So your standard for reading/studying materials is that the author provide error free information and if he/she does not, then you disregard all other included information?
If that is your standard, then I would have to assume that you could not get past pp. 9-10 of The Purpose Driven Life.
On those pages, Warren states: "Whenever God wanted to prepare someone for his purposes, he took 40 days." This statement is not true...Look at Saul/Apostle Paul and many others.
On these same pages, Warren also uses a badly distorted version of Romans 12:2 (The NLT). Compare the NIV, KJV, NASB, and NKJV with the NLT. The distortion is obvious and the meaning that Warren carries through his writing is incorrect.
From some of the very first pages, The PDL premise is flawed relative to 40 days and relative to transformation.
Read the examples that Warren gives (pp. 9-10) for transformation in 40 days - Noah, Moses, David, Elijah and Jesus. They are inaccurate, incorrect examples.
If you could get past the flaws on those pages and continue in The PDL, I would assume that you could look at CDL's link relative to the distortion of Scripture regardless of the p. 58 issue.
My question about Romans 16:17-18 is stand alone and you are right this passage contains very important instruction!
If we agree that it is very important instruction, then it is important that it is followed...right?
Is it an issue for you that Rick Warren does not heed this instruction?
The documentation of Warren not keeping away from false teachers can specifically be found at:
- I already provided you with the specific Cho reference
- www.pastors.com, Issue #54, June 5, 2002. Warren provides endorsement of Henri Nouwen's book, In the Name of Jesus.
- www.pastors.com, Issue #32, December 19, 2001. Warren endorses Brennan Mannings, Abba's Child.
The list of false teachers that he references and/or does not keep away from are extensive. For sake of time, these are just a few with documentation via one of your acceptable sources.
Whoops. Sorry I missed the obvious there.
So your standard for reading/studying materials is that the author provide error free information and if he/she does not, then you disregard all other included information?
No, but I can see why you're asking. For me, that one link contained a blatant mispresentation of what Warren wrote. I say that because the author quoted from page 58 and then denied Warren ever says anything about sin and the cross. When in reality, two sentences later and on the same page, Warren is talking about sin and the cross. To me that appears really blatant and I cannot see how he missed what Warren actually wrote just two sentences later.
If that is your standard, then I would have to assume that you could not get past pp. 9-10 of The Purpose Driven Life.
I'll take a look at pages 9-10 tonight when I get home.
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The documentation of Warren not keeping away from false teachers can specifically be found at
Okay, now I understand from where you're coming. I don't read Romans 16:17-18 as warning against false teachers so I missed your inference. For me, the passage is specifc to: "those who cause dissensions and pitfalls contrary to the doctrine you have learned." Now, I'm really big on context. If I had a personal motto it would be: "Context is everything."
In chapter 16 Paul seems to be going through his mind as to who is at the church in Rome, and he sends greetings to those there (1-15) In trying to follow his thought process, it seems while remembering who is at the church in Rome he remembers some who cause dissentions and pitfalls, and says to avoid them (17-18). Now, maybe Paul is referring to false teachers and maybe not, but in trying to follow this thought processes it isn't clear. We can disagree on what is meant here and I may come to agree with you, but I wanted to explain why I didn't catch your inference.
For me, better references to false teachers would be 2 Peter 2, Matthew 7:13-23 and others. I hope that makes sense.
I don't really have to time to lookup the position of Cho, Nouwen and Mannings. For now I'm going to stick with pages 9-10 of the Purpose Driven Life and get back to you on what you've said in this regard.