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THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN PROGRAM

A GROWING PHENOMENON IN THE CHURCHES

By Albert James Dager

MEDIA SPOTLIGHT, VOLUME 26 - NUMBER 24

THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN CHURCH

Rick Warren's philosophy of church life and church growth were cemented early in his young adult life through the influence of W.A. Criswell, the late pastor at Dallas First Baptist Church. Criswell is perhaps the most well-known Baptist pastor for the modern era. Warren says of Criswell:

I believe W.A. Criswell is the greatest American pastor of the twentieth century. He pastored at First Baptist for fifty years, wrote fifty-three books, and developed the most widely copied church model of this century. Not only was he a powerful preacher and leader, he was an organizational genius. Most people think of tradition when they think of Criswell, but actually his ministry was incredibly innovative. It only became known as traditional after everyone copied him.(43)

It was while hearing Criswell speak at a conference in 1973 that then nineteen-year-old Rick Warren believed God was calling him to be a pastor:

As I listened to this great man of God preach, God spoke personally to me and made it very clear that he was calling me to be a pastor. Then and there, I promised God I'd give my entire life to pastoring a single church if that was his will for me.(44)

After the service, Warren stood in line to shake to shake hands with Dr. Criswell. He did not expect what happened next:

Criswell looked at me with kind, loving eyes and said, quite emphatically, "Young man, I feel led to lay hands on you and pray for you!" Without delay he placed his hands on my head and prayed these words that I will never forget: "Father, I ask that you give this young preacher a double portion of your Spirit. May the church he pastors grow to twice the size of the Dallas church. Bless him greatly, O Lord."(45)

This is quite remarkable, considering that the only time Scripture mentions a "double portion" of the Holy Spirit is in reference to Elisha requesting from Elijah that he grant a double portion of his spirit to him (2 Kings 2:9-13). Elijah replied that if Elisha saw him taken up in God's chariot he would receive what he asked for, and it came to pass.

The question comes to mind, what is a double portion of the Holy Spirit? The answer is that, prior to Jesus' ascension and His conferring the Holy Spirit upon all believers, God's Spirit worked only through certain men anointed as prophets. Some prophets had more of His anointing than others had. They were used in different ways with varying degrees of power as Elijah had---as a prophet.

It's true that God does anoint certain people for specific ministries, but all believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and commissioned to minister.

Can we legitimately ask our Father for more of His Holy Spirit than we have? There is no indication that this is even a possibility today, particularly when a man such as Criswell, operating in an unscriptural capacity as a professional clergyman, makes such a request of God. Criswell's endorsement of the pope, Robert Schuller, Norman Vincent Peale, and others of highly questionable theology disqualified him as a leader in the Body of Christ no matter the numbers of people he has impacted.

Schuller's Christian humanism is well-known. His mentor was Norman Vincent Peale, a 33° Mason who found great enlightenment by visiting a particular Shinto shrine.

Can we trust a pastor who commends men whose theology is so blatantly faulty---men who use the name of Jesus to further their secular philosophies?

Every few years or so, some new phenomenon arises within the churches, promising the cure for the malaise that appears to exist within Christianity.

Criswell had a tremendous impact upon the role of Southern Baptist pastors. Dr. Rick McClatchy and Dr. Bruce Prescott, on faculty at Mercer University, a Baptist university, have stated that the role of the pastor has changed significantly from that originally held by the SBC.

In the late 1970's two men, Paige Patterson and Paul Pressler, devised a plan to take over the Southern Baptist Convention and change its direction. Their strategy inserted an alien winner-take-all system of power politics into the life of our denomination...

In traditional Baptist thought all members of the church were seen as equal ministers with different spiritual gifts---a doctrine referred to as the priesthood of believers. The role of the pastor in this context was to preach and teach, to train the congregation for service, to care for the needs of the congregation, and to provide administrative coordination to the work of the church.

The Patterson-Pressler coalition insists that the pastor is the unquestioned ruler in the church. W.A. Criswell said. "Lay leadership of the church is unbiblical when it weakens the pastor's authority as ruler of the church...a laity-led church will be a weak anywhere on God's earth. The pastor is ruler of the church." In 1988 the Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution affirming that the pastor was the ruler of the church.

This new emphasis on pastoral authority marks a departure from the traditional Baptist teaching on the priesthood of every believer.(46)

As a believer in the absolute authority of the pastor, Criswell ruled Dallas First Baptist Church with a firm hand. His legacy has passed on to pastors of many denominations who view their office as authoritarian rather than servant-oriented. Jerry Falwell, who has teamed with Rick Warren in a Purpose-Driven Church Seminar, once called Criswell "the Protestant Pope of this generation."(47)

As we think about it, Rick Warren does seem to have a double portion of that same clergy spirit which Criswell laid hands on him to receive. He operates more as a pastors' pastor than a shepherd among the flock of a biblical local assembly. His book, The Purpose-Driven Church, was written primarily for pastors:

This book is written for anyone interested in helping his or her church grow, but because I am a pastor, my writing style is naturally slanted from a pastor's perspective to other pastors. My great-grandfather was converted through Charles Spurgeon's historic ministry in London and came to the United States as a pioneer circuit-riding pastor.

Both my father and my father-in-law have been pastors. Both recently celebrated their fiftieth anniversaries in ministry. My sister is married to a pastor, and I spent part of my childhood growing up on a seminary campus where my father served on staff. So I have a deep love for pastors. I love being around them. I hurt with them when they hurt. I believe they are the most underrated leaders in our society.(48)

Pastors from virtually every denomination attend Warren's seminars, and more pastors have sat at his feet than have regular congregants. he considers pastors the most strategic change agents to deal with the problems in society.(49)

The clergy-laity system is essential to the purpose-driven church model. That system demands allegiance to the pastor as the sole authority, and to his agenda. It is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which Jesus twice said He hates (Revelation 2:6, 15).

The Start of Saddleback

In choosing a site for his church, Warren wanted to "go someplace where most of my seminary buddies were unwilling to go."(50)

Where might that be? Africa, Asia, Somalia? The Middle East? Where would seminarians be unwilling to go? Certainly not sunny Southern California---and in prosperous Orange County, at that!

But that's where Warren knew God wanted him to be because of a lack of Bible churches there:

One afternoon I discovered that the Saddleback Valley, in Orange County, southern California, was the fastest growing area in the fastest-growing county in the United States during the decade of the 1970s. This fact grabbed me by the throat and made my heart start racing. I knew that whatever new communities were being started at such a fast pace there would also be a need for new churches.

As I sat there in the dusty, dimly lit basement of that university library, I heard God speak clearly to me: "That's where I want you to plant a church!" My whole body began to tingle with excitement, and tears welled up in my eyes. I had heard from God.(51)

Lack of an assembly in a given area is good reason to plant one there. However, there were already many large churches in the Saddleback area:

I had not been in southern California very long before I realized it was an area that already had many strong, Bible-believing churches. Some of the best-known pastors in America ministered within driving distance of our new church. On any Sunday you could go hear Chuck Swindoll, Chuck Smith, Robert Schuller, John MacArthur, E.V. Hill, John Wimber, Jack Hayford, Lloyd Ogilvie, Charles Blake, Greg Laurie, Ray Ortlund, or John Huffman. If you timed your arrival right, you could hear two or three of these guys on the same Sunday morning. And most of them could be heard on the radio or TV in southern California.

In addition, there were at least two dozen solid Bible-teaching churches in the Saddleback Valley when I arrived.(52)

So, contrary to the reason Warren felt God call him to southern California, there really wasn't a need for him. But rather than join a work in progress, he decided that his church would be for the unchurched:

I decided that we would make no effort at all to attract Christians from other churches to Saddleback. We would not even borrow workers from other area churches to start Saddleback. Since I felt called to reach unbelievers, I determined to begin with unbelievers, rather than with a core of committed Christians. This was not the way all the books on church starting said to do it, but I felt certain that it was what God was calling us to do. Our focus would be limited to reaching the unchurched for Christ, people who for one reason or another did not attend any existing church.(53)

Thus began Warren's "seeker-sensitive" approach to ministry. By polling households in his community he found out what people wanted and expected in a church.

Warren got the idea of polling residents from Robert Schuller's book, Your Church Has Real Possibilities (Glendale, CA: Regal Books, 1974). But he decided that Schuller's questions needed to be rephrased for his purposes:

...I began Saddleback by going door-to-door for twelve weeks and surveying the unchurched in my area. Six years earlier I had read Robert Schuller's book Your Church Has Real Possibilities, which told how he had gone door-to-door in 1955 and asked hundreds of people, "Why don't you go to church?" and "What do you want in a church?" I thought this was a great idea but felt the questions needed to be rephrased for the more skeptical 1980s.(54)

One question Warren asked is, "Are you actively attending any church?"

If they said yes, I thanked them and moved on to the next home. I didn't bother asking the other three questions because I didn't want to color the survey with believers' opinions. Notice that I didn't ask, "Are you a member?" Many people who haven't been inside a church for twenty years still claim membership in some church.(55)

Since Warren doesn't mention it, we may assume that he never asked which church the people attend. He seems to assume that if they attend a church they are believers. But many, if not most people who attend Protestant and "Bible-believing" churches are not true believers. What if the people attend a Catholic church, or a Mormon temple or stake house, or a Watchtower Society kingdom hall, or any number of churches whose doctrines seriously impair a right relationship with the true God of the Bible?

This is a weakness that is apparent throughout Warren's writings: he assumes that church people are believers. If he doesn't assume such, he doesn't make it evident.

The fact that many people are "unchurched," yet willing to go to a church that meets their perceived needs indicates that they are at the least nominal Christians. People of other religious belief systems are not interested in going to church. Most are committed to their synagogues, temples, mosques, stake houses, kingdom halls or whatever. Atheists and agnostics, for the most part, are not interested either. But in the United States it is reasonable to expect that most people in a community like Orange County, California, would consider themselves Christians. That does not mean, however, that they have any interest in going to church. This may be due to many reasons, but given the opportunity to find a church that caters to their desires and perceived needs, they will often at least check it out.

The Life Development Process

Based upon the seeker-sensitive approach, Warren devised a program to walk the fledgling members through a growth process called "The Life Development Process." This consists of four classes which every prospective member is required to attend. It is based on a model of running the bases. The 100 Level Classes involve "Knowing Christ" on the way to First Base (Committed to Membership). The 200 Level Classes involve "Growing in Christ" on the way to Second Base (Committed to Maturity). The 300 Level Classes involve "Serving Christ" on the way to Third Base (Committed to Ministry). The 400 Level Classes involve "Sharing Christ" on the way to Home Plate (Committed to Missions).(56)

It doesn't matter how mature a believer in Christ may be; everyone starts on the way to first base in the purpose-driven church, relearning again the rudiments of the faith.

This is the best way in which an organization can assure that everyone thinks the same and is in total agreement with the leadership. It assumes, of course, that the leadership is in total conformity to Scripture on all issues.

Warren has proven himself very adept at organization and the ability to implement his goals.

Some would ask if there is a better way for new believers to mature in the faith. Well, there must be other ways, because before Rick Warren came along many brethren have been brought to maturity without the Life Development Process.

I was asked how it could be done in a small house assembly. My answer is that, once we are sure that a new believer has joined us we would continue to systematically study the Word together. In the process he will become mature without having to sign covenants and go through classroom settings, led by the nose. We trust that the Holy Spirit in him would lead him into all truth. We prefer a Holy Spirit-driven assembly rather than a purpose-driven "church."

The new believer would also be taught how to test what he hears---something that is sorely lacking in the churches.

Membership Covenant or Bible?

Covenants are an important part of the purpose-driven church model. Virtually every aspect of purpose-driven ministry carries with it the need to agree to a covenant, which may even supercede Scripture.

Warren states that members are held to a different standard than are non-believing service attenders:

We apply different standards of conduct to members and attenders. Members of our church are expected to abide by the lifestyle guidelines of our membership covenant. Those who engage in immoral activities are subject to church discipline. Unbelievers in the crowd are not subject to church discipline because they are not actually a part of our church family.(57)

Although Saddleback's membership covenant may include some biblical aspects, not everything in it is commanded in God's Word. Nor is everything in God's Word included in the covenant. Should believers not be held to the Scriptures rather than to a church covenant?

Warren has proven himself very adept at organization and the ability to implement his goals. Those goals for the churches are predicated upon what he calls the "Five Purposes" of the church: 1) Love the Lord with all your heart; 2) Love your neighbor as yourself; 3) Go and make disciples; 4) Baptizing them; 5) Teaching them to obey.

Purpose #1 is described as worship. "The church exists to worship God,"(58) which includes celebration of His presence by magnifying the Lord and exalting his name through music, and other means of verbal and physical expression.

Purpose #2 is ministry, demonstrating God's love to others by meeting their needs and healing their hurts in the name of Jesus.(59)

Purpose #3 is evangelism for both bringing the lost to Christ and helping the church to grow.(60)

Purpose #4 is baptizing for identification with the body of Christ, and as a symbol of salvation and fellowship.(61)

Purpose #5 is defined as discipleship---helping people become more like Christ.(62)

Warren is correct in delineating these purposes for the Body of Christ. To accomplish them, he says, the church must be healthy, He also states that most churches may excel in one or two of the purposes, but fail to excel in all the purposes, He presents Saddleback Church as the example of a church that fulfills all these purposes. In fact, when advertising his new church to the Saddleback residents, he made the following claim:

At last! A new church for those who've given up on traditional church services.(63)

What an affront to the other churches. In truth, however, Saddleback's services are as traditional as nay other church's services. Except that the content is dumbed down so as not to offend the sensitive seeker.

Warren is correct that most churches fail to implement all five purposes. But is Saddleback the model to follow?

Is Growth the Issue?

I found that Warren correctly states many things to do and not to do. Yet Saddleback does not always measure up to his criteria.

For example, he often states that growth should not be the goal of the church; rather, healthy ministry of the five purposes should be the goal. Yet just as often he states how implementing his agenda will cause the churches to grow. It isn't just that growth will be a by-product of good ministry. And if a church isn't growing according to the Saddleback model, then it must be unhealthy.

Warren states that he has read the New Testament "over and over, studying it with 'church-growth eyes.'"(64) Everything Saddleback Church does is geared toward growth. If a church isn't growing it is considered unhealthy, possibly diseased.(65) Conversely, if a church is growing it is an indication that it is healthy.

Is this an iron-clad rule that Warren implies it to be? If so, does it apply then to Mormonism, which is the fastest growing church in America? Is Islam "healthy" because it is the fastest growing religion in the world?

This seems to be what drives Warren toward his focus on church growth.

A long-term pastor will be the only voice that many in the church may hear. Is that more healthy than a plurality of elders teaching, ministering and working together.

Long-term Pastors=Health

One thing that impressed Warren through his research on church growth was something he says he already knew from W.A. Criswell's ministry:

...Healthy, large churches are led by pastors who have been there a long time. I found dozens of examples. A long pastorate does not guarantee a church will grow, but changing pastors every few years guarantees a church won't grow.(66)

The pastor is likened to the daddy in the family:

Can you imagine what the kids would be like in a family where they got a new daddy every two or three years? They would most likely have serious emotional problems. In the same way, the longevity of the leadership is a critical factor for the health and growth of a church family.(67)

Well, were not kids. And God, not the pastor, is our Father. In truth, a long-term pastor will be the only voice that many in the church may hear. Is that more healthy than a plurality of elders teaching, ministering and working together? If one leaves it won't be because he was reassigned by his denominational headquarters or found greener pastures elsewhere; it will be because God moves him, perhaps by altering his employment situation. But the others will be left to continue to minister, and new elders will be added as time progresses.

The clergy-oriented organization relies almost exclusively on the belief system into which the pastor was educated. That is unhealthy.

Programs vs, Process

Warren says he's against programs:

Instead of trying to grow a church with programs, focus on growing people with a process. This concept is the heart of being a purpose-driven church. If you will set up a process for developing disciples and stick with it, your church's growth will be healthy, balanced, and consistent. Benjamin Disraili once observed that "constancy to purpose is the secret of success."

Our process for implementing the purposes of God involves four steps: We bring people in, build them up, train them, and send them out. We bring them is as members, we build them up to maturity, we train them for ministry, and we send them out on mission, magnifying the Lord in the process. That's it! This is our total focus at Saddleback. We don't do anything else.(68)

Sounds good. But Saddleback is replete with programs. They may be designed to implement the process, but they are programs nonetheless. Those programs are not always scriptural, often incorporating Jungian psychology for the purpose of "maturing" the people. For example, their group meetings consist of the following:

Adult Children of Chemically Addicted (ACA) - Men's Group & Women's Groups
Anger - Men's Groups & Women's Groups
Chemically Dependent - Men's Groups & Women's Groups
Codependent - Men's Groups & Women's Groups
Co-Addicted Women in a Relationship with Sexually Addicted Men (COSA)
Eating Disorders - Women's Group
Financial Recovery - Men's & Women's Groups
Love & Relationship Addiction - Women's Group
Sexual Addiction (SA) - Men's Groups & Women's Groups
Sexual/Physical/Emotional Abuse - Women's Group (69)

Saddleback's "Celebrate Recovery" program is exported to myriad churches and is based upon the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step recovery process. Such programs are unscriptural, but have become so popular that most Christians see no problem with having them in their churches.

Saddleback Church's small-group program is peer-oriented, people being segregated according to age and other factors. This effectively leaves those small groups devoid of any scriptural basis. It also cements the idea that "the church" is the clergy-led umbrella institution to which they owe their allegiance, rather than owing their allegiance to the brethren at large.

The biblical assembly of believers is not a clergy-oriented institution with a pulpit "ministry." It is a family of believers who minister together according to the gifts granted by the Father through the Holy Spirit. It includes all ages and people of varying interests and gifts.

Peer-oriented small groups are programs designed to keep these elements segregated and dependent upon the clergy for any serious teaching, instruction and discipline. Thus, these peer groups usually end up being "facilitated" by unqualified men (and women) who, lacking biblical understanding, use encounter group techniques. The process is not Holy Spirit-led, Bible-centered ministry as much as feel-good attempts to alleviate pain and make people feel loved and accepted.

In speaking with people who have been a part of Saddleback's small-group "ministry" I've found that this is typical of the way these peer groups function.

The purpose of the assembly of believers is for the building up of the believers, not to meet the needs of the "seekers."

As much as Warren speaks against programs, his church incorporates programs galore. Here are a few more:

MS with Christ (ministering to people with Multiple Sclerosis in all stages)
Early Retired with MS
Weight for God (weight-loss program)
Military Families
Alzheimer's Group
Families With Incarcerated Loved Ones
Teen Pregnancy & Single Parents
Teen Depression
Solutions for Life
Post-Abortion
Infertility
Comforters-Chronic Pain/Illness
Cancer
Bring Back the Hope (for people with depressions)
Breast Cancer Caregivers
Breast Cancer
Birthparents Reunited (reuniting adoptee with parents)
Hope for the Separated Man
Hope for the Separated Woman
Hepatitis C
Grief
Empty Arms
Divorce Care

Virtually all these support groups are programs that incorporate psychological techniques designed for the specific purposes of the groups. Somehow, biblical ministry alone is insufficient to address all these and other problems of the soul within the context of the local assembly of believers. They must be handled in segregated peer groups. How did the first-century believers ever minister effectively before Carl Jung and his demon-spirit guide Philemon came on the scene?

Such programs tell us that people can only be ministered to effectively if they can share their hurts, fears, pain and addictions with people of like hurts, fears, and addictions. This is not how the Lord formed His Body. But today's "church" meeting becomes the only forum in which the diverse gifts He gave may be ministered. However, they are restricted to the approved clergy or clergy-appointed "ministers." This is contrary to Scriptures:

How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. (1 Corinthians 14:26)

He gave some as apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. (Ephesians 4:11-14)

Warren delineates five purposes for the churches. Could there be a sixth purpose virtually ignored in his philosophy---to equip the brethren to discern truth from error? To protect the brethren from all the satanic winds of doctrine that permeate the Christian churches and Christian media?

How did such an important element get left off the purpose-driven agenda? I would hate to think that it's because deception is rampant in the psychology-based purpose-driven church, or that warning against such is not "positive" enough for the "seekers."

Or are the leaders at Saddleback so immature themselves that they cannot discern this satanic deception? In either case, they disqualify themselves for teaching the Body of Christ about maturity in the faith.

But one thing I will say: The Purpose-Driven Church is an excellent book for pastors and institutional organizations called "churches" to help themselves grow. The biblical model for the gathering of believers is different: a plurality of elders---not a professional clergy class; the priesthood of all believers---not seminary-trained men and women who place themselves between the people and our Father for direction in their lives; a family of believers, all of whom minister to one another without distinction of specific "needs"---not an evangelistic center where everyone is welcome.

Evangelism should be done outside the Body assembly. If unbelievers are brought in they may be ministered to, certainly. But the purpose of the assembly of believers is for the building up of the believers, not to meet the needs of "seekers."

Although he comes close, he misses this point in his book:

It is not the church's task to give people whatever they want or even need. But the fastest way to build a bridge to the unchurched is to express interest in them and show that you understand the problems they are facing. Felt needs, whether real or imaginary, are a starting point for expressing love to people.(70)

But, again, the practice at Saddleback has been to cater to felt needs. This is borne out by the "target" demographic Warren devised---Saddleback Sam.

Saddleback compromises God's Word by including psychology-based service in meeting people's needs.

Demographic Analysis

Saddleback Sam is well educated; likes contemporary music; likes his job, likes where he lives; holds health and fitness as high priorities for himself and his family; would rather be in a large group than a small one; is skeptical of "organized religion"; thinks he is enjoying life more than he did five years ago; is self-satisfied, even smug, about his station in life; prefers the casual and informal over the formal; is overextended in both time and money.(71)

By developing this demographic, Saddleback reveals that it does, indeed, cater to the felt needs of the community. Rather than proclaim the unadulterated Word of God, Saddleback crafts its message so as not to offend---to cater to the demographic model for its community. That is what community churches do best.

This isn't to say that we should not be aware of the thinking of our community. But God's Word is not something to bargain with. It is an offense to those who are perishing. Watering it down and processing the people through a four-step program may result in some true conversions. But those conversions would have been effected anyway. Because true faith always has, and always will, come by hearing a word about Christ Jesus (Romans 10:17). Through human-devised processing, there may be outward changes as people become religious (much as Mormons and other clean living non-believers or cult members). But the true, life-changing conversion from sinner to saint comes only by the Word of God proclaimed without compromise.

In the purpose-driven church effective ministry is more about style than substance. Defining faithfulness, Warren states that it is necessary to conform the style of ministry to the needs of the people being ministered to:

How do you define faithfulness? Are you being faithful to God's Word if you insist on communicating it in an outdated style? Are you being faithful if you insist on doing ministry in a way that is comfortable for you, even though it doesn't produce any fruit? Are you being faithful to Christ if you value man-made traditions more than reaching people for him? I contend that when a church continues to use methods that no longer work, it is being unfaithful to Christ!

Sadly, there are many churches today who are completely orthodox in their beliefs but are still unfaithful to Christ because they refuse to change programs, methods, styles of worship, buildings, or even locations in order to reach a lost world for Christ. Vance Havner used to say, "A church can be straight as a gun barrel doctrinally and just as empty spiritually." We must be willing to say, with unreserved commitment to our Lord and Savior, "We'll do whatever it takes to reach people for Christ."(72) (Emphasis Warren's)

Who can argue with that? Except that is practice, Saddleback compromises God's Word by including psychology-based service in meeting people's needs. It's one thing to change one's style; it's another to change it to include ungodly elements.

Storytelling

Warren believes that the message from the pulpit must be relevant to people's lives---something practical they can take with them. This isn't a bad idea, but often people need to hear what they need to hear, regardless of whether or not they consider it practical for themselves personally. In keeping with his belief, Warren's style is to tell stories, because he believes Jesus did it to make truth clear to people:

Jesus captured the interest of large crowds with the techniques that you and I can use. First, he told stories to make a point. Jesus was a master storyteller. He would say, "Hey, did you hear the one about..." and then tell a parable in order to teach a truth. In fact, the Bible shows that storytelling was Jesus' favorite technique when speaking to the crowd. "Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable" (Matt. 13:34). Somehow preachers forget that the Bible is essentially a book of stories. That is how God has chosen to communicate his Word to human beings.(73)

What else does Matthew say?

And the disciples came, and said to him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance; but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (Matthew 13:10-15)

Jesus spoke in parables so that the crowd would not understand. These were not "stories." The mysteries of the Kingdom are only for those whose hearts are right before God. But even His disciples needed to have the parables explained to them. They did not understand any of the parables without Jesus telling them what they meant.

How sad that such an elementary truth is not only lost to a man of Warren's stature among the churches, he convolutes Scripture to make it appear as if Jesus taught in parables to make things clear to the crowds!

Actually, Jesus taught in such a way as to alienate even "those that believed" in Him (John 8:30-59). Read these verses carefully and you will see that Warren's take on Jesus' ministry is faulty. By the time Jesus finished with the hard truths they were ready to kill Him:

Then they took up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. (John 8:59)

It isn't that we do not wish to be sensitive to people's needs, but we need to be honest in handling God's Word:

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)

This Scripture applies to the Book of Revelation. But all Scripture is just as sacred. To convolute God's Word is to make it of no effect and to cause people to stumble.

An SBC Church?

Saddleback Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. But it does not allow people to know that until they become members. The reasoning is that people with prejudices against the SBC would never set foot in their church.(74) This may seem like a reasonable approach. But is it honest? Is it "without guile"?

Are there no other churches to which people could be directed? Or better yet, could not Saddleback break its ties with the SBC and be what it wants people to think it is---an independent Bible church?

We have found throughout Warren's writings a system of less-than-honest approaches in many areas, all with the intent of manipulating people into the faith. Better that they be brought in through fear, which at least is a biblical way:

And of some have compassion, making a difference:

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. (Jude 1:22-23)

The Model Church?

While claiming to be the model church for all churches, Saddleback is more of an evangelical center. And Warren is more of an evangelist than a genuine shepherd (pastor). I do not find fault with that except for a few things: 1) an evangelistic center does not minister to believers. Substituting peer groups for that purpose does not fulfill the intent of the whole body fitly joined together; 2) the unscriptural "office" of pastor as defined by institutional religion is ineffective for ministering to the believers, particularly when his focus is on unbelievers. This is the result of attempts to organize the churches into program-oriented institutions that cater only to the lowest common denominator with sermons designed not to offend---the "seeker friendly" Sunday morning service.

Conclusion

Space does not allow for more than we have addressed here. There is so much more that could be said. I believe that we have offered sufficient evidence that the Saddleback model is not God's way of either winning the lost or of ministering to the Body of Christ. It is worldly-wise and lacking greatly in a true, unadulterated biblical foundation.

For those who want this kind of religion, there isn't much more that we can say. God may use it to some degree, but it will not result in the true spiritual maturity it claims to achieve. For those who want the fullness of what God requires of them as well as the opportunity to minister the Word of God without adulterating the ministry with psychological mumbo-jumbo, it's time to come out and be separate.

Church Growth Movement/Purpose-Driven Articles

43 Rick Warren, The Purpose-Driven Church: Growth Without Compromising Your Message & Mission ( Zondervan Publishing House, 1995), p. 25.

44 Ibid., p. 26.

45 Ibid.

46 Dr. Rick McClatchy and Dr. Bruce Prescott, "How the SBC has Changed," http://www.mercer.edu/baptiststudies/pamphlets/presott/sbcchange.htm.

47 Jerry Falwell, The National Affairs Briefing, Dallas, Texas, August 21 and 22, 1980.

48 The Purpose-Driven Church., Op. Cit., p. 19.

49 Ibid.

50 Ibid., p. 33.

51 Ibid., p. 34.

52 Ibid., p. 38.

53 Ibid., p. 39.