It is beyond me how anyone with half a brain could sit and listen to men like Perry Noble, Mark Driscoll, Rick Warren, or a hundred others in their blood line and not pickup on their falsehood. The only answer is “Strong Delusion.”

We read in Scripture of the strong drink that the nation will be made to drink of, and the drunken state that will be the result. “A second angel followed and said, ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.’” What we began to experience in the circus church was a spectacle, and still is, but it has moved on to an intoxicated fisticuff.

I have followed loosely Ken Silva at Apprising Ministries and Christian Research Net, and Lighthouse Trails documenting of Perry Noble at New Spring Church in Anderson S.C., but have never commented, till now. After reading about the account of the leadership at New Spring, going way over the line, in their attack of James Duncan for his critique of Perry Noble, and Perry’s strong arm response of intimidation, a word of warning is overdue from this site.

In an interview with Chris Rosebrough of Fighting for the Faith Radio, James Duncan, a Professor at Anderson University advises all believers to start a discernment blog to warn of the imminent danger that is at hand; this is good advise. The interview, “Perry Noble’s Employees Assassinate the Character of a Critic,” needs to be listened to. Perry is a growing influence in the Seeker Sensitive, Mega Church movement and is charting the course for many market driven Churches. This man brings violence one step closer to the elimination of all Bible believing Christians, and he gets support for his deeds.

Also, on James Duncan’s own blog, Pajama Pages, James documents, in detail, how  these so called followers of Christ, tried to destroy him for openly criticizing Perry Noble.

Perry Noble, like Mark Driscoll, preachs a very worldly and flesh oriented message, and by so doing gather to themselves large followings of those who gravitate to the base nature of man, rather than to the Cross, where the flesh and the world are put away. Perry openly feeds his congregation the filth of the world, then tries to intimidate, by his crude rashness, anyone who would dare disagree with him.

This is the trend of Church Growth today, the blind leading the blind into accepting a false, flesh gratifying, Im O.K., You’re O.K. as long as you don’t take the Bible too serious, kind of Gospel.

Perry Noble, Mark Driscoll, and Rick Warren are the worst of the worst, but there are many others who exist on the fringes of their teachings and who have not ventured out of the closets yet, but they will come. They exist up and down Main Street, in your town and across the Nation, and have listened to these men and rehearsed their methods in their own Churches, and envy their success, and secretly desire their fame for themselves. They live and play on the edge of a dangerous cliff and promote the teaching of these men as if it were their own, and encourage their flock to graze ever closer to the edge, all the while saying it is good and healthy for their soul; Peace, Peace, but there is no Peace sayeth the Lord.

These men never blush for their wickedness, but encourage others to celebrate this new kind of freedom. The freedom they celebrate is freedom from the narrow way; it is freedom from the Cross, which is freedom from Christ.

Hag 2:12-14

“If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?”‘” Then the priests answered and said, “No.” And Haggai said, “If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?” So the priests answered and said, “It shall be unclean.” Then Haggai answered and said, “‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,’ says the Lord , ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.”

These verses speak loudly to a nation caught in its sin, and it speaks loudly to these American Churches. Where did the mentality come from that says, that if we put a Christian in the midst of the world we can make it holy; that by a Christian presence we can spread holiness? Where did the mentality come from that says that a Christian can maintain their purity when simultaneously mingling with impurity? Who said that we could keep an open relationship with the world and come away unscathed? It is a lie, it cannot be done.

Haggai here declares the same; it cannot be done. The pure person cannot by being with impurity and mixing with them impart his purity to them. But, to the contrary, if a holy person touches an unclean thing the holy person becomes unclean. To say it plainly: corruption and sin are more easily transferred to the righteous than righteousness transferred to the unrighteous. So the rule seems to be plain enough. Don’t think that an evil person living in the midst of goodness will commend that goodness to the evil person. The Spirit has declared that it is not so, but this is exactly what we see, routinely, in the institutional Church. We advertise, we promote, we poll neighborhoods, we beg and we plead that the world would please come and be a part of us, and they have, and we have become corrupted and unclean, deluded, because we now see as the world sees, and we see that the world’s ways and means have great promise for the Church. We have become an unclean thing and we don’t know how to repent, so the Lord will come to us in our darkest hour, and we will see our nakedness and be ashamed.

Repentance and shame is not in the vocabulary of these men, they exalt there shame and draw ovations from their flatterers.

As we watch the world tumble and turn, and the organized church slip into apostasy, words start taking on new value, meaning, and understanding, both for the worldly Christian and for those enlightened souls who recognize the fulfillment of end time prophecy. We have witnessed, in our generation, the grand sermons of talented preachers, with their endless chatter, flowing like a fermented mash, to inebriated crowds, bellying up to the bar for a round of worldly religion, and seen them stumble home, and still manage to confess, in the face of their sin, their creedal and national allegiance, then fall for the umpteenth time while convinced, by their pastor, that they can live in the world and not be of it. They are not only in the world, they are awash in it; it covers them; they have become to the “world,” just, the “religious world,” no different than those outside, just more cocksure that’s all.

The words of Scripture are very clear today.

2 Cor 6:14-7:1

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”

Steve Blackwell

If we look to the Institutional Church for answers to these questions we are unlikely to find the solution. The institutional Church is the problem, and it is in denial. If they are the problem, then looking for an answer from them will be fruitless. The fact that our country and world are failing, points, not to the worldliness of the world, or to the Religious Right’s inability to get their man into political office, but to a failure of the Organized Church as the Body of Christ, and their failure to please God. God always points to the failure of His people, when the nation is afflicted, and His requirement for healing has always been the same; He demands deep repentance.

What we see in the new emerging movement is not all-that-much different than what we have seen from the religious right and the organized Church in times past. What we see is their grasping for a lifeline, really anything that floats, that will give purpose, meaning, and sense, to what is happening in the natural world and the spiritual world. The young are not oblivious to the failures going on around them in organized Christianity, so the organizers offer a different program, something that has a new taste, a new feel, a new texture, a new marketing strategy that targets them (a new niche market), but it is the same old worldly building material and approach, only with new packaging.

The religious right has prostituted the Church, and their children have become prostitutes, what else would you expect. All the make-up that is worn can not hide the decaying body of the old organization. The  youth with their energy, and brand new ideas are following in their mother’s footsteps, and are bent on showing the old woman how to run the outfit. The old organization simply will not acknowledge the fact that its body is failing and that it can’t work the streets like it used to, it only sees how much more worldly, its own children have become. They insist that the problem rest on the youth, but like I said they are in denial.

A new program and a youthful presentation is not the answer; as a matter of fact no program or presentation is the answer. The answer is the same as it has always been, their failure to please God, and deep repentance. For the corporate Church to acknowledge this failure (that the whole body of their approach to God has been built with earthly materials and that the emerging church is just an extension of that) and to publicly repent, and cast all their worthless efforts into the dust, and then lead great multitudes of sheep to likewise repent of their own dead works, lack of faith, and trust in God to complete His own work (as He said He would), is incomprehensible to imagine, at this point in time. Only more and better programs are on the horizon, more sincere sounding prayers, more involvement and commitment to the institution, a face lift to hide the decay,  intellectual justification for its existence, and better marketing are all that are offered. They do not realize that the body is decayed from the top of its head all the way to its toes; a body waiting to fall over.

Many institutional Church people will look at the following article, and shake their heads, and maybe sense an urgency and alarm, or possibly see and acknowledge a need for a face-lift, but few will see the problem as a heart problem of the whole body, not just the new movement, and follow through with true repentance.

Jer 3:3-5
“Therefore the showers have been withheld,
and no spring rains have fallen.
Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute;
you refuse to blush with shame.
Have you not just called to me:
‘My Father, my friend from my youth,
will you always be angry?
Will your wrath continue forever?’
This is how you talk,
but you do all the evil you can.”

Steve Blackwell

____________________________________________

Evangelical Movement at ‘Head-Snapping’ Moment, Says Scholar

The evangelical movement is at a “head-snapping” generational change with younger evangelicals “revolting” against the tone of the Christian Right, says a prominent religious scholar.

Sun, Oct. 11, 2009 Posted: 12:14 PM EDT

Across the nation, young evangelicals are naming Rick Warren or Bono as their role model for social engagement, rather than a Christian Right leader, says Michael Gerson, senior research fellow in the Center on Faith & International Affairs at the Institute for Global Engagement.

Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forrest, Calif., is known for mobilizing evangelical churches in the battle against HIV/AID in Africa, while U2 frontman Bono is one of the world’s leading anti-poverty activists.

“We are seeing a head-snapping generational change,” contends Gerson, who was a top aide and former speech writer to President George W. Bush. “The model of social engagement of the religious right is increasingly exhausted.”

At the recent biennial Evangelical Leaders Forum, Gerson offered three reasons for the change: a recovery of scriptural emphasis, a revolt against the tone and style of the Religious Right, and the effects of short-term mission trips on young Christians. (Read rest of article here).

Steve Blackwell

Rick Warren’s New Magazine Promotes the New Global Spirituality

When Lighthouse Trails reported in November of 2006 that New Age leader Marianne Williamson came to Rick Warren’s defense regarding his strategy to bring about global peace, tying it in with global meditation, it became clear to some that it was just a matter of time before Rick Warren came out of the “new spirituality” closet. That day is much closer now with the launching of the premier edition of his new magazine, the Purpose Driven Connection.

After subscribing online to the magazine, Lighthouse Trails received the first issue less than 24 hours later by U.S. mail. While the customer service and delivery was remarkable, the content of the magazine is troubling.

The 144 glossy page, high quality magazine has been put together by a professional team of editors, marketing engineers, and design directors and will be issued four times a year at a cost of $29.99 annually or $10 an issue. Rick Warren is the Editor-in-Chief, and is also one of the main writers. On a first run through, one thing becomes quickly apparent – this is a promotional project for Rick Warren and his Purpose Driven Movement. Aside from articles written by him and about him, as well as the mention of his name in numerous spots, there are 18 photos of Rick Warren throughout the publication.

But a pricey magazine filled with the chief editor’s name and picture does not constitute serious concern. What does, however, is the material within its cover. The magazine reads like a Robert Schuller, Norman Vincent Peale, and Peter Drucker book all rolled into one with articles written by contemplative proponents Mark Batterson, Max Lucado, Bill Hybels, and Lee Strobel.

An emphasis in the magazine is “connection.” In the “Editor’s Letter,” Rick Warren says: “YOU WERE CREATED FOR CONNECTIONS…. Life is all about connecting. A disconnected life is merely existing” (p.2-3). Warren promises that the Purpose Driven Connection will give the “power” and the tools for this connection. “Power flows through connections…. When you’re a member of the Purpose Driven Connection, we’ll help you develop the four kinds of relationships you need in order to grow: mentors, models, partners, and friends” (p. 3).

In addition to the magazine, an online community, a Personal Spiritual Health Assessment, and Small Group Study Guides, Warren plans on offering PDC Courses, Summits, Retreats, Coaches, Weekends, and more. With so many venues being offered to members, it is a fair question to ask what resources and influences will be used to provide all this training.

Those who have tracked Rick Warren over the past several years, using biblical discernment, know there have been New Age implications in his teachings and his persuasions. Warren Smith, in his book Deceived on Purpose, laid out many of these implications and Warren’s tie to New Age sympathizer Robert Schuller. In the premier issue of Purpose Driven Connection, Warren has once again brought in New Age influences, which are given as tools to build Purpose Driven connections.

In a section of the magazine called “The Scene,” one page is devoted to popular “Christian” books. Warren has included books that have contemplative and or emerging slants, such as Brennan Manning’s Ragamuffin Gospel, as well as listing The Shack as a “notable best-selling Christian” book (no disclaimer or warning provided, which gives the indication to readers that this is a good trustworthy book, and yet within its pages is the message of the Black Madonna, that God is in all things.

Even more troubling, on that same page of Purpose Driven Connection is a book titled Led by Faith written by Rwandan genocide survivor Immaculee Ilibagaza with a foreword written by Rick Warren. Ilibagaza’s story is a most incredible and heart rending story of her survival, hiding in a cramped bathroom with a group of other women during the Rwandan genocide. But Ilibagaza’s message is one that resonates with New Age leader Wayne Dyer, who has vigorously promoted Ilibagaza. Her books are published by Dyer’s publisher, one of the largest and most prolific New Age publishers today, Hay House. It is Dyer who said that A Course in Miracles would be the way to bring peace to the world. In Ilibagaza’s first book, Left to Tell, she acknowledges Dyer’s influence in her life.

This Lighthouse Trails report is not intended to bring criticism against a woman who suffered so much in Rwanda. It is rather to show that America’s most popular evangelical pastor, who few Christian leaders have dared to challenge on his beliefs and actions, is moving swiftly toward a global spirituality that will ultimately reject the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. The Purpose Driven Connection is a step toward this reality.

Immaculee Ilibagaza, a Catholic, has also written a book about Mary apparitions called Our Lady of Kibeho. On Ilibagaza’s website, it reads:

“After the genocide, and two decades of rigorous investigation, Our Lady of Kibeho became the first and only Vatican-approved Marian (that is, related to the Virgin Mary) site in all of Africa. But the story still remains largely unknown. Now, Immaculee Ilibagaza plans to change all that. She made many pilgrimages to Kibeho both before and after the holocaust, personally witnessed true miracles, and spoke with a number of the visionaries themselves.”

Some may feel that for Rick Warren to write the foreword (and promote in his magazine) to a book that has a story of such incredible suffering, releases him from any obligation. But in light of Rick Warren’s major influence on millions of people and given the fact he claims to be a Bible believing Christian, he is obligated indeed. To promote a book and author, in the name of Christianity, that points to Wayne Dyer (author of Living the Wisdom of the Tao and Real Magic) and Mary apparitions is misleading and unruly.

On the back page of the Purpose Driven Connection sits a full page promotion for an organization called Hands on Network, which is now part of the Points of Light Institute. The promotional reads: “It is Through People That Change Happens in the World. Take action. Be the change.” The “Be the Change” theme is prevalent in the global spirituality efforts. As we have previously reported, Rick Warren is on the “Leadership Council” of a liberal organization, Service Nation (Be the Change, Inc, which is working toward mandatory volunteer service for Americans. The motto of Service Nation, “Be the Change,” is taken from Hindu guru, Mahatma Gandhi and a motto that both Rick Warren and President Barack Obama would agree upon. Incidentally, in the middle section of Purpose Driven Connection is a full page photo of Rick Warren and President Barack Obama, along with a five page interview Warren did with Obama, which states that Obama’s “Christian beliefs … “influence his views on faith, abortion, freedom, and evil” (p. 74).

What is most tragic about the Purpose Driven Connection is that Rick Warren presents stories of those who have truly suffered in one form or another (persecution, natural disaster, poverty, etc), but he is using these stories to further his plans for a Purpose Driven world and has left much of truth behind, offering a false spirituality in its place. It is equally disturbing, that in a world where so many have either rejected Jesus Christ or not heard about him at all, in what could perhaps be the 11th hour before the return of Christ, a man who claims to be a Christian and who many say is the major representative for evangelical Christians goes virtually unchallenged by Christian leaders and the majority of Christian pastors and professors. The question must be asked, is Rick Warren hiding behind the sufferings of the world in order to masquerade his plans of a new universal reformation that will include all religious persuasions and will offer the world a “gospel” that offends no one, yet for that very reason can save no one?

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
(1 Timothy 4:1-3)

What could be better for the miracle industry than to have a respected magazine do a spread endorsing miracles and extra Biblical experiences. The following Link to Market Watch ,which is a part of the Wall Street Journal digital network, ran this article by Share International about the return of Maitreya, the World Teacher, with miracles.  “British futurist Benjamin Creme, foremost spokesperson for this message, has for 30 years been preparing the way for Maitreya’s emergence. He is the author of 12 books, translated into numerous languages, and editor of Share International magazine. Maitreya, the World Teacher, has not come alone, but with a group of wise Teachers who have long guided humanity from behind the scenes.”

This would not be a cause for alarm if it weren’t directed toward Christians. Christians have long known that the world possessed many unusual deities and forms of devil worship. But with the advent of “Emerging,” “Mega,” and the general apostasy of the Protestant Church the flood gates to the sanctuary have been opened wide, and every foul and unclean bird is seen as a harmless canary.

I have said several times in past post that the intent of my articles is not to convert the world to my position, or to even turn apostate Christianity to repentance, but to simply warn those who have been given the ability to hear and to see, and provide needed light for the next few steps.

Multitudes are being led to their doom by the craftiness of flimflam men dressed in pretty clothes with pretty words, having hearts filled with darkness. These men know you are hungry and thirsty but they don’t offer you food or water, only promises. They know that you are wandering from shore to shore in search of food and drink, but the food they give will kill, and the water they hold out to you is polluted and stinks of the pit it came from.

The Bible states that God would, in the last days, send a strong delusion “that they should believe the lie.” That day has arrived and the general Christian population is rapidly becoming deluded.  Today real Christianity appears so bland next to the exhibitionism of the modern church and the slick marketing of tabloid Christianity, and throw into that mix the latest guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show, God’s direction to “be ye holy even as I am Holy” seems kind of boring.

Just as Jesus’ life and appearance had no slick marketing appeal and there was no great desire stirred by His simple life, so the true Church today is overlooked in favor of the extravagant and conspicuous behavior going on at every level of the organized church.  Granted, some will say that Jesus had a great following, but where were they on the day of His execution? There were many then, as there are now, who love a good show, and hang around for the fish and the loaves, but the Church, on the day of its execution will be few in number, compared to the vast “following” it boast of now.

There is a truth to all that exist now, and there is a truth as to the true nature of the Church, and can only be known to those who have sold out to It. Truth does not lay on top of the ground like so much trash, it has to be mined and every ounce hidden as a precious treasure, a commodity purchased with your whole life. Solomon instructs us to “buy the truth, and sell it not.” Today we have bought the “lie” and at a bargain price, but in the end we will find that it was only fools gold, and worthless.

There is an alternate plan to holding onto the truth, and here it is. Ignore everything you have ever heard about who Jesus was and is. Stop what you are doing and make a list of what it is that makes you feel good, the things that get you high on life, and go after them, at any cost, and as fast as you can, because, you see, you only have one chance to enjoy life, so get all you can, ………………………………….THEN IT IS OVER.

Steve Blackwell

Steve Blackwell

R. Abanes (Rick Warren’s apologist) says,”I applaud Dewaay for his candor, honesty, integrity, and spirit of genuine care/concern, and openness to hearing what Warren actually believes theologically. I am hoping that many individuals will see that this is all little more than an issue of ministry philosophy, rather than the emergence of some bizarre Warren Smith-esk, conspiratorial, one-world, New Age religion with Warren playing the lead Pide Piper!”

K Jentoft says

I am a good friend of Pastor DeWaay and attend his church. Bob DeWaay’s position on Rick Warren has not changed. Bob Dewaay never hated Rick Warren, he had concerns about his teaching – a ministry philisophy that doesn’t preach the gospel or confess Christ. This is NOT just a minor issue. Bob’s concern about Rick Warren was and still is that Rick Warren does not preach the gospel, not that he doesn’t believe it (I have to interject that I am a little troubled with this statement. I’m not sure if this is Bob Dewaay’s position or if this is K Jentoft taking too much liberty in speaking for Bob. Is it possible to really believe the Gospel and then preach “another gospel”?). Here is a statement prepared by Pastor DeWaay concerning the issues raised in this blog. K. Jentoft

May 31, 2008

Bob Dewaay wrote

I wrote my book, Redefining Christianity, assuming that Rick Warren actually believes the Saddleback Church’s statement of faith, but that he refuses to preach it because he wants to be popular with the world and grow his movement. I still think that could still be true—I give him the benefit of the doubt.

At the Saddleback Church conference he was speaking of winning souls for Christ and talking about his father’s legacy of building churches and winning souls. More than likely he believes Baptist doctrine. But along the way he was derailed by reading the church growth theory of Donald McGavran. While in seminary I studied under a disciple of McGavran. McGavran’s book was required reading. His philosophy hinges on this idea: “people do not become Christian for theological reasons, but for sociological ones.”

Rick Warren believed McGavran and set out to study people to find out what makes them tick so he could get them into church — thus “Saddleback Sam.” Purpose Driven is a franchise system to multiply this idea into other churches. Warren tells pastors that they do not have to change any doctrine to join his movement. The reason for that is that doctrine becomes unimportant because it is no longer taught. I don’t think Rick Warren changed his Baptist doctrine either; he just doesn’t allow it to determine what he teaches and what he does. When we met that is what I challenged him about.

So I have not moved in my beliefs nor have I changed my position on any doctrines I have preached.

I will not allow myself to be pitted against any of Warren’s critics. I read Warren Smith’s book and spoke with him on the phone. He is a wonderful brother. The New Age implications are in Rick Warren’s movement and are helping lead toward a One World church. But because he has publicly made statements besides his statement of faith that he believes there is a literal hell and that people without Christ will go there, I don’t believe Rick Warren is a true New Age believer, and neither does Warren Smith. Warren Smith simply says there are New Age implications to what Rick Warren is doing, and I agree with him.

Tomorrow morning I will make a statement clarifying what I mean when I said that we did not have theological disagreements in our meeting. Rick Warren did not disagree with my positions on doctrine in our meeting. But he did not comment on everything I said. Please read my book, because in it I point out that Rick Warren privately affirms orthodox Christian theology—he did so again in our presence. So this is not news worthy.

To set the record straight, for those who think I am suddenly okay with Rick Warren – I am not. I asked him to preach Christ and honor the idea of scripture alone – and I pointed out that he cannot have a “reformation” based on general revelation.

These are huge issues and he did not say he was going to change anything—but he did not disagree. Do Warren’s supporters really think that having an orthodox theology in private is all that God expects of a preacher? Do they think we should not hold Rick Warren accountable to sola scriptura? Do they think that we can have any old ministry philosophy even if doing so totally changes the definition of the church and her message from how the Bible defines them?

I challenge Rick Warren’s supporters to step up to the plate and demand that Rick Warren repent, as I requested him to do in my book. That statement is posted at http://www.twincityfellowship.com/special/appeal.pdf Otherwise they have no business claiming that I agree with them.

Bob DeWaay

John,

Every time I write you I tell myself that it will be the last time, but I am, at it again. I think if it were any one else I would have quit. As I write this I am praying that the Lord would give you the spirit of wisdom and understanding. This letter will be a longer one than normal, I hope you read it.

“For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:” Rom. 9:6. Just for a Jew to say that he is of the seed of Abraham means nothing in the final analysis. This truth is stated in different ways throughout the Bible: there is a separating of the sheep and the goats, wheat and tares, (Rom. 9:18, 2 Pet. 2:9, 1 Thes. 5:9, Mat. 11:25; 25:31-46) and there will be many Jews and worldly Christians among those goats and tares, but clearly the best illustration is when on that Day of Judgement the Lord declares, to all the deluded Christians who say Lord, Lord, “begone form Me, I never knew you.” This verse instills no fear in these worldly Christians to examine their lives, to be sure they are in the faith, because they don’t really believe it anyway. What I am trying to say is that not everyone who wears the label of Christian is a Christian. And furthermore, the Bible is plain, that most of those who claim the title of “Christian” are in reality deluded, they are walking in the “broad way” not the “narrow way,” as they think. To distinguish between the two we are told to look at the fruit, and the heart, and their words, and their deeds, and to look for the “old man,” because they will reveal who and what they really serve; so that is what I do, it is called discernment.

All these things mentioned will be different for the true “born from above” Christian than for the Christian born of the earth only. All these Christians of the earth have this kind of unwritten code of acceptance, honor amongst thieves, or brotherhood, that promotes universal tolerance, as long as it is done with what they claim is Christian love. As long as they do something good, it is Christian. They reason something like this: “Good comes from God; evil comes from the Devil; therefore, all good is from God.” That is overly simplified but it gets my point across. Using this example we look at the Freemasons, they build hospitals and help lots of kids, all very good things, so God must be pleased with them, right? We could say this about an endless list of good deed doing organizations also, churches included, all denominations, and lots of people, even the evil and the wicked do some good things, and God is pleased when they do good, right? It’s better to do good than it is to do evil, so God must be pleased, right? But, on the day of judgement they are rejected, their good deeds have purchased them nothing. Why? Because they have already been compensated in the flesh, while on earth, for what they have done. They were fleshly men working for fleshly benefits, hence the Lord’s words, “Be gone from me ye wicked, I never knew you, and I owe you nothing” (paraphrased). This is exactly where we find the Church, trying to win man’s admiration, and a little glory and respect for himself. They want to be approved for the deeds they do, and God allows them this reward in the here-and-now: a little respect from their peers, a little pride of accomplishment, a pay check, or recognition from the leaders, etc. Their great cross-platform ecumenical, unitarian, peace on earth programs will be their sole reward, and it is also the reason they hate the truth, and hate obedience to Jesus command to die to self and to live to God alone. They don’t understand truth nor can they obey truth, because they are creatures of this world only, and have never been born from above, and had the circumcision of their hearts. Their home is here on earth and only desire some better place here. Worldly Christians find no fault with these men or organizations because they think this is what being a Christian is all about.

The Bible tells us that we can know these false Christians by their fruits. It is because Christians can know these fruits that we are able to judge, and discern, and write, about men like Rick Warren and Richard Abanes, who you refer to, but there are many others. It is not that everything they do is bad, it is because they are evil men doing some good things, and convincing ignorant people that that is what it means to be a Christian. By doing this, they are leading many to eternal death. If they were not influential men and false teachers, I would not be sounding an alarm, and by so doing making myself the target of their godless chatter. Is this making any sense to you? I hope so.

I am going to say some things now that may offend you, that is not my intentions, but truth always offends our sensibilities. I will prove all my points by Scripture so you will not think I am just being rude. TRUTH, the word of God, always kills before it heals. I am going to say some things that will probably be painful, but as God is my witness, I will only speak the truth. I am going to take this last letter you wrote to me and examine it in the light of Scripture, where I want you to see that at the very least you lack a grasp of basic Christian teaching, and it may be at the worst that you have not been born from above, and are blind to what I am trying to communicate. I’ll take the time to go over this with you because I want you to see it. Honestly, this kind of sight is rare and most people do not see it, and do not accept what the Bible says when the light is revealing their true nature. So, here it goes.

Because of the differing natures of men of God and men of the world, meaning their DNA is different, they do things differently, like think, reason, believe, worship, and pray. Their difference is not like the difference between two differing breeds of dogs or cats, or like Europeans and Orientals, but more like Earthlings and Aliens, they are two completely different natures. Actually born again Christians have two opposing natures, they still have their old nature which is always in competition with their new nature, this old nature has to die. Those without the new nature have no choice but to obey the only nature they have, their conscience condemns them, which means life only on earth, and eternal death thereafter. Those without the new nature cannot obey God, it is impossible, and can not please God, regardless of their good works. Those with the old nature, who profess to be Christians, do not understand the Bible and think it is hard to grasp because of the conflict they have trying to get it to conform to their old nature. Jesus asked Paul at his conversion why he was kicking against the goad (a spiked stick used for driving cattle)? Before his conversion all his religious activity made so much sense, but afterwards he realized the futility and stupidity of what he was doing. The truth was that he could not have understood it even if he had wanted to, his nature was wrong; understanding is a product of a different life. The world does not understand God’s word and most of the Church is made up of the world. They do the best that they can, but only accomplish programs of men, or pretty buildings, or works, or idol worship.

Mark 8:31-33 “He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ he said. ‘You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men .’”

Luke 16:15 “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men , but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.”

Rom 1:18-25 “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator — who is forever praised. Amen.”

Gal 1:10-12 “Am I now trying to win the approval of men , or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.”

Eph 4:11-15 “It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.”

1 Thess 2:13 “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men , but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”

Rev 18:11-13 “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more— cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men.”

You will notice that in all of the verses above there is a common theme, and it is the things “of men.” When I said in the paragraphs above that there is a way to know men of the world, even those who call themselves Christian we only have to look at the heart of their motivation. What is the thing that moves them? Who is it that they want approval from? When, where, and how do they decide to imitate Christ? This thing “of men” is the thing I will focus on to show you that you are not where you should be, and definitely not where you think you are. The goal of this letter is let you know that you do not have to remain where you’re at, but you do have to recognize and know the truth, and that is the love that is spoken of in the Bible; it is to declare with boldness the truth “of men,” their pride, hatred of truth, love of self, and their rebellion against their Maker. Religious men are by far the hardest to reach, because their pride is bolstered by their presumed knowledge of God. Paul said that “through knowledge they knew not God.”

In your first paragraph you said:

“Thank you Steve I do mean well. I read that you have been challenged by a supporter of Mr. Warren to provide facts. This is your chance to quell any doubt that your ministry is a false one. You slapped them in the face and threw down the gauntlet with your statements, they picked it up and handed it back to you and said ” TEACH US THE TRUTH”. How can any one who leads a ministry turn away from a chance to teach where they have left the path?”

I do believe you mean well, but well from an earthly point of view. You make a few statements here that are very much the position that a man of the world would take to protect his ego or pride, or to get the advantage on an opponent. It is not as if I was lying in ambush waiting for some opportunity to destroy my opponent. On the contrary, I would like nothing more than to get word of a conversion in this camp. The ministry you speak of as being mine, I guess it could be called mine, because that is the way it looks to others, so I will not labor the point that it is the Lord’s and that I am merely His servant, trying to do it to the best of my ability. As far as trying to quell any doubt to this ministry, I will leave that in the hands of the Lord. You see, Jesus’ ministry was found, by the religious elite, to be a false, and He told me that if they hated Him, they would hate me also, “Is a student above His master?” Then you said I slapped them and threw down a gauntlet. You are speaking like a man; I did no such thing. I made no challenge to them, although the presentation of truth often looks like a challenge. I spoke to warn, by presenting facts. I neither challenged nor took up a challenge. I have no fear of these men, the Lord told me not to worry about men, only speak the truth, and be bold. 2 Cor 3:12-13 “Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” These perverts of truth handed me nothing nor did I take it, and as far as teaching them truth, they never asked that. Their goal is to draw me away from doing the Lord’s work and get involved in defending my honor; sounds like a tactic of Satan. Neh 6:1-3 “Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it(though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, ‘Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.’ But they thought to do me harm. So I sent messengers to them, saying, ‘I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?’” The men you speak of John have no desire to learn the truth; my ministry is not to them, and my honor is the Lord’s honor.

Next you said:

“I was in good spirits when I read that you took your comments (apology) and sent them to the proper people. Now you must follow thru and answer their questions. Do not ignore the attention that you have now. Provide the truth and it will set you free.”

I made a few errors in my documentation and admitted my mistakes, when it was brought to my attention I apologized, as a Christian should do; it was a minor thing, and happens all the time, and you just simply correct it. Christians should do the right thing, even when they are wrong. The apology was the follow through, nothing more is necessary. Their questions are unending and focus on trivial issues not relating to the problem, can’t you see that? I am not seeking some popularity contest by drawing attention to myself and entering into a verbal battle where the winner takes all. I am a winner already, and have been set free for some time now. The truth you speak of is directed toward them; it is them, who are bound by this world and Satan. These statements are men’s words; I have nothing to lose, but they have everything to lose; I have everything to gain, and they have nothing to gain, but fame and fortune, but only in this world, and that is a great loss.

Paragraph three:

“Steve you must accept the responsibility that comes along with your judging of others so openly. Your statements are public, on the net, here for everyone to read. You have the attention and been given a platform on which to stand. Do not turn your back on false teachers when they ask you to show them where they have gone wrong. How can you gain any respect as a teacher if you now “just brush them off.”

What is the Christian responsibility for speaking up against evil? Jesus spoke up against evil and was led away as a lamb, giving no defense. When Peter chopped off the ear of the High Priest, when they came to take Jesus in the Garden, what did Jesus do? He restored the ear and told Peter to put away his sword, then went to the cross. He had the platform, didn’t He? Did He give some great oratory on sin at that point? I’m not looking for a stage, I speak the truth as it comes to me and could care less about “respect.” I just brush them off, just like Jesus did. Here again the world has shown up in your words. You see, they love the darkness, and hate the truth. As you know, if you have read my pages, I have not turned my back on them; I have simply refused to answer them the way they wanted; the Devil is tricky.

This section was probably the most telling of all:

“As for your priest comment I do not understand. I know that to confess and ask for forgiveness is only as meaningful as the sincerity in which it is given. Therefore, a witness is not necessary. However, there is no testimony to the Christian act of repentance. A lesson well taught to me that good deeds are a by-product of being a Christian. Thus, since there is no one to testify of a persons words, actions, behavior of any kind “deeds” there is no reason to believe that a person is in fact a Christian, other than, of course, his unproven word in which he speaks of himself.”

I am very careful who I talk to about things that are private between the Lord and myself. If I have wronged a man, in private, I will ask for forgiveness, in private. If I have wronged publicly I will ask for forgiveness publicly. I will never take a wrong and go to a man (a priest) and have him, a mere man, go to my Father and plead my case. First I go to the man, who I sinned against, then I go to my Father and ask for His forgiveness, and accept any discipline I deserve. Why would I need some sort of testimony to my forgiveness or repentance, unless I was seeking the approval of some man? My Father knows, what more is necessary, unless I have the desire of men to get respect and honor? If we are doing things to be seen of men, we are not Christian. If we make sure that all of our deeds are logged and tallied they count for nothing, you have received your reward. A Christian acting in the world, will not be recognized as “Christian” by the world. If the world acknowledges your act as “Christian” it is very possible that it was being done for the wrong reason. Jesus said not to do “your alms before men to be seen, but do your good deeds in private where only God sees.” The world loves to put on a show. If the world does not see your deeds, you are correct, they will think you to be un-Christian, and we can’t have that, can we?

I will sum up the rest below:

“You commented that ” you don’t mean to be offensive but you get tired of others who do nothing, pretending to be great workers for the Kingdom, You wish I really was in His service.”

“You can tell all that from your desk? That I am not in God’s service? That I only pretend to be a Christian. Perhaps, if you did not separate yourself you also would be able to testify to my Christian walk. Again you judge without knowing any facts my brother. This lesson keeps coming back to you.”

“Well I pray that you are able to stand up like a man, and answer the challenge presented to you by the followers of R. Warren and the like. There is no respect to gain if you choose to hide under a rock on this one. Your ministry rides on your ability to present the facts as you claim. Answer the call Christian.”
in His service. John

I’m sure you are doing deeds, I’m just not too sure if they are the ones that are “good” as counted by the Lord. They may be, I can only go by what I read from your letters. What I see in your letters is a man centered religion. I can tell a lot sitting at my desk, reading other people’s writings. If a person means what they say, and they are not fibbing, then we can all draw conclusions. That is why people write things, to communicate a thought. As a Christian we are given the tools to discern peoples motives for doing what they do, and then directing them to the truth of Scripture for a heart transplant if needed. As far as standing up like a man, that is not a statement a Christian should make, because it is “man” that is the problem, shouldn’t I stand up like Christ? And, when Christ stood up before Pilate “He answered not a word.” Doesn’t that sound more like the Christian response? Again I want no respect from men, and the only Rock I will run to is Christ. My ministry does not ride on my ability at all, but it does ride on my obedience to Jesus. None of your writing is Christian John, I hope you can see that.

I have not said these things to be mean spirited or rude but to wake you up to the facts of the Christ life. You have it all wrong, and that is what stands between us, and it always will. I know you want to be a Christian, and I pray for you, but you must admit that you’re off course and are seeing as a man, and a man only.

I think this letter will either be the end or the beginning of something, we will see.

Steve B.

Warren’s quote:

“My ministry mentors were my own father, a Baptist pastor for 50 years, Pastor Harry D. Williams, Dr. W.A. Criswell, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas for decades, and the books of Rev. Charles Spurgeon, C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, and William Wilberforce.”

W. A. CRISWELL 1909-2002

“If [we] are true to that expression of faith (the infallibility of Scripture) we shall live. If we repudiate it, we shall die. God will remove our lampstand….There is no exception in this judgment….”

Does Rick claim Criswell as mentor because of his theological stance in favor of the inerrancy of the Bible? In W. A. Criswell’s own words concerning “Why I Preach That the Bible Is Literally True,” he says:

“The invitation to write this book “form the top of my head and from the bottom of my heart” was accepted with the earnest and prayerful hope that it might encourage other ministers to preach the Bible as the literal, inspired, God-breathed truth of heaven….”

“I have written. . . a testimony from my heart, how I feel about God’s word….”
“This volume is my testimony.”

Where, may I ask do we see anything like these words from Rick Warren. We could aptly say that The Purpose Driven Life is the volume of Rick’s testimony, but nowhere does he reflect the zeal for the literalness of God’s word, as does Criswell. I think when Rick Warren claims Criswell as his mentor his testimony runs more along the lines of the size of his congregation, and not faithfulness to the inspired word of God. In 1969 when Criswell’s book was published he was “The pastor of the largest congregation in the SBC.” “Under his ministry, this congregation has grown to more than 13,000 members with a budget of $1,800,000.00….” “With a Sunday school enrollment in excess of 6,000, a Training Union with 50 departments, and a full-time staff of more than 50, and First Baptist Church enlist 1,000 of its members as lay workers in it various organizations.” Rick was definitely impressed in respect to large numbers, there’s no argument there.

C. H. SPURGEON 1834 – 1892
“If a man begins to walk with a stick merely for a whim, he will soon come to require a stick; if you indulge your eyes with spectacles, they will speedily demand them as a permanent appendage; and if you were to walk with crutches for a month, at the end of the time they would be almost necessary to your movements, although naturally your limbs might be a sound and healthy as any man’s.”

When we think of someone being mentored by a renowned personality we tend to assume that the greatest characteristic of the individual doing the mentoring would show up in the one being mentored. All of the characteristics of Charles Spurgeon are virtually unknown beside his one characteristic of love for preaching, he was known as the “Prince of Preachers.” Rick Warren claims that the books of Charles Spurgeon mentored him. Well, I’m curious now. Charles Spurgeon was not a good preacher, he was a great preacher, “many times it has been said that this was the greatest preacher this side of the Apostle Paul.” What is it that we should look for as proof and evidence of this great man’s influence. We see no evidence of great preaching in RW, but we do see something else, numbers! Rick’s preaching is bland, lifeless, and simplistic, so we needn’t look there. But, Spurgeon could do other things, like generate large crowds. Crowds, this is what inspires greatness in Rick, it’s the numbers.

“At 25 he (Spurgeon) built London’s famous Metropolitan Tabernacle, seating around 5,000. It was never large enough. Even when traveling he preached to 10,000 eager listeners a week. Crowds thronged to hear him as they came to hear John the Baptist by the River Jordan. The fire of God was on him as on the Prophet Elijah facing assembled Israel at Mount Carmel.”

“Royalty sat in his Tabernacle.”
“HOW GREAT WAS HIS HEART: for preachers, so the Pastors’ College was founded; for orphans, so the orphans’ houses came to be; for people around the world, so his literature poured forth in an almost immeasurable volume. He was a national voice; so every national issue affecting morals, religion or the poor had his interpretation, his counsel.”

How Rick Warren built his ministry by New Yorker, taken off Warren’s website Pastors.com

“On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Saddleback Church, Rick Warren hired the Anaheim Angels’ baseball stadium. He wanted to address his entire congregation at once, and there was no way to fit everyone in at Saddleback, where the crowds are spread across services held over the course of an entire weekend. So Warren booked the stadium and printed large, silver-black-and-white tickets, and, on a sunny Sunday morning last April, the tens of thousands of congregants of one of America’s largest churches began to file into the stands. They were wearing shorts and T-shirts and buying Cokes and hamburgers from the concession stands, if they had not already tailgated in the parking lot. On the field, a rock band played loudly and enthusiastically. Just after one o’clock, a voice came over the public-address system -”RIIIICK WARRRREN” – and Warren bounded onto the stage, wearing black slacks, a red linen guayabera shirt, and wraparound NASCAR sunglasses. The congregants leaped to their feet. “You know,” Warren said, grabbing the microphone, “there are two things I’ve always wanted to do in a stadium.” He turned his body sideways, playing an imaginary guitar, and belted out the first few lines of Jimi Hendrix’s Purple Haze. His image was up on the Jumbotrons in right and left fields, just below the Verizon and Pepsi and Budweiser logos. He stopped and grinned. “The other thing is, I want to do a wave!” He pointed to the bleachers, and then to the right-field seats, and around and around the stadium the congregation rose and fell, in four full circuits. “You are the most amazing church in America!” Warren shouted out, when they had finally finished. “AND I LOVE YOU!”

“His sermons are conversational, delivered in a folksy, raspy voice. He talks about how he loves Krispy Kreme doughnuts, drives a four-year-old Ford, and favors loud Hawaiian shirts, even at the pulpit, because, he says, “they do not itch.”

“And when he held his first public service, three months later, he stood up in front of 205 people he barely knew in a high-school gymnasium–this shiny-faced preacher fresh out of seminary – and told them that one day soon their new church would number 20,000 and occupy a campus of 50 acres. Today, Saddleback Church has 20,000 members and occupies a campus of 120 acres. Once, Warren wanted to increase the number of small groups at Saddleback–the groups of six or seven that meet for prayer and fellowship during the week – by 300. He went home and prayed and, as he tells it, God said to him that what he really needed to do was increase the number of small groups by 3,000, which is just what he did. Then, a few years ago, he wrote a book called The Purpose Driven Life, a genre of book that is known in the religious-publishing business as “Christian Living,” and that typically sells 30,000 to 40,000 copies a year. Warren’s publishers came to see him at Saddleback, and sat on the long leather couch in his office, and talked about their ideas for the book. “You guys don’t understand,” Warren told them. “This is a 100 million copy book.” Warren remembers stunned silence: “Their jaws dropped.” But now, nearly three years after its publication, The Purpose Driven Life has sold 23 million copies. It is among the best-selling nonfiction hardcover books in American history. Neither the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, nor the Washington Post has reviewed it. Warren’s own publisher didn’t see it coming. Only Warren had faith. “The best of the evangelical tradition is that you don’t plan your way forward – you prophesy your way forward,” the theologian Leonard Sweet says. “Rick’s prophesying his way forward.”

“Churches, like any large voluntary organization, have at their core a contradiction. In order to attract newcomers, they must have low barriers to entry. They must be unintimidating, friendly, and compatible with the culture they are a part of. In order to retain their membership, however, they need to have an identity distinct from that culture. They need to give their followers a sense of community – and community, exclusivity, a distinct identity are all, inevitably, casualties of growth. As an economist would say, the bigger an organization becomes, the greater a free-rider problem it has. If I go to a church with 500 members, in a magnificent cathedral, with spectacular services and music, why should I volunteer or donate any substantial share of my money? What kind of peer pressure is there in a congregation that large? If the barriers to entry become too low–and the ties among members become increasingly tenuous–then a church as it grows bigger becomes weaker.”

Well, enough of this, I think I may get sick if I go any further. I looked in vain to find any inkling or trace of Spurgeon’s preaching, and found none, but what I did find was Spurgeon’s large numbers. Numbers were a byproduct for Spurgeon, but for Warren it is all about numbers and the message is secondary, or just a tool to get the large numbers. If Rick Warren were building any other kind of business I may have some admiration for his success, but to make merchandise of men’s souls is despicable, inexcusable, and deserves the rebuke of the entire Christian community, for what he has done, is doing, and teaching others to do.

William WilberforceNext we want to look at William Wilberforce, and “he was no ordinary pragmatist or political utilitarian,” and in these two words we will likely find what Rick Warren found most attractive about the man. Rick is a man who has taken the two and formed them into a virtual slogan of “whatever works must be from God,” and in that justifies the use of even the profane and worldly, regardless that the Bible prohibits yoking oneself to the world.

Peculiar Doctrines, Public Morals, and the Political Welfare
“Knowing Wilberforce was a politician all his adult life, never losing an election from the time he was 21 years old, we might be tempted to think that his motives were purely pragmatic – as if he should say, “if Christianity works to produce the political welfare, then use it.” But that is not the spirit of his mind or his life. In fact, he believed that such pragmatism would ruin the very thing it sought, the reformation of culture.”

In the wisdom of Rick Warren we have finally come to our senses and it is about “what works,” now we know that what Jesus said is not to be taken literally: James 4:4-5 “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” 1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” John 15:18-19 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.” Matt 10:22 “All men will hate you because of me.” Luke 6:26 “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.” Thank you Mr. Warren, now I know, because of you that these and many other Scripture verses are now null and void.

It is becoming apparent now that Rick has had the best of teachers, and he being mentored at their feet has unraveled the riddle of the ages, that it isn’t about holiness, and righteousness, and repentance, it’s about NUMBERS, and what ever works to get those NUMBERS! I’m being silly now, we can be sure that Rick has more depth than this. Let’s look at how he has been effected by another of his mentors, Francis Schaeffer.

Does the Church Have a Future? Lighthouse Trails Research

Francis Schaeffer,

“Does the church have a future in our generation? … I believe the church is in real danger. It is in for a rough day. We are facing present pressures and a present and future manipulation which will be so overwhelming in the days to come that they will make the battles of the last forty years look like child’s play.” Francis Schaeffer, The Church at the End of the 20th Century– 1970

“The liberal theologians in their stress on community speak and act as though we become Christians when we enter the horizontal relationship of community. But this is totally the wrong starting-point. If this were so, Christianity would have no more final value than the humanistic community.” Schaeffer

“Whenever men say they are looking for greater reality, we must show them at once the reality of true Christianity. This is real because it is concerned with the God who is there and who has spoken to us about Himself, not just the use of the symbol ‘god’ or ‘christ’ which sounds spiritual but is not. The men who merely use the symbol ought to be pessimists, for the mere word god or the idea god is not a sufficient base for the optimism they display…. “This is the kind of ‘believism’ which is demanded by this theology…. It is no more than a jump into an undefinable, irrational, semantic mysticism.” Lighthouse Trails Research Schaeffer, from The God Who is There.

What is it really that Rick sees in Schaeffer that has formed anything in him. Schaeffer was a modern day prophet who had the ability to see into the future, and visualized a time when men would get caught up in the shallowness of what the Church has become. But, there was one thing that Schaeffer understood, that was probably of more value to Rick than prophecy and that is his knowledge of culture. He could read culture like it was the morning paper. He knew the flow of culture because he understood history and the Bible. I’m quite sure Rick has a deep appreciation for culture, and has learned much about culture from reading Schaeffer, and how to manipulate culture to build his dynasty, and preserve the world for P.E.A.C.E. Schaeffer was right, there is a flow to culture, and if he could use that flow to foresee our present condition, why couldn’t a marketing genius (not Rick, Peter Drucker) likewise project a marketing scheme, and tap a niche market of collapsing traditional Churches, and build a kingdom for God on earth, by co-operation with existing political and religious structures, of which Rick Warren would be the beneficiary and become rich in the process.
My response to Rick Warren

“You mentioned, “My ministry mentors were my own father, a Baptist pastor for 50 years, Pastor Harry D. Williams, Dr. W.A. Criswell, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas for decades, and the books of Rev. Charles Spurgeon, C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, and William Wilberforce.” I find this to be very telling. I too have an affinity for, and agree with much of what the men you mention have written, especially Spurgeon, Lewis, and Schaeffer, but your writings do not appear to have profited from their acquaintance. The really telling part comes from the mentors, (used here in the sense of advisers, counselors, confidants, etc.) you did not mention: Peter Drucker, C. Peter Wagner, Rupert Murdoch, and others of which their influence is more apparent, and to this list could be added Robert Schuller. This little bit of “name dropping” is more consistent with good marketing, branding, public persona, identity, and building value, than it is with preaching the Good News, and I find it unusual that a man so totally absorbed in the Kingdom of God does not even allude to Jesus or the Bible in the above list.”
Christian author Warren Smith, in his book Reinventing Jesus Christ writes:

“There is much about The Purpose-Driven Life that lies beneath the surface of the actual words. Although Rick Warren carefully avoided citing his former teacher, I discovered that Robert Schuller’s thoughts and ideas could be found throughout The Purpose-Driven Life. The fact that Rick Warren had not provided any footnotes acknowledging his Schuller-based material was troubling. I didn’t even know there was a connection between Rick Warren and Robert Schuller until I read The Purpose-Driven Life. As I started checking out certain names and phrases and references I found myself having to read more and more books by Robert Schuller. In Deceived on Purpose I wrote:”

“The more I read Robert Schuller, the more I was shocked at how so many of Rick Warren’s thoughts, ideas, references, words, terms, phrases, and quotes in The Purpose-Driven Life seemed to be directly inspired by Schuller’s writings and teachings.”

“I am quite sure that further study would reveal there is much more additional Schuller material contained in the pages of The Purpose-Driven Life. I certainly had not gone out looking for all this. I just kept discovering these things as I read along and followed up on what I was reading. I had no idea going into my reading of The Purpose-Driven Life how thoroughly the presence of Robert Schuller inhabits its pages. Because Robert Schuller’s name is never even mentioned in The Purpose-Driven Life, most readers would never know how much of Rick Warren’s material is actually drawn from the writings and teachings of Robert Schuller. They would never know how inextricably intertwined the two men’s teachings seem to be.” “Later I would learn that Rick Warren’s wife, and even Robert Schuller himself, confirmed the Schuller influence I had discovered in The Purpose-Driven Life. In an interview in the Nov. 18, 2002 issue of Christianity Today, Kay Warren revealed that she and her husband attended Robert Schuller’s Institute for Successful Church Leadership just prior to starting Saddleback Church. She stated that Robert Schuller “had a profound influence on Rick.” A year-and-a-half later, in an April 4, 2004 Hour of Power sermon, Schuller described how Rick Warren had come to his Robert H. Schuller Institute for Successful Church Leadership “time after time.” Schuller’s Hour of Power website also described Rick Warren as one of the “famous graduates” who had been “mentored” at the Schuller Institute. Schuller’s influence over Rick Warren was so “profound” and far-reaching that in 1995, fifteen years after he started Saddleback Church, Rick Warren was still describing Robert Schuller as having one of the “many strong, Bible-believing churches” in Southern California.”

“In an early Saddleback response to my book Deceived on Purpose, even the Saddleback representative acknowledged Schuller’s influence on Rick Warren “through the years”:

“There is no question that Robert Schuller has been an influence on Rick through the years. As Mr. Smith points out, certain words, phrases and other teaching tools continue to show up, even to this day, in Rick’s writings and teaching that he learned from the books of Robert Schuller.”

“In regards to Rick Warren being a graduate of the Robert H. Schuller Institute for Successful Church Growth, the same Saddleback representative wrote:”

“This is true and yes it did lead Rick into reading Robert Schuller’s books.”

Chapter 10 Update to Reinventing Jesus Christ , The Silent Church.

Additionally Warren Smith shows Schuller’s New Age influence on Rick Warren in regards to its concept of “Immanence.”

“Biblical Christianity does not teach this pantheistic/New Age concept of immanence. The Bible teaches that while God is omnipresent and omniscient he does not naturally indwell his creation. Omnipresence does not mean that God is in everything. God was not in the golden calf. God is not in the Devil. God is not in His creation. God is not in everything. This is what the New Age/New Gospel/New Spirituality wants everyone to believe. Although the word immanence has another meaning, sometimes used in the church, the more popular meaning of the word is definitely pantheistic. A quick look at several online encyclopedias confirms the popular definition of immanence:”

“Immanence is the religious and philosophical concept of existing and acting within the physical world. It is derived from the Latin words, in and manere, the original meaning being “to exist or remain within.”…

“The term “immanence” is usually understood to mean that the divine force, or the divine being, pervades through all things that exist, and is able to influence them. Such a meaning is common in pantheism & panentheism, and it implies that divinity is inseparably present in all things. In this meaning immanence is distinct from transcendence, the latter being understood as the divinity being set apart from or transcending the World.”

“IMMANENCE [immanence] [Lat.,=dwelling in], in metaphysics, the presence within the natural world of a spiritual or cosmic principle, especially of the Deity. It is contrasted with transcendence. The immanence of God in the world is the basic feature of pantheism.”

“Rick Warren’s apologist, Richard Abanes, argues:”

“Warren’s use of Ephesians 4:6 in The Purpose-Driven Life is an attempt to teach God’s immanence.”

“While Abanes takes critics to task for being concerned about the concept of immanence he, of all people, should surely understand the overlapping New Age implications of the word immanence. In his book Harry Potter and the Bible he used the following quotes to respectively describe witchcraft and paganism:”

“Most view divinity as immanent in nature, seeing all life as sacred, thus denying any sacred/secular distinction.”

“Pagans are usually polytheistic (believing in more than one god) and they usually believe in immanence, or the concept of divinity residing in all things.”

“The following statement from Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church Foundations Guide illustrates how their use of the word immanent–”within and throughout creation”–can be given confused pantheistic/New Age meaning by Rick Warren’s additional teaching that God is in everything.”

“The fact that God stands above and beyond his creation does not mean he stands outside his creation. He is both transcendent (above and beyond his creation) and immanent (within and throughout his creation).”

“This is the kind of overlapping language that is paving the way for the New Age/New Spirituality. Notice how Robert Schuller’s use of the word immanence is totally consistent with the New Age/New Spirituality teaching that God is in everyone and everything. In a November 9, 2003 Hour of Power sermon, he stated:”

“You know in theology–pardon me for using a couple of big words–but in theology the God that we believe in, this God of Abraham, is a transcendent God. But He is also an immanent God. Transcendent means up there, out there, above us all. But God is also an immanent God–immanence of God and the transcendence of God–then you have a balanced perspective of God. The immanence of God means here, in me, around me, in society, in the world, this God here, in the humanities, in the science, in the arts, sociology, in politics–the immanence of God…. Yes, God is alive and He is in every single human being.”

Chapter 10 Update to Reinventing Jesus Christ , The Silent Church.

What I have tried to show is the manipulative way Rick Warren uses name dropping, and claiming mentoring by certain individuals to arbitrarily attach characteristics of those individuals to himself. This is not how a Christian should conduct himself, but we may expect it of a marketer or salesman. Likewise, we can see how he avoids being associated with those of whom he is characteristic. Why would a man of God do this? What is it he is trying to hide? It isn’t always what is said that is important, but what is left unsaid that is most critical, and that is the essence of the new gospel that is being perpetrated on the world today. The Bible warns us that these wolves would appear as sheep, and delivering angels.

I have said it before, Rick Warren may be the most dangerous man in the world. Don’t be deceived.

Steve Blackwell

Enough of the funny stuff. This is serious. There is no humor in following someone or something that is promoted as being from the Lord, just to watch as the “priesthood” demolishes it without a blush, then with a flash of the hand, institute a new and better blessing of God. God’s declaration that: “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it…” (Ps 127:1) has been virtually ignored by “Church planters” and the modern priesthood. Why, they barely get their plans off the drawing board when some new thing comes along that they claim they have gotten God’s approval on, and off they go in some new great thrust to win the world for their God. When will enough be enough? When will a spade be called a spade, and when will a lie be called a lie? We Christians have really always accepted that Churches were planted, and grown, by men, and that God got involved in some kind of support role only, and we believed this because why wouldn’t He bless something that we do for His good, like getting people saved? And, because this is the way it has been done for so long that the traditions of man have validated it as “God’s way” to grow the Church. But, when we make this assumption we are already off the path, because “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it…” God says He will plant, and He will grow, and that it is He that adds to the Church all those who have been predestined to believe , “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:47). The Christians role is to preach and teach the truth of the Gospel, to be a City on a hill that cannot be hid, proclaiming the mercy, love, and truth of God through His son Jesus, not to build something for God, then pretend that our Towers of Bible Truth are accepted by Him. With Willow’s confession, this idea is shot down.

God has given the hard task of believing “Truth” to His remnant in these closing hours of the age of grace. I am convinced that much of what we thought we were doing for God, all of these long years of being “followers of Jesus,” was not following Jesus at all, but our own designs of what and how we thought Christianity should be. Men have run off in all directions trying to do something for God. God doesn’t want us to build Him a Church, He has already taken care of that, and through our obedience and trust, He will add to it, those who He “wills” to believe His message, He only requires “obedience” from us, not “sacrifice.”

I am not at all surprised to hear of this “Shift” at Eagle Church in Whitestown. Even the word “shift” is a catch word of what is happening in the New Age world of Christianity. This “shift” is just the next gimmick for man to win the world for God and bring about world peace and the New World Order. Please don’t think that this is a conspiracy theory; it is all very plain, and documented, to the discerning Christian. All the facts are there for anyone who cares to do just a little investigation, but the blind will remain blind, this also is foretold: “…and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion , that they should believe a lie…” (2 Thess 2:10-11). How can so many “Christians” be deceived? I guess we now know. And, we also know that it was all prophesied, and that it is happening at this very moment in time. For those that are aware, they are becoming very aware, and for those who are blind, they appear to be very blind. There are some serious questions that have to be asked of this new movement that is taking over the Church? Actually, the questions need to be asked of the organized Church in general, concerning all the programs they have presented to the flock in the name Jesus and Spiritual guidance and Spiritual formation. Think for a minute about the gravity of the following questions:

1. They said that what they were doing in the developing of these programs was an answer to prayer.
a. Then why did they fail?
b. Did they not really hear from God?
c. If they didn’t hear from God, then who was it they heard from?
d. If they didn’t hear from God were they deceived?
e. If they did hear from God and God told them to develop these programs, are they now being disobedient by discontinuing them?
f. If the leadership is deceived and did not hear from God, have they in turn deceived the millions who were sold on their programs?
g. If those millions were sold a bill-of-goods and were told that they were saved, is their salvation valid?
h. If this confession of failure (and that is what it is) goes all the way to the root of the problem, i.e. Willow Creek and Saddleback, can they be trusted to be speaking the true oracles of God in any further proclamations?
i. If they claim to listen to God and their programs fail, does this make God a liar? Or impotent?

These and many other questions could be asked. To any Christian who believes the Scriptures, and that the Scriptures cannot be broken, then there is a very, very, serious problem, either Scripture is deceiving us or these men are deceiving us. We have ignored these questions for far too long, and today the remnant has to deal with them, and establish themselves as the true Church, not the sham that we have accepted without ever a question or doubt. We either have to say that the Bible cannot be understood, except through the “anointed ones,” in which case the Bible becomes just a lot of religious garble to be explained by the religious elite, or the Bible is to be read and understood in its simplicity and that what we have accepted as truth and the “word of the Lord” has been false teaching and preaching, and a trick of Satan to lead sheep to the slaughter. I know this sounds extreme, but these question still need to be answered all-the-same.

The teaching of this New Age Church is taking us back to the Dark Ages, where men had to rely on special anointed men, who spoke for God, to tell them what God wanted them to do. We all know where that led, and the 50,000,000 who died, over a four hundred year period, at the hands of the Catholic crusaders, speak loudly of the extremes to which the “Church” would go to prevent people from hearing the truth. That truth is being squelched today by another misguided priesthood who are hell bent to take us all back to Rome, or someplace worse, through ancient mystical practices forbidden to us by the Lord.

The voice of the Remnant will be heard, and it will also be suppressed, and the true strength of Christianity will once again be tested and proved. This is where it has all come to, and we are on the leading edge of a great work of God, but it will be God that will do the work, some will simply be a voice in the wilderness, proclaiming the second coming of the Lord, and He will add to the Church those who He calls.

We, those who are sounding the alarm, have been told that we must get the plank out of our eye, and that is true, but, we must also get the leaven out of our lives, so that we can hear the “true” voice of the Spirit when He speaks, and He will speak, when the vessel has been prepared and cleansed.

There is much more I want to say but I have run out of time. Don’t be afraid to question those who profess to be leaders or graduates of some leadership training course. What I have found is that most of them are unqualified for the job. Don’t look at his piece of paper, or his ability to quote the Bible, or to prepare a five point sermon, or that he name drops Rick Warren, or Fuller University, Colt’s football, or Eli Lilly. Look for the blood on his hands, his own blood. Is he well respected in the community? Then he is probably not the man, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets” Luke 6:26. Is he more interested in the 501C3 tax exemption, than speaking out about miserable condition of the “Church?” “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” 2 Cor 6:14. Is he worried about how he is going to pay his bills, tell him to go get a job. The qualifications booklet for leadership has been written by those who are now pandering to the world, and consequently leading the Organized Church. True leadership will come from the rank and file, and will probably be those who do not even want the job or even qualified, but is forced on them by God. When I try to envision how the true Church will look, it is almost the exact opposite of what I see displayed. How it will develop, I can’t say, I only know it will be God who will do it, and His program will not fail. It will probably look a lot like the early Church: weak and few, but compelled by the Spirit, and burning for the righteousness of God. Slowly the true Church is reviving and Jeremiah was right when he said “For, lo, I will make thee small among the heathen, and despised among men,” Jer 49:15, but, “who hath despised the day of small things?” Zec. 4:10.