PDL and Calvary - Trust ONLY in Jesus!!

[hannah14]

I attended a small non-denominational church (have since moved) and the pastors and teachers there taught only from the Word; it was all sound Biblical teaching. When it first came out, our Bible study did the Purpose Driven Life lessons (the first book only). I walked away from those teachings with, basically, more a a feeling to put Christ FIRST in my life, and everything else will fall into place. We used the NIV and NKJ when reading scripture. We never just took what Warren said on its own merit, but what he said in light of scripture. I felt it was good teaching.

I read that one book only, and have not continued on to read any of his newer books, nor have I ever referred back to the PDL teachings. I do not ever want to subscribe to "the Rick Warren church", as I recognize ANY pastor or teacher can be deceived. Afterall, I try to be a "follower or Christ", and not of ANY pastor or teacher.

Now I am seeing on this site about the apostasy of that teaching. I am concerned as recommended that book to my nephew!! The way in which I read it, and we studied it, I found nothing wrong with it. I only want to put CHRIST first in my life, but.... should I call my nephew and tell him to disregard the book? Is this a case of people looking toward the writing of Rick Warren rather than the teachings of the Bible, and taking it to an illogical conclusion?? :scratch I wish I would have heard these things about Purpose Driven when it FIRST came out!!!!

I have recently moved to another city, and have begun attending a Calvary Chapel. And NOW on this site, I am reading all these accounts of the problems with Calvary, and the "emerging church". I have no idea what this is about; I started attending Calvary where I live because I felt this pastor truly loved the Lord; it was the first church I attended in this city where I could feel "Jesus" in his teachings!

Arghhh!!! This has been a most disturbing evening on the RR board for me! I am ready stop attending church, stop reading this board, take my Bible, read only it, crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head. I have always known Jesus Christ and His Word are the ONLY things I can count on, and this further proves that, but goodness..... I just don't want to receive bad teaching, or pass on bad teaching to others!! :ohno

[A Berean]

I attended a small non-denominational church (have since moved) and the pastors and teachers there taught only from the Word; it was all sound Biblical teaching. When it first came out, our Bible study did the Purpose Driven Life lessons (the first book only). I walked away from those teachings with, basically, more a a feeling to put Christ FIRST in my life, and everything else will fall into place. We used the NIV and NKJ when reading scripture. We never just took what Warren said on its own merit, but what he said in light of scripture. I felt it was good teaching.

I read that one book only, and have not continued on to read any of his newer books, nor have I ever referred back to the PDL teachings. I do not ever want to subscribe to "the Rick Warren church", as I recognize ANY pastor or teacher can be deceived. Afterall, I try to be a "follower or Christ", and not of ANY pastor or teacher.

Now I am seeing on this site about the apostasy of that teaching. I am concerned as recommended that book to my nephew!! The way in which I read it, and we studied it, I found nothing wrong with it. I only want to put CHRIST first in my life, but.... should I call my nephew and tell him to disregard the book? Is this a case of people looking toward the writing of Rick Warren rather than the teachings of the Bible, and taking it to an illogical conclusion?? :scratch I wish I would have heard these things about Purpose Driven when it FIRST came out!!!!

I have recently moved to another city, and have begun attending a Calvary Chapel. And NOW on this site, I am reading all these accounts of the problems with Calvary, and the "emerging church". I have no idea what this is about; I started attending Calvary where I live because I felt this pastor truly loved the Lord; it was the first church I attended in this city where I could feel "Jesus" in his teachings!

Arghhh!!! This has been a most disturbing evening on the RR board for me! I am ready stop attending church, stop reading this board, take my Bible, read only it, crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head. I have always known Jesus Christ and His Word are the ONLY things I can count on, and this further proves that, but goodness..... I just don't want to receive bad teaching, or pass on bad teaching to others!! :ohno

Rick Warren and his PDL is bad stuff, and he is leading churches into emergent/new age ecumenism- a blending of all faiths eventually with the Roman Catholic Church to make up the one world apostate church during the Tribulation.

You are right to worship and trust only your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Word- the Holy Bible:thumb! As to Calvary Chapels, from what I understand, only some have turned toward the emergent movement. It doesn't sound like the one you are attending is emergent. Please don't run away from RR, because you will get to share faith with other Believers who only want to worship the Lord and honor His Holy Word.:)

You will also learn about all the deception that is in the Church today, and how to discern it and avoid it:thumb. I've learned so much myself in just a short time. Welcome here, and Happy Thanksgiving :hat, and I hope you stick around long enough to make some new Christian friends. God Bless you!

[hannah14]

Berean -
Wow; thank you for such a nice response. :hat In the past, I have received either NO response to what I have said, or have been criticized for using the wrong kind of "smiley". (picky, picky) So, I do appreciate your kind words.

After finishing the first PDL book, although I found nothing wrong with the teaching, I had no desire to read more or continue. PD Marriage?? PD Church?? PD World?? No thank you. But after what you have shared, I will tell my nephew to "be aware". I would hate to think I contributed to anyone taking a wrong turn when it comes to worshipping our Lord!

Thanks again Berean..... :hug
(hope my smilies are ok this time!)

[A Berean]

Berean -
Wow; thank you for such a nice response. :hat In the past, I have received either NO response to what I have said, or have been criticized for using the wrong kind of "smiley". (picky, picky) So, I do appreciate your kind words.

After finishing the first PDL book, although I found nothing wrong with the teaching, I had no desire to read more or continue. PD Marriage?? PD Church?? PD World?? No thank you. But after what you have shared, I will tell my nephew to "be aware". I would hate to think I contributed to anyone taking a wrong turn when it comes to worshipping our Lord!

Thanks again Berean..... :hug
(hope my smilies are ok this time!)

:hug Hannah, you are more than welcome! There is a long but worthwhile video, "Warning! Heresy and the Purpose Driven Church about Rick Warren". Watch it when you get a chance. It will really open up your eyes to what is happening. God bless you:wave!!

[Luv2pray]

Hi Hannah,
I used to go to a large independent church, and we went through the PDL as a church and in our small groups when it first came out, too. I thought it was okay... it had some good thoughts. I didn't mind doing it once. But since then, they have built the 7 pillars of PDL, or some such thing, into their mission statement and church goals, and had the church redo the PDL book a few times. I have since left the church, but my parents still go. Last I heard, the Pastor was leading a men's group in a "Bible Study" (including my dad), and what is the Bible study? You guessed it, the PDL book again!! I mean enough is enough. How about studying the BIBLE in a Bible Study????
I personally didn't like the way Rick Warren uses translations I have never heard of because they appear to support whatever he is saying at the time.

I don't think it will harm your nephew to go through the book once, but I wouldn't want him to base his entire doctine and mission on it, like a lot of churches are doing!

[A Berean]

Watch the video "Warning!The Purpose Driven Church Heresy of Rick Warren"!! AVOID Purpose Driven ANYTHING at all costs. It is heresy and apostasy!!:fear:fear

[Emily Ruth]

The problem I have had with the PDL from the very beginning is that it assumes Predestination as truth. I do not agree (as many others too) that every detail of our lives is predestined. Free will plays a major rolls in our lives. And those who use their free will to do evil and harm others - that is NOT God's will.

When I first started to read the book and it said that God chose our parents, etc. I stopped reading the book. I was seriously abused and if I was supposed to love a God who predestined that for my life then there was a problem.

I knew a woman (this is not me but someone I met) who's biological dad used her as a human ash trash from the time she was very little. She was so badly scarred from that atrocity - there was no way anyone could ask her to love a God who would have predestined that life for her. He did not.

That was my first problem with the book. The rest of the problems just further confirmed that it was not something I could embrace.

[true2yeshua]

Warren said on its own merit, but what he said in light of scripture. I felt it was good teaching.

Hannah, :heythere

The subtle way in which Warren draws in pastors away from the Word to his 'method' is becoming evident today as there is a dispute within the CC currently over PDL and EC. When the book came out I wrote a book review on it and what was most disturbing is at the very beginning the reader is required to swear an oath in writing to 'pledge' to complete Warren's book. Also, what Warren said on scripture was not based on scripture. The countless translations utilized by Warren so changed the original context and meaning of the verses that the original intent of the scripture was lost! As such it appeared then, and is clearer the case now, that Warren was merely attempting to pluck out poorly translated scripture to prop up his viewpoint.

"the Rick Warren church", as I recognize ANY pastor or teacher can be deceived.

So right you are adhere to the only source of Truth, God's Word! RW is deceived and he wants to 'change the church' as he feels it needs to become 'more relevant' and, in fact, recently stated that 'unless the church changes it will die'. His PDL mission was clearly evident to my spirit from the first book - promote a social gospel, one more palatable to the unbelieving 'seeker'. Warren's PDL has a special book unique to pastors and once a pastor 'signs on' to utilize PDL 'methods of growth' they are able to download his sermons; attend his seminars to learn the corporate method to 'grow church roll' irregardless if they are believers of not.

Issues with that are - the pastors are to instruct the 40 Days of Purpose students to not bring their Bible as it would cause too many interruptions! Also, the nation's pastors are all preaching the same message which is contrary to a man called by God into the pulpit. The PDL pastor is not spending time in the Word permitting the Holy Spirit to have reign in the pulpit so that unique needs of the sheep of that flock are met.


should I call my nephew and tell him to disregard the book? Is this a case of people looking toward the writing of Rick Warren rather than the teachings of the Bible, and taking it to an illogical conclusion??

Yes, tell your nephew that RW is far more concerned with the corporate model of growth for the 'church' rather than permitting Christ to grow His Church by the preaching of the Word which is powerful converting the souls of fallen man. No, people are drawing the only conclusion Rick Warren's 40 days designed - "God wants me to be happy." "God has a great plan for my life." "I need to pray hard and find out what my purpose is and do it with all of my strength." When in actuality the Bible teaches our life is not our own, for we have been bought at a price. We are to live humbly submitted to Christ's Headship and permit Him to have His Will in us and accomplish His purposes in and through our life!


I have recently moved to another city, and have begun attending a Calvary Chapel. And NOW on this site, I am reading all these accounts of the problems with Calvary, and the "emerging church". I have no idea what this is about; I started attending Calvary where I live because I felt this pastor truly loved the Lord; it was the first church I attended in this city where I could feel "Jesus" in his teachings!

:hug I am so sorry Hannah, but we are living in the times of the great falling away. As you know, Christ forwarned us that in the end days there would be a multitude falling away from the faith (because they were never born again to begin with so they are sorely lacking the Holy Spirit granted discernment to know when they hear false teaching to run from it! Also, many are Biblically illiterate and will permit a man to spoon feed them with the mentality "if it sounds good, it must be true" but, in point of fact, that is nothing more than their carnal nature finding the 'easy social gospel' appealing to their flesh nature.

Let me encourage you to go to www.lighthousetrialsresearch.com - once there you will find a plethora of articles on EC, PDL and the issues with each. Out of love for you as a sister in Christ we need to be weary of our 'feelings' because we are not to trust emotion. We are to test all things by the Word of God. Our Lord forewarned that in the end men would creep in unawares leading many astray doing many signs and wonders to deceive, if it were possible, even the elect. I do not believe it is 'possible' because the elect are soundly saved and can rest in the assurance that "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus." Those who have not been born again will be swept away by every wind of doctrine. The Lord also cautioned that in the latter days men would have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. And would not endure sound doctrine, but set up for themselves teachers that would tickle their ears and turn from the faith unto myths.

Arghhh!!! This has been a most disturbing evening on the RR board for me! I am ready stop attending church, stop reading this board, take my Bible, read only it, crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head. I have always known Jesus Christ and His Word are the ONLY things I can count on, and this further proves that, but goodness..... I just don't want to receive bad teaching, or pass on bad teaching to others!! :ohno

Please do not do that! God has directed you to this website to inform you as a means of protection. If you would like to verify that many others have issues with these teachings besides myself and others on RR, may I direct you to: www.olivetreeviews.org; www.letusreason.org; www.cicministry.org; www.deceptioninthechurch.org; www.saintsalive.com; www.understandthetimes.org to name but a few.

It would be better to home church rather than sit under the counsel of an apostate pastor, and this is the position our family is currently in. Many believers around the nation have been impacted by this departure from the Truth. In fact, churches in Africa have been negatively affected by PDL and recently I read a sad account from an African pastor who wishes that PDL had never come to his country. :ohno

Be careful, Hannah, to remember Jude's warning: contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints. Understand that those of us who 'sound an alarm' as watchman are doing so out of love for our Lord, His Word and the brethren. Take heart we are to be looking up for our redemption draws nearer each day! :rapture

[Because_He_Lives!]

Good advice true2yeshua! I am searching for a church in my area and found a Calvary Chapel but I'm leary. If it turns too, I don't see much hope as most of the Baptist church websites (in my area) I've visited have no doctrinal statment or if its does, it emphasizes giving to the community which raises red flags to me!

I will not go any church if I can't find one that is not turning!


Its really sad and shocking but in my research online I've found most of the churches in my area, who have a website, show some signs of emergent.

There is even a huge mega church in my area with a lead minister who is a Messianic Jew. His sermons are pretty good as you can hear them online, yet.. his church is on the Willow Creek registry, the church has those "small groups", if you search all the links to the website, you'll find RW material.. so I wouldn't go to that church no matter what, even if the lead minister is giving good sermons, because.. it will probably change and its associated with Willow Creek.

[Emily Ruth]

This is an excellent expose teaching on the PDL and those who condone it.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3767464798291138426&q=rick+warren