The Living Word
| Posted On: 09/12/09 08:08:25 AM |
Age 60, CA |
You miss the point about Bible study. In Isaiah 55:10,11 (55:6-11) God says, "My Word will accomplish its purpose". It's not about knowledge. God's Word changes us inwardly and brings us more and more toward His likeness. It causes us to see more and more as He sees things, and it causes us to feel the way He does about things.
If you are not alarmed about a voice that says to spend less time in God's Word I am afraid that you are not saved.
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Sorry but...
| Posted On: 08/26/09 09:01:39 AM |
Age 49, MO |
Friend, I couldn't disagree with YOU more. If you've read Scripture you cannot help but realize that the people of God barely talk about themselves- if at all. Paul, the most prolific apostle, was shipwrecked, beaten, stoned, desitute, and burdoned beyond our imagine, yet has barely written 10 verses about his adventures. Indeed, his focus was entirely unselfish and focused on Christ and the church. Christ and Paul make it clear that to be Christian is to share in Christ's suffering, yet RW schemes grandious plans of world peace. Read Philippians and you will see the proper Christian POV of life. RW is very full of himself as is obvious by his demeanor, his words, his lifestyle, and his focus on himself. John
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Couldn't Disagree More
| Posted On: 08/25/09 08:12:09 AM |
Age 56, MO |
You and many others have made wild-eyed judgments about Rick Warren (including WVT authors). Popularity has its price--when one experiences worldly success there MUST be something wrong with him. Of course, no one is perfect, but, if you think Warren is a "tare" then do what Jesus says about it: Let it grow with the wheat then God will take care of it at harvest time. I, for one, am sick of the expose'.
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Bibliophile
| Posted On: 08/24/09 06:10:35 AM |
Age 47, MO |
Of course, we all know that we must not only be hearers of the word, but doers. (James 1:22) And we all, every one of us, need to continuously seek the cousel of God's word and the Holy Spirit to more perfectly yield in obedience to the will of God. We can argue over what he meant to say, but Rick Warren is not a novice communicator. What he says only supports the syncretist, works-based, truth-compromising, Church-undermining theology we've come to expect from him.
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True Religion
| Posted On: 08/22/09 06:17:49 PM |
Age 56, CANADA |
The problem I see with more bible study is about the tendency to hop around the high points like I got in Sunday school. Since starting to read the bible from beginning to end I've seen a lot of stuff that corrected common misconceptions. Case - the story on Onan is sometimes used to guilt trip young people about masturbation but, it's not about that. It's about coitus interuptis. As for practice see James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." Also James 2:17 "In the same way faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." By applying these (mostly recently) I find that the age of miracles is not dead, or even close to it, as some seem to claim. They are common among the unfortunate who accept God, which is probably where they belong.
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Rick Warren's Bible study comment
| Posted On: 08/21/09 12:20:06 PM |
Age 37, TX |
I do not agree with this writers comment about RIck Warren. Whether he is part of the "emergent church" or not, I read his article about less Bible study and more service and he is completely RIGHT ON. As Christians, we get so full of the Word but if it is not poured out into the lives of others, it is of no purpose. Our lives are to be laid down and die to self and to live for Christ. He fills us up and as we are willing and step out in faith in service in our churches, communities, anywhere we go, that Living Water will be poured out into the lives of those who need it. He is Biblically correct in what he says.
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I would love to read what you really said
| Posted On: 08/21/09 12:06:27 PM |
Age 46, TX |
In your comment you spoke first person. As one who just completed research and wrote a paper on Real Church Renewal - if you (or anyone else our there) can ever read an actual transcript of Rick Warren's comments, speeches, etc. let me know. They are unfindable!
Cindy Hartke
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Right and Wrong
| Posted On: 08/21/09 11:27:00 AM |
Age 54, NC |
The average Christian does need to serve, but there is no shortage of opportunities to serve, just the willingness to serve.
While in over40 years of being Christian I've seen a lot of Bible Studies, the Church has benfitted much by it simply because too many Bible Teachers doing the chewing for their students. It is utterly shocking how few can pick up a copy of the Scriptures and competently study them. Alas, too many pastors have sat on their duffs and allowed this atrocity to continue. Paul said it best, in Ephesians 4:11-12, the believer is equipped by what we have tended to call "ministers" when it is the so called "laity" that are the ones being equipped to go do the work of the minstry. There are no laity in the church, all are called to the minstry.
There is no theological stream that is less guilty than another in this matter. This is the problem at the root of the sickness of the church, and why society itself is sick.
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inferring too much
| Posted On: 08/21/09 09:18:46 AM |
Age 50, MT |
Wow, talk about taking a simple statement and running away with it! I did not say that one should not study the Bible. Please read what I wrote, and not what you think I wrote. I was referring to people who spend Sunday after Sunday in churches, Bible studies, and home groups, and do little else. Knowing the Word of God is not the highest calling of a Christian. Know the Word of God is only the means to an end: Doing the works He has called us to, being a worshiper in Spirit and in Truth, calling all to repentance and a living faith. If you think your knowledge of Scripture is going to be commended in heaven, you might be surprised.
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Bible Study = Social Gathering
| Posted On: 08/21/09 09:13:51 AM |
Age 45, IA |
I have seen and been a part of Christians who gather faithfully for small group Bible studies and of course they are of value. But I've also seen such limited growth, such limited impact in our communities and in that regard Warren is right. Another Bible study - which normally degenerates into a social affair (of course snacks and food have to be served), tons of "good" discussion and nothing happens until the next time we gather to once again focus on ourselves. I think Warren is right on and this quote is not being taken in the spirit or context in which it was delivered.
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Fishers of men, not keepers of the aquarium
| Posted On: 08/21/09 08:22:15 AM |
Age 56, MO |
"But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers, who delude themselves." Is just hearing the word OK? I think that is all Warren was trying to say. (Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.)
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He's right??
| Posted On: 08/21/09 12:29:32 AM |
Age 53, NC |
Responding to "He's right," let me ask you, what were you doing for those 30 years being so fed that you've "had your fill of Bible studies?" I guess you're saying you've reached the supreme knowledge state. But how could you have, having done nothing with that knowledge?
Head knowledge alone was Judas' problem. He never knew Him in his heart, the only way you can know Him.
Rick Warren is a deceiver. He's a member of the Council On Foreign Relations. He's a globalist, a one worlder. Wake up church. Accepting Yeshua as Savior is easy believism. He must be LORD of your life, the One you SERVE if He truly is your God.
Mary Kay Mason
www.spiritwars.net
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Uh.. No, He's NOT Right
| Posted On: 08/20/09 07:34:48 PM |
Age 46, TN |
It is NEVER right to degrade the role of earnestly studying the scripture. The true sheep never get tired of Christ centered preaching which exposits the Bible. Of course, if all you ever hear is man-centered moralizing propped up with misused scriptures; then, yeah, I guess Bible study is a little tedious. Question everything Rick Warren says or represents. He doesn't just have a wheel in the ditch, he IS the ditch.
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Not Enough Bible Studies!!
| Posted On: 08/20/09 06:57:07 PM |
Age 56, KY |
Truly, what good are our works without knowledge of the One who calls to work in His name???
I submit that Rev. Warren is wrong in that he believe we already 'know too much' about the Bible. My practical observations tell me otherwise. On the contrary, I feel that most believers are ignorant of many facets of God's Word.
We should never be told to 'do good works' at the expense of studying God's Word. The Word alone reigns Supreme. EVERYTHING else comes after it. Therefore, my response is that we need MORE Bible studies, from which believers can then discern in which direction God is calling them to serve, based on where the Spirit is leading them.
This is accomplished by submission to the Word itself.
I pray that Rev. Warren can see the eternal significance and importance of this issue.
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True Believer
| Posted On: 08/20/09 05:50:22 PM |
Age 78, KY |
Satan has been doing everything he can to stop people from knowing the truth of God's Word since the beginning. Satan sugar coats everything that is said or written by men and woman that are blinded from the truth thinking they can make everything better then what God can. There is a special place in hell for those that are leading others down the path of destruction, such as the "Seeker Sensitive Church" and the "Emergent Church." May God help those in His true church, the ones that read and believe His Holy Bible. May we be able to help wake up those that have been blinded by satan's lies. Thank you, Joseph N. Smith P.S.(I'm not a Morman)
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both views seem religious
| Posted On: 08/20/09 04:51:08 PM |
Age 49, MO |
It's not the bible study that is in error, or the lack thereof, but our preconceived notions about Christianity and church. We have those on the left who view Christianity as a springboard to activism, and we have those on the right who want their theology to be just perfect. The obvious is that right theology and right activism is absent of self, spirit driven, and Christ centered. When are we gonna quit being church indoctrinated and be Spirit filled? When will we die to self... John
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He's wrong!
| Posted On: 08/20/09 04:08:57 PM |
Age 59, CA |
Bible study...hmmmm....what does it really mean to study God's word? Doing your homework....get good study tools and study habits....you can never study God's word too much. The more you delve into the meaning of scripture the more you learn about God. It's not sitting in a room with a bunch of people who just "listen" and not give input or ask questions or with a mediocre teacher. It's asking those questions and getting the right answers through studying the Word. Listening to the right Bible teachers such as John Macarthur. Vernon McGee, David Hocking, etc. There are good sources to glean from but you are responsible for your own learning. The more you learn the more you understand and the more likely you will not fall into deception from false teachers such as Rick Warren. You can never have too much Bible study.
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He's right
| Posted On: 08/20/09 02:33:43 PM |
Age 50, MT |
As much as I disagree with Warren on some things, he's right about this issue. After 30 years of being a Christian, I've had my fill of Bible studies, empty sermons, and the same old same old every Sunday morning. The problems with today's churches and parishioners isn't a lack of teaching or study, it's a lack of a living faith that demands fellowship with God and obedience to His Word. We already know what the Bible says; we just don't do it.
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