I don't think the following testimonies from his website support your contentions at all:
I must say it has turned my life completely around. I no longer suffer the fear of my future, I am relearning again the priceless importance of living and walking daily with Christ in accordance with His will. I still am not employed but have the confidence that the Lord will soon work this out and lead me to the next position He has for me. Most importantly He has restored the desire within my heart to remain close to Him, find a means of service in the church and to share with others the incredible love, patience and comfort only He can provide. I thank God for the wonderful insight He has given you in writing this "Purpose Driven Life" 40 day study book, and pray that it will continue to bless others and be used for regular review by all of us.
May God continue to bless your ministry!!”
Don Gihring
“I just wanted to say what a fantastic book this is! I have been struggling with my faith for the best part of a year, feeling uninspired and full of doubts and guilt. The Purpose Driven Life has given me fresh start and a new challenge. Thank you for your wisdom and encouragement - and free resources too.”
Tracey, York. UK
You also sound like you sit in pretty stern, narrow, rigid judgment about their discipling and prep for baptism:
In the past seven years, more than 9,200 new believers have been baptized at Saddleback. The church has also started 34 daughter churches, and sent over 4,000 of its members on mission projects around the world.
I ALSO HAVE FOUND PERSONALLY, that your stance and focus has typically been problematic in my walk with God over 57 years. Believe me, I've had NO shortage of hell-fire-and brimstone preaching. Growing up, one more or less thought and felt that if Jesus returned while one was frowning without having a chance to repent, one went to hell ZIP.
I not in Jesus' teachings, HE HIMSELF WAS IN YOUR STANCE TOWARD THE PHARISEES, RANK HYPOCRITES. HE WAS NOT IN THAT STANCE TYPICALLY, MUCH AT ALL, TOWARD SEEKERS. Toward seekers, he was winsome, inviting, loving, gentle. He didn't mince words on occasion. But much more typically, HE HIMSELF was inviting toward seekers.
And, in reading Rick Warren's materials, I just do not find that your attitude and stance fits the reality of those materials or their application.
He is serious about infecting people with Jesus and Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit is VERY SUFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE toward leading people into all truth; exposing sin; etc.
BUT I HAVE BEEN FINDING INCREASINGLY IN RECENT YEARS, THAT FOCUSING ON GOD'S LOVE FOR ME; LEARNING TO FALL MORE DEVOTEDLY IN LOVE WITH JESUS IS INFINITELY MORE EFFECTIVE AT CAUSING SIN TO FALL BY THE WAYSIDE IN MY LIFE THAN THE SCHOOLMARMMY SORT OF FOCUS IT SEEMS YOU DEMAND OF PREACHERS AND CHRISTIANS, ALL. I tried that focus for most of my 57 years. It was not very effective.
The focus Rick Warren espouses is, to my sense and experience, MORE BIBLICAL AND MORE EFFECTIVE in dealing with the problem of sin in a Christian's life as well as in facilitating, fostering, causing more intimacy with God.
I think that's why I find your stance so askew from reality as I know it. And that's why I find your attitude askew from the Biblical standard in such matters.
His exhortations regarding Bible study sound plenty serious and Biblical to me:
In God's eyes, why you do something is far more important than what you do.
On one occasion God told Samuel, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV*) It is quite possible to do the right thing but with the wrong attitude.
This was Amaziah's problem, for “he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord but not wholeheartedly.” (2 Chronicles 25:2)
When you come to meet with God in the quiet time, you should have these proper attitudes:
1. Expectancy - Come before God with anticipation and eagerness. Expect to have a good time of fellowship with Him and receive a blessing from your time together. That was what David expected: "O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You." (Psalm 63:1)
2. Reverence - Don't rush into God's presence, but prepare your heart by being still before Him and letting the quietness clear away the thoughts of the world. Listen to the prophet Habakkuk: "The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him." (Habakkuk 2:20; see also Psalm 89:7) Coming into the presence of the Lord is not like going to a football game or some other form of entertainment.
3. Alertness - Get wide-awake first. Remember that you are meeting with the Creator, the Maker of heaven and earth, the Redeemer of men. Be thoroughly rested and alert. The best preparation for a quiet time in the morning begins the night before. Get to bed early so you will be in good shape to meet God in the morning; He deserves your full attention.
4. Willingness to obey - This attitude is crucial: you don't come to your quiet time to choose what you will do or not do, but with the purpose of doing anything and everything that God wants you to do. Jesus said, "If anyone chooses to do God’s will he will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own." (John 7:17) So come to meet the Lord having already chosen to do His will no matter what.
WHICH PART OF "WILLINGNESS TO OBEY" sounds mealy mouthed and wimpy to you?
Which part of: "This attitude is crucial: you don't come to your quiet time to choose what you will do or not do, but with the purpose of doing anything and everything that God wants you to do. Jesus said, "If anyone chooses to do God’s will he will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own."
SOUNDS WIMPY OR AVOIDANT OF THE SEARING SEARCHLIGHT OF HOLY SPIRIT, TO YOU????
Evidently you think that the pharisees and their stern, harsh stance were more effective at getting God into people's lives and sin out. I think the Biblical record indicates fiercely otherwise.
It is clear to me just from the materials on Warren's site where his heart is and where his application is. I have 0.00% trouble believing and trusting Holy Spirit to work powerfully through such a setup, structure, policy, attitude of ministry as I discern and read there.
I find your allegations and skepticism that people have been saved there to be extremely similar to the attitude of the pharisees in Jesus' dusty pathed days. You may not choose to rejoice with the angels over the thousands genuinely saved and discipled in that ministry, but I do.