Excerpts from Rick Warren’s The Purpose-Driven Life

mmpublicrelations.com ^ | Rick Warren

[BipolarBob]

After viewing the website you linked, I will not be in any haste to search out the book. I still have my sword (Bible).

[Not A Snowbird]

I looked at that one when I was doing my internet search. Vancouver's pretty far, but if I find myself down that way on a Sunday I'll check it out.

Thanks!

[Not A Snowbird]

Please keep an open mind. Most of the people bashing Rick Warren have never even seen a Saddleback service.

[blue-duncan]

I've read the book at least three times in order to lead one of the small groups in my church. We had over 80% participation of members and attenders in the Purpose Driven Project and, after the forty days, a request to keep the small groups going with a standardized Bible curriculum. The participation did not drop off. It changed the way we approach adult education. It is just a tool, not the message. I am now working with a biblically conservative group in a liberal UCC church to implement the program. Because it is a New York Times bestseller, the church's pastor thinks it is appropriate without ever reading the book. Pray for this church in Connecticut.

[P-Marlowe]

Seems that the big complaint about the book is that it is not DEEP. Well, 99% of the population in this country is not spiritually DEEP. When people aren't ready for meat, a little milk at least gives them spiritual nourishment.

It is clearly not a book designed for the "Theoologian Class", so I suspect that wannabe theologians might find it less than substantive. So what?

[Not A Snowbird]

I think you're right on the money.

I confess to being slightly biased where Rick is concerned. He's the reason I came to Christ.

[buckeyesrule]

I love John MacArthur!

[Frumanchu]

I have this book. My church is currently doing it for one of their adult Sunday School classes. It's painful to say the least. If I had read this book even before I became a Calvinist, I still wouldn't like it. Too saccharine. No meat. Barely even milk. More like Similac.

For a review from a Reformed perspective you can read here.

[blue-duncan]

Way to go P-M, this thread should go on for a couple of days at least. Not bad for a Saturday evening preparation for Sunday. We are all going to bed having thought about the scriptures, and that is a good thing. Thanks.

[k2blader]

Ha! Funny thing. I just bumped a really old thread on the subject hoping to gain interest.

I started reading the book a few days ago. So far, so good! It has got me thinking and spending more time with the Lord.

[AAABEST]

...More like Similac.

This is what happens when do-it-yourself-ministers don't rely on a Church and the wisdom of the ages filtered by all who came before them. This is in direct conflict of what Christ desired when He founded a Church via His apostles. He certainly didn't want loose cannons with bibles under their arms single handedly professing what they believe to be His doctrine.

If it's Similac, that's not half bad. Sometimes it turns out to be Strychnine.

[Zechariah11]

That seems to be true.

When I thought of the success of Rick Warren’s church earlier today, I couldn’t help but think of how pertinent Revelation 3:17 was. Many dispensationalists believe that the Laodecean letter especially relates to today's modern evangelical church:

: -- Because you say I’m rich (ie successful); I have become wealthy, and need nothing, and you don’t know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

It is the small church with strong Bible exposition and reverence in worship that holds the guidon of past faithful congregations. I have been to Warren's church and was appalled.

[Zechariah11]

This is what happens when do-it-yourself-ministers don't rely on a Church.

Care to elaborate on which church with a capital "C" you have in mind? I don't believe our Calvinist friend would quite go so far as to renounce Reformed theology for a universal Church that would train pastors in sodomite seminaries.

[LiteKeeper]

It is one thing for it to be weak theologically...it is an entirely different thing for it to be wrong...and that is it's biggest failing. For instance, the first principle, RW defines "worship" as us giving God pleasure - that is NOT a generally accepted definition of worship!

[P-Marlowe]

You seem to equate success with the Laodecean Church. So if a church grows then you have to assume that they are doing something wrong.

If Rick Warren's church represents the Laodecean Church, then which of the 7 Churches does your church represent?

And how big is your church? And has it grown in the last 20 years?

[LiteKeeper]

No, why?

[P-Marlowe]

For instance, the first principle, RW defines "worship" as us giving God pleasure - that is NOT a generally accepted definition of worship!

Is it untrue? Or just unconventional?

Did not God create us for his good pleasure? And does he not want us to worship him? Then doesn't it follow that if we worship him, it gives him pleasure?

[LiteKeeper]

Giving God pleasure, and worshipping God, are not the same thing. The angels is Rev 4:11 are worshipping God by speaking direclty to God. Their actions may have given God pleasure, but that is NOT worship.

A good summary description of worship is here

[Zechariah11]

So if a church grows then you have to assume that they are doing something wrong.

Not necessarily, but in the pop- ethos of the current age, likely. Just look at many of the popular Pentecostal churches prominently featured on TBN.

The growth in Saddleback seems to have rendered it a quasi-evangelical phenomenoh worth emulating in the minds of many. Hopefully, a discerning Biblically trained believer would visit before embracing this Laodecea..

Another poster mentioned the saccarine approach taken by Warren. That is it in a nutshell. Toss out the beloved hymns of the past, get everyone up and clapping to some rousing entertainers, install the teleprompter screens, water down the Bible expositon, and "presto" you've got a crowd.

[AAABEST]

Care to elaborate...

No not really. Our stupid opinions (including mine) aren't really worth very much, whether your name is Warren, Calvin, AAABEST, Zechariah11, Frumanchu or Luther.

Such would be like relying on some ant crawling along the sidewalk to tell us how to build a space shuttle to explore the solar system.

The Word of God is infinite, we're at this moment earthbound sinners. Logic dictates that in such a circumstance you should choose the well you draw from carefully. It's a shame that the minds of singular impeachable philosophers have become the source of salvation for many.

Some here are prideful enough to believe that they can just pick up a bible and run with it, or worse minister to others with any true effect. As if Jesus died, handed His ministry to His twelve apostles, who then in turn gave His Church directly to the any ol' body who picks up "The Message" (or a host of other corrupt translations) at Barnes and Noble, bypassing twenty centuries and countless others who walked before him.

Neglecting 2,000 years of saints, martyrs, philosophers, wisemen, kings, theologians, monks, hermits, scribes and laymen to rely on any solo-doctrinarian is illogical, whether that person be one's self or another.

Christ didn't found a Church-of-One, He founded a Church. As with everything else He did, He did so for good reason.