Chillin’ With False Teachers – Another View
A popular and prolific Reformed blogger recently tweeted these words to his followers:
Enjoyed spending a few minutes chilling with @rickwarren. Topics included his great love for Jonathan Edwards. http://yfrog.com/0l1e2gj
His tweets from Saddleback caused a stir among his readers because he has written articles negatively critiquing some aspects of Rick Warren’s teachings in the past. Everyone who saw the tweets knew that a post-Saddleback post was coming, and of course, it was. Praise was heaped upon the blogger in the comment section for his humility, self-assessment of his earlier critiques and his kind and generous treatment of Rick Warren. So kind and generous was his treatment of Mr. Warren, however, that other commenters took issue. As Dr. MacArthur has been pointing out in his latest sermon series, there is a time when being nice, using soft and gentle language and looking for good traits in a false teacher so as to be evenhanded is actually sinful. It is this issue that I want to address in regard to Mr. Warren.
Rick Warren has been on a PR campaign to win over his critics for some time now. A year ago, I and other writers who have been exposing the man-centered false teachings of Rick Warren and his rejection of biblical evangelism (going to synagogues and mosques to tell them how to use Purpose-Driven methods to grow) were personally invited on an all-expenses paid trip to Saddleback to meet with Warren. Apparently, the thinking was that if we could just meet Rick, encounter his magnetic and winning personality, be impressed with his fabulous church campus and personal importance, we would tone down our rhetoric and cease to be critics. I personally turned down the invitation. A man who has sold as many books as Rick Warren, features his sermons online and who has been virtually omnipresent in Christian and secular media in the last few years does not need to explain his teachings in person. I am not interested in Rick Warren’s personality, charm or expensive facilities. I do not object to the man on personal grounds. I object to Rick Warren based on what he has taught and written, because it does not line up with Scripture. This is essential to understand.
Rick Warren’s defenders, like the Reformed blogger in question, like to protray Warren critics as having a personal axe to grind with the Purpose-Driven author and as being harsh, unfair and unloving. We are painted as portraying Rick Warren as some sort of red-caped fiend, permanently surrounded by a sulfurous cloud, demonic laughter coming out of his mouth. What nonsense. Of course, Rick Warren is a congenial, friendly guy who is no doubt charming to be next to at a dinner gathering. He would make a great golf partner, host at a BBQ and, no doubt, would be the life of any party. He is likely compassionate, a good neighbor and he would stop to help you if you had a flat tire on a lonely highway. Then again, I could say the same for my Mormon neighbor, or the Hindu family that lives down the street, or the Unitarians up the block.
The people I have worked with over the years in exposing Purpose-Driven’s false teachings have not been interested in Rick’s personality. They have consistently addressed Rick’s teachings, line by line. These are men such as Pastor Bob DeWaay, who has not only met with Rick personally, but has taken his teachings and held them up to the light of Scripture in his excellent book, Redefining Christianity: Understanding the Purpose-Driven Movement, or Joseph Farah, a newsman who has corresponded with Rick Warren over his outrageous role as apologist for Syria and North Korea, or Chris Rosebrough who sat in a room at Saddleback with Rick Warren and personally discussed the specifics of Warren’s false teachings. DeWaay, Farah and Rosebrough were not interested in Rick’s personality. They focused on his teachings.
Warren, after these meetings, is unchanged. He recently addressed a Muslim convention and never once preached Christ crucified. He instead invited the followers of Allah to embark on a joint campaign with Christians to solve the world’s social ills. Warren continues to advise non-Christian religious groups how to grow their cause using his own Purpose-Driven methodology.
While the Reformed blogger prides himself on being able to hand bouquets to Mr. Warren despite their disagreements on certain issues, the tragic spiritual reality remains. I have heard for years from Purpose-Driven refugees whose churches have been destroyed by the teachings of Rick Warren. There are spiritual victims who limp off into the night, wondering what in the world happened to the churches they have loved and supported for years. No one has done greater damage to the true Gospel in the American evangelical church than Rick Warren with his man-centered teachings and emphasis on works, churches driven by entertainment to please the unregenerate and draw large crowds, his abandonment of biblical evangelism in favor of a social gospel, his de-emphasis on sound doctrine, and his participation with international political organizations who openly work for inter-spiritual apostasy.
There is a time to use soft and winsome ways with those who differ with us. In dealing with the unsaved, this should be our starting point. Dealing with the false teachers such as Rick Warren is not one of those times. The Reformed blogger in question clearly values his reputation as nice, thoughtful and non-controversial. Let him win his accolades and laurels in the comment section, and let him “chill with @Rick Warren.” Let those of us who love the Savior and the Gospel more than our reputations, however, remember the lost souls at the Muslim convention being encouraged to join hands with Rick Warren to solve poverty. Rick Warren never shared Christ with them. He never told them that all the good works in the world will not save them from an eternal hell. He never told them that they are worshiping a false god. Such a pastor as this must be warned about in plain speech that will risk getting us labeled as “harsh” and “unloving.” We won’t be thought of as “thoughtful” or “nice.” But as we warn, we will be in good company.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
–Acts 20:28-31
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Thanks again Ingrid for your insightful post .Unfortunately , in many places today ,the false gospel of niceness has replaced the eternal gospel of truth and power . Thank God for those who are willing to be unpopular in order to be faithfull
Sister I agree with you on your accessment of Rick Warren. He is a false prophet. He uses the word of God for financial gain. He reminds me in the of Jude of the apostates who are twice condemned. Thank you for your stand for the Lord.
You guys have the same opinion of Relevant Rick that I have. I get boos and sneers from people at my church when I point this out but RW is no preacher of the word of God. He teaches another gospel, in my opinion. He had boiled things down and left out some very important details to the point that his message is not THE message.
I have heard him speak a few times on TV and he said nothing to amount to anything. Sort of like hearing a politician skirt the real issue so as to not alienate anyone. When I read his books or his posts I am even more concerned. His image seems to be his drawing card. Someone told me that his success is proof of his calling. I say, what success? He fills a stadium and sells book by communicating a false message. That is not success or a calling.
I really hate what the circus-driven church concept has done to the true to life Bible preaching churches. They believe they are not successful because they are not full each week. I use the following analogy: A man standing on a street corner giving away cocaine would have thousands of people stop and take his product but a man stand on the street corner preaching the gospel would have few if any stop and take the message. Does that mean the preacher is unsuccessful and the cocaine distributor is successful?
We have to get back to the Bible so we will know what we are supposed to be doing. We are not hear to make friends with the world but to allow God to use us to rescue the world.
http://www.truthinator.wordpress.com
I live in NW Georgia and there is a Southern Baptist church on every corner. I'm aware of only a couple of these churches that have not sold their souls to the 40 Years Of Purpose corporation. Most of my friends and family are active members of two of these churches. Over the last ten years I have attempted many times to meet with the pastors of these two churches. I pleaded with them to read what Gods word clearly states concerning the whole “seeker-friendly” lie. I reminded them of their accountability as shepherds. I reminded them that, as a beliver in Christ, I am required to expose this heresy. I've never gotten a response and was told by one of the pastor's secretary that several believers had tried without success to reason with him. It took Rick Warrens love affair with B. Hussein Obama to make these two churches stop their snuggle-up relationship with Ricky. They “took a stand” by changing the home page of their web sites (both of their web sites had proudly displayed “We are a Purpose Driven church based on the teachings of Rick Warrens The Purpose Driven Life book”). My PD zombie friends and loved ones talk about how they've “gotten away from the Purpose Driven chuch thing” because Rick Warren has gotten involved in politics. They equate changing their motto with renouncing demonic activity in their churches. One of these churches actually has a real airplane hanging in the “sanctuary” for some kind of holy circus theme. They are also wrapping up a full length “Facing The Giants” type movie that is sure to be an even better seeker-friendly draw to one of their three church locatio…campuses. The devil has convinced these “pastors” that there's safety in numbers. I really think that in the backs of their minds they they think they'll be able to blame Rick Warren on that Great and Horrible Day. “But Lord, didn't you see how many people showed up at our annual Fun Day to get their faces painted and to play on the inflatables?”.
You guys have the same opinion of Relevant Rick that I have. I get boos and sneers from people at my church when I point this out but RW is no preacher of the word of God. He teaches another gospel, in my opinion. He has boiled things down and left out some very important details to the point that his message is not THE message.
I have heard him speak a few times on TV and he said nothing to amount to anything. Sort of like hearing a politician skirt the real issue so as to not alienate anyone. When I read his books or his posts I am even more concerned. His image seems to be his drawing card. Someone told me that his success is proof of his calling. I say, what success? He fills a stadium and sells books by communicating a false message. That is not success or a calling.
I really hate what the circus-driven church concept has done to the true-to-life Bible preaching churches. They believe they are not successful because they are not full each week. I use the following analogy: A man standing on a street corner giving away cocaine would have thousands of people stop and take his product but a man standing on the street corner preaching the gospel would have few if any stop and take the message. Does that mean the preacher is unsuccessful and the cocaine distributor is successful?
We have to get back to the Bible so we will know what we are supposed to be doing. We are not here to make friends with the world but to allow God to use us to rescue the world.
http://www.truthinator.wordpress.com
I live in NW Georgia and there is a Southern Baptist church on every corner. I'm aware of only a couple of these churches that have not sold their souls to the 40 Years Of Purpose corporation. Most of my friends and family are active members of two of these churches. Over the last ten years I have attempted many times to meet with the pastors of these two churches. I pleaded with them to read what Gods word clearly states concerning the whole “seeker-friendly” lie. I reminded them of their accountability as shepherds. I reminded them that, as a beliver in Christ, I am required to expose this heresy. I've never gotten a response and was told by one of the pastor's secretary that several believers had tried without success to reason with him. It took Rick Warrens love affair with B. Hussein Obama to make these two churches stop their snuggle-up relationship with Ricky. They “took a stand” by changing the home page of their web sites (both of their web sites had proudly displayed “We are a Purpose Driven church based on the teachings of Rick Warrens The Purpose Driven Life book”). My PD zombie friends and loved ones talk about how they've “gotten away from the Purpose Driven chuch thing” because Rick Warren has gotten involved in politics. They equate changing their motto with renouncing demonic activity in their churches. One of these churches actually has a real airplane hanging in the “sanctuary” for some kind of holy circus theme. They are also wrapping up a full length “Facing The Giants” type movie that is sure to be an even better seeker-friendly draw to one of their three church locatio…campuses. The devil has convinced these “pastors” that there's safety in numbers. I really think that in the backs of their minds they they think they'll be able to blame Rick Warren on that Great and Horrible Day. “But Lord, didn't you see how many people showed up at our annual Fun Day to get their faces painted and to play on the inflatables?”.