A Purpose-Driven Nation? (Rick Warren goes to Rwanda)

Opinion Journal ^ | August 26, 2005 | ALAN WOLFE

[buckeyesrule]

Friday, August 26, 2005 12:01 a.m.

It is one thing to help 25 million readers find purpose in their lives. It is another when one of those readers is the man responsible for ending what journalist Samantha Power has called "the most clear-cut case of genocide since the Holocaust." Paul Kagame, Rwanda's president, was so impressed by Rick Warren's best-selling book, "The Purpose-Driven Life," that he invited the founding preacher of California's Saddleback Church to come to his country. Mr. Warren not only accepted but asked his network of believers to come to Rwanda in small groups to plant churches, care for the sick, educate the citizenry and assist the poor.

[buckeyesrule]

Good luck to Rick Warren on this. I'm somewhat skeptical of the whole Rick Warren thing but this on the surface impresses me.

[Revelation 911]

I'm somewhat skeptical of the whole Rick Warren

dont take this sarcastically, but who else is putting feet to their talk ?

I dont see anyone else over there and certainly the rwandans arent buying his book

[xzins]

rwandans aren't buying his book...

That is probably true. Warren isn't going to get rich because of his visit. I also doubt that he can increase his sales in America, either. Those sales are on the downslope...those interested have probably already bought.

I'm glad that someone's doing something.

[HarleyD]

I'm not sure I agree with the following statement:

Belief in Christ by itself offers insufficient protection against evil.

If God be for us who can be against us? Yet I do agree with the basic premise:

I do not believe that Rick Warren has a bad bone in his body. But I do believe that his remarkable enthusiasm is fueled by considerable naïveté.

Americans, especially American Christians, have a habit of sticking our noses into places where we shouldn't. If Pastor Warren feels lead to go to Rwanda then by all means he should go. However I hope he's basing his decision on more than just "feelings" and understands this is HIS calling but it doesn't sound like it.

It's one thing to give of YOUR time and money to a cause YOU feel strongly about. It's quite another to be asking other Christians to give of THEIR time and money to a cause God may not have placed upon their hearts. How long will it be until we see the Rick Warren's Rwanda Telethon?

[Corin Stormhands]

. It's quite another to be asking other Christians to give of THEIR time and money to a cause God may not have placed upon their hearts.

So we shouldn't appeal to others to do good because they might say no?

My church does between 25-30 foreign missions projects every year. I don't say yes to all of them.

[P-Marlowe]

However I hope he's basing his decision on more than just "feelings" and understands this is HIS calling but it doesn't sound like it.

We was invited and he accepted the invitation. It sounds as if God called him there to me.

It's one thing to give of YOUR time and money to a cause YOU feel strongly about. It's quite another to be asking other Christians to give of THEIR time and money to a cause God may not have placed upon their hearts.

He's the pastor of the church. If he has been called to this task, then his congregation has been called to the task. Its the shepherd/sheep thing. If people in his church do not feel compelled to give time or money to this project, they don't have to.

How long will it be until we see the Rick Warren's Rwanda Telethon?

Soon I hope. Isn't it about time somebody did?

[xzins]

I really get tired of this crap. Some of the opinions that get justified are so flamingly stupid, I want to scream....TSFW.

Count me out on this thread. If I run across another idiotic comment again today, I'll send that guy over here so there can be a dumb-fest.

[HarleyD]

For the most part I don't agree with anything you've said. But how many African countries have we've sent money to only to pad the pockets of some dictator or drug cartels? If the money makes it to the most neediest than fine. But it is rather naive in my mind to think the Rwanda President just simply picked up a book, was converted by the message and all of a sudden want Rick Warren with all his money and influence to come over to his country to help saved the lost. Don't be gullible.

[Corin Stormhands]

Oh ye of little faith.

If this was John Piper or R.C.Sproul you'd be all over this like stink on Clinton.

You spend weeks harping about how slick Warren is as a businessman, then suggest he's off to Rwanda to be swindled. Which is it?

xzins is right. TSFW.

[Revelation 911]

However I hope he's basing his decision on more than just "feelings" and understands this is HIS calling but it doesn't sound like it.

But Harley understands his own calling

Harley smart / warren insincere / acting on feelings

white / black - we could post a spurgeon sermon and we'd get ripped for it

seems to me he's living Christs words

Matthew 19:19 Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'

[Revelation 911]

But it is rather naive in my mind to think the Rwanda President just simply picked up a book, was converted by the message and all of a sudden want Rick Warren with all his money and influence to come over to his country to help saved the lost. Don't be gullible.

why do you limit God as being so weak as not to reach the dictators heart through warren

Oh yeah

Big church = bad church

arminian = finney false altar call

[Religion Moderator]

Knock it off.

[Jonathon Edwards]

"Americans, especially American Christians, have a habit of sticking our noses into places where we shouldn't. If Pastor Warren feels lead to go to Rwanda then by all means he should go. However I hope he's basing his decision on more than just "feelings" and understands this is HIS calling but it doesn't sound like it."

I take a different tack. Rwanda is a disgrace to American Christians because we did not stick our nose into Rwanda when we had the resources to do so. I'm not speaking of an effort through the government which is too often conflated with Christianity. I'm only speaking of professing Christians that should have joined together and assembled a force to fight the evil Muslim hordes. That we failed when we had the capability to defend our brothers and sisters in Rwanda speaks to the fact that most American Christians worship at the idol of American government and place their trust in it.

Not only that, as is so clearly evident, the American Church has become so putridly feminized; deluded into thinking love is something of a 60's free love, good feeling mentality.

Let's pray that Warren has an ounce of discretion and understands the meaning of stewardship. His job in this effort is to help defend the kingdom of God against the malicious evil present in that country.

As for the American Church it can be best summarized by Proverbs 9:13

"The woman of folly is boisterous, {She is} naive and knows nothing."

[P-Marlowe]

For the most part I don't agree with anything you've said.

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. (Pro 21:1)

[P-Marlowe]

If this was John Piper or R.C.Sproul...

Further Note: by John Piper

The other experience that makes the chapter in Isaiah rich for me right now is the connection that it has with Doug Nichols, the President of Action International Ministries. Doug is the man who wrote to Tom Steller last summer and suggested that our church get an airplane and take a couple hundred people to Rwanda to help bury the dead so that doctors and nurses could do what they were sent to do. He spoke at our Pastors’ Conference a week or so ago, and gave one of the most stirring messages I have heard in a long time. Action International specializes in reaching street children around the world. To show you the kind of person he is he wrote me last week to thank me for the conference and put a PS at the bottom of his letter: In the last ‘one minute’ that it possibly took you to read this letter, 28 children died of malnutrition and diseases that could have been easily prevented. 1,667 die every hour, 40,000 children die daily! Please pray with ACTION for more missionaries to take the Gospel to these children.

Seems to me that God may be answering that prayer.

[Frumanchu]

I'm not sure I agree with the following statement: Belief in Christ by itself offers insufficient protection against evil.

I'm with you there, although the statement is a little vague.

I'm inclined to believe that Mr. Warren prayed about the invitation and decided it was the right thing to do. I agree with the above that he probably stands to gain little financially from such an effort, so I doubt it's about the money or exposure. Only time will show what his purpose and means will be and what success he'll realize.

His will be done. Soli Deo Gloria

[Frumanchu]

I know that Ligonier is continuing to expand their ministry, but I'm not sure how far that's extended into some of the poorer third world nations at this point.

If I'm not mistaken, Evangelism Explosion is still currently working in Rwanda.

[HarleyD]

"Seems to me that God may be answering that prayer."

Than perhaps Pastor Warren's time would be better spent elsewheres?

[P-Marlowe]

Than perhaps Pastor Warren's time would be better spent elsewheres?

He can't win with guys like you, can he?

1) John Piper fervently prays for more missionaries to go to Rwanda.

2) Rick Warren receives an invitation to come to Rwanda and then responds by pledging his church assets and church people to the cause and

3) Harley says... don't bother.

Whatever.

[connectthedots]

Maybe Harley doesn't think God needs any help if Rwandan's are part of the elect.