I get the chance I will read the book with an open mind. I find nothing posted in the excerts of the book I disagree with. I will note nothing can be substituted for the Word of God (The Bible).
Have you ever attended a Saddleback service?
And let me know how it goes. :-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.