Rick Warren critics over OBAMA told to leave the church...

TownHall ^ | 12.14.2006 | Kevin McCullough

[jodiluvshoes]

Members of the congregation at Saddleback Church, the church led by Rick Warren, are evidently being ushered right out of membership for voicing any concern over the idea of Barack Obama being allowed to speak at the church recently.

I received a lengthy letter from a member of Saddleback this morning that confirmed as much:

[hinckley buzzard]

American Mega Church Christianity probably wouldn't be TOO happy if the REAL Jesus showed up on a Sunday morning with a bull whip

My impression exactly. When this is all over and his fifteen minutes of fame expires, Rick Warren might be well advised to look into Christianity instead of whatever it is that he is doing now.

[jonrick46]

Rick Warren is quickly approaching the descriptive title of a cult leader. For an in depth look at him go to this link:

http://www.inplainsite.org/html/rick_warren_new_age.html

[Wuli]

Thanks for the knowledgable answer.

There were two points in the text at the link:

"For Delphi to work, it is critical that the targeted group be kept away from knowledgeable people who could lead them away from the Delphier's pre-determined outcome."

And,

"It requires well-trained professionals, known as "facilitators" or "change agents," who deliberately escalate tension among group members, pitting one faction against another to make a preordained viewpoint appear "sensible," while making opposing views appear ridiculous."

It sounds to me like US journalism schools have been educating our journalists on how to be good practictioners of The Delphi Technique.

[Coldwater Creek]

In So. Baptist churches, when a person that is a member of one church wishes to "move" their membership, the new church is notified if there has been problems with the former member. This is not a new practice.

[Joe Boucher]

Or denominational church and cult.

[twonie]

Should be able to hear the sound of them drums right about now.

[twonie]

At the risk of losing everything here - AMEN, BROTHER.

[TommyDale]

Liberal Democrats have been using this technique for years.

[My2Cents]

they don't even mention the name of Jesus in the sermons, for fear of offending some of the new people.

Same with the pastor at our former church. I once plotted the references, and it turned out that he'd actually mention Jesus in some substantive way about once every six weeks. Most of the time, his sermons were about how to be better neighbors, better spouses, better parents, and the like. A whole lot of "obligation" and performance standards dumped on us, without the key to actually performing -- the indwelling Spirit of Christ.

[The Brush]

I discussed Obama's meeting with a friend of mine who attends Saddleback. She agreed that Obama's advice, (more condom's are needed in Africa) was worthless without someone to put one on them.
Her argument against Obama's view of abortion was that our government shouldn't be involved in people's lives. I then asked why it's okay for our government to be involved in the sex lives of the people of Africa.
I'm still waiting for her response.
As for Rick Warren, he's no Nathan.

[wideawake]

FR kicked them out because they were obnoxious, bigoted idiots.

Not very difficult to fathom.

[wideawake]

That reflects pretty poorly on the SBC.

[TXBubba]

We had the same experience as My2cents and it wasn't a Baptist church but a Lutheran one. Egos are not denominational distinct.

[ArrogantBustard]

Not quite. Delphi was developed by RAND as a technological forecasting tool; it is (properly) a method of anonymously collecting the opinions of various experts, then allowing them to defend or revise their opinions, in a series of iterations, without personalities interfering in the process. It can, properly, be used to arrive at a consensus OR to identify multiple possible outcomes.

It is abused, as you say, by folks who wish to drive a meeting to a predetermined conclusion.

[My2Cents]

Egos are not denominational distinct.

Sin is pretty universal.

[TXBubba]

In So. Baptist churches, when a person that is a member of one church wishes to "move" their membership, the new church is notified if there has been problems with the former member. This is not a new practice.

Fascinating. I was a So.Baptist church secretary at one time. Never even heard of this. But then again, I don't remember having any "problems" move. That could be why.

[TXBubba]

Yes it is.

[My2Cents]

I'm reading a book which mentione that in street markets in Africa, condoms are used to bag purchases.

[Coldwater Creek]

I'm just saying that if there was a problem with a member, it is usually commented on when a request for their letter is granted.

Common but rare practice.

[Muzzle_em]

I certainly don't attend church nearly as often as I should, but I DO believe in the power of prayer! I've seen it work SO MANY times!

That pastor was an idiot! I hear so many stories like the ones here. Sad.