Thus says the Lord: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.
But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'" --Jeremiah 6:16
Blog: OldTruth.com :Today's Predestination Paranoia is Unwarranted
21 September, 2005
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Purpose Drivenism
Purpose Driven Methods: Exposed On WVCY Radio
For a couple of years, I've been listening to the excellent "CrossTalk" radio programs relating to the Church Growth Movement on WVCY. These are often hosted by Ingrid Schlueter who runs the Slice Of Laodicea blog site. WVCY has made their radio archives available for free, and you can listen to these programs over the Internet; all you need is a computer with speakers attached. This is a list of several of their best programs relating to the "Purpose Driven" movement that is so wide-spread today.
Date:
May 3, 2005 - Host: Vic Eliason
Topic:
Fool's Gold
Description:
Pastor John MacArthur is the host of radio's "Grace to You" program. He was the general editor of Fools Gold: Discerning Truth in the Age of Error. Biblical discernment is a product of biblical knowledge, theology and interpretation. When the church loses its interest in these things, it loses its interest in discernment.
MacArthur likens this deficiency to a disease epidemic. He sees the church's inability to discern as a symptom of a deficient spiritual immune system where it can't fight off error so the church is capable of dying of many heresies.
One of the results of this is the Purpose Driven movement. This movement believes that you are the goal of the gospel and God is the means to get you to that end, be it happiness, meaning, etc. The goal of the gospel, on the other hand, is God.
Ingrid Schlueter opened the program to tell how those defending Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Church movement have begun lashing out at those exposing its unbiblical tenets, even to the point of creating website made to look like her "Slice of Laodicea" blog site.
James Sundquist is a researcher and author of the book, Who's Driving the Purpose Driven Church?
This program centers on Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Church movement and how many people are feeling vilified or disenfranchised for challenging its methods.
Mr. Sundquist documents how this is happening within various denominations. He names specific churches, and how members are often required to keep silent about wholesale changes. The changes can include the replacement of home groups to sermons that sound more like conference messages to requiring new members to sign a covenant supporting the pastor and more.
On April 17th, best-selling author and pastor Rick Warren unveiled a new 5-point PEACE plan before 30,000 members and attendees at the 25th anniversary celebration of Saddleback Church, held at the California Angels baseball stadium.
The event featured motorcycle jumping, Christian rock celebrities, and Pastor Warren doing an imitation of Jimi Hendrix singing, Purple Haze. (Hendrix was the renowned drug addicted rock guitarist who died of a drug overdose.) Ingrid discusses the 5 points of Warren's peace plan, a plan with strange similarities to the 5-point PEACE plan of New Ager Neale Donald Walsch.
James Sundquist is the author of the book, Who's Driving the Purpose Driven Church?
Some people are feeling disenfranchised from their churches because of dramatic changes taking place in the name of relevance.
One of the most popular thrusts in the current relevance movement is the model set forth by the book The Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren.
Jim mentions examples from his book of people that have been driven out of their church for questioning this phenomenon. Listeners also respond with testimonies of similar experiences.
Terms such as love, forgiveness, grace, spiritual and healing, have been used comfortably and uniquely by Christians for years. Today, however, these terms are being hijacked by false religions. Even Christians are guilty of using these terms improperly as they seek to somehow relate the gospel to unbelievers without offending them.
This Crosstalk deals with an article in the December issue of Ladies Home Journal magazine called, The Purpose Driven Christmas by Rick Warren. Ingrid points out how the author uses the softer terms of Christianity while unfortunately leaving out important terms and issues that unbelievers need to take note of such as wrath and righteousness.
Warren Smith is the author of the book, Deceived on Purpose: The New Age Implications of the Purpose Driven Church.
On September 30th and October 1st, Warren Smith detailed how Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, has patterned his entire church, ministry and teachings after those of Dr. Robert Schuller. This is crucial because of Schuller's relationship with Dr. Jerry Jampolsky, a man whose life was changed by the occultic course called, A Course in Miracles.
Warren Smith notes that this past Sunday, October 17th, Jerry Jampolsky was on Robert Schuller's Hour of Power TV program. Smith also mentions that Jampolski has released a new book called, Forgiveness, a book being promoted by Schuller that contains a forward written by key New Age leader Neale Donald Walsch.
Warren Smith is author of the book, Deceived on Purpose: The New Age Implications of the Purpose Driven Church.
Warren Smith is concerned about New Age deceptions in Christendom because he admits he himself was deceived, particularly by New Age terminology which in many ways mimics Christianity.
Warren Smith details the similarity of the words, phrases, thoughts and ideas of Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, with those of his mentor, Christian pastor Dr. Robert Schuller. Smith also traces Schuller's relationship with Dr. Jerry Janpolski, a man whose life was changed by the occultic course called A Course in Miracles. Dr. Janpolski is known to have been a guest speaker at Schuller's Crystal Cathedral.
Warren Smith is author of the book, Deceived on Purpose: The New Age Implications of the Purpose Driven Church.
In part two of this Crosstalk expose on the Purpose Driven Movement, Warren Smith reviews the events in his life that led him to discover Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life. As a former New Age advocate, Smith recognized the subtle dangers communicated by Warren's book, which led to Smith's latest effort, Deceived on Purpose: The New Age Implications of the Purpose Driven Church.
Smith highlights examples of the imagery and language that modern Christian writers are borrowing from the New Age movement. For example, Smith discusses the New Age concept that God is in everything, the concept of immanence and the use of such terminology, not only in Rick Warren's book but in other Christian publications as well.
This program is a follow-up to Crosstalk programs of September 30 and October 1 dealing with the Purpose Driven Life and Purpose Driven Church philosophy of Rick Warren. Among the issues covered was the choice of music style in a church service setting, a decision which Rick Warren says is critical as it will define who that church is, and divisive as it determines the kind of people that will be attracted, those who will stay and those who will leave, and who will be reached with the church's message. After further discussion, listeners were allowed to comment on the topic.
Rick Warren is the author of the books The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church. According to the Bible, a purpose driven life comes out of a relationship with Jesus Christ, knowing Him as Lord and Savior. It's not something you can manipulate with schemes. It's something we experience at the foot of the Cross.
As far as church growth is concerned, a church should grow as the spirit of God makes it grow, not because of a formula. Churches must grow based upon solid spiritual food. Too often church growth is forced by injecting fads or positive messages that never talk about sin or repentance. The end result is churches that do little more than celebrate religiosity.
Joseph Chambers looks at Rick Warren's statement that there are many pathways to a relationship with God, along with the philosophies and people that influenced Warren's book series.
James Sundquist is President of Rock Salt Publishing.
Isn't it a good thing to be purpose driven? James Sundquist sees no problem with this purpose or statement, however, does the Bible give us the purpose we have and also the purpose of the church?
Actually, there is no place in the Scriptures that says our purpose is to grow the church. The Bible says that the Lord will add to the church. Warren's premise, therefore, is flawed. When we believe this flawed premise, the conclusion of creating "bigness" or other things that meet felt needs can become the driving force in both the life of the believer and the church.
Sundquist also covers Rick Warren's covenant and 40 day principle along with his views on worship, music and doctrine.
Marketing churches, or market-based churches, are those churches that minister based upon a philosophy that mixes humanistic management and marketing techniques with Scripture to promote church growth.
Is there anything we can learn from contemporary church marketing techniques? Are these churches and their philosophies responsible for doctrinal anemia? Do market-based churches make God appear to be more interested in the multitudes rather than the remnant?
From the decades old teachings of Donald McGavern to George Barna, from Peter Drucker to Rick Warren and Bill Hybels, Dr. Zichterman presents a fascinating history and commentary on the present church growth marketing movement.
Dr. Joe Zichterman is Pastor of Long Lake Bible Church, and a Professor in the department of Bible and Theology at Northland Baptist Bible College in Dunbar, Wisconsin. The five points of Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Church philosophy are out of balance biblically. Essentially it is "easy believism". It emphasizes the marketing of the church. Rick Warren's own church is one of the biggest in the country. These big churches are often not filled with new converts, and therefore don't represent growth in the Christian community. Rather, most of the people were already Christians in other churches. Statistics show that this is as much as 80% of thir members. Many of these churches are more like glorified social clubs. The "offense" of the cross is often downplayed. Mega-churches avoid emphasizing doctrine and so become vulnerable to "doctrines of demons" and the like.
For a couple of years, I've been listening to the excellent "CrossTalk" radio programs relating to the Church Growth Movement on WVCY. These are often hosted by Ingrid Schlueter who runs the Slice Of Laodicea blog site. WVCY has made their radio archives available for free, and you can listen to these programs over the Internet; all you need is a computer with speakers attached. This is a list of several of their best programs relating to the "Purpose Driven" movement that is so wide-spread today. 
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