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Fundamental
Evangelistic Association
selected
articles from:
©FOUNDATION
A MAGAZINE OF BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALISM
Dennis W. Costella, Editor; Karel Beyer, Production Manager; Matt
Costella,
Copy Editor
M.H. Reynolds, Jr. (1919-1997), Founding Editor
An Analysis of Rick Warren's
The
Purpose-Driven® Life
by Matt Costella
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Special Notice: This is copyrighted material. In fairness to
those who subscribe to FOUNDATION Magazine, there is usually a
significant delay between publication and posting on the Internet.
Furthermore, not all FOUNDATION articles are posted on the
website. This article is an exception because of the urgent
need to alert the unsuspecting of programs that are sweeping
through the churches and depart from the Biblical blueprint
for Christian living and ministry. This article is available
(click here) in a booklet
by the same title.
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Rick Warren, renowned
pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, and chief
architect of the Purpose-Driven®
ministry empire, has influenced thousands of pastors and
Christian leaders around the world with his best-selling book
The Purpose-Driven-Church and his Purpose-Driven®
church growth seminars. Now, Warren has targeted the Christian
layperson with his latest New York Times bestseller, The
Purpose-Driven® Life (Zondervan, 2002). Millions of people
have purchased The Purpose-Driven® Life since its release
in September 2002, and tens of thousands of churches have either
used or are currently using this book and other Purpose-Driven®
materials during special campaigns called 40 Days of
Purpose. The object of the book, which is divided into 40
chapters, is to explain in 40 days the five purposes of one's
life.
Bruce
Ryskamp, president and CEO of Zondervan Publishing, said The
Purpose-Driven® Life "is more than a bestseller, it's become a
movement." According to Warren himself, The
Purpose-Driven®
Life is more than just a book—it is, in Warren's own words, "a
guide to a 40-day spiritual journey" (p. 9). Because Warren is
admittedly leading people on a spiritual journey—a serious task
with profound implications—believers must carefully analyze and
critique the spiritual content of this journey. Nothing on earth
is more important than understanding the true will of God as
revealed to mankind in His Word, the Bible. Therefore, any
Christian book or "spiritual journey" designed to lead people to a
closer relationship with God must conform to the truth—no room for
error is allowed! The purpose of this article is to analyze this
particular "spiritual journey"—— The Purpose-Driven® Life—in
order to determine whether or not it is, in fact, true and
faithful to the Word and will of God.
Rick
Warren is undoubtedly a sincere and personable Christian leader,
and his book is full of important, practical truths—truths that
present-day believers often tend to ignore or forget. For example,
Warren effectively reminds believers that time on earth is short
and our fruitfulness now will count for eternity. He also
emphasizes the importance of humility and servanthood in the life
of the believer—something many Biblical fundamentalists today
should take to heart. He also effectively addresses the reality of
temptation and the means to spiritual victory over temptation.
However, despite the many positive aspects of the book, one must
remember that Warren is guiding millions of people on a spiritual
journey. Therefore, any error must be exposed and addressed in
light of the teachings of Scripture. Many books written by
evangelical writers—and even a few |
The Purpose-Driven® Life is more than just
a book—it is, in Rick Warren's own words, "a guide to a
40-day spiritual journey."
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written by theological liberals—contain a wealth of applicable
(and even Biblical) truths. Almost every book has its positive
qualities and a measure of truth to some degree. Nevertheless, the
discerning believer and the Bible-centered church must ascertain
whether any error is present and then take the appropriate action.
Even a small amount of error can produce disastrous results in the
lives of men, women and children.
Even before opening the book to analyze the content of this
spiritual journey, the discerning believer will question the
doctrinal soundness and spiritual integrity of the book when
confronted with the theologically diverse list of denominations
and churches that have publicly endorsed the book and |
| churches that have publically endorsed
the book and hosted a 40 Days of Purpose campaign. Churches
and denominations include: Baptist, United Methodist, Nazarene,
Seventh-Day Adventist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Assemblies of God,
Church of God, Vineyard, Calvary Chapel, Christian, Evangelical
Free, International Pentecostal Holiness and many others. In
addition, leading religious figures such as Billy Graham, Franklin
Graham, Bruce Wilkinson, Max Lucado and Lee Strobel have strongly
endorsed and recommended The Purpose-Driven® Life. In order
for the book to have such strong appeal among such a theologically
diverse spectrum of churches and denominations, its content must
not pose a threat to the teachings of these churches and
denominations. Likewise, the book must either keep silent
regarding the dangers of erroneous doctrine or minimize the
importance of doctrinal differences altogether. Immediately,
one should seriously question whether or not the same
spiritual journey embraced by a Seventh-Day Adventist,
Nazarene or United Methodist is a spiritual journey that is
faithful to God's Word and, therefore, worthy of his use. From the
beginning, The Purpose-Driven® Life and the 40 Days of
Purpose campaigns have been designed for ecumenical appeal. In
promotional material, Warren writes, "We're all on the same
team!" He continues:
This campaign is all about the Kingdom of God, fulfilling
his agenda in His world. Nothing brings more glory to God than
having his churches, small groups, and his people fulfilling
His Purposes. Because 40 Days of Purpose is about God's
Kingdom, it is much bigger than any individual, church or
denomination. We must work together "to serve God's purpose in
our generation. (Acts. 13:36). I hope and pray that your
church won't miss out on this movement of God. I invite you to
join us. We're waiting to partner with you on the journey of a
lifetime!
With these introductory thoughts in mind, an analysis
of the content of the book is in order. As already noted, much of
The Purpose-Driven® Life is Scriptural and helpful. Yet
several serious problems exist with the book that should cause any
believer to consider whether or not this is a trustworthy
spiritual journey consistent with the Word and will of God. The
following problems cannot be ignored:
Problem #1: Sloppy
Hermeneutics (Interpretation of Scripture)
For any
true believer embarking on a "spiritual journey," nothing is more
foundational, and thus important, than properly understanding the
Word of God, for God's Word alone provides the believer with
inerrant instruction for Christ-honoring Christian living. In
other words, how to properly understand and interpret Scripture is
a vital part of one's "spiritual journey." Promotional material
for The Purpose-Driven® Life and the 40 Days of
Purpose campaigns frequently stresses the Biblical nature of
the program, for Warren cites over 1,200 Scripture verses in his
book. Yet The Purpose-Driven® Life is seriously flawed,
hermeneutically speaking, in three ways: First, Warren completely
misinterprets and misapplies certain texts; second, Warren
presupposes his own ideas and beliefs and then "proof-texts" his
points rather than exegeting the Scriptural text in order to
discover its true meaning; and third, several paraphrases and
translations used by Warren may prove his points, but they fail to
relate even remotely the true meaning of the underlying Greek or
Hebrew text. Notice several quotes from The Purpose-Driven®
Life which demonstrate Warren's misuse and misapplication of
certain Biblical texts:
"But [God/
wanted to make you in order to express his love. God says, ‘I
have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you
from your birth. Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even
when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made
you and will take care of you.’" (p. 25). According
to Warren, this verse, taken from Isaiah 46:3-4 of the
New Century Version proves that God wanted to create mankind in
order to express His love. Yet this is God's message to Israel,
not to mankind in general nor to believers in the church today.
Warren is clearly misinterpreting and misrepresenting the true
meaning of the text as the Israelites—the original recipients of
this verse—understood it.
"Wonderful
changes are going to happen in your life as you begin to live it
on purpose. God says, ‘I know what I am planning for you ... I
have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you
hope and a good future.’ " (p. 31). Warren cites
this text (Jeremiah 29:11 from the New Century Version) several
times in his book, but this verse is not informing the believer
that wonderful changes will happen in his life once he lives out
his purpose, as Warren would have one to believe. This text
contains God's personal message to the Israelites who were
enduring the Babylonian captivity.
"You may have
been unaware that God holds you responsible for the unbelievers
who live around you. The Bible says, 'You must warn them so they
may live. If you don't speak out to warn the wicked to stop
their evil ways, they will die in their sin. But I will hold you
responsible for their death’ " (p. 283). Warren's
claim that God holds believers responsible for the death of
unbelieving friends, neighbors and acquaintances is contrary to
the teaching of Scripture. Warren attempts to find justification
for his statement by quoting Ezekiel 3:18 in the New
Century Version. However, in this text, God is directly speaking
to a prophet —Ezekiel—to whom God had given a particular, unique
task of communicating His Word. Using Ezekiel 3:18,
Warren gives the reader the impression that if the friend,
neighbor or acquaintance of a believer dies in unbelief, the
believer is at fault! Of course, personal evangelism is vitally
important to the spiritual life of every Christian, but the
believer is not held responsible for the unbeliever's
condemnation.
"For instance,
the apostle Paul almost single-handedly spread Christianity
throughout the Roman Empire. His secret was a focused life. He
said, ‘I am focusing all my energies on this one thing:
Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead..."
(p. 32). This quote is an example of how Warren intentionally
seeks out a particular translation of Scripture to support his
point even though no other translation lends any support or
credence to the one used by Warren. This quote from Philippians
3:13 of the New Living Translation may prove Warren's point—that
"knowing your purpose focuses your life"—but it does not
accurately relay Paul's words. Paul did look ahead rather
than dwell on the past, but he did not "focus all [his]
energies" on doing so. The New Living Translation takes great
liberty in adding to the true meaning of the text and, thus,
portrays the apostle as one whose entire energies were devoted
to focusing on the future rather than fulfilling the glory of
God through faithful obedience to Him.
"Jesus will not
return until everyone God wants to hear the Good News has heard
it. Jesus said, 'The Good News about God’s kingdom will be
preached in all the world, to every nation. Then the end will
come ...’ " (p. 286). This text, taken from
Matthew 24:14 of the New Century Version, is not
describing the prerequisites for Christ's imminent return for
His church at the rapture. Within the context, Jesus is
referring to the period of time during the seven-year
tribulation prior to His return to the earth to inaugurate His
millennial kingdom. At that time, the Gospel will be preached—by
natural and supernatural means—to the entire world. Then, Christ
will return with His saints to judge the nations and rule and
reign on the earth.
"That God would
want me for a close friend is hard to understand, but the Bible
says, 'He is a God who is passionate about his relationship with
you’ " (p. 86). In this text, God is not
saying He wants Rick Warren—or any other believer in the church
age—"for a close friend." This verse, which Warren quotes from
Exodus 34:14 of the New Living Translation, actually
contains God's words to Moses in which the Lord declared, "For
thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is
jealous, is a jealous God" (KJV). Of course God desires our
praise and worship and even our friendship, but for Warren to
use this text as a support for his statement that God wants
him—or any of us—for a friend is a misrepresentation of the
clear meaning of the text.
"One of the ways
God measures spiritual maturity is by the quality of your
relationships. In heaven God won't say, 'Tell me about your
career, your bank account, and your hobbies. 'Instead he will
review how you treated other people, particularly those in need (Mt. 25: 34-46). Jesus said the way to love him is to
love his family and care for their practical needs: 'Truly I
tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who
are members of my family, you did it to me ... (p. 126).’ "
This text, taken from Matthew 25:40 of the New
Revised Standard Version, refers to the judgment of the
nations which will occur following Christ's return to earth
prior to the establishment of His kingdom. The text does
not refer to the manner in which believers are to treat people
on the earth today. Rather, it details how the believing
Gentiles during the time of the Tribulation will treat
the believing Jews who will suffer for the cause of
Christ.
"In fact, the Bible
tells us that God has given us the ministry of restoring
relationships (2 Corinthians 5:18, God’s Word Translation) ...
As believers, God has 'called us to settle our relationships
with each other (2 Corinthians5:18, The Message) " (pp. 152,
154). Both translations of 2 Corinthians 5:18
may support the point Warren is trying to make— that
believers should strive to be peacemakers who restore broken
relationships with one another—but both translations have
destroyed the true meaning of the text as revealed by the
context. Second Corinthians 5:18 does not refer to
relationships between individuals but to relationships between
individuals and God. The Lord has given Christians the "ministry
of reconciliation" (v. 18) and the "word of
reconciliation" (v. 19) as "ambassadors for Christ" (v. 20)
to declare that unbelievers can be reconciled to God through
faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ (vv. 17-21).
To use this text as a Biblical support for relationship
restoration between individuals is to grossly misinterpret and
misapply the Word of God.
It is
evident that, in many instances, Warren has formulated his own
thoughts and ideas and then attempted to find verses or phrases of
Scripture to support his presuppositions. Clearly, anyone can cite
portions of Scripture to support almost any point they desire to
make, but Christians who are interested in discovering what the
Bible truly says and means must never take such an
approach. Rather, they must carefully read the Bible and
understand each phrase and each verse in its proper context (local
and remote) and determine how such texts relate to all other
teachings of Scripture.
Problem #2:
Integration of Psychological Speculation and Application
The
Purpose-Driven® Life cannot claim to be a Scripture-only
approach to living the Christian life. Throughout the book, Warren
supplements Scripture with psychological principles and
speculation in order to allow the reader to better analyze and
understand human behavior. Notice the following examples from the
book:
"Many people are driven by guilt ... guilt-driven people are
manipulated by memories. They allow their past to control their
future. They often unconsciously punish themselves by sabotaging
their own success" (pp. 27-28).
"Bringing enjoyment to God, living
for his pleasure, is the first purpose of your life. When you
fully understand this truth, you will never again have a problem
with feeling insignificant. It proves your worth" (p. 63).
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"In his book Sacred Pathways, Gary
[Thomas] identifies nine of the ways people draw near to God:
Naturalists are most inspired to love God out-of-doors, in
natural settings. Sensates love God with their senses and
appreciate beautiful worship services that involve their sight,
taste, smell and touch, not just their ears. Traditionalists
draw closer to God through rituals, liturgies, symbols, and
unchanging structures. Ascetics prefer to love God in solitude
and simplicity. Activists love God through confronting evil,
battling injustices, and working to make the world a better
place.
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Is the same "spiritual journey"
embraced by a Seventh-Day Adventist, Nazarene, or United
Methodist, a spiritual journey faithful to God's Word and worthy
of the believer's use?
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Caregivers love
God by loving others and meeting their needs. Enthusiasts love
God through celebration. Contemplatives love God through
adoration. Intellectuals love God by studying with their minds" (p. 103).
"Most conflict is rooted in unmet needs. Some of these needs
can only be met by God. When you expect anyone—a friend spouse,
boss or family member—to meet a need that only God can fulfill,
you are setting yourself up for disappointment and bitterness.
No one can meet all of your needs except God" (p. 154).
"For God to use your painful experiences, you must be willing
to share them ... Paul understood this truth, so he was honest
about his bouts with depression (quotes 2 Cor. 1:8-10, The
Living Bible). If Paul had kept his experience of doubt and
depression a secret, millions of people would never have
benefited from it" (pp. 247-248).
"You will find that people who do not understand your shape
for ministry will criticize you and try to get you to conform to
what they think you should be doing. Ignore them" (p. 254).
"[A weakness] may be an emotional limitation, such as a
trauma scar, a hurtful memory, a personality quirk, or a
hereditary disposition" (p. 273).
"Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry
will come out of your deepest hurts. The things you're most
embarrassed about, most ashamed of, and most reluctant to share
are the very tools God can use most powerfully to heal others" (p. 275).
"Gideon’s weakness was low self-esteem and deep insecurities" (p. 275).
"The Bible gives us plenty of proof that God uses all types
of personalities. Peter was a sanguine. Paul was a
choleric. Jeremiah was a melancholy. When you look at the
personality differences in the twelve disciples, it is easy to
see why they sometimes had interpersonal conflict. There is no
'right’ or 'wrong’ temperament for ministry" (p. 245).
"Today there are many books and tools that can help you
understand your personality so you can determine how to use it
for God" (p. 246).
"When you attempt to serve God in ways you're not shaped to
serve, it feels like forcing a square peg into a round hole.
It's frustrating and produces limited results. It also wastes
your time, your talent, and your energy. The best use of your
life is to serve God out of your shape. To do this you must
discover your shape, learn to accept and enjoy it, and then
develop it to its fullest potential" (p. 249).
"The best style of worship is the one that most
authentically represents your love for God, based on the
background and personality God gave you" (p. 102).
Clearly, Warren has integrated psychological principles and
speculation into his understanding of living the Christian life.
The Bible does not support the idea that one must understand his
"shape" and personality in order to effectively minister. The
Bible does not support the idea that a believer's "most effective
ministry will come out of [his] deepest hurts" or that the things
he is most embarrassed about and ashamed of are "the very tools
God can use most powerfully to heal others." The Bible does not
support the idea that "most conflict is rooted in unmet needs,"
for the Bible describes man as a sinner who does not even truly
know what he "needs." The Bible does not support the idea that we
"prove our worth" when we understand our purpose for existence.
And certainly, 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 does not support the idea that
the apostle Paul experienced clinical or psychological "bouts of
depression" just as the Old Testament does not describe Gideon's
weakness as "low self-esteem" and "deep insecurity." Warren has
clearly forced his own understanding of humanistic psychological
principles upon the Biblical texts. Such an approach is certainly
not a healthy, sound part of any spiritual journey.
Problem #3:
References to Untrustworthy Sources for Spiritual Guidance
When
embarking upon a spiritual journey, one should obviously exercise
discernment and discrimination when determining who should be
consulted and trusted for advice and inspiration and who should be
shunned. Of course, Bible-believing Christians should seek
instruction and advice from those who, first of all, possess a
relationship with God and who have subsequently demonstrated
through their lives, ministries or writings a dedication to God
and a love for Him—a dedication and love demonstrated by faithful
obedience to Him and belief in the inerrancy and sufficiency of
Scripture. Yet, in The Purpose-Driven®, Warren frequently
quotes men and women of the past and present who cannot be trusted
in any spiritual sense by believers today. In fact, several
of Warren's quotes come from the lips of those who are not only
unregenerate but who are (or have been) active opponents of
Biblical orthodoxy. Consider several individuals to whom Warren
refers and quotes in a positive manner in order to support his own
principles:
C. S. Lewis—although
loved and lauded by many Evangelicals today, Lewis' theology of
the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture and even the doctrine
of salvation is unorthodox.
Brother Lawrence—a
Roman Catholic mystic who wrote Practicing the Presence of
God, and advocated a "higher" form of prayer.
Mother Teresa—a
Catholic nun who believed that her service to others and
sacrificial manner of life procured the favor of God.
Billy Graham—a
renowned evangelist who has publicly committed to working with
Catholics, Orthodox, theological liberals and others who embrace
and propagate all manner of false doctrine.
Aldous Huxley—an
English writer who published an influential study advocating the
use of mescaline to expand perception and consciousness. Huxley,
a guru among California hippies, used LSD and became a proponent
of New Age and Hindu philosophy.
Albert Schweitzer—one
of the leading theological liberals in the 20th century; known
for his "quest for the historical Jesus."
Madame Guyon—a 17th
century French Catholic mystic
Anais Nin—a 20th
century feminist writer of erotic literature
William James—a 19th
century philosopher and psychologist of religion and an advocate
of pragmatism and religious pluralism. James wielded a pervasive
influence in American religious liberalism as he denied the
reality of absolute truth.
Henri Nouwen—cited
several times in The Purpose-Driven® Life,
Nouwen was a Roman Catholic priest, ecumenist, educator and
psychologist; one of the leading figures in introducing
psychology into the Roman Catholic Church.
The
personal beliefs and spiritual condition of the aforementioned
individuals have a profound impact on their own worldviews, and
their worldviews strongly influence their actions and writings.
Believers who desire to glorify God and embark on a spiritual
journey with Him must rely on God's Word, heeding only the
teachings of Godly pastors and teachers whose beliefs, worldviews
and subsequent actions coincide with the will of God as revealed
in His Word.
Problem #4: Absence
of Important Spiritual Truths for Anyone's Spiritual
Journey—Holiness and Separation
According to The Purpose-Driven® Life, the
second purpose of a believer's life is to learn to love others (p.
125). Warren says believers have been formed for God's family, and
as part of that family, they must experience life together,
cultivate community, restore broken fellowships and protect their
church. Certainly these aspects of the Christian life are
important, but God is just as concerned about personal holiness
and the purity of His church. Sometimes this demands separation or
a word of reproof and rebuke, which then leads to broken
fellowship and disharmony at times. According to Warren, love is
the essence of God's character (p. 24). Yet the Bible declares
that God is also a God of holiness, and holiness is just as
important to God's character as love (1 Pet.1: 15-16). Noticeably
absent from Warren's book is any emphasis on the need for personal
holiness and purity of doctrine. Certainly, in any believer's
spiritual journey, pure doctrine is vitally important, for the
only truths anyone knows about God and the process of living the
Christian life stem from the teaching (doctrine) of God's Word. In
fact, any acceptance of false doctrine or those who propagate it
actually hinders one's relationship with God and usefulness for
Him (Psa. 66:18; 2 Cor. 6:14-7: 1; 2 Tim. 2:16-21)—certainly
something to consider when embarking on a spiritual journey.
Warren, however, never warns the believer to watch out for
false doctrine or harmful fellowships—in fact, he minimizes the
need for doctrinal purity by stressing the importance of "love"
and "unity" above anything that would cause strife or division. He
emphasizes that believers should refuse to let anything divide
them and castigates any judgmental believers or those critical of
the beliefs, actions or teachings of others. In other words, he
believes "love" and "unity" should take precedence over "doctrine"
and "purity" in the church—despite the fact that God's Word
frequently links true, Biblical, agape "love" with
"obedience" to the commandments of Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:15; 1 Jn.
2:3-5). This is a serious flaw. Notice several examples:
"Real community
happens when people know it is safe enough to share their doubts
and fears without being judged" (p. 149).
"God warns us over
and over not to criticize, compare, or judge each other (Rom.
14:13; James 4:11; Eph. 4:29; Matt. 5:9; James 5:9). When you
criticize what another believer is doing in faith and from
sincere conviction, you are interfering with God’s business.
'What right do you have to criticize someone else’s servants?
Only their Lord can decide if they are doing right’ (Rom. 14: 4
CE V)" (p. 164).
"Paul adds that we
must not stand in judgment or look down on other believers whose
convictions differ from our own: 'Why, then, criticize your
brother’s actions, why try to make him look small? We shall all
be judged one day, not by each other’s standards or even our
own, but the standards of Christ’ (Rom. 14:10, New Testament in
Modern English)" (p. 164).
"Servants think
about their work, not what others are doing. They don t compare,
criticize, or compete with other servants or ministries ...
Competition between God’s servants is illogical for many
reasons: We’re all on the same team ... we've been given
different assignments" (p. 268).
"When you're busy
serving, you don't have time to be critical. Any time spent
criticizing others is time that could be spent ministering ...
It is not our job to evaluate the Master’s other servants"
(p. 268).
Of
course, anyone should feel free to share his doubts and fears with
other believers and speak his mind, but a truly loving Christian
will also "Judge" the doubts, fears, beliefs and teachings of the
individual if such are harmful to his spiritual well-being.
Likewise, believers are commanded by God Himself to "judge
righteous judgment" (Jn. 7:24) and to discern between truth and
error, good and evil. Discernment entails righteous judgment.
Warren claims believers are not to judge or criticize another
believer who is ministering "in faith and from sincere
conviction," yet the Bible clearly declares repeatedly that man is
capable of being deceived! Self-deception is a real danger among
believers today. False teachers are not only "deceiving" others
but are "being deceived" themselves (2 Tim. 3:13). Sincerity
cannot be the test of truth! Yes, God forbids malicious ill-will
and unwarranted criticism among believers, but a child of God is
not exempt from inspection and criticism simply because he is a
believer or because he is ministering in sincerity. Personal
attacks against any person are unbiblical. Yet, God Himself
requires analysis and discernment of one's doctrine or teaching.
Notice several other quotes by Warren:
"Conflict is
usually a sign that the focus has shifted to less important
issues, things the Bible calls 'disputable matters’ (Rom. 14:1;
2 Tim. 2:23). When we focus on personalities,
preferences, interpretations, styles, or methods, division
always happens. But if we concentrate on loving each other and
fulfilling God’s purposes, harmony results. Paul pleaded for
this: 'Let there be real harmony so there won't be divisions in
the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in
thought and purpose’ (1 Cor. 1:10 NL T)" (p. 162).
"We share the same
salvation, the same life, and the same future—factors far more
important than any differences we could enumerate" (p. 161).
"Because you were
formed to be a part of God’s family and the second purpose of
your life on earth is to learn how to love and relate to others,
peacemaking is one of the most important skills you can develop" (p. 153).
"But for unity’s
sake we must never let differences divide us. We must stay
focused on what matters most—learning to love each other as
Christ has loved us, and fulfilling God’s five purposes for each
of us and his church (pp. 161-162).
"Nothing on earth
is more valuable to God than his church. He paid the highest
price for it, and he wants it protected, especially from the
devastating damage that is caused by division, conflict, and
disharmony" (p. 161).
God
does love His church and paid the highest price for it, and
He does want us to protect it. However, believers do not
protect it by clamoring for peace at any price and minimizing
important doctrinal differences for the sake of a false unity.
According to Warren, God wants His church protected "especially"
from damage caused by division, conflict and disharmony. According
to the Bible, however, God wants His church protected "especially"
from contaminating agents such as false teachings, false teachers
and wicked behavior (Acts 20:273 1; Rom. 16:17; 1 Thess. 4:1-3; 2
Thess. 3:6, 14; 1 Tim. 1: 18-20; 2 Tim. 2:16-22; 1 Jn. 4:1-6). The
church is protected when believers in the church exercise
discernment and judge all teachings, philosophies and programs by
the Word of God and subsequently separate from any that conflict
with the doctrine of the apostles as given by God Himself.
Problem
#5: Doctrinal Error Regarding Important Biblical Truths
The
Purpose-Driven® Life contains other doctrinal
problems that could adversely impact the life of a believer who
truly purposes to glorify God in his daily Christian walk. Three
problems in particular are worth noting.
First,
Warren paints an inaccurate picture of the Judgment Seat of
Christ—both its participants and its purpose. On page 34, Warren
writes:
"One day you will stand before God, and be will do an audit
of your life, a final exam, before you enter eternity. The Bible
says, 'Remember, each of us will stand personally before the
judgment seat of God... Yes, each of us will have to give a
personal account to God.’ (Rom. 14:10b, NL T). Fortunately, God
wants us to pass this test, so be has given us the questions in
advance. From the Bible we can surmise that God will ask us two
crucial questions: First, 'What did you do with my Son, Jesus
Christ? 'God won't ask about your religious background or
doctrinal views. The only thing that will matter is, did you
accept what Jesus did for you and did you learn to love and
trust him? ... Second, 'What did you do with what I gave you?.
Preparing you for these two questions is the goal of this book."
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Despite Warren's claims, Jesus will be concerned
about a believer's doctrinal views at the Judgment Seat of
Christ, for what one believes determines how one thinks and
acts.
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Warren's claim that God will ask, "What did you do with my Son,
Jesus Christ?" is unfounded in Scripture. The participants at the
Judgment Seat of Christ will be those who have believed in Christ
already. Second Corinthians 5: 10 says "we" must appear before
Christ at the Judgment Seat. Likewise, in Romans 14: 10, Paul
writes that "we shall all stand before the Judgment Seat of
Christ." In these verses, Paul is writing to Church-Age
saints—this includes all believers today. The apostle Paul also
exhorted Timothy to labor fervently for the Lord since Christ will
judge both the living and the dead at His return (2 Tim 4:1-2, 8).
Timothy, like each believer today, lived during the Church Age and
will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ. The apostle John
told believers to monitor their actions and conduct in order to be
certain that they do not lose reward (2 Jn. 8). It is evident that
all believers |
| during this Age of Grace will one day
stand before Christ at the Judgment Seat. Unbelievers will have no
part of this gathering, for the judgment at the Great White Throne
is reserved for them alone (Rev. 20:11-15). Warren
then adds, "God won't ask about your religious background or
doctrinal views. The only thing that will matter is, did you
accept what Jesus did for you and did you learn to love and trust
him?" This statement is entirely inaccurate. Whether a believer
accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and learned to love and trust Him
is not "the only thing that will matter." Despite Warren's
claims, Jesus Christ will be concerned about a believer's
doctrinal views at the Judgment Seat, for what one believes
determines how one thinks and acts, and the Judgment Seat of
Christ revolves around the works (or lack thereof) and thoughts
(including motives) of believers. Doctrine is extremely important
to God! According to the Bible, the purpose of the judgment Seat
of Christ is to determine the believer's rewards according to his
works while on earth. Second Corinthians 5: 10 says Jesus Christ
will judge the believer's earthly deeds to determine whether or
not they were worthy of reward. Paul told the Corinthian
believers, "Every man's work shall be made manifest" (1 Cor.
3:13). All Church-Age believers will either receive reward or loss
of reward according to their works (2 Cor. 5: 10) as well as the
motives behind their works (1 Cor. 4:5). Paul describes all the
believer's works as "good or bad." Good works are any deeds
accomplished according to the will of God which He classifies as "rewardable."
The Lord will reward a believer's works on the basis of their
quality (1 Cor. 3:13), the attitude and manner in which they were
accomplished (1 Cor. 4:2) and the motive for which they
were accomplished (I Cor. 4:5). "Bad" works are those deeds that
are not accomplished according to the will of God which He does
not deem to be rewardable. Bad in this context means "good
for nothing" or "worthless" in the eyes of God. It is important to
understand that the purpose of the Judgment Seat of Christ is not
to determine one's eternal destiny, for those who will stand
before Christ at this judgment are already believers and will
spend eternity with Jesus Christ. Neither is the purpose of the
Judgment Seat of Christ to punish believers for their sins, for
they have already been forgiven by Christ at the very moment they
believed in Him. Rather, the Judgment Seat of Christ is all about
one's actions and motives on the earth—and one's doctrine plays a
vital role in one's actions and motives!
Another
doctrinal problem worthy of consideration centers around Warren's
teaching concerning worship. Notice the following quotes from the
book:
"A Samaritan woman
once tried to debate Jesus on the best time, place and style for
worship. Jesus replied that these external issues are
irrelevant" (p. 100).
"Christians often
differ on the most appropriate or authentic way to express
praise to God, but these arguments usually just reflect
personality and background differences. Many forms of
praise are mentioned in the Bible, among them confessing,
singing, shouting, standing in honor, kneeling, dancing, making
a joyful noise, testifying, playing musical instruments, and
raising hands. The best style of worship is the one that most
authentically represents your love for God, based on the
background and personality God gave you" (p. 102).
Warren gives the reader the impression from the aforementioned
quotes (and from other statements in the book) that worship is
relative—a self-styled (almost "anything goes") act or attitude on
the part of a believer. But he seems to contradict himself at
times, for at one point he correctly asserts, "Worship isn't for
you. It's for God" (p. 66), while earlier in the book, he stated,
"We worship God by enjoying him" (p. 55)—in essence, placing the
focus of worship on our enjoyment of God rather than upon God
Himself. Warren teaches his readers that style and form of worship
are irrelevant; in other words, whatever "most authentically
represents your love for God" denotes worship. Once again, worship
becomes subjective, self-styled and man-centered. |
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It is impossible to truly worship the Lord while
simultaneously living in an unholy manner or utilizing any
unholy means for worship.
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The Bible, on the
other hand, declares three important prerequisites for worship
that influence not only the content of worship but the form and
style as well. The Bible commands us to worship God in spirit, in
truth and in the beauty of holiness (Jn. 4:24; Psa. 29:2). First,
we must worship God in spirit. Our worship is spiritual communion
with God, not our own pleasant physical or emotional experience.
Our pleasure is not the key—God's pleasure is! Worship is not one
particular, isolated act we accomplish but an attitude of
reverence that flows forth from us as we obey Him. Worship is
spiritual, not physical. It is all about God, not about us.
Second, we must worship in truth. Truth is the platform on which
we must stand |
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if we are to accomplish
anything according to God's will. We must worship in accordance
with the Word of God—His instruction to us concerning how we are
to think and act. Therefore, worship must never conflict with the
commandments of God as revealed in His Word—Truth. Third, we are
to worship in the beauty of holiness (see Psa. 29:2; 96:9; 1 Chron.
16:29). Holiness, or separation from anything contrary to the
nature, Word and will of God, is beautiful to the Savior. It is
impossible to truly "worship" the Lord while simultaneously living
in an "unholy" manner or utilizing any "unholy" means for worship.
True, God-honoring, Biblical worship is totally isolated from
anything offensive to the nature of God or anything that
contradicts His will for His children.
Because worship is integrally linked to humility, truth, holiness
and obedience to the Lord, we actually worship our God by doing
His will—whatever it might be—with a proper heart attitude.
Therefore, we worship God by praying to Him, by singing to Him, by
being separated unto Him, by studying His Word, by applying His
Word to our hearts and lives, by obeying Him in whatever He
commands us to do. This is true, Biblical worship! Moreover, we
must keep in mind that worship always entails reverence. We
worship God in spirit, in truth and in the beauty of holiness with
utmost reverence (fear, respect) for Him. Reverence (and therefore
worship) is not intended to make us feel good; it is intended to
glorify our Savior. Humility and selflessness are imperative!
Worship is integrally linked to obedience to the Savior, not to
how we feel. We worship Jesus Christ by
glorifying Him, thanking Him and magnifying His name through song,
prayer, fellowship, study of the Word and application of the Word
to our lives in obedience to Him. And, of course, all this must be
accomplished reverently in spirit, in truth and in the beauty of
holiness. Believers must derive their theology of worship from the
Scriptures—not from an unholy, ungodly culture or from fellow
believers who feel at home in this culture and draw their methods
for "worship" from it.
One's
understanding of personal holiness and separation, the judgment
Seat of Christ and Biblical worship directly impacts one's daily
Christian walk with God. These are not trivial "non-issues," but
important doctrines clearly taught in the Scriptures for the
purpose of equipping believers for effective ministry and for
instructing believers how to "abide" in Christ. One's beliefs—as
well as his actions and motives—do matter to God. Yet
throughout The Purpose-Driven® Life, Warren
lightly esteems the believer's actions and claims one's
intentions, motives or character are more important to God. Notice
several quotes:
"Much confusion in
the Christian life comes from ignoring the simple truth that God
is far more interested in building your character than he is
anything else ... God is far more interested in what you are
than in what you do" (p. 177).
"God uses
circumstances to develop our character. In fact, he depends more
on circumstances to make us like Jesus than he depends on our
reading the Bible" (p. 193).
"God is always more
interested in why we do something than in what we do" (p.
265).
Each
aforementioned statement is dangerous, untrue and untrustworthy
spiritual advice for anyone's spiritual journey. Yet, the idea
that God is far more concerned with one's motives or character
than with one's actions is a prominent theme of the New
Evangelicalism, and this errant teaching has served as an impetus
for worldly, ungodly and unholy living among professing Christians
for many years. Often, when a believer questions the unbiblical
actions of another professing believer (that it, he exercises
discernment and "judges righteous judgment"), he is branded as
"judgmental" or "unloving" or "legalistic." "Don't judge me. You
don't know my motives" or "I am sincere in my actions, and that is
all that matters to God" is the cry of the professing believer
accused of unbiblical actions. Yet the truth is this—both motives
and actions matter to God; both character and good
works are equally important to Him. God desires integrity of
character and purity of motive, but He also requires obedience and
faithfulness as manifested in "good works." The Judgment Seat of
Christ proves that one's works, as well as one's motives and
character, truly matter to God (1 Thess. 4:1-2). Believers
are to be "sincere and without offence till the day of Christ"
(Phil. 1: 10-11).
Problem #6:
Premise/Thesis of Book Inconsistent With Scripture
The
purpose of Warren's book is to answer the age-old question: "What
on earth am I here for?" According to Warren, believers have been
placed on the earth to fulfill five purposes. He writes, " [God]
has clearly revealed his five purposes for our lives through the
Bible" (p. 20). These purposes, according to Warren, are to bring
enjoyment to God (p. 63), to learn to love others (P. 125), to
become like Jesus Christ (p. 17 1), to serve God (p. 23 1) and to
fulfill one's mission (p. 28 1). Yet it can be argued that
Warren's thesis itself—that these are the believer's five purposes
for existence as "clearly revealed" in the Bible—is not entirely
consistent with the teaching of Scripture. The Bible only declares
one purpose for mankind's existence: to glorify God. This is man's
purpose. From the beginning of a believer's spiritual life in
Christ until he is with Jesus Christ forevermore, he is to live
"to the praise of [Christ's] glory" (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14). Throughout
all eternity God's children will glorify Him (Rev. 4:11). Because
the believer is "bought with a price," he is commanded to "glorify
God in [his] body, and in [his] spirit" (1Cor. 6:19-20). This is
man's sole purpose and reason for existence.
Believers
have certain responsibilities in Christ—means by which they
glorify God. These means are revealed in Scripture and include
several of Warren's "purposes"—loving others, becoming like
Christ, serving God and fulfilling one's God-given mission of
evangelism. But the means by which a believer glorifies God
must never become the purpose for existence, for In such an
instance, it is possible for the means to conflict with the
purpose. For example, if a believer's purpose is to glorify God
and also to fulfill his mission of evangelism, the believer
may compromise the Gospel message or unite with unbelievers in
order to fulfill his purpose of evangelism. Yet such tactics do
not glorify God, for they are contrary to the teaching of God's
Word. In other words, a believer may embrace the idea that "the
end justifies the means" in order to evangelize simply because
evangelism is a purpose for existence. However, when one
understands that the glory of God is the sole purpose for living,
he will evangelize and serve and love others according to the
dictates of God's Word, and God will always be praised and
glorified in the process.
Warren's
writing style also contributes to some confusion regarding man's
five purposes for living. Because Warren frequently uses
superlatives in order to prove his points, the reader may become
confused as to what, exactly, is most important to God or most
important in the believer's life. Notice several statements Warren
makes throughout the book:
"The greatest
tragedy is not death, but life without purpose" (p 30).
"The smile of God
is the goal of your life" (p. 69).
"[God/ longs for
you to know him and spend time with him. This is why learning to
love God and be loved by him should be the greatest objective of
your life" (p. 70).
"What does God care
about most? The redemption of his people. He wants all his lost
children found! That’s the whole reason Jesus came to
earth. The dearest thing to the heart of God is the death of his
Son. The second dearest thing is when his children share that
news with others" (p. 97).
"There is
nothing—absolutely nothing—more important than developing a
friendship with God" (p. 99).
"How you treated
other people, not your wealth or accomplishments, is the most
enduring impact you can leave on earth" (p. 125).
"The third reason
to make learning to love other people the goal of your life
is that it is what we will he evaluated on in eternity" (p. 126).
"God’s ultimate
goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character
development" (p. 173).
Those reading Warren's book might wonder, "What, exactly, is the
greatest goal or objective of my life? Is it the smile of God? Is
it to learn to love God and be loved by Him? Is it to develop
character? Is it to develop a friendship with God? Is it learning
to love other believers? Or, does God care about the redemption of
the unsaved more than any of the above?" Warren seems to make "all
of the above" of supreme importance when, in reality, these
various goals and objectives are not identical. Of course, each of
these goals and objectives is important, but the reader could gain
a much clearer grasp of God's requirements for his life if he
understood his sole purpose for existence—to glorify God—and then
fulfilled this purpose by accomplishing God's will (exercising the
means by which God is glorified) exactly as God has
declared in His Word.
Problem #7: Promotion
of the Entire Purpose-Driven Philosophy
Some
believers who use The Purpose-Driven® Life may disagree
with Warren's Purpose-Driven® church philosophy as spelled
out in his book The Purpose-Driven® Church yet still feel
as though they can follow and recommend The Purpose-Driven®
Life program. But Warren's book The Purpose-Driven® Life
and his 40 Days of Purpose campaigns are integrally
linked to and intentionally promote his entire Purpose-Driven®
philosophy—including his Purpose-Driven® Church program
(for a Biblical analysis of Warren's Purpose-Driven® Church
program, request a copy of the FEA publication "What About the
Church Growth Movement?"). Throughout The Purpose-Driven® Life,
Warren encourages his readers to read The Purpose-Driven®
Church, to implement Purpose-Driven® ministries in
their churches and to purchase several other Purpose-Driven®
resources. In fact, Warren includes an appendix at the end of
The Purpose-Driven® Life that lists additional resources
for the reader. Every resource mentioned is associated with
Warren's Purpose-Driven® program.
Conclusion
The
Purpose-Driven® Life may contain some helpful, Biblical
truths, but it cannot be trusted to lead a believer on a spiritual
journey that is completely true and faithful to the Word and will
of God. Why? Because Warren often misinterprets Scripture to his
own advantage, conjoins untrustworthy, humanistic psychological
principles with Biblical truths, minimizes the importance of sound
doctrine, deems holiness and biblical separation as less important
than love and unity, refers to enemies of the faith as positive
contributors to one's spiritual journey and promotes his entire
Purpose-Driven® program. For these and other reasons,
believers cannot trust The Purpose-Driven® Life and
churches should refrain from participating in the 40 Days of
Purpose campaigns.
Through
formulating his own outline and principles for Christian living
and subsequently "proof texting" his presuppositions by finding
Scripture texts and translations that coincide with his ideas and
philosophy of Christian living, Warren has effectively laid out a
blueprint for Christian living consistent with what he
thinks a Christian should be but not a blueprint reflecting what
God desires of the believer. In other words, a believer who
embarks on a spiritual journey and uses The Purpose-Driven®
Life as a guide may become the type of Christian Rick Warren
wants him to become, but he will not become the type of Christian
God desires him to become—a Christian dedicated to the whole
counsel of God and to faithful obedience and holy living.
Any time
a Christian leader minimizes the importance of doctrine and sound
Biblical interpretation, he can make the Bible say whatever he
wants it to say. At that point, no one can argue or disagree with
his interpretation because interpretation has become relative and
irrelevant. Warren specifically tells the reader that focusing on
"Interpretations" of Scripture results in division (p. 162).
Therefore, any criticism leveled at The Purpose-Driven® Life
for faulty interpretation of Scripture will be labeled
"divisive." Yet, interpretation and doctrine are important
and must be a central part of anyone's spiritual journey.
At the
end of his book, Warren tells the reader, "In this book I have
passed on to you what others taught me about the purpose of life;
now it's your duty to pass that on to others" (p. 309). Warren
admits that his book contains "what others taught [him] about the
purpose of life" and then urges believers to propagate his
discoveries. Yet believers must disciple others in the faithful
teachings of the Word of God—not Rick Warren. Believers must heed
and proclaim the words of the New Testament apostles and prophets
who penned the words of Scripture and commanded believers to
"teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2) and to "stand fast, and hold the
traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our (the
apostles') epistle" (2 Thess. 2:15). The Word of God is sufficient
to equip the believer "for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be
perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim.
3:16-17). Yes, the Bible is sufficient, and yes, God does use
pastors and teachers to train and disciple believers in the truths
of Scripture, but The Purpose-Driven® Life is not
consistently faithful to God's Word and therefore must be rejected
by serious, discerning believers. |
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Related Articles:
Successful Church
Leadership - According to Whom? - D.W. Costella
Mar- April 2000
The Church Growth Movement -An
Analysis by D.W. Costella Mar-April 1998
What Constitutes A True Apostolic Church?:
Jan-Feb 2002
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