true2yeshua
August 14th, 2007, 07:08 AM
Purpose Driven - Self-Help Book pop-psych
Warren's is a book written to provide his readers a method to know God. What possible motivation could a theologically trained pastor have for encouraging oaths, which are forbidden by God? Once one discovers he was an understudy of the pastor of the Crystal Cathedral a sudden clarity as to why emerges. Warren's teachings on practicing the presence of God and contemplative prayer are methodologies employed by desert monks and there is really nothing new under the sun, but Warren reshuffles each for a new approach to the same wide path which leads to destruction!
Christians are not to swear or commit to an oath. As Jesus taught, our yes is yes and our no is no. Anything further is from the devil; however, readers are encouraged to take an oath to complete Warren's 40-day program. In fact, there is even a contract, located at the beginning of the book, between the reader and Warren which the reader is directed to sign prior to beginning the quest through the book.
This review, denotes a few objections to Warren's teachings that are glaring contradictions to scripture, which should serve as warning to laypersons intent upon reading 40-Days of Purpose. The church who welcomes this program into their midst will suffer in the long run, and it is my prayer that America's church wake up and realize that Christ builds His Church without any need for the methods of men. Moreover, participation in 40-days of Purpose has caused untold heartache in the form of church splits, and/or congregants being asked to either 'come in line or leave the church'. Think your church is immune? Visit your local Christian bookstore where you will be bombarded by all things 'Purpose', which, in itself, should cause one's skin to crawl particularly when one considers the verse 'I must become less, he must become more' spoken by John the Baptist. Rick Warren seeks out the media, and the lens of the camera is just too focused on this undershepherd who is seemingly unconcerned with directing all eyes to The Shepherd, Lord and Savior.
In Day 3, Verse to Remember, Is. 26:3 (TEV) "You, LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you." In fact scripture states, Is 26:3 (NKJV) "You will keep him in perfect peace. Whose mind is stayed on You. Because he trusts in You." While subtle, there is a distinct difference. Warren implies that if a reader chooses to become an artist, and remains committed to that endeavor, God will bless it. Where does the will of God factor in? Believers are to completely surrender our lives to God's Will, and direction, only then will Christ work through our life. The Father will not bless my desire to become an actor if it is contrary to His Will for my life. Warren fails to conveying this timeless truth to the reader.
Since the garden, pride has kept man from salvation. In Day 10, ref 25, Phil 4:13 (Amp) "I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me, that is, I am self-sufficient in Christs sufficiency." Contrast, NKJV, Phil 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me." Throughout his book, Warren attributes too much to man. To the follower of Christ, the definition of surrender should be I am lessened and Christ is exalted. Prior to salvation, we lived for self: our dreams, our desires, our goals. Once regenerated, His Will should be of foremost concern.
In Day 10, Warren instructs the reader to trust God and live a surrendered life. Surrendering of our will is a requirement, or 'cost', of the disciple of Jesus Christ. We surrender our lives and God will perfect us from glory to glory through Christ Jesus. The good work that God has begun in us He will complete until the harpazo or death. There is no need for a formulary. Trust in the Lord, know we are in His good care and that He works all things for good for those who love Him and are the called according to His Purpose. We should keep our minds focused on Christ at all times. Should a believer feel challenged to yield his/her will, seek the Lord in prayer asking Him to slay the flesh and provide the grace to submit to the Lordship of Christ.
In Day 11, ref 17, 1 Th 5:17 (Msg) "pray all the time", Warren attributes this to Paul, completely changing the scriptures intention to promote his viewpoint. Scripture actually reads, 1 Th 5:17 (NKJV) "pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." This scripture teaches believers to be ever mindful that it is God who sustains our very heartbeat, provides sustenance and shelter and all success experienced in this life. Christ was directing us to always acknowledge the Giver of gifts, Adonai Jehovah, our Father.
Critically important, to my mind, is the deeper meaning in the verse, that even trials and suffering are of God, and utilized by Him, to develop our character and ability to trust in Him, and His Sovereignty over the lives of His Children, which further increases our faith. God purposes to use all things, including crises, to develop us into the full stature of Christ, molding us as the Potter - squeezing off the dross - so we may become as much like His Son as possible prior to the Rapture or death.
Unfortunately, Warren uses this 'pray all the time' to promote breath prayer. He then writes that it is permitted as it has been praticed by Christians for centuries! Indeed, the monks, Brotherhood of Catholics, and Eastern Religions have practiced contemplative prayer for years. Moreover, the Pope endorses and encourages the practice; yet, it is strictly forbidden by God. Warren instructs the reader to 'choose a brief sentence, or phrase, that can be repeated to Jesus in one breath, ie. 'You are with me', 'I receive your grace', 'I'm depending on you'. Further, he indicates that repeating a short verse of scripture such as, 'For me to live is Christ' could be yet another alternative to be used this breath prayer. Folks, this is vain repetition, which Christ forbade in pretty blunt fashion when He said:
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him. (Mt 6:7-8)
Apparently, Warren feels he can distance his instruction on breath prayer from Eastern Mysticism by including the following disclaimer: 'Just be sure your motive is to honor God, not control Him'. He goes on to teach that readers need to 'practice the presence of God' and that it is a acquired skill, citing the example of a musician in practicing hours to master an instrument! This is absolutely contrary to what Jesus teaches in Matt 6.
This is nothing more than repackaged Eastern mysticism, whose practices include, among other methods, Transcendental Meditation (nothing like meditating upon God's Word), Centering, Contemplative Prayer/Spirituality - all utilized by those who practice them in an attempt to enter into the secret places of God. Eastern mystics, as well as monks, teach an 'emptying out of the mind', which Warren endorses, while trying to disguise it as something acceptable for Christians. What comes to mind is Kabbalah, which was practiced by the Gnostics and was forbidden by God. For God has provided His Revealed Will, through His Word, once for all delivered unto the saints, and there are those things that are the mind of God, which are not to be sought after.
Yoga is a practice incorporated into Warren's Pastoral Conferences where he instructs pastors on his Purpose Driven Methods/Movement. This emergent church movement holds grave consequences for churches nation and worldwide. We are taught to come boldly to the Throne of Grace, exclusively through Jesus Christ. The inherent dangers of opening up ones mind to 330 million 'gods' is evident to all who are born again and thus indwelled by the Holy Spirit, which leads us into all truth. Christ is our all in all and our standing in Him alone fulfills our every need for fellowshp with the Father. Woe to them who attempt to approach a Holy God in any method other than those laid forth plainly in the Bible.
Scripture alludes to a sect of Jewish believers, known as Gnostics who practiced Kaballah, an age-old false religion that has recently been repackaged to Hollywood. Gnostics claimed to have 'secret knowledge of the things of God' that other believers did not possess. As stated previously, attempting to learn the secret things of God is strictly forbidden by scripture. The inherent danger in the practice of emptying out the mind by chanting mantras, whether or not one attaches a different name to them, is that the voice of god those who practice this hear is likely not the voice of the God of Heaven. God has given us the Bible, and prayer, as the means of fellowship with Him and speaks to His Children through His Word. When praying, we speak to God as Abba and ask of Him what we will, in the name of Jesus Christ, then we await answer to our prayer. While praying, God blesses us with His Presence - that peace that surpasses all understanding - that every born again believer has in Christ. These are the two means of grace that God has instituted for His Children to come unto Him.
However, the reader will find no such warning in Warren's book. While researching contemplative prayer, a book, "A Time of Departing", by Ray Yungen (which I highly recommend), shed further light on why the Christian ought not practice it. In a chapter entitled, Seducing Spirits, Yungen writes:
"When we receive Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit - thus we receive God. Christians do not have to search for some esoteric technique to draw closer to God. The fulness of God has already taken residency in those who have received Christ. The Christian's response is not to search for God thorugh a method, but simply to yield his or her will to the will of God."
Paul warns of this and other departing in 1 Tim 4:1.
Sadly, Warren's book utilizes such loose translations of scripture which significantly alter the original intended meaning of the verses. The concern is that new belivers, who lack a solid Biblical foundation, will not do the laborious work required to check each reference, in the book, against God's Word. Footnotes are utilized throughout Warren's book; however, the reader must flip to the Appendix, marking the reference page, then go to the internet to locate the numerous translations referenced to verify that the verses given are legitimate. In Bible study, context is everything. Frankly, new belivers who have not yet exercised their minds to the study of the Bible, thereby obtaining God's Wisdom and the discernment He grants to protect His Children from error, will, I fear, trust Warren's interpretations and therein lies the rub.
This review was written, at the request of a pastor, four years ago, and since then there has been an explosion in all things 'Warren'. He has conferences, retreats, training seminars, and all types of merchandise aimed at indoctrinating this nations pastors. Sadly, many more pastors worldwide have also been taught Warren's 'methods' to attempt to 'grow their church' in order to obtain the numbers explosion of church membership for which Saddleback has become so well known.
The problem with this is that God places the high calling of Pastor, or undershepherd, upon each servant of His choice. If God has not called a man into the pastorate, it will become painfully obvious under the tutelage of the man and/or by the rotten fruit produced. This movement seems to be modeled after Corporate America, and to be much too focused on planting - and growing - mega churches. To reiterate, Christ grows His Body and does not need the assistance of men to do so.
Gone are the days of discernment, disciplined Bible study by a pastor - time spent alone with God laboring with Him in the Word prior to climbing into the pulpit on Sunday mornings to feed the sheep entrusted to his care. Today there seems to be a 'new' pastor, one who utilizes sermon.com to print off a sermon, or, if he has paid his dues to the Purpose Movement, he may visit the website of Saddleback/Purpose Driven Method and download a sermon for his Sunday seekers. With the dawn of this new era, and the resultant rejection of sound doctrine, there is an unhealthy focus on 'numbers' rather than 'conversion'; on being 'seeker-sensitive' rather than preaching the unvarnished realities of Heaven and Hell; and a move toward inclusivity that has made the warnings of Christ about 'great falling away' become crystal clear.
This is the era in which we find ourselves in these last days. It is a Warren-Purpose-Seeker-Emergent-Method of human arrogance! The deluded position that Christ needs man to help Him build His Church. The motivation for it is the sin as old as time: pride.
There is an undercurrent in America, whose undertow has taken down many a fine church member. If a congregant does not fall in line, gleefully participating in all things 40-day, they are ousted from the congregation. Should that Beloved of God have what is perceived to be the unmitigated gall to question the wisdom of this 'cookie cutter' approach to the faith, and be desirious of testing all things against scripture - as commanded by God - then, sadly, that congregant is shown the door! Moreover, the Bible is hitting the door with the displaced church member in favor of the methodologies of men.
Shalom in Christ
_____________________________
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem :pray :israel
Warren's is a book written to provide his readers a method to know God. What possible motivation could a theologically trained pastor have for encouraging oaths, which are forbidden by God? Once one discovers he was an understudy of the pastor of the Crystal Cathedral a sudden clarity as to why emerges. Warren's teachings on practicing the presence of God and contemplative prayer are methodologies employed by desert monks and there is really nothing new under the sun, but Warren reshuffles each for a new approach to the same wide path which leads to destruction!
Christians are not to swear or commit to an oath. As Jesus taught, our yes is yes and our no is no. Anything further is from the devil; however, readers are encouraged to take an oath to complete Warren's 40-day program. In fact, there is even a contract, located at the beginning of the book, between the reader and Warren which the reader is directed to sign prior to beginning the quest through the book.
This review, denotes a few objections to Warren's teachings that are glaring contradictions to scripture, which should serve as warning to laypersons intent upon reading 40-Days of Purpose. The church who welcomes this program into their midst will suffer in the long run, and it is my prayer that America's church wake up and realize that Christ builds His Church without any need for the methods of men. Moreover, participation in 40-days of Purpose has caused untold heartache in the form of church splits, and/or congregants being asked to either 'come in line or leave the church'. Think your church is immune? Visit your local Christian bookstore where you will be bombarded by all things 'Purpose', which, in itself, should cause one's skin to crawl particularly when one considers the verse 'I must become less, he must become more' spoken by John the Baptist. Rick Warren seeks out the media, and the lens of the camera is just too focused on this undershepherd who is seemingly unconcerned with directing all eyes to The Shepherd, Lord and Savior.
In Day 3, Verse to Remember, Is. 26:3 (TEV) "You, LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you." In fact scripture states, Is 26:3 (NKJV) "You will keep him in perfect peace. Whose mind is stayed on You. Because he trusts in You." While subtle, there is a distinct difference. Warren implies that if a reader chooses to become an artist, and remains committed to that endeavor, God will bless it. Where does the will of God factor in? Believers are to completely surrender our lives to God's Will, and direction, only then will Christ work through our life. The Father will not bless my desire to become an actor if it is contrary to His Will for my life. Warren fails to conveying this timeless truth to the reader.
Since the garden, pride has kept man from salvation. In Day 10, ref 25, Phil 4:13 (Amp) "I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me, that is, I am self-sufficient in Christs sufficiency." Contrast, NKJV, Phil 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me." Throughout his book, Warren attributes too much to man. To the follower of Christ, the definition of surrender should be I am lessened and Christ is exalted. Prior to salvation, we lived for self: our dreams, our desires, our goals. Once regenerated, His Will should be of foremost concern.
In Day 10, Warren instructs the reader to trust God and live a surrendered life. Surrendering of our will is a requirement, or 'cost', of the disciple of Jesus Christ. We surrender our lives and God will perfect us from glory to glory through Christ Jesus. The good work that God has begun in us He will complete until the harpazo or death. There is no need for a formulary. Trust in the Lord, know we are in His good care and that He works all things for good for those who love Him and are the called according to His Purpose. We should keep our minds focused on Christ at all times. Should a believer feel challenged to yield his/her will, seek the Lord in prayer asking Him to slay the flesh and provide the grace to submit to the Lordship of Christ.
In Day 11, ref 17, 1 Th 5:17 (Msg) "pray all the time", Warren attributes this to Paul, completely changing the scriptures intention to promote his viewpoint. Scripture actually reads, 1 Th 5:17 (NKJV) "pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." This scripture teaches believers to be ever mindful that it is God who sustains our very heartbeat, provides sustenance and shelter and all success experienced in this life. Christ was directing us to always acknowledge the Giver of gifts, Adonai Jehovah, our Father.
Critically important, to my mind, is the deeper meaning in the verse, that even trials and suffering are of God, and utilized by Him, to develop our character and ability to trust in Him, and His Sovereignty over the lives of His Children, which further increases our faith. God purposes to use all things, including crises, to develop us into the full stature of Christ, molding us as the Potter - squeezing off the dross - so we may become as much like His Son as possible prior to the Rapture or death.
Unfortunately, Warren uses this 'pray all the time' to promote breath prayer. He then writes that it is permitted as it has been praticed by Christians for centuries! Indeed, the monks, Brotherhood of Catholics, and Eastern Religions have practiced contemplative prayer for years. Moreover, the Pope endorses and encourages the practice; yet, it is strictly forbidden by God. Warren instructs the reader to 'choose a brief sentence, or phrase, that can be repeated to Jesus in one breath, ie. 'You are with me', 'I receive your grace', 'I'm depending on you'. Further, he indicates that repeating a short verse of scripture such as, 'For me to live is Christ' could be yet another alternative to be used this breath prayer. Folks, this is vain repetition, which Christ forbade in pretty blunt fashion when He said:
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him. (Mt 6:7-8)
Apparently, Warren feels he can distance his instruction on breath prayer from Eastern Mysticism by including the following disclaimer: 'Just be sure your motive is to honor God, not control Him'. He goes on to teach that readers need to 'practice the presence of God' and that it is a acquired skill, citing the example of a musician in practicing hours to master an instrument! This is absolutely contrary to what Jesus teaches in Matt 6.
This is nothing more than repackaged Eastern mysticism, whose practices include, among other methods, Transcendental Meditation (nothing like meditating upon God's Word), Centering, Contemplative Prayer/Spirituality - all utilized by those who practice them in an attempt to enter into the secret places of God. Eastern mystics, as well as monks, teach an 'emptying out of the mind', which Warren endorses, while trying to disguise it as something acceptable for Christians. What comes to mind is Kabbalah, which was practiced by the Gnostics and was forbidden by God. For God has provided His Revealed Will, through His Word, once for all delivered unto the saints, and there are those things that are the mind of God, which are not to be sought after.
Yoga is a practice incorporated into Warren's Pastoral Conferences where he instructs pastors on his Purpose Driven Methods/Movement. This emergent church movement holds grave consequences for churches nation and worldwide. We are taught to come boldly to the Throne of Grace, exclusively through Jesus Christ. The inherent dangers of opening up ones mind to 330 million 'gods' is evident to all who are born again and thus indwelled by the Holy Spirit, which leads us into all truth. Christ is our all in all and our standing in Him alone fulfills our every need for fellowshp with the Father. Woe to them who attempt to approach a Holy God in any method other than those laid forth plainly in the Bible.
Scripture alludes to a sect of Jewish believers, known as Gnostics who practiced Kaballah, an age-old false religion that has recently been repackaged to Hollywood. Gnostics claimed to have 'secret knowledge of the things of God' that other believers did not possess. As stated previously, attempting to learn the secret things of God is strictly forbidden by scripture. The inherent danger in the practice of emptying out the mind by chanting mantras, whether or not one attaches a different name to them, is that the voice of god those who practice this hear is likely not the voice of the God of Heaven. God has given us the Bible, and prayer, as the means of fellowship with Him and speaks to His Children through His Word. When praying, we speak to God as Abba and ask of Him what we will, in the name of Jesus Christ, then we await answer to our prayer. While praying, God blesses us with His Presence - that peace that surpasses all understanding - that every born again believer has in Christ. These are the two means of grace that God has instituted for His Children to come unto Him.
However, the reader will find no such warning in Warren's book. While researching contemplative prayer, a book, "A Time of Departing", by Ray Yungen (which I highly recommend), shed further light on why the Christian ought not practice it. In a chapter entitled, Seducing Spirits, Yungen writes:
"When we receive Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit - thus we receive God. Christians do not have to search for some esoteric technique to draw closer to God. The fulness of God has already taken residency in those who have received Christ. The Christian's response is not to search for God thorugh a method, but simply to yield his or her will to the will of God."
Paul warns of this and other departing in 1 Tim 4:1.
Sadly, Warren's book utilizes such loose translations of scripture which significantly alter the original intended meaning of the verses. The concern is that new belivers, who lack a solid Biblical foundation, will not do the laborious work required to check each reference, in the book, against God's Word. Footnotes are utilized throughout Warren's book; however, the reader must flip to the Appendix, marking the reference page, then go to the internet to locate the numerous translations referenced to verify that the verses given are legitimate. In Bible study, context is everything. Frankly, new belivers who have not yet exercised their minds to the study of the Bible, thereby obtaining God's Wisdom and the discernment He grants to protect His Children from error, will, I fear, trust Warren's interpretations and therein lies the rub.
This review was written, at the request of a pastor, four years ago, and since then there has been an explosion in all things 'Warren'. He has conferences, retreats, training seminars, and all types of merchandise aimed at indoctrinating this nations pastors. Sadly, many more pastors worldwide have also been taught Warren's 'methods' to attempt to 'grow their church' in order to obtain the numbers explosion of church membership for which Saddleback has become so well known.
The problem with this is that God places the high calling of Pastor, or undershepherd, upon each servant of His choice. If God has not called a man into the pastorate, it will become painfully obvious under the tutelage of the man and/or by the rotten fruit produced. This movement seems to be modeled after Corporate America, and to be much too focused on planting - and growing - mega churches. To reiterate, Christ grows His Body and does not need the assistance of men to do so.
Gone are the days of discernment, disciplined Bible study by a pastor - time spent alone with God laboring with Him in the Word prior to climbing into the pulpit on Sunday mornings to feed the sheep entrusted to his care. Today there seems to be a 'new' pastor, one who utilizes sermon.com to print off a sermon, or, if he has paid his dues to the Purpose Movement, he may visit the website of Saddleback/Purpose Driven Method and download a sermon for his Sunday seekers. With the dawn of this new era, and the resultant rejection of sound doctrine, there is an unhealthy focus on 'numbers' rather than 'conversion'; on being 'seeker-sensitive' rather than preaching the unvarnished realities of Heaven and Hell; and a move toward inclusivity that has made the warnings of Christ about 'great falling away' become crystal clear.
This is the era in which we find ourselves in these last days. It is a Warren-Purpose-Seeker-Emergent-Method of human arrogance! The deluded position that Christ needs man to help Him build His Church. The motivation for it is the sin as old as time: pride.
There is an undercurrent in America, whose undertow has taken down many a fine church member. If a congregant does not fall in line, gleefully participating in all things 40-day, they are ousted from the congregation. Should that Beloved of God have what is perceived to be the unmitigated gall to question the wisdom of this 'cookie cutter' approach to the faith, and be desirious of testing all things against scripture - as commanded by God - then, sadly, that congregant is shown the door! Moreover, the Bible is hitting the door with the displaced church member in favor of the methodologies of men.
Shalom in Christ
_____________________________
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem :pray :israel