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On July 5 the Washington Times online reported that Pastor Rick Warren told his Islamic audience, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA,) that he envisions "a coalition of faith." Whether Pastor Warren knows this or not, this is just another term for the coming one-world religion outlined in Revelation 13. It is further outlined in Revelation 17. I have not taken on the issue of Rick Warren all that often, but after reading what the Washington Times has to say about his message to a group of spiritually lost Muslims, I feel I must address this in an open letter to who many say is the most influential pastor in America and some would say the world.
Pastor Warren, you pleaded with 8,000 Muslim listeners on Saturday, July 4, to work together to solve the world's greatest problems by cooperating in a series of interfaith projects. You said, "Muslims and Christians can work together for the common good without compromising my convictions or your convictions."
Pastor Warren, you needed to compromise the convictions of the Muslims in attendance. To just say that "My deepest faith is in Jesus Christ" was not enough to a thoroughly lost crowd. The hour is too late to withhold a gospel message without which they will face a Christless eternity, and you will be held accountable. The "world's greatest problems" will always be with us and the Bible says so in Matthew 26:11. Sin is at the root of them. I have to conclude you are more interested in ecumenical unity and solving AIDS, poverty, and other social issues. Last Saturday you were given a golden opportunity that 99.9% of American Christians could never get.
You said you were not interested in interfaith dialogue, but you seize every opportunity to talk to all religions and you always leave out the gospel. You even address Jewish groups but you tell them how to grow a mega-synagogue like your own church, Saddleback. In this "can't we all get along?" generation, you usually leave out the only good news left: There is salvation in Christ and Christ alone (Acts 4:12), and the hour is late, so make a conscious decision to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
You told ISNA, "Talk is cheap but love is something we do together. We must do something to model what it is to live in peace, to live in harmony." Pastor Warren, you know your Bible better than that, don't you? The Bible says there will never be peace and harmony in this world until the Messiah rules from His theocratic kingdom. The U.N. spews the same kind of pagan "peace concepts." Aren't you above that? You would likely never suggest your Muslim audience pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm122:6), yet you push for foolish and hopeless ecumenical peace!
In your speech you included three suggestions: 1) Create a coalition to end religious stereotyping; 2) Work together to restore civility to American society; 3) Take a common stand against attacks on freedom of religion and freedom of speech. There is civility in American society so why are you even suggesting there might not be? But you won't find much of it in Islamic society. Go see the film, The Stoning of Soraya M, the true story of what happens to a lot of innocent Muslim women. It's a lot more gross and bloody than any horror flick and this is reality, not fiction. The Muslims you addressed know all about this procedure. ISNA wants Sharia Law everywhere on earth! You missed a golden opportunity to challenge them to stand up to Islamic governments that perpetrate such atrocities.
Pastor Warren, you then went on to say the media was clueless as to what Christians and Muslims believe. They know very well what both faiths believe. They believe Christians are the new Taliban, and they press for hate crime legislation that will protect Muslims. You then said, "It's the truth that sets us free." Why did you take John 8:32 out of context? You twisted the very words of Jesus when you should have been proclaiming the words of Jesus.
The ISNA stated how impressed they were with your charitable work. What charitable work have they done? As terror expert Steve Emerson says, "ISNA has has been an umbrella and a promoter of groups that have been involved in terrorism." Here again you could have challenged them, but then you would not be invited back had you done so.
Joseph Farah says, "Suffice it to say the ISNA is no friend of Christianity or America." Yet in 2007, Rick Warren was one of many "evangelical leaders" who signed a document begging forgiveness from Muslims for all the evil deeds perpetrated against them by Christians. What evil deeds have true Christians committed against Muslims? Now, Pastor Warren, you've gone beyond pandering and are sounding like a fool along with all others who signed that document.
Even the secular Washington Times noted, "Mr. Warren was sparse in his mentions of Jesus and God." But since works and good deeds were stressed, this reinforced the belief of ISNA members that works will help them get to Heaven.
Pastor Warren, you stated you were committed to "the common good" and that you are commanded to "respect everybody." You don't want to deal with the verse that says we are to preach to gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15). It seems to me that you are more interested in marching hand-in-hand with other faiths down the winding road to the coming one-world religion.
There is literally a mini-revival going on with Muslims turning to faith in Jesus, particularly out of the U.S. It would have been nice, Pastor Warren, if you would have thought of that and tapped into it. We don't expect you to give altar calls at such meetings as this one. We do expect you to lift high the Name of the Prince of Peace who is coming again and who offers eternal life to all who ask, "What must I do to be saved?" ( Acts 16:30, Acts 16:31). Many just wanted some variation of that quoted among your many ecumenical statements and how to solve the world's problems -- impossible without God's help.
To better understand this, order Caryl Matrisciana's brand-new film, Islam Rising, pictured and described on the left sidebar. Also visit my Web site category of "Islam & the Arabs."
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Fruit Inspector?
| Posted On: 07/21/09 09:28:22 AM |
Age 45, FL |
You claim that people saved by grace through faith in Jesus' finished work on the cross are "false converts"? I know the old saying about believers being "fruit inspectors", but this comment seems to be based not on the inspection of fruit, but the preconceived notions of someone who's never met, talked to or "inspected" the fruit of ANY of those people.
Are there people sitting in Saddleback Church's worship services thinking they're saved who aren't? You betcha'! Are there some in your church? Unless you have a house church consisting of you and your spouse, probably so... and you can't be positive about your spouse. I believe Billy Graham once said that 50% of people sitting in church buildings in America weren't saved.
Neither you, nor Jan Markel nor I have to agree with everything Rick Warren says or does. But to call all of the thousands of people growing in Christ-likeness as a result of God's grace at work through Rick's ministry is the kind of Biblically incorrect and unexceptable false judgment that splits churches, drives unbelievers away from the Bride of Christ, and most certainly breaks God's heart.
I confess, I don't believe, based on hearing and reading his teachings on salvation by grace through faith, and his stand on the inerrancy of scripture, that Warren is a false prophet. Imperfect and errant at times in speech, yes; false prophet, no. Anyone who speaks publicly on a regular basis is going to say things that can be interpreted as heretical by those looking to do so.
Please know this: the thousands baptized at Saddleback have heard the Gospel presented clearly, been told of the need to repent of their sins and have professed their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives. Whether they were all genuine, I don't know, but I challenge any fellow believer to show Biblical justification for saying they are ALL false converts because their pastor didn't say what you wanted him to say when speaking before a group from an admittedly false religion.
I love you, brother, and pray that you will judge wisely, (rightly dividing the Word of Truth) not condemn ignorantly,
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Open letter to Rick Warren
| Posted On: 07/15/09 03:52:29 PM |
Age 59, FL |
Thank you very much Jan. I have had my doubts about him for a long time and this confirms my suspicions. He does not speak the truth. It is "Jesus only" to get to heaven. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Sometimes my pastor quotes Rick Warren and it sends shudders down my spine. Also, our church orders material that is printed from them, mainly childrens church. Another example of trusting people instead of trusting and reading the Bible. So many big church pastors twist the scripture to fit their idea of ministry. They are wolves in sheeps clothing. This generation needs discernment and that comes with reading the word and lots of prayer.
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THANK YOU JAN!!
| Posted On: 07/10/09 10:23:08 PM |
Age 45, MN |
What a blessing to hear you write publicly exactly what I would like to say after having to leave a church that was taken over by Rick's Purpose Driven programs. The saving gospel is the only hope we have for an eternity in heaven rather than hell. That makes Rick's " big 5" seem rather small! Thank you for your courage to speak the truth in love - your ministry helps so many from being deceived - thank you!!
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TO: Matt 18 age 45 FM
| Posted On: 07/10/09 08:52:00 AM |
Age 55, IN |
Can you spell, "False COnverts?"
Thanks, Jan, (and Brannon)for your love of the truth of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ.
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no comprimising
| Posted On: 07/08/09 11:01:36 PM |
Age 65, NC |
rick warren missed a golden oppurtunity to speak up for jesus. someone asked me if i knew was going to heaven and my reply was i sure do because my bible tells me. jesus said i am the way and the truth and the life no man cometh to the father but by me. jesus is the only way period. its time for all christians to act before the take god completely out of everythihg. there are moves afoot to delete under god from our pledge of allegiance to the flag and delete in god we trust from our currency. thats part of the one world order of "religion". time is running out for everyone.
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Thanks!
| Posted On: 07/08/09 02:39:44 PM |
Age 67, IN |
Thanks Jan,
I don't always think through issues, but it is nice to read someone who give the thoughts clearly and correctly. I love to hear other sides as long as I can think about it for a while.
When I read his book, I rejected the hundreds of translations he used. I felt he was searching for one that said what he wanted to have it say. Some of them didn't say what I thought the Bible said. Others didn't feel that way. I said it and kept quiet.
I will direct others to your letter.
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wolf
| Posted On: 07/08/09 01:40:36 PM |
Age 43, PA |
Rick Warren is a wolf in sheeps clothing! His whole plan of salvation is centered around works and he is the nwo's protestant poster boy for their ideal christian. One who does not let such verses as John 4:16 hold him back. The bible says do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers and that is his sole mission in life to equally yoke chrisitnas and muslims so we can all sing kumbaya over at the ac's bonfire. No thanks Rick I have a Messiah - Jesus Christ.
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Truth
| Posted On: 07/08/09 10:28:57 AM |
Age 65, NC |
Oh how sad, You are lost I will pray God will speak to you it is not about fun and bring Jesus in the back door, He died for you so you might have life eternal and that means making Him first and telling others about Him and turning peoples life around so that the Holy Sprit can lead and direct our life. Lost souls are in the balance here.
This is not to make fun of! May God speak to your heart.
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Standing Firm
| Posted On: 07/08/09 08:46:02 AM |
Age 51, WI |
I'm glad to see someone speak the truth. I've spoken to a Muslim student and Christians who have said there is more than one way to eternity with God. That is absolutely not correct and I'm sorry that Pastor Warren did not make that clear in his meeting with the Muslim group. I agree 100% with this open letter. Christians cannot be wishy washy with the truth that there is only one way to eternity and that is asking Jesus, who died for our sins, for forgiveness of our sins. Only through Jesus, will we live for eternity with the one true God.
Pam
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Dissappointed
| Posted On: 07/08/09 07:23:58 AM |
Age 54, GA |
As one who has followed the Purpose Driven Model in the past, I am extremely dissappointed in Rick Warren. I do believe that he is a man of God who has perhaps been caught up in his own fame. None the less, pastor Rick, the gospel cannot be compromised in the name of PEACE. Please reassess you foundation and lift Jesus up once again.
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