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