Chapter 4 in Pastor Bob DeWaay’s book, Redefining Christianity, exposes the method that Rick Warren uses in getting his followers to commit to The Purpose Driven vision. DeWaay uses much of the chapter to show that the Bible forbids people to take the types of oaths that Warren demands. The thing I find most troubling with this whole aspect of committment, is that Warren gets both believers and unbelievers to commit to the same vision and goals. I cannot think of a better recipe for spiritual disaster than the yoking together of regenerate and unregenerate under the guise of building a true church of Christ.

In the next chapter, DeWaay get right to the heart of the matter: the different Gospel of the PDL; which is, without a doubt, the most harmful of any of Warren’s teachings. DeWaay writes:

“The Purpose Driven Life version of the gospel offers to bring many benefits to its adherents, including eternal life, if they, without regard to doctrine, accept what Jesus did for them (which has not been clearly explained) and learn to love Him. So (to summarize the gospel according to The Purpose Driven Life) the problem is not that sinners are facing God’s wrath, but that people have common human needs. The solution is not the blood atonement, that averts God’s wrath for those who repent and believe, but accepting what Jesus did and finding purpose.”

And a little further on:

“The idea is that there are many wonderful benefits to becoming a Christian. Warren has promised satisfaction, focus, simplification, purpose, and motivation. And beside all these great benefits, one gains eternal life as well.”

Now, some may think that Warren does not miss the mark by that much after reading this, but the difference is both subtle and deadly. Salvation does not entail a change from purposelessness to purpose, but rather, we are saved from sin and death, and are given life and the righteousness of another. The gospel is not fire insurance that merely keeps us from hell, but a complete transformation of the mind that causes us to yearn after righteousness, hate our sin, and desire to bring every single aspect of our lives into conformity with Jesus and His teachings. DeWaay goes on to explain the absence of the gospel message in all that Warren writes:

“One searches in vain throughout Warren’s book to find clear articulation of the gospel, but rather [they contain] bits and pieces of certain gospel truths scattered throughout. These facts are so scattered that the uninformed could never put them together into a cogent description of the gospel.”

Rick Warren is a pastor, presumably one that has read the scriptures and knows the need for the gospel to be presented clearly. If one were to err in any doctrine, most would admit this would be the last one they would want to get wrong. But wrong it is. Simly put, the gospel according to Rick Warren will not save. It may make you feel better about yourself and your circumstances, but it will not remove the wrath of God directed towards sinners unless one repents of that sin and puts their faith in Christ by the power of the Spirit.

DeWaay also points out a strange irony that has developed at many of these new churches. It seems that those who are unhappy in newly re-tooled Purpose Driven churches are those who have been Christians for some time, while those embracing the change are those who have just recently been “added” to the church under the new PDL formula. And why might this be? The answer is simple: The Purpose Driven gospel that is preached in these churches is only offensive to Christians because it is not the gospel Jesus brought; and it is lauded by others who see finding purpose in life as being what God wants for everyone. As Dewaay puts it:

“The gospel of the The Purpose Driven Life is not the same as the gospel of the Bible. The Purpose Driven Life gospel is inoffensive, attractive, winsome, popular, and easy to believe. The gospel of the Bible is offensive and hard to believe.”

How does one become a Christian? Warren directs people to pray this prayer: “Jesus, I believe in you and receive you.” He then gives his assurance that “If you sincerely meant that prayer, congratulations! Welcome to the family of God.” He never once defines his terms. What are people to believe about Jesus? and exactly what are they to receive? The language may sound spiritual, but without scriptural meanings attached to the propositions, these phrases end up meaning a wide variety of things to a wide variety of people.

The next chapter then goes onto chronicle how Warren twists the meaning of the scriptures by poor exegesis and the use of different translations that allow him to read his own meanings into the text. The examples adduced by DeWaay are staggering, highlighting the poor ability of Warren to understand even the most simple passages. For example, Warren uses Ephesians 1:11, (In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will…), to tell the readers of his book that God planned this very moment and it is no accident that they are holding his book (PDL) in their hands. As Pastor DeWaay astutely points out, if this is true, then it is also according to the wll of God that others are holding his own book (DeWaay’s) in their hands in order to refute the PDL. It simply does not logically follow from this that God approves of Warren’s book, yet he allows this to be assumed by his reader. This is but one example where Warren divides the word of God poorly and the chapter cites numerous instances far more egregious than this.

Chapter 7 is entitled Redefining God’s Wisdom. Pastor DeWaay presents us with certain aphorisms often used by Rick Warren that have no scriptural basis but are given authority in the way they are used, as if to make them sound like they are biblical principles. For example:

“Nothing matters more than knowing God’s purposes for your life, and nothing can compensate for not knowing them–not success, wealth, fame, or pleasure.”

Since we are saved solely by God’s grace through faith alone, it is very possible that one can know God’s purposes and yet still remain at enmity with God, yet this is totally lost on Warren. As DeWaay so clearly puts it:

“What really matters is knowing what is revealed about God’s purposes and embracing those purposes by coming to God on His terms.”

The chapter ends with a list of popular aphorisms Warren commonly employs. Here are but a sampling:

“The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose.”
“Paul’s secret was a focused life.”
“How you define life determines your destiny.”
“There are ’secrets’ to friendship with God.”
“The last thing many believers need today is to go to another Bible study.”
“Jesus is an example of having a secure self-image.”

To be honest, after reading these (and there are several pages of them in the book) I’m almost speechless. What we see here is man’s wisdom, mixed with some biblical terminology, and passed off as part of the authoritatvie revelation of scripture. And those in the pews with little to no Biblical training will be fooled.

Perhaps it is best to leave this post with the Spirit’s wisdom from John 6:

60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?

62 What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!

63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.

65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.”

66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

I think it is clear in this one small passage, that Jesus overturns the easy-believism pedalled on the pages of The Purpose Driven Life. When many heard Jesus’ message, they “turned back and no longer followed him.” Hardly the church-growth strategy used by Warren.

[To be continued.]