Rick Warren speaks to unbelievers

What if I said I put you in the same boat as Fred Phelps?

 

But then again, you always say the same thing.

He is into making church profitable, marketing, and so on. The person he closely resembles to me in that bunch I lumped together would be Joel Osteen. A marketing major, with a strong marketing campaign.

 

I would say, okay, whatever. I don't really know much about the guy. Is he the one that promotes protesting veterans funerals? Like I said, don't know they guy. Can he fish? Does he have a honey hole? Are we running a trot line?? What are we doing in this boat?

 

How so.....

 

My point is that if I were going to seriously make that accusation, you would show me how I am mischaracterizing you based upon Phelps' twisted idea of a "gospel".

 

But I don't know his version of the "gospel" to discredit your accusations.

The point is this, everyone wants on the RW band wagon because he is the flavor of the month for Baptists (like the new wine, holy drug junk that some Pentcostals are into), his programs and "business strategy" reaches beyond just the Baptist/Non-Denom churches, into the Catholic realms, Muslims, and so on. They all go to his meetings, they all attend his seminars (which I am sure he does for free), and they all "buy in" to what he has. He don't care who his customers are, he don't care about the clients. Has anyone, other than Billy Graham (later years Billy) been this big into bringing everyone together. How can a program that is based upon the true gospel of OUR Lord Jesus Christ be helpful to even those who deny He is who we say He is? Unless it is so far reaching and watered down, that no one has a clue the gospel is in there, except for the author himself, RW.

I just don't get it, but you do, you understand it.

It doesn't matter the poison all of those guys in boat are selling, its poison. Pick it!!

 

Which was done in the other RW thread. (not by you)

 

I wonder how many people left that talk thinking that by their carnal efforts they could fulfill God's will in their lives and live a life pleasing to Him? The fact of the matter is that there is no foundation that can be laid other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and without faith it is impossible to please Him.

So, no. The Gospel wasn't preached. Neither was there a foundation laid for it. This was secular humanism dressed in spiritual garb.

 

I think the point of the other side is that it wasn't a forum for, nor was it his intention to, preach the gospel.

It is your opinion that a foundation was not laid for it. Obviously others disagree that it could be a foundation to open someone's eyes to the gospel. After all, if God can speak from Balaam's ass, I think he can use a variety of ways to set a foundation.

 

If you invite a preacher to speak, shouldn't you just assume he will speak about Jesus Christ, no matter the forum. If Christ is an every day part of your life, don't you think more than mentioning him just a little bit would have been appropriate. For, according to RW, if it were not for God, he wouldn't not have been blessed so.

Even atheletes, celebrities, and secular musicians give a "mad shout out to God" when they are in the spot light, no matter the forum.

 

Not so. Saying you are sounding like someone is not calling you that person.

 

I imagine they expected that it was a possibility for him to mention Jesus. But no, just because you are a pastor does not mean that Jesus has to....Jesus.... be in every..... Jesus....sentence that you.....Jesus.....say.

 

Was that your meager attempt at humor?


I think my point was made

 

No, if I invite a person that is a preacher/pastor/author to speak at a function outside of church, I don't expect him to preach.. but to speak.

There is a professional difference...

 

Oh, come on. You know you AT LEAST smirked.

I echo tinytim. It was not a church. It was not a sermon. You are acting like he completely ignored his faith. Rather he gave testimony of how his faith propels him to do what he does.

Oh yeah.....Jesus.

 

That's absurd. If you invite someone, there are there either because of who they are, what they do, and so on. That would be like me inviting Barry Bonds to speak and he never mentions baseball or steriods.

Just like any speaking engagement with a speaker. When I am addressing the an audience, I always refer back to what I do professionally, there is always a tie in, no matter who the audience consists of.

 

Faith in what....

 

Rom 14:1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
Rom 14:2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.
Rom 14:3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.

 

Thank you for calling my assertation absurd... I appreciate that.

I know a preacher that enjoys building furniture...
If he was to do a conference to furniture builders, I wouldn't expect him to preach.... He would talk about wood, glue, and whatever building wooden furniture entails....

I also know a preacher who is a graphic designer...
I would not expect him to preach when doing a seminar on artwork

I also know a preacher that is a computer technician... If he were invited to speak to a group of parents on what myspace, or facebook was all about, would he preach them a sermon....

What about a preacher who is a drug enforcement agent....
When informing the community of possible drug activities in a seminar/community gathering, he spoke on drugs... even lit some pot to let the parents know what it smelled like... and showed them what cocaine, and other substances were... He wasn't preaching... (and he didn't inhale... he lit a pile of dried leaves)

So when RW is speaking about another activity he is engaged in, don't assume that he is going to preach, and give an altar call!

That would be absurd!
Can you imagine giving an altar call at a furniture builders convention...

Then why give one at a peace conference?

 

RW is an author, he spoke on what he does, write books.