Purpose Driven Life Question

[CompassionateConservative]

I had fewer problems with the PDL book itself than the DVD lessons and Study Guide. I do not mind his use of multiple translations and paraphrases in/of itself. The most important issue I had was with the prayer for salvation at the end of the first lesson.

Having spent the entire lesson equating the lost man's life to "a life w/o purpose" (with which I also differ), Warren then leads in a prayer: "God, I want your purpose in my life. Come into my life." He states this a couple different ways, says "Amen," and welcomes the person to the Family of God. Much of the gospel message is, in my opinion, either lost or dilluted with the DVD's first lesson.

 

[jshurley04]

The important thing to remember is that no matter what you use, we all must be faithful to the Word. If what we use is not 100% what we believe it should be then we must incorporate so that our message is never less than 100%.

 

[Berean]

Reading the PDC & PDL is like reading USA TODAY or eating at McDONALDS, "Filling but not much nutrition"

 

[Eleazar the Ahohite]

gtbuzzarp,

I read the first article you provided. very interesting.
I want to send you a private message about AoG but don't know how. who are they?

 

[william s. correa]

Well I beleive the man has a book. But has he read The "BOOK"?[ AV 1611 ]

 

[guitarpreacher]

I doubt you could read the AV1611

 

[tinytim]

Please keep the versions debate in the versions section....

 

[william s. correa]

Originally posted by guitarpreacher:
I doubt you could read the AV1611

If you have a 10th grade reading level you can!

 

[StraightAndNarrow]

Originally posted by william s. correa:
Well I beleive the man has a book. But has he read The "BOOK"?[ AV 1611 ]

He could do that but I bet he'd find the Apocrypha a bit unfamiliar.


http://etext.virginia.edu/kjv.browse.html


Although the writings known as the Apocrypha are often not included in Protestant Bibles, they were translated and included in the original King James Bible of 1611, and they are offered here for use by interested readers.

 

[Marcia]

I thought PDL was a mixed bag. It has some good stuff I heartily agreed with, other stuff, not.

The two main things I did not like about PDL:
1. RW's liberal use of The Message.
2. The biblical texts RW cited did not necessarily or always support what he was saying.

 

[jshurley04]

Originally posted by Marcia:
I thought PDL was a mixed bag. It has some good stuff I heartily agreed with, other stuff, not.

The two main things I did not like about PDL:
1. RW's liberal use of The Message.
2. The biblical texts RW cited did not necessarily or always support what he was saying.

I will admit that some of the references were weak and had to be streached to understand the connection. I do believe however that there were probably better verses to use had he just stuck with one version.

 

[jshurley04]

Originally posted by william s. correa:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by guitarpreacher:
I doubt you could read the AV1611

If you have a 10th grade reading level you can! </font>[/QUOTE]This is not a form for translation debate. If you wish to do so please go to the proper form and I will gladly join you. If you continue to stray from the OP then I will request that the topic be closed. Everyone has done very much what I have asked in not attacking the man, just a discussion of his works. For that I say, THANK YOU!

 

[william s. correa]

Originally posted by jshurley04:
I have read many posts that are highly critical of Rick Warren and many of his books, especially the "Purpose Driven Church" and the "Purpose Driven Life". I do not want to get into a discussion on the man, Rick Warren; however, I do want to know why there is such intense dislike (trying to be nice) for his books?

I have read both of the books listed and have found them different but altogether sound. I would have done things differently as far as how it was structured and keeping with one translation of scripture. All in all, I have found them to be good and worth while books. I would simply like to discuss what the problems are from those of you who dislike these books.

I apreciate your question, I read The purpose driven life, did the 40 days which are Biblical but only given in Scripture; but since you will not allow Versions or what ever, I beleive you missed the point alltogether since his book has about 13 or so versesion oops sorry, I'll try not to qoute Bible to try and prove what I beleive is getting alot of people side tracked. About 3 years ago I was in a bad very wreck , I'm ok now thank God, but at the time I was abusing drugs , alchohol, and away from God. after the wreck I went to some friend house and they gave me The Purpose Driven Life, Wow no one ever gave a book excepet my dad when I was 3 about chess. So I signed the covenant My wife also, and began the jouney. To make a long story short after the 40 days I was left with a dissapointed feeling of "whats next"? That wed. I went to church and heard my Bro in law preach on Acts 9 when Paul was converted, The Holy Spirit convicted my sin and went to the altar. the next day I just asked God what he wanted me to do for him, and gave a text out of Jerimiah 7:1-6, and the rest is history. well got togo. thanx and God bless

 

[gtbuzzarp]

Originally posted by Eleazar the Ahohite:
gtbuzzarp,

I read the first article you provided. very interesting.
I want to send you a private message about AoG but don't know how. who are they?

AoG = Assemblies of God

http://ag.org/top/

Or skip to their 16 Fundamental Truths

 

[Emily25069]

I can tell you why I dont personally like them.

I really really REALLY did not like the fact that he used so many versions of scripture. I dont like when any Christian Author does that because even though I am not KJ-only or anything like that, it makes it seem as though he is trying to make the bible say what he wants it to as best as he can.

Also, it did seem overall that he bounced severely between calvinism and armenianism, in a way that wasnt balanced at all. It has been a couple of years since I have read the book, so I wouldnt be able to quote any passages where I felt this way, but I do remember thinking that some areas contraindicted themselves in reguards to Gods election vs. our choices, and I was not the only person in our group who felt that way.

Other than that, I felt it was pretty candy-coated. Im not against feel good messages in general, but it was just too sugary sweet for me.

 

[IveyLeaguer]

Originally posted by Emily25069:

I really really REALLY did not like the fact that he used so many versions of scripture. I dont like when any Christian Author does that because ... it makes it seem as though he is trying to make the bible say what he wants it to as best as he can.

Sure does, doesn't it? And your perception is on target in this case, because that is exactly what is going on in the PDL.

 

[shannonL]

Jshuley,

I'm afraid if RW did use fewer or only one version then some of his thoughts would not even stand up.
I'm sorry but he has some good points on some things but a 5th. grader could see when he was taking some passages out of context.

I just couldn't believe a guy that has so much going on ministry wise would be so flipant with the Scriptures.

 

[BroShane]

His unwillingness to quote the entire verse, many times, changes the meaning even if the change is subtle. It was like he got this idea and went and found bits and pieces of scripture to back it up, rather than letting the scripture form his ideas through the Spirit.

Also, not putting the citations right there with the verses many times (but putting them in the end notes) almost seems like he didn't want you to take the time to be able to check the context and use of the verse while you were studying. Again, this seems like an attempt at scripture to bolster an idea and not letting scripture stand and drawing from it.

 

[Jannee]

This is my first post. Nice to see you all here

BroShane those were my thoughts exactly. It was my #1 issue with PDL.
As a fairly new believer, I spent days correcting the wrongs in it with the goal of using it for a bible study. My hand was soooo tired but I learned alot. Over half of the book is marked up. The author kept condradicting himself over and over. When I can mark up pages so easily, then go online to find my concerns "validated" by others, that does concern me.
On the flip side, the bible study I first attended was created by a former Saddleback Member who was very high up in the Author's church. She is so funny. I admire her as a wonderful godly woman. I know others who attend a church plant of Saddleback whom are wonderful godly people. They all believe the Author (R.W) is a Christian.
The PDL book seems to have produced many TRUE disciples despite all of the errors. The author is now calling it a devotional, I don't know if a devotional is something good to use as a bible study. I might still use it despite the errors since I spent time to correct alot of them. Being so new, I don't trust my discernment skills but I am trying.

 

[tinytim]

It seems like whether you agreed or not with RW, God used the book to get people to dive into His Word. That has to be a good thing.

If you don't know why you disagree with RW, then find out... find the scripture to prove him wrong.. I remembered thinking while reading it, that I would have written this, or that, better if I was the author.. I didn't agree with him 100%. But it drove me to the Bible (no pun intended) to prove him wrong...The same with some on BB.. I don't even agree with my pastor about somethings... or my wife.... BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY!

God wins no matter what.