Rick Warren. For those truly in Christ, the name immediately raises a red flag and sounds the spiritual siren of warning at incredible decibels.
To others, well, it sounds pretty good.
Rick, on God’s “fourth’ purpose of your life……
“For Christians, service is not something to be tacked onto our schedules if we can spare the time. It is the heart of the Christian life. Jesus came “to serve” and “to give”—and those two verbs should define your life on earth, too. Serving and giving sum up God’s fourth purpose for your life. Mother Teresa once said, “Holy living consists in doing God’s work with a smile.” …
He goes on to say:
The last thing many believers need is to go to another Bible study. They already know far more than they are putting into practice. What they need are serving experiences in which they can exercise their spiritual muscles.
A couple of things stand out to me as I read the quotes above:
First, the heart of the Christian life is the Gospel. Being conformed to Jesus Christ is everything, it is the only ‘purpose’ of God for His children.
Secondly, our lives on earth should not be defined by works. There have been many who have ‘served’, done good works, died, and are awaiting the final judgment of the Lion of Judah who will cast them into Hell, mother Teresa being one of them. If she didn’t keep idols in her tent, Roy Orbison never wore shades.
Thirdly, the “last thing many believers need is to go to another Bible study”? I ask you, what truly regenerated person could say such nonsense? Personally, I fear Rick has been snuffing the gale of popular applause. Shocking, isn’t it?
Rick Warren and his social gospel may soothe the ears of those attempting to live with just enough religion to feel safe, but his teaching and press releases are leading untold, deceived numbers down the broad road that leads only to destruction (Matthew 7:13).
The last thing many believers need is to go to another Bible study. They already know far more than they are putting into practice. What they need are serving experiences in which they can exercise their spiritual muscles.
Wait, what? My experience has been that Biblical literacy is at an all time low. Obviously, Rick Warren and I live in two totally different worlds.
Ya think?
Sadly, yes. We need Bible study more than every, if for any reason to tell us why we go out and serve the world. Works righteousness abounds at Saddleback.
First of all, loved the “Orbison never wore shades”
This article looks very ecumenically correct in nature, doesn’t it? How long before we will hear, “All paths lead to heaven” from Saddleback? If its good enough for the Crystal Cathedral, I guess it’s good enough for Saddleback.
Warren steps in it again.
Respectfully, I have to suggest that you are a bit off-base on this one. I’m not a Rick Warren apologist, but I think you have missed his point. It seems to me that he, in this instance, is simply calling for an outworking of James 1:27 among other NT texts. He wrote that “Jesus came ‘to serve’ and ‘to give’—and those two verbs should define your life on earth, too.” Seems to me that Warren is talking about being conformed to the image of Christ same as you.
As for me, I welcome this admonition. I am the type of Christian who loves to immerse himself in Bible study, but I need a little nudge to get out and practice my theology among people. Again, I disagree much with Rick Warren, but I don’t want to discount everything the man says and, if I may be so bold to say, look for things to disagree with him about. Please receive this critique with the spirit it is given, Brother.
So received, and thanks for stopping by.
This kind of bad advice leads to apostasy. It is by digging deep into the Word of God that we keep ourselves under the authority of the Word. This is how we discern the truth and contend for sound doctrine.
It is no wonder that Rick Warren and his flock of wannabe pastors have trouble discerning sound doctrine, godly living, and not loving the world. This is terrible advice from Mr. Warren and it’s fruit is seen in his ministry.
Great article, Joel.
The problem with Warren and with this comment is two-fold:
1. It sounds nice and makes a kinds of sense until you realize that we’re hard-wired for ‘law,’ and that is precisely what this is — LAW.
2. The context of Warren’s quote is that we need to find a church in which we can be a blessing. In other words, it seems Warren in talking about serving within the church setting. I thought the purpose of church was to ‘feed the sheep’? Once the sheep are fed, they go out into the world being ‘salt & light’ to those around them.
Warren’s view is the short path to Pharisee-ism. It’s going to create a lot of people who think they’re being holy because they usher, serve communion, work in the youth group or nursery, lead a small group, greet visitors, etc.
I don’t want to knock Warren around too badly; I think his motives are pure, but he is WAY off base!
Carl, I’m not sure I am understanding your point. Should we not encourage people to serve lest we be legalists? And what about Eph. 4:11ff which speaks of pastors (among others) equipping the saints to do the work of the ministry? I think part of that “work of the ministry” is serving.
Let me say again that I am not typically a defender of Rick Warren. I’ve got my issues with the man myself. However, I don’t believe he has nothing to teach me (a 5-pointer all the way), and his instruction here resonates with me personally, and I think it might for others like me. I have a tendency to want to be so immersed in bible study that I neglect the people around me. I become, as they say, so heavenly-minded that I practically no earthly-good. Obviously, I am a huge advocate for serious & continuous bible study for all. I agree it is the foundation for the Christian life and the cornerstone for any Christian service. We agree whole-heartedly on that point (and perhaps Pastor Warren could receive some admonition in this regard). That being said, I do think he makes a good & reasonable point that folks like us should consider, and it doesn’t sound to me like he is advocating phariseeism at all (at least in this quote). Again, for your consideration, Brother.
Warren’s comment about service being the ‘heart’ of the Christian life is a bit off and can be misconstrued. Here’s the way I see it. Before coming to the Reformed tradition, I was a die-hard Evangelical and would heartily agree with Warren’s comments. But the problem is that service (imperatives) divorced from their doctrinal foundation (indicatives) leads to the ‘law-lite’ of Warren’s theology. It feeds our natural tendency toward works righteousness and makes us think we’re Christians if we’re doing A, B & C. Warren has so downplayed doctrine in his writing and preaching that he can say “service is the heart of the Christian life” and sound plausible. Paul never preached duty without first preaching doctrine and doxology.