WHEN A MEGAPASTOR DENIES CHRIST

When a Megapastor Denies Christ

As a writer for Christian Worldview Network, I am committed to speaking the truth in love. More than anything else, I love the truth of God's Word and the Church for which Christ died. Because of that love, I cannot remain silent when I see the subtle entry of error taking place within evangelicalism. I believe that if the martyrs in other parts of the world are having to die for their faith, the least I can do in America is risk scorn and condemnation for speaking out on behalf of the Gospel.

Again and again today, we are seeing evangelical leaders deny Christ. According to the dictionary's definition of the term, to deny is not just an outright rejection of something or someone. To deny is also to withhold, to refuse access to or give out information, or to refuse to recognize or acknowledge. It is critical that we understand what the denial of Christ looks like. It is everywhere these days.

If you want to see what the modern denial of Jesus Christ looks like, I encourage you to watch this video clip. This clip features megapastor Rick Warren as he addresses the attendees of the TED Conference in Monterey, California. TED describes itself as a conference that brings together more than 1,000 thought leaders, movers and shakers every year to share ideas. The website claims that,

''After four days, you gain an understanding of how your own work fits into the larger web of knowledge and you get to connect with extraordinary individuals who are helping in creating a better future for all of us.''

As a Christian pastor, what did Rick Warren have to say to this group of people? He spoke for a little over 20 minutes. He said everyone had a purpose and that God wanted everyone to use their gifts and talents. He talked about his crisis in purpose when he made "tons and tons of money" with his famous book. He told about how he and his wife use a reverse tithe and how they started foundations to help solve the world's problems. He quickly established that he was a "pluralist". He said that everybody is betting their life on "something". The implication was that you believe in this, I believe in that. It's all good. Despite his repeated references to "God",  Rick Warren never told this group of unbelievers who God was. He told the crowd that meaning in life is found through service and giving of ourselves. He never told them that we don't find salvation through service, but rather through a right relationship with our Creator, through His Son Jesus Christ alone. He talked of God smiling when we use our gifts. He never talked of the perilous state of our souls unless we repent and believe the Gospel. He gave these conference attendees a message of works righteousness--salvation through serving. This man with the label of Christian pastor seems to have ignored a very basic Bible verse, Titus 3:5:

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

If any man had the right to boast in his service of Christ, it would have been the Apostle Paul. Yet even he said this in I Timothy 1:15:

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.

Rick Warren did not follow in the train of the Apostles who preached Christ fearlessly and without apology, as the great Apostle described in I Corinthians 1:22-24:

For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (Emphasis added.)

Could any true minister of the Gospel be handed such an opportunity to bear witness to Jesus Christ and instead talk about purpose and meaning and just leave it there? Rick Warren denied Christ because he was ashamed to tell these people what the Gospel really says. These haunting words of Jesus should shake all of us who are too embarrassed to speak forth what God has done for us through His Son.

So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 10:32-33

Warren could talk about a generic "God" very comfortably in front of this audience. God, purpose, fulfillment, service, meaning--none of those terms will evoke a negative reaction from the world. It's Jesus Christ who is the stumbling block. It is the exclusivity of the Gospel message--that is what the world hates. So if I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition that God made us and has a plan for us, but avoid that single point that God made us holy but that we sinned and are in rebellion to God in our natural state, we are not confessing Christ, however boldly we may claim to profess Christ. I have heard repeated claims that some of evangelicalism's biggest superstars are propagating the "Gospel". It is clear that there is little understanding today as to what the Gospel actually is. It is not about "opening your life to God" or "accepting his purposes for your life." It is to acknowledge that we as individuals have sinned and that we deserve the wrath and curse of God. It is to turn from our sin and to look to Christ alone and believe that He took that wrath of God on Himself to satisfy the just demands of God the Father on our behalf. It is to believe that He rose again in triumph over sin, death and hell and sits at the right hand of God the Father interceding for us. There is no Gospel outside of an articulation of God's holy hatred for sin. There is no good news without the bad news first. The true amazing meaning of God's sovereign grace will never be understood until our desperately hopeless state without Him is grasped.

If Rick Warren loved those souls to which he spoke, if he had a view of hell as described by Scripture, where these lost souls will forever suffer if they reject the Son of God, if he truly loved that Savior who hung bleeding and naked on an old rugged cross to pay for our sins, how could he fail to share that message? Do not elite movers and shakers also need Jesus Christ? Did not this crowd need to hear more than a works righteousness message? God save us from this kind of spiritual leadership. May we get our eyes off these evangelical celebrities who are denying Christ and put our eyes on the Lord alone. He is the one who gave that Great Commission. He is the one who has already declared our purpose here in His eternal Word. Let the compromise around us spur us on to lift ever higher the cross of Christ and without shame, proclaim His saving power.

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

--Romans 1:15-17 KJV

By Ingrid Schlueter Email: vcyproducer@aol.com Click here for bio and archived articles

Re: Re: When a Megapastor Denies Christ Posted On: 05/07/07 11:06:06 AM Age 51, AZ You seemed to state that you look down on: dumb, ignorant, uneducated, and poor soul. That is what the Jewish ruling class and elite thought of Jesus at first. God uses the humble and if the wise of the world cannot see it through their blindness (2 Corinthians 4:4), it is their choice. Surely you aren't suggesting we become proud elitists like the lost world? Re: When a Megapastor Denies Christ Posted On: 05/05/07 02:51:04 PM Age 60, D Dear Brothers and Sister, dear Ingrid I am late, but it never too late! All I want to say about this " Conference " with Pst. R. Warren is; what was happen with the first Pastors ( Apostels ). What did they preach? They stood before Kings and Priests and they told them BOLD in theire Face, that JESUS CHRIST, the crucified and ressurected one, is the ONLY one who can help us to come out of our Dilemma. SIN! SIN ! This world is dying on SIN, and when Pst. Warren speaks about the " next Generation " and a " better world here ", DOES he realy know what the Book of Revelation, given by GOD, to HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, than given by an Angel to the Apstel John ( Rev. 1 1-3 ) says !! God has promised to make a NEW Heaven and a NEW Earth. When JESUS CHRIST will come back , HE will bring everything in the right Position and nothing will help us out of this coming EVENT. NO BOOK from Pst. Warren or other Pastors who teches us about " money and wealth ". The ONLY one who is able to bring this Audience ( BMW and all the other " lost " people to the RICHNESS of CHRIST is CHRIST.) And this is what the Pastors and Leaders all over the GLOBE ( beside some wonderful Brothers ! )doesnt preach anymore , because THAN you have to pay a price! Rejection ! We do not need to be nice ( Humanistic Thinking ) we need to tell them that they will burn in HELL, when they dont repent and takes JESUS CHRIST as theire SAVIUOR. FOR THIS Jesus came. He didnt tell us to preach on our " own written book ". THE GLORY belongs to HIM! Once a day we all have to stand before htis LORD JESUS, EVERY KNEE has to bow done, do we forget this. HE is going to ask as for what we have done for HIM. Serving him first means denying our own Lifes. Many warm christian Greetings and may GOD help all the Pastor of this GLOBE to understand, we NEED to come back to THE TRUTH. Glory to the LORD Jesus CHRIST. PLS: sent the " Letter from the Church of Smyrna " to Pst. Warren and all the others, and ask them if they are ready for such a Persecution! HELP US LORD!! Hanna from Germany looking for Intercessors for this Pastors and Leaders coming back to the REAL KING JESUS CHRIST! Re: When a Megapastor Denies Christ Posted On: 03/15/07 06:53:52 PM Age 46, FL This is the second time I have heard/read a reference to Rick Warren that put him in a tilt towards the secular. Maybe it helps him better market his books to a broader self help market. However, in the end, he is deceiving himself if he thinks he is helping draw nonbelievers to Christ. I recently left the Episcopal Church where "editing Jesus" is the preferred method of church leadership. One could sit in an Episcopal pew for 40 years and never be asked to give himself over to Christ. Unitarians love to embrace God, but deny Christ. This kind of person claims to see God in nature and sees no real reason to attend church aside for social reasons. This is the potential I see in Rick's recent work. Thank Jesus for bringing me to the Southern Baptist Church. I know for a fact that our Pastor could never be in front of a crowd without offering them salvation via water Baptism in Christ. All I can say is, I'm running towards Christ and not away. Maybe Rick Warren and his apologists should check their collective compass. Re: Re: When a Megapastor Denies Christ Posted On: 03/03/07 12:33:13 AM Age 37, TX Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of God. You do not have to have a relationship with someone to "save" them, that's God's job. I have never met the person whose sermon got through to me (Woodrow Kroll, Back to the Bible) but his faithful preaching of the WORD and the Holy Spirit got to me. You don't have to have rapport, the Holy Spirit doesn't NEED your friendliness, HE needs the WORD spoken out loud! You can love people straight into hell by never telling them the TRUTH, because you are too busy "getting to know them." Re: Re: When a Megapastor Denies Christ Posted On: 02/07/07 02:30:52 PM Age 51, MO What is wrong with you legalists. Warren was not asked to come to that audiance and preach. They would not have listened to a theological message. He did what he was asked to do - but he certainly did not deny Christ. When you legalists have won as many people have Christ as Warren has, maybe you will be listened to. Also - one of you legalist said Warren talt works salvation. Man - he's Southern Baptist through and through. Southern Baptist don't teach salvation by works. How sad that you try to capitalize on a person's popularity to get somebody to read your worthless article. Alan Berry Re: Re: When a Megapastor Denies Christ Posted On: 02/07/07 02:23:31 PM Age 51, MO What is wrong with you legalists. Warren was not asked to come to that audiance and preach. They would not have listened to a theological message. He did what he was asked to do - but he certainly did not deny Christ. When you legalists have won as many people have Christ as Warren has, maybe you will be listened to. Also - one of you legalist said Warren talt works salvation. Man - he's Southern Baptist through and through. Southern Baptist are the farthest thing from a works-salvation theology. How sad that you try to capitalize on a person's popularity to get somebody to read your worthless article. Alan Berry Re: When a Megapastor Denies Christ Posted On: 01/09/07 01:06:21 PM Age 51, LA And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. (Psalms 9:8) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23) Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:17-29) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:8-12) When did we start to fear putting our foot on the heads of serpents? No man in modern time will be responsible for leading more people into the clutches of Satan and to eternal damnation than Rick Warren. He is of his father the devil. Re: Re: Re: When a Megapastor Denies Christ Posted On: 12/14/06 03:13:08 AM Age 42, CT I agree totally with Age 49, OR! What frightens me the most is not so much Rick Warren, but when Age 46, IL who claims to be an evangelist says: "The goal is not to share the Gospel. The goal is to win them to Christ. Yes, Rick could have preached salvation to that crowd, but I deeply doubt it would have moved anyone closer to a real saving relationship with Jesus." That is scary! The reason is because the evil fruit of Rick Warren and his Purpose Driven lie is spreading among many churches and pastors all over the world! I never thought I would see the day when preachers would say "The goal is not to share the Gospel!" 1 Corinthians 1:18 states: "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" It's not an issue of "Yes, Rick could have preached salvation to that crowd" but rather "Yes, Rick SHOULD have preached salvation to that crowd!!!" Re: Re: When a Megapastor Denies Christ Posted On: 12/11/06 10:41:37 PM Age 46, AZ Amen, I agree completly with these comments! Rick was sowing seed throughout his discussion and he said he believed Jesus was who he said he was! A secular group is also waiting for him to mis-speak! Do you know Rick Warren? Have you taken the time to really know what he is doing for God in Christ Jesus? Do you always lay and wait for him to mis-speak, so you can pounce on him? As Christians is this what Jesus taught us to do? You seam eager to comdemn why is that? Is God glorified by comdemning a brother in Christ? In Christ's Love, Re: When a Megapastor Denies Christ Posted On: 12/07/06 12:31:39 PM Age 48, VA I listened to the video and read the article claiming Rick Warren was denying Jesus Christ. I do not agree with Ingrid when she claims that Rick is denying Jesus. He said near the beginning of the talk that he beleived that Jesus is who He said He was. He also made many references to God and Jesus is God. He was invited to speak to a secular group but he still made many references to God and Biblical ideas. We have many people today that are searching for truth and need to be given the opportunity to hear from a Christian that is not portrayed as a dumb, ignorant, uneducated, poor soul. I was inspired by Rick Warren's talk at the TED meeting. I think Ingrid would benefit from listening to the entire message again. We are not saved by works but a life changed by God (Jesus Christ) should have a desire to serve. Christ came to be a servant and we are become servants to one another. We are to become Christ like and take on His image. Keep pressing towards the mark, the high calling of Jesus. Thanks for sharing and letting me share. God bless you!