Rick Warren

[janny108]

I read the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Does anyone have an opinion about him?
Jan

 

[madison1101]

I think the book is excellent. I don't know much about him to give an opinion. I know of ministries to people with addictions that are at his church.

 

[Ann Doupont]

That book is very popular. It didn't do anything for me, as I'm already doing the things he suggested. Possibly the book is for those who don't have know their purpose, or know that they have one. I'm already purpose-driven.

About Rick Warren, I don't really know anything about him.

Ann

 

[Mr_E]

I was actually thinking about reading that book. My church had a big group that would meet and talk about the book, and I have been curious to see what it is all about ever since. I almost bought it the other day. Has anybody else read the book, and if so what did you think of it?

 

[joyousliving]

I don't think much of the book.

It seems to say alot of contradictory things. There is no way to check his teaching against scripture because he uses SO many different translations. It wasn't very good at pointing us back to scripture.

I did participate in a study within our church. The good news is that a couple of the participants became regular members of our church. The bad news is that we didn't open our bibles much during this study.

 

[Sketcher]

This is why we need to have a good, Biblical foundation before reading books like that. If we've already got an accurate picture of what the New Testament says, we've got a whole lot memorized that we can check books like Mr. Warren's against. Also, there IS writing down the verses he uses and looking them up in your trusted translation.

 

[janny108]

What has he said that is questioned?

Jan

 

[joyousliving]

This is why we need to have a good, Biblical foundation before reading books like that. If we've already got an accurate picture of what the New Testament says, we've got a whole lot memorized that we can check books like Mr. Warren's against. Also, there IS writing down the verses he uses and looking them up in your trusted translation.

I have a number of translations at my disposal, either through my own personal library or online. If you take a look at Mr Warren's book he uses so many translations that it is not likely that the average person would have all of them. I surely don't. Additionally, some of the translations he uses are not highly regarded.

No one in our study had the time or the resources to really test the cites in this book. That is one of the primary reasons why I disliked it.

 

[Sketcher]

I have a number of translations at my disposal, either through my own personal library or online. If you take a look at Mr Warren's book he uses so many translations that it is not likely that the average person would have all of them. I surely don't. Additionally, some of the translations he uses are not highly regarded.

What I meant is write down the verse references and look them all up in your favorite translation, so you'll know what the Bible really says on the matter. You don't need umpteen translations to check to see any/all differences between what Mr. Warren says and what the Bible says.

No one in our study had the time or the resources to really test the cites in this book. That is one of the primary reasons why I disliked it.

That sucks, it really does. Every class should have at least one person who does that, and it really should be the one teaching the class. I'm just a stickler for that kind of thing, I wound up being the one checking teachings with Scripture when I took "Created to be God's Friend" by Henry Blackaby.

 

[chava]

I read the book. My whole youth group did when we did a church camp with children it was something complimentary not required but it was good.

 

[joyousliving]

What I meant is write down the verse references and look them all up in your favorite translation, so you'll know what the Bible really says on the matter. You don't need umpteen translations to check to see any/all differences between what Mr. Warren says and what the Bible says.

I see your point about checking. I imagine that would have made it a bit easier.

That sucks, it really does. Every class should have at least one person who does that, and it really should be the one teaching the class. I'm just a stickler for that kind of thing, I wound up being the one checking teachings with Scripture when I took "Created to be God's Friend" by Henry Blackaby.

I am a stickler for checking as well. And I don't believe in relying on someone else's interpretation for checking either. I simply found that the book was too burdensome to check and pitched it in the trash.

There are lots of good Christian writers out there that are challenging without making it overly difficult to test their teachings. I shall stick with them and pass over guys like Warren.

The good news is that our group moved on to studying 1 Peter using more traditional methods and we are all happier with it.

 

[Richard]

My whole church read it. I personally disliked it. It had repetivness that was unpleasing to read every night. I have read way better "Churchwide" devoionals. That's my take on it

 

[kathydiane]

I, personally, liked the book. I didn't find anything that was unbiblical myself. There was a point or two in the book I think that I may have not agreed with, but his views were not contradictory to anything I've read in the Bible, nor were mine.

 

[joyousliving]

My whole church read it. I personally disliked it. It had repetivness that was unpleasing to read every night. I have read way better "Churchwide" devoionals. That's my take on it

Yep why settle for okay study materials when there are many things that are far better out there to take a look at. For example, I prefer anything by John Piper over Rick Warren.

 

[janny108]

I liked it initially, but then found out some things he says are not in line with scripture. It seems like a recipe to build a megachurch like he has, and to me that is a little fishy. There's some good things in there though, I like the way he writes. Look up Rick Warren on the web, though, and you'll find out what I mean.
Jan

 

[brettnolan]

I liked it initially, but then found out some things he says are not in line with scripture. It seems like a recipe to build a megachurch like he has, and to me that is a little fishy. There's some good things in there though, I like the way he writes. Look up Rick Warren on the web, though, and you'll find out what I mean.
Jan

To reiterate a previous question...WHAT is not in line with Scripture? We need some examples.

 

[janny108]

Well, it's easier to say to look up Rick Warren errors in google. You'll find them that way. Too numerous to mention. I can say that he is being scrutinized since he is using a lot of bible translations to prove his theories that upon closer inspection, are most likely false. Ex. he says to get saved just believe and receive. No word about repentance. Different translations evidently say different things. I'm not saying anymore.
Jan

 

[joyousliving]

To reiterate a previous question...WHAT is not in line with Scripture? We need some examples.

Rather than rely on someone else to do your homework, I suggest you check the book out from your public library and read it. Take look at the scripture quotes and check them against your bible. Ask God to lead you.

This is not easy work. Which is why most people sit down and read the book and don't see anything wrong with it.

 

[Everglaze]

Rick Warren doesn't even use full verses. He just uses the ones that sound nice, and then discontinues to use the rest of the verse. It's almost as if he's just watering down the Gospel. Since, things like that are taken out of context...and the fact that there is no mention of repentance, it makes me believe that people shouldn't just study this book without discernment. It's like being taken captive into a chocolate-coated cake with a nasty tasting butter cream inside. There's no study on God in most "Purpose Driven Life -- BIBLE studies"...no, it's all about the Rick Warren study.

 

[InLoveWithGod]

I thought that book was wondeful i really enjoyed it.