Worldview Matters with Brannon Howse
On today's radio program:
Topic: Are Christians that oppose the emergent church, Rick Warren, Joel Osteen and others being unloving and unchrist like? What is the price of unity? Can we get along and go along with those that are contrary to Biblical truth? Are we required to call someone before we publicly talk about what they have publicly written and said?
Listen here and be sure to pass it on.
From Christian Research Network
With Rick Warren's compromised ecumenicism in the news the current sorry state of the postevangelical and emerging church in America is obvious to those who have eyes to see. It truly is as Washer, a missionary himself who trains other misionaries as well, says in this audio clip with visuals:
We have the loss of the Gospel in America today. And it has influenced the way we do church, it has influenced the way we do absolutely everything--and it has influenced the way we do missions. Everything now is about strategy; everything now is about cultural sensitivity.
Well let me tell you this--you do not have to be culturally sensitive if you're Biblically accurate. You should be more worried about being sensitive to God than carnal men. And what's being done today; we're trying to make a gospel that will not contradict culture...
Ecumenical News International reports on the growing unity between Protestants & Rome:
For the first time, a general secretary of the World Council of Churches has taken part with a pope in a Rome service to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which ended last week, recalling the centenary of this initiative born in the United States in 1908.
Underlining that "the world needs a church that is one and united in its witness," Kobia referred to the unrest in his home country which has led to more than 800 deaths. "The common witness of the churches for reconciliation and healing of the nation is crucial for peace in Kenya," the WCC general secretary stated.
On this side of the Atlantic, Rick Warren has been spreading the same message over the last week "the future of the world is not secularism, it's religious pluralism" and the recurring verses found in The Global Hymnal
And let's not forget the fear factor that instills the sense of urgency to compromise Biblical Truth: Global Crisis Requires Global Spiritual Unity for Global Good.
Bible believing Christians have been marginalized and dis-membered by the hand of purpose-driven pastors across the country.
No doubt that is a sign of things to come on a global scale.
See also Rick Warren Calling for Reconciliation Between Religion and Politics fro Lighthouse Trails Research
Christian Worldview Network's Brannon Howse and guest Ingrid Schlueter of Crosstalk and Slice of Laodicea.com:
PLURALISM GOING MAINSTREAM...
Rick Warren goes to the National Cathedral and declares that "the future of the world is not secularism, it's religious pluralism." Warren is also calling for mainline churches and evangelicals to come back together.
Can you say ecumenicalism or one-world religion?
Listen Online Now
See related article: Singing Out of The Global Hymnal , Warren Solos Out of The Global Hymnal,
Spreading The Global Religion
Pastor-teacher Ken Silva at Apprising Ministries continues to connect the dots between the Seeker Sensitive , Emerging , Roman Catholicism and the Coming Dominion Of The Global Family...
...Dominion theology is at the rotten root of the centered-on-self seeker sensitive Ecumenical Church of Deceit. From Brian McLaren to Rick Warren, the common thread is the question of how the church should respond to global problems. Both men seem to be in lock step with the United Nations as they appear to represent the ecumenical "faith sector", driven by dominion theology.
Read how the Word of Faith movement and Robert Schuller intertwine in this bitter root at Apprising Ministries.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in Heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’” (Matthew 7:21-23, NASB)
The following posts are from Slice of Laodicea.com:
Watch Rick Warren’s Appearance at National Cathedral
You can watch Rick Warren speak at National Cathedral this past Sunday at the church website. Note that he used the “New Reformation” theme. That would be the reformation where doctrine no longer matters, where those who worship the goddess Sophia or Isis, practice Buddhism or have Hindu inclinations on the side can link arms with Southern Baptists like Rick Warren because after all, they both believe there’s a “Jesus”. Rick Warren was also the “preacher” at the pantheon for their 11:15 service on Sunday. In May, the openly homosexual radical, Dr. Peter Gomes of Harvard Memorial Church, will preach from the same pulpit.
National Cathedral: New Age Pantheon
Yesterday, Rick Warren smugly sat with the dean of Washington’s National Cathedral, calling for reconciliation between mainline churches and evangelicals. Here is some further information on National Cathedral and what it spiritually offers. It is a pantheon (temple to the gods) dedicated to world religions. Here you can see pictures of women at a Sacred Circle Conference (feminist theology, goddess theology, Wiccan elements) dancing and participating in the huge labyrinth.
Rick Warren Wants to “Reconcile” With This?
In light of Rick Warren’s call to reconcile evangelicals with mainline churches, (see post below) I thought it would be helpful to go over some of the spiritual issues at stake here. Decide for yourself exactly what is behind Mr. Warren’s interest in uniting these apostate churches with evangelicalism. Here is Berit Kjos’ article from 2003 about the occult New Age spirituality of leaders in the episcopal church such as Bishop Swing. The following is footnoted documentation of the involvement of episcopal leaders in the United Religions Initiative (URI) which calls for a one world religion. These are the churches Rick Warren is asking all of us to join hands with. This is critical reading.
Rick Warren: Evangelical and Mainline Churches Need to Reconcile
All of you who thought that the divinity of Christ, the Virgin birth, the penal substitutionary atonement, the literal resurrection of Jesus, and the inerrancy and authority of Scripture are worth dying for are apparently wrong. The Christian Post reports that Rick Warren is calling on evangelicals to reconcile with mainline churches to stop the mainline churches from dying. Let me repeat that line: Rick Warren is calling on evangelicals to reconcile with mainline churches to stop the mainline churches from dying. Wow.
Rick Warren throws his weight behind ONE VOTE which is an advocacy group of "Americans of all beliefs and every walk of life - united as ONE - to help make poverty history. We are a campaign of over 2.4 million people and growing from all 50 states and over 100 of America's most well-known and respected non-profit, advocacy and humanitarian organizations. "
Editor's note: Do you see the trend? Rick Warren's statements from the World Economic Forum and this video have a recurring theme:
Listen to Southern Baptist Pastor Rick Warren describe Fundamentalist Christians as "those that stopped listening....it is an attitude that doesn't want to listen to anybody else." Listen carefully as the Inerrant Word of God is skillfully mocked as Rick Warren chuckles...
Listen to Pastor Rick describe how God "gets enjoyment out of watching you be you..."
From the Davos World Economic Forum, Rick Warren describes how private, government and faith sectors (Drucker's 3-legged stool) can tackle the global giants of poverty, AIDS, corruption illiteracy, disease, and spiritual emptiness. Rick Warren use the word THEM to describe the people of faith.
But who are the "WE" in Warren's comments? Plainly, the "WE" consists of the global movers and shakers of the World Economic Forum. Warren also tells the audience of his membership on the Council on Foreign Relations. Could the "WE" Warren refers to in this video clip refer to the global elite with whom he associates?
Here's the highlights of the clip below..
What WE need to do here at Davos (World Economic Forum), WE WE need to work on a three legged stool...WE haven't solved these problems before because WE have to have the public, private and faith sectors to solve these things.
Frankly, I don't care why you do good as long as you do good. You may have a political, profit, or personal motivation to do something now about the problems of the world.
Christian Research Network
From Herescope blog:
…Two evangelical leaders, Rick Warren and Brian McLaren, who recently signed the common faith agreement Loving God and Neighbor Together, which called for Christian and Islamic leaders to work together, showed up in Davos, Switzerland, this week at the World Economic Forum.
This is quite significant. Davos featured a "West-Islamic World Dialogue" with a "Council of 100 Leaders (C-100) Promoting dialogue and cooperation between the Western and Islamic worlds." According to one report, the purpose of the C-100 is sustain "In-depth Dialogue and Discourse" and leverage "Global Cooperative Action"
See related articles:
The Golden Rule Twisted
Singing Out of The Global Hymnal
McLaren to Speak at World Economic Forum
By BRENDAN McKENNA / The Dallas Morning News
WASHINGTON –
Evangelical voters are almost always identified with two issues: abortion and marriage. But some see a growing evangelical movement that advocates on a broader range of issues such as reducing poverty and improving public education, according to an online poll of Beliefnet readers released by the spiritual Web site.
Panel moderator Jim Wallis, the founder and editor-in-chief of Sojourners magazine, said there’s a "new face today of what it means to be evangelical," with activists translating the lessons of Scripture into addressing issues such as AIDS in Africa and global warming. And he says that the people of faith who engage those issues could spark a "great awakening" of a movement for social justice issues.
Read the rest here.
See related posts:
MSNBC Looks at Emerging Politics
Tony Campolo: The Marxist Delusion and a Christian Evangelist
Evangelical Leaders Reiterate Call for Two-State Solution
A brief survey of the Political-Ecumenical Landscape...
The United Religions joins a rapidly growing community of interfaith organizations. Leaders and practioners are putting their faith into action for global good. Interfaith is a way to organize, a way to connect, commit and create community among people from different faith traditions. Its practioners are diverse and approaches to actualizing interfaith range from gathering World Leaders to mobilizing grassroots communities.
“If the nations of the world are working together for peace through the UN, then where are the religions of the world? From this inspiration, a vision took shape to create an organization whereby people of diverse faiths and from all sectors of society would cooperate for peace and justice for all."
Pope Benedict XVI seems to speak the same language ... dialogue, community, peace, social justice. Both seem to be willing to embrace any religion that acknowledges a greater universal spiritualism for the benefit of mankind. The Vatican also participates in the United Nations in the form of a Permanent Observer.
Robert Schuller's Rethink Conference
Robert Schuller once said: "Standing before a crowd of devout Muslims with the Grand Mufti, I know that we're all doing God's work together. Standing on the edge of a new millennium, we're laboring hand in hand to repair the breach." He made that statement in his 2001 biography, My Journey (p. 501 ), and today he has taken a giant step forward in seeing his dream of an all all-inclusive spiritual body come true. What's more, Christian leaders and organizations are helping to bring it to pass.Q: What is your greatest hope for all this? A: A second Reformation. The first one was about belief. This one will be about deeds. It is about what the church should be doing in the world....
"...we will lay all this out for our people. Purpose. Community. World."
From Red Letter Christian notable Tony Campolo"...we want to unite Christians who are concerned about what is happening in America. We are evangelicals who are troubled by what is happening to poor people in America; who are disturbed over environmental policies that are contributing to global warming" "...in the hour of suffering there is a commonality. And that's where we meet. It's in mystical spirituality and in communal mutuality that's where we come together... In a mystical relationship with God, there is a coming together of people where theology is left behind and in this spirituality they found a commonality... if we are looking for common ground, can we find it in mystical spirituality, even if we cannot theologically agree, Can we pray together in such a way that we connect with a God that transcends our theological differences?"
From the Red Letter Christians website: Campolo states "Our mission is to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world."
The New Baptist Covenant: Featuring Dr. Tony Campolo, Former President Jimmy Carter Former President Bill Clinton, Former Vice President Al Gore. Representatives of these Baptist organizations have reaffirmed traditional Baptist values, including sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and its implications for public and private morality, as well as fulfill the biblical mandate to promote peace with justice, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, care for the sick and the marginalized, and promote religious liberty and respect for religious diversity. President Carter is hoping to demonstrate Baptist unity through social causes such as poverty and AIDS.
The NBC Special Interest Sessions include: Can We All Get Along? Finding Common Ground with Other Faiths, Engaging the Criminal Justice System, Breaking Cycles of Poverty, Peacemaking: Warfare exists in communities and countries. How can churches and people be forces for peace in our world? The HIV/AIDS Pandemic, Faith and Public Policy
Brian McLaren's book Everything Must Change- Jesus, Global Crisis and a Revolution of Hope: 'Everything Must Change' is a manifesto...the best way that I could condense and describe McLaren's ideas is that he has created a hybrid of Theism and Neo-Utopian Marxism. McLaren's 'new religion' is globally pragmatic and re-imagines Jesus' life and message so that they can be applied to solving the Earth's most pressing problems (as identified by the United Nations). In order to do this, McLaren completely retools the Biblical message and Jesus' life in particular in terms of social, political and economic struggles and injustices.
From McLaren's Deep Shift Conference website: Deep Shift was created to provide spiritual guidance for organizations. We work with leaders, inviting them to discover where the gifts of their people and God’s purposes in the world meet. Deep Shift provides support as leaders make their own personal deep shift and guide their organizations through the transition and transformation necessary to ignite the loving energy of people to work for the good of the world. As guides, we provide coaching, consulting, and resources for people leading in deep shift — faith community and church leaders, nonprofit leaders, ethical business leaders and others.
From Emergent Leader Scot McNight: To be missional means to embrace a holistic gospel – it is for the whole person (heart, soul, mind, and strength), for the whole society (politics, economy, culture, environment), and for the whole world......the community emphasis is a community that seeks to blend with the local community into a harmonious effort to realize the ideals of the Kingdom of God....a local church community of faith incarnating the kingdom vision of Jesus in its local community for the good of the world.
Editor's Note: The focus of the global religion is the physical good of the world and mankind...not truth, sin, salvation or judgement. It seems the world is just one global crisis away from uniting under a One World Religious System.
See related post The Global Peace Plan for a Global People , The CFR, The Social Gospel, & The Peace Plan , Purpose Driven Peace Plan & The Vatican sending the same message ?
Apprising Ministries would like you to know that Roger Oakland of Understanding the Times files a personal report on his trip to the Rethink Conference. This event was put on by Robert Schuller, a major figure in the Church Growth Movement which has severely retarded the advance of the genuine Gospel of Jesus Christ, along with cultural architect Erwin McManus of the emerging church.
McManus, like Schuller, is also a human potential advocate; their flawed view of the state of unregenerate mankind summed up in the following statement from Robert Schuller in his travesty of a book Self-Esteem: The New Reformation:
The core of original sin, then is LOT—Lack of Trust. Or, it could be considered an innate inability to adequately value ourselves. Label it a “negative self-image,” but do not say that the central core of the human soul is wickedness. If this were so, then truly, the human being is totally depraved. But positive Christianity does not hold to human depravity, but to human inability (67).
Oakland begins his commentary on Rethink by telling us:
...the opening day of Rethink: new perspectives from global influences provided ample evidence to evaluate the significance of the event. For nearly two thousand years, most professing Christians have seen the Bible as the foundation for the Christian faith. The overall view at the Rethink Conference, however, is that Christianity, as we have known it, has run its course and must be replaced.
Co-hosted by Erwin McManus and Robert Schuller, the conference declared that a paradigm shift is now underway. Speakers insisted that Christianity must be re-thought and re-invented if the name of Jesus Christ is going to survive here on planet earth now that we are in the twenty-first century.
See the rest at Apprising Ministries.
From Calvary Prophecy Page
Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton said on Tuesday that there was a near zero chance of the US attacking Iran during President Bush's term.
"It's close to zero percent chance that the Bush Administration will authorize military action against Iran before leaving office," he said. "It seems that for the next few years the United States will be a bystander to the process," Bolton said. Haaretz
This statement by Mr. Bolton does not surprise me in the least. In fact, as prophecy watchers, it should have been anticipated.
Although the US is an ally, if Israel does attack Iran, don't look for them to have Israel's back, especially after Russia's declaration that they were ready and willing to use nuclear weapons in the event of a preemptive strike on them or one of their allies.
Read the rest here
On this program you will hear discussion about ministry becoming industry, how human knowledge is in conflict with God's Word, the doctrinal vacuum of evangelicalism that's pointing back to medieval mysticism, and more.
"Purpose Driven" author Rick Warren has disseminated teachings that need to come under biblical scrutiny. As pastors are placed in a position of serious responsibility, it is critical that they protect their flocks by evaluating Warren's teachings in light of God's Word.
Here's a snaphot of the global quake activity as of 4:00 PM EST Tuesday, January 22, 2008.
Significant pattern of shaking on all sides of The Pacific Ring of Fire.
(Image credit: Google Earth & Widget)
From Christian Research Network
For The Author examines the global interfaith movement where tolerance is the by-word regarding all religions as equal and having the same God. This excellent two-part series reveals the efforts of the Roman Catholic Church to synthesize interfaith dialogue. The Golden Rule image is a product of the RCC’s Scarborough Mission.
The Scarborough Mission promotes yoga and contemplative prayer. It also has developed a school curriculum which is available from the United Nations. The Scarborough Missions Golden Rule poster is now on permanent display at the United Nations headquarters in New York City.
Read more of how the Scars borough Mission’s poster is emerging as the coat-of-arms for the international interfaith movement.
See The Golden rule Twisted, Part II here. Read Part III here.
See related posts A Sign Of Things To Come Bishop: CCT Is Part of Interim Process in Uniting All in One Faith Hundreds to Mark 50 Years of Christian Unity, Discuss Future of Ecumenism
See more articles regarding the global ecumenical vortex.
Moral values, much like today's evangelicalism, continue to shift due to a technology-driven reimagining and rethinking of life. In this case, the technology may rewrite the Book of Genesis...In the begining, Man created Man...
January 20, 2008 is National Sanctity of Human Life Day. President Bush issued a proclamation where he states:Leon Kass, former chair of the President’s Council on Bioethics addressed Duke University's School of Law regarding the dangers of human cloning:
"With repeated references to Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World — a 1932 novel that portrays a future humanity descending into soulless mediocrity through genetic manipulation and other applications of biological sciences — Kass offered a scorching indictment of all efforts to clone human beings. In a speech titled “Preventing a Brave New World: Why We Should Ban Human Cloning,” Kass advocated for both national and international regulations to prevent such cloning."In 1997, Kass addressed The National Bioethics Advisory Commission regarding human cloning:
"...What we have here is not business as usual, to be fretted about for a while but finally to be given our seal of approval, not least because it appears to be inevitable. Rise to the occasion, address the subject in all its profundity, and advise as if the future of our humanity may hang in the balance."Only time will tell what kind of hell will be unleashed for breaching the God-ordained barriers between species, and the human genome.
R.C. Sproul and Albert Mohler expose the error of the Seeker-Sensitive pulpit:
"...It's a strategy of unbelief. The 'minister' wants to grow his church, the 'minister' wants to see success, and so he's looking for all these programs and all these techniques to get people to come in... But he never goes over the bridge and gets to the Word. If you want a power in your Church, be an expository preacher; preach the Word because that's where the Spirit is. Isn't that God's strategy? If we believe God's strategy, we're going to preach the Word...
- R.C. Sproul
Imagine if Jonah went to Nineveh sharing a purpose-driven or seeker-sensitive gospel message. Would the message be the same as the one recorded in Jonah Chapter 3? Would Nineveh repent of their wickedness...from the crowds to the king?
Pastor - teacher Jamey Day of Grace Fellowship unfolds God's message delivered by Jonah to the Ninevites. Inside this account of God's sovereignty and mercy, His message is delivered boldly by Jonah, only after Jonah's rebellion against God is dealt with in the belly of the great fish. Jonah goes to Ninevah with his personal experience of God's mercy, and sovereignty, bringing God's message boldly as a man sent by God. The greatest theme of this account is:
Pastor Day comments as to why there is a current trend to emphasis relationship building with the community at large and tone down, soften the Gospel:
Jonah wasn't about to alter God's message for the sake of the felt needs of the hearers in Nineveh. He knew God's willingness to judge, and he experienced God's willingness to be merciful. Jonah's experience produced bold obedience to the command of God to go and preach to Nineveh only eight words:
"Yet forty days Nineveh shall be overthrown."
Would your pastor have the boldness and courage to deliver such a message to your congregation, let alone a city of wickedness?
Listen to Pastor Day's message here, God's Recipe for True Revival.From Christian Research Network:
Rick Warren twists the Book of Nehemiah to coach his network of PDL pastors in this CP article How to Handle Opposition by Rick Warren Christian Post Guest Columnist
You can’t have opportunity without opposition. One of the great tests of leadership is how you handle opposition. Do you panic under pressure? Do you get uptight, lose your temper, blow up, become discouraged, or give up? Part of the job description of leadership is dealing with people who oppose you and your vision for the church.Rick Warren conveniently did not discuss the real playbook he promotes on how to handle opposition, Transitioning: Leading Your Church through Change, by Dan Southerland.
To find out how to handle opposition, we’re going to look at Nehemiah 4. You probably remember the story. Nehemiah had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall around the city – a very big project for his team of Jewish exiles! And it didn’t take long for Nehemiah to start getting opposition. People were ridiculing him and his vision.
THE NEW WORLD DISORDER
7-year plan aligns U.S. with Europe's economy
Rules, regs to be integrated without congressional review
By Jerome R. Corsi© 2008 WorldNetDaily.com
Six U.S. senators and 49 House members are advisers for a group working toward a Transatlantic Common Market between the U.S. and the European Union by 2015.
The Transatlantic Policy Network – a non-governmental organization headquartered in Washington and Brussels – is advised by the bi-partisan congressional TPN policy group, chaired by Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah.
The plan – currently being implemented by the Bush administration with the formation of the Transatlantic Economic Council in April 2007 – appears to be following a plan written in 1939 by a world-government advocate who sought to create a Transatlantic Union as an international governing body.
Read the rest here at WorldNet Daily. See more on the globalization effort & the North American Union
Prophecy unfolding as we speak... The Sanhedrin which hasn't existed for 1600 years calls on President Bush as The Chief Prince of Meshech and Tubal ( Ezekiel 38:2 ) to choose the path Cyrus chose, who in the year 538 BCE returned the exiled nations to their lands and recognized the full right of the Jewish people to reestablish their Holy Temple, the "house of prayer for all nations" (Isaiah 56:7), and called upon them to return to their land.
Iran seems to respond by planning on submerging the tomb of King Cyrus (Coresh), the Persian King known for authorizing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Holy Temple.
Megillat Bush - The Bush Scroll: The Jewish Nation's Response to President George W. Bush on the Eve of His Visit to the Holy Land
The following document, written and signed by the New Jewish Congress, The Sanhedrin, and The Holy Temple and Temple Mount Movements was presented to President George W. Bush.
This historic document, known as "Megillat Bush - The Bush Scroll" states unequivocally the stand of the Jewish nation concerning the indivisible integrity of the Land of Israel, a stand which has remained unchanged throughout four thousand years of history and two thousand years of exile. The document addresses President Bush as The Chief Prince of Meshech and Tubal from Ezekiel 38.
Comments from Jack Kelly:
Students of prophecy have speculated for generations as to the identity of Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. But I don't believe there's ever been a time when Hebrew scholars of such distinction have so publicly and obviously done so. I don't know if they believe that Mr. Bush is just one of several leaders who will fulfill the prophecy of Gog, or if he's the one and only. If it's the latter then they appear to be saying that unless he rejects the role, his vision of peace will materialize and the stage will be set for the Battle of Ezekiel 38....
Ezekiel 38:2-8 "Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, `Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. "I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords...
Snapshot of quake events for Thursday, January 10, 2007. (credit: Google Earth / NASA / Widget)
Noteworthy are the quakes in the U.S., Europe and Greenland.
The Bible is full of prophecy relating to the end times. If we believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, then we must believe that the signs of the times are pointing toward the imminent return of Jesus. Why then do so many who profess to be Christians seem so complacent about preaching the Gospel?
In this episode, Roger Oakland delivers a convicting message straight from the heart of the Holy Spirit. To subscribe to Roger's daily messages via Podcast, visit Understanding The Times.
Paul Washer and another famous pastor (Joel Osteen) talk about their opposing views when it comes to the depravity of man.
Where has the Gospel gone in America?
Audio from The Way of the Master Radio. Paul Washer from Heart Cry Missionary Society.
Listen to more messages from Paul Washer at Sermon Audio.com
Danny W. from Revival...It's Personal highlights the following comment from Pastor Chris Humphreys regarding Warren's Mulligan Theory of the Atonement: A False Gospel? at the Extreme Theology blog...
Below is an exerpt from a comment made about RW and his PDL product. Chris Humphreys has a unique knowledge of RW. Much of the correspondence was very nasty, very un-Christlike, but I found this posting to be from a knowledgeable person on many levels... concise and precise...
I hardly ever go to blogs, simply because I don't have the time. I am a pastor of a relatively new church, one that tries to be a Bible-Driven church, plus I do retailing/merchandising work during the week. I went to seminary with Rick Warren; we graduated the same time. I am sure I had elective missions classes with him...
When I left for my first pastorate, a new church start in Michigan, it iswhen Rick and his wife went to California. In Ohio, I came across a paper Rick wrote called C.A.M.E.O., Contemporary Approaches to Minisry, Evangelism and Organization. This was like the foundational philosophical approach to Rick's ministry which has taken shape in his Purpose-Driven materials.
I was fully immersed in the church growth movement. I went to all the conferences,and I read all the books. I heard Hybels, Warren, Maxwell and others inperson. I ate it all up. . .until in 1992, after 11 years in the ministry, I began to read the Bible exhaustively. It probably is a good idea for pastors to read the Word from time to time! I came to see when I laid my CGM notes side by side with the Bible, that there was very little Scripture used and what was used was greatly twisted out of its context. God opened my eyes to see God's sovereign grace in Scripture.
I am making a very long story short,which is hard for a preacher to do. Everything fell into place. Truth decay causes church cavities. You sow poor theology and you reap bad methodology. Rick (and Richard Abanes) is the prime example of a man who really thinks he is doing the right thing, but is clueless about what good theology consists of, and how vitally important it is to everything we do as handlers of God's Word. Charles Spurgeon faced a downgrade in his day, and today we face another. Warren, Osteen, and Hybels are loved by this world. That is why they get all the media attention. It seems I recall Someone in the Bible saying something to the effect that "woe to you when the world speaks well of you. . ."
-Pastor Chris Humphreys
Shouldn't Evangelicals and Catholics share the same pew in unity? Pastor Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries takes a hard look at ecumenism...
Surveying the rising ecumenical spirit found in much of the American Christian Church and its love affair with man-centered church growth methods, there is much reason for concern that the Protestant reforms of evangelicalism are not so subtly being undermined in order to find stronger fellowship with the Roman Catholic Church. But is this drift towards apostate Roman Catholicism the solution to true Biblical unity or is it rather a very dangerous compromise?
In this generation all of us who will are truly following the Lord are going to be brought face to face with a couple of very crucial issues. There are vital issues that certainly are of prime importance as we begin to share the true Gospel of Jesus Christ within a society that is literally drowning itself in a sea of relativism and misguided tolerance. Not necessarily in order of importance—the first one being the idea of “unity” in the Body of Christ.
Read the rest here at Apprising Ministries
Extreme Theology presents an excellent expose' on Rick Warren's Christmas Sermon, broadcasted by Fox News...
"...his sermon barely mentioned sin and the entire context of what we need a savior for. Instead of giving us the Biblical context of sin and the gospel proclamation of a savior being born to us Warren, like a used car salesman, listed out 3 benefits that people could receive by accepting God's "Christmas Present" to them. (Warren and his apologists call this approach the 'Positive Gospel'). Here were the promised benefits.
1. Presence - You lose your loneliness
2. Pardon - Jesus gives you a Mulligan, a 'do-over'
3. Purpose - You find out who you are (discover your purpose)
Warren says that God wants to give us a 'second chance', a do-over and a Mulligan. Is this the Biblical Gospel? Is the 'good news' of the New Testament the proclamation that Jesus is offering you and me an opportunity for a 'do-over'? Before you answer, consider the implications of this 'gospel' very carefully..."
Visit Extreme Theology to watch a video clip of Warren's "Mulligan", and listen to The Mike Corley Program for more discussion on Warren's country club religion.
