THE DARK SIDE: Truth, Unity...& Compromise! B

THE DARK SIDE: Truth, Unity...& Compromise! B
Brad Reiches
Jan 2 2007 11:39AM

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Tuesday, January 2, 2007
GodThoughtsWired!

The Purpose Driven Life, by Dr. Rick Warren has become a global influential.  It's impact transcends the Church community as a significant portion of both the secular and the religious communities have embraced it.  Indeed, The Purpose Driven Life has become one of the best selling non-fiction books in the history of the universe, second only to the Bible.  As  reviewed last week, I have benefitted from this book in many ways, however, it is now time to examine Warren's work in light of scripture, to be like the Bereans (see Acts 17:11), and only "hold fast to that which is good" (see 1 Thess. 5:20-21).  This week:  "The Dark Side of...The Purpose Driven Life."

THE DARK SIDE OF...
"The Purpose Driven Life"

PART 3B :  The Compromise of Truth for the Sake of "Unity"

"Do you suppose that I came to grant peace

on the earth?  I tell you, no, but rather division...

Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth;

I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

Luke 12:51; Matthew 10:34

The "Prince of Peace" did NOT come to bring peace on the earth.  He came to bring division.  He came to bring a sword.  How are we to understand such difficult words?  Actually, it turns out, such words are very reasonable and logical.  Let me explain.

The Bible says that Jesus came to "set the captives free" and "proclaim liberty" to all who would receive Him (see Isaiah 61:1-3).  Indeed, one of the primary reasons Jesus came to the earth was freedom.  "It was for freedom that Christ set us free" (Galatians 6:1).  So, here's the key question:  "How is someone 'set free?'"  Ours is a world of men and women in "bondage to sin" (Romans 7:14). Millions upon millions of people are imprisoned by lust, money, power, food, sexual perversions of all kinds.  So how is freedom possible?

The answer is...TRUTH!

"You shall know the truth,

and the truth shall make you free."

John 8:32

"He whom the Son sets free is free, indeed!" (john 8:36).  "Truth" is the way to freedom.  Truth enables prisoners of sin to be made free.  There is only ONE WAY to become free, and that is by embracing the truth that Jesus Christ provides.  In fact, He IS the Truth.  Jesus alone.  "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6).  No one gets to God but through Jesus, and the road to "freedom" is exactly the same.  So what does all of this have to do with "unity?"  Oh, I'm so glad you asked!

You see, "truth," by it's very definition, is a DIVIDER.  Truth divides that which is false from that which is true (No, I didn't say truth is "divisive," people become divisive when they refuse to accept the truth).  Sadly, no...TRAGICALLY!, timid teachers and gutless preachers by the myriads have stopped presenting the TRUTH because of the divisive response that is the norm from all those who reject Christ (a.k.a.  "The Truth").  Why is this so tragic?  Because,

 To reject the truth is to reject the

one thing that can make you free.

The only way to be "unified" with someone who rejects the truth is to compromise the truth yourself.  However, when you compromise the truth for the sake of "unity," you are withholding the one thing that can bring freedom to the individual(s) with whom you are seeking "unity."  WHAT A HORRIBLE TRADEOFF!  "I want to be your friend and I want you to like me so I won't talk about truth, thus leaving you in bondage, but at least we're "unified."  Uhhh, that's certainly not love, and that's precisely what Jesus DID NOT do.  Jesus never preached unity, He preached truth, and those who received His truth were naturally unified (we will discuss Jesus' prayer in John 17 at the conclusion of this study).

So here's where much of the American Church is currently missing it.  Are you ready?  TRUTH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN UNITY! 

Jesus didn't come to bring peace because He knew

that the truth He DID bring would not be universally received.

It would DIVIDE those who DO receive Him from those who DO NOT.  To think, or practice anything else is DELUSION.

Hell is full of unified people.

So, what does all of this talk about "Truth, Unity & Compromise" have to do with Rick Warren and The Purpose Driven Life?  We'll  begin that discuss that tomorrow.