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Why The Purpose Driven Life Should Not Be Endorsed By Christians
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The book appeals to the flesh by not focusing on the Biblical requirement for discipleship, which is dying to self. God drives His enemies and leads His children, contrary to what the book title suggests. Christians should be Spirit-led, not purpose-driven. Warren asks the reader to sign a covenant before reading this book. That goes against Scripture. A covenant is a vow, and the Bible commands us not to make vows. Life’s most important question is not, “What on earth am I here for?” as Warren states on page 9. Warren prophesies on page 10 that the reader will be transformed if he commits to his 40-day plan. No plan can transform a person spiritually. Only God can do that. Warren refers to “The Message” paraphrase as the Bible, God’s Word, which it is not. It fails to relate at all to the true meaning of the underlying Greek or Hebrew text. This book encourages the reader to follow Warren’s formula for living rather than the Bible’s way of living the Christian life. The passage on page 25 from Isaiah 46:3-4 (New Century Translation) says “I have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you.” According to Warren, this verse proves that God wanted to create mankind in order to express His love. However, this passage is not addressing mankind in general or believers in the church today, but Israel exclusively. On page 30, Warren states that "The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose" Isn’t the greatest tragedy to die as an unbeliever? On page 34, Warren states that we will be asked on the Judgement Day the question, “What did you do with my Son, Jesus Christ?” The Bible never says that this question will be asked. On page 40, it is maintained that, “The deeds of this life are the destiny of the next.” This teaches works rather than faith as being necessary for salvation. This is not Scriptural. Warren claims on page 69 that "The smile of God is the goal of your life" The goal of our lives should be to love and glorify God and love others as ourselves. Warren has the idea that our obedience is necessary in order for God’s power to be unlocked. He states on page 174 that, “Obedience unlocks God’s power.” This is not Scriptural. On page 175, Warren tells us that “God waits for you to act first.” We would all go to hell if God waited for us to “act first” and seek Him. Warren makes a major error on page 177 when he says “Much confusion in the Christian life comes from ignoring the simple truth that God is more interested in building your character than he is anything else.” God is not most interested in building our character! On page 193 Warren says, "God uses circumstances to develop our character. In fact, he depends more on circumstances to make us like Jesus than he depends on our reading the Bible.” This is no true. The truth of the Word shapes our character. On page 257, Warren claims that “God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many serve you.” How many people we serve does not determine our greatness before God. Warren claims on page 265 that "God is always more interested in why we do something than in what we do" This is not Scriptural. Warren cites the text from Jeremiah 29:11 (New Century Translation) several times in his book. It says “I know what I am planning for you ... I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.’ This verse is not informing the believer that wonderful changes will happen in his life once he lives out his purpose, as Warren would have one to believe. This text contains God's personal message to the Israelites who were enduring the Babylonian captivity. Warren states on page 283 that "You may have been unaware that God holds you responsible for the unbelievers who live around you. He uses the verse in Ezekiel 3:18 to back up this erroneous statement, “You must warn them so they may live. If you don't speak out to warn the wicked to stop their evil ways, they will die in their sin. But I will hold you responsible for their death." However, in this text, God is directly speaking to a prophet —Ezekiel—to whom God had given a particular, unique task of communicating His Word. Using Ezekiel 3:18, Warren gives the reader the impression that if the friend, neighbor or acquaintance of a believer dies in unbelief, the believer is at fault! Of course, personal evangelism is vitally important to the spiritual life of every Christian, but the believer is not held responsible for the unbeliever's condemnation. Warren cannot claim his book to be a Scripture-only approach to living the Christian life. Throughout the book, Warren supplements Scripture with psychological principles and speculation, as well as known New Age principles. Warren emphasizes that believers should refuse to let anything divide them and castigates any judgmental believers or those critical of the beliefs, actions or teachings of others. In other words, he believes "love" and "unity" should take precedence over "doctrine" and "purity" in the church. This is a serious flaw. God never asks us to put our personal holiness and the purity of His church below unity of the body. Sometimes these more important issues demand separation or a word of reproof and rebuke, which then leads to broken fellowship and disharmony at times. Warren claims believers are not to judge or criticize another believer who is ministering "in faith and from sincere conviction.” Sincerity cannot be the test of truth, however! The Word of God is our measuring stick. If a person is spreading false teachings, no matter how sincere they are, they must be admonished. If they don’t return to the truth, they are to be shunned. According to Warren, believers have been placed on the earth to fulfill five purposes. He writes, " [God] has clearly revealed his five purposes for our lives through the Bible" (p. 20). These purposes, according to Warren, are to bring enjoyment to God (p. 63), to learn to love others (P. 125), to become like Jesus Christ (p. 171), to serve God (p. 231) and to fulfill one's mission (p. 281). The Bible only declares one purpose for mankind's existence: to glorify God. This is man's purpose. From the beginning of a believer's spiritual life in Christ until he is with Jesus Christ forevermore, he is to live "to the praise of [Christ's] glory" (Ephesians 1:6,12,14). Throughout all eternity God's children will glorify Him (Rev. 4:11). Because the believer is "bought with a price," he is commanded to "glorify God in [his] body, and in [his] spirit" (1Cor. 6:19-20). This is man's sole purpose and reason for existence. One should be concerned when any book makes a claim, which Warren does, "This book will change your life!" There is only one book that will change your life and that's the Bible. Rick Warren states that you can best understand Scripture by reading as many different translations as possible. This approach uses many different "opinions" to define the meaning of God's Word rather than a thorough exegetical study of the verse(s). Warren states that the reasons why he uses so many versions of the Bible and sometimes quotes only part of a verse are to avoid missing nuances and shades of meaning and to "see God's truth in new, fresh ways." However, his second reason contradicts the first. If you look at objective truth in new, fresh ways, you are almost surely introducing additional nuances, and shades of meaning. Warren encourages us to look for new ideas. We are not to do that, however. We are told to look for the objective truth in Scripture and to apply those to the situations we are placed in. The Bible contains objective truth, which is inspired by God, sufficient, and authoritative. While the application varies, the meaning remains the same. The book overlooks the fact that an unbeliever does have an identity, as well as a purpose in his life outside of a relationship with Christ. That in fact man's purpose, nature, and identity is hostile to God, fallen, and totally depraved apart from salvation. The book glosses over, minimizes, or ignores realities such as the seriousness of sin before a holy God, the need for salvation, that God is righteous, just, holy, etc. The book does not maintain a distinction between believers and unbelievers. Promises that apply only to believers are stated as if they apply to both. Unbelievers can become deceived and believe they are saved, when they have not heard the gospel, which does save. On day seven Warren gives a magical prayer for the reader to recite in order to receive salvation. It says "Jesus, I believe in you and I receive you." To that he adds, "If you sincerely meant that prayer, congratulations! Welcome to the family of God!” This is not just a watered down gospel, it is a false gospel, which is no gospel at all! Warren's "rules for growth" tell us to "never criticize what God is blessing." That implies that church growth proves God's delight in human methods, which isn’t Scriptural. The book cancels God’s call to "be on guard" and to discern deception. Warren seems to say, "don't touch God's anointed," but no leader is so "anointed" that his teaching is beyond Biblical accountability. We Christians are to judge the teachings presented to us. |
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1/24/2006 4:09 pm |
I did not really know anything about this book but do know it has been mentioned many times by events surrounding Amber Frey/Scott Peterson and the murder of Laci Petersonand her unborn child. Marilyn Texas Senior Singles 2fitness In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:6
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1/24/2006 5:53 pm |
Amen and Amen
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1/24/2006 7:11 pm |
Thankyou Thankyou Jean, I have had such a heavy heart about this book. My church is going to be doing this book , starting next week. I have voiced my concern but , they do not hear. I have done some research like yourself and come away amazed at how dangerous this book is. It is a mix of new age and scripture to form an acceptable study for the comprimising christian. I do believe that deception is lurking and will slowly become increased. My concern is that people who accept this are already on the way to greater deception. Especially when the new age movement is involved, we need to be so wise and stick to the word of God like glue, praying always for God to show us truth. The one world church will be a church in great deception, and the evil lurking behind, planning it all will be a wolf in sheeps clothing!! How easy prey are the ones who just go with the flow, accepting anything that appears to be christian. I agree with you, we really need to expose everything that is unscriptural and a danger to our walk in God. I actually just 10 minutes ago posted my concern about this book on the advanced bible study, I am not sure if it will be accepted, but I hope so. Thanks Jean In HIM , Netty 
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1/24/2006 9:58 pm |
Excellent post dear sister. Like you, and many others here at BC including me are sounding the alarm as much as we can about this false-laiden with error, man-deviced doctrine approach to Christianity and Christian living. There are many and vastly diversed religion(s), philosophies, psychology, mysticism, paganism and ChristianityISM (not religiosity, but Christian prhaseologies) that contributed to forming this NEW AGE religion and concepts of Rick Warren. The leaven is working it's purpose and is corrupting one individual/Church at a time. Expect the Church-body receives sustenance from the VINE, we can't do anything effective for the Cause of Christ. There are many Churches heralding this book [Purpose Driven Life-Church] as a model for todays Church GROWTH movement...I wonder at the same time of the "spiritual condition" of these Churches... IF the Holy Spirit is ignored and replaced by something else... [humanistic, doctrines of men or vain philosophies] are they still functioning under Christ's Church [body]...or is it man-made? I am grieved. This Narrow Way gets Narrower and Narrower it seems and the road that leads to destruction are getting broader and broader at the same time. Please check out my blog's unfinished, on-going examination of the Purpose Driven Church-Life and the Word of Faith teachings. The Holy Spirit Speaks EXPRESSLY Sound the alarm...expose false doctrines and warn the people of God to BEWARE! Colossians 2:8 "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." God Bless you IN Christ, bro Rick
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1/24/2006 10:28 pm |
Well said, however I do feel that the overall message of the book, notwithstanding the mistakes and scriptural misrepresentations, is that God's purpose for Christians is lead the lost to Jesus Christ as their LORD and savior. In the Great Commission, I see this same message repeated. Go out. Find those who don't know Jesus. Lead them to Him, or plant the seed that may eventually be watered elsewhere that leads them to Him. Repent of your sins, and keep your eyes on Heaven. I don't agree with everything that Warren's book teaches either, but if we're not here to help bring Jesus' Lost Sheep home to Him, glorifying Him and the Father in the process, then WHAT ON EARTH ARE WE HERE FOR? Love, -Danny
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1/25/2006 5:30 am |
Reall saved!!!!! and Rick!!!!amen and amen!!!!!!!
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