Rick Warren speaks to unbelievers

It is based in Romans 12, and 1 Corinthians 12...

It is not humanism to teach people to use their gifts to glorify God.

 

Tim, how can an unbeliever glorify God? It doesn't matter what kind of gifts they have, without faith it is impossible to please God.

I'm going to assume that as a pastor, you would never tell an unbeliever that the antidote for spiritual emptiness is to find out what you're good at and go do it.

RW is free to talk to unbelievers and tell them anything he wants, but he's gone over the line by telling anyone that something other than faith in Christ will fill a spiritual void.

 

Rw doesn't teach folks to glorify God. IN his book he starts off by saying "this isn't about you" but then how many times does he use the word "you" directly after that. His book and his consistant message is all about men and has little to do with God. It is just the latest self help book.

 

No, but I would tell them they exist because God has a purpose for them.. and the first step is to get to know Christ. --- Salvation...Justification

Then through life God will expect us to use what he allows us to have, health, wealth, talents, gifts to glorify God... We will continue to grow as Christians. --- Sanctification

And God will start transforming us into the image of Christ (since our image was marred at the Fall of man) until we get to glory ---glorification...


And as for the word contextualization... don't be scared of it... Preachers contextualize the Bible every Sunday... It is taking a truth from the scriptures and applying it to today's culture.

The way us preacher do it is this:
Study the scripture
Study the culture, history, and background of the scripture.
We do this to understand how the original readers would have understood the scripture.
Then once we have gained this insight, we teach the listeners the applicational truth of the scripture, in order for them to carry it out into their lives. This will bring out their purpose.

 

Of course he has to use the word "you" in the book, he is teaching people why they need to Worship God, fellowship with God and fellow believers, be discipled, and to disciple others, how to do ministry for fellow believers, and how to evangelize the lost...

We all use the word "you" when we teach or preach an applicational truth.

But it is still not about us... it is about God, but we have to know how to do it.

 

That is good, but that's not what RW said. He said "the antidote for spiritual emptiness" is to find your gifts. I can't believe a pastor would say such a thing.

That is for Christians, not unbelievers, who was the audience of RW's.

If we tell people (unbelievers) that anything other than Jesus is an antidote for spiritual emptiness, and they believe it, they will not make it to the transforming part.

I'm not scared of contextualization. I don't even know what it means! :laugh:

 

You're wasting breath you might need when you're 70 Tim. These guys have their minds made up and it's not going to change.

 

That is what someone says RW said, not what RW said.

 

I would say that's true of all of us.

 

That is very important...

Did he actually say the word "antidote" or is this an interpretation of someone writing about RW?

And I don't worry about wasting my breath... I am typing!!! :laugh:

Seriously, Good interaction amongst good Christians even though we disagree over this is healthy...

We don't all have to agree with RW to know that God has a purpose for our lives....

Preachers have been preaching this for the last 2000 yrs... long before RW was born...

I don't care who likes RW or not.. no skin off my back, I just like to debate! :laugh: It is healthy for me to interact with others that don't think like I do.

 

I have been trying to watch the video of this talk, but it's not cooperating. I will keep trying because I don't want to make a false accusation. I'll get back to this thread when I am able to watch the entire video. For some reason, it's not downloading very well.

 

I watched the whole thing. It was like listening to Oprah for twenty minutes.

 

When has Oprah used or quoted Scripture?

 

She's done several shows on religion. She quotes a lot of scripture to support her inclusivism (all religions are good, God loves everbody, judge not, everyone has "faith", Jesus condemned the Pharisees, love your neighbors, remember the poor -- you know the routine, right?)

 

Try this link Matt:

http://www.wfial.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=artNewAge.article_1

On one recent show a Christian in the audience challenged Oprah about being a "New Ager." Oprah responded, "I am not new age anything and I resent being called that. I am just trying to open a door so that people can see themselves more clearly and perhaps be the light to get them to God, whatever they may call that. I don't see spirits in the trees and I don't sit in the room with crystals."

When corrected by a Christian in the audience that Jesus said He was the only Way, the panel lost their composure, coming unglued. Oprah reacted, "There couldn't possibly be only one way...Does God care about your heart or whether you called His Son Jesus?"

Oprah's consistent theme is to inspire people to take control of their lives, to not be controlled by others or by circumstances. She is always advising "You can choose what happens." While there is some truth and value to this philosophy it is fatally tied to the New Age philosophy. As Oprah states, "You are responsible for your life-the power of God is within you [whether you are a Christian or not], above you and through you. You control your life."

Oprah Winfrey is a New Ager and she frequently uses the Bible and quotes it...out of context. The devil quotes the Bible also.

 

Well, I finally made it through the whole thing. Here's what I thought of it:


:sleeping_2: :sleep: :sleeping_2:



I just don't get what is so great about RW. His teachings are pure milk.

But he did not make the quote that I thought he did. I misunderstood.

The whole talk was just like the Oprah Winfrey show.

Here are 2 quotes from the video by RW:

"having the good life means doing good and being good" (RW)

I thought having the good life meant Christ is my life.



"God smiles when you be you"

I thought being like Christ is what makes God smile, but what do I know?

 

Okay, she's made a few off hand references here and there. It is completely unfair and unduly polemical to compare Warren to Oprah. That's just silly.

 

Oprah does use the Bible and quotes Scripture. But she also denies that Jesus is the only way for man to be saved.

Do a search on youtube for "The Men Who Deny Christ part 1". On it, Oprah clearly denies Christ being the only way.

(you have to get past ungodly rap music to get to her segment, so you may want to turn your speakers down until she is seen).

 

Okay, so then why is okay to equate her with Warren?

ITS NOT!

 

WOTM website used to have it also... (Oprah denying Christ is the only way)