I will assume that some visitors will find this post searching for information on Rick Warren. Well let me just address the title of this blog post right away. I don’t know if Rick Warren is right or wrong. You see, this post is less about Rick Warren and more about the struggle and clash stemming from new idea’s, view points and interpretations versus traditional Christianity.
I have never actually read any of Rick Warren’s books. I have thumbed through just one of his books, heard some interviews and read some anti-Rick Warren articles. For me personally, if some of the claims against him are accurate, I probably would have a problem with “some” of what he teaches. And here lies the conundrum. Is truth mixed with false-hood any less truthful? How much truth is needed to be of God? More importantly, Does God use those whose message is not fully accurate/biblical?
Last weekend I was in a Sabbath School class – Sunday School for adults – and a discussion started originally based on some new teaching that was gaining popularity and how it was the tool of the devil used to attack the truth. Now I have no idea or knowledge the merits of this new teaching that was being discussed. I did however suggest some caution when deciding the merits of new teaching. It seems to me that if something is new or different than what we are used to, we all too often attack it as being the work of the devil – not biblical. More importantly, we will write off the entire message or the messenger because of just part of the message. Is the part of the message that is true and less truthful than if the whole message were true? Does God only work with those who “get it”, or does God work with those who love him and strive to serve him even if they don’t completely “get it”?
Why is it Christians assume the devil only attacks by injecting false-hood into the church? Why wouldn’t the devil also try to steer the church away from truth or away from a better understanding? Seems to me the devil will not only try to lure us away from the truth but prevent us from moving towards a better understanding of truth as well. If he already has the church where he wants them, then he will work to keep us there. Hence the need to exercise caution and the need to actually evaluate that which is new or different.
So how does Rick Warren come into play? Well, there are those that feel Rick Warren is not teaching a biblical message. They will not accept any part of his message because they feel part of the message is not biblical, therefore Rick Warren is being used by the devil to lead many astray. Some people will even go so far as to say God is not using Rick Warren at all. To all of these people I would like to ask why? Why wouldn’t God use someone of another faith, another denomination to reach people? Does God only use those who have all the answers? And if no one has all the answers, then does that not mean God uses fallible humans, those who do not have all the answers? Does that not mean that God will use the Rick Warrens of the world to reach many with the message of God’s love and forgiveness?
Tonight I became a little bored with my surroundings and was thumbing through the bible when I stumbled on a text that I believe addresses this very issue.
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. – Mark 9:38 – 41 ESV
What I take this to mean is that truth is truth no matter who speaks it. That God will use people who may not have all the truth (imagine that) to reach those hungering for truth. I think for reasons we may not be able to fully understand, God uses mans imperfections to reach others right where they are in life. And for what ever reason God does not always try to fix our imperfections, or our incorrect beliefs right away. Maybe it’s because we as humans relate best to those with equal imperfections. After all, “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23 ESV
Grossly upset with the comments made by outsiders saying Rick Warren isn’t right.I’ve been invovled in Celebrate Recovery and i see his teachings ARE based on the Word of God. God will be Rick’s judge, not me…..