If you sincerely meant that prayer, congratulations! Welcome to the family of God!” (The Purpose Driven Life, pp. ‘Jesus, I believe in you and I receive you.’ Go ahead. Wherever you are reading this, I invite you to bow your head and quietly whisper the prayer that will change your eternity. Receive his Spirit, who will give you the power to fulfill your life purpose. Believe that no matter what you’ve done, God wants to forgive you. Believe God has chosen you to have a relationship with Jesus, who died on the cross for you. Believe God loves you and made you for his purposes. “If you are not sure you have done this, all you need to do is receive and believe. In chapter 7, “The Reason for Everything,” Warren explains to his readers how they can become a Christian. He is so shallow in his teaching, so positive in his approach, so slighting of repentance, so neglecting of unpopular doctrines such as hell and judgment and repentance, so tolerant of heresies, so enthusiastic of rock music, so soft-spoken on that nasty subject of worldliness, that apostate America can’t help but love him.Īll of these characteristics are reflected in his best-selling book.Ī FOUNDATIONAL ERROR IN WARREN’S BOOK IS THE EXTREME SHALLOWNESS AND INSUFFICIENCY OF HIS GOSPEL Rick Warren has been called “America’s pastor,” and it is for good reason. Richard Bennett observes, “The movement is becoming a global empire.” He has provided materials and teaching to Christians in more than 117 countries on all seven continents. Over 60,000 pastors subscribe to Rick Warren’s Ministry Toolbox. Over 12,000 churches from all 50 states in America and 19 countries have participated in Warren’s 40 Days of Purpose, which is drawn from the book. Simultaneously, Warren’s 40 Days of Purpose campaign was shown by telecast in more than 4,000 churches, including independence Baptist.īruce Ryskamp, president of Zondervan, said, “The Purpose Driven Life is more than a bestseller it’s become a movement.” For example, Warren conducted a Purpose Driven Super-Conference in October 2003 at Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia (Falwell affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist Bible Fellowship). Many independent Baptist churches are being influenced by Warren’s teaching. It reaches into every sphere of Christianity in our day, from Catholicism to Mormonism to liberal Protestantism to evangelicalism to fundamentalist Bible and Baptist churches. Saddleback is associated with the Southern Baptist Convention, but Warren’s “Purpose Driven” philosophy has spread to most denominations.Ĭalled by Christianity Today “America’s most influential pastor,” Warren’s influence is vast. T he book “The Purpose Drive Life” by Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in southern California has sold more than 18 million copies.
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