Posted on 02/12/2005 6:49:09 PM PST by P-Marlowe
Excerpts from Rick Warren's
The Purpose-Drivenâ Life
What On Earth Am I Here For?
It's not about you. The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It's far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will not make sense.
Planned For God's Pleasure
Bringing pleasure to God is called "worship." It is the first and primary purpose of your life. The Bible says, "The Lord is pleased with those who worship him and trust his love."1 Anything you do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship.
Depending on your religious background, you probably need to expand your understanding of "worship." You may think of church services with singing, praying and listening to a sermon. Or you may think of ceremonies, candles and communion. Or you may think of healing, miracles, and ecstatic experiences. Worship can include these elements, but worship is far more than these expressions. Worship is a lifestyle.
Your spiritual family is even more important than your physical family because it will last forever. Our families on earth are wonderful gifts from God, but they are temporary and fragile, often broken by divorce, distance, growing old and inevitably, by death. On the other hand, our spiritual family -- our relationship to other believers -- will continue throughout eternity. It is a much stronger union, a more permanent bond, than blood relationships. On earth, it is called fellowship.
Often we act as if relationships are something to be squeezed into our schedule. We talk about finding time for our children, or making time for people in our lives. That gives the impression that relationships are just a part of our lives along with many other tasks. But God says relationships are what life is all about.
Biblical fellowship is being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ! God expects us to give our lives for each other. It is God's second purpose for your life.
Four of the Ten Commandments deal with our relationship to God while the other six deal with our relationship to each other. But all of them are about relationships! Later, Jesus summarized what matters most to God in two statements: love God and love people. After worship, learning to love others is the second purpose of your life.
Created to Become Like Christ
From the very beginning, God's plan has been to make you like his son, Jesus. This is your destiny, and the third purpose of your life. God announced this intention at creation: "Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image and likeness.'"2
God's ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ. Becoming like Christ does not mean losing your personality or becoming a mindless clone. God created your uniqueness, so he certainly doesn't want to destroy it. Christlikeness is all about transforming your character, not your personality.
--more--
Excerpts from The Purpose-Drivenâ Life/page two
Let me be absolutely clear - You will never become God, or even a god. That prideful lie is Satan's oldest temptation . . . This desire to be god shows up every time we try to control our circumstances, our future and people around us. But as creatures, we will never be the Creator. God doesn't want you to become a god, he wants you to become godly -- possessing his moral character.
God formed every creature on this planet with a special area of expertise. Some animals run, some hop, some swim, some burrow, and some fly. Each has a particular role to play, based on the way they were shaped by God. The same is true with humans. Each of us was uniquely designed, or "shaped,"to do certain things. You were shaped to serve God. Your service is called your "ministry"and it is the fourth purpose of your life.
Only you can be you. God designed each of us so there would be no duplication in the world. No one has the exact same mix of factors that make you unique. That means no one else on earth will ever be able to play the role God planned for you. If you don't make your unique contribution to the Body of Christ, it won't be made.
Serving is the opposite of our natural inclination. Most of the time we're more interested in "serve us"than service. Immature people say "I'm looking for a church that meets my needs and bless me,"not "I'm looking for a place to serve and be a blessing." We expect others to serve us, not vice versa. But as we mature in Christ, the focus of our lives should increasingly shift to living a life of service. What matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of it.
God is at work in the world, and he wants you to join him. This assignment is called your mission. God wants you to have both a ministry in the Body of Christ and a mission in the world. Your ministry is your service to believers, and your mission is your service to unbelievers.
The mission that Jesus had while on earth is now our mission since we are the Body of Christ. What he did in his physical body, we are to continue as his spiritual body, the church. What is that mission? Introducing people to God! The Bible says, "Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also."3
When you became a believer, you also became God's messenger. God wants to speak to the world through you. Paul said, "We speak the truth before God, as messengers of God."... Your Life Message has four parts to it: Your testimony: the story of how you began a relationship with Jesus; Your life lessons: the most important lessons God has taught you; Your godly passions: the issues God shaped that you care about most; The Good News: the message of salvation
1 Psalm 147:11 CEV
2 Genesis 1:26 NCV
3 2 Cor. 5:18 TEV
BTW has anyone actually read the book?
I've read it.
Another excellent book is 'Why You Can't Stay Silent" by Tom Minnery of Focus on the Family. It is about a Christian's responsibility to step out in faith to make a difference in the world, especially when it comes to confronting evil and corrupt government. He is not impressed, at all, with John MacArthur (sp?). Thinks he is too compliant when it comes to obeying government officials. Not a fan of Cal Thomas, either.
Oh yes. Rick was my pastor before I moved.
Also check out The Purpose Driven Church. It's excellent.
Yes, it's replacing the Bible in many progressive evangelical churches. In some churches, people call studying Rick Warren works "Bible study."
That's not good. Rick definitely never intended for his book to replace the Bible.
"Not a fan of Cal Thomas, either."
He's been annoying and disappointing, lately. I don't know anything about that book, but I had to chime in with that. I don't even remember what it was he said/wrote that annoyed me, but I was most annoyed.
"progressive"
Yep. Anything "progressive" seems to be loony.
I think that may be anecdotal hyperbole. Can you show me one congregation in the nation that has substituted Rick Warren's book for the Bible? Nearly every church has a web site. If what you said has any truth to it, then surely you can find one.
Read the intro to the book and you will see that indeed, he would like for it to at least be on the same level as the bible. He wants to you interact with the book, make it come alive, and such.. sigh
Well maybe that was hyperbole too. ;-)
We've heard that. We've also been called a cult. Usually by people who have never been to a Saddleback service.
I don't see that at all. Can you point me to the relevant paragraphs?
Really?
I don't have a copy. I've never read the book.
Could you be so good as to get your copy and then post exactly what Rick Warren said that led you to believe that?
So where do you go to church now? Do they even have Churches in Seattle?
I'm not talking about officially. I'm talking about excitement. In my own church even the Bible is often so weakly translated, like in The Message version or Living Bible, that it's lost its impact. And quotes from the Warren books begin to replace scripture in the bulletins. Christians used to be excited about their own discoveries in the Bible. Now, they rarely make discoveries in the Bible unless they are directed by a Christian expert or popular speaker.
Yes, there are a few, believe it or not. I read somewhere that Washington is the most unchurched state, and it shows.
We did find Grace Community Church in Auburn that we've been attending, but we're still not settled. (I guess Saddleback spoiled us.) Tomorrow we visit a new one in Tacoma. I can still access the Saddleback services on the internet, but there's no substitute for the fellowship of bricks and mortar.
Bringing pleasure to God is called "worship."
No where in Scripture is this a definition of "worship" - he bases this "prinicple" on a paraphrased version of the Bible called "The Message." I like Eugene Peterson, but his paraphrase distorts thr actual text constantly.
Additionally, his theology is about an inch deep. His formulaic prayer for salvation is "Jesus, I believe in you and receive you into my life." No mention of sin, repentance, redemption...
In his writing on the church, he advocates a dialectic approach: encourage unbelievers (anti-thesis) to move believers (thesis)to compromise on their "aboslutist" believes to change the Church (synthesis). Folks - that is just WRONG.
For a critique of Rick Warren's book/campaign see this link
When I get the chance I will read the book with an open mind. I find nothing posted in the excerts of the book I disagree with. I will note nothing can be substituted for the Word of God (The Bible).
Have you ever attended a Saddleback service?
And let me know how it goes. :-)
After viewing the website you linked, I will not be in any haste to search out the book. I still have my sword (Bible).
I looked at that one when I was doing my internet search. Vancouver's pretty far, but if I find myself down that way on a Sunday I'll check it out.
Thanks!
Please keep an open mind. Most of the people bashing Rick Warren have never even seen a Saddleback service.
It is clearly not a book designed for the "Theoologian Class", so I suspect that wannabe theologians might find it less than substantive. So what?
I think you're right on the money.
I confess to being slightly biased where Rick is concerned. He's the reason I came to Christ.
I love John MacArthur!
For a review from a Reformed perspective you can read here.
Way to go P-M, this thread should go on for a couple of days at least. Not bad for a Saturday evening preparation for Sunday. We are all going to bed having thought about the scriptures, and that is a good thing. Thanks.
Ha! Funny thing. I just bumped a really old thread on the subject hoping to gain interest.
I started reading the book a few days ago. So far, so good! It has got me thinking and spending more time with the Lord.
This is what happens when do-it-yourself-ministers don't rely on a Church and the wisdom of the ages filtered by all who came before them. This is in direct conflict of what Christ desired when He founded a Church via His apostles. He certainly didn't want loose cannons with bibles under their arms single handedly professing what they believe to be His doctrine.
If it's Similac, that's not half bad. Sometimes it turns out to be Strychnine.
When I thought of the success of Rick Warren’s church earlier today, I couldn’t help but think of how pertinent Revelation 3:17 was. Many dispensationalists believe that the Laodecean letter especially relates to today's modern evangelical church:
: -- Because you say I’m rich (ie successful); I have become wealthy, and need nothing, and you don’t know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
It is the small church with strong Bible exposition and reverence in worship that holds the guidon of past faithful congregations. I have been to Warren's church and was appalled.
Care to elaborate on which church with a capital "C" you have in mind? I don't believe our Calvinist friend would quite go so far as to renounce Reformed theology for a universal Church that would train pastors in sodomite seminaries.
It is one thing for it to be weak theologically...it is an entirely different thing for it to be wrong...and that is it's biggest failing. For instance, the first principle, RW defines "worship" as us giving God pleasure - that is NOT a generally accepted definition of worship!
If Rick Warren's church represents the Laodecean Church, then which of the 7 Churches does your church represent?
And how big is your church? And has it grown in the last 20 years?
No, why?
Is it untrue? Or just unconventional?
Did not God create us for his good pleasure? And does he not want us to worship him? Then doesn't it follow that if we worship him, it gives him pleasure?
A good summary description of worship is here
Not necessarily, but in the pop- ethos of the current age, likely. Just look at many of the popular Pentecostal churches prominently featured on TBN.
The growth in Saddleback seems to have rendered it a quasi-evangelical phenomenoh worth emulating in the minds of many. Hopefully, a discerning Biblically trained believer would visit before embracing this Laodecea..
Another poster mentioned the saccarine approach taken by Warren. That is it in a nutshell. Toss out the beloved hymns of the past, get everyone up and clapping to some rousing entertainers, install the teleprompter screens, water down the Bible expositon, and "presto" you've got a crowd.
No not really. Our stupid opinions (including mine) aren't really worth very much, whether your name is Warren, Calvin, AAABEST, Zechariah11, Frumanchu or Luther.
Such would be like relying on some ant crawling along the sidewalk to tell us how to build a space shuttle to explore the solar system.
The Word of God is infinite, we're at this moment earthbound sinners. Logic dictates that in such a circumstance you should choose the well you draw from carefully. It's a shame that the minds of singular impeachable philosophers have become the source of salvation for many.
Some here are prideful enough to believe that they can just pick up a bible and run with it, or worse minister to others with any true effect. As if Jesus died, handed His ministry to His twelve apostles, who then in turn gave His Church directly to the any ol' body who picks up "The Message" (or a host of other corrupt translations) at Barnes and Noble, bypassing twenty centuries and countless others who walked before him.
Neglecting 2,000 years of saints, martyrs, philosophers, wisemen, kings, theologians, monks, hermits, scribes and laymen to rely on any solo-doctrinarian is illogical, whether that person be one's self or another.
Christ didn't found a Church-of-One, He founded a Church. As with everything else He did, He did so for good reason.
If you are looking for good Bible exposition in that corrupt mess called the Catholic Church, you'll NEVER find it.
Just wondering. It seems that most of Rick's critics have never seen one of his services.
I attended there for several years and am still a member, so I have a better handle than many on what he's about.
It is none of my buisness what the next papal announcement is about. I won't offer an opinion about it. You see, I have enough sense to stay out of discussions which don't involve my chosen faith.
One of the dispensational views on the Seven Churches is that it is a rather general description of the Christian churches over the Church Age. It is imprecise and not descriptive of ALL churches during a particular era.
I would say that the church I attend has shortcomings as well. There could be a midweek prayer and Bible study for instance. Yet, on Sunday mornings, the worship is reverent and there is good expository teaching. I'd hope it would be categorized as somewhat like Philadelphia.
There is another poster on this thread who views the long-standing existence of the Catholic Church as ample reason to follow their example.
Neither growth nor tradition is how we should judge the value of a local church. Rather, we should judge it on the basis of the quality of teaching and worship.
Attendance and first hand experience does not make up for weakness in exegesis and writing. Particularly when he is telling people that they will be transformed by learning and following his principles. And those principles are just not supported. If what he says and does at Saddleback stayed at Saddleback - fine. But he is trying to export what he is doing there to the rest of the country. And those of us with experience in the same field finding his writing suspect, at best.
Sorry, but that is just the reality. Experience does not excuse poor teaching and scholarship. We are told to "rightly divide the Word of God" that we "need not be ashamed." I fear that Rick Warren has much to be ashamed of in his books and email newsletters that I have read.
A paraphrase is nothing more than a translation that includes some commentary. In that sense it is no different than expository preaching. If that is the best criticism you have of Warren's work, then I'd have to conclude that there is little to criticize.
Your criticisms of Warren are generalized and cliche'. I don't know the first thing about Warren, but the excerpts from his book certainly seem orthodox and true.
I posted this to see whether or not anyone could justify the criticisms that have been bandied about in regard to Warren, but so far all I've seen is rumor and innuendo in regard to his qualifications and his success.
The link that you posted criticized him not because his book was filled with errors, but because his theology was simple and that his thinking was not deep. But the book was not directed at seminary trained former pastors, but the simple minded and gentle hearted people who shop at the Wal Marts of the world where the book has seen its greatest success.
The pews of the world are not filled with theologians LK, they are filled with simple people most of whom would not know the difference between soteriology and eschatology if their life depended on it. They are looking for a clear and simple explanation of what it is that God expects of them and what they can do to grow closer to him.
From what SandyInSeattle says, it would seem that Mr. Warren's book fills a need that you don't have. But that doesn't mean that others don't have that need and it doesn't mean that Warren's book is useless in providing for it.
The fact is that most every Church has elements of Philadelphia and most every Church has elements of Laodecia. If Warren were teaching that homosexualism was OK with God or some of the other abominations that are being bandied about by the mainstream churches of this country, then I'd say his ministry should be roundly condemned. But he certainly should not be raked over the coals because he feeds his sheep too much milk. He has a lot of sheep to feed.
At 0113 I am not prepared to give examples. But, what you have said is not true. There are a number of examples, many cited in the works that I linked, that change the meaning of the cited Scriptures.
I acknowledge that the pews are not filled with theologians, but that is no excuse for those charged with the responsibility for teaching the Word of God to distort what it says to make a point. Oddly enough, the fact that the pews are not filled with theologians is the fault of the preachers and teachers who don't feel the need to teach the whole counsel of God. I dare say the people in the pews could not begin to handle the sermons of great preachers of the past like Charles Spurgeon, John Calvin, etc. We have so watered down the preaching today, and have become so self-centerd, focusing more on how can I survive this life, rather than looking towards heaven, that we have lost the depth in the pew that would never accept a book like Rick Warren's - and that is to the shame of the pastor/teachers who should know better.
Maybe at your church. But it is not universal. There are many large churches that fill the pews with people eager to learn the whole counsel of God. And many large Churches fill that need. Those churches tend to grow rapidly. You mention Charles Spurgeon. Spurgeon was the pastor of the largest congregation on England. You seem to have nothing but praise for him. I've read many of his sermons, and he was NOT an expository preacher. He did not extensively quote Bible verses and did not go through the whole bible one verse at a time. He used illustrations and his sermons were fairly "entertaining" for their day. Rick Warren may not be a Spurgeon, but, as the quotes above illustrate, he certainly isn't the Anti-Christ.
I view Cal Thomas as sort of a Bill Kristol lite.
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