One Man's Story of The Blessed Subtraction

Mike Ratliff of Possessing The Treasure writes of his personal experience regarding the Purpose Driven takeover of his church:

"We left our old church because the leadership there was in about step 2 or 3 of their Purpose Driven Church implementation. For several weeks our pastor sermons were all about his new “vision” for the church. In April he gave the deacon body the Purpose Drive Church book to read. I didn’t read it..."

"I was asked by our old pastor to give an account of how we should implement the PDC model. I did a lot of research and put together a 7 page document that laid out the theological fallacies and outright heretical aspects of its approach to doing church. I prayed a lot about giving it to my pastor..."

"We went to church the next morning and found that they had dissolved my class. We worshipped then left and went home after “church” that day. I could feel the eyes of the pastor boring into me as we walked out the front door. That was the last time either of us have been in that building."

Editor's note:
Dennis Costella of Foundations Magazine reported from a Purpose Driven Conference at Saddleback:

"What does Warren say regarding those in the church who oppose the switch from conservative to contemporary in order to bring in the crowds? He stated in no uncertain terms that the old stalwarts would have to go..."

"Be willing to let people leave the church. And I told you earlier the fact that people are gonna leave the church no matter what you do. But when you define the vision, you're choosing who leaves. You say, "But Rick, yes, they're the pillars of the church." Now, you know what pillars are. Pillars are people who hold things up ... And in your church, you may have to have some blessed subtractions before you have any real additions."-Rick Warren

Read more of what Purpose Driven simply calls " Blessed subtractions".