I think I finally found one of the sources for the doctrinal suicide much of the church is engaged in. I’ve referred to the author and the book a couple of times throughout this site. However, as I have studied the book a little more closely, I made a very interesting observation.
Rick Warren, the author of the now ubiquitous “The Purpose Driven Life (TPDL)” is probably doing more to destroy Christianity than Calypso Louie (AKA The Honorable Louis Farrakhan) has ever done.
One of the most vicious series of sentences is on pages 160 and 161 of the book. In there he says:
“It is your job to protect the unity of your church….Nothing on earth is more valuable to God than his church. He paid the highest price for it, and he wants it protected, especially from the devastating damage that is caused by division, conflict and disharmony,, If you are part of God’s family, it is your responsibility to protect the unity where you fellowship. You are commissioned by Jesus Christ to do everything possible to preserve the unity, protect the fellowship m and promote harmony in your church family and among all believers…but for unity’s sake we must never let differences divide us.”
While I realize a lot of you don’t want to look past the limp-wristed notion of “let’s all just get along and let Love be our guide” while we sit around the camp fire singing Kumbaya,” and a lot of you have no interest what so ever in actually evaluating (judging) what another professing Christian says, I am going to lay out for you the fallacies of the above statement. What you do with them is up to you. But remember, when you die, you are going to have to face Jesus Christ and answer for the things you have done in this life , and we’re not just talking about whether or not you committed adultery, stole some money or cussed.
So let’s start. Rick says:
“It is your job to protect the unity of the church”
On the surface, this is true. We are to protect the unity of the church. However, it goes further than this. Ephesians 4:13 says:
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
We are not simply to keep protect the unity of the church, we are to keep the unity of the Spirit , the Holy Spirit, not some nebulous “spirit of peace”. This presents two questions. First, what is the basis of the unity? And second, is it unity for unity’s sake?
The Bible says we are worship God in unity and in truth. Specifically, it says:
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God says we are to worship in truth. He seems to place a value on the truth, not just some vague unity,
And again the Bible says in Ephesians 5:9-11:
For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; proving what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them
So again we see that truth is of critical importance to the Christian. The fruit of the Spirit is in goodness, righteousness and truth. Without truth, the fruit cannot develop. Things other than the truth are works of darkness.
Warren then goes on to state that God:
wants it protected, especially from the devastating damage that is caused by division, conflict and disharmony
This all sounds nice and cozy until you also factor in some statements from Scripture. For instance, Jude 13 says:
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Now correct me if I’m wrong, but that word “contend” means to strive in opposition or against difficulties; to struggle. And what are we struggling against? Take a look at Romans 16:17 and 18. It says:
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Notice what is causing the division and offenses. That’s right, false doctrine, or false teachings. What does it say about those who bring in the false teachings? It says they do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but instead feed their own bellies.
If the only objective is unity (agreeing to disagree but working together anyway [I’ll call it the Kumbaya Syndrome or KS]) then anything goes as long as we don’t have division. But if false teaching is to be resisted, what does the Bible say the believer is to do? It says:
And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
Now I could be missing something, but surely God wouldn’t tell us to “…have no company with him…” Warren says “unity” is all important, God seems to be saying Truth is all important. And before any of you jump on me too quickly, please understand that I realize that speaking the truth in love is not simply a preference, it is a command. After all, Ephesians 4:15 does say that we are to speak the truth in love. But Rick says we are to preserve the unity, apparently by not speaking the truth.
Warren continues to natter on about unity when he says:
You are to do everything possible to preserve the unity, protect the fellowship and promote harmony in your church family and among all believers…but for unity’s sake we must never let differences divide us
One of the things I notice most about Rick the Trickster is he doesn’t seem to pay a lot of attention to the bible, even when the Bible makes some pretty definitive statements. The entire section I quoted talks about how unity is the primary consideration. But even Jesus disagrees with it. In Matthew 10:34 - 36 our Lord says
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes [shall be] they of his own household
The bottom line is Jesus considers the truth to be of such importance He is willing to bring separation between family members. How much more will He be willing to bring separation between those who supposedly fellowship with each other through Him?
What is to be the basis of our fellowship with one another? According to 1 John 3:18
…not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Warren wants you to feel some great pull to “keep the unity” at all costs. Jesus says stand in the truth, even if you stand alone.
By the way, I’ve mentioned it previously, but I should tell you again. First Baptist Church of Glenarden promotes the book and even runs seminars/”Bible” studies using the book. If you’ll notice, a lot of the people who leave comments on this site say exactly what your boy Warren says: Don’t cause division! Keep the unity! And it’s always at the expense of the truth. But don’t take my word for it, here is an ad from “Vision” magazine.
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