I agree with you about context but I certainly see those who cause dissensions and pitfalls contrary to the doctrine that you have learned as a description of what can only be a false teacher. Who else would be causing dissensions and pitfalls contrary to biblical doctrine (certainly not true teachers)?
And it is important to avoid these dissenters and pitfall makers...So why doesn't Warren avoid them? Why does he endorse them in his writings and on his website?
Remember...along with those two questions, I gave you other documented specifics.
As for Manning and Nouwen, they are Catholic mystics.
As for Cho and his teaching, it "is nothing short of occultism..." and "a departure from historic Christian theology..." (p. 353 Christianity in Crisis by Hank Hanegraaff). Also, Cho's teachings are "rooted in Buddhist and occultic teachings" (p. 149 Charismatic Chaos by Dr. John F. MacArthur).
Have a good one.
The above is definitely stated in Warren's Purpose Driven Life on pages 9-10. While the above is correct (Warren's statement isn't literally true), it seems more of a bad example than anything else. It doesn't have any theological significance as Warren is, as I see it, merely using a bad example.
Would you have any issues with his statement if he instead wrote?:
Sometimes God would use a 40 day period to accomplish some task or prepare somebody for his purposes.
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.
I'm sure you would agree God uses 40 day examples through-out the Bible. While no analogy is perfect, writers should try to use the best example possible. In what way are the examples inaccurate/incorrect? What do you see as the theological issue with the above?
I agree with you that Romans 16:17-18 can indeed be talking about false teachers. It just seems out of left field with the rest of chapter 16.
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.
Here is what Warren writes on Page 10 where he quotes a portion of Romans 12:2.
The Bible says:I don't see a badly distorted version of Romans 12:2 from his example. From what I can tell, Warren is doing what he thinks is right in trying to reach the unregenerate when he uses language they're more likely to understand. He is using the common language of the time, much like the language of the Bible.
- Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do. [NLT used by Warren]
- Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is his good, pleasing and perfect will. [NIV]
- Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. [Holman]
- And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. [NASB]
Unless you can explain why the above has some theological significance, the issues I've seen so far appear to be non-essential issues or issues of no theological significance. More than anything else they seem to be issues of style.