OK, I came across this video and it provoked some thought. Tell me what you think.
It brings to mind how many a Christian feels that they have to wear some sort of badge or participate in some activities to be a Christian. They need to read all the latest books, know all the latest catch phrases, and participate in all the latest Christian activities. The "industry" surrounding Christian community and education is just a targeted and profit driven as secular industry. They speak the same marketing language and have the same goals.....to turn a profit. The sad thing is that many people think that because they have read The Purpose Driven (insert noun here) that they are fulfilling their obligation to their commitment to Christ. Just another way to disguise works based salvation. I'm not saying that Christian material is bad, but we need to check ourselves constantly to make sure that we are Christ's disciples and not the disciples of the Pastor at the top of the best seller list that week.
6 comments:
While I do like keeping up to date with what the Church is being “sold”. I think its more interesting how when we talk about what some of the latest “Purpose Driven hoopla” is lacking and offer a critique we are often seen as “to theological” or not open minded enough to allow for some other points of view.
As a Christian I am called to “the faith” that was once and for all delivered to the saints. To be in one accord with the apostles doctrine! If I or anyone else even an angel from heaven come preaching any other gospel; let us all be accursed… I watched a video of PASTOR Rick Warren stating this… “ If you want to make God smile you need to be the best you that you can be! If you’re a basketball player be the best one you can be if a teacher be the best one you can be! When we do that, God smiles at us and says Atta boy!” Im not sure how he can say this. I read of a God in scripture that is pleased only in His Son. A God who will not incline His ear to the wicked. A God who will only be smile on those who are found to be in Christ in that great and terrible day…
I think it's even more interesting that we feel the need to critique such books that are clearly very useful as "milk" in the spiritual feeding process. Not everyone is provoked into worship by deep theological discussions and the idea that focusing on having a purpose driven ANYTHING is somehow equivalent to the idea of works based salvation is garbage.
It serves its purpose very well and when we focus more on what the rest of the world or even other churches/pastors have to say more than what God has to say we're wasting our time. I feel we play this game of "us against them" to such a degree that it comes off as defensive.
In the end spreading the notion that these books are insufficient at best as an act of serving God is nothing more than a work as well. I am quite frustrated with the Christian culture of being touchy feely, but am equally frustrated with those who feel they need to take a hard stance against it in order to preserve a semblance of intellectualism.
“when we focus more on what the rest of the world or even other churches/pastors have to say more than what God has to say we're wasting our time.”
That’s my point. When its all said and done all the people that have read the Purpose driven books or Olsteens or whomever will not have read an actual book of the bible during that time. Sure the book is and all those others are GREAT for feeding the spiritual senses.Olsteens are awesome from a moral standpoint. I only want to know to what spiritual end? Suppose I had only this book to read. In the end does this info bring me out from under the wrath of God? Is the actual gospel contained there in? Does the book give a message that could be easily have been written by a Muslim, Buddhist or Jew? Pastor warren touts that reading his book will change your life in 40 days! I question any book that claims that other than the bible.
Anyone who spends even a short amount of time studying Gods word will be able to instantly see and recognize verses used out of context (which Pastor Warren does in excess). Holding up theology to its proper position is not intellectual snobbery. Doctrine is at the core of everything we believe. Time and time again I ask Christian after Christian to tell me about their salvation and what the gospel actually is and they “all” look at me with blank expressions. However if I need to know how to charge my spirit or need 5 steps to a better me, they all have an opinion.
“In the end spreading the notion that these books are insufficient at best as an act of serving God is nothing more than a work as well.”
Look, I think Pastor Warren is right about the church needing to do more good works. He is dead wrong when he claims that the day of creeds is over. This is error and I wont go along with it. Our message should be Christ and Him crucified! As a pastor its his calling. When he writes about the things we can do to find purpose and focus but never once warns the readers that things are not ok between them and God outside of Christ all the purpose driven stuff will be in vain. As for me, if I don’t tell men about the gospel I am not loving them. The truth is people don’t know the gospel at all… Its not something you live out. It’s not something you hope people will see in you. it’s a message. Its something to be believed. It is a truth statement…
In love dear brother…
~Michael
A buddy of ours in my small group brought us each a "wwjd" bracelet this past evening. I put it on. In my opinion, the bracelet has gone the half circle of Christian faddism and now squarely rests in the "uncool" camp. Now I will really have to put myself out there in secular circles as I wear it. Come to think of it...I'll probably take it off later on today.
Having gone through 40 Days and reading the book I really did find it pointing back to Christ on different levels. It certainly helped my focus in that time period. However, it was only that, "some focus" and I did not really take away anything more than that. I have only recieved that from the full frontal assualt of the Bible. Of which it's words still rips into my black heart driving my body to it's knees. I would say that 40 Days was a good "following up" book to read from the perspective of the author on how the Bible has helped him focus. I would never endorse it over the Scriptures as substitute reading.
I think we all need to be at the Vanguard when it comes to wolves in our midst preaching anything other than Christ. Warren blew up and became much more than what he is due to effective communication, snappy packaging and Christian marketing. He's become easy pickings for The Vanguard. Thats cool because the marketing became the message. Which is something else I think this post is pointing out to me.
Mike,
I hear what you're saying. The Bible is only real source of truth. But we sit in church every Sunday and listen to a pastor who opens the word and then proceed to insert his biases and opinions as well as formulate applications for our lives -- how is this any different from a book written by some other pastor?
I see it a different way. I see kids so filled up with random theological facts that they are simply regurgitating and have not applied any of it to their lives. Most people (in the church and out) simply act in a way that allows them to go with the flow. Sure we've created a good solid moral culture in the Christian community, but how real is it to them? You ask them 'why do we worship' and they give this canned response that serves no purpose. By going through the Purpose Driven Life we're able to talk in simple terms that hopefully sparks a desire for them to learn more directly from the Bible which is clearly the only real source of truth in the whole discussion.
I think I hear what you're saying, but I just tend to have a different perspective. I see so many people blindly follow this pastor or that pastor on the most ridiculous of details that it's frightening. Anything that causes them to own their faith and steer them to the real truth of the word is a good thing in my mind.
And as a side note, one can read the Old Testament and feel that salvation is an act of works. You have to take it all into account. There are plenty of suggestions as to how to lead a "purpose driven life" that many would conclude as promoting work based happiness or salvation. I, however, read it and it forced me to evaluate exactly how I was thinking of God and my life and what my actions were saying about what I believed.
Overall I find it frustrating that we (the Christian culture at large) makes these cursory evaluations about not only the secular world, but things that are likely created for the purpose of bringing glory to God and then proceed to incorporate it into the behavior of its people until we're nothing more than a group of finely groomed sheep.
Oddly, I think we share a very similar mindset overall. I just don't think that reading the PDL is where I'm going to start my campaign of things not to do.
“But we sit in church every Sunday and listen to a pastor who opens the word and then proceed to insert his biases and opinions as well as formulate applications for our lives -- how is this any different from a book written by some other pastor?”
The difference is in this. The Pastor is to deposit the word of God in its full understanding and exposition to the church. He is also to lead us in the taking of the sacraments. The Pastor should at all points rid himself of any preconceived notions or platforms and give us the word as it was intended to be understood. Pastor warren does not do this. He starts with a presupposition and uses verses out of context to prove his point.
“I see it a different way. I see kids so filled up with random theological facts that they are simply regurgitating and have not applied any of it to their lives.”
I completely disagree. Yes, they can regurgitate a couple of truth claims, but as soon as you make them dig a little deeper (into the theology behind it) they have no answer. I wish I had the time and typing skills to put down here some of the conversations I have had with some students. Mind blowing!
“I think I hear what you're saying, but I just tend to have a different perspective. I see so many people blindly follow this pastor or that pastor on the most ridiculous of details that it's frightening. Anything that causes them to own their faith and steer them to the real truth of the word is a good thing in my mind”
Amen and amen! That is why I can never endorse The Purpose Driven Life. The truth is this. Pastor Warren leaves us feeling that if we do and follow this book, after 40 days our lives will be greater. This may be true! All I ask is this; can I read the book and walk away with a clear understanding of what I must do to be saved? At no point does he warn anyone that God is angry with their sin and He is going to come and judge them. If they are found in Christ! They will be saved. If they are not. Eternal suffering cut of from Him forever. This book was #1 on the NYTimes best seller list. A great host of people are unaware of how to be saved even after using this book to the fullest.
Anyway. Im currently working on my own book called “A Quicker Purpose Driven Life”. In it im using all the references to God working in 7 days (creation, walls of Jericho) to blow Warrens 40 day idea out of the water. Kind of like when the 8 minute abs tape came out and people forgot about 10 minute abs.
~Michael
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