Considering the volume of emails I receive I don't always have the opportunity to give as detailed and in depth an answer as I have here below. However, since I addressed this topic to some extent at our conference this weekend, I am taking the opportunity to share my comments with you here.
- EB
-----Original Message-----
From: j...............@hotmail.com
Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2015 5:16 PM
To: Eric Barger
Subject: Rick Warren
I am a Sunday School teacher and when I told the class about Rick Warren I was ask what proof I have about his teaching. I have heard it from you and Jack Van Impe, but I need something to show what a false teacher he is. Can you help?_____________
Eric Responds:
Hello!
Thanks for writing!
I am going to write a few thoughts and then direct you to a menu with a number of articles that contain the information you are seeking.
Please convey to others that I don't relish in speaking adversely about others who profess to be Christians. I do so with trepidation. Several years ago I waited seven months before releasing my findings on Rick Warren. During that time I sought to contact him in numerous ways but received no response. Later, a friend and colleague of mine was actually able to get a meeting with Warren but to no avail and his concerns were rejected. As I outline in my key document, Dr. Warren presents an unbiblical, incomplete plan of salvation in
The Purpose Driven Life. Obviously, this is no small, peripheral doctrine. Until he edits and corrects this error (and others) would we want to follow whatever else he offers? Do we think close is good enough and acceptable when it comes to what a man must do to be saved?
Remember: it's not always what teachers say that is necessarily so wrong. How much easier it would be if every page or every statement was riddled with heresy but they are not. While there may be some helpful things found in Warren's book and statements, in the seeker friendly ideas of folks such as Bill Hybels, and the feel good teachings of Joel Osteen, a shocking percentage of Christians seem unable or resistant to recognize that a partial gospel is actually a false gospel in disguise.
In reality, it is often the biblical elements which are mandatory but continually omitted that signal a teaching to be "Christian like" but short of the mark. In the case of
The Purpose Driven Life, Warren never mentions repentance as a prerequisite for salvation or even the identification of sin and what that is. In the PDL he also avoids any talk of spiritual warfare or the fact that we have a real live enemy which is akin to General Eisenhower avoiding any mention of Hitler in an effort to be "positive." How ridiculous, especially considering that Hitler could only destroy one's body but the devil desires that people join him for eternity!
In short, the church growth notions that have been widely promoted and accepted are to blame for much of Evangelicalism's slide. Paul Smith has documented this in his insightful book
The New Evangelicalism. Once you boil down the teachings of the church growth gurus, such as Warren and Hybels, it becomes evident that they deem it anti-growth to speak about sin, Satan, spiritual warfare, the demonic, righteousness, holiness, and repentance. Why? Because these topics are categorized as "negative" and if addressed by pastors it will result in empty seats on Sunday morning. Few seem understand the real damage done by this notion. If spiritual liberalism that infected the mainline denominations decades ago and its modern resurgence in theological institutions thought to be sound not too awfully long ago weren't enough now the pastor dedicated to preach the whole counsel of God's Word is hamstrung by the various churches in his area who have been willfully victimized by the plague of Church Growth. In a world where growth is the goal if one stands on the Bible's inerrancy, rejects the temptation of offering "here and now" life application messages, and preaches against social ills and sin while presenting the entire Gospel he is viewed as archaic, even a Neanderthal. It is stunning to realize how many evangelicals have succumbed to the spell of success presenting nothing but a feel good gospel, bereft of vital doctrines and understanding so as to fit the "positive" church growth mold. Would the Holy Spirit have men behind the sacred desk ignore biblical truths as if they never existed - all just to fill the seats? I think not. Are we called to draw a crowd? NO. We are called to be faithful to the Word of God and to make disciples. Do we dare alter the message? We must simply deliver it intact.
Purpose Driven, Seeker Sensitive, and Feel Good teaching have one key shared element. As the
new, confused evangelicals focus on results instead of building disciples who can weather the storms ahead, they are actually pandering to the self-centered, narcissistic culture of today. In essence, instead of the Church's focus being God, it has become man. When this misguided emphasis reigns it does not and cannot result in healthy, authentic Christians. But worse it is an affront to God. While the Bible is very uplifting spiritual goose bumps and fluffy feelings are not the only result if the Scriptures are taught accurately and completely. Often, the Word brings sorrow, repentant remorse, and stings deeply as God deals with our hearts, attitudes, and lifestyles.
Emergent thinkers constantly call for social justice while methodically redefining terms that relate to our faith. They denounce the Bible's supremacy, bemoan doctrine and sound teaching, and claim the Church has never had it right. The hardcore emergent leaders are heretics plain and simple. But Warren and others embrace them as if they are acceptable and it's not surprising. The Brian McLaren's, Rob Bell's, and Tony Jones' have much in common with Warren, Hybels and Osteen. They refuse to make stands on issues or only do so when so cornered as Osteen was when a gay pride group threatened to picket his church. Many embrace teachings such as Islam as compatible or worthy of acceptance. Rick Warren sees fit to make deals with LA area Imams not to proselytize those under Islam's control (i.e. the so-called
"King's Way" document), and also declare that teaching on eschatology and the end-times should be avoided and rejected. Warren is also a member of the globalist Council on Foreign Relations and the World Economic Forum. As I have documented Warren, Hybels, McLaren, Leith Anderson and others signed the
"Common Word" document at Yale University the premise of which declares that our Jehovah is actually Islam's Allah. These "Dominion/Kingdom Now" teachers also throw Israel under the bus claiming that the Church has replaced her and that the Jews have no part in God's plan.
Without even reviewing any of the
articles and documents I have amassed on our website over time if I am correct in what I have just written here then there is great reason to consider Dr. Warren's teaching as suspect. I reiterate though, if it was every word he wrote or spoke it would indeed be simpler to spot the problems. But, it is not that easy. This is why I encourage you and those in your class to check out what I am saying and do their own research. Above all, do as the Scripture says and "test everything" (I Thess. 5:21-22).
Finally, we are warned that false teachers are going to arise in the Church (II Peter 2, Acts 20, I John 4, Jude 3-4, and 14 occasions in Jesus' own teachings). If that warning was given to the early church to be on guard how much more poignant might it be for us at the end of the Church Age where we are warned that error will be the norm among those claiming they are Christians?
God bless you as you contend for the authentic faith in these troubled yet exciting times!
Eric
Please take time and look through the menu of items under:
Apostasy and Troubling Trends in the Church.
Note: my extensive report
Examining the Purpose Driven Philosophy is available in print or for electronic download in our online bookstore.
Note also that the opening segment of
"Understanding the Times" Radio on February 21st contained our expose' of Rick Warren's recent promotion of Roman Catholicism as compatible with biblical Christianity.
Access the program file to listen or download here.
Take A Stand! Ministries
www.ericbarger.comFind Eric Barger at churches and conferences across North America and at
www.ericbarger.com
