Can Rick Warren Save the World?

Power Blog / Acton Institute ^ | August 23, 2006 | John H. Armstrong

[Alex Murphy]

Fox News broadcast a one hour special the other day titled: “The Purpose Driven Life: Can Rick Warren Save the World?” Accidentally, while channel surfing from the Red Sox vs. Yankees baseball game on ESPN to various news channels, I got in on the opening segment of the Warren special and was hooked for the whole.

Much of the Rick Warren story is widely known but some things came together in this brisk, but largely focused, video presentation. My admiration for Warren soared as a result of this broadcast. If “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God” is “to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27) then Rick Warren is practicing the faith of true religion. There can be no doubt that Warren’s faith produces Christ-centered works (James 2:14-26). And, to his great credit, he listens to his wife Kay’s counsel, who is plainly a major reason for his clarity in this and other areas. It is a wise man who listens to such a thoughtful and insightful wife!

Frankly, evangelicals who take shots at Rick Warren ought to be ashamed. But their number increases with everything this man does on an expanding stage of public opinion. I have heard many of the attacks. Warren is too shallow and promotes pop-religion. (If this is true we could use a great deal more of his kind of religion in many of the places where I’ve been in North America.) Warren doesn’t really understand “purpose driven” life theologically enough. (On one level I agree with this criticism, and said so in an article published in our quarterly journal a few years ago.) Warren is naïve about world problems. (I wish we had more naïve evangelicals who understood the relationship of faith and works the way Rick Warren does.) And, Warren is a typical mega-church pastor who doesn’t feed his flock well. (This criticism has a stereotypical view of “feeding the flock” that is rooted in categories that need to be seriously challenged.) Finally, Warren has not proven to be a loyal conservative in many contexts, especially in his open support for the Baptist World Alliance over against the conservative elements in the Southern Baptist Convention who defunded it and protest its “liberalism.” (His actions actually prove that he can rise above fundamentalist politics and seek the greater good of the church in the world.)

Warren’s biggest project right now is Rwanda. He is working closely with President Kagame, a Roman Catholic who loves both Rick and his book (Rwanda is predominantly Roman Catholic). President Kagame was introduced to Warren through Joe Ritchie, a Chicago-area Christian businessman with a degree in philosophy from Wheaton College whom I have known and respected for some time. Ritchie has been actively engaging hot-spots in the world with a clear vision for the kingdom of Christ and its advance for many years. He has a great deal of savvy in such matters. (Ritchie appeared several times on the Fox program.) President Kagame and Rick Warren have formed a partnership that is quite impressive. The goal is to make Rwanda a successful free enterprise context where jobs and wealth are increased so that multitudes can be clothed, fed, and allowed to vote and experience basic human rights and protection from violence. In addition, the ravaging impact of AIDS has to be faced in one of Africa’s worst contexts. Progress is being made on every front but the battle is far from over.

Warren’s next target will be North Korea, slated for a major “Purpose Driven” effort in 2007. I wish him well. I have my doubts about how this effort will work given the brutality of Kim Jong-Il, one of the world’s most deadly dictators. But I have no doubt that Warren will get good advice and seek wise counsel. Who knows, if God favors this man again, as he clearly has in the past, he may do more good in North Korea than all our diplomatic efforts combined.

At the end of the television special Warren said there were four words he wanted on his tombstone when he died: “At Least He Tried.” I give him full credit, he is trying to make a real difference in this world and people who love Christ ought to love and support him in every way possible. We have far too few mega-church pastors with either the vision or integrity of Rick Warren.

John H. Armstrong is founder and director of ACT 3, a ministry aimed at “encouraging the church, through its leadership, to pursue doctrinal and ethical reformation and to foster spiritual awakening.”

[Dr. Thorne]

Frankly, evangelicals who take shots at Rick Warren ought to be ashamed. But their number increases with everything this man does on an expanding stage of public opinion. I have heard many of the attacks. Warren is too shallow and promotes pop-religion.

If one believes that Christianity's purpose should be to create a better world, then this man is correct.

If you think Christianity's purpose should be to preach this Gospel to all the world as Christ said, then this man is helping Warren to redirect the Gospel away from it's true aim.

There is nothing wrong in helping the needy. We are directed to do so by God's Word. But, the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind. This MUST be first as no man is saved by his works lest he should boast that he has saved himself. Any diminishing of the ultimate necessity of accepting Christ's sacrifice on the Cross for salvation is clearly the way Satan works. He whispers into the hearts of men, "Be a good man and help others. That is all you need to do. God will not deny you salvation if you have done many good works. God is just, right?"

Warren does just this. His message is simple and direct: Do good works. Don't worry about spreading the Gospel. The Gospel will somehow be spread by your works as those receiving your charity will somehow understand your motivation. Sin is not a problem.

God says, "Faith without works is dead." But, He also says, "Without me you can do nothing."

Leaving the poor and destitute with goods and services without delivering everlasting life through Christ Jesus is not Christianity.

[Halls]

I agree! I'm so tired of this new movemant were we are being taught to just show love as Christ shows us love and this will get the other's into heaven. Christ tells us to tell them about Him as well as show them compassion and love. If we start leaving out the main ingrediant we are not helping these people learn about Christ.

[ClaireSolt]

I saw this show, and it is not clear to me what and how he will help Rwanda, but I thought that it would certainly be good if his congregation got involved. Would help them both. The amazing success of his book probably shames his critics, as above. I read Ashley's book on how she read it to her captor that night in Atlanta. Turns out she was a drug adict struggling to recover, and she turned a corner that night.

[Dr. Thorne]

Congregations and denominations have been doing good works in Africa and elsewhere for generations. That is nothing new. I'm glad that Warren and Saddleback are doing good works. But, they need to spread the Gospel above all else or they are doing no good for the souls of those they are feeding. Our temporal lives end, but our spirits go on. Without the forgiveness of sins through the sacrifice Christ made, we are lost forever.

Right now I attend a church planted in America by the Anglican Diocese of Rwanda. No kidding. So, do you think that any Christians have been to Rwanda before Warren?

[Dr. Thorne]

If Warren is a true christian, how can he be involved with something called The Purpose-Driven Life: Can Rick Warren Save the World?

Personally, I would refuse to associate myself with such a title. Jesus Christ saved the world at the Cross of Calvary. No one else.

[Cecily]

Plus, I thought Bono was the new savior of the world. I have heard Bono articulate his understanding of the Gospel, and frankly, he does a better job of preaching it than the likes of Warren and Joel Osteen, both of whom seem embarrassed by the main, overriding and unvarnished message of Jesus Christ.

[Dr. Thorne]

Here are some lyrics of a song that should be sung at Saddleback every Sunday:

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And its all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When its all about You
Its all about You.

[scripter]

The amazing success of his book probably shames his critics, as above.

That's how I see part of it. From what I understand, the Body of Christ is growing through Warren's ministry, and if true, that's something fellow believers should be glad to hear.

[scripter]

Christ tells us to tell them about Him as well as show them compassion and love. If we start leaving out the main ingrediant we are not helping these people learn about Christ.

I believe that is exactly what Warren teaches in his Purpose Driven Life book. Here are some comments from a study guide. BTW, I believe the numbered superscripts are references to page numbers.

You Were Made For A Mission

The Purpose Driven Life, Chapters 36 - 40

1. You were made for a mission.
   • If you are a part of God's family, your mission is mandatory. You are the only Christian some people will ever know, and your mission is to share Jesus with them. Your mission involves two great privileges:
     1. Working with God
     2. Representing God ²⁸³

   • Telling others how they can have eternal life is the greatest thing you can do for them. ²⁸³
   • Your mission has eternal significance. No pressure here, but the consequences of your mission will last forever. ²⁸⁴

     Point to Ponder: I was made for a mission

     Verse to Remember Matthew 28:19-20 (The Great Commission)

     Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

     Question to Consider: What fears have kept me from fulfilling the mission God made me to accomplish? What keeps me from telling others the Good News?

   • What are some typical fears and stereotypes that people have when they hear the word "evangelism"?

2. God has given you a Life Message to share.
   • Your life message includes your testimony. Your testimony is the story of how Christ has made a difference in your life. Consider writing a testimony for the small group.

     Here's a small outline to use:

     1. What my life was like before I met Jesus
     2. How I realized I needed Jesus
     3. How I committed my life to Jesus
     4. The difference Jesus has made in my life

     You should make a list of all the problems, circumstances, and crises that God has brought you through. Because everybody relates to different situations, be sensitive to what your friend will best relate to. ²⁹¹

   • You cannot keep yourself from talking about what you care most about. Jesus said [Matthew 12:34b NLT]: ²⁹³

     For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.

   • Most important, you must learn to love lost people the way God does. ²⁹⁴

   Question to Consider: Is anyone going to be in heaven because of you?

3. The Great Commission is your commission. ²⁹⁷
   • Worldly Christians look to God primarily for personal fulfullment... In contrast, world-class Christians know they were saved to serve and made for a mission. ²⁹⁷ The only barrier is the way we think. ²⁹⁹
     • Shift from self-centered thinking to other-centered thinking
     • Shift from local thinking to global thinking
     • Shift from "here and now" thinking to eternal thinking
     • Shift from thinking of excuses to thinking of creative ways to fulfill your commission.

   • What keeps you from sharing the Good News with others?

   • What do you feel might be a part of the Life Message that God has given you to share with the world?

   • Share the name of an unbelieving friend that everyone in your group can begin praying for.

   • What can our group do together to help fulfill the Great Commission?

   • How has reading through this book together refocused or redirected your life purpose? What have been some of the most helpful insights to you?

   • Who does God bring to mind with whom you could share the life-changing message of this book?

I hope that helps to better understand from where Warren is coming.

[ClaireSolt]

I think your comments are grudging.

[ClaireSolt]

I think your comments are grudging.

[ClaireSolt]

I think your comments are grudging.

[Cecily]

But what is Warren's definition of the Gospel? Is it that you are a fallen sinner in need of a savior and Jesus is that one and only savior, or is it more along the lines of God loves you and thinks you are the greatest thing since sliced bread because you are so wonderful (no mention of sin and our true condition), and if you mentally assent to that notion and then do good works and get involved in churchianity, you are saved?

[Halls]

Thanks for the info but I have a whole lot more info I already have read about Warren that has made my opinion a long time ago.

[scripter]

But what is Warren's definition of the Gospel?

I would imagine it's the biblical definition, quite similar to the first example you provided. I checked Saddleback's What we believe page which states the following under "About Salvation":

Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God´s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin´s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.

They list references to the following:

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8-9:

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.

John 14:6

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me

And more. So it would appear Warren's definition of the Gospel is more along the lines of your first example.

[scripter]

Okay, that's fine. But you did say:

Christ tells us to tell them about Him ...If we start leaving out the main ingredient...

And I was responding to your above comment. From Warren's book we see he does indeed teach others the importance about the Great Commission, and how it's the main ingredient.

[Halls]

Yes, but he talks more about how we are to serve other's and that is how I believe he thinks the great commission is all about.

He doesn't speak about how we are sinners and need to come to Christ. He leaves out key ingrediants out of Christianity. It is a seeker friendly style. There are many other things about Warren I don't like, but I've seen enough to know I think he is full of crap.

[auto power]

we didn't watch the FOX special on Mr. Warren because they bumped Oliver North's War Stories (which they often do)!!!

[Dr. Thorne]

I think your comments are grudging.

To a degree. I begrudge people who use the Gospel without preaching it.