THE DARK SIDE: Warren's Wacky World of Salvation!
Brad Reiches
Jan 9 2007 12:26AM
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Tuesday, January 9, 2007
GodThoughtsWired!
The Purpose Driven Life, by Dr. Rick Warren has become a global influence. 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 earlier reviewed, 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). We've acknowledged the "Bright side," and now..."The Dark Side of...The Purpose Driven Life."
THE DARK SIDE OF...
"The Purpose Driven Life"
PART 4 : Gospel Light: Warren's Wacky World of Salvation*
This is pehaps the most dangerous and, detrimental to the cause of Christ, teaching that Warren has to offer. He preaches a "repentantless" gospel that is "at best," incomplete, and "at worst," foreign to the scriptures.* Warren proclaims, "All you need to do is receive and believe" (p. 58). All that is needed to be "saved" in Warren's World, according to the book, is this simple prayer: "Jesus, I believe in you and I receive you." He confirms, "If you sincerely meant that prayer, congratulations! Welcome to the family of God" (p. 58). NO WONDER WARREN'S CHURCH IS SO BIG! Of course, there are 4 MAJOR PROBLEMS with Warren's theology:
1. Jesus. The "Jesus" that Warren portrays in The Purpose Driven Life is "at best," incomplete, and "at worst," inaccurate. Warren makes no reference to the Jesus of the Bible who said, "I came to bring division." Warren makes no reference to the Jesus of the Bible who gave the following criteria for following Him, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up your cross daily and follow Me...he who wishes to save his life must lose it for My sake" (see Matthew 16:24ff). Mere acknowledgment of Jesus in not nearly enough. This is what the Mormons, Muslims, & Jehovah's Witnesses all have in common. They all acknowledge Jesus but, according to the Bible...they are not saved.
2. Believe. If all we had was Warren's teaching on salvation, we might be apt to believe that the demons are saved. "The demons also believe" (see James 2:19). Demons know who Jesus is, they cerainly "believe," but they are not saved because they do not "put their trust" in Him. Such is the case for "many" people who think they are saved, but are not (see Matthew 7:21-23).
3. Receive. It is certainly true that we must "receive" Jesus in order to be saved (see John 1:11-12), however, this is terribly incomplete teaching. For example, Hebrews 10:26-27 says, "If we go on sinning willfully, after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for our sins, but only the certain terrifying expectation of judgment..." (bold mine). These verses indicate that it is possible to "receive" Jesus, but not understand the critical role that "repentance" plays in all who are saved.
4. Repent. Biblically, there is no such thing as salvation without repentance.
Isaiah: "In repentance and rest you shall be saved" (Isaiah 30:15).
Jeremiah: "Return (repent) O' faithless sons...Return (repent) O' faithless sons..Return (repent) O' faithless sons..(Jeremiah 3:10, 12, 22).
Ezekeil: "For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, declares the Lord God. Therefore, repent and live" (Ezekiel 18:32; see also, verses 20-31).
John the Baptist: "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand" (Matthew 3:2).
Jesus: "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand" (Matthew 4:17).
Peter: "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
Paul: "God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent...That they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance" (Acts 17:30; 26:20).
The 12 Apostles: "They went out and preached that men should repent" (Mark 6:12).
Jesus to the churches of churches of Revelation: "Repent...Repent...Repent...Repent...Repent...Repent...Repent...Repent..." (Revelation 2 & 3).
The angels: "There will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents...There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:7, 10).
On page 58 of the second most popular non-fiction book on earth, The Purpose Driven Life, the author declares that if you sincerely pray, "Jesus, I believe in you and I receive you," then, "Congratulations! Welcome to the family of God."
I fear Mr. Warren's book has been mislabled. Why? Because, according to the Bible, "salvation" according to page 58 of The Purpose Driven Life is...FICTION.
*I want to remind us that this series is an evaluation of a book, not a man. Warren DOES mention "repentance" at a later point in the book (although, even then his definition, "to change your mind" is still terribly incomplete. It is true that repentance does mean "to change your mind," however, the critical context must include "to change your mind BY turning away from sin and turning to God." Without this critical clarification, biblical "repentance remains misunderstood). With that said, the point still remains that p.58 of The Purpose Driven Life proposes a salvation without repentance that is foreign to the prophets before Jesus, the Disciples after Jesus, and Jesus Himself. My heart agonizes over the potential "millions?" who may find themselves standing before Jesus on Judgment Day saying, "Lord, Lord, did I not say the prayer 'Jesus, I believe in you and I receive you'?" And then Jesus will declare to them, "I never knew you. Depart from Me you who practice lawlessness" (see Matthew 7:21-23).
