Is Rick Warren a Centrist?

Tyler: as for your your request for DG to "back up a comment like that with some evidence," let me just step in and ask you, how many volumes/truckloads do you want. How about reviewing boatloads of his own comments, articles, books, and "hip" appearances on "hip" shows waxing profound and dazzling audiences with hopelessly general comments about God "being proud of us when we all achieve our potential," and other feel good twaddle like that. If you want to get Warren talking about pooh poohing and minimizing as nearly irrelevant ( or dangerously polarizing, from his view) any core teaching that defines Christianity (in contrast to anything else) in the interest of worldwide bridge building, ecumenicism, achieiving social utopia while all God's children discover his/her "potential," blah blah blah.... you'll find mountains of evidence of such, and dare I say that's about all people see or hear. Don't get me wrong. Solving world AIDS, trying to put a dent in world poverty is certainly not bad in itself. But where's the MESSAGE? What did THE LORD HIMSELF command us to do? Go and develop widespread social consciousness, worldwide social networking and dialogue, extensively analyze and promote extensive multilateral understanding, sensivity, and socially cooperative utopias by avoiding anything remotely controversial or offensive? No, he commanded us to go and PREACH THE GOSPEL. (Some of the rest may naturally follow as a SECONDARY good thing, but the Lord admonished that we can EXPECT to face hostility, anger and recrimination at times for following his directives.) Perhaps Jesus needs lessons from Warren and others on how to build bridges, not be "judgemental" and avoid controversy. To make the point differently: If you think Warren teaches man's sin and need for acknowledgment and repentant faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ and his shed blood, death, burial and ressurection, as the ONLY mediator between God and man, as the ONLY WAY to Salvation and Heaven with God: Good luck finding a reference from Warren about this, that isn't hopelessly vague and almost impossible to find.

Given all the opportunities made available worldwide on T.V. and as a public image, Rick continues his "christ following" message. There is no mention of sin. No mention of man's desperate need for Jesus who suffered and died for sin. No mention of repentance. Again, I will state, he has No message at all.

The gospel IS offensive. Scripture states this:

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 1 Cor. 1:18

The gospel is not "easy believism". "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." James 2:19

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Rms. 1:16

The message of a pastor who has come to Jesus as Lord and Savior is not one of resolution of Aids. The soul of those who are perishing is in most concerning and to hear a pastor MISS opportunities present the gospel in full is grieving.

Here is a great commentary by Pastor Bob Dewaay:
The Gospel: A Method or a Message?
http://cicministry.org/commentary/issue80.htm

Here's a Purpose Driven (instead of scripture!) tool:
http://cicministry.org/berean.php

By the way, here is what occurred when Warren was confronted by Pastor Bob Dewaay:
http://74.125.45.132/custom?q=cache:M_pscQ936tcJ:cicministry.org/commentary/worldview0034.pdf+rick+warren&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us&client=google-coop-np

Frankly, we need to pray for Rick Warren, that he might be convicted firmly by the Holy Spirit to Preach the Gospel in full, which IS one that speaks of the sinner, Jesus' shed blood on the cross as he bore our sins, repentance to the Savior, and His gift of eternal life.

Hold what is stated by Rick up against God's Word. It is a man-made methodology that "tickles the ears" of many but leads no one to salvation.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Tim. 4:3,4

RW's PDL has poisoned Africa to the point that a brother was told that if this is the 'gospel' being preached in America perhaps we need to send missionaries. The PDL books were given for free to those living in abject poverty ... utilzing 1,500 'translations' was a tip-off to the lack of sound doctrine, no? Moreover, Warren's PDL is now a marketing machine. Always cause for concern, for as Jesus' half-brother forewarned there would come those 'flattering others to gain advantage' (Jude 16). No man who speaks the Gospel of Jesus Christ would be welcome at the U.N.; be a member of CFR; and, proclaim on FOX: "Try Jesus for 60 days, money back guarantee. I guarantee it!" and last Feb. "It's what you understand about Jesus now and then you grow in it. Ya keep growin' in it." Where is born in sin and at enmity with God; call to holiness; repentance; mankind's utter depravity; the blood atonement; dying to self; carrying a cross daily, etc. Warren's is an 'easy gospel' one that does not utilize the two-edged sword separating bone from marrow. Agree with Your Name, we must continue to pray for Rick Warren that God would open his eyes that he has bought into his own PR. How easy that is for we finite beings! Certainly Satan slithers alongside to aide the flesh in glorying in itself. Bless God we each remain humble, surrendered to His headship and willing to die for the cause of Christ as we seek to be salt in these last days. Shalom!