Evaluating 40 Days of Community

Perhaps you are wondering if I am against this whole 40 Days of Community campaign. Well, if you are wondering whether you should go, my answer is a qualified YES. My qualification is this: if you have your ears perked up on alert, if you rely on the scriptures and the Holy Spirit to test all things, if you read all the scriptures being referred to in context… you can handle anything that comes at you. Read more »

The argument that we can trust a teacher or minister because they seem to be sincere is fatally flawed. Here’s the problem: does the fact that one is sincere guarantee that what they are saying is the truth? Is it not possible to be sincere and also to be wrong? We must be good Bereans and test all things to see whether they are true.

“We’re Connected to Grow Together…By Forgiving Each Other”

This chapter is again, very good. So again, I have nothing to offer other than to add a few comments. 

Fellowship without forgiveness is impossible.

This is a true statement, and an excellent point to stop and ponder. I was recently listening to several sermons by the late Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones where he also made a similar statement. I was also reading a commentary on Leviticus 3 by C.H. Mackintosh that elaborated on this priciple from the nature of the fellowship offering. This is a very important topic of the scriptures, and one which we need to carefully consider and ponder in our hearts. Read more »

“We’re Connected to Grow Together…By Confessing to Each other”

This chapter is very good, so I have nothing to offer other than to add a few comments.

The purpose of confession is not disgrace, but grace.

This is an excellent point. Whenever we confess our sins to God, the Bible says that He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Being forgiven and cleansed in this way should form a deep love within us for God and for others which is the motivation for us to forgive and offer God’s cleansing to others as well. Read more »

“We’re Connected to Grow Together…By Giving Preference to Each other”  

Placing the needs of others before our own and giving preference to others is a topic that needs to be spoken about. It is very easy to be self-serving even while giving to others. How can someone given everything they have to the poor and not have love? How could someone give their own lives up, even their bodies to be burned, and not have love? The Bible says that it is so in 1 Cor 13:3. So how then can we get beyond ourselves and truly love others? Read more »

Some time ago, I received an email from Rev. Chris Currey in Ontario on this topic and I thought it was so good and relevant that I got permission from him to post it on my God’s BMW blog here. I think the following short snippet is very relevant to my discussion of Rick’s gospel presentation and is worth repeating here for emphasis. Please feel free to comment.

Unfortunately, some have decided to simply reach out with good works while leaving any offensive gospel preaching in the dust. The trend is to offer inclusive acceptance rather than be forthright. By doing so, we risk losing converts by seeking the friendship and approval of the ‘post-modern minded.’ We tuck truth under the table for fear we’ll scare them off, but in the end we do them more harm than good. We might have them in our church, but does God have them in His Kingdom?

One of our greatest examples of Christian charity is the salvation army. But listen to the words of William Booth, “Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you ‘go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin.’ Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father’s house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there.” Obviously, he was not referring to just feeding the poor. How would such utterances be received by the church today? No doubt, William Booth faced a society much like ours. He did not bow to the threatenings of a callous and base-minded society by changing the method of reaching them. If we are going to reach this post-modern world, we must do it the same way Jesus instructed us to do it 2000 years ago… preach the gospel! It was Jesus who said, “unless ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” By today’s standards, Jesus would be considered a radical for saying such things. So while we follow His example of charity, let us follow His admonition to preach the gospel in its entirety. To deviate from the blue-print is to build a crooked house on sinking sand.

[My comments are inline--in brackets--and in red text]

Subsequent to my earlier posting on Rick’s video entitled “What It Means to Follow Christ”, I wanted to elaborate on Rick’s other gospel presentations. Read more »

I was browsing Rick Warren’s website, http://purposedriven.com/, and I noticed a video link on the main page entitled “What it Means to Follow Christ” (Windows Media: high / low). Rick presents the gospel message in this video, and to tell you the truth, this was the best gospel presentation of Rick Warren’s that I have seen yet. Why didn’t he put this one on the first tape of his 40 Days of Purpose study? Rick spoke with passion and you could tell it was coming from his heart. From both the Purpose Driven Life and the Better Together (40 Days of Community Workbook), the gospel message is misleading and watered down so much it is virtually unrecognizable. Read more »

“We’re Connected to Grow Together…By Warning Each Other.” 

This is an excellent chapter with appropriate warnings and wise guidance. I have a few things I want to point out and a few of my own comments to add.

“Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb 3:13, ESV).

Let’s continue on in the ESV:

“For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.’ For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.” (Heb 3:14-19, ESV).

If even those who experienced the tremendous miracles of the signs from Moses, the 10 plagues on Egypt, the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, the passing through the Red Sea, manna from heaven, water from the rock, clothing that lasted 40 years, the voice of God and thundering at Mt. Sinai… if these still did not believe, then we ought to realize that even many miracles cannot sway unbelief. How is it that we find true belief? The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We do not truly believe until we are fully submitted to Him, and this is hard (even impossible) if we do not understand ourselves in truth from God’s perspective, that we are sinners saved by grace and not of works.  We are totally unable to please Him and are all in the muck together.  How amazing it is that He saved me, then adopted me and gave me a son’s inheritance! How undeserving I am, and how utterly loving He is. How can I not give everything to Him? Everything I have obtained in this life is absolutely worthless compared to knowing Jesus Christ! Read more »

John MacArthur has done a teaching video series on the lack of truth being taught in churches today. If you know me, ask me for it and I will lend you a copy. The DVD series is entitled “Does the Truth Matter Anymore?” It is produced by Word Pictures and you can find it listed here or browse their website at http://crosstv.com/. Here is the series abstract:

“Everywhere is apathy. Nobody cares whether that which is preached is true or false. A sermon is a sermon whatever the subject; only, the shorter it is the better.”

Those words were written by Charles Spurgeon MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO! Yet, he might have just as easily been describing the state of the church at the beginning of the 21st Century.

Well, in this “tell-it-like-it-is” indictment of the attitudes, methods and approaches of much of the modern church, Pastor John MacArthur picks up where Charles Spurgeon left off.

This video series is ‘MUST VIEWING” for the modern Christian.

“We’re Connected to Grow Together…By Teaching Each Other.”

We are all teachers of the faith. We may be good teachers or we may be bad teachers, but we are teachers.

To an extent this is true, especially concerning the faith. However, Jesus does not call us teachers but disciples, and we are to make disciples, teaching them to obey everything that Jesus commanded of His first disciples. In Matt 23:8, we read (NET): “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers.” We are not to call ourselves teachers, but brothers or sisters. As such, we are to be open to instruction from our brothers and sisters in the Lord, but we should not rely on them. Read more »

“We’re Connected to Grow Together…By Encouraging Each Other.”

We have the power to kill or give life.

Wow! Rick sure places a lot of power in the hands of mere humans. The Bible says in Deut 32:39 (NET): “‘See now that I, indeed I, am he!’ says the LORD, ‘and there is no god besides me. I kill and give life, I smash and I heal, and none can resist my power.‘” Jesus emphasized this very clearly when He stated: “But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:5, NASB).

Many of the messages we hear from the world are the killing kind. We’re told: “You’re not smart enough; you’re not thin enough; you’re not fast enough; you’re not GOOD enough.” The Bible says, “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit–you choose” (Prov 18:21, MSG).

It seems to me that Rick is advocating that we ought to be raising people’s self-esteem instead of calling them to deny self and find God’s strength in their weakness. Read more »

In light of the Purpose Driven Church movement, I thought you would find the following article interesting as it documents a new kind of Christian: the Secular Christian. Here is a clip from the article which you can find here:

I don’t believe in God.

I don’t believe Jesus Christ was the son of a God that I don’t believe in, nor do I believe Jesus rose from the dead to ascend to a heaven that I don’t believe exists.

Given these positions, this year I did the only thing that seemed sensible: I formally joined a Christian church.

Standing before the congregation of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas, I affirmed that I (1) endorsed the core principles in Christ’s teaching; (2) intended to work to deepen my understanding and practice of the universal love at the heart of those principles; and (3) pledged to be a responsible member of the church and the larger community.

So, I’m a Christian, sort of. A secular Christian. A Christian atheist, perhaps. But, in a deep sense, I would argue, a real Christian.

…The pastor and most of the congregation at St. Andrew’s understand my reasons for joining, realizing that I didn’t convert in a theological sense but joined a moral and political community. There’s nothing special about me in this regard — many St. Andrew’s members I’ve talked to are seeking community and a place for spiritual, moral and political engagement. The church is expansive in defining faith; the degree to which members of the congregation believe in God and Christ in traditional terms varies widely. Many do, some don’t, and a whole lot of folks seem to be searching. St. Andrew’s offers a safe space and an exciting atmosphere for that search, in collaboration with others.

How is it that such a thing as this can blatantly exist in today’s church? What could be the reason why a person could continue to be comfortable in a church community and yet not believe in God?

Some food for thought…

I recently came across an article by Bill Berkowitz (thanks to Roger Oakland) in a publication titled “Working for Change,” a publication of a secular activist organization named “Working Assets.” Bill Berkowitz is a longtime observer of the conservative movement. You can find the article here. The following are some interesting highlights from the article that I want to highlight and comment on: Read more »

“We’re Connected to Grow Together…By Being Examples to Each Other.”

“Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you” (Phil 3:17, NIV).

We all need models to help us mature.

Many people make the mistake of thinking all they need to grow spiritually is God’s Word and prayer. But the truth is, we need people to help us grow. Christlike character is built through relationships, not in isolation. There are many things God wants you to learn about life that you’ll never learn on your own. You’ll only learn them in community. We always grow faster and stronger with living, breathing examples who can model for us what a purpose driven life looks like. We need more than explanations, we need examples.

Christlike character is built by Christ in us and tested through our relationships with one another to the glory of God and as a witness to the world.  I understand that Rick is concerned that some people don’t see the need to fellowship with other believers and have even abandoned doing so.  Perhaps they feel that watching a sermon on TV or listening by radio is sufficient.  It is not, and the scripture clearly says “…not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near” (Heb 10:25, NET).  However, Rick’s statement that community is necessary for spiritual growth goes beyond scripture.  Read more »

“We’re Chosen to Fellowship Together…By Being Honest With Each Other.”

…but we know the truth, and the truth has set us free (John 8:32).

Who is Rick speaking of here when he says “we”? The scripture says, “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free‘” (John 8:31-32, NASB). Jesus says later in verse 37 of those who were seeking to kill Him: “…because My word has no place in you.” We will only know the truth if we continue in His word–this was not a general statement for all professing Jesus as their Lord. Read more »

“We’re Chosen to Fellowship Together…By Being Patient With Each Other.”

“Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love” (Eph 4:2b, NLT).

“…with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love” (Eph 4:2, KJV). This is a good scripture reference, although the NLT changes “in love” to “because of your love.” We are to bear with one another in love because of God’s love and forbearance of us, not because of our love. Let us never forget that God died for us while we were yet sinners. Read more »

When you find yourself in an argument with other believers … Look for God’s presence (Matt 28:20). Satan wants us to believe we’re in the battle alone.

I’m not sure what Rick means by the statement that we are to look for God’s presence when we are in an argument. Perhaps he means that we should ensure that we are communicating God’s truth and not our wishes.

When you find yourself in an argument with other believers … Lean on the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:15-16). … what appears to be right to us may very well be wrong (Prov 14:12). … Look for the conflict’s true source (Eph 6:12).

This is of course good advice. The last part of 1 Cor 2:16 says that “we have the mind of Christ.” What a blessing God gives us as believers who abide in Him! However, we should always take the attitude that if we are wrong we want others to show us the error of our ways so that we can repent and live in truth. Read more »

“We’re Chosen to Fellowship Together…By Getting Along With Each Other.”

“I beg you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so that there won’t be splits in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose” (1 Cor 1:10, LB).

Arguing certainly can become counter-productive if not done in the right spirit. It would be best to have discussion (even if it is heated because both sides have strong convictions) where both sides listen to each other, and most importantly where truth is being sought and not simply support for each parties’ differing world views. Read more »

“We’re Chosen to Fellowship Together…By Supporting Each Other.”

God enables us to love the fear out of one another. We drive fear from our community by loving one another so supportively that each member feels safe inside the group (1 John 4:18). … We give to one another the same uncommon safety Christ gives us–to be real, to be sad, to be messed up and confused, yet, to be loved.

The above sounds so wonderful, doesn’t it? After all, doesn’t everyone want to be in a community where there is no fear? I was in the presence of such a community last year at the gay pride festival in Vancouver, BC in Canada. It was clearly evident that these people had no fear or inhibitions. They let it all go. People who were perhaps reserved at work, always wary of what people think of them or how they are perceived were letting go of all their cares at the festival. I met an elderly woman sitting in a chair on the side of the street taking in the festivities. I was amazed by this, and so I stopped by to talk with her and to ask her why she was there. She said it was because these people have learned to let go of their fears; they were free. Indeed, they were free… They were free to do as they wanted. Were these people not loving the fear out of one another? Is it not true that these people felt safe in this community of people who outwardly displayed their inner lusts that day?

Now, I think there is a very relevant example of the early church community in Acts 5. Let’s see if it matches up with the description that Rick Warren provided above. Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property and, giving a portion of the proceeds to the apostles, told them that they gave the full proceeds from the sale. The Holy Spirit revealed this sin to Peter who questioned them: “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God” (Acts 5:4, NASB). At this, Ananias fell down and died. In like manner, his wife Sapphira also lied and breathed her last. And what do we read? “…and great fear came over all who heard of it.” In Acts 5:11 (NASB) we read: “And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.” Verse 13 continues: “But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem.” Maybe the disciples should have taken the 40 Days of Community so they could learn from Rick that “God enables us to love the fear out of one another.” Read more »

“We’re Chosen to Fellowship Together…By Respecting Each Other.”

“Excel in showing respect for each other” (Rom 12:10b, GW).

Respect for one another is a scriptural principle, although reading the above verse in a proper translation, we can see that the Bible goes further by saying “give preference to one another” (Rom 12:10, NASB). Elsewhere we also read “regard others as more important than ourselves” (Phil 2:3, NASB).

Part of listening means we don’t rush to fix things or to give an answer; we respect others enough to let them share their full story.

Rick shared some good practical advice prior to the above statement about respecting others by listening to them. Later, he also rightly says that we show respect in how we talk about others when they are not around. We should not gossip which is to treat ourselves as better than others. However, while part of listening involves not inappropriately interrupting someone, and certainly not rushing to always fix things, we must be willing to offer godly wisdom, correct someone who is in error or even rebuke someone living in sin. In fact, the very nature of how Rick is writing is to offer instruction and correct what he considers to be errors, and rebuke sin like gossip.

We excel in showing respect when we work hard at being: Tactful, not just truthful; … Understanding, not demanding; … Gentle, not judgmental; … Polite, not rude.

Rick has some good instruction here, and we would do well to heed this advice.

One final note on respect: God entrusted the pastors and spiritual leaders of your church to “watch over your souls,” and they are accountable to God for this task (Heb 13:17, LB). They must correctly teach God’s Word; confront false teaching before it spreads; proclaim the Gospel to nonbelievers; pray for all people, including you and your family; train and appoint leaders; and they must do this all while serving as an example of what it means to be a follower of Jesus (1 and 2 Timothy; Titus). (emphasis mine)

Very well said indeed. It seems that Rick should therefore be supportive of this blog in my attempt to “confront false teaching before it spreads.” Why are not more elders and pastors doing the same? And why does Rick violate his own good advice to “correctly teach God’s Word” by consistently taking scripture out of context? Does using snippets of paraphrases that contain his favorite key words and catch phrases that are often in addition to or in contradiction with the literal reading in context demonstrate by example how to “accurately handle the word of truth“? (2 Tim 2:15).

“Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (1 Tim 4:16, NASB).

“We’re Chosen to Fellowship Together…By Committing to Each Other.”

“Let us agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other” (Rom 14:19a, MSG).

Commitment to one another is an important scriptural truth. We are first committed to Christ who gave Himself freely for us that we might be made heirs with Him. Secondly, we are to serve one another with brotherly love, and in humility regard others as more important than ourselves. If this is a Biblical principle, why then does Rick Warren right off the bat quote The Message which distorts the truth of the scripture by changing the original meaning and placing an over-emphasis on unity? Romans 14:19 (NASB) says “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” This doesn’t say to use all our energy to get along, but in context, we are told to set aside arguments over what to eat and drink and pay attention to the truths of the gospel (which makes for peace) and the building up of one another. Romans 12:18 (NET) says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people.” This includes non-believers. We give no one a reason to be offended at us except for the truth we speak and our persistence in standing for it in love. Read more »

“We’re Chosen to Fellowship Together…By Admitting Our Need For Each Other.”

“Since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others” (Rom 12:5, NLT).

There is truth in this chapter in that the body of Christ is in need of all of its parts. This is because all the gifts God has built into the church are necessary for the proper function and health of the church as a whole. However, Rick goes too far in his assertions, and even concludes that without meeting together regularly with other believers, not only can you not grow spiritually (as he mentions in the introduction to his book), but he also says you cannot survive spiritually! This is nothing less than scaring people into coming to church, and it also encourages them to depend on people to meet their spiritual needs instead of God.

The last statement in the NLT (underlined in the blockquote above) is not in the original text. The text simply states that we are members who belong to one another. The only one we need is Christ! If all I had was Christ, I would be no less a Christian and could grow spiritually and fulfill the calling He has placed on me. What of those who are destitute and alone? If they are like a finger without the rest of the body, how could they possibly survive? If you were taken from your small group and placed in solitary confinement until the day you died, would your Christian faith perish because you were cut-off from the presence of other believers? All I need is Christ. However, this is not to say that we are to aspire to be alone and to live apart from others–not so! Since we are all one in Him as fellow believers, then we belong to one another and therefore serve one another with the individual callings and giftings that He has bestowed upon each member of the body.

However, belonging to one another and needing one another are two different things. Each part of the body is necessary and serves an invaluable purpose. Thus, using the illustration to say that one cannot grow spiritually without other believers as Rick stated in the introduction to this book is to directly contradict 1 John 2:27 which says “…you have no need for anyone to teach you; but His anointing teaches you about all things…” Read more »

“We’re Commissioned to Reach Out Together…By Representing Jesus.”

We are to be his face and hands and feet…

This is a common expression used in the church today which is likely taken from Rom 12:5 “so we, who are many are one body in Christ” or 1 Cor 12:27 “now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.” However, the first refers to the fact that though we are different peoples, both Jew and Gentile are made one in (or because of) Christ. The latter refers to Christ’s “spiritual body,” or God’s appointed “body parts” described as apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healings, helps, administrations and languages. We must take care to remember that the Bible says “for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Eph 2:10). So it is the work that He is doing in us, not the work that we are doing to try to take His place in His absence as if He wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything if it were not for us in this world. He chooses to use us, but He doesn’t need us. Always remember that lest we become too haughty with ourselves. Read more »

“We’re Commissioned to Reach Out Together…By Giving Practical Help.”

I want to note here that this chapter has some good admonitions, but is overemphasizing the physical needs to the point of de-emphasizing spiritual needs. We need to take care to maintain the correct emphasis while demonstrating that physical acts of kindness are how people feel that you mean what you say and believe the truth you speak. I hope and pray that my comments will help shed more light on this as you read. Please post a comment if you have something to add or disagree with something I’ve said.

I want to note here that this chapter has some good admonitions, but is overemphasizing the physical needs to the point of de-emphasizing spiritual needs. We need to take care to maintain the correct emphasis while demonstrating that physical acts of kindness are how people feel that you mean what you say and believe the truth you speak. I hope and pray that my comments will help shed more light on this as you read. Please post a comment if you have something to add or disagree with something I’ve said.

People know we love them when we show we love them.

Indeed, this is true. 1 John 3:16 (NASB), “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” Note carefully that the love God makes to live in us through belief in the gospel and faith in Christ is that which causes us to in the same way lay down our lives for people. If you are not laying down your life for others, you should question whether or not God is living in you (2 Cor 13:5). This doesn’t mean asking to be executed; it simply means treating your life as though it is worth less than that of others (giving preference to others over yourself). Read more »

The content of the gospel is not something we have been given creative license with. We are not to water it down (ie. only mention the good parts and leave out the life that Jesus is calling us to), but neither are we to hide it under an emotional experience (setup the “atmosphere” to seduce decisions), use non-biblical motivations, trickery or peer pressure. To speak to this issue, I want to refer you to 3 blog posts that I made to my God’s BMW blog. The first is this post where I quote an excerpt from Dave Hunt’s booklet entitled “The Non-Negotiable Gospel.”

What’s Wrong With Just Preaching About God’s Grace?
There’s nothing wrong with preaching the grace of God! In fact, it is what we are commanded to do. But what is the grace of God if not a thorough understanding of the moral requirements of mankind–the Law (ie. the 10 Commandments) which magnifies the grace of God to us? For more on this matter, and the testimony of a pastor who had a ministry and life-changing dream from God, please see this blog post.

Billy Graham Reveals Secret Behind Failure of the Church
On September 22, 1958, Dr. Billy Graham preached a message in Charlotte, North Carolina. Using the 10 Commandments, he reveals the secret behind our failure as a church, as elders and deacons, and as Sunday School teachers, collectively and individually. In nearly 50 years, much has stayed the same and even worsened, and we are continuing to bear the fruit of our folly. For more details, please see this blog post.

“We’re Commissioned to Reach Out Together…By Building Friendships.”

“Be friendly with everyone. Don’t be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people” (Rom 12:16, CEV).

The NASB reads: “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.” In other words, do not be proud such that you disassociate from the lowly; do not appraise yourself better than others and others not worthy of your time because of their position or knowledge. This is not saying that we should not act like we have the truth. Indeed, if we know Christ, we have the truth. And we need to show the unbelieving that what they are trusting in is a lie. But it is something that we give to others in service to their spiritual needs.

“Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you” (2 Cor 5:20b, MSB).

The Message puts an dangerous and unscriptural twist on this passage. 2Cor 5:20 in the NASB reads: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” Does this passage speak of friendship? Is admonishing someone to be reconciled to God the same as telling them that He’s already a friend to them (even if they don’t reconcile to Him… ie. repent)? To tell an unbeliever that God is already a friend with them is very misleading, especially when John 3:36 (NASB) states: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Read more »

“We’re commissioned to reach out together…by showing acceptance.”

We are to accept others the way that Jesus accepts us.

Amen! I think this chapter is very good. Rick makes some very important points, and I think we would do well to take note of them. We should not look down on sinners because we also are sinners saved by grace. Jesus doesn’t reject us on account of any sin aside one–lack of belief in Himself as the only hope of salvation. He paid the price for our personal sins that we would otherwise bear ourselves, and the punishment is eternal. I believe that if we only realized what we have been rescued from and if only we would lose all hope in ourselves (and not try to keep propping up our self-esteem), we would fall at His feet in utter contempt and hate of our life and love for and devotion to Him.

[*NOTE: The book states that this material was adapted from a book by Karen Mains.]

“We’re commissioned to reach out together…by using hospitality.”

… we could significantly alter the fabric of society. We could play a major role in its spiritual, moral, and emotional redemption.

This seems to suggest that we are the ones who can alter the fabric of society, which has been the thrust in the all-too-prevalent “kingdom now” theology. Is society going to be redeemed, or are individuals redeemed, being called out of this world?  (Church in Greek is Ecclesia which means literally “the called out ones”.) Kingdom Now theology looks for a promised great revival and a bringing down of The Kingdom to earth. In other words, the ruling and the reigning will happen in our society at large. While we all long for true revival and for all to come to salvation, Jesus did say that His kingdom is not of this world–otherwise He would have called His servants to fight and prevent His execution. Even while He was on this earth, few believed and were saved. And Jesus prophecied that in the end times, there will be a great apostasy and a falling away (Matt 24:10, and Paul in 2 Thess 2:3), and you cannot fall away from something you never claimed to belong to in the first place. Jesus’ first statement in response to the apostles’ question about what the signs of the end of the age were was “see to it that no one misleads you” (Matt 24:4, NASB). I repeat this admonition for your benefit. Read more »

“We’re commissioned to reach out together…by using our small group.”

“…you are working together and struggling side-by-side to get others to believe the Good News.” (Phil 1:27b, CEV).

“We” is more powerful than “me.”

This last phrase is a cute saying, and it is true in a human sense only. However, it is absolutely and resolutely false in God’s view and how He wants us to see things. God never encourages the idea of “strength in numbers” in the scriptures; in fact, He strongly discourages it. Remember the tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9)? Remember what God did to Gideon’s army of 22,000 men (Judges 7)? Remember when David numbered the people to determine his strength (1 Chron 21)?

Let’s take a look at a more reliable translation than the CEV. Phil 1:27-28 in the NASB: “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents–which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.” God wants us to ALL know the truth, the full truth and nothing but the truth so that we are all the same in mind, standing firm as one in spirit against opposition (even if there are only 2 of us), and striving together for the faith. This unity for the gospel is a sign to them who oppose us even though they may persecute us and destroy us in the body.

Different perspective than Rick Warren is trying to impose, isn’t it? Read more »

“We’re commissioned to reach out together…by being intentional.”

I want to make a general comment here that I think this chapter is pretty good and I am in general agreement with it. There are a few items I want to comment on, but overall Rick had good advice and exhortation here.

Rick shows how it would be unloving to know the cure for some fatal disease and keep it quietly to yourself while others are dying around you. I whole-heartedly agree. But what he doesn’t say explicitly is that if you are not sharing the cure with those around you, it is evidence that you are not saved. We are all called to be doctors (not necessarily evangelists and public speakers), but sharing the good news of the gospel with those around us. A proper understanding of the gospel in its entirety (which entails the standard by which God will judge, what we look like before a Holy God and the penalty for sin) gives us adequate motivation. I think that this needs to be made clear to people, especially those in the “Laodicean” church who are in danger of being “spewed” out (Rev 3:16 like the man that hid his single talent (the gospel truth which had been shared with him)–Matt 25:24-30.

However, the tough part for me came when I wanted to share the good news with people, but they didn’t want the cure — they were not interested one bit in the life-saving serum. Read more »

“We’re compelled to love God’s family…because it is a witness to the world.”

Jesus gave the world the right to judge the authenticity of our faith by
how much we love one another.

It seems to me that Jesus simply stated a fact.

We prove our faith in Christ, not by the rules we keep, but by the love we give. Notice Jesus didn’t say, “Love me,” as proof of our discipleship. He said “love one another, and that will show the world you belong to me.”

The first point that I want to make is that we prove our faith in Christ by Him in us (2 Cor 13:5). Doing something nice or a selfless act of love does not prove your faith in Christ. My athiest neighbour does plenty of selfless acts of love and kindness but obviously this doesn’t prove that he is a disciple of Christ. Doing good deeds and doing them selflessly is certainly part of living out our faith, but if this is where we left it at, people in other religions or community organizations who do good and benefit others may think they are Christians too. My friends at work help out at the food bank, for instance. If I just do what they do, I’m no different than they are. Do I therefore have to help out 4 times a week to outdo them so that they go, “wow — he really blows me away with his good deeds… I feel sinful, maybe I need to repent and believe in Jesus”? Read more »

I think we all want to get back to following the example of the early church as documented in the book of Acts. I certainly do. Is it true, then, that the evangelistic preaching of the Apostles as recorded in Acts emphasized one’s love relationship with God and personal life enhancement? If not, did these disciples of Christ focus on something else? This is directly applicable to our discussion here because it demonstrates a commonly held misunderstanding about how the early church reached the lost.

Greg Koukl wrote this article exploring this issue. Take a read and let me know what you think.

I just started reading the Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren yesterday and was amazed to read the following accolades from Bruce Larson on the first few pages of the book:

“Rick Warren is the architect for the church of the 21st century, and this is the blueprint!”

But the Word of God says in Heb 11:10 (NASB): “…for he [Abraham] was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

See also Heb 3:1-4, Eph 2:19-22, Gal 2:18, 2 Cor 5:1. I find that 1 Cor 3:9-15 is probably the most instructive scripture here. It is very clear that we are builders as God’s fellow workers, but we are also His field, His building. Paul was like a wise master builder, but he was not the architect and never claims such a thing. The rest is very instructive about how you build and with what you build, all of which the architect is the specifier of. Now, is Bruce Larson actually saying that he thinks Rick Warren has found another blueprint? The question is, could Bruce be right? I think that is a reasonable question we ought to be asking. I cannot answer this yet as I have not read the book. What I do know, however, is that Rick Warren did not write that statement, but why he would allow such a statement to be in his book completely mystifies me. Allowing someone to represent you in that way without correcting them or removing it from your book demonstrates agreement. And allowing yourself to be called the architect which is God’s place alone is, dare I say, blasphemous.

Some things for you to think about concerning standing for truth in love.

“Seek the truth, listen to the truth, learn the truth, love the truth, speak the truth, hold the truth, defend the truth until death.”

- John Huss, burned at the stake July 6, 1415

“The arrival of the lawless one will be by Satan’s working with all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders, and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved. Consequently God sends on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false. And so all of them who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil will be condemned.”

- The Apostle Paul, 2 Thess 2:9-12 (NET)

“But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.”

- The Apostle Paul, Eph 4:15 (NET)

“Just as in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.”

- The Apostle Paul, Colossians 1:6 (NET)

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”

- Jesus Christ, John 14:6 (NET)

Always remember: grace and truth; there can be no grace without truth. The truth is like turning on a light while the person is standing in front of a mirror; the law reveals God’s standard like a mirror, but the light shines on them so that they can see themselves in truth.

 

[*NOTE: I had some serious concerns with statements made and Bible translations used in this chapter.]

“We are compelled to love God’s family…because it is practice for eternity.”

“We are anxious that you keep right on loving others as long as life lasts, so that you will get your full reward.” (Heb 6:11, LB)

This translation is unfortunately very misleading and sounds very works-based. Read instead the NASB, Heb 6:11-12: “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” For the Living bible to translate (paraphrase?) it to say keep on loving so that you will get your full reward is very misleading. I understand how believers can interpret this within the correct framework, but to an unbeliever, a seeker or a confused believer, this is one of the many things about the material that is plain confusing at best. That it is a twisting of God’s Word and that it may lead people away from the truth is the serious nature of the matter.

The greatest lesson in life is love.

There are lessons in love, but I contend that the greatest lesson is not the things that we do for others. Rather, it is understanding and comprehending and grasping the love God has for us through Jesus Christ and this can only be done through a deep awareness of our sin. Read more »

“We’re compelled to love God’s family…because we’re a family.”

We belong, and we help others believe that they belong.

Rather, we help convince others of their need for Christ, but once they believe, then they automatically belong. Encouragement, yes, but no convincing by man is required. To try to convince someone of their salvation when you don’t know their heart is dangerous at best. By telling them what God requires because of what He will do through you when you are saved, you help them to know if their heart is right with God. Read more »

“We’re compelled to love God’s family…because it shows we are saved.”

“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love other believers.” (1 John 3:14, GW).

Loving other believers is the evidence that we belong to God’s family.

Amen to that! But note that loving is as God defines it, not as we think of it. True love doesn’t just give material gifts or time or friendship; it stands for and shares truth with grace.

Consider this: if you have no love for others, and if you’re only concerned about your own needs, then you should question whether Christ is really in your life.

Amen again!! See 2 Cor 13:5 and Phil 2:1-7. But again, we need to remember that love is not just doing nice, selfless things for people: it is intolerant of evil. Love loves the truth first and foremost. And love meets the real need by feeding the needy with God’s Word and demonstrating grace by declaring freedom from the bondage of sin and death — but in order to do this, we must refute error and stand for truth.

Note Matt 7:21 (NASB): “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father.” Read more »

“We’re compelled to love God’s family…because it is how we love God.”

I would reword this as follows: “…because it is the evidence that we have experienced God’s love and received and appropriated it.” If merely loving God’s family is how we love God, then why did God give us the first commandment? Why not just give us the second one or tell us that the first was a commandment and the second was showing us how to obey the first. But He didn’t do that. He said that all the law hangs off of these two commandments. And again, we show evidence of our love for God by loving others. Not try to prove it, evidence it — ie., what already exists. If we are not overwhelmed with love for one another, perhaps we need to remind ourselves what we’ve been saved from. Read more »

“We are compelled to love God’s family…because God commands it.”

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34, NIV).

Yes, and this is the natural response to receiving the love of God (1 John 5:3), therefore, we can be measured by it.

Why is obeying connected with love? Because it reflects unity among believers–a oneness of spirit within our congregations and small groups that is foundational to kingdom work.

From my understanding of the scripture, obedience is connected with love as it reflects unity among believers that already exists because of Christ. This unity, since it is a work of the Holy Spirit, is part of the kingdom of God that has already come to those who believe. There is no unity that has to be contrived in order to do “kingdom work.” And that kingdom work is not to reform the world and make it a better place by imposing good values. While this is certainly beneficial, it is not our calling. Our calling is to call people out of this world into the kingdom of God. And when that happens, lives will be radically changed. Unfortunately, many are not going to believe, so trying to coerce them into acting like they do only deceives both themselves and others. Read more »

“We’re compelled to love God’s family…because God loves us.” 

“Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11, NIV).

And God loves us by:

• sending His son to be the propitiation for my sins,
• by freeing me from the bondage of sin and death,
• by feeding me spiritual food and drink that will satisfy my thirst and well up to eternal life.

Thank God for His mercies which endure forever!!

The purpose of your time on earth is not primarily about acquiring possessions, attaining status, achieving success, or even experiencing happiness. Those are secondary issues.

Are these even secondary issues? I think the scripture is clear that they must be non-issues (Luke 14).

God loves you deeply and unconditionally.

This is true in that His love doesn’t depend upon you, but Rick doesn’t qualify this. Such a half truth is very dangerous, and most certainly unbiblical. Can he assume that everyone reading this book are true believers, or just people with purpose? You have to believe (to accept and appropriate it) in order to receive God’s promise of unconditional love. John 3:36 (NASB) states unequivocally, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Read more »

Today, millions of people around the world have begun to enjoy living a purpose driven life.

Many, many, MANY people live purpose-driven lives. I see them all around me. But few live Spirit-led lives and are disciples of Christ. That is a whole different matter.

In fact, it is impossible to fulfill God’s five purposes for your life by yourself. We need each other!

I would say, we need God! Rick’s statement of impossibility doesn’t leave much hope for those who by no choice of their own have to live alone (imprisoned, persecuted, hated, stranded, abused, etc. — see Heb 11:37-40).

The goal of 40 Days of Community is to water the seeds of purpose…

Let us be very careful here. Nowhere in the scripture does it say that we are to water the seeds of purpose. Again, lots of people in this world have purpose in their lives. Its how they excel at what they do. And lots of people are driven. These are concepts and ideas that are upheld by the world systems encouraging achievement and prosperity. So, if this is not the gospel, is it God’s work? We really need to ask that question of everything we do in God’s name. Let me put it another way that may be more understandable: is teaching my children the way of obedience to show them that they can do it? Or is it rather to show them that they are inadequate and need God’s grace? And if by grace, then is it not a natural outflow from saving faith and not something learned? Read more »

The following are word-for-word transcripts from the first video in this series by Rick Warren entitled “What Matters Most.” Alongside Rick’s teaching, I have added my commentary in [Red].

The scripture that I think best summarizes my comments in this session are the following words of Jesus:

“So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.” Luke 17:10 (NASB)

Read more »