Our church went through the PDL this winter. The book is not meant as a replacement to Scripture or held above, in fact it tells you in the book that we are to do daily devotions and memorize Scripture. It is meant as a supplement to Scripture and like a devotional. It is designed to give the essentials of church and principles of living a Christian life. Rick Warren does use several Bibles in reference. He uses the one that best drives home the point he is trying to make. Many people have found this book valuable as a tool to reenforce the basics, and it can be used for wherever you are in your walk. We can always learn something new no matter how long we have been Christians.
Although I haven't read the book, our church is doing men's studies on it and I know that all of the elders and our pastors have studied it. I think(from what i understand about it) that it is just a guide(from Warren's perspective) to get us closer to God. NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR THE BIBLE. Rick Warren would not want that. I think the whole point of the book is that we were put here for a reason, and we need to find out what it is and go for it. To many people are content with being a "christian" and not doing a thing about it. God wants us to use our christianity to help others, to lead powerful, great lives, to have purpose and meaning. I think alot of christians could use that!
I can't see anything wrong with learning from a book like that, but it's not the be all end all of christianity. It's just a part.
As Catholics, we do not base all our beliefs on only what is contained in scritpures, for we have Sacred Tradition as well as Sacred Scripture . .in fact Sacred Scripture comes out of Sacred Tradition . . but The Purpose Driven Life is NOT part of either . . And so can never substitute as a basis on which to base one's beliefs.
Peace in Him!
I appologize for possibly posting out of place but I am curious about how you can justify sacred tradition as on somewhat even footing with the bible but you say that warrens book is not. If warrens book was constant with your beliefs and it became quite popular over time and worked its way into the sacred tradtion of the church wouldnt it become part of the sacred tradtion.
Im my mind the Bible is our only guide for faith and conduct. I have not had much exposure to Catholic beliefs but find it hard to see how the tradtions of man can be placed on par with the divine relelation from God.
The PDL is a good refresher for older Christians. It may be better to use it for a starting point to inspire further investigations.
My biggest gripe with it was using so many translations (mostly paraphrases). Sometimes it seemed as though Warren was looking for the wording that best fitted his opinions. It is like everthing from Sermons to 'Words of Knowledge' and Prophecy; God has given us the gift of literacey and a brain and we need to use them.
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I appologize for possibly posting out of place but I am curious about how you can justify sacred tradition as on somewhat even footing with the bible but you say that warrens book is not. If warrens book was constant with your beliefs and it became quite popular over time and worked its way into the sacred tradtion of the church wouldnt it become part of the sacred tradtion.
Im my mind the Bible is our only guide for faith and conduct. I have not had much exposure to Catholic beliefs but find it hard to see how the tradtions of man can be placed on par with the divine relelation from God.
See 2 Thess. 2:15
Paul tells the Thessalonians to hold fast to the teachings/traditions, whether passed on via epistle (Sacred Scripture) or word of mouth (Sacred Tradition).
That is why the Catholic Church, as well as the Eastern Orthodox Churches, hold Sacred Tradition so high.
(not to be confused with "little t" tradition, which is things like fasting on Fridays, clerical celibacy etc - practices we do but are not written in stone).
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