Rick Warren Finds the Missing Link

[Revmitchell]

I see it as "love your neighbor as yourself".

You see what as this?

 

[webdog]

You see what as this?

what you called an "ecumenical ideology".

 

[Revmitchell]

what you called an "ecumenical ideology".

What is it you think I called an ecumenical ideology?

 

[Joseph M. Smith]

I think of that wonderful line from Justin Martyr, "Whatever has been uttered aright by any men in any place belongs to us as Christians." Other faith-bases systems that are not rooted in Christ are, of course, fatally flawed, but that does not mean that they contain no truth.

As for Rick Warren -- this is going to be off-topic, but I have to share it with SOMEBODY: Last Thursday night I met with a man who, having been caught in an egregiously immoral practice, found Christ. I will not describe it all here, other than to say that is was the purest and most complete conversion I have witnessed in a long time. It started when his Catholic wife gave him a copy of "Purpose-Driven Life" to read. SHE recognized that although it is not a book that agrees with Catholic teaching, in it were valuable truths.

He came forward on Sunday and will presumably be baptized at Easter. His wife and son were present and I hope they too will follow. Warren's book is helping to change lives -- I also remember a young Ethiopian woman at the church I pastored who came to Christ and to a sense of purpose after I gave her that book.

 

[Revmitchell]

I think of that wonderful line from Justin Martyr, "Whatever has been uttered aright by any men in any place belongs to us as Christians." Other faith-bases systems that are not rooted in Christ are, of course, fatally flawed, but that does not mean that they contain no truth.

As for Rick Warren -- this is going to be off-topic, but I have to share it with SOMEBODY: Last Thursday night I met with a man who, having been caught in an egregiously immoral practice, found Christ. I will not describe it all here, other than to say that is was the purest and most complete conversion I have witnessed in a long time. It started when his Catholic wife gave him a copy of "Purpose-Driven Life" to read. SHE recognized that although it is not a book that agrees with Catholic teaching, in it were valuable truths.

He came forward on Sunday and will presumably be baptized at Easter. His wife and son were present and I hope they too will follow. Warren's book is helping to change lives -- I also remember a young Ethiopian woman at the church I pastored who came to Christ and to a sense of purpose after I gave her that book.

To bad it wans't the word of God.

 

[saturneptune]

To bad it wans't the word of God.

The spelling is "too." The contraction "wasn't." When speaking of the Word of God, the "W" is upper case.

My guess is for all the flaws of Rick Warren, he beats the fire out of some purpose driven Pharisees on this board.

 

[donnA]

Rick Warren is stating that increasing aid to poverty is dependent upon faith based organizations. That they are, to quote the article, the "missing link" to successfully beat poverty. That is about as close to "wiccan" as he said...which in my estimation is trying to turn his point around to make him sound like a heretic. I don't think he even mentioned any particular organization. Just "faith based".

His point isn't false religions, his point is that faith based organizations need to step up to the plate in contributing more to poverty. That is my interpretation.

Then he isn't supporting or recommending wiccan or anything else. All he's really saying is religious peoples, whoever they may be, need to contribute, at least financially to aiding those in need. I happen to think we all should no matter what we say we believe. It doesn't sound like he isn't advocating joining forces with anyone else (wiccan, islam, etc.), just saying everyone should do their part.

 

[Revmitchell]

Then he isn't supporting or recommending wiccan or anything else. All he's really saying is religious peoples, whoever they may be, need to contribute, at least financially to aiding those in need. I happen to think we all should no matter what we say we believe. It doesn't sound like he isn't advocating joining forces with anyone else (wiccan, islam, etc.), just saying everyone should do their part.

Who is everyone?

 

[donnA]

Who is everyone?

Everyone who isn't one of the needy in the world. We all live on this planet, and we should all be responsable for helping those who can't help themselves. (and I'm thinking those who live in extreme poverty, no food,etc.)

 

[Revmitchell]

Everyone who isn't one of the needy in the world. We all live on this planet, and we should all be responsable for helping those who can't help themselves. (and I'm thinking those who live in extreme poverty, no food,etc.)

Would everyone include wiccans and moslems? Who aren't needy?

 

[Joshua Rhodes]

RM - If you're set against RW, that's fine. But you're becoming obstinate.

Hey this Ethiopian woman I know came to Christ because of truth she encountered in Purpose-Driven Life. Isn't that great?

"Too bad it wasn't the Word of God."

That's ridiculous. There is Scripture all throughout the PDL. Who are you to determine what the Spirit will use to draw her to Jesus?

 

[pinoybaptist]

“Global Strategist” and apostasy enthusiast Rick Warren was at Georgetown University yesterday and declared that “faith-based organizations” are the missing link to solving the world’s problems. Wiccans apparently would qualify. They do, after all, have faith. The future of the world, he declared, is religious pluralism. But what is religious pluralism anyway? Doesn’t that just mean tolerance for those of different beliefs who may live in your neighborhood, i.e. avoiding the Muslim propensity for burning down the houses of elderly Christian converts? (While they’re inside.)


http://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/article.php/3044/Ingrid_Schlueterhttp://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/article.php/3044/Ingrid_Schlueterhttp://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/article.php/3044/Ingrid_Schlueter

I think Rick Warren is simply being consistent with his theology, as little as I know of it.
It is good for Christians and churches to help the poor, anywhere they may be found, but, Scripturally, I think the poor mentioned in the Bible are those who are part of a church or of a community where a church is but this "helping" should be done within the context of a church's autonomy and individuality.

No church or pastor can or should compel others to "work hand in hand with them".

Each, if truly churches of the New Testament, is responsible to her Master and no one else.

 

[dan e.]

To bad it wans't the word of God.

Are the first three letters of your name "Rev"?!!!

My goodness REV.....you're lashing out at people you don't like and sure aren't making any BIBLICAL sense....especially for a REV!

 

[JamieinNH]

Are the first three letters of your name "Rev"?!!!

Well you do know they hand out degrees for a tidy cost of $39.95 if you go to their website and say you want to be a minister.

Jamie

 

[JamieinNH]

“Global Strategist” and apostasy enthusiast Rick Warren was at Georgetown University yesterday and declared that “faith-based organizations” are the missing link to solving the world’s problems. Wiccans apparently would qualify. They do, after all, have faith. The future of the world, he declared, is religious pluralism. But what is religious pluralism anyway? Doesn’t that just mean tolerance for those of different beliefs who may live in your neighborhood, i.e. avoiding the Muslim propensity for burning down the houses of elderly Christian converts? (While they’re inside.)


http://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/article.php/3044/Ingrid_Schlueter

Quoted from RW:

In his speech, Warren argued that the solution of the world’s greatest problems lie in what he called the “third partnership.” The third partnership involves a relationship between faith communities, the government and the business sector.

“If business and government were able to solve the world’s problems by themselves, they would have done it by now. A combination of the public, profit and parish sector is needed,” Warren said. “The government has the administrative power to form agendas and set goals, the business sector can provide the expertise, the capital and the managerial skills, and the church can provide the distributive network and the local credibility.”

<snip>

Warren pinpointed the world’s problems in five main broader issues: spiritual emptiness (lack of God’s love in life), egocentric leadership and corruption, extreme poverty, pandemic diseases and illiteracy.

“Jesus did five things, the antidotes for those five problems: He promoted reconciliation, equipped servant leaders, assisted the poor, cared for the sick and educated the next generation.”



So what is wrong with this idea? I think he make's a great point to show how, in a combination of faith communities, the government and the business sector can all work together to solve some of the world's biggest problems.

I don't understand why you think it's wrong to band together for a common cause? Banding together to help the needy doesn't make a statement that you agree with another religion or even that it's the way to live.

Jamie

 

[just-want-peace]

RM - If you're set against RW, that's fine. But you're becoming obstinate.

Hey this Ethiopian woman I know came to Christ because of truth she encountered in Purpose-Driven Life. Isn't that great?

"Too bad it wasn't the Word of God."

That's ridiculous. There is Scripture all throughout the PDL. Who are you to determine what the Spirit will use to draw her to Jesus?

Mar 9:38-39

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out demons in Your name, and he does not follow us. And we forbade him, because he does not follow us. But Jesus said, Do not forbid him. For there is no one who shall do a work of power in My name who can lightly speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us.

Seems some Christians think that any other Christians who are successful in this world's accomplishments are automatically heretics, and just can't stand it; regardless of their spiritual victories.:tear:

 

[Revmitchell]

Mar 9:38-39
Seems some Christians think that any other Christians who are successful in this world's accomplishments are automatically heretics, and just can't stand it; regardless of their spiritual victories.:tear:

It actually seems that some Christians impose unknowable motivations on other Christians.

 

[Revmitchell]

Quoted from RW:

In his speech, Warren argued that the solution of the world’s greatest problems lie in what he called the “third partnership.” The third partnership involves a relationship between faith communities, the government and the business sector.

“If business and government were able to solve the world’s problems by themselves, they would have done it by now. A combination of the public, profit and parish sector is needed,” Warren said. “The government has the administrative power to form agendas and set goals, the business sector can provide the expertise, the capital and the managerial skills, and the church can provide the distributive network and the local credibility.”

<snip>

Warren pinpointed the world’s problems in five main broader issues: spiritual emptiness (lack of God’s love in life), egocentric leadership and corruption, extreme poverty, pandemic diseases and illiteracy.

“Jesus did five things, the antidotes for those five problems: He promoted reconciliation, equipped servant leaders, assisted the poor, cared for the sick and educated the next generation.”



So what is wrong with this idea? I think he make's a great point to show how, in a combination of faith communities, the government and the business sector can all work together to solve some of the world's biggest problems.

I don't understand why you think it's wrong to band together for a common cause? Banding together to help the needy doesn't make a statement that you agree with another religion or even that it's the way to live.

Jamie

What "religion" do think those other cults that RW wants to ban together with will be spreading in the midst of all this unity? Do you think it will be the gospel of the cross? And it does in fact make you guilty by association. God said not to even bid them God speed when they come to your house.

 

[Revmitchell]

Are the first three letters of your name "Rev"?!!!

My goodness REV.....you're lashing out at people you don't like and sure aren't making any BIBLICAL sense....especially for a REV!

Now you are just exagerating and mischaracterizing my posts. Add to that a personal attack. I have only disagreed with his position. I haven't made any attacks like you are doing here.

 

[Revmitchell]

RM - If you're set against RW, that's fine. But you're becoming obstinate.

Hey this Ethiopian woman I know came to Christ because of truth she encountered in Purpose-Driven Life. Isn't that great?

"Too bad it wasn't the Word of God."

That's ridiculous. There is Scripture all throughout the PDL. Who are you to determine what the Spirit will use to draw her to Jesus?

So it wasn't the book but the scripture in the book?