Are the teachings of Rick Warren Biblical?

[Dave Slayer]

Are the teachings of Rick Warren Biblical? Should we look up to him?

 

[Lewis]

I have one of his books, A Purpose Driven Life, it is one of the best books that I have ever read, and he backs everything up in the book, with scripture. It is truly a life changing book. Now some people are against Rick, but people are always trying to find something on somebody. But I have A Purpose Driven Life, and it is worth every penny, and more. There are a lot of things that I did not understand about God and myself, until I read that book, and I am going to read it again.

 

[follower of Christ]

Are the teachings of Rick Warren Biblical? Should we look up to him?

His stance on gay abomination, if I understand it correctly, make me a bit nauseous.

Warren: ""By the way, my wife and I had dinner at a gay couple's home two weeks ago. So I'm not [a] homophobic guy, okay?"

A bit too relaxed about it, if ya ask me.

 

[follower of Christ]

Pastor Rick Warren: "I Am Not Anti-Gay Marriage"
[youtube:yzq5bdp4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYIWSyMrhRA[/youtube:yzq5bdp4]

 

[Lewis]

That might be true, but that book does not have a hint of it, through out the book everything is backed up by scripture, and not one thing is said about the gay life at all.

 

[follower of Christ]

That might be true, but that book does not have a hint of it, through out the book everything is backed up by scripture, and not one thing is said about the gay life at all.

I wondered if this wasnt a newer development with Warren.
Hopefully he doesnt end up condoning gay unions. That would be a heartbreaker.

 

[Ed the Ned]

I have reservations about him and the following web site should be looked at very carefully. I recieve there newsletter regulary and find there is a lot more to Rick Warren than meets the eye. So No I don't follow the teachings of Rick Warren

http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/

 

[jasoncran]

[quote="Dave Slayer":2agsoui7]Are the teachings of Rick Warren Biblical? Should we look up to him?

His stance on gay abomination, if I understand it correctly, make me a bit nauseous.

Warren: ""By the way, my wife and I had dinner at a gay couple's home two weeks ago. So I'm not [a] homophobic guy, okay?"

A bit too relaxed about it, if ya ask me.[/quote:2agsoui7]so i how do u reach them that are gay, tell them scriptures all day long about their sins and never really see that hurt or learn enough about them see why they are that way, u may win them by ur life and testomony, every lbgt isnt the same and no one way will get them, btw i'm a former homosexual, so for me a rebuke worked by a friend but others wont come to christ that way,

jesus ate with zachheus back then tax collectors were often cruel and money hungry and were hated by the jewish nation and yet jesus won himover

I do have issues with Rick warren myself, and i have read the purpose driven life myself, he's too soft sometimes and wont preach all the bible from what i hear, i''ve never heard all that from the source and am willing to give him the benefit of doubt, till i hear otherwise.

 

[Cornelius]

I am all for mixing with anybody and everybody. I have had friends and still have friends from all walks of life, including gay friends. But I do not believe in compromising my beliefs, I do believe that I cannot tell them anything else BUT the gospel. Jesus came to save and deliver you. That is what I can tell them. I cannot tell an apple tree to bear pears or grapes. The tree has to be replaced. WE need to be replaced by the nature of Christ, before our fruit changes. So its useless judging the lost (all lost, not just homosexual lost) We are only told to go and make disciples, we are not called to judge them.

Some are willing to walk this walk. Some are not. We have to loose our life, in order to gain eternal life. All of us, including those who come out of a gay life, must do this, or our fruit will not change. Jesus changes our fruit, as we submit (eat the Word) to the Word. It enters our thoughts and takes it over. Slowly, we start to think like God does (We get to have the mind of Christ) and slowly our words starts to be His Words (How shall two walk together, lest they agree) and slowly our walk starts to become more like His walk (1Jn 2:6 he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked. )

Lets not even look at people, nor criticize people like Warren, but let us rather read what is correct (the Bible) and ponder it and learn the truth. In that way, we would not worry about people and what they say, because the Truth will be IN us and we will be manifesting it, by God's grace.

C

 

[Lewis]

I am gonna say it one more time, that is a great book, I'll say this God was with him when he wrote that book, I'll tell you that. Half of my church read the book, and my church is not a fall for anything church, in a lot of ways my pastor is strict, he won't even let you call him reverend, but he loved that book, and so did the rest of us. Rick uses the word of God in that book to empower you. He has a gift of matching what he talks about with scripture, using a vast amount of different versions of the Bible, for clarity, and as proof for what he is saying. Now as far as he is, outside that book I don't know anything about, except what I saw in that video someone posted last night.

 

[Ed the Ned]

I am all for mixing with anybody and everybody. I have had friends and still have friends from all walks of life, including gay friends. But I do not believe in compromising my beliefs, I do believe that I cannot tell them anything else BUT the gospel. Jesus came to save and deliver you. That is what I can tell them. I cannot tell an apple tree to bear pears or grapes. The tree has to be replaced. WE need to be replaced by the nature of Christ, before our fruit changes. So its useless judging the lost (all lost, not just homosexual lost) We are only told to go and make disciples, we are not called to judge them.

I agree with you 100%. Judging those outside the faith is Gods duty, not ours.

 

[Cornelius]

I agree with you 100%. Judging those outside the faith is Gods duty, not ours.

Amen:

1Co 5:12 For what have I to do with judging them that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within?

 

[follower of Christ]

[quote="Dave Slayer":1mdzq9on]Are the teachings of Rick Warren Biblical? Should we look up to him?

His stance on gay abomination, if I understand it correctly, make me a bit nauseous.

Warren: ""By the way, my wife and I had dinner at a gay couple's home two weeks ago. So I'm not [a] homophobic guy, okay?"

A bit too relaxed about it, if ya ask me.

so i how do u reach them that are gay, tell them scriptures all day long about their sins and never really see that hurt or learn enough about them see why they are that way, u may win them by ur life and testomony, every lbgt isnt the same and no one way will get them, btw i'm a former homosexual, so for me a rebuke worked by a friend but others wont come to christ that way,

jesus ate with zachheus back then tax collectors were often cruel and money hungry and were hated by the jewish nation and yet jesus won himover

I do have issues with Rick warren myself, and i have read the purpose driven life myself, he's too soft sometimes and wont preach all the bible from what i hear, i''ve never heard all that from the source and am willing to give him the benefit of doubt, till i hear otherwise.[/quote:1mdzq9on]reaching and making them believe we condone is two entirely different things.
Jesus said 'go and sin no more'.
How is a man having dinner with 'gay friends' (friends tells me these arent new acquaintances) and not calling them to leave their homosexual lifestyle ?

I see Jesus 'reaching' the homosexual.
I dont see Jesus continually sitting with them to eat and ignoring the fact that they are living in abomination.

 

[follower of Christ]

I am all for mixing with anybody and everybody. I have had friends and still have friends from all walks of life, including gay friends. But I do not believe in compromising my beliefs, I do believe that I cannot tell them anything else BUT the gospel. Jesus came to save and deliver you. That is what I can tell them. I cannot tell an apple tree to bear pears or grapes. The tree has to be replaced. WE need to be replaced by the nature of Christ, before our fruit changes. So its useless judging the lost (all lost, not just homosexual lost) We are only told to go and make disciples, we are not called to judge them.

Lets not pretend that not 'judging' them means we arent allowed to discern their activity or that we are to 'mix' with those in open sin and pretend that it isnt happening.
By this logic I could be spending my nights in a smoke filled bar rooms whether Im 'reaching' people or not.
Our mission with the LOST is to SAVE.
If we are just 'hanging out' with them then we arent doing our job.
If they continue in sinful lifestyles and feel ok doing so around us then we ARENT doing our job.
Jesus says to 'go and sin no more'.
If THAT isnt what we are bringing the lost, again, we arent doing our job.

Those in blatant sin should NOT feel comfortable around christians very long.

 

[Ed the Ned]

I believe when a homosexual comes to faith he cannot practice being a homosexual anymore. Christianity and homosexuality do not mix. 1 Corinthians chapter 5, chapter 6 vs 9 - 20.

Lets not pretend that not 'judging' them means we arent allowed to discern their activity or that we are to 'mix' with those in open sin and pretend that it isnt happening.

I think you have hit it on the nail, I agree. We are not judging their salvation for that is for God to decide, but we cannot condone their actions as OK, we would be denying our faith.

 

[follower of Christ]

I think the more relaxed we are around blatant sin the more we send a signal that its not really as bad as what God sees it.
Ive known a few homosexuals in my life and I treat them with respect like I would any other human being, but I never would behave in such a way as to make it seem like I was ok with their lifestyle.
I even had a gay man hit on me back in the 80s. I explained my views to him in a very calm manner and told him what my view of the scriptures were.
His response was that a person really doesnt know 'sin' unless hes lived it....ie the only way I could know for sure that homosexuality was 'sin' was to try it out myself....which let me know this guy wasnt really listening.

I married my first wife not too long after that, and when I ran into this guy again he was still trying to hit on me even after I told him I was married now...and to a WOMAN.

I didnt have to beat him about the head and neck with a KJV bible, but I also didnt have to make him think that I was ok with his lifestyle.
I dont think we do anyone any good by pretending that sin isnt sin.
I think we actually end up doing more damage when we ignore it.


.

 

[JoJo]

Warren: ""By the way, my wife and I had dinner at a gay couple's home two weeks ago. So I'm not [a] homophobic guy, okay?"

A bit too relaxed about it, if ya ask me.

I look at Rick Warren's statement and think, "Now here's a guy who wants the gay community to know that he doesn't hate or fear them and is willing to enter their home and dine with them." Didn't Jesus dine with tax collectors and sinners?

 

[jasoncran]

friend of christ i said what i said because i struggle part of me wants nothing to do them as it reminds of my former life and yet i know that they a deliverer, jesus, i wouldnt advocate being friends accepting thier lifestyle, however do u see them at the gym,work and not talk to them, reaching them can be done directly or indirectly our lives will convict if we live in christ, that's what i mean, but what the drunk, the whoremongers and like sinners do we hang with them as well? be honest or do we isolate ourselves from the sinners

jason

 

[Lewis]

Warren: ""By the way, my wife and I had dinner at a gay couple's home two weeks ago. So I'm not [a] homophobic guy, okay?"

A bit too relaxed about it, if ya ask me.

I look at Rick Warren's statement and think, "Now here's a guy who wants the gay community to know that he doesn't hate or fear them and is willing to enter their home and dine with them." Didn't Jesus dine with tax collectors and sinners?

Luv ya Jo Jo.
:amen

 

[follower of Christ]

Warren: ""By the way, my wife and I had dinner at a gay couple's home two weeks ago. So I'm not [a] homophobic guy, okay?"

A bit too relaxed about it, if ya ask me.

I look at Rick Warren's statement and think, "Now here's a guy who wants the gay community to know that he doesn't hate or fear them and is willing to enter their home and dine with them." Didn't Jesus dine with tax collectors and sinners?

You have to spend more time with looking at the details.
The man doesnt come off, in my opinion, as doing what Christ did which was to say 'go and SIN NO MORE', but seems to, again, in my opinion, to give an air of condoning the behavior.