Purpose Driven Life (problems, sickness, pain...)

[janny108]

Really?

Just about every baptist church that I drive by has had the "Purpose Driven Life study" going on. All this "40 Days of Purpose" and stuff. I really don't interact with many baptists anymore since I left the denomination several years ago.. I wonder if a lot of the other folks who did the same study that you did came out of it with the same response that you have..

What is everyone else saying about it?

I was going to a baptist church and had a good summer going there, met people who became friends, but...I found out they were having a PDL bible study and the preacher was also going to be preaching it on Sun. And I would have to buy a book, even though I felt led to sell mine months ago. Did not feel right to be there any longer, but that's me. I decided to leave that church and have become a PCA Presby church MEMBER recently (yay!)

Not picking on the baptists though!

 

[janny108]

These verses about Paul were referring to persecution for Christ's sake.... they were not referring sickness or disease.

Right. It helps a lot to look at the context of the chapter.
Jan

 

[catlover]

pg. 81 "Genuine surrender says, 'Father, if this problem, pain, sickness, or circumstance is needed to fulfill your purpose and glory in my life or in another's, please don't take it away!' This level of maturity does not come easy."



Is there anywhere in the whole New Testament where we are told to pray this way? People really should consider their theology before spreading unscriptural junk like this to millions of people.


What do you think?

How is it junk? I am not a big fan of the purpose driven life but I would not call it junk.

 

[pdudgeon]

ok Justin, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

 

[KleinerApfel]

How is it junk? I am not a big fan of the purpose driven life but I would not call it junk.

Nor me, but I think Justin meant that this particular teaching within the book, not the book itself, telling us to pray for sickness to remain, is junk.
I think he's probably right.

God bless, love Sue

 

[victoryword]

Nor me, but I think Justin meant that this particular teaching within the book, not the book itself, telling us to pray for sickness to remain, is junk.
I think he's probably right.

God bless, love Sue

 

[toffeegirl]

hi i'm relatively new to this board and haven't really posted before. but i'd like to share what i think.

firstly any christian writer is fallible, so errors appear in their books, but this doesnot mean the whole book is junk. but we must use scripture and holy spirit guidence to discern any spiritual principles in the book.

secondly i reckon that healing of sickness and pain is a sign of God's Kingdom in our midst. this is why Jesus had a healing ministry to demonstrate this. although he didn't heal everyone. so should we consequently expect healing for everyone? and if we dont expect healing for everyone, should this effect how we pray about healing.

thirdly from personal experience, healing is not always a simple act of praying, miracle happens, and all is well.
i have had/still have severe and enduring mental health problems as professionals like to say. i'm diagnosed as having severe depression with pychosis, and bi-polar. my reason for sharing this, is because my healing from this has never been sudden in answer to prayer, but i am weller now than i was years ago, so God has been healing me but it has been over a peroid of time. and in this time the healing has obviuosly glorified God, but so has the continuation of my illness in variuos different ways.

however i would not stop hoping and praying for healing as i believe it is God's plan for me, and he will be glorified through that. but it is in his timing that he heals me totally, and how he does it is up to him.
however whilst i am ill, i pray for God to use me and my illness to bring Glory to him.

does all that make sense.

i think that the gist of it for me is have hope in God's healing power, but also submit to God's purposes and way of doing things. (which isn't always understandable to us)

so i reckon PDL, is too simplistic in making this statement.

what does anyone think of what i've said

 

[catlover]

Nor me, but I think Justin meant that this particular teaching within the book, not the book itself, telling us to pray for sickness to remain, is junk.
I think he's probably right.


In my opinion, the book is a good because it takes out the idea that God is a candy dispenser and He should bestowing us, only, riches and good times.

That is simply not the way life is, perhaps the author is trying to convey that bad things DO happen, and these bad things can work for good as well.

In my personal experience I depend more on God when things aren't so hunky dorey.

 

[9-iron]

Ever think we have to many 'extra-curricular' teachings our there? I mean some of them are a true blessings, but I find many Christians who read this book and that book and in time are just confused!!

I got about to day 12 or so and had to put the book down. As I read the book, scriptures kept popping in my mind that were contrary to this man's teachings. Just my opinion, but there is way to much 'pop-teaching' going on.

 

[catlover]

The Purpose Driven Life, IMO, has driven a wedge in the defenses of the church and has allowed all manner of New Agey stuff in. My church has had nothing but problems since it had an official study last winter. Personally I would like to find a way to cleanse the building and then offer up a service of repentence for taking that book so seriously.

How is PDL new agey? New age stuff usually is about self. PDL is about taking the focus off of self and on Jesus. That's a good thing, though PDL takes it to an extreme.

 

[victoryword]

Ever think we have to many 'extra-curricular' teachings our there? I mean some of them are a true blessings, but I find many Christians who read this book and that book and in time are just confused!!

I got about to day 12 or so and had to put the book down. As I read the book, scriptures kept popping in my mind that were contrary to this man's teachings. Just my opinion, but there is way to much 'pop-teaching' going on.

Although I am an avid book reader (been like that since I was a kid, it runs in the family. My Mom made us read a lot and I never broke the habit), I actually do agree with you. If we allow any author's teaching to take precedence over Scripture then we are in trouble. Our BIbles should be the most read book and all others should be secondary. That way, when we do read someone's book and it contradicts what we are reading in Scripture, we will know to cast it out of our minds.

Many people write, not to teach a biblical truth, but to actually teach a presupposition, or rather, their personal theological perspective. We have to learn to tell the difference between the two when reading any book.

 

[TreeOfLife]

Ever think we have to many 'extra-curricular' teachings our there? I mean some of them are a true blessings, but I find many Christians who read this book and that book and in time are just confused!!

I got about to day 12 or so and had to put the book down. As I read the book, scriptures kept popping in my mind that were contrary to this man's teachings. Just my opinion, but there is way to much 'pop-teaching' going on.

Thank you 9-iron. I had considered reading that book, but now I'm not even going to waste my time.

 

[BarbB]

How is PDL new agey? New age stuff usually is about self. PDL is about taking the focus off of self and on Jesus. That's a good thing, though PDL takes it to an extreme.

Well, it didn't do that for me. And it focussed on Warren's view of Jesus.

It's hard to explain. Since I was saved and from a truly depraved life, the Holy Spirit puts a tough check on me. I felt as nearly upset reading PDL as reading a romance writer's sexy potboiler. I put the book down, quit the women's prayer group which was studying the book, did not go to the Sunday p.m. services which discussed the book, and deep sixed the book. At first I thought it was because Warren was teaching baby stuff to mature Christians. Now I believe that it is more nefarious than that. Not that I think Warren was out to deceive, but that he's been used. Certainly Christians are being drawn from deep belief to fluff that Warren and Osteen preach. They are nice - but being a Christian isn't always nice - it's sometimes down and dirty - especially the repentence part which they both forget.

Anyway, PDL has really messed with my church in ways they don't even realize. But there is a core of us who did not read and study the book and we pray against the effects of the book on our church. That's all I can say.

 

[TreeOfLife]

Well, it didn't do that for me. And it focussed on Warren's view of Jesus.

It's hard to explain. Since I was saved and from a truly depraved life, the Holy Spirit puts a tough check on me. I felt as nearly upset reading PDL as reading a romance writer's sexy potboiler. I put the book down, quit the women's prayer group which was studying the book, did not go to the Sunday p.m. services which discussed the book, and deep sixed the book. At first I thought it was because Warren was teaching baby stuff to mature Christians. Now I believe that it is more nefarious than that. Not that I think Warren was out to deceive, but that he's been used. Certainly Christians are being drawn from deep belief to fluff that Warren and Osteen preach. They are nice - but being a Christian isn't always nice - it's sometimes down and dirty - especially the repentence part which they both forget.

Anyway, PDL has really messed with my church in ways they don't even realize. But there is a core of us who did not read and study the book and we pray against the effects of the book on our church. That's all I can say.

I'm standing in prayer with you.

 

[BarbB]

I'm standing in prayer with you.

Thank you so much, TOL. Inverness Church of God and Pastor Larry Powers. Pray for them!

 

[qpmomma]

Well, it didn't do that for me. And it focussed on Warren's view of Jesus.

It's hard to explain. Since I was saved and from a truly depraved life, the Holy Spirit puts a tough check on me. I felt as nearly upset reading PDL as reading a romance writer's sexy potboiler. I put the book down, quit the women's prayer group which was studying the book, did not go to the Sunday p.m. services which discussed the book, and deep sixed the book. At first I thought it was because Warren was teaching baby stuff to mature Christians. Now I believe that it is more nefarious than that. Not that I think Warren was out to deceive, but that he's been used. Certainly Christians are being drawn from deep belief to fluff that Warren and Osteen preach. They are nice - but being a Christian isn't always nice - it's sometimes down and dirty - especially the repentence part which they both forget.

Anyway, PDL has really messed with my church in ways they don't even realize. But there is a core of us who did not read and study the book and we pray against the effects of the book on our church. That's all I can say.

I know ppl who say this book has really helped them in thier walk with God. Granted, it's not for everyone and not everyone is going to get something out of it. It depends where you are in your spiritual growth. Some ppl need to hear things pointed out in this book, others have heard it before. Just like with every other Christian book out there. I have to say I like PDL, but I am disturbed when churches spend 40 days on this book, but rarley spend and hour on the Bible.

Christina

 

[9-iron]

Many people write, not to teach a biblical truth, but to actually teach a presupposition, or rather, their personal theological perspective. We have to learn to tell the difference between the two when reading any book.

BINGO!!!!

 

[9-iron]

How is PDL new agey? New age stuff usually is about self. PDL is about taking the focus off of self and on Jesus. That's a good thing, though PDL takes it to an extreme.

Actually from the little I read, it just seemed to put walls up between the believer and the Lord. I almost got the sense of some old 'sherperding' theology in there. The unhealthy 'sherperding', not following Jesus as the true sherperd.

The issue is the author approach to our position in Christ! Basically, I don't agree with him.

 

[justinstout]

Nor me, but I think Justin meant that this particular teaching within the book, not the book itself, telling us to pray for sickness to remain, is junk.
I think he's probably right.

God bless, love Sue

That's exactly what I was referring to.

Thanks Sue.

 

[catlover]

Not that I think Warren was out to deceive, but that he's been used. Certainly Christians are being drawn from deep belief to fluff that Warren and Osteen preach. They are nice - but being a Christian isn't always nice - it's sometimes down and dirty - especially the repentence part which they both forget.


How is it "fluff" to state it's not about you and you were created for God's purpose?