Another Gospel.
In a recent
edition of Dave Hunt’s Berean Call, he reproduced
a page of the March 2005 Ladies Home Journal.
(Circulation 14.5 million). This page contains an
article by Rick Warren in which he sums up much of his
philosophy in 5 brief points. At the end of the article
is a web link to a new-age website. I feel compelled to
respond to Warren’s 5 points as Christians are accepting
these things more and more as truth. They are in fact
not truth but the complete opposite of it and yet
millions of Christians and unbelievers are being
deceived into believing that this version of the Gospel
is the truth.
His first point is
“accept yourself”. This is the opposite of what God’s
word says about you. Remember Warren’s article is written to a mixed
audience, of which most are nonbelievers. To tell people
to accept themselves when God says they are sinners in
need of a savior and repentance is not working for Him
but against Him. Also to tell Christians, who may be
convicted by the Word to change their self-centered or
sinful attitudes and behavior; that they need not worry
but simply accept themselves as they are is one of the
biggest lies of the Devil. While true preachers, the
Word and the Spirit are trying desperately to get people
to change, the Devil is doing all he can to get people
to stay just as they are.
His second point
is to “Love yourself”. There is no such command in the
Bible. The closest we can get to this is “You shall love
your neighbor as yourself” (Deut 19:19, Mat 22:39 etc).
This instruction accepts as a fact that we do love
ourselves, but we need to love others in the same way.
In fact the true teaching of the Word is that “He who
loves his life will lose it” (John 12:25). Again it is
the opposite of what has become popular. The truth is
that most people have a problem in that they love
themselves too much and rather than encourage people to
love themselves, we should be preaching the message of
Jesus to “deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow Me” (Mark 8:35). There is not a person in the
world who should not love themselves less and the Lord
more. Jesus Himself said that the first command was to
“love the Lord your God with all…” (Mat 22:37).
Strangely
Warren
makes no reference to this command whatsoever.
“Be true to
yourself” is his next point. This seems to be a
restatement of his first. This time he encourages people
to be content with their weaknesses and to accept them
as part of who they are. Yes, Paul did say he rejoiced
in his weaknesses, but for the opposite reason. Warren says we should accept our weaknesses
because they make us who we are. Paul said he rejoiced
in his weaknesses because they are another opportunity
for the Lord’s strength to be perfected. The one focuses
on self, the other on God. In the temptations of the
Garden of Eden and the wilderness, Satan also focused on
the human angle, rather than God’s perspective. Warren further emphasizes that we should know
our strengths and again places the focus on self
rather than on the Lord and His abilities.
Fourthly he
says that we should forgive ourselves. As long as we
admit our errors and ask forgiveness, God won’t hold a
grudge. This off course is not a new idea. Paul said
“Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound”
(Rom 6:1). Even then, there were those, as today, who
insisted on stretching God’s grace and so continue their
sinful lifestyle as long as every now and then they ask
for forgiveness. They assume, incorrectly, that this
makes it all right. The scriptures clearly teach the
need for repentance (and restitution) as part of the
process of forgiveness. God is gracious and forgiving
and the work of the Cross is a complete work, but it
does not in any way give license to a continuation in
sin. Paul puts it this way: "Or do you despise the
riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering,
not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to
repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and
your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself
wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the
righteous judgment of God," (Romans 2:4-5). It seems
to me like a different message to that of Warren’s?
His final point
is “believe in yourself”. Again he provides no
scriptural basis for this statement because there is
none. The Bible repeatedly calls us to not trust in our
own resources, but to trust in God: “Let not the wise
man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in
his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But
let him who glories glory in this, That he understands
and knows Me, That I am the Lord…” (Jeremiah
9:23-24) Solomon says: “He who trusts in his own
heart is a fool” (Proverbs 28:26). Paul’s take is
“we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises
the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9)
I know that
many feel that these differences are subtle nuances of
interpretation and that the “Purpose Drivel Life” is
just another version of the Gospel and one of the many
means by which people are reached for the Lord. As I
heard Warren say “I am reaching millions and if you
are not doing the same don’t criticize those who do”.
The fact is he is not reaching people for the Lord – his
message is the direct opposite of that of the Bible.
Never forget how Satan deceived Eve. He used God’s words
but by subtly twisting them helped the Woman arrive at a
conclusion and, encouraged her to do that which was the
exact opposite of the will of God. Also remember that
the popularity of a message does not generally, prove
its authenticity but the opposite. “If they kept My
word, they will keep yours also." (John 15:20).
Now, more than
ever, believers need to be careful and discerning. It is
hard not to go along with the majority and it is hard to
reject a message that is so appealing to the flesh, but
there is only one message that saves – the message of
the Cross. There is only one way that leads to life and
it is narrow. There is only one person who should be the
focus of our attention and it is not self but Jesus.
"But I fear,
lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his
craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the
simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes
preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if
you receive a different spirit which you have not
received, or a different gospel which you have not
accepted—you may well put up with it!" (2
Corinthians 11:3-4)
Anton
Bosch
antonbosch@sbcglobal.net
www.abcd.co.za/offi
www.abcd.co.za/plumbline
Tel 818 846 5520
Fax 818 846 4357
3310 West
Magnolia Blvd
Burbank, California
91505-2907
USA