Have the bright lights blinded Rick Warren? How disappointing it was to see Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life (which I have not read), pastor of Saddleback Church, and evangelicalism’s latest superstar, on the Today Show yesterday (Oct. 18), reducing his message to that of a satisfied-life theory. Warren said the precepts of his book can be and have been utilized by all—Buddhists, Muslims, NASCAR, NBA, etc.—to give purpose to their lives, and that one need not be a Christian to employ its precepts. He made no reference that I can recall to Jesus Christ.
Warren believes that Christ gives life purpose. I know that from everything I’ve read about him and what I’ve been told by trusted friends. But I didn’t learn it from Warren’s Today Show appearance, and the millions of people who are outside of the Christian faith didn’t hear it on the morning show, either. While I don’t’ believe he should have spoken in “Christianese”-- a mistake many Christian leaders make when faced with a media interview -- I believe Warren went completely in the other direction, and I was surprised that this solidly Christian book was portrayed as humanistic and ecumenical.
Warren seems to be everywhere with his purpose-driven maxim. The Purpose-Driven Life sold an average of nearly 800,000 copies a month since its release 24 months ago, making it the best-selling hardback nonfiction trade book in history and a mainstay on numerous best-seller lists. It hit the No. 1 spot more than 20 times during an 87-week run on The New York Times’ list and was named Book of the Year in both 2003 and 2004 by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Christianity Today dubbed Warren "America's most influential pastor" in a cover story last fall. There is no doubt that the God that gives life the purpose Warren refers to is the God of the Bible; on the Today Show yesterday, Warren shied away from admitting that undeniable truth.
“I believe that we are possibly on the verge of a new reformation in Christianity and another Great Awakening in our nation,” Warren said recently. “The signs are everywhere, including the popularity of this book.” Unfortunately, Warren used his time before a national television audience Monday to extol the book, not the One who can provide a great awakening.
Warren believes that Christ gives life purpose. I know that from everything I’ve read about him and what I’ve been told by trusted friends. But I didn’t learn it from Warren’s Today Show appearance, and the millions of people who are outside of the Christian faith didn’t hear it on the morning show, either. While I don’t’ believe he should have spoken in “Christianese”-- a mistake many Christian leaders make when faced with a media interview -- I believe Warren went completely in the other direction, and I was surprised that this solidly Christian book was portrayed as humanistic and ecumenical.
Warren seems to be everywhere with his purpose-driven maxim. The Purpose-Driven Life sold an average of nearly 800,000 copies a month since its release 24 months ago, making it the best-selling hardback nonfiction trade book in history and a mainstay on numerous best-seller lists. It hit the No. 1 spot more than 20 times during an 87-week run on The New York Times’ list and was named Book of the Year in both 2003 and 2004 by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Christianity Today dubbed Warren "America's most influential pastor" in a cover story last fall. There is no doubt that the God that gives life the purpose Warren refers to is the God of the Bible; on the Today Show yesterday, Warren shied away from admitting that undeniable truth.
“I believe that we are possibly on the verge of a new reformation in Christianity and another Great Awakening in our nation,” Warren said recently. “The signs are everywhere, including the popularity of this book.” Unfortunately, Warren used his time before a national television audience Monday to extol the book, not the One who can provide a great awakening.
--Debbie Payton
I did not see the interview, although it sounds like it was pretty bad. That said, it would be only fair to you and Rick Warren if you would read one of his books for yourself. I actually liked Purpose Driven Church a lot more then Purpose Driven Life.
YanıtlaSilIt seems that he has been receiving bad press lately amoung a lot of Christians. I don't spend a lot of time thinking about Rick Warren or his ministry, but Purpose Driven Church was a worthwhile read and can be very helpful to many different kinds of churches.
I go to a Vineyard church north of Atlanta, Ga. We actually went through Rick Warren's "40 Days of Purpose" last October. It helped us be a little bit more thoughtful and purposeful (for lack of a better word) in how we reached out to the community around us. From that 40 day period and reading his two books, it is very clear to me that Rick Warren has a real heart for the lost. If I only I could be .01% as successful as he has been in changing peoples!
One thing I have noticed is that most of Rick's critics are from within the church... not outside. As a potential dsicussion starter, does anyone think this crtisism stems from envy or from some other factor?
I suppose it might have something to do with how many folks outside of the church a)know who Warren is and what impact he's had, and b)care about Warren's approach. I'm sure there's some sociological material out there somewhere and perhaps an article or two in the marketing realm.
YanıtlaSilEven if there was some criticism from outside the church, how helpful it would be would depend on how closely it accords to specifically Christian concerns.
Our church has also gone through the 40 Days of Purpose campaign, and has been impacted by Saddleback in a whole host of ways both helpful and questionable. Warren and Bill Hybels (of Willow Creek) have been the most visible and effective exponents of the megachurch model, but the jury is still out on how long term the impact of these movements will be.
Just wanted to say that I've sent some notes I gathered from your blog including Purpose-Driven Drivel for research on What is the purpose of life which I'm helping with, with so thanks a lot Rooftop MediaWorks. Anny.
YanıtlaSil