Alternatives to "The Purpose Driven Life"?

[jubilationtcornpone]

There've been a great many discussions here about the problems with The Purpose Driven Life--its weak gospel presentation, its poor exegesis and its reckless theology. When this subject comes up in conversation though, I sometime hear people say in outrage, "Oh, really? Well then, do you have anything better to use in its place?"

To my mind, this is a rather silly question; after all, nobody is obligated to use a book with poor theology, simply because we don't have a better one at our fingertips. Nevertheless, I thought I'd ask... Can anyone recommend a book with similar scope, but that tackles Rick Warren's subject matter in a more Scriptural and theologically sound manner?

 

[megg]

The Bible...

 

[DailyBlessings]

I think that depending on a commentary for advice on how to live life, much less understand the will of God, is foolish from the get-go. Pray, study, meditate, but do not lean on another man's understanding to give you answers.

 

[Theophorus]

St. Theophan the recluse has advice as well as others, but it is not like the "purpose driven life".

 

[Theophorus]

I think that depending on a commentary for advice on how to live life, much less understand the will of God, is foolish from the get-go. Pray, study, meditate, but do not lean on another man's understanding to give you answers.

Then one should be a Carthusian, or hermit.

 

[seekingpurity047]

Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper

 

[Adammi]

Perhaps "The Unpurpose Driven Life" by Jiminy Critic would better suit your tastes.

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

I got started in a small group during our (former) church's '40 days of purpose'. I was so uneasy with the teachings in this book and left the small group.The Bible is the best way to truly know what God wants you to know. The Purpose Driven stuff is just fluff...tastes sweet but full of empty calories.

 

[eutychus]

I'd either go with the aforementioned "Don't Waste Your Life" by Piper, or Piper's "Desiring God."

 

[stumpjumper]

For a modern book that is similar in scope the the PDL, I would reccomend Dallas Willard's The Divine Conspiracy.

 

[SPALATIN]

I recommend the Holy Scriptures over and above anything written solely by man. PDL, Contagious Christian et. al. are all bad news in my opinion.

 

[theend0218]

The purpose driven life appears to be based on the so-called hierarchy of needs with some Scripture references tossed in for good measure. Much that passes for Christian Life Literature in the broader evangelical movement is often little more than pop-psychology and/or self-help philosophy "baptized" with "proof texts" as though some great mind dug these teachings out of Scripture. It is a sad day. I hear good things about John Piper. I have read some of his essays, etc., and found them helpful.

 

[Bill777]

The only alternative like others have said is the bible.

I think that Rick Warren has to focus way more on God than on man, on heaven than on earth. The key biblical message is the good news, the gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Seek first the kingdom of heaven and his righteousness and everything else (providing for man's earthly needs) shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33). The bible never emphasizes life on earth, or God's purpose for man on earth. Truly the opposite the bible tells us not to worry about our earthly life. So the question is why does Rick Warren care about earthly living being purposeful. A purposeful earthly living is a man made concept that's nowhere in the bible. God's plan of salvation through faith in Jesus is what the bible emphasizes instead.

Now with that said, does God have a purpose for us in our lives? Yes, he does but he tells us and guides us on a day by day basis. God doesn't tell us what the future will hold for us, God is in control of the future not man. Sometimes we can't even figure out the present (what's God trying to teach me with this or that). So can we figure out the future and the purpose in our lives in the future when we can't even figure out the present? So trying to to figure out God's purpose and then make it our own purpose is a waste of time because it's an attempt to take control of our own lives, and take that control away from God and God won't let it happen. The future is unpredictable, this is because God is in control and not man.

 

[JonF]

I'd either go with the aforementioned "Don't Waste Your Life" by Piper, or Piper's "Desiring God."

Yup and yup

 

[YoungJoonKim]

AH
wasted money..
my mother's $10 ...

 

[SumTinWong]

"Can anyone recommend a book with similar scope, but that tackles Rick Warren's subject matter in a more Scriptural and theologically sound manner?"
The Cat in the Hat by Dr Suess

 

[The Prokeimenon!]

I don't know about books, but as an alternative to "40 days of purpose" one could try "Great Lent."

Rdr Moses

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

"Can anyone recommend a book with similar scope, but that tackles Rick Warren's subject matter in a more Scriptural and theologically sound manner?"
The Cat in the Hat by Dr Suess

Had a very difficult night...that brought a smile to my face. Thank you for that.

(and he's right, you know)

 

[ScottBot]

St. Theophan the recluse has advice as well as others, but it is not like the "purpose driven life".

The Service Driven Life

Read a book called The Servant by James Hunter. Its about an business man who spends a week at a monestary and learns the true purpose of life. Its not fiction, but rather a documentary and is void of theological jibber-jabber. Just meat and potatoes.

The World's Most Powerful Leadership Principle Summary:

To lead is not to be ?the boss,? the ?head honcho,? or ?the brass.? ​

To lead is to serve.​

Although serving may imply weakness to some, conjuring up a picture of the CEO waiting on the workforce hand and foot, servant leadership is actually a robust, revolutionary idea that can have significant impact on an organization?s performance.​

Jim Hunter champions this hard/soft approach to leadership, which turns bosses and managers into coaches and mentors. By ?hard,? Hunter means that servant leaders can be hard-nosed, even autocratic, when it comes to the basics of running the business: determining the mission (where the company is headed) and values (what the rules are that govern the journey) and setting standards and accountability. Servant leaders don?t commission a poll or take a vote when it comes to these critical fundamentals. After all, that?s what a leader?s job is, and people look to the leader to set the course and establish standards.​

But once that direction is provided, servant leaders turn the organizational structure upside down. They focus on giving employees everything they need to win, be it resources, time, guidance, or inspiration. Servant leaders know that providing for people and engaging hearts and minds foster a workforce that understands the benefits of striving for the greater good. The emphasis is on building authority, not power; on exerting influence, not intimidation.​

While many believe that servant leadership is a wonderful, inspiring idea, what?s been missing is the how-to, the specifics of implementation. Jim Hunter shows how to do the right thing for the people you lead. A servant leader or a self-serving leader: Which one are you? With Jim Hunter?s guidance, everyone has the potential to develop into a leader with character who leads with authority.​

 

[jubilationtcornpone]

Several people have said, "The Bible! The Bible!" I think that answer sounds good and is well motivated; however, with all due respect, I don't think it's very helpful. We should certainly study God's Word and make it our ultimate authority; however, its scope is vastly different from that of Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life. Warren's book attempts to help people understand some of the principles in God's Word, and so it serves a somewhat different purpose. (Mind you, I think that The Purpose Driven Life failed in this regard, but only because of Rick Warren's careless exegesis and sloppy theology--not because the intention was wrong.)

Others have said that we should never use a man's book in place of the Bible. I wholeheartedly agree; however, I see no harm in using books that attempt to share wisdom and help us understand God's Word. Should we throw away all the writings of John Bunyan, Charles Spurgeon and A.W. Tozer, simply because they are not The Bible? I don't think so.

Of course, I'm not suggesting that we should use these books in place of God's Word. (I hasten to say this, since I've found that Internet posters often respond in a careless, knee-jerk fashion.) Rather, I'm just saying that there's nothing wrong with reading books wherein someone attempts to help us understand the Word. Warren's book fails in its content, rather than its intent.

Some have recommended John Piper's writings. I've heard good things about them, so I think I will check them out. Thanks for the advice.