Pleasing Whom?
| Posted On: 02/21/08 01:11:42 PM |
Age 63, FL |
Rick Warren, because of the prominence of his pulpit and the popularity of his writings, has been given a phenomenal opportunity to give the clear gospel to multitudes who listen to these talk shows. In my estimation, he has chosen rather to be purposely (no pun intended) vague, so as not to offend followers of other, even pagan, religions. At times, he is almost (altogether?)ingratiating toward error.
Paul's words to the Galatians come to mind: "...if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ."
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"What I meannt to say was..."
| Posted On: 02/21/08 01:01:46 PM |
Age 51, GA |
While in Syria, Mr. Warren praised Syria and her dictator and rebuked America. The man denied doing this...until the video showed up. Maybe he has since explained it another way and I just missed it. How are "Christians" able to defend antichristian council? This "craft" that Warren uses to charm his defenders showed up in the Garden of Eden a few years back. There's nothing new about Warrens New Age message.
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Does God want us to bash each other?
| Posted On: 02/21/08 01:01:24 PM |
Age 47, TN |
I've read The Purpose Driven Life and am about 80% through The Purpose Driven Church.I've found good, sound theology backed by scripture in these books.I've also been encouraged to try to continue to meet people where they are instead of where I think they should be. The Bible does say, "You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart," Jer. 29:12-14 and I think that's where people often start. I also think that's what Rick was addressing.
Of course,I'm aware that I choose to believe the best in people (Love believes all things 1 Cor. 13:7)
What do we gain by attacking Rick Warren?
2 Timothy 2:22-24 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
22Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
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Rick said it! Pride will keep you from God!
| Posted On: 02/21/08 12:48:38 PM |
Age 67, WV |
Pride will keep you from God!!!! We make God in our image.
Ego, pride is the problem of not finding God. My Bible says the "Kingdom of God" is within me. We have to get under all the surface of the ego to get to the God within us. Our minds have been taken over by satan but the God within us is still the same.
God says: "Be Still And Know." Jesus also said: "Forgive them father for they know not what they do." Was Jesus wise? Of couse, he knew that Satan was doing this and NOT the men who had God inside but didn't know it.
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Doesn't speak to salvation, but to discipleship
| Posted On: 02/21/08 12:41:12 PM |
Age 61, GA |
Granted, he didn't answer Sean's question about how to get to Heaven, but he directed his answer to BEING a follower of Jesus Christ. You cannot follow Christ unless you have already accepted His salvation by GRACE. Perhaps Warren confused the question. His statement about BEING a follower rings true...but it is not the answer to the question asked.
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Give the guy a break!
| Posted On: 02/21/08 12:28:47 PM |
Age 45, KY |
Give Rick a break! Oh my gosh! Do we expedct him to preach the entire gospel in the few minutes he was given on Hannity's show? I saw this air on tv and it never even entered my mind that he said anything wrong! I have been a christian for 20+ years and I have listened to him preach, teach and have read his writings and I know Rick's heart. He is most definately a Christian man and shame on this so called ministry and on anyone else for judging him and assuming the worst. To his Father in Heaven he will give an account and not to anyone else!
Sherry in Louisville
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he blew the opportunity
| Posted On: 02/21/08 12:24:07 PM |
Age 58, KS |
This is very disturbing to me. Here's a well known "christian" who blew the opportunity to give the simple plan of salvation over the air waves to millions of people! When people are seeking for answers, why not give them the TRUTH as found in God's inerrant Word? Why not just quote John3:16? It answers the question Hannity posed!
Where in the Bible DOES it back Warrne's statements? What about the sovereignty of God? What about acknowledgement of sin, the need to repent and ask Jesus for forgiveness? What about the work of the cross? What about the resurrection?(to name a few) Warren only gives a 'feel good' bandage for the gaping hole of sin in a person's life, as well as for our society. Does HE even know the TRUE plan of salvation? I fear he is leading many astray with his false teaching. Scary place to be for him, if he is!!!
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How to get to heaven
| Posted On: 02/21/08 12:11:06 PM |
Age 48, MD |
I think the issue here is 'Did Rick Warren tell people how to get to Heaven?' No he did not. To start Suan Hanntiy said he'd be right back with Rick Warren who would tell us want we need to get to heaven.
I don't think that happened on the show and it didn't happen in his book The Purpose Driven Life. And quite honestly the book would not have been a four year, I think bestseller, if it did tell you how.
Because you see that is the key to the kingdom and it's not a key that many are willing to give out. And that is what making a disciple is all about.
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Rick Warren's interview on going to Heaven
| Posted On: 02/21/08 11:48:42 AM |
Age 69, PA |
It appears that Rick Warren's taped message, available on Worldview, is not the total interview. However, what I heard Rick explain is not what I believe the Bible says about how we get to Heaven.
What is missing is our need to first accept God's gift of Love. We need to understand -- that we are all sinners by birth -- that sin separates us from a Holy and Righteous God -- that the penalty of our sins is covered by Jesus on the Cross (a debt we could never pay). Knowing this, we need believe through faith, that Jesus died for us -- that is, we need to accept Jesus into our hearts. And the Bible says that our ability to have such faith is not of our own doing, but it is also a gift from God.
Rick seemed to be talking about our relationship with Jesus -- letting him be Lord of our life -- after we accept God's gift of salvation. Obviously, it is illogical to expect an unsaved person to "choose to walk with Jesus" if he or she has not yet accepted Him as Savior and Lord. Remaining in sin, or "walking with the Devil" is normal for a person who has not accepted Jesus.
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How to get to Heaven
| Posted On: 02/21/08 11:45:18 AM |
Age 38, NV |
The question was not answered biblically. Access to heaven is not based on us. It is through faith in Christ that comes through belief in the shedding of blood for the remission of sin, not on our works that any should boast. Should we expect any different living in these last days? Did not even Jesus warn us of these things? Stand firm in the faith and in His Word alone that is able to save, not mans.
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Put things in perspective, please.
| Posted On: 02/21/08 11:40:07 AM |
Age 37, KY |
This is a good answer to a potentially hostile audience. Love the Lord with all your strength, mind, and soul. This clip does not include that every one comes to Jesus as a sinner, but we have to attract people close enough to teach them. Do you want our faiths deepest truths reduced to sound bites that fit nicely between comercial breaks? It is the churches job to educate beyond this first inital step. If we excluded people who did not have a solid theology and clear devotion to Jesus the church would be empty on Sunday. We come with our best, flawed and often shallow, and allow Him to complete in us the work He started.
So Rick is a bit shallow and off center at times, cant you take someone who has been introduced to Jesus and help them know Jesus?
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Rick Warren's Gospel
| Posted On: 02/21/08 11:12:00 AM |
Age 49, FL |
The problem with this little video is that it is way edited too long. I'm not even sure if the first pary where Hannity introduces the topic is linked to the actual quote by Rick Warren. Rick Warren seems to be talking here about Christian service not about salvation, which is totally by grace and by what Christ did on the cross. I believe that Rick Warren understands that. So, I'm going to believe the best. Instead of us worrying about whether Rick Warren shares the Gospel, we could do better and use that time and energy to share the Gospel ourselves.
Kees
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Understanding????
| Posted On: 02/21/08 11:06:30 AM |
Age 43, MT |
What about Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean NOT on your OWN understanding.
I guess that says it all for me.
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Warren vs. the Bible
| Posted On: 02/21/08 11:01:55 AM |
Age 70, NJ |
The Bible says much about God giving us blessings and us giving to others, but no where (search for yourself) does it speak of us giving anything to Christ except thanks and praise. And none of these have anything to do with going to heaven.
What the Bible DOES say is "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Acts 2:21 and Rom 10:13) And, contrary to "doing as much as we understand" for Christ, the Bible says that God did it freely for us, in Eph 2:8-10: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
This and other things that Warren has said reveal him to be one of those teachers that the Bible warns us about in 2 Tim 4:3-4: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."
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Be brief brother be brief
| Posted On: 02/21/08 10:55:07 AM |
Age 46, IL |
Warren claims he spent 12 hours a day for 7 months making his message less wordy. After listening to multiple conversations by Warren he seems afraid to say that Jesus is the only way to heaven and that all other paths lead to hell and seperation from God. Warren and Osteen and others just can't seem to bring themselves to saying the truth point blank in 30 words or less. He rambles on and on and explains each point with a story and chases rabbit trails. Charlie Rose gave him at least 1/2 hour and asked him hanging slowball questions to swing at and he was unable to clearly share the gospel a single time. Pathetic. He came close a few times, but just could not bring himslef to do it. The beloved Apostle Paul says it best, "Beleieve in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved" Acts 16:31.
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My Bible says...
| Posted On: 02/21/08 10:06:53 AM |
Age 36, GA |
My Bible says that you must be born-again.
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Cannot disagree with much of what he says here.
| Posted On: 02/21/08 10:04:28 AM |
Age 44, TX |
From the beginning in Eden the devil tempted Eve with, "and ye shall be as god...” This is really what idolatry is all about; I mean who really worships a rock carving?
I think we do have a choice in our day to day lives ("I put before you a choice") on weather are actions are Gods way or not, like Warren was saying, and I do not think that he is making a lot of right choices lately, but in the clip he really appear to me to address the issue of how Warren says to get to heaven which is not a choice we make day to day. This clip seems really misleading.
Did he step on some Calvinist toes?
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We can't do it....
| Posted On: 02/21/08 09:46:28 AM |
Age 35, GA |
The bottom line is that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. We have to accept that what Jesus did for us saves us. If we are truly saved then the Holy Spirit is in us and we count on Him to guide us. We are given a "conscience" to help us make the right decisions and a repentant heart when we don't. It's not the right decisions that save us, that is a by-product of our salvation.
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Repentance and the uncompromised Gospel
| Posted On: 02/21/08 09:41:31 AM |
Age 66, NE |
I still don't here much about how great our sin is in contrast to God's holiness. Most of all there seems to be a complete omitting of the need for repentance. Like David who sinned against his fellow man, but most of all against God, had a broken heart and deeply repented of his sins. When we wholesale the Gospel as just trying God or to go down His road and thats all you need, we leave out the heart of the message. Understanding our sin,having a deep conviction of that sin and then repenting to a Holy God are stepping stones to receiving Christ as both savior and Lord.
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Misleading Statement
| Posted On: 02/21/08 09:30:01 AM |
Age 41, GA |
I don't understand what that statement (Give as much of myself as I understand to as much of Jesus as I understand at that moment and grow in it) would have to do with how you get to heaven. The bible says that the only way to get to heaven (see the kingdom of God) is to be born again (John 3:3)you must repent or you will perish. His statement in my opinion is misleading that as long as you are a 'good' person trying to do what is right based on what you understand at that moment you will go to heaven, he says nothing about you must repent be born again and then comes the giving and understanding. In my own opinion if you are seaching but never repent be born again and you die you go to hell. Being in the searching stage is not being born again and will not get you into heaven. This is what I believe that the Bible says about entering into the kingdom of God you MUST be born again.
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