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Reprinted from the Baltimore Christian Conservative Examiner
Rick Warren on July 4th spoke at the Islamic society of North America’s annual conference (ISNA.) Warren talked about Christians and Muslims working together to fight what he calls the big five, spiritual emptiness, corrupt leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic disease, and illiteracy or lack of education. This sounds good until you think about it for a second.
Even though everyone should want the best for themselves and their neighbors, there is something wrong with what Warren proposes. We should love our neighbors but Warren seems to have has his priorities all wrong. The Gospel is the first priority but your lifestyle should match your beliefs. By this, I mean Christians first and most important duty, as presented by Christ is to spread the Gospel. Jesus wanted us to take care of the poor but in Matthew 26 just before Judas aggress to betray him, Jesus admonished his followers saying, “you always have the poor but you will not always have me.” There are two important points here. While Jesus was telling them that he was their priority because he was leaving soon, I think he points out that He in general is our priority. I believe He is also pointing out that there will always be poor people and it is not something that will be eliminated in this current world. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t care for the poor but that a war on poverty is pointless.
In these five things Warren continually sets aside the Gospel truth. He wants to fight spiritual emptiness but what does that mean? Christ said He is the only way. If people are spiritual but don’t know Christ it is emptiness. Other religions might not agree with this but this is what makes Christianity different, it’s about a relationship with Christ not religiosity or spiritualness. Corrupt leadership, sure this is a bad thing and I think we should fight against it, but should this be a priority for a Christian leader. Did Jesus focus on fighting the corruption of Rome? Pandemic disease, I’m all for doing what we can to stop disease, including donating money. But this is best focused on by doctors and health organizations, not pastors. Illiteracy, again this is something that we as individuals can put our time into in our community and it is noble to help other organizations work to educate people so they can have a better life but I don’t see these things as a priority for a Christian minister.
Warren apologizes like Obama. Warren has apologized for the Crusades and for excess in the war on terror by Christians. First, Warren has no right to apologize for anyone but himself. Second, if Warren were a good student of history he would know that despite popular myth, the crusades were not a war on Muslims to win converts but the Crusaders took action to stop Islam from subjugating the Christian world. I’m sure wrongdoings were done by some crusaders but to give an general apology does not represent the truth.
One of the major problems is that Warren is not just willing to work with Muslims but he wants to partner with them. The Bible say we are not to be yoked together with unbelievers, I think this speaks to marriage but to other partnerships as well. Your Christian message will be watered down if you yoke yourselves with unbelievers. I am for cautiously allowing Muslims to work with Christian servant organizations, as long as they don’t preach Islam and are willing to help under the rules of the organization.
Warren stated “You know as an evangelical pastor, my deepest faith is in Jesus Christ, but you also need to know that I am committed not just to what I call the good news, but I am committed to the common good.” As a Christian pastor, Warren should realize that the only common good that counts in the end is salvation. It’s great and important to show love to others. Jesus said what you do to the least of my brothers you do to me. There is no point in doing good works for the sake of doing works though. It’s likes saying I’m committed to doing good works. It should be that you are committed to Christ and out of that, good works will flow. Also I know Warren is speaking cautiously as he is being sensitive to his audience but should he really say “what I call the good news” or should he simply say, the good news? As Christians, we believe that Jesus is the good news, not just to Christians but to the world.
“You know what I discovered is when you walk down the middle of the road you get hit coming and going,” This statement by Warren is one thing he said that I believe he should learn from. We are not called to walk down the middle of the road. We are called to take the narrow path. Jesus warned us to be hot or cold but not to be luke warm or he would spit us out of his mouth. We are to reach out to others but we should be careful not to compromise our beliefs.
Many well known Christians such as Warren and Bono and to some extent Bill Hybels are into publicly making a big deal about works and caring for others and while they’re underlying ideas are good and loving, we should be careful not to follow a gospel of social justice. The Good news is that Jesus died for us to be reconciled with the Father, while we were yet sinners. That should not be watered down with anything, no matter how nice it sounds.
Rick Warren said he is not interested in dialogue but projects. Dialogue is the most important thing because it is through dialogue that we share the truth of Christ. It is popular to say that you should spread the Gospel at all times and use words when necessary. I think our actions should speak to what we believe so that our words don’t ring hollow but dialogue is still important. If someone else said what Warren said, I would give them the benefit of the doubt. Warren however, said to the Muslim audience that he doesn’t want anyone to compromise their conviction. I think we should treat others with respect but knowing the truth how can a Christian pastor say to someone from another religion don’t compromise your conviction? How does that leave room to share the truth?
To me it just seems that everything Warren does and says seems to indicate that maybe Warren believes there are many ways to God. Jesus however said that He is the way, the truth and the life. Maybe Warren does not believe in many ways to God but his testimony of Jesus seems weekend by his actions in partnering with Muslims and fighting social issues as a priority.
A discussion has been started on this topic in the Frances and Friends Forum. Please feel free to comment here or join the discussion in the forum HERE
Uh huh…yeah. Sure. Whatever you say Ricky Boy…..
“It is an honor to have Pastor Warren with us today...and to hear his perspective on his healthcare work in …the state of our global community…and our responsibilities to one another.
Additionally, I hope—in the spirit of Dietrich Bonhoeffer…a spirit which challenge us to advance both ecumenism and social justice—that today’s lecture will help foster dialogue and discussion………”
Remarks by President John J. DeGioia ,Introduction of Dr. Rick Warren,Gaston Hall
Georgetown University February 4, 2008
Thank for this article and shedding light in the darkness. Some of other brothers and sisters are well meaning but they create Ishmaels as they conduct their work. They are enticed away and led by satan to slaughter Christianity. On the other hand, the Lord can use any of us to do something different than the usual because He may be working a solution out in a different levels than our understanding. Therefore, let us not say we know all the levels that God goes to resolve our issues. The Word is our Guide but the Holy Spirit is our bond and we are to trust Him to lead us even in strange settings. Look at the legacy of King David and how many Strategies of survival God gave to King David. King David survived and Paul survived because they followed God and not the usual Christian establishment which refuses to live deep spiritual lives. How then will you go out among the enemy and see what He is doing and let the Lord establish a better way for us if we do not go outside of the box. It is a dangerous world and Satan has already infected and corrupted many of us. Some of us are corrupt in our Holy Living. Therefore, let us wait on God. Pray for Brother Warren and see what God is doing with him among Islam. You never know How God will solve our problems. But we must engage the enemy. So God chooses and uses His children who are pioneers to go and do what Joshua did to claim new lands for Israel. I see this happening today more and more. God cannot use those who live at surface level and refuse to go deep. Apostle Wheeler
Wow as a Christian women who read Purpose Driven and how finding my purpose in life has changed my marriage and saved my life. I am not an expert on the bible but I understand the heart of Gods word. I am a servant who serves at my Church New Hope at Manoa. Being yoked is such a harsh word. Is Pastor Warren really working together with them to serve their purpose? Did anyone ask him? Sometimes we can take the phrase out of its context. What is in Rick Warrens heart? Do we know? I would pray for him. Remember Jesus also hanged out with the sinners. Jesus had a plan? Maybe Rick a has plan? Lets spread the Gospel and not the gossip. Look at Rick Warrens fruits and his work for God. His fruits speak for himself. I dont know him personally but the diserning spirit speaks to my heart and not my head. I love this man. I wish I could Thank him personally.
It's something to think that book can save one's life & marriage. Why did you have to buy that book, when God's word tell's you how to live & how to have a good marriage.That book did'nt save your life or marriage, only God & His Word can do that, not Rick Warren!
Why is it important to talk about this man? I least he is doing something positive.
I have wondered about Rick Warren and where he stands in his walk with the Lord. I cannot judge him, but he seems so liberal when I have heard him. Also, didn't he narrate one of the debates before Obama was voted in? I am glad you have that question above on Warren being yoked to Islam. I am so blessed to see your new format and also watched your Ministry on one of the Christian channels today. I have always loved Pastor Swaggerts teachings and Ministering. And, of course the blessed music as only he can sing! God bless you, Jeannie Voigts, Nevada
It appears Warren, as Paul mentions in scripture of our being "ignorant" (spiritual ignorance), lack's understanding of the Holy Scriptures and is in danger of Gods wrath. Hosea prophisies, "my people perish for lack of knowledge". It is clear to me that Warren is opperating under the law, which is a "work of the flesh", and there remains NO salvation for those who deliberately sin---in which I personally think he is doing---for he should know better to "yoke" himself together with unbelievers---espeacially the muslim faith who BELIEVE Christians are evil! We are no longer under LAW, but under GRACE! It's apparent Warren doesn't understnd the "Message Of The Cross", and for him & others, if the Cross is not understood soon enough will face a very Just & Jealous God! It is a Terrible thing to end up in the Hands of God and be on the wrong end of Salvation, which is Seperation!