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Piper endorses the Purpose Driven Life

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by evangelist6589, Aug 30, 2011.

  1. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    http://bit.ly/jsZBxf

    I did not complete the video but of the 10-15 Minutes that I watched it appears as if Piper is endorsing the book. I have read the book and I have to say that its a very very very well written book. Warren writes so that everyone can understand, and knows how to write well. Sadly the gift of writing is something that more academic biblical authors lack. I do wish to name names, but I have plenty of books in my library by pastors and scholars who just do not know how to write well. Warren knows how to write.

    But the problem with this book is its absence of solid biblical doctrine. Thats just one of several issues I have with it. But then again I las read it in 2004 and perhaps another read is due soon here.


    John
     
  2. th1bill

    th1bill Well-Known Member
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    I have refused to read this piece of uninspired trash! That is a very bold statement considering the fact that I have not and refuse to read the book. My problem here is events surrounding the book itself and an interview with Larry King. Having never read Warren I must concede the point that he is a brilliant writer because his books sell ny the millions.

    Having conceded that I must conclude, from the interview, Mr. Warren, at best, is a babe in Christ in, serious, need of discipleship. There is only one way to Heaven and he missed the mark when Mr. King probed him on this issue. (Please, be kind, I cannot quote you his answer but I understand the video is found on You Tube.) From this I can conclude, easily, that he is an ear tickler, look at the size of Saddle Back.

    I was the member of Wildwood Baptist Church in Magnolia, TX. when a grounded, I thought, Pastor read this book, made it a course of teaching, and began to follow Rick Warren! Wildwood is no longer! This has also happened to other Churches, here, in SE Texas. This piece of literature is from Satan and is a Church Family splitter!

    Once again I confess, I did not bookmark these articles but over the past ten or so years I have read articles in magazines and on the web that leave no other conclusion to be drawn than, Rick Warren supports the One World Church movement. He is a very clever and well practiced speaker but he is a bit lame in being interviewed. And as much as I have been rebuked for it I can draw no other conclusion than that Mr. Warren is in the same class as Mr. Hinn, they are pretenders!

    May all remember what Jesus taught, it is not what goes into the mouth of a man that defiles him, it is what comes out!

    May God bless you and yours with Godly wisdom.
     
  3. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Wow... strong words...
    I suppose you believe the purpose of the church is not to worship, disciple, help others, evangelize and fellowship?
    That's the basics of the book... (All of which is found in Acts 2:42-47)
     
  4. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    I know I've grown in my walk with Christ because of Pastor Warren's book. It has done a lot of good for the Kingdom of God.
     
  5. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    It is good book for it's intended audience. Calling it uninspired trash is way out of line and slanderous.

    TinyTim is right...if those are not the purposes of the church, what are they?
     
  6. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    Curious...you admit to never having read the book...but you will read countless articles ABOUT the book...and then form your judgement based on that and a Larry King interview?

    That is how we are to practice discernment?!?

    I will admit I do NOT care for his trying to please everyone and not step on any toes approach. I realize he is trying to "be all things to all people" as Paul attempted, but I think his approach is off. He's not my favorite theologian, but you have slandered someone God has used and continues to use.
     
  7. Dempster

    Dempster New Member

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    Sorry, but if you haven't even read it you just lost all credibility with me.
     
  8. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    dont candy coat it Bill...tell us what you really think! :smilewinkgrin:
     
  9. Alive in Christ

    Alive in Christ New Member

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    the1bill....

    Oh, C'mon 1bill. Dont hold back. Tell us what you REALLY think. :laugh:
     
  10. Alive in Christ

    Alive in Christ New Member

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    Earth wind and fire...

    Ha ha! You beat me by 4 minutes!

    (You know what they say about great minds!)
     
  11. Alive in Christ

    Alive in Christ New Member

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    I have not read the The Purpose Driven Life, but considering it is written by Rick Warran its probably pretty good.
     
  12. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    As a "FOR" (Friend of Rick) I thought Purpose Driven Church was horrible and told him. But Purpose Driven Life, written as a basic first-week-you're-saved primer, was excellent.

    No deep theology. No big words. Just some basic "Christianity 101" for new/young Christians.

    Don't think unsaved will get saved reading it (probably too confusing). Don't think pastors or theologians will get much, either (probably too basic).

    But went thru it with my wife (pastor's wife for 42 years) and was amazed at home helpful it was to her. She gleaned truths from it that were easy for her to assimilate.

    We give it out in the clinic to folks we lead to the Lord. My wife (the doctor) has led more to Christ in 20 years in the clinic than have "walked an aisle" at church.
     
  13. nodak

    nodak Active Member
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    I have read Purpose Driven Life, and been through churches going Purpose Driven and through Purpose Driven Church.

    Off the top of my head I honestly cannot think of anyone who has hurt the cause of Christ worse than Rick Warren.

    As to those five purposes for the church, let's look at them.

    Worship? Define it. Every church I've been part of that went PD seemed to define it as a warm fuzzy pentecostal moment. There is a reason Baptists are not pentecostal, no matter how cool it is at the moment. He has done more to destroy Baptist identity than anyone I can think of.

    Disciple? That used to be all about training folks to know the Bible and to know Baptist doctrine. PD has morphed it over into making disciples of PD, with the resisters to PD hounded out.

    Evangelize? Yes, we used to do that at church. Since PD we get told that is the job of the people but don't do it at church as you might offend seekers.

    Help others? Yes, Christians should, and there are times in the NT where they collected offerings to help suffering believers elsewhere. But the job of the church is to spread the gospel. Evangelized people should be helping others.

    Fellowship? More like the in groups from junior high under PD. What ever happened to being part of the larger community? Can't you hang around with non PD folks?

    So if you think church should be run like a business, with the pastor the ceo "casting visions" and everyone else running around fulfilling those visions and trying hard to get in and stay in the right crowd lest they be frozen out, you'll like PD. If you think it is a mark of a healthy church to gather lots of people inside the building, telling them they can be just like the world and just add in a dose of Jesus you'll like PD. If your goal is to make sinners comfortable in their sin so they don't mock your faith, you'll like it.

    But if you think the only boss the church has is Jesus Christ, you probably won't. If you think the purpose of the church is the edification of the saints and the salvation of the lost, you won't. If you think it is more important to be true to God's Word than to be hip and cool, you won't.

    In a nutshell, if you want popularity with the world you will follow PD. If you want faithfulness to Jesus Christ, you'll probably toss your copy of PD in the trash.
     
  14. TCGreek

    TCGreek New Member

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    I still have not read Warren's book, so I'm in no place to weigh in too heavily.
     
  15. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    Perhaps you're either overstating things in order to make a bad point, or you don't get out enough.

    Just saying, I can think about a thousand people that would fit this category off the top of my head and Pastor Warren isn't anywhere near that list.

    Wow. What a terrible (false) dichotomy.
     
  16. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    Knowing the Bible and Baptist doctrine is something the antagonists and Satan know well. Making disciples is much more than head knowledge. James 1:22 says if we are not doers of the Word then we are deluded.

    If you read Mt. 28:19, 20 there is the doing part. That does not have anything to do with any program or waiting for a "pastor". Teaching a non-reader to observe every command is much more than reading their Bible. The fact is that the vast majority during Jesus' time could not read.
     
  17. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    If you read your Bible you will realize that Jesus states that he is a family splitter too. How many of the churches that Paul started are in existence today?
     
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