The Purpose Driven Life... Again‏

Hello Friends!

Rick Warren recently announced a ten year anniversary update of his mega-popular book The Purpose Driven Life. Warren says that a whole new generation now needs this new and latest update in which he declares the “single most important ingredient” in the growth of his church is not the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ or Biblical discipleship but “the power of the annual campaign”...

The Purpose Driven Life - Again…

So where did Mr. Warren learn the power of the campaign? Rick Warren in his own words declare that he learned the importance of the campaign strategy from… The Communists!

Perhaps to Rick Warren, his own endeavors hold more power and influence than the Word of God. The words of Rick Warren seem to indicate that he is reliant upon pragmatic, self-concocted schemes to fill the seats of Saddleback Church. True Christians however, know that Jesus Christ declared in Matthew 16:18 that He would build His church. Such growth – whether large or small by man's standards – is achieved through the preaching of the Word, the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now this is not shocking because I believe Rick Warren – much like his friend, mentor, business guru and modern-management pioneer, the late Peter Drucker – embraces communitarianism which can best be described as a toxic mix of Capitalism & Socialism. This philosophy has also been described by Warren and Drucker as the three legged stool strategy of big government, big business & big churches working together as equal partners for a social justice/social gospel agenda. The unbiblical model of Rick Warren’s church growth movement contrasts the Biblical description of a New Testament church. Interestingly, if one would further study the history and foundation of Communism itself, one would find its roots can be traced back to the Church of Rome via the Jesuit Order (Society of Jesus) pioneered by Ignatius Loyola in 1540 in which was created to destroy the Protestant Reformation.

From a theological perspective, The Purpose Driven Life fails in many key doctrines which are often altogether ignored, explained incompletely, or discussed without adequate scriptural support. The Gospel, for example, is presented without mention of repentance, the reason Jesus Christ died on the cross, or the eternal consequences of sin. Instead, the reader is simply asked to:

 "…whisper the prayer that will change your eternity: 'Jesus, I believe in you and I receive you'" (p. 58)

Warren continues:

"If you sincerely meant that prayer, congratulations! Welcome to the family of God" (p. 59)

His definition of the "Good News" later in the book goes no deeper – emphasizing the benefits of grace without explaining man's desperate condition or God's command to repent (see pp. 294-95). You will look long and hard in this book to find the Biblical Gospel. How could one ever live a purpose driven life if we didn't know how to get into the kingdom of God or how to be saved from our sins?

Over the next few months, there is little doubt that this revamped version of PDL will make its way into the hands of many professing Christians. Then, with the start of 2013, a myriad of churches will join with Saddleback in this latest annual campaign, which will be based upon the 10^th anniversary edition of the book. While many may read it and find what they believe to be their "God-given purpose" – without repentance and faith in Christ – this "purpose" will be worked toward to no avail. It is the Word of God and the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit that truly transforms lives. Not a book of man and certainly not a book that fails to clearly articulate the saving truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek – Romans 1:16

The Purpose Driven Church books and many of its programs are published by Rupert Murdoch, who owns 175 newspapers worldwide and a large percentage of the television and communications industry. He also owns several magazines, some of which have been classified as pornographic. Many folks are unaware of the fact that Mr. Murdoch also purchased Christian publisher Zondervan which recently merged with Thomas Nelson, resulting in the two largest Christian publishers being co-opted under this anti-Christian organization. Billions of dollars pour into the Purpose Driven Church movement. Don’t be fooled by the Saddleback Website. You can’t catch many fish unless you have look-alike bait!

Are you ready to explain to your pastor and church leadership the unbiblical philosophies and agenda of Rick Warren? If not, you better get up to speed because Warren is working to enlist thousands of more pastors and churches into his next PDL 40 day campaign…

We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late!  If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!


If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com

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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><

 

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