Chillin’ With False Teachers – Another View (Challies and Rick Warren and..

[billiefan2000]

http://www.crosstalkblog.com/2009/09...-another-view/


A popular and prolific Reformed blogger recently tweeted these words to his followers:

Enjoyed spending a few minutes chilling with @rickwarren.



Topics included his great love for Jonathan Edwards.

http://twitter.com/challies/status/3946050035



His tweets from Saddleback caused a stir among his readers because he has written articles negatively critiquing some aspects of Rick Warren’s teachings in the past.


Everyone who saw the tweets knew that a post-Saddleback post was coming, and of course, it was.


Praise was heaped upon the blogger in the comment section for his humility, self-assessment of his earlier critiques and his kind and generous treatment of Rick Warren.


So kind and generous was his treatment of Mr. Warren, however, that other commenters took issue.


As Dr. MacArthur has been pointing out in his latest sermon series, there is a time when being nice, using soft and gentle language and looking for good traits in a false teacher so as to be evenhanded is actually sinful. I



t is this issue that I want to address in regard to Mr. Warren.





Rick Warren has been on a PR campaign to win over his critics for some time now.


A year ago, I and other writers who have been exposing the man-centered false teachings of Rick Warren and his rejection of biblical evangelism



(going to synagogues and mosques to tell them how to use Purpose-Driven methods to grow)

were personally invited on an all-expenses paid trip to Saddleback to meet with Warren.




Apparently, the thinking was that if we could just meet Rick, encounter his magnetic and winning personality, be impressed with his fabulous church campus and personal importance, we would tone down our rhetoric and cease to be critics. I personally turned down the invitation.


A man who has sold as many books as Rick Warren, features his sermons online and who has been virtually omnipresent in Christian and secular media in the last few years does not need to explain his teachings in person.





I am not interested in Rick Warren’s personality, charm or expensive facilities. I do not object to the man on personal grounds.

I object to Rick Warren based on what he has taught and written, because it does not line up with Scripture.


This is essential to understand.




Rick Warren’s defenders, like the Reformed blogger in question, like to protray Warren critics as having a personal axe to grind with the Purpose-Driven author and as being harsh, unfair and unloving.


We are painted as portraying Rick Warren as some sort of red-caped fiend, permanently surrounded by a sulfurous cloud, demonic laughter coming out of his mouth. What nonsense.



Of course, Rick Warren is a congenial, friendly guy who is no doubt charming to be next to at a dinner gathering.


He would make a great golf partner, host at a BBQ and, no doubt, would be the life of any party.


He is likely compassionate, a good neighbor and he would stop to help you if you had a flat tire on a lonely highway.



Then again, I could say the same for my Mormon neighbor, or the Hindu family that lives down the street, or the Unitarians up the block.






The people I have worked with over the years in exposing Purpose-Driven’s false teachings have not been interested in Rick’s personality.



They have consistently addressed Rick’s teachings, line by line.




These are men such as Pastor Bob DeWaay, who has not only met with Rick personally,


but has taken his teachings and held them up to the light of Scripture in his excellent book, Redefining Christianity:



Understanding the Purpose-Driven Movement, or Joseph Farah, a newsman who has corresponded with Rick Warren over his outrageous role as apologist for Syria and North Korea, or Chris Rosebrough who sat in a room at Saddleback with Rick Warren and personally discussed the specifics of Warren’s false teachings. DeWaay, Farah and Rosebrough were not interested in Rick’s personality. They focused on his teachings.







Warren, after these meetings, is unchanged. He recently addressed a Muslim convention and never once preached Christ crucified.



He instead invited the followers of Allah to embark on a joint campaign with Christians to solve the world’s social ills.

Warren continues to advise non-Christian religious groups how to grow their cause using his own Purpose-Driven methodology.




While the Reformed blogger prides himself on being able to hand bouquets to Mr. Warren despite their disagreements on certain issues, the tragic spiritual reality remains.


I have heard for years from Purpose-Driven refugees whose churches have been destroyed by the teachings of Rick Warren. There are spiritual victims who limp off into the night, wondering what in the world happened to the churches they have loved and supported for years.




No one has done greater damage to the true Gospel in the American evangelical church than Rick Warren


with his man-centered teachings that emphasize works, churches driven by entertainment to please the unregenerate and draw large crowds,


his abandonment of biblical evangelism in favor of a social gospel, his de-emphasis on sound doctrine,


and his participation with international political organizations who openly work for inter-spiritual apostasy.






There is a time to use soft and winsome ways with those who differ with us. In dealing with the unsaved, this should be our starting point.


Dealing with the false teachers such as Rick Warren is not one of those times.


The Reformed blogger in question clearly values his reputation as nice, thoughtful and non-controversial. Let him win his accolades and laurels in the comment section, and let him “chill with @Rick Warren.”


Let those of us who love the Savior and the Gospel more than our reputations, however, remember the lost souls at the Muslim convention being encouraged to join hands with Rick Warren to solve poverty. Rick Warren never shared Christ with them. He never told them that all the good works in the world will not save them from an eternal hell.


He never told them that they are worshiping a false god.


Such a pastor as this must be warned about in plain speech that will risk getting us labeled as “harsh” and “unloving.”


We won’t be thought of as “thoughtful” or “nice.”



But as we warn, we will be in good company.






Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

–Acts 20:28-31




http://www.crosstalkblog.com/2009/09...-another-view/

[His Bride]

This is one more reason that I no longer read Tim Challies. Rick Warren is certainly winning over some of his critics, to be sure, but not everyone buys into it.

So Warren is a fan of Jonathan Edwards.....Wonder how he feels about his sermon, "Sinners in the hands of a Angry God?" That's a topic Warren is too afraid to tackle! It's too offensive to the lost!!! Uh, yes, Rick, and there's a reason for that. Their souls are going to hell if they aren't saved!

[Forte No. 12]

Nvm

[billiefan2000]

This is one more reason that I no longer read Tim Challies. Rick Warren is certainly winning over some of his critics, to be sure, but not everyone buys into it.

So Warren is a fan of Jonathan Edwards.....Wonder how he feels about his sermon, "Sinners in the hands of a Angry God?" That's a topic Warren is too afraid to tackle! It's too offensive to the lost!!! Uh, yes, Rick, and there's a reason for that. Their souls are going to hell if they aren't saved!

Tim Challies I have been highly suspect of as of late


a lot of the emergent church bloggers who use the ODM slur on Rob Bell and Rick Warren critics

have as of this year become big fans and supporters of Challies

[His Bride]

Tim Challies I have been highly suspect of as of late


a lot of the emergent church bloggers who use the ODM slur on Rob Bell and Rick Warren critics

have as of this year become big fans and supporters of Challies

I hadn't reached that conclusion, but you're right. Hmm, well, the division is certainly getting more obvious.

Steve Camp is another one whom I no longer read. Same as Challies, imo.

[billiefan2000]

I hadn't reached that conclusion, but you're right. Hmm, well, the division is certainly getting more obvious.

Steve Camp is another one whom I no longer read. Same as Challies, imo.

Camp is just like Challies (both once respected discernment bloggers who have as of late lost the nerve to stand up to false teachers

[His Bride]

Camp is just like Challies (both once respected discernment bloggers who have as of late lost the nerve to stand up to false teachers

Exactly. I find it really great how God gives different people the same discernment at the same time but we never really know about it until something comes out and we all begin to share our own insights. That's the power of the Holy Spirit and I just love how He does that!

[billiefan2000]

this maybe a shocking and controversial comment but it is worthing getting off my mind:




I think twitter has become a blessing in disguise for those who use discernment and believe in sound doctrine and here is why



I have noticed twitter has somehow given false teachers like Warren and Pagitt and other emergents and seeker-driven pastors


the courage to be true to themselves



what I mean, is a lot of emergents and seeker-driven types who before twitter were somewhat to largely vague on their personal beliefs and agenda


and now thanks to twitter these emergent and seeker-driven pastors have become very open and truthful about what they are promoting or pushing or believe

some of these guys dont even hide their false teachings or beliefs anymore.


=========================================

[His Bride]

I would say that you have a good point. I also think that we have spiraled down so far that they now are so full of themselves and continue to pat each other on the back. That has given them a sense of self satisfaction and courage. Not many are speaking out against them any more. They feel safe.

Such a wise young man you are, billiefan! Keep up the great work in posting the important information!

[SalemTheSoldier]

Thanks for posting this.