A Purposeful Look at "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren - Part 2

The last post covered some information about the book "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. In that past, we covered 1) The Popularity of the Book, 2) The Purpose of the Book, and 3) The Problems with the Book. (If you have not read that posting, I recommend that you read it before continuing on.)


IT is the job of every Christian to "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (I Thess 5:21) We need to be careful about what kind of spiritual information we are receiving. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (I John 4:1) Many do not test, or try the spiritual things that they hear, but believe anything and everything. For believers, this should not be the case. "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" (Ephesians 4:14) Thus, we need to grow and mature to be able to discern what is true and false doctrinally speaking.



HAVING read the book "The Purpose Driven Life" (hereafter PDL) by Rick Warren, and tested it with the scriptures, I would have to conclude, upon solid Biblical evidence, that it is a false and even dangerous book.


IN Part 1, we began covering some of the problems with PDL. As was said in Part 1, PDL quotes from several different versions of the Bible (whichever version is convenient to the point the author intends to make), and quotes doctrinal heretics without disclaiming their heresies. For Part 2, we will take a look at Rick Warren himself.

I. Warren is Ecumenical

A. His Books Appeal to All Denominations
From the back of the “Purpose Driven Life” about Warren, “He also founded the Purpose Driven Movement, a network of tens of thousands of churches from denominations in 160 countries.”

B. He Associates with known heretics

1. John Wimber, Founder of the Vineyard Churches
a. Taught people to seek after miracles
b. A self proclaimed faith healer
Note: He wasn’t real successful though. He admitted, “Not all diseases are equally responsive” to his healing ministry, though he claimed high success for healing headaches and back aches. Both he and his son died of cancer.
c. He Warned Against Testing Everything
(1) He Warned Against Worshipping the Book
(2) He Accused Some of Being “too heavily oriented to the written word.”
d. Wimber emphasized experience over doctrine
He said this during one of his seminars, “It’s evil when you hide behind doctrinal beliefs that curtail and control the work of the Spirit…The church today is committing evil in the name of sound doctrine.” (From “Defense” by David Cloud) He also said this at one of his meetings, “Don’t be alarmed by anything you see…And above all don’t try to rationally evaluate the things you will see…Subjecting the revival to doctrinal tests is the surest way to put out the fire!” He also said, “If my experience topples my theology, then I am giving more credence to my experience than to theology.”
2. Robert Schuller
Listen to this quote:
"And there's Rick Warren, a pastor who today is phenomenal. He came to our institute time after time." And in "Christianity Today," his wife was quoted as saying, "When we came to that institute, we were blown away." How God has blessed him. And today Rick Warren is blessing millions of people." - This was said by Robert Schuller.

Hear another quote from a website article entitled, “Hop Aboard the Handbasket to Hell” Speaking of PDL: “I disliked portions of it, I mostly dismissed my gripes as a response to the shallowness of it all--now I'm seeing more and more that it's not only milk, but much of it is spoiled milk. The more I learn about Rick Warren, the more I find the face of Robert Schuller, head heretic of the Crystal Cathedral (America's most glorious tribute to another gospel). Smith carefully documents how many of Warren's concepts came straight from Schuller, to the point that Schuller probably has grounds to accuse Warren of plagiarism, but he undoubtedly proudly sees Warren as a protege. As Tim Stafford wrote in Christianity Today in 2002: During his last year in seminary, he (Rick Warren) and Kay drove west to visit Robert Schuller's Institute for Church Growth. "We had a very stony ride out to the conference,” she says, because such nontraditional ministry scared her to death. Schuller, though, won them over. “He had a profound influence on Rick,” Kay says. “We were captivated by his positive appeal to nonbelievers. I never looked back.”
a. Robert Schuller Promotes Self Esteem Theology
“To Be Born Again means that we must be changed from a negative to a positive self-image…” (Self-Esteem: the New Reformation pg.68)
b. False Teachings
(1) on Sin
“Sin is any act or thought that robs myself or another human being of his or her self-esteem.” (Self-Esteem: the New Reformation pg.14)
(2) On Hell
“A Person is in Hell when he has lost his self-esteem.” (Self-Esteem: The New Reformation pg. 14,15)
(3) On the Crucifixion
“The Cross Sanctifies the Ego Trip. For the cross protected our Lord’s Perfect Self-Esteem from turning into sinful pride.” (Self-Esteem: the New Reformation pg. 75)
c. Warren Incorporates Much of Schuller’s Teachings in His Book
Note: The back of the book claims that Warren’s work has a “psychological acuity” and it indeed does.
Example: Chapter 20 "Restoring Broken Fellowship"
* HE Says Focus on Feelings, Not Facts
Warren makes the following statement: “Before attempting to solve any disagreement you must listen to people’s feelings. It means pay close attention! Focus on their feelings, not the facts (huh?). Begin with sympathy, not solutions.” (Pg 155)
* What Does the Bible Say?
1) "Tell Him His Fault" (Matthew 18:15-17)
Note: Nothing About Feelings Here!
2) Confess Your Faults (James 5:16; Matthew 5:23,24)
3) He Says, Emphasize Reconciliation Not Resolution
“It is unrealistic to expect everyone to agree about everything. Reconciliation focuses on the relationship, while resolution focuses on the problem.” (Pg 158)
To this we say, there can be no reconciliation with our resolution! If the problem is not resolved, that exists within a relationship of any character or classification, then the relationship cannot be truly reconciled; especially if that problem is of a sin nature.

Warren also associates with…
3. Bill Hybels, and many other false teachers
II. Warren Promotes False Doctrines
A. On Unity
1. Advocates Unity in the so called Universal Invisible Church sense
Note: He Says, “You are responsible to protect the unity…in your church family and among all believers.” And how are we to do this, Mr. Warren?
2. Focus on What we Have in Common, Not Our Differences
“God’s wants unity, not uniformity. 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.”
“Conflict is usually a sign that focus has shifted to less important issues, things the Bible calls ‘disputable matters.’”
Well, Mr. Warren, what things are disputable, or indifferent?
“When we focus on personalities, preferences, interpretations, styles, or methods, division always happens.”
Note: Now, I would agree with 3 out of five of those: personalities, preferences, and styles. But do not tell me that method and interpretation are not important! "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)
3. What Does the Bible Say?
a. Scriptural Unity is a Unity of Doctrine (Eph 4:3-6)
b. Scriptural Unity is Within a Local Body/Church (Eph 4:4)
Note: Our responsibility is unity of the local church not all believers.
B. On the Ordinances
1. Baptism
a. In His Book Warren Says baptism is the following
(1) Symbolizes participating in the fellowship of God’s eternal family.
(2) Is a visible reminder of an inward commitment
(3) Should be immediately after conversion
b. On His Church Website, Warren says baptism:
(1) Illustrates Christ’s Burial and Resurrection
(2) Illustrates One’s New Life as a Christian
Note: It’s interesting to notice the doctrinal positions that Warren holds when it comes to his books and when it comes to his church. I’ll point this out a little later. But do you notice a difference already?
c. What Does the Bible Say?
(1) Baptism Is a Local Church Ordinance (Matthew 28:18-20)
(2) Baptism is Required for Church Membership (Acts 2:41,47)
Note: Warren’s congregation holds baptisms monthly at the beach. May we emphasize that this is a public beach. The baptisms are said to be held near lifeguard tower number 12. They encourage women to wear shorts and a T-shirt, and men to wear swimming trunks when they get baptized. Thus all holiness is removed from the sacred ordinance of baptism.
2. The Lord’s Supper
Warren puts forth the question, again from his church website,
a. Who Should Take the Lords Supper? His Answer:
“Only those who are already believers in Jesus Christ.”
b. What Does the Bible Say?
(1) The Lord’s Supper is a Church Ordinance
(2) Consider the following:
i. Jesus Instituted the Ordinance With His Church (Matthew 26:26-28)
ii. Paul’s Directions for Partaking of the Lord’s Supper are Given to the Church at
Corinth (I Cor 11)
Note: Warren’s church allows members to hold communion services in separate little groups if they desire it.
iii. The First Lord's Supper Was Given to the First Church Members
The apostles were the first members of the first local New Testament church. "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." (I Cor 12:28) These apostles were chosen during Christ's earthly ministry. "And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles." (Luke 6:13) These men were the only ones present with Christ for the institution of the Lord's Supper. Judas, who was lost, was sent out before the supper. Thus the Supper was CLOSED to non-believers and non-church members alike.
III. Warren is Two-Faced
As an Example: Is Warren a Fundamentalist?
A. Is he against it? Listen to this:
From The Philadelphia Enquirer: "Warren predicts that fundamentalism, of all varieties, will be 'one of the big enemies of the 21st century.'" Warren: "Muslim fundamentalism, Christian fundamentalism, Jewish fundamentalism, secular fundamentalism - they're all motivated by fear. Fear of each other.”
B. Is he for it? Listen to this from his church website:
“Saddleback Church is unapologetically fundamentalist."
He’s whatever he needs to be at the moment!

Conclusion: You look at an apple with a worm hole, or a bunch of brown spots, and say, “That’s a bad apple.” You don’t bite into it! In the same way, we’ve examined the life of a man who has set himself forward to be a spiritual guide for everyone else. We’ve seen the "worm-holes" and "brown spots." He’s a “bad apple” - a false teacher. Don’t “bite” into his theology. Reject it. “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” (Romans 16:17) God bless you all!