Rick Warren & the Purpose that Drives Him

<a href="http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/10/5220.html?" target="_blank">Hi Richard. Welcome to the Baptist Board. Perhaps, you would like to join in a discussion that I began about the Purpose Driven Life and give us your perspective about it here at this link I am giving you here. I look forward to seeing your insight as a member of Rick Warren's Church.

Joseph Botwinick</a>

 

Unfortunately, it seems as if Richard is not here to discuss, but merely sell his book.

web page

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I believe the word for this is spam, and it is really shameful that you chose to do this here on the Baptist Board. Shame.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Its a shame defending the purpose driven trap.$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

Bro sm.

 

I went to Richard's site. One of my quotes on "the Jimmie Hendrix" incident made it onto his link concerning the matter complete with my name and the name of the Baptistboard. My pastor took our church through the PDL book. Yet I could never imagine him singing one line of "purple haze" in any type of a setting.Be it a joke or whatever.
I read some different things on Richard's site.
He accuses anyone who is critical of PDL or Warren as being a pharisee. To me his book is nothing more than a "spin machine" designed to discredit any critics. "I haven't read the book" but from all the stuff on his site it has to be something of that nature.
On his link defending Warren's use of the term "breath prayers" Abanes says that just because RW used some terminology that is the same as some false religions doesn't mean RW meant it in the same way. That may be true. But why even use a term that would confuse people. What I did notice is the fact that Abanes failed to mention that RW got the idea from the french monk, Brother Lawrence. That may not bother some people but it bothers me. Just my opinion. He never warns people that Lawrence was from a "works" salvation point of view. He doesn't warn them because he thinks we can benefit from some "classic catholic authors,etc... I really don't care what RW does. Our church did the PDL thing I didn't like it. We gained a member or two. Our church was strong without doing it. I didn't run and tell the pastor off about it . The reason the book has such mass appeal is because it is so vague or generic whatever you want to call it. Yes it does mention salvation. Yet, it only mentions what happens if you don't except Christ for about a split second.
I guess in a nutshell I would say it like this
I believe in reading the PDL you could discover your purpose without ever discovering the Savior.
The fact that the book can be taught in a catholic setting should make one leary. Actually I'm sick of hearing about the book. It will fade over time. Fads always do.

 

The worst thing about Warren's book is the atrocious use of paraphrases to support his assertions.

Many of the things Warren teaches in the book are correct, but his Scriptural references don't match the points he's trying to make.

If the book does anything, it reduces the Bible to a "proof-text" encyclopedia where one can get the Bible to say whatever he wants it to say if he looks at enough translations or paraphrases. Warren actually demeans the very Scriptures he claims to uphold.

His publisher should be embarrassed. Warren should be ashamed.

 

Richard,

You're not helping your cause.

You are not so ignorant that you didn't know how to post to this board. You did so at least three times. Good grief.

As to Warren's misuse of Scripture, I see you still haven't answered that objection.

 

Richard,

1. If you didn't read the rules of the board before agreeing to abide by them, then I would suggest you go back and do so.

2. It was clear after 3 copied and pasted posts that you were not interested in discussing, only selling your book.

3. Was that e-mail from the owner of the board? If it were me, first, I would have read the rules of the board before responding, and then asked permission from the owner to sale my product here since spamming is against the rules of the board.

4. If you would still like to discuss, I still look forward to reading your perspective as a member of Saddleback.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Here's a question for Richard.

Did Rick Warren use church time to write the book? I understand that he took seven months to write the PDL. Is that true?

If so, why aren't the royalties going to the church? Yes, I commend him for giving 90% away to a foundation that he set up.

Does Warren receive compensation from this foundation?

He paid back to his church every penny he ever received from the church in compensation. Why?

Couldn't he have continued to receive a modest salary, say $100,000 per year, and give all of the royalties to the church?

Just wondering, because he clearly has become "rich" for writing a book that every church must buy not one copy of, but tens of copies, if not hundreds.

I wish I had thought of that.

[ July 16, 2005, 03:36 PM: Message edited by: Paul33 ]

 

Careful Paul.

He might end up demonizing you on his website where you cannot respond and defend yourself. HMMMMMMMMMMM...can we say gossip?

Joseph Botwinick

 

Maybe Rick Warren and Saddleback should check with you next time and get your permission for their decision making. After all you appear to be the almighty judge of motives.

Until you are giving 90% away (regardless of how much you make), I wouldn't be too quick to judge another man's motives.

 

Lighten up wild, wild west!

I said I commend him.

But if Warren really wanted to blow people away, he could continue to receive his salary from his church, showing dependence and humility, and give all of the royalties away, either to his church or to a foundation his church controls.

Now that would have been seen as a totally selfless gift to the church at large.

Don't you think?

I wonder what I would have done if I were in his place? I commend him and wish him well.

 

Richard,

If you decide to return to the BB, don't feel compelled to defend yourself or RW. It does not matter what one says about Warren, some on here simply do not get it.

As Warren has said, if you spend all of your time defending yourself against your critics, you will accomplish very little. The critics will be the critics regardless. What is amazing is that these critics are usually the same ones that criticize anyone or anything different than their own narrow way. I would hate to live my life known as a critic.

As Warren has also said ... if someone is kicking you, that usually means they are standing BEHIND you. Go figure.

If you come to BB with any other motive than entertainment, you are wasting your time for the most part.

 

And again maybe he can check with you next time before he decides how to spend 90% of his money.

I am not sure what I would do if I had millions rolling in. Statistics indicate that the more money people have, usually the more stingy they become. I don't care how much money you have, it takes a generous heart to give away 90% of it.

 

1. What narrow way are you talking about?

2. Do you think that living a narrow lifestyle is bad...following the narrow way? Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if you did?

3. Tell me. Do you think that anyone who disagrees with you are narrow and simple minded? HMMMMMM? I wonder if you might just be a bit arrogant in your elitist self-righteous, judgemental thinking.

Joseph Botwinick

 

I am curious as to why you wonder these particular things.
I had not wondered about them. I would presume that Rick Warren is honorable, and that he fulfilled/fulfills his commitments and responsibilities to his church.
Just as I presume John MacArthur or R.C. Sproul or John Piper or Chuck Swindoll or any other Christian pastor, seminary professor, speaker, etc. fulfills his.

I would presume that he gave the money back to his church because he wanted to.

I have a copy of Purpose Driven Life. No one made me buy it. If churches and churh members buy one or two hundred, no one, including Rick Warren, made them.

Paul, I still remember a Rick Warren thread a couple of months ago. Then, as now, you stated that much of PDL is true. You just think he should have picked different verses. I asked you then for one example. You said that it wasn't necessary, that I could open PDL at random and it would leap out.
I picked up the book again today, haven't for quite a while, and I have been looking at it.
Yes, he does have some Living Bible and Message quotes, but I'm having trouble seeing anything leap out.
How is it that so much of PDL is true, then, in your view?

Karen

 

Or maybe I can check in with you before I post again about Warren.

Wow!