Rick Warren is at it again. Is he a genuine believer or a compromiser at any cost? He calls the Pope, "Our Pope", he praises Catholics coming home to their faith, he accepts a large congregation of Vatican delegates to come to Saddleback, watches EWTN more than any other channel...WHAT? He likes to read the Catholic Mystics and even his Spiritual Minister at Saddleback learns much from these Catholic writings.
It all sounds very nice to any unsuspecting Christian, but to anyone that discerns the truth of the gospel, it is obvious he is wandering off the narrow path of true Christianity. How can Warren gloat over Catholics coming home when they are a false religion? Might as well snuggle up to the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses. He is not a true Christian if he, a man of his power and influence can go on National TV and more or less say Catholicism is OK. Just another flavor of Christianity. blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
There are a great number of people on this board quick to judge the walk, the talk, the ministry and the acts of others. I wonder how well they would stand up to a microscopic investigation of their own spiritual lives? There are a lot of subjects broached on this board by all of us that are called into question by others. The debates here get ugly.
And we're going to now step outside the board and criticize Rick Warren when we can't even agree to what "proper Christian doctrine" is among ourselves? :rolleyes:
Has anyone bothered to find out what is behind Warren's statements regarding the "Catholics Come Home" evangelism project? Or are they just backing into a corner, holding up an empty cross and praying for deliverance from the liturgical church?
Re: bolded blue:
fact is, if you read Catholic writers who do not gush about Mary and the 'saints', you might learn a lot from them.
after all, it took them (if they were priests) years of philosophical studies before they were 'robed'.
I am Primitive Baptist, but just listening to the likes of Sproul, both the sr and the jr., JMac, Piper, the late Dr. McGee, DJeremiah, James Kennedy, and even Charles Stanley, I learn SOME things which I have forgotten or are entirely new.
Re: bolded dark red.
well, the truth of the gospel is that it is good news of a FINISHED, DONE, ACCOMPLISHED, ETERNAL salvation for ALL for whom that salvation is meant.
The big majority on this board
kick and scream at the idea that they are too late to get people saved for eternity.
As for the gospel itself, it is "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried , and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" 1 Cor 15:3-4.
So, taking this board as an example, it IS possible to KNOW the gospel but take away from its truth as a whole:
that the acts of God in Christ were meant for His people, and they only.
Re: bolded, green.
And on whose and what authority do you judge whether Warren or anyone else, for that matter, is a TRUE Christian ?
Were you there when the names of the true Christians were written in God's Book of Life ?
Sure I would......however I know the subtle maneuvering of the RCC first hand & could point them out to anyone. Wanting to gush over Jews & their thing is just as misguided. Now before I am called a hater & a racist, most of my mothers side is still very much RCC & my best friend is the Rabbi for a big town in Northern NJ. And I love them all, but I can disagree with them as well & have on occasion.
If Warren believes that Muslims worship the same God as Christians I must say he knows little about the God of the Bible.
Muslims do not worship the same God as Christians, they worship a false god.
I realize they claim to be an Abrahamic religion but that is totally false. The Christian Faith alone can claim to have ties to Abraham and that is only because of the following:
Galatians 3:16, 26-29
16. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
In His conversation with the Samaritan woman Jesus Christ tells us:
John 4:20-23
20. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Only Christians can truly worship God!
Jesus Christ is the one mediator between God and man and He does not mediate for followers of Mohammed!
Proverbs 15:8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.