Several years ago our Sunday School class used the Purpose Driven Life for it's text to study from on Sunday mornings. Everyone was doing it, it was the hotest thing in Christianity at the time. We followed blindly like good little sheep and we all purchased the book. We plowed into it because that's what we were supposed to do. About half way through some of us finally spoke up. There were parts of it that just didn't seem right. The book had to use numerous versions of the bible to find one to fit the message Rick was writing. Many were taken out of context. We finally stopped using the book.
Since then, I've been leery of Warren and his teachings. He says and does many things I don't agree with. I don't know where some of his beliefs come from because they are not biblical. Since he's been in the spotlight lately this video caught my attention. Since he will give the inaugural prayer he has been in the spotlight. He has been treated as the spokesman for all Christians. I, for one, can speak for myself. I've heard Rick say too many strange and disagreeable things for him to be my spokeman. Now I know, I probably just made a few folks mad. Somebody reading this likes Rick Warren. All I can say is listen to what he says and compare it the bible.
It sounds like Rick is raising an army to slay the global giants. What verse is that - 1st Oprah 1:1? Who gets to decide what or who a global giant is? This is a social gospel. I understand we need to have compassion, feed the hungry and minister to the hurting. I have no problem with that. But our first mission is to take the gospel to the whole world.
Using the evil regimes of the past to motivate Chrstian involvement is just weird. The fact that these folks all hold their signs up just like they are tod just freaks me out. I don't think Jesus called us to be a mind numbed robot. Could Rick not find any analogy of dedicated folks following a leader for a good cause?
I really want this blog to be positive, educational and uplifting. I don't really want to use it trash anyone (except maybe Oprah once in a while). But is this man representative of Christian America? Are we going to form an army of believers and battle poverty, hunger, disease, etc. I don't even know what he expects people to do. Is he asking for money? I think Rick sees himself as a 5 star general in the Lord's army. So much of what he does seems more about him, his church and his agenda than teaching the world about Jesus Christ. The eyes of the world watch him and measure Christianity and Christ by him. I'm afraid people are being led astray.
We'll see how he handles the prayer at the inauguration. I'll be watching, mildly hopeful, but with low expectations.
Just thinking and watching.........look up, He's coming soon.
Doug