Rick Warren

"High level of missions" is what the church is for. "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every person." "Go therefore and disciple all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you."

That's missions. Every Christian is commanded to be a missionary. Every church is to reach its Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the world.

When you walk out of the church house you enter the mission field. Some sacrifice a little and reach their friends, family, and neighbors. Some sacrifice all and go to the ends of the earth to reach people who don't look like them, don't dress like them, don't act like them, and don't speak the same language.

It has been said that missions is the heart of the church. I say missions IS the church. Without missions all you have is a social club for bored dilettantes.

 

How many here remember a member with the screen name "JustJohn?" He was on staff at Saddleback. He worked with Brother Warren every day. He would be the first to admit that Rick Warren did not always speak well when making extemporaneous comments. He would often make confusing remarks which later needed clarification. John used to joke that his main job was to keep Brother Warren away from live microphones.

Let's look at some of the accusations made against Brother Warren.

"Christians and Muslims worship the “same God.”"

No, Muslims do not worship the Triune God of Christianity. But that is not what Brother Warren was saying. All he meant was that both Christians and Muslims are monotheists, both worship one God. Brother Warren has never said Jehovah and Allah are the same God.

What about that agreement between Saddleback and the Muslim community that we will not try to convert one another?

Again, Brother Warren was not saying that we should not all be good witnesses to our Islamic neighbors. He was saying that we don’t have to “get people to convert.” Our obligation, according to the Great Commission, is to go and tell all the nations about the gospel of Jesus Christ, leaving the results entirely in the hands of the Holy Spirit. We are not to argue them into submission but to proclaim Christ and Him Crucified and let the Holy Spirit draw them to Christ.

Brother Warren has demonstrated the courage to step outside the Evangelical comfort zone and offer friendship to those of such a different and misunderstood culture that the average Evangelical is scared to death when even catching a glimpse of such a person. And for his courage he is being condemned by his so-called brethren in the faith.