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.

[nobdysfool]

Harley and I aren't "damning" Warren, Marlowe. What we're doing is raising legitmate questions regarding what he's taking on. We object to the attitude of just doing something to be doing something, activity for activity's sake, the attitude that if someone is "doing something for Jeeeezuz", then no matter what it is, God will bless it. I've seen too much of that in my own time of walking with the Lord. I've seen lives ruined because they rushed in where angels feared to tread. American Christians can be incredibly naive. American Christians can be incredibly shallow, too.

I did not say Warren was naive or shallow. But I don't think it's bashing him to wonder if he knows what he's getting into.

[Calm_Cool_and_Elected]

My concern is that many American Christians practice "drive by" ministry. What I mean by that is when the going gets tough, the Christian gets to going! Our family has been involved in ministry to the poor, addicted, homeless, etc. It is a LONG TERM ministry where seeing fruit is most often scarce. Sometimes you get ripped off by those you are ministring to. Sometimes your heart gets ripped out and stomped on. It is definitely self-sacrificial in that you have to be there, loving, long-term.

I cannot discern Rick Warren's heart. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

CC&E

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you oh so very much for your encouragements!

Indeed, may God's will be done!

[blue-duncan]

"I did not say Warren was naive or shallow. But I don't think it's bashing him to wonder if he knows what he's getting into."

This whole circumstance of the President of Rwanda reading Warren's book and being so impressed that he invites him over to his country to discuss it reminds me of Paul's vision of the Macedonian call. When the opportunity presents itself, what's a man/woman to do? All the "success" of the book in America could be just for such a time as this.

If I had written a similar book, first of all it would only have been printed by a vanity press, with me paying all the cost. Its circulation would probably be my family and any one else I could foist it on, and the chances of it reaching the ruler of a needy country who would take the time to read it and respond is infinitesimal, except by the grace of God.

Warren has been called to be a leader, a general, a Pastor, who, if you have read the book, leads by example. The ruler calls, he answers the call. To do less would be an insult. However no one expects him to do the actual ministry over there. That's not his gift or office. He is opening the doors for those with the gifts necessary to do the work of the ministry.

If we sit back and wait to see the fruit the harvest will be passed or the laborers will be so few that the opportunity will pass. This is not denying the sovereignty of God, He will bring His chosen in, however for us, the potential laborers, on the ground, in the bank or on our knees, He will have something to say about our neglect.

I take the article as a rallying call to enter the battle in prayer for the success of the harvest and when Warren does hold his "Rwanda telethon" to give as the Lord leads. If it is a sham, God will forgive my error, but if its of the Lord I do not want to be in the position of fighting the Lord or just being a spectator to a great work of God.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you oh so very much for sharing your testimony! Indeed, we must follow where He leads - always (Romans 8)

[P-Marlowe]

The fact of the matter is that the President of Rwanda invited Rick Warren to come to Rwanda. For whatever reason he decided to do it, I think it is pretty obvious that God's hand was at work in one way or another. Sometimes I think that I am the Calvinist and my critics are the Arminians as they don't seem to believe that God is at work in this situation. I think it is pretty obvious, but then I happen to believe the following verse:

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

Well that tells me that The President of Rwanda's heart was turned by God. From reading the article it is pretty obvious that Rick Warren's heart was turned to the people of Rwanda. I am optimistic that God is going to use Rick Warren for His work. But then I also believe that God is using Rick Warren right where he is.

[HarleyD]

Let's look at another scenario:

Consider you’re the leader of a great church movement, have written a block buster book and you’re now in control of millions of dollars in funds and vast amount of resources. The ruler of one of the worst improvised countries calls you on the phone and tells you that he has read your book and would like you to come to his country. He doesn’t invite the Pope although 95% of the masses are Catholic. He doesn’t even invite a number of Cardinals or Bishops for a conference on how to stop the bloodshed and end poverty. Instead he invites you that have had no previous ties to the country before, simply (so he says) from reading your book.

Is this God’s divine plan or isn’t it? How would you feel, someone who went from obscurity to stardom overnight, to receive a call from the President of a country asking for help? Wouldn’t you be honored; faltered? Would you be willing to turn down the opportunity? There would be a million reasons to rationalize why you SHOULD go but what are the reasons NOT to go?

The children of Israel, when they heard about the “giants” in the land lost heart about going into the Promise Land. God told them not to go but they felt they had repented and God would bless their action. They were wrong and suffered a severe defeat. God said they acted presumptuously. (Deut 1)

The article states the President called to ask Pastor Warren over. It also states, “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.” It’s one thing to be called over for a discussion. It’s quite another to go galloping in with a cavalry. In my business this is what is known as scope creep and it alway leads to disaster with budget overruns, undeliverable performance, etc. And the mission is so broad you could drive a truck through it.

This isn’t like funding a bunch of doctors to go help bury the dead or help heal children. This is an ill defined mission with impossible objectives and increase scope to name but a few and has all the ear markings of disaster.

No matter how noble the cause, Americans have a habit of running to the rescue to people who really don’t want us around. It ends up costing us millions (or billions) and then we try to figure out how to declare victory and leave. We never stop to look at the social or moral climate of the society or the implications it may cause.

And it's worst when you add Christianity into the mix. It's "God will take care of us" just like the children of Israel thought. When things go south non-Christians point at Christians and rightfully criticize us.

For my money I would rather finance doctors to go in and heal the sick. If Rick Warren and other Christians wants to pour millions into Rwanda without a clearly define mission, objectives, and scope then by all means have at it and may God be gracious. OTOH, without these things I predict after Pastor Warren has poured millions of dollars into the country it will be no better off but someone will declare success.

Call me a prophet. Here’s a rock. Stone me if I’m wrong.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for sharing your views!

As for me, I lean to "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." (Zec 4:6)

IOW, it doesn't matter if it is one missionary or a hundred thousand - whether they are well funded or don't have a penny among them - if God is in the mission, it will succeed. And if He is not, then no amount of money or power will result in success.

[Corin Stormhands]

Harley your cynicism is distressing. Your lack of faith that this might actually be the hand of God even more so.

I have no response for you.

[nobdysfool]

Pro 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Well that tells me that The President of Rwanda's heart was turned by God.

If that's all you're going on, that's a HUGE leap of faith and more likely presumption. I truly hope that it goes as you believe it will, and I will be the first to say that my hesitancy to endorse it was unfounded should it produce good fruit, but will you be as quick to admit that we were right should Warren's efforts fail, or the Rwandan President turns out to be a liar, and the whole thing turn out to be a scam?

Seems to me you're putting an awful lot of faith in the word of an unknown man.

[P-Marlowe]

You really don't seem to believe your theology Harley. You seem to think that the plans of men trump the plans of God. You seem to think that men must first make sure that every base is covered before they take one step in faith.

It is obvious that Rick Warren is taking a leap of faith. If he had guarantees from accountants and planners and contrubutors that everything he was going to do was going to be successful before he made the decision to go forward then he wouldn't be stepping out on faith, he would be walking on the assurances of his advisors.

Obviously you don't believe Proverbs 21:1 "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will" or you would know that the decision of the Rwandan president to call upon Rick Warren was guided by the very hand of God. I believe that the Rwandan president would have no power to invite Rick Warren if it had not been granted to him by God.

I didn't see you this concerned when John Piper prayed for and called for missionaries to be sent to Rwanda. It appears to me that Warren's committment here is a response to that prayer. It appears to me that Warren is putting feet to his faith and is committing to do the work of God whatever that work is. He was called to Rwanda. If the heart of the Rwandan president is in the hand of God, then I think it is safe to conclude that God's hand was in the invitation. Warren's heart was changed by the visit. Frankly I can't imagine anything bad coming of this, even if the Rwandan president has ulterior motives. What he may intend for evil, God intends for good.

[connectthedots]

How's it going, Woody?

[Corin Stormhands]

Settle down ctd. CC&E is not Woody.

She might even tell you that herself.

[connectthedots]

If the heart of the Rwandan president is in the hand of God, then I think it is safe to conclude that God's hand was in the invitation.

If God could cause Pharoh to release the Israelites, He can motivater the president of Rwanda to permit Warren to go to Rwanda and serve God.

the attitude of some on this thread is similar to those who refused to obey God when he commanded them to enter the Promised Land and wound up spending another generation in the desert.

[blue-duncan]

Come on Harley, I don't throw stones. God has not called you to this vision of the mission. He has something else for you just as important, but don't despise the day of small beginnings. Just like Elijah, there's a small cloud beginning on the horizon and it promises bountiful needed rain where once was drought. If this is God's doing He will provide all that's necessary, including administrators, planners, logistics and most of all His Spirit.

"We're marching on with hearts courageous
We will follow where You want us to
And should You lead us where the battle rages
Let us march with hearts courageous after You."

[nobdysfool]

the attitude of some on this thread is similar to those who refused to obey God when he commanded them to enter the Promised Land and wound up spending another generation in the desert.

We are commanded to be wise as serpents, harmless as doves. So far I haven't seen much wisdom displayed by the "anything-Rick-does-must-be-of-God" crowd. It's rapidly becoming the "if-Calvinists-question-it-Rick-must-be-doing-God's-Will" crowd.

I think there are a lot of people here being contrary just to be contrary.

[Alamo-Girl]

Scripture in support of your points:

Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, [even] as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.

And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. - Acts 5:34-39

[Calm_Cool_and_Elected]

I am definitely not Woody. Who is Woody anyway?

Sorry to disappoint!

CC&E

[P-Marlowe]

Seems to me you're putting an awful lot of faith in the word of an unknown man.

I'm putting my faith in Proverbs 21:1. So what if it is a scam? Does that mean that God's hand is not in it? Does that mean that God will not be glorified in Warren's step of faith? God does not require that we be sucessful in our steps of faith. He does require that we take them. He also promises us rewards for taking them whether they are sucessful or not.

Warren is taking a step of faith. If he had guarantees of his success, then it would not be a step of faith. I like the idea that he is going into this with his eyes closed. I like the fact that he appears to be naieve. It appears to me that God opened this door for his church's ministry. Warren sure didn't go looking for this opportunity, it came looking for him. To me that is evidence that God's hand is in it. But then it seems to me that I am the real Calvinist on this thread today.

[connectthedots]

It's rapidly becoming the if-Calvinists-question-it-Rick-must-be-doing-God's-Will" crowd

Sort of like the Synod of Dort's "If the Remonstrants are for it, we are against it" attitude?

If you read what the Remonstrants actually spelled out rather that the Calvinist stereotypes of it, you'd find it to be quite Biblical. The biggest contention of Calvinists is that the Remonstrants rejected eternal security, when it is obvious the majority position amongst the Remonstrants clearly supported eternal security.