Sing4Him
June 3rd, 2008, 04:52 PM
Mr. Warren, the Glory Goes to Christ Alone
At a wedding the bride is the main character, the center, the start of the show – everyone else is supporting cast, but the glory goes to the bride/ …The Bride of Christ – of which the church is its local expression around the world – deserves the focus, the credit and the glory for faithfully serving their communities year after year.
– Rick Warren
Joseph Farah of WorldNetDaily recently posted a column regarding the above statement by Rick Warren. In his column, Farah concludes that the church really does not deserve the glory; all the glory should go to Christ. In his own defense, Mr. Warren responded with a piece that mangled and twisted Scripture– something that Warren excells at.
I have never seen a man abuse God’s Word so flagrantly. Either Mr. Warren does not understand basic English, let alone Greek and Hebrew, or he has no qualms about twisting God’s word to suit his purposes. If a verse does not say what Warren wants it to say, he will dig up a translation or paraphrase that says it in a way that suits him. To him, the Bible is not the sole authority for life and godliness, but it is rather a tool to manipulated and used to achieve his own personal agenda.
In regards to Mr. Warren’s desire that the glory be focused on the local church, I am compelled to wonder if he has ever read what Jesus said in Luke 17:7-10:
“And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”
It is evident that Rick Warren doesn’t consider himself an unprofitable servant, but rather desires glory and thanks for all that he is doing to impact the world. Indeed, Warren unquestionably wields a vast influence, but I assure you he is on his own. God’s not in it. God’s not in it because He does not share his glory with Saddleback, Rick Warren, or anyone else. God himself said this in Psalm 42:8, “I am the LORD, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another….” God doesn’t change his mind, either.
As believers endeavoring to serve God, we should look for no reward, no glory, and no thanks. God does not smile upon those who are self-seeking and proud. Rather, he gives His grace to the lowly and humble; to those who fear Him and obey Him. “Thus says the LORD: heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made…but on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.” This is encouraging to those of us who realize that we are nothing, that we are weak, and that we can do nothing of value if God is not in it. God does not need us or our programs, our peace plans, our books, or anything else we have to offer– the whole universe belongs to Him. As one a godly man once said, He could raise up rocks to do what we do, and do it better. God forbid that we should desire share in God’s glory, as it was for this sin that the devil was cast from heaven. Let us then be content to be nothing, to be unworthy servants, to never be recognized or thanked. Let all our work be to the end that the Lamb may receive the reward of His suffering.
—Samuel L. Guzman
http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/?p=831
At a wedding the bride is the main character, the center, the start of the show – everyone else is supporting cast, but the glory goes to the bride/ …The Bride of Christ – of which the church is its local expression around the world – deserves the focus, the credit and the glory for faithfully serving their communities year after year.
– Rick Warren
Joseph Farah of WorldNetDaily recently posted a column regarding the above statement by Rick Warren. In his column, Farah concludes that the church really does not deserve the glory; all the glory should go to Christ. In his own defense, Mr. Warren responded with a piece that mangled and twisted Scripture– something that Warren excells at.
I have never seen a man abuse God’s Word so flagrantly. Either Mr. Warren does not understand basic English, let alone Greek and Hebrew, or he has no qualms about twisting God’s word to suit his purposes. If a verse does not say what Warren wants it to say, he will dig up a translation or paraphrase that says it in a way that suits him. To him, the Bible is not the sole authority for life and godliness, but it is rather a tool to manipulated and used to achieve his own personal agenda.
In regards to Mr. Warren’s desire that the glory be focused on the local church, I am compelled to wonder if he has ever read what Jesus said in Luke 17:7-10:
“And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”
It is evident that Rick Warren doesn’t consider himself an unprofitable servant, but rather desires glory and thanks for all that he is doing to impact the world. Indeed, Warren unquestionably wields a vast influence, but I assure you he is on his own. God’s not in it. God’s not in it because He does not share his glory with Saddleback, Rick Warren, or anyone else. God himself said this in Psalm 42:8, “I am the LORD, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another….” God doesn’t change his mind, either.
As believers endeavoring to serve God, we should look for no reward, no glory, and no thanks. God does not smile upon those who are self-seeking and proud. Rather, he gives His grace to the lowly and humble; to those who fear Him and obey Him. “Thus says the LORD: heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made…but on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.” This is encouraging to those of us who realize that we are nothing, that we are weak, and that we can do nothing of value if God is not in it. God does not need us or our programs, our peace plans, our books, or anything else we have to offer– the whole universe belongs to Him. As one a godly man once said, He could raise up rocks to do what we do, and do it better. God forbid that we should desire share in God’s glory, as it was for this sin that the devil was cast from heaven. Let us then be content to be nothing, to be unworthy servants, to never be recognized or thanked. Let all our work be to the end that the Lamb may receive the reward of His suffering.
—Samuel L. Guzman
http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/?p=831