"We see, in many a land, the proudest dynasties and tyrannies still crushing, with their mountain weight, every free motion of the Consciences and hearts of men. We see, on the other hand, the truest heroism for the right and the greatest devotion to the Truth in hearts that God has touched. We have a work to do, as great as our forefathers and, perhaps, far greater. The enemies of Truth are more numerous and subtle than ever and the needs of the Church are greater than at any preceding time. If we are not debtors to the present, then men were never debtors to their age and their time. Brethren, we are debtors to the hour in which we live. Oh, that we might stamp it with Truth and that God might help us to impress upon its wings some proof that it has not flown by neglected and unheeded." -- C.H. Spurgeon . . . "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31, 32 . . . . .

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Saturday, March 27, 2010

T.T.U.F. Profiles: RICK WARREN Pt. 3 (of 3)

~~By James Fire

2 TIMOTHY 1:8-9 
 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

  
We shall now conclude this series on the TTUF Profile of RICK WARREN with this third (of three) installment. Let me say that while very many people have read The Purpose Driven Life (and Church) and found them helpful, it’s not so much what Mr. Warren states that’s in agreement with scripture (albeit this seems in the somewhat minority amount contextually), but what else he says that is objectionable (as properly outlined by Warren Smith’s “10 Reasons” listed below).

The other point that has biblically oriented Christians (there should be no other kind!) concerned are his endorsements and inclusion of so-called Christians who also tout and support New Age dogma. Now let’s get a wrap up of this TTUF Profile:

FLIP FLOPPING FROM FORMER FILOSOPHIES –

 Most of us saw the Civil Forum in Saddleback where Rick Warren hosted the event and asked 10 basic questions of the then Presidential Candidates, John McCain and Barak Obama.
One of those questions he asked was,
“Describe some position or belief you held ten years ago that you no longer hold today." He softened the question by stating that ‘Sometimes flip-flopping is smart [because it’s based on] additional information [and] knowledge.’ Warren stated that changing one’s position can often be viewed in a positive way.

‘That’s not flip-flopping’ he said, ‘Sometimes that’s growing in wisdom.’”

 Is it possible that while Rick Warren may have, and still does tout some biblical beliefs today, he is setting the stage for the day in which he receives “more information” and does the smart thing, and “flip-flops” his position in acquired wisdom, and starts talking like his Emergent/New Age friends?

 If its true that you can judge a person by the company he keeps, and Warren Smith provides ample evidence of those with whom this Saddleback pastor associates with, then it would seem quite reasonable that he will start sounding more and more like these heretics of the faith (and the New Agers too) until finally, he will be indistinguishable from any of them!

 WRAP UP ON RICK WARREN -


 We have a few more issues to report on before we end this article; we will examine Warren Smith’s Ten Basic Reasons to support the assertion that Rick Warren’s teachings are not the Gospel Way, which according to the LORD Jesus is the narrow way, but is in fact “a broad way” style of Christianity.

 Then we will look at some Youtube presentations in which you the reader can hear from Rick Warren’s own mouth, the things that he himself believes.

Finally we will post a four part series of an interview with Warren Smith. As always, I admonish the reader to understand, I have nothing against Rick Warren personally; I don’t know the man. I’ve never met him. These issues that I’m raising in this article are about what this man says, and believes, and promotes to the church at large; and I will challenge any belief no matter who it comes from.

If it’s not in line with and in compliance to God’s Word, the singular standard and source of spiritual truth found any where in this fallen world of sin and deception then it cannot be accepted as doctrine!

TEN BASIC REASONS WHY RICK WARREN’s WAY IS TOO BROAD -

1) Rick Warren’s Purpose drive movement offers a Broad Way Christianity. One of the mysteries of the Christian faith can be found in Jesus’ warning that the way to life is “narrow” and that “few” would actually find it. Jesus is telling usin advance that the “broadway” – no matter how well intentioned – is not from Him. With Rick Warren’s reformation movement based on ‘deeds and not creeds’, everyone is invited to partake in this global effort. But biblical principles are watered-down and often cast aside. Read MATT 7:13-14.

 2) Rick Warren’s “Broad Way” Christianity does not declare “all the counsel of God.” Rick Warren teaches only what he wants to teach from the Bible. As a result, there are many important teachings that he skips over, de-emphasizes, and leaves out - particularly in regard to prophecy and spiritual deception. Read ACTS 20:27-32.

 3) Rick Warren’s “Broad Way” Christianity does not discern the spiritual signs of the times. Just as the leaders in Jesus’ day discerned the weather but not the signs of the times, Warren discerns many of the social and economic problems, but not the spiritual signs of the times. Read MATT 16:3-4).

4) Rick Warren’s “Broad Way” Christianity is ignorant of Satan’s devices. Whereas the apostles Paul stated that he and other believers were “not ignorant of Satan’s devices”, Warren’s “Broad Way” Christianity has fallen prey to Satan’s devices – particularly in the area of the New Age/New Spirituality/New World View. Read 2 COR 2:11-5).

5) Rick Warren’s “Broad Way” Christianity does not expose spiritual evil. Warren’s version of Christianity does not sound a true warning about he deceptive spirit world and spiritual deception. There is much more to evil than the problems that Rick Warren is seeking to remedy with his Purpose Driven P.E.A.C.E. Plan. We are told to expose false prophets and false teachers, not to study under them, spiritually join with them, and further their plans. Read EPH 6:12; 2 TIM 3:13; EPH 5:11; 1 COR 14:8.

 6) Rick Warren’s “Broad Way” Christianity does not “earnestly contend for the faith.” By not declaring all the counsel of God, by not discerning the signs of the times, by being ignorant of Satan’s devices, and by not exposing spiritual evil, Rick Warren’s “Broad Way” Christianity is not “fighting the good fight of faith.” Read JUDE 1:3, 1 TIM 6:12, EPH 6:13.

 7) Rick Warren and his “Broad Way” Christianity are loved by the world and its leaders. Jesus loved the world, but the world did not love Him. Jesus warned His followers they would be hated, persecuted, and even killed by the world – just as the world hated, persecuted and killed Him. In his compromised efforts to reach out to the world, Warren and his “Broad Way” Christianity have become the world. Read 1 JOHN 4:5, LUKE 6:26, 2 TIM 3:12, MATT 10:22, 25 and LUKE 9:25.

 8) Rick Warren’s “Broad Way” Christianity is engaged in a process of ungodly change. Rick Warren describes himself as a “change agent” but in his attempt to change the world, he and his Purpose Driven movement are actually changing biblical Christianity. The Bible warns about those who push for unbiblical and ungodly change. Read PROV 24:21, HEB 13:8, MAL 3:6; AMOS 8:11.

 9) Rick Warren’s “Broad Way” Christianity is frequently ‘double-tongued’ and ‘double-minded’. Rick Warren’s attempts seemingly distance himself from the New Age/New Spirituality while simultaneously spiritually aligning himself with New Age sympathizers is “double-tongued”, “double-minded” and deceptively self serving. In the Psalms, David refers to those who speak with “flattering lips” and a “double heart”. Read PSALMS 12:1-2, 1 TIM 3:8-9; JAMES 1:8.

 10) Rick Warren’s “Broad Way” Christianity is “not valiant for the truth”. Warren has demonstrated, in numerous ways, that he is politically and spiritually expedient when it comes to the truth. His “Broad Way” Christianity plays to the world and embraces the world because it is the world. It does not hold fast to the truth because it is not “valiant for the truth”. Read JER 9:3; JOHN 8:31.

 YOUTUBE TESTIFIES TO THE TRUTH - 

 The following are a series of YouTube presentations, along with a little commentary of my own afterwards. Here we will look at what Rick Warren himself is saying, not what other people are saying about him. In these first two YouTube presentations (part 1 & 2)

The LORD Jesus came to Earth to see souls saved, that is, to be born of God’s Spirit and thus become children of God (JOHN 1:12) and be suitable to inherit the kingdom that would one day arrive but is not a kingdom from this world (JOHN 18:36), of which, all children of God are citizens. We are not citizens of this world, we are not of this world (JOHN 15:19; 17:14,16); our hearts and minds are to be focused towards the goal of things above (heaven) and not on things on the Earth (COL 3:1-2).
Why then does Rick Warren center most of his ministry on this P.E.A.C.E. Plan which deals only with earthly causes and has nothing to do with the Gospel? Speaking of the Gospel, this is another issue that may startle you; Christians know what the Gospel is, as it’s the very heart of the New Testament, and the various books within. Take 1 Corinthians 15 for example:

1 CORINTHIANS 15:1,3-4
 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:


 There isn’t a genuine biblical Christian on the planet that doesn’t realize that becoming a Christian means acknowledging that you’re a sinner, and that you repent (turn away from) of your life of sin, and turn to God for salvation, and as an act of faith, believe and receive salvation by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, and receive new life from the Spirit of God who is able to indwell believers as a result of Christ’s blood atonement, His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. As a result, your life belongs to Jesus and He becomes the LORD of your life.

 Is this the Gospel message that Rick Warren teaches? Consistently?
Let’s have a look: Rick Warren's Gospel As Seen on Sean Hannity

 I would agree that pride is the worst sin, for by it the most powerful angel became a devil, as well as the first innocent human couple ever created were plunged into sin and the human race along with them.

As for the rest “give as much of yourself as you can to as much of Jesus Christ, as we know at the time” . . . well: that simply is not what the Bible teaches Mr. Warren. Where does it say, what you said, in your own Bible?

He designated correctly that there are two paths we can take: God’s and Satan’s/our own but he failed to mention the WAY to get to heaven: Jesus Christ and the Gospel as is outlined above! Warren Smith spoke of Mr. Warren’s propensity for political and spiritual expediency and unfortunately this seems to be the case.

Below is a YouTube link that reveals something about Rick Warren and Proposition 8, and where he stood on that issue . . . and where else . . . he stood on that issue (note – TTUF doesn’t agree with everything that is expressed in the following video, particularly the personal views of the anchor): Double Tongued Talk By R. Warren?

 He said that he apologized to his homosexual friends, and that begs the question: Pastor Rick, do you believe that the Bible says that homosexuality is a sin? Like with this issue, it seems that Rick Warren conducts himself with ambiguity and ‘fuzziness’ when it comes to concrete and important issues.

 Rick Warren’s focus, as we discussed before, seems to be on this Earth, and “earthly things” and not about the kingdom.
Here is a presentation that reveals what Rick actually believes about this: Rick Warren's Views On Why God Made You.

 MR. WARREN SMITH RE: MR. RICK WARREN

 Finally we have a four-part presentation where Warren Smith is interviewed on the radio program Retaking America:

He discusses his books and issues relating to the New Spirituality and where Rick Warren fits into it all:
Warren Smith Radio Interview-Part 1
Warren Smith Radio Interview-Part 2
Warren Smith Radio Interview-Part 3
Warren Smith Radio Interview-Part 4

 AN AFTERTHOUGHT ON A PRIMARY BELIEF -

 Getting back to the issue of panentheism, that is, “God is IN everything” we need to examine this belief carefully from the biblical point of view and recognize its many false assertions. First of all, if God is indeed in everything (that includes every one) then no one could be held accountable for their wicked deeds, since if God is dwelling in them, there really is no such thing as wickedness, and the idea of ‘sin’ is fallacious (Marianne Williamson says quite often “There is no such thing as sin!”).

 Others would state that the likes of Hitler, Manson, Dahmer, Stalin, Arafat, etc), and the typical criminal do the things they do because they have not been made aware of their own divinity. It seems that whether or not a person is ‘aware’ of God dwelling in them, either He is there or He isn’t.

If He isn’t indwelling the person, there is an obvious lack spiritually speaking that must be met if that person is to have a fulfilled life both now and in eternity (the Biblical assertion). If God is indwelling that person (as well as all persons: the New Age assertion), being God, it would seem reasonable He would (being Almighty) have an efficacious influence on them whether they realized it or not; just as a patient who is unconscious, being pumped full of vitamins, nutrients and saline would respond to such benefits even though they are unaware of their administration into his body. 

 If one adheres to the belief of panentheism that negates the need for salvation, for salvation is primarily the redemption of the soul and the creation of a purely new heart that God can inhabit freely. Since God is holy, He cannot partake of, nor have any communion with sin, or the heart that harbors it, thus the need for salvation.

 Panentheism states that God already dwells within us all; thus what need is there for the Cross of Christ, or the Atoning blood that He shed for the sake of humanity. According to such New Age/Emergent tenets, the Cross is a waste of time in regards to any supposed salvation, and at best merely serves as an example of suffering servanthood, but nothing more!

 Satan would like nothing better than for the world to ignore, even reject the Cross of the LORD Jesus and His finished atoning work He accomplished there. That is why the idea of “God in everything” is a satanic ploy being perpetrated by New Age/Emergent movements in order to infiltrate and infect the church, divesting them of any value in regards to the LORD’s sacrificial death and resurrection on behalf of sinful humanity.

 As always, we Christians must be ever vigilant for false doctrine and beliefs that seek to invade (and have succeeded to such a large degree today!) the church. Doctrine is NOT a peripheral issue, it is a PRIMARY issue, for it’s the doctrine of the Word of God that forms our beliefs, attitudes, and conduct which will rightly align ourselves with the will of God, as well as enable us to be conformed to and transformed by the LORD Jesus. Scripture tells us to “contend for the faith that was delivered to us” and to stand fast in the Truth. The entire thrust of The TRUTH Under FIRE as a web site ministry is geared towards this conviction!

 In an upcoming article we will examine an excellent book by John MacArthur entitled, The TRUTH War, and what he hopes will cause a revolution in the church by encouraging us to be bold in our proclamation of and for the Truth. I heartily endorse this work and would encourage you to get this book, read it, and pass it on! Until then, may the LORD bless you as you remain steadfast in the Truth of God’s Most Holy, Precious Word!

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