Searching for the Truth in the King James Bible;
Finding it, and passing it on to you.

EDITOR:
Steve Van Nattan

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THE PURPOSE DRIVEN MOVEMENT

A discussion of how Satanic messengers have invaded the Lord's Church
and are building the spiritual foundation of the coming Satanic age of Antichrist

The Jesuits have struck again, and the new Religious Marketing arm of the False Prophet churches will make sure that millions of dollars are pumped into the coffers of the Antichrist system.

First they sold you "Left Behind" and "The Prayer of Jabez", now their hawking "A Purpose Driven Life" and "The Passion".

The eagles are gathered together around the carcass of a false "christ" stuffing themselves on the foul flesh of a concocted image, pushing their meal on a public starved for any "god" but the Creator God of the Holy Bible; with their mouths full and dripping from the edges, the plea with you to join them.

But my Jesus Christ is in heaven, seated on the right hand of the Father. He is with me in the person of the Holy Spirit, and He has revealed Himself to me by the Spirit through the Holy Bible. "...as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be". I will heed His warning, and refuse to accept, and refuse to go to see, any other "christ".

Tom Lamb, New Zealand

Rick Warren Twisting Scripture

Satire video on Rick Warren's book

"WHEN THE TIDE IS LOW,
EVERY SHRIMP HAS ITS OWN PUDDLE"
Vance Havener

Post Modernism is a new puddle.
It will wax and wane, but during its era it will destroy millions of souls and damn them to hell.
If you are bored with God, and you don't want to think......
If you want a warm fuzzy replacement for absolute truth......
If you are comfortable being a wimp without an answer to moral issues......
The Emergent Church is for YOU.

Do I hear descent out there? You are not alone my friend.

Not Good? Not going anywhere? Something fishy in Denmark?

Than, consider the war for YOUR SOUL worldwide:

OVERVIEW-- BY BOB ASELTINE

I've been researching the Church Growth Movement and related issues in order to be better prepared to intelligently discuss the problems with those who are so enamored with "The Purpose-Driven Church", "The Purpose-Driven Life", 40 Days" seminars, etc. I wish there were a reliable way of separating the facts from the disinformation and hysteria.

The confusion in this arena is mind-boggling, with connections to Freemasonry, the Rosecrucians, the RCC, the Royal Society, MKULTRA, and, apparently, most of the rest of the One-World Religion / One-World Government shadow/secret operatives -- certainly rich fodder for the Art Bell set. :) A rather telling sign in this megachurch movement is the bratty, steamroller attitude toward those in the transitioning group (I use the term "group" rather than "fellowship" since such a disaster should never have made entrance in a true fellowship) who oppose the influx of worldly and non-biblical methods, i.e.: "Let 'em leave; we don't need them in this program" -- after all, they're being mean-spirited and divisive. :)

It seems that there is always an abundance of those ready to embrace the next market-driven church scheme that comes along. Meanwhile, the few true saints are dumped and left to fend for themselves relative to finding godly fellowship -- sadly, even among those who claim Christ and oppose the apostate church, I find many who still have a love of the world and the things in it rather than Christ as Lord of their life. For these, I am reluctant to share what I fear might be false encouragement, although encouragement for the true saints is indeed welcome in this lonely world of rampant apostasy. Thankfully, our Lord and Saviour doesn't cast us off for every novel scheme that surfaces.

As near as I can ascertain, the "Purpose-Driven Church" is a current Church Growth Movement scheme emanating from the book of the same name by Rick Warren of Saddleback Church of Southern California. Since writing that book, he has produced "The Purpose-Driven Life", allegedly directed at enhancing the spiritual life of the individual. The Saddleback Church model appears to closely parallel that of Willow Creek Church and Bill Hybels, another megachurch marketer.

Numerous other names also appear in the CGM arena, many which are book mills such as John Maxwell, one of the more recent rising stars in this galaxy of meganumbers and leadership gurus and formerly [thankfully] pastor of Skyline Wesleyan Church of San Diego who frequently served as a motivational speaker with Network 21, a large Amway distributorship in San Diego. Network 21 later moved to Atlanta and mutated into a web-based marketer, and John Maxwell went on to bigger and better things, such as establishing Injoy, a company geared to equipping and adding value to the church leadership executive.

Much information can be gleaned from sites such as Biblical Discernment Ministries, Way of Life Literature and Bible Believers Resource Page; Watch Unto Prayer is also useful, although some the resulting leads led to less verifiable material, at least at my level of research. Without getting into exhaustive research and without getting into the alleged conspiracy issues, I believe that the dangers are quite apparent. It would appear that CGM methods are almost invariably market-driven, appealing to the work of the board of directors rather than that of the Holy Ghost. Since large numbers are the goal, compromise and de-emphasis of doctrine are universal as are multimedia presentations and rock bands.

Meanwhile, the pure word of God and narrow-way Christianity get tossed. Following is a sampling of a few of the many sites related to the CGM issue; several are multipart articles:

http://www.fundamentalbiblechurch.org/Foundation/fbcsdlbk.htm

http://www.fundamentalbiblechurch.org/Foundation/fbcAnalysis.htm

http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/rickwarren-judgenot.html

http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/visit-saddlebackchurch.html

http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/hybels.htm

http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/billhybels.htm

http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Letter/v8n2.htm#Book

Review: The Purpose Driven Church
http://www.bereanbeacon.org/articles/rick_warren_purpose_driven.htm

http://www.bereanbeacon.org/articles/rick_warren_purpose_driven_2.htm

http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/2003/1-purpose.htm

http://www.crossroad.to/News/Church/Klenck1.html

I saw this in passing and thought you might enjoy it:
http://bmaweb.net/Metropolitan.Chicago/TouchNot.htm

Rick Warren on Fundamentalism

Dr. Rick Warren stated on May 23, 2005, at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life:

"The word 'fundamentalist' actually comes from a document of the 1920's called the Five Fundamentals of the Faith. And it is a very legalists, narrow view of Christianity."

The Five Fundamentals he is talking about are:

1. The inerrancy and full authority of the Bible
2. The virgin birth and full Deity of Jesus Christ
3. The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
4. Christ's atoning, vicarious death for the sins of the world
5. The literal second coming of Jesus Christ

So, we may then assume that Rick Warren does NOT believe the above five truths. He is damned to hell-- he is a heretic-- he is a spiritual bastard, and NOT a son according to the faith once delivered. We have no choice but to do everything possible to destroy Rick Warren's teaching and "ministry."

Ironically, the Pope of the Roman Catholic Whore Church would have to declare Rick Warren a heretic. That is pretty bad.

RICK WARREN IS TERRIFIED OF SODOMITES

Here is the pansy wimp Warren as seen by the pastors of Uganda
Here is proof the Warren is a damned wimp on sodomy
Warren supports gay business--
Hear Warren say that sodomy is no worse than polygamy. That is blasphemy, for God NEVER forbade polygamy or called for polygamous Old Testament saints to be stoned, as God did for sodomites. In fact, God REQUIRED the brother of a man who died to marry the widow to give the widow a son to inherit. God did NOT condition that law on the brother being single. THINK
Warren is a WIMP

LETTER FROM A READER

I saw your stuff on the war room page regarding the purpose driven movement.

1) My dad was the director for the forty days of purpose festivities at his church and has been on my case because our church refuses to do the forty days. I tried to show him the weirdness in the book and he would hear none of it. All he would do is tell me that all of the churches that have done this thing just can't be wrong. I think the forty days is becoming a new "standard" by which the evangelicals will judge folks. It used to be "Have you been to a Basic Youth Conflicts Seminar?" or "Do you Jabez?" and now it's "Have you done the forty days?" If you say no, then they either look down their noses at you like you're a backslider or encourage you to "get with the program."

2) When the forty days thing first hit the local radar, I was having lunch with some coworkers in a local eatery and seated in the next booth was a pastor whose church was in the middle of their forty days. One of the ladies with us asked what I thought about the forty days and I shared with her a conversation my preacher and I had where he said that he felt we had two purposes, "Love God with all of your heart, mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself." The preacher in the next booth nearly crippled himself as he came up out of his chair.

John ___________

HERE IS AN ARTICLE ON THE SUBJECT:

The folks over at The Beran Call have done a fine job pointing out some of the problems with The Purpose Driven Life. My initial thought was that they were a little late to the game with this, but I recently saw another Tuscaloosa area church has jumped on the purpose driven band wagon.

My two main gripes with the book involved the really weird bible translations Rick Warren uses to make some of his points. A lot of his quotes are from Eugene Peterson's "The Message" and "The Living Bible". Both of these are paraphrases of the bible (not literal translations) that are probably fine for casual reading, but I would never use them for theological instruction.

My second issue with the purpose driven program is that it is a program and for many people it will replace in depth bible study and a personal relationship with Jesus. I've been hesitant to say anything because so many people claim to have been blessed by the program. Also, so many people who are involved in discernment ministries debunk popular christian fads, but then they fail to provide a positive, scriptural alternative and I didn't want to be that way on this.

A while back, I was talking this over with friend, Stephen, who pointed out that Jesus gave us our two main purposes : Love God with all you heart, mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself. (See Matthew 22:37 - 39, Mark 12 :29-31 and Luke 10:27 if you're in doubt). All the other purposes in your life are derivative of these two: Taking care of widows and orphans, evangelism, loving your spouse, staying free from sin etc.

On the other hand, God's purpose for you (if you are His) is to be conformed to the image / made like Jesus (again check the bible for yourself - Romans 8:29). See how simple it is: your purpose to love God and love others is tied in with God's purpose for you. As you are conformed to be more like Jesus, you grow in your ability to love and obey. God is the one who does it all. It's so simple - it just doesn't sell books.

THIS WILL WAKE YOU UP IF YOU THINK
IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO YOU

SPIRITUAL EUTHANASIA--
A PARABLE OF THE PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH

PURPOSE DRIVEN CHRISTIANITY....A WAY THAT SEEMS RIGHT UNTO MAN, OR WHO'S END IS DESTRUCTION?

"First they came for "resisters" and "pillars" of Brunswick Reformed Church, Brunswick, Ohio because they opposed Purpose Driven Life and Church, but I didn't speak up because I was not a member of Reformed Church of American (RCA) denomination.

Then they came after a lady who was an elder lady in the faith who had been with the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas since 1956 by shouting her down with spiritual euthanasia and aggressive mean-spirited behavior, and the intimidation of seven attorneys, because she opposed them turning their landmark Criswell Center into a Purpose Driven entertainment center. But I did not speak up because I was not a widow.

Then they held a trial for two families at Valley Baptist Church in Lakeland, Minnesota, but I didn't speak up because I was not a member of the General Baptist Convention.

Then they came after 165 members of Gardendale Baptist Church, Corpus Christi, Texas and ran them out of the church, but I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Southern Baptist.

Then a brother did finally speak up and tried to warn Eugene Christian Fellowship because they had gone Purpose Driven, but they threatened legal action and told him to stop spamming them. But I did not speak up for fear of being accused of spamming or being sued by a church.

Then a news reporter for a large Christian radio network sounded the alarm on His Holy Hill of this clear and present danger. They ran the story, but received more gnashing of teeth from callers then they had ever had, so they censored this story from their Agape Press print media news service.

Then still another brother on another Christian radio ministry broadcast testimonies of Christians thrown out of their churches across the country, but the network threatened to remove his show from the air, if another broadcast was ever made that said anything bad about Rick Warren. But I did not speak up because I had friends and family who were either employed by an organization that promoted Purpose Driven Church, or were in Purpose Driven Church, and I did not want to lose those relationships.

Then they came after a large group of members at New Hope Church in Bend, Oregon. But I didn't speak up because I wasn't a member of The Evangelical Church denomination or the National Association of Evangelicals.

Then they came after a carpenter and his wife at Calvary Community Church in Phoenix, Arizona with the police and a sheriff and escorted him out of the church and off of the grounds for trying to expose the deeds of darkness and the teachings of Rick Warren, telling him that if he returned, he would be arrested. But I didn't speak up because I wasn't a member of the Calvary Chapel denomination.

Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me, because every church in the nation had become Purpose Driven and part of his Global PEACE Plan."

Compiled and Adapted by James Sundquist
Based on Rev. Martin Neimoeller's Poem written in 1945
(c)2005 Rock Salt Publishing
Used by Permission

A LETTER I RECEIVED FROM A READER

Tonight, owing to a vow I made yesterday at a Christian funeral, I went to church. I have always believed that a Christian should be in church when the doors are opened. For years I have stayed away because my best efforts at finding a church have failed. Anyway, tonight I found a church listed in the phone book under "INDEPENDENT." When I got there, I asked if there was going to be a Bible study. I was assured there would be. (Can you imagine we're to a place where one has to ASK!)

I took my seat, and a moment later was handed a study guide that, well, stunned me. A moment after that, a video began and I got up and left. The study guide and video was on the subject of THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE and featured Rick Warren. That was what happened to me tonight when I tried my very best to go to a place where I could hear the Word of God.

In case I failed to bad-mouth (read: "tell the truth about") Warren, he used to be my upstairs neighbor at an office complex in Laguna Hills, California when he was just starting out. I never had a conversation with the man but that I walked away convinced he was a RANK LIBERAL disguised as a Baptist minister.

CRITIQUE AND LINKS FROM MANY OBSERVERS:

Seeker Sensitive, Purpose Driven Churches
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These churches are numerically prospering, and that numerical prosperity convinces many Christians that any criticism is inappropriate and diabolical... [But] if the largest church in the country says, "No Cross, No Sin, not here!" are we to assume that their numerical success ends the conversation? Or is there a role for the critic in pointing out that a crowd of 25,000 gathered to NOT HEAR the Gospel isn't really a good thing? Are the ideas in these various movements going to be evaluated, or simply tested by their results? Some of the worst ideas in human history were numerically successful. I'm sure I don't need to elaborate.
- by Michael Spencer, From Talk Hard
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Highly Questionable Methods by Robert Reymond

Loving Questions for Pastors of Seeker-Sensitive Churches; Part II, Part III, Part IV
By Aaron Menikoff “Are there biblical principles that regulate the shape and flow of a corporate service? Does God leave churches to decide how to conduct their own worship services, or does He Himself tell us in His Word how He is to be approached in worship?”

Preaching Christ Alone by Michael Horton
Christ Centered Preaching from Genesis to Revelation

The Purpose Driven Life – Guidance or Misguided? Reasons Not to Join the 'Purpose Driven Life' Movement Marshall C. St. John

The Purpose Driven Life By Rick Warren Reviewed by Paul Alexander

Book Review - Transitioning by Tim Challies

Purpose, PEACE And New Spirituality by Tim Challies

Revival? WHAT Revival?! by Chris Carmichael

CHURCH GROWTH MOVIE
Looking to "grow" your church? Just watch this animated tutorial on "ChristianPragmatism" and you'll soon be on your way to building your very own mega-church!

The Church of the Highest Common Denominator Some Thoughts on Church Growth from a Reformed Perspective by Kim Riddlebarger

Keller On Preaching in a Post-modern City ; Part II; by Tim Keller
Preaching the gospel vs. religion and irreligion - The Third Way"; Moralism vs. Christ Centered exposition.

Warren’s Purpose Driven Life by John V. Fesko

The Adulation of Man in The Purpose Driven Life By Richard Bennett

The Purpose Driven Life: Demeaning the Very Nature of God (Part 2) By Richard Bennett New!

"The Purpose Driven Life": A Modern Day "Golden Calf" by Joseph Chambers

Self-Worship a short essay by John Hendryx
Marketing techniques may indeed bring people in to be entertained, but the only thing God has promised to bless is "the foolishness of preaching" the gospel.

My Anguish: My Kinsmen Are Accursed Sermon by John Piper
There is a sad irony in the seeming success of many Christian churches and schools. The irony is that the more you adjust obscure Biblical doctrines to make Christian reality more attractive to unbelievers, the less Christian reality there is when they arrive... If you adjust your doctrine to fit the world in order to attract the world, sooner or later the world realizes that they already have what the church offers. That was the story of much of mainline Protestantism in Europe and America in the 20th century. Adjust your doctrine – or just minimize doctrine – to attract the world, and in the very process of attracting them, lose the radical truth that alone can set them free.

Willow Creek: Conversion Without Commitment by Laura M. Kaczorowski

What’s Wrong with Being Seeker-Centered? Gregory Koukl
Most churches that try to be seeker sensitive end up being seeker centered. The church becomes for the seeker rather than Christians.

40 Days of Community by Challies.com New! September 21, 2004 - Make sure you read the commentary at the end of the explanation.=

The Church Growth Movement by Jack Sin
The late twentieth and early twenty-first century have witnessed the proliferation of churches, some of which have mushroomed overnight into mega ecclesiastical outfits with aggressive marketing policies.

The Ethnocentricity of the American Church Growth Movement: In Brazil, Nigeria, and many other parts of the two-thirds world, some brothers and sisters are singing an interesting new...

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Four Types of Churches & Their Relation to Culture
1. Church against culture (Pietism, Modern Evangelicalism, dispensational)
2. Church separate from the culture- the holy huddle (Fundamentalism, Monasticism)
3. Church integrated into culture- cannot tell the difference between believers and nonbelievers (Seeker Sensitive & Liberal Churches)
4. Church having an impact on their community to transform the culture- agents of change (Covenantal/Reformed & Progressive Evangelicals)
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A Critique of the "Seeker-Sensitive, Purpose-Driven" Church Model
by Dan Norcini (10-part series)
Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7; Part 8; Part 9 ;Part 10
- There is a tidal wave that is sweeping over the American church in these last days prior to the new millenium. It is not an outbreak of persecution nor is it a flood of oppression directed against those who would live godly in Christ Jesus. Rather it is a novel approach to presenting the gospel that threatens to overwhelm the very foundations of the Christian faith inherited from our fathers. It goes by several names but is commonly referred to as the "seeker-sensitive" or "user-friendly" method. Among these various approaches there are two that stand out in particular. The first of these is the Willow Creek approach known as the "seeker-sensitive" model.

Observations about The Purpose Driven Life by Tim Todd:

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My problem here is what I call disporportionate influence of imagery. The father of the Prodigal is an important Biblical image. It's not meant to determine everything in worship and preaching. God does laugh and sing over His children. He is the good shepherd that rejoices over one sheep. But when coming to an overall conception of God, no one image should disproportionately influence the whole. In other words, the fear of the Lord, the Holiness of God, the Otherness of God, the Attributes of God should never be reduced by a single image or illustration. I feel this is what has happened in modern pop theology. I hear college student testimonies talk about God in "daddy" terms, and the integrating concept is their own idea of daddy, not Yahweh of the Old Testament.
- Michael Spencer
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The Person of Christ-Driven Life by Rev. Charles R. Biggs

Church Growth - God's Way by Dennis Rokser Part I, Part II by Dennis Rokser

AN EVALUATION OF THE CHURCH GROWTH MOVEMENT Presented by Kirk Wellum, Pastor Sovereign Grace Community Church

God in Man’s Image A critique of John Eldredge’s Wild At Heart By Rut Etheridge III

The Purpose Driven Church – A Critique By John C. Orlando, Jr. (.pdf)

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"Beginning a message with people's felt needs is more than a marketing tool! It is based on the theological fact that God chooses to reveal Himself to man according to our needs."
(Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church, pg. 295)

"For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ." - Galatians 1:10-11
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An Examination of Rick Warren's Teaching on "Exponential Growth" by Brian Jonson
The video on exponential growth, presented by Warren, is one of the most shocking teachings I have ever seen emerge from a Southern Baptist. Our denomination is considered conservative and thoroughly Bible-based. When a minister in the SBC presents philosophies or doctrines that are contrary to scripture, he must be rebuked. This is true of the pastor of the smallest congregation as well as the largest. The fact that Saddleback Church is the largest in our movement makes this action so much more urgent.

Evangelistic Worship by Tim Keller (.pdf)
The Gimmick Gospel by W. F. Bell
Biblically Speaking Essays on the Church Growth Movement by Paul Proctor
The People’s Church, Willow Creek, and the Church Growth Movement by Paul Proctor "The bottom line is this; Willow Creek is a showboat, sold as a Christian cruise that in time will be remembered as another Titanic."

The Gospel: A Method or a Message? How the Purpose Driven Life Obscures the Gospel by Bob DeWaay - Warren’s man-centered theology comes with more evangelical ideas than does Schuller’s. Warren includes many more Biblical truths than Schuller ever did. In my opinion this makes Warren more deceptive than Schuller. Schuller ignored the Bible and depended on psychological concepts. Warren uses perverted Bible translations that change God-centered passages to man-centered passages. By carefully selecting the right mistranslation for each of his teaching points he has made the man-centered theology touted by Schuller seem Biblical.

The Pied Pipers of Purpose: Human Capital Systems and Church Performance by Lynn D. Leslie, Sarah H. Leslie and Susan J. Conway
The Megachurch Phenomenon Rev. George C. “Chip” Hammond
In Fast-Paced Culture, Christians Turning to Quick Spiritual Fix Adam J. Eitel
The Gospel According to Hybels & Warren by Nathan Busenitz
Rick Warren's Scary Movement: A Rant The Pop, The Fizz and the Purpose-Driven Biz by Michael Spencer
The Purpose Driven Life - A Review by Tony Capoccia
The People’s Church, Willow Creek, and the Church Growth Movement by Paul Proctor Willow Creek and Bill Hybels' theology By James Sundquist
The Purpose-Driven Church by Nathan Busenitz
Is This Evangelicalism's Terminal Generation? by Albert Mohler
"Does the Truth Matter Anymore?" part 1 - part 2 - part 3 - part 4 by John MacArthur (pdf Notes from video series)

Rick Warren A Compendium of quotes
The Urgency of Preaching by Albert Mohler
What's Wrong with "User Friendly"? by John MacArthur
The Seeker-Sensitive Movement by John MacArthur
Gimme that Showtime Religion by John MacArthur
What's Inside the Trojan Horse? by John MacArthur ...Church leaders reacted to the world's indifference, not by a return to strong biblical preaching that emphasized sin and repentance, but by a pragmatic approach to 'doing' church–an approach driven more by marketing, methodology, and perceived results than by biblical doctrine.
Swimming Upstream by R. C. Sproul
Is the church growing because of the church growth movement? Yes and no. Individual churches are growing, but the church is standing still. Though church growth pundits desire to win the lost usually what happens is they lose the found.
Stupid Church Tricks by Gene Edward Veith

The Deformed Theology of Seeker Sensitivity by Don Matzat
The Purpose-Driven Life: An Evaluation Part I & Part II by Southern View Chapel
Once we believe we have the right to change the meaning of God?s Word to suit our agenda, there is no limit as to how far the misrepresentation of God?s truth can go. This is exactly how virtually every cult and heresy is started.
The Refusal of Christ to Conform to the Wishes of the People by David W. Hall
Only Half of Pastors Have 'Biblical' Worldview By Fred Jackson and Jody Brown
Christian Researcher Says That Explains Why So Few Believers Reflect this Outlook
The Church Growth Movement & Purpose Driven Church VERSUS The Bible
A COMPARISON CHART CREATED BY JAMES SUNDQUIST

The Six Commandments of the Boomers by Todd Wilken
Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats? by C. H. Spurgeon

The Willow Creek Dilemma: Why Our Association With Them Is Wrong by Chris Carmichael

For Whom Is Worship? Peter Leithart
Seeker-Sensitive Churches by The Family Corner
Problems Related to Seeker-Sensitive Worship by John Armstrong
"Trendier-Than-Thou": An Essay by John H. Armstrong
The Contemporary Church by John H. Armstrong
The rush is on. How contemporary can we really be? How in the world will we ever get the unchurched to come when virtually all they know comes through 30 second sound bytes?
Problems with the Church Growth Movement By Darryl M. Erkel
Is Attending Church A Spectator Event? by Darryl M. Erkel
Megachurches, Megabusinesses by Luisa Kroll (Forbes.com)
... Rick Warren ...“The Purpose Driven Church” A Critique by W.B. Howard

Niche Marketing, Audience-Driven, Full Service Churches: How We Got Here?
By Orrel Steinkamp
Church Growth Gone Mad: A sobering look at the church growth seeker-sensitive models by Clay Miller
Is Your Church Up a Creek? - A Brief Intor to the Church Growth Movement
Niche Marketing, Audience-Driven, Full Service Churches: How We Got Here?
By Orrel Steinkamp
The 'Alpha' and 'Christianity Explained' Courses by Robin Weeks Jan 17, 2004
The course has a noticible absence of certain doctrines: God the Creator and God's holiness.

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“The last thing many believers need today is to go to another Bible study. They already know far more than they are putting into practice.” (Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life , 2002, pg. 231)

"They [the early Christians] were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved." - Acts 2:42, 47
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Mega Churches: Postmodern Seeker Sensitivity by Craig W. Booth
Willow Creek "Suburbanizes" the Church by Aaron D. Wolf
Robert Schuller and The Seeker Sensitive Church By Bob DeWaay
The Market-Driven Church: A Look Behind the Scenes By Gary E. Gilley
Another Gospel The Dangers of the "Seeker-Sensitive", Man-Centered Gospel by Dennis Pollock
Willow Creek: Conversion Without Commitment by Laura M. Kaczorowski
Niche Marketing, Audience-Driven, Full Service Churches: How We Got Here?
By Orrel Steinkamp
The Willow Creek Dilemma: Why Our Association With Them Is Wrong Chris Carmichael
Willow Creek Style - Is This of God? by F.J. Smith
The 'Alpha' and the 'Christianity Explored' Course By Robin Weeks
Don't Stop Preaching By Geoff Thomas
Where are the preachers of the gospel in our land today? There are plenty of performers, but where are the proclaimers?
The Dumbing Down of Doctrine by George M. Ella
The People’s Church, Willow Creek, and the Church Growth Movement by Paul Proctor

An Insider's Look at Willow Creek's Deepening Apostasy by Mary Fairchild
Why is Willow Creek promoting New Age spirituality and mysticism like "vain repetition" mantras, centering, and listening to "the voice within" in their women's groups?

The New Liberals by Don Matzat
Evangelicalism has produced a new breed of liberals. These "new liberals" claim to believe what the Bible says and retain orthodox theology,but they adopt the same notion of cultural relevance that drove the old liberals.

The Sensitivity of True Worship Jim Elliff
by Bill Izard. "Will we seek to please the true Object of our worship at the risk of losing our good standing with the "seeker"? Can we depend upon Christ to build His church without abusing the purity of worship?"
The New Gospel: Appealing But Not Revealing By Jim Elliff
Christ's Refusal To Conform To The People by David W. Hall
A New Song Part I ; Part II, Part III by By Paul Proctor
Diaprax in the Contemporary Church by Dr. Robert Klenck
Dialectic & Praxis: Excerpts by Dean Gotcher
"Instead of instructing us to know, trust, and obey the Word of God, today there is an emphasis on thinking and feeling about how we can modify or redefine the Word of God to further human relationships."
Interview on Diaprax in the Church Dean Gotcher
Diaprax Goes To Seminary by Paul Proctor
Revivals Golden Key by Ray Comfort (online book)
Finding A Church A Brief Guide For the Discriminating Worshiper By Michael S. Horton
Chicken Little Goes to Church by Rev. P. Andrew Sandlin
Why The Show Must Not Go On My Problem With Revivalism by Michael Spencer

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"... the first thing we must realize about the situation we are in today is its desperate character. It is urgent. In other words, the trouble, as I see it, with the Church today is that she does not realize, as she should, that her primary need, and her urgent need at the moment, is the need of life itself. The problem confronting us is not a problem of methods, or of organization, or of making a slight adjustment here and there, or improving things a little bit, or keeping them up-to-date, or anything like that. It seems to me that we are really down to this basic issue. The problem of society today is not a superficial problem, it is a very radical one. The whole outlook upon life is involved ...

Now that is the situation, and it is the situation confronting the Church. There is no doubt that we have been living on the capital of the past - as you go round this country and look at the congregations, you will see that very quickly. You can carry on for a certain length of time on tradition, and by custom, and habit, but the point is bound to come when you cease to have any capital left and then you realize that you are facing something absolutely ultimate, something which is fundamental. And that, as 1 say, is the whole situation today of the Christian Church. We really are in the position of this man Isaac.

And the problem confronting us is the need of life itself, the need of that fundamental power and vigour in every activity of the Church which really can make an impact upon the world, and do something vital and drastic with regard to the whole trend of affairs at the present time; the need of life, the need of power, the need of the Spirit himself.

From chapter 2 of Revival, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones, Crossway Books, Wheaton Ill., Copyright 1987

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The seeker sensitive/purpose driven churches are perhaps representative of the most culturally captive in all of Christian history. Possibly even more so than the liberal churches that arose during the 19th century. It is really quite painful to consider that we willfully ignore history this way and thus appear to be doomed to repeat its mistakes. Those promoting the seeker sensitive movement, like Warren, encourage error by implying that the Reformation was the time for doctrinal change but that now we merely need to shift our focus to praxis and cultural relevance.

Many of you may not know that this is exactly what theological liberalism has believed for well over a century. This argument might have been successfully made if the majority of evangelicals actually understood basic doctrine, but unfortunately we don't. A large percentage of evangelicals today reject or ignore many of the most important doctrinal contributions the Reformation has made to our understanding of Scripture. Theology is often shunned, and for some, to embrace anti-intellectualism is like a badge of spirituality. Having been near dead for the last 100 years, theology and not praxis is really the most critical need facing the contemporary church.

The fluff coming out of the seeker movement is really only compounding the problem. No doubt our praxis would be right if our understanding of Scripture was right, since thinking God's thoughts after Him gives rise to true affection for God. However, to the extent that we think wrong thoughts about God, to that same extent we commit idolatry. Christians must engage in theological studies to some extent because the Scriptures demand it (1 Timothy 4:6, 2 Timothy 4:3, Titus 1:9, Titus 2:7) so those who teach that doctrine is unimportant are promoting something directly contrary to our Lord's desire. I know may in the seeker movement would deny this but frankly most evenagelicals today know really very little about the Jesus they claim to serve.

The leaders of these churches are denying their flocks the very food they need for true nourishment. Those who love God love His Word. I am all for promoting meekness, humility and infectious Christian living but any movement that plays down theology in favor of something less is severely problematic and puts the cart before the horse. It can only result in creating a god in our own image to cater to our every felt need. Love without content means that the Jesus you say you love may not be the Jesus revealed in the Scripture, but rather a Jesus you invented. So because many of us worship in citadels of unbelief, one of the greatest challenges we face, I believe, is the re-evangelization the church, because the half-gospel that relies on methods rather preaching the word in the power of the Spirit of God is the main culprit of our lukewarmness.

FROM A BLOG FORUM OF YOUNG ADULTS
This shows that even unsaved and shallow Christians can figure this out
if their mind is in gear.

As is typical (I'm guessing) for the first Sunday after New Years, the sermon today at my church was "Do You Have a Goal?" My pastor talked about living with a purpose, living with goals. He quotes Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life. He asked the question, "Have you ever thought of Jesus in that way? As a man with a goal? As a purpose driven individual? Was Jesus goal-oriented?" He asked the question, and then gave an emphatic answer, "You bet! Jesus was incredibly purpose driven!"

His reasoning? The cross. Everything about Jesus' message, his life, his healings, etc. was about the cross [sidenote: Fr Patrick likes to remind me that evangelical Protestants are too focused on the cross - yes, obviously, it's important - but what about the resurrection!? THAT is where emphasis should be placed, and is placed within the Orthodox faith. They sing songs about the cross, but they are always followed by a song of hope, about the resurrction]. He would leave areas where ministry was going strong, because he knew he had to continue on --- to the cross.

Was Jesus purpose driven? Do I want to follow and worship a Purpose Driven Jesus?
05:33 PM in Rants | Permalink

ah yes...the Purpose-Driven Jesus! I didn't realize that Christ had joined sports stadiums in selling his naming rights to big corporate brands...but, if Jesus wants to be relevant to a modern consumer culture -- and what purpose-driven messiah doesn't want to be relevant? -- he better jump on the effective branding bandwagon! Cause really, how can Jesus expect for his kingdom to have impact in this world without an effectively branded market strategy? But, wait...what about those pesky parables...the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, like a mustard seed (the smallest), like yeast in a large amount of dough?

Did Jesus have a purpose? Yes, I guess so. Was there a way in which he was oriented toward that goal? Sure. But to label him as "purpose-driven" strikes me as unseemly and potentially dangerous.
Posted by: Jimmy | January 4, 2004 07:11 PM

uhmmm... i agree with jimmy. my jesus is wild and dangerous (and also loving), not purpose-driven.
Posted by: lucas | January 4, 2004 08:22 PM

Cleave,I realize that I'm about to possibly derail the discussion by not addressing your questions about the book, but I have to ask: Jesus' purpose was the cross? Hmm. The Church Fathers tended towards the view that the ultimate end of Christ's earthly ministry was the resurrection, and that the cross was the means to that end. Do you think that this is a catholic (note the small "c") vs. Protestant view of salvation history?
Posted by: Karen | January 4, 2004 08:22 PM

Great point Karen! In my haste to be a smart-ass, I may have obscrured a far more compelling question to be raised about this notion that Jesus' singular purpose was to die on a cross. I would agree this flows out of certain Protestant theories of the atonement and the typical evangelical impulse to make the atonement into the only thing that matters!
Posted by: Jimmy | January 4, 2004 10:28 PM

adam, what is really scary to me is just how many churches throughout america are doing this book! can't any one be creative?! in looking for new jobs on the internet it all looks the same! i personally have avoided the book altogether due to it's extreme popularity and the abundance of copies at my local christian bookstore!
it reminds me of the prayer of jabez, my friend who manages a christian bookstore was leaving for work one day a year or so ago and her husband called her back in..."hey hun, pick us up some of that prayer of jabez toliet paper while you're at work cause we're out"
i don't want a brand name jesus...
and if we just have the cross then death wins...
PS i hate doing the newsletter too! lil
Posted by: lillylewin | January 4, 2004 11:31 PM

i can see where you guys are coming from and i agree, it seems weird to me to say "purpose driven jesus" - BUT - i think we should remember that this term does not come from the book, but rather this pastor who made the statement.
Posted by: scott | January 5, 2004 01:35 AM

i havent read the book, but the way i hear and see that it's a trend all over the world, the more i'm convinced that it has just become a cliche and bussiness-minded hegemoy...
Posted by: truegossiper | January 5, 2004 05:24 AM

Some of the comments here are great, and if I were to hear the idea in a sermon that Jesus was purpose driven, and that his purpose was the cross. I would cry "party foul". If that is true, then the gospel is about us. If it is about us, then we can package it, market it, sell it. We can't. When we try to, we neuter the gospel. I would argue, loudly, that Jesus main goal wasn't to die, but to usher in the kingdom of God in a new way. His first written words at the start of his ministry, was "the kingdom of God is here" I don't see anything about me in there.
Posted by: dave | January 5, 2004 12:11 PM

Could you say that:
Jesus' purpose WAS to ... "endure the cross ...and sit down at the right hand of the throne of God"? -- As in Hebrews 12:2
Jesus purpose IS to ... "reign, til he hath put all enemies under his feet" -- as in 1 Corinthians 15:25
Jesus purpose WILL BE to ... "judge the world in righteousness" -- as in Acts 17:31
Posted by: Bill | January 6, 2004 06:22 PM

I don't believe that Jesus' whole purpose was to die on the cross. Where I see his purpose is to show us how to have a more direct, more fulfuilling relationship with God and with each other.

I didn't care much for Warren's book. It felt wrong to me, but that's just my feeling about it.
Posted by: Mumcat37 | January 6, 2004 11:45 PM

The Purpose Driven Life and The Passion of The Christ are two of the ultimate Universal Ecumenical Evangelistic Campaigns to retrieve the Lost Sheep of The Roman Catholic faith, "Protestant Evangelicals" and "unbelievers", to unite under the prophesied ecumenical global religion that will ultimately unite with all faiths. Purpose driven is part of the Church Growth Movement for the Bible Iliterate and who are easily led by the dialectic process. Assimilation in process! Be forewarned beloved, test the semantics of words, doctrines, and movements. Or you too, will be assimilated.
Posted by: John Knee | March 24, 2004 02:37 PM

RICK WARREN IS A NEW AGE DOMINIONIST RECONSTRUCTIONIST


RICK WARREN TO BE SPEAKER AT CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR'S CONFERENCE WITH DALAI LAMA AND (HINDU) DEEPAK CHOPRA Maria Shriver is a New Age space cadet prone to quote Joseph Campbell and other One Worlders.

David Cloud on Rich Warren

News With Views on Warren's treason

Warren and the New Age

Chopra on Larry King-- Very revealing

Watch John MacArthur in the lion's den.
Warren has tied his wagon to Chopra and
the New Age, and you see here how viciously
they hate Jesus Christ.

_________________________

"The Purpose Driven Life" "A Modern Day "Golden Calf"

By Joseph Chambers

Paw Creek Ministries http://www.pawcreek.org/default.htm

Major Problems With Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life books:
1. Declares that there are many different pathways to a relationship with God. 2. States that circumstances help you become like Jesus more than the Word of God. 3. Uses totally false paraphrases of the Word of God. 4. Teaches contemplative religion, not experiential new birth salvation. 5. Totally compromises with godless music. 6. Reduces the church to a sociological club seeking status with the world. 7. It is "Robert Schullerism" at its worst. 8. The best description of this book is "Religious Humanism." 9. It is totally ecumenical in nature and has a powerful "Evangelical and Roman Catholic Together" basis. Nothing is more powerful to destroy than beautiful truths packaged in religious garb. It's the modern day "golden calf" lining the shelves of our "Christian" bookstores. The greatest battle raging in the present day church is "Robert Schullerism." We could call it "Norman Vincent Pealism" or "religious humanism." All of these names describe the positive thinking, Seeker/Sinner-friendly fads that are close to totally dominating the American church and spreading worldwide. Mix this religious fad with loud and soulish contemporary music, from rock to rap, and that is the musical style of these sinner-friendly churches; and it is appealing to the multitudes. The religious emotion of the unregenerate soul is almost exactly the same as a genuine spiritual emotion. The inner witness of the spiritual is certainly a world above these surface emotions. Then remember that the majority of the church world where this sinner-friendly fad with its loud and crazy music has been welcome was previously dead churches, where even amens were practically banned. This crowd was ready for anything better than the emptiness to which they were accustomed. It's quite strange to see churches that have rejected worship in "Spirit" and in "Truth" so quickly fall for something as shallow as these new trends. Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life books are nothing but Robert Schuller with a new face or Norman Vincent Peale with a good dose of emotions. It is clearly an effort to teach people how to be religious but utterly void of the great truth of a radical "New Birth" experience. Can you imagine telling Apostle Paul or Apostle Peter, "Tone it down boys," so you can make these sinners comfortable? Rick Warren or Bill Hybel would have said, "Come on, guys, don't you know that you are going to offend these religious Jews and pagan Gentiles, then you will never be able to reach them?" Satan is putting on the greatest show of religion ever seen since the dominant days of the Roman Catholic Church. That's the perfect picture of Rick Warren's new church model. It's the same religion with its show of piety and excitement that Israel induced Aaron and the religious leaders to produce for them while Moses was meeting with God on Mount Sinai. To read in Exodus of the genuine revelations of God that Israel had already experienced when they worshipped the golden calf is quite overwhelming. The revelations of God included the Passover Lamb, the death of the firstborn in every Egyptian family, the great miracle of the Red Sea passing, and the destruction of the greatest army on earth. Manna and quail from Heaven were followed by water out of a barren rock that satisfied a multitude. Moses had stood on top of a hill with the rod of God in his hand, while Israel, which was totally untrained in warfare and recently delivered from 400 years of slavery, utterly defeated Amalek and his trained army. God was revealed to Israel at this event as Jehovah-Nissi or "The Lord our Banner." How could such revelations of God be dismissed for a religious show as evidenced in the golden calf? The Bible tells us that everything that happened to Israel was an example to us. "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." (I Corinthians 10:11). Israel was corrupted by a "seeker/sinner-friendly" effort on Joshua's part. Look at the story. "And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables. And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them? And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf. And when Moses saw that the people were naked; Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men." (Exodus 32:15-28). The church world is bowing before a modern day "golden calf" because the way of God is too straight for them. Holiness has been declared legalism and out of touch with contemporary minds. It will end in the same judgment as this religion of the golden calf. The Author of Confusion: Many Translations Every great effort of Lucifer, the devil, has always questioned, "Thus saith the Lord." The author of confusion is departure from infallible truth. It's okay to have a little mixture of truth; in fact, that's always the best error. If a person is as eloquent as Rick Warren, they can weave a beautiful web full of incredible traps that obscure the most wonderful truths of Holy Scripture. Rick Warren brags about using fifteen different translations and paraphrases. One of the worst possible ways he does this is by actually calling the "Paraphrases" that he is using the "Word of God," when the truth is, they are only the paraphrasers' opinions. He never admits that these paraphrased renderings of Bible verses are totally someone's opinion. To call someone's paraphrased rendering "God's Word" without explanation cannot be considered anything but false. At best, a paraphrase has to be labeled as a commentary. We will deal with a number of faulty translations and paraphrases in this article. Rick Warren has little respect for the King James Version of Holy Scripture. In his early book, entitled The Purpose Driven Church, he states the following. "Read Scripture from a newer translation. With all the wonderful translations and paraphrases available today, there is no legitimate reason for complicating the Good News with four hundred-year-old English. Using the King James Version creates an unnecessary cultural barrier. Remember, when King James authorized the new translation it was because he wanted a contemporary version. I once saw an advertisement that claimed if King James were alive today, he'd be reading the New International Version! That's probably true. Charity is more important than poetry." (The Purpose Driven Church, by Rick Warren, p. 297.) The only person with whom the King James Bible would create a cultural barrier would be some wild-eyed liberal, homosexual, or radical feminist. Are we supposed to tiptoe around this group or confront them to hopefully bring conviction to their souls so they can be converted to Christ? This is the point at which they have so departed from truth that their whole idea can be called a "golden calf." Reading a number of translations and paraphrases provides a "Who's Who" list of modern theological liberalism and Roman Catholic mysticism. Let's look at a few passages to see how misrepresentative of truth they are. Here is a passage from Psalm 139:16 that Rick Warren quotes from the Living Bible, which is known to be a "lying paraphrase." His quote says, "You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your Book!" (Psalm 139:16, The Living Bible. As printed in The Purpose-Driven Life, by Rick Warren, p. 23.) Read the Hebrew Masoretic Text. David said, "My embryo saw Your eyes (Your eyes saw) and on Your book all of them were written; the days they were formed and not one among them." (Nothing was missing.) (Psalm 139:16, Interlinear Bible.) Now, look at the King James Version, "Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." (Psalm 139:16, King James Version.) Charles Spurgeon commented on this verse, "This verse is an exceedingly difficult one to translate, but we do not think that any of the proposed amendments are better than the rendering afforded us by the Authorized Version." (The Treasury of David, Vol. 3, p.263.) Of course, he lived before the Living Bible was published, but apparently the rewriters were already at work. Mr. Warren certainly shows us that rewriting the Word of God is okay with him. Another passage that shows how loose the author is with the Holy Bible is found in chapter eleven. He is dealing with an ambiguous title, "Becoming Best Friends With God." This chapter is filled with his mindset of mysticism. He quotes part of Ephesians 4:6 from the New Century Version, "He rules everything and is everywhere and is in everything." (Ephesians 4:6, New Century Version. As printed in The Purpose-Driven Life, by Rick Warren, p. 88.) This quote fully supports "pantheism" or the New Age idea that God is within or is the substance of His creation. You could fully expect this quote in a New Age book, which was written by any one of their authors. The true rendering of this verse is, "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:6, King James Version.) The Interlinear Bible renders it as saying, "One God and Father of all, the (One) above all, and through all, and in all you." (Ephesians 4:6, Interlinear Bible.) This chapter also deals with a Catholic concept, "Practicing the Presence of God." We will deal with that under a different heading. While this book is loaded with blasphemous corruptions of Scripture, I will deal with only one more. His very first quote in the text of this book gives us a clear indication of where he was headed. It would be hard to start a book on "Godly Living" with a more corrupted text. In this case, let me give you truth first. By the Holy Ghost, the Apostle Paul said, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Romans 8:6, King James Version.) What a statement by the Spirit to every one of us! But, Rick's God is different and less restrictive. The seeker is in charge of his life, so, the paraphrased edition, called "The Message," is quoted. "Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life." (Romans 8:6, The Message. As printed in The Purpose-Driven Life, by Rick Warren, p. 18.) There is absolutely no kinship between this text out of The Message paraphrase and the infallible Word of God. The original word-for-word translation in the Interlinear Bible is, "For the mind of the flesh (is) death; but the mind of the Sprit (is) life and peace." (Romans 8:6, Interlinear Bible.) The Bible calls this error by its proper name. Apostle Paul wrote to Corinth and declared, "But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." (II Corinthians 4:2.) This book, The Purpose Driven Life, is a gross mishandling of the Word of God and the end results will prove that fact beyond doubt. The church world will be more religious, but measurably less spiritual. Learn Your Purpose, But Do Your Own Thing The theme of this book is to discover the purpose of God, but the author quickly denounces the Lordship of Jesus Christ over your total lifestyle. It's absolutely normal for a "Seeker/Sinner-friendly" theology to break down at this point. No wonder the multitudes love it. Religion without Lordship surrender is the scourge of this generation. The whole book is a paradox, pitting truth against error with error winning. Listen to his words in the first chapter. "You may choose your career, your spouse, your hobbies, and many other parts of your life, but you don't get to choose your purpose." (The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren, p. 21.) This is not even close to a born again experience. He is either Lord of all or He is not Lord at all. This theme is repeated in the last chapter, as well as the first chapter. He clearly makes this idea a central point of his book. Notice how he emphasizes man's many options from which to choose. "You may wonder, 'What about God's will for my job or marriage or where I'm supposed to live or go to school?' Honestly, these are secondary issues in your life, and there may be multiple possibilities that would all be in God's will for you. What matters most is that you fulfill God's eternal purposes regardless of where you live or work or whom you marry. Those decisions should support your purposes. The Bible says, 'Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.' (Proverbs 19:21, New International Version.) Focus on God's purposes for your life, not your plans, since that's what will last forever." (The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren, p. 317.) How do you decide God's purpose in such confusion? Please notice a proper rendering of the verse he quoted, "There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand." (Proverbs 19:21, King James Version.) There is no similarity in these two verses. His quote from the New International Version appears to support his remarks, but the Holy Spirit in the proper rendering shows the folly of following one's own plans and will. When you are born again, the Holy Spirit takes over the reins of your total life. The Father has planned your companion, your career, your interest, and, yes, your total lifestyle. His plans for you are bigger, better, and more wonderful than your wildest dreams. For me to say less is to deceive you. The Spirit said, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:13-17.) The Children of Israel worshipped their own gold and silver that Aaron had taken from them to mold the golden calf. Rick Warren's book teaches that our generation can serve God in the same manner. He is basically saying, that as long as you worship Him, your life is your own for the choosing. There is no way to separate the purpose of your life and His will from the plans of your life. They are one and the same.
Mystical Meditation: Practicing the Presence of God Probably the most destructive idea constantly suggested in this book is the mystical form of devotion, worship, and prayer. Rather than an experience with God in the human spirit, Warren is teaching soulical religion. He actually warns against an experience and promotes reality only in the cognitive sense. Read this statement found in chapter eleven. "If you are seeking an experience of His presence through all of this, you have missed the point. We don't praise God to feel good, but to do good. Your goal is not a feeling, but a continual awareness of the reality that God is always present. That is the lifestyle of worship." (The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren, pp. 89-90.)
He goes straight from this statement to a heading entitled, "Through Continual Meditation." Please read this carefully. This book by Rick Warren is a picture of Contemplative Religion, not "Experimental Christianity." There is a world of difference. The Roman Catholic Church theology is built up on contemplative religion. The movers and shakers of the Catholic Church have always followed this erroneous style of devotion. This is the primary divide between salvation by the transforming blood of Jesus Christ and this form of mental devotion that leaves the worshipper free to chart the rest of their own life. This is why pedophilia and many other vices are common fare in the Catholic ranks and in any religion that forsakes a "transformed life." He promotes and quotes an ancient classic from a Catholic author, entitled Practicing the Presence of God. Here are his words; "The classic book on learning how to develop a constant conversation with God is Practicing the Presence of God. It was written in the seventeenth century by Brother Lawrence, a humble cook in a French monastery. Brother Lawrence was able to turn even the most commonplace and menial tasks, like preparing meals and washing dishes, into acts of praise and communion with God. The key to friendship with God, he said, is not changing what you do, but changing your attitude toward what you do. What you normally do for yourself you begin doing for God, whether it is eating, bathing, working, relaxing, or taking out the trash. Today we often feel we must "get away" from our daily routine in order to worship God, but that is only because we haven't learned to practice his presence all the time. Brother Lawrence found it easy to worship God through the common tasks of life; he didn't have to go away for special spiritual retreats." (The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren, pp. 88.) This idea sounds wonderful until you learn that the person that has experienced the presence of God does not need to practice His presence. When you have to practice His presence, you are opening the door of your life to all kinds of ideas and spirits. Many people who try this idea will be totally unconverted and will be guided by their own Adamic nature. The eleventh chapter should be in a Catholic book, not an evangelical one. He further states, "Meditation is often misunderstood as some difficult, mysterious ritual practiced by isolated monks and mystics. But meditation is simply focused thinking - a skill anyone can learn and use anywhere." (The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren, p. 90.) This entire chapter is ecumenical and just another step by the "Catholic" and "Protestant" crowd to unite us together. He states, "Benedictine monks use the hourly chimes of a clock to remind them to pause and pray." (The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren, p. 89.) Personally, I'm angered by this kind of subtle effort to destroy fundamental Christianity and to lead the evangelical church back to Rome.
Universalism: Headed Into The Abyss Rick Warren is clearly toying with universalism and many paths to God. This is the darkest part of his descent in liberalism. He glowingly quotes a New Age book by Gary Thomas, entitled Sacred Pathways. The subtitle is "Discover Your Soul's Path to God." There can be no acceptable excuse for the presence of this religious garbage. Look at this full two-paragraph quote from The Purpose Driven Life. "In his book, Sacred Pathways, Gary identifies nine of the ways people draw near to God: Naturalists are most inspired to love God out-of-doors, in natural settings. Sensates love God with their senses and appreciate beautiful worship services that involve their sight, taste, smell, and touch, not just their ears. Traditionalists draw closer to God through rituals, liturgies, symbols, and unchanging structures. Ascetics prefer to love God in solitude and simplicity. Activists love God through confronting evil, battling injustice, and working to make the world a better place. Caregivers love God by loving others and meeting their needs. Enthusiasts love God through celebrations. Contemplatives love through adoration. Intellectuals love God by studying with their minds. (Sacred Pathways, by Gary Thomas, pp. 22-29.) "There is no 'one-size-fits-all' approach to worship and friendship with God. One thing is certain: You don't bring glory to God by trying to be someone he never intended you to be. God wants you to be yourself. 'That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for; those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship.' (John 4:23, The Message.)" (The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren, p. 103.) Please note that second paragraph where Rick himself dares to suggest, "There is no 'one-size-fits-all' approach to worship and friendship with God." That's raw heresy. He further states, "God wants you to be yourself." Do you remember when Tammy Faye Bakker said, "I've got to be me!"? She is, but look at what the "me" is. This certainly fits the New Age psychological person and sells big time with the unregenerate masses. It will not end you anywhere but eternal hell. If the church world buys this, it are on its way to destruction in a hurry. Gary Thomas freely establishes where the inspiration for his book was derived. It came from a "spirit guide" named Philemon that gave it to Carl Jung, a noted humanistic psychologist. Here is the quote from Gary's book, "Carl Jung developed four profiles to describe human nature. (These profiles have been formulated by Isabel Briggs Myers in the popular Myers Briggs test.) First, we approach reality either as an extrovert, who is most at home in the social world, or as an introvert, who prefers to dwell in the inner world. Second, we register input as either a sensing person, using the five senses, or an intuitive person, using the imagination. Third, we organize and arrange date either as a thinking person, who uses logic and the intellect, or as a feeling person who arranges data according to how it affects people and relates to human values. Finally, we arrange our outer reality as either a judging person, who is orderly, controlling and managing, or a perceptive person, who is spontaneous and flexible. Combinations of these four profiles can create sixteen different personality types, and the Myers Briggs test is designed to separate these types." (Transcend, by Martin Kelsey, p. 122. As printed in Sacred Pathways, by Gary Thomas, p. 21.) The cover of Gary's book is a perfect picture (the title, subtitle, and artwork) of a New Age Publication. This kind of dark theological jargon is having an incredible impact upon once-great spiritual leaders and churches. The only way to God in salvation, worship, relationship or friendship is the Blood of Jesus Christ. No person can bring their sinful, unrepentant and self-guided self into the family of the born again. Speaking of the many personalities in the human family certainly help us understand one another, but to suggest our characteristics are our pathway to God is dark and dangerous. The body of Jesus Christ is one body, baptized unto that body by the transforming power of His Holy Spirit. The soul is the seat of the Adamic nature and that nature is hopelessly lost and totally incapable of redeeming itself. It must be renounced, forsaken, and blood washed or it is lost. The only religion it can produce is the equivalent of the golden calf that corrupted Israel and brought the quick judgment of God. Trashy Music in the Temple According to Warren, his church is known as "the flock that likes to rock." He says in his book, "There is no such thing as 'Christian' music; there are only Christian lyrics. It is the words that make a song sacred, not the tune. There are no spiritual tunes." (The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren, p. 66.) He further states, "God loves all kinds of music because he invented it all - fast and slow, loud and soft, old and new. You probably don't like it all, but God does! If it is offered to God in spirit and truth, it is an act of worship. Christians often disagree over the style of music used in worship, passionately defending their preferred style as the most biblical or God-honoring. But there is no biblical style!" (The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren, p. 67.) How can anyone claim that God invented all kinds of music? How do you prove that "God loves all kinds of music?" Do we have a Scripture verse showing God sitting on His throne while someone does a hard rock or a rap act with his or her music? Is Rick Warren so popular that he can make these kinds of claims without an ounce of proof to back it up? Something is profoundly wrong when we view much of today's music and then say, "God invented it, God loves it." We find incredible documentation of the multiple lives destroyed by today's music world. Something is horribly wrong with Rick Warren's methods for deciding truth. His commitment to his form of music was not determined by Biblical standards and he proudly admits that he told an audience in one of his seminars how they came to their choice. Warren made it clear that loud, raucous music with a driving beat is the kind of music to which Saddleback residents listened, inside and outside of the church. He said, "Now, at Saddleback Church, we are unapologetically contemporary... I passed out a three-by-five card to everybody in the church, and I said, 'You write down the call letters of the radio station you listen to.' I wasn't even asking unbelievers. I was asking the people in the church, 'What kind of music do you listen to?' When I got it back, I didn't have one person who said, 'I listen to organ music.' Not one. I didn't have a single person who said, 'I listen to huge choirs on the radio.' Not one. In fact, it was 96-97% adult contemporary, middle-of-the-road pop. It wasn't heavy metal rock, but it was something with a beat like you hear most commercials have today on television. So, we made a strategic decision that we are unapologetically a contemporary music church. And right after we made that decision and stopped trying to please everybody, Saddleback exploded with growth. Now, I'll be honest with you, we are loud. We are really, really loud on a weekend service.... I say, 'We're not gonna turn it down.' Now, the reason why is baby boomers want to feel the music, not just hear it. Now, I can give you two dozen really good churches within driving distance that are my friends, we're in small groups together, that don't have it as loud as us. Go there. Why should every church have the same music? ... People can find that God loves variety!" (Rick Warren, Speaking at a Purpose Driven Church Growth Strategy Seminar, January 1998.) Clearly the world made his choice for him. Give people the same music the world gives them and promise them Heaven as an extra and they'll love it and make you their hero. He does not stop there. He then attacks anyone that disagrees with him. Warren equated insisting upon the use of traditional music in the church to the sin of idolatry. He said, "You see folks, to insist that all good music came from Europe 200 years ago is thinly veiled racism, if you want to be truthful about it. It's cultural elitism saying that all the good music was written 200 years ago in Europe.... Now for 2,000 years, the Holy Spirit has used all kinds of music. And to insist that one particular style of music is more sacred than the other, there's a word for that. It's called idolatry. Idolatry." (Rick Warren, Speaking at a Purpose Driven Church Growth Strategy Seminar, January 1998.) That's pretty strong when those that loved the great hymns of the church are called "idolaters." It appears that he is calling the great tunes, like "At the Cross" and "How Great Thou Art," the "golden oldies" or the "blasts from the past." That is his description of the great songs of the church.
Conclusion This book is loaded with trouble for the church. When someone says that there are a lot of wonderful ideas and thoughts in his books, my answer is simple: poison usually comes mixed with a good taste. Concerning being "Transformed by Trouble," he states these words in chapter twenty-five, "In fact, He depends more on circumstances to make us like Jesus than He depends on our reading the Bible." (The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren, p. 193.) Those kinds of powerful "untruths" are laced throughout this book. He denigrates great biblical truths on the anvil of his "Seeker/Sinner-friendly" style of church. A modern day golden calf is the best biblical description I can imagine for this work of Rick Warren. Apostle Paul described books like this with a stunning condemnation. He said, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who "hold" the truth in unrighteousness." (Romans 1:18, King James Version.) Notice the word, "hold." It means "restrain" or "hold back" or "rob the people of truth." Rick Warren is robbing his readers of the "pure" Word of God. Beware!

EXCEPTIONAL VIDEO PRESENTATION ON RICK WARREN

End of video

RICK WARREN LEAGUES UP WITH A HINDU SEX PERVERT

THIS VIDEO IS DYNAMITE AND SHOWS HOW RICK WARREN IS INTENTIONALLY TRYING TO DESTROY HISTORIC CHRISTIANITY

WATCH THE UNGODLY MOCK BECAUSE OF WARREN'S FOLLY

EXHAUSTIVE EXPOSURE OF WICK WARREN

LINKS:

MEET RICK WARREN'S BED FELLOWS
LIKE JOEL OSTEEN, WICK WARREN IS OVER POWERED BY THE DEVIL IN OPRAH
RODNEY HOWARD BROWN RENOVATED AND CHURCH GROWTH
Rick Warren answers the Davos Question
Video at right: Watch Warren grab the
whole wicked world and dignify
them for "good" works....>
RICK WARREN IS AN EAGER PROMOTER
OF THE EMERGING CHURCH MOVEMENT
RICK WARREN TO SPEAK AT
MUSLIM CONVENTION
NEW AGE CONNECTIONS AND
SEDUCTION DISCUSSED
Part One
Part Two
SHOOTING CRAPS WITH THE HOLY GHOST
Make the prophecy of a sweeping world revival, and if anything close to it happens,
you can claim the credit for being the prophet up front who had the inside information.
THIS ALL STARTED WITH PETER WAGNER OF FULLER CEMETERY
MASSIVE LIST OF ARTICLES EXPOSING THE ARMINIAN SIDE OF
CHURCH GROWTH FRENZY AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS HERESIES
THE EVENGELICAL ATTRACTION TO MYSTICISM
CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUAL FORMATION / EMERGENT
The noting with Richard Foster and Rick Warren is that the Truth is emerging now.
This is the same rubbish as Kierkegaard promoted when he said the truth becomes
real when I experience it. It is pure existentialism, and the Word, and God, and Jesus
Christ, and the Holy Ghost all wait with bated breath to see if you and I will get the
message. BLASPHEMY!
We have no such Hindu god in the Glory. His Truth, in the Word of God, will be the
same eternal Truth is was from eternity past, when Richard Foster was pooping his
diaper, and in the future when Richard Foster is screaming in hell for water. Selah.
Inauguration Prayer by Rick Warren:

RICHARD FOSTER AND THE BE STILL DVD
Finally, and this is very important, there are false teachers who are clearly not Christians and there are those who either are Christians or profess that they are. If a pastor or teacher teaches false teaching, they are not immediately labelled or marked as false teachers....we all make mistakes. It is only if they refuse correction, and ONLY after a second warning do you have the right to call them a false teacher. Peter promoted some false teachings, but would not be considered a false teacher because he repented. Richard Foster has been warned at least twice and still refuses to repent, so any Christian is perfectly within their rights to label or mark him as a false teacher and warn anyone considering his books or any church considering inviting him to speak. Here is the Biblical authority for you to take this action: "A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself." Titus 3:10-11 MORE
NICE PEOPLE PLAYING NICE LAODICEAN CHURCH
THE BLUSTER, THE BOMBAST, AND THE BULL-- Feely feely religion
Note the new speak. It is designed to appeal to your lust for self and ego.
THE NEW AGE AND ITS INVASION OF CHRISTENDOM
THE MARRIAGE OF THE POLITICAL LEFT TO EMERGENT CHURCH
"WHEN THE TIDE IS LOW, EVERY SHRIMP HAS ITS OWN PUDDLE"
If you believe there is a Beast counterfeit of Christ coming, and a Whore Church to worship him,
then the Emergent Church is the time of pregnancy. The Emergent Church will join all world religions
soon to accomplish what Pope John Paul II never dreamed of in his prayer meeting at Assisi. As the
nurse says in OB, "we have dilation starting."
PAUL PROCTOR FOLLOW UP ON THIS TOPIC
PAUL PROCTOR ON THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIE
HOW THE PURPOSE DRIVEN MESSAGE DAMNED A SOUL TO HELL
EVANGELICAL WARM PUPPIES
FUNDAMENTAL EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION ARTICLE
RICK WARREN'S PLAN USED IN MANY CATHOLIC CHURCHES
MYSTIC SOURCE OF WARREN'S BLASPHEMY
RICK WARREN'S BLASPHEMOUS USE OF THE WORD OF GOD
SADDLEBACK EMERGENT PROFANE-HOLY MISTURE IN "WORSHIP"
THE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT ASPECT OF MANIPULATING THE SAINTS' SOULS
THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT AND POWERFUL BLAST AT "PURPOSE DRIVEN CHEESE"
NEW AGE IMPLICATIONS OF PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH