"Is the 'Purpose Driven Methodology' scriptural?"

Bob B says, ". . . Christian books are replacing the Book."

BINGO!!!!!!

 

Again, I ask, where is the fall of man and total hereditary depravity taught in a nativity play? No where. Apples and oranges shuffle.

 

I will say this going to Saddleback for church isn't near as "entertaining" as reading some of these posts.

Rick Warren is not the enemy. And the Purpose Driven Life book is not doing harm to the cause of Christ. It is blessed by God and has accomplished and will accomplish as much for the cause of Christ as any secular book ever has.

If you think Rick Warren wants people to replace the Bible in their lives with his book, you are plum off your rocker. The fact that people want to read his book is an amazing thing. This is good news! People are interested in spiritual things and in making their lives count.

Enjoy it! Maybe you will get the chance to take some of these people to the summit of Christianity. And you will be able to leave Rick Warren in the dust as you teach these people what the Christian life is really all about...you know the deeper things.

The least you can be is thankful that he helped get them started.

 

If you think Rick Warren wants people to replace the Bible in their lives with his book, you are plum off your rocker. The fact that people want to read his book is an amazing thing. This is good news! People are interested in spiritual things and in making their lives count.

I don't think rick Warren want's his book to replace the Bible. But it is, any thing Satan can use to take people's eyes off His word is not blessed by God. I have seen it, read my post a few back, with the experiance my wife had the other day. So no I don't have to be thankfull I will be thankfull when all these latest programs that are brought into the church as the answer we all have been waiting for are no more but that won't happen Satan has a good thing going. I would be thankfull if all Warren's book's were in the garbage. But in the next few years a new programe will come along and Christians will sing it's praise as the greatest thing that has happen to Christianity they will say how did we live so long with out it. Instead of Bible studys they will have Rick Warrens study book time are who ever's book is popular at the time. By the way people are allways interested in spiritual things but spiritual things won't save them from place of tourment a place Warren doesen't mention much if at all a place called Hell.


Bob C

 

Dr. Bob, you really think Warren's non-lordship presentation is the same as the gospel? That is very shocking to me.

He might regurgitate the facts so he can keep using Lifeway to promote his filth, but he is not doing the job of preaching the gospel.

He is pond scum.

 

What is the Purpose Driven Methodlogy?

 

Daniel David, what "non-lordship presentation" are you talking about?

 

Sspinko, perhaps you are not familiar with the Lordship salvation debate. I honest don't know.

Those who present a gospel that is non-lordship is a perversion of the gospel. That is what Warren does.

Hey, catholics can recite the Romans Road. There is no virtue in that. That facts of the gospel don't save anyone. Saving faith is a surrender to the Lord of the gospel.

 

This is so entertaining....

Rick Warren and Satan have a "good thing going" with the Purpose Driven Life book.

So entertaining my laughs have turned to tears.

 

I am not sure you can really say that it is "adding" to the simply Gospel since it seems to be a part of the simple gospel. One need only look at the NT to see that belief in the [/b]Lord[/b] Jesus Christ is a part of the simple gospel.

A common misconception of Lordship salvation is one that Bob repeats ... namely that people must understand Lordship to be saved. That is not true and I haven't heard anyone say differently (doesn't mean that they haven't since I try to not listen to many people).

Lordship salvation means that at the moment of conversion, you are turning to Christ, both in who he is and what he did. It means that you are not knowingly holding onto sin. If someone came to Christ intending to continue living in sin, then they are not saved ... they didn't really come. It is something entirely different not to fully understand the rebellion in your own heart.

But at the heart of biblical salvation is submission to Christ. Apart from that, there is no salvation.

 

You give one little piece of anectodal evidence and then make very broad sweeping statements using that as proof. Ha. I've seen different Bible study groups using PDL and not one I've seen used only PDL - every one (that I've seen) has used the Bible and only referenced PDL.

 

Bob Colgan wrote:

Some Rick Warren quotes:

Bob, have you ever listened to or read anything Warren has said at all? Or are you just parroting what someone else has mistakenly told you?

I easily found these quotes (among scores of others I could have posted). To say that Warren ignores the reality of Hell, or doesn't preach it, is shameful.

 

I don't spend much time analyzing the PD stuff, I guess I'm fortunate that it hasn't been an issue in my church so far. But offhand, it certainly has all the marks of a fad, and for that reason alone I con't care to participate. Remember when the health of your church was gauged by how many ratty used school buses you had lined up?

 

My daughter was given a copy of PDL by an AOG acquaintance (seems to be catching on with a lot of denominations). I reviewed it and suggested that she continue with her Bible and her Concordance. Not because I found the book offensive or particulary off-the-mark. Agree with others that have stated a warning about the perils of it becoming a replacement for the Bible. Sadly, as is the case with other books and 'methodology', some have taken it as a 'grow-my-church' and not 'grow-the-kingdom' guide.

I left a church, and went a few months later for a special service (still have family members in the church). Some came up asked if I was going to the 8:15 AM service (traditional sevice) since they hadn't seen me in awhile. Didn't even know that I had left. What I found more alarming was the number of new faces compared to the increase of actual attendance. The church is basically a revolving door. Able to get them in with the entertainment, but unable to get them to sit still for the discipleship training.

Preach the gospel. Let the Holy Spirit transform the mind and heart, and let God grow the church. God has given us all that we need in the Bible.

Regarding the OP--my review found that the book was lacking in the fundamentals; however, that the methodology (reach and teach) has been applied in the past, and is still valid in application today. Of course, the book was never intended to be a commentary.

God bless.

 

Dr. Bob:

Whoever will call upon the name of the LORD will be saved.

The Lordship of Christ is who he is. To deny this is the same as denying any other tenant of who he is.

 

Just a quick question...are we discussing the Purpose Driven Church or the Purpose Driven Life? I have seen references to both, but which is the subject here?

In Christ,
Trotter