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

THE DARK SIDE: Truth, Unity...& Compromise! C
Brad Reiches
Jan 2 2007 11:29PM

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Wednesday, January 3, 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 3C :  Truth, Unity & Compromise 

"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

Yet, Warren declares, "We must never let differences divide us" (p. 161).  Thank goodness Martin Luther didn't buy into that!  He says that, "Unity is the soul of fellowship" (p. 160).  And to that I say, "No, NO, NO!"  As we have discussed, TRUTH IS THE SOUL OF TRUE FELLOWSHIP!  We are NOT a Rotary Club!  We are the Church!  JESUS IS SUPPOSED TO BE OUR MODEL!

JESUS NEVER CHOSE UNITY OVER TRUTH.

HE NEVER COMPROMISED TRUTH

FOR THE SAKE OF UNITY, IN FACT...

JUST THE OPPOSITE!

Warren says that we shouldn't allow "interpretations" to divide us (see p. 162), but the Bible teaches just the opposite (see 2 Peter 1:20-21).  JESUS CAME TO DIVIDE by uncompromisingly proclaiming the truth (see Matthew 10:34ff.; Luke 12:51ff.; John 14:6; 15:18-19).  Jesus loved the world SO MUCH! that He was willing to risk unity for the sake of potential freedom by preaching the truth. 

What do the pharisees and sadducees and the apostles and the "woman at the well" and "the prostitute" and "the rich, young ruler" and the "money-changers" and His closest followers (see John 6:66) and EVERYONE ELSE that Jesus ever came in contact with have in common?  He told them the truth!  Unity was determined BY THEIR RESPONSE to the truth.

UNITY IS A BI-PRODUCT.

(take a really close look at John 17)

If they received the truth that Jesus presented, then they were unified with Him.  If they did not receive the truth of Jesus, then they were divided.  Biblical unity, or likemindedness, stems from mutual acceptance of the truth, NOT a mutual agreement to not allow truth to divide us (see Philippians 2:2).

Brothers and sisters, Jesus didn't go around "seeking unity," "Do not think that I came to bring peace..." (see above).  He went around loving people enough to tell them the truth...The truth that makes people free.

To withhold the truth is to withhold the means to the freedom that people so desparetly need.