Rick Warren published The Purpose Driven Church in 1995. Preceding the title page were forty-one endorsements written by many well-known luminaries spanning both the evangelical and non-evangelical spectrums. These included pastors such as Adrian Rogers, Pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennessee; Jack Hayford, Pastor of The Church On The Way, Van Nuys, California; Robert H. Schuller, Pastor of The Chrystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, California; and Eddie Gibbs, Associate Rector of All Saints Parish, Beverly Hills, California. Denominational officials included Ken Hemphill, President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; Jim Henry, President of the Southern Baptist Convention; Henry J. Schmidt, President of Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary; Archibald Hart, Dean, School of Psychology, Fuller Seminary; Thom S. Rainer, Dean, Billy Graham School, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Elmer L. Towns, Dean, School of Religion, Liberty University; Jerry Falwell, Chancellor, Liberty University; and Bill Bright, President of Campus Crusade for Christ International. Also endorsing the book was Leonard Sweet, Dean of Drew Theological Seminary.[1] Sweet professes to be an evangelical but is leading supporter of the New Spirituality, aka “New Age Spirituality”. Sweet has distilled the pantheistic teachings of many New Age leaders into what he calls quantum spirituality which “bonds us to all creation as well as to other members of the human family.”[2]
Two decades after the book’s publication, many are seeing the damaging effects of the Purpose Driven model of doing church on American evangelicalism. How can this be when only twenty years earlier, many respected and doctrinally sound leaders in the evangelical church placed a glowing stamp of approval on Warren’s book and his methods? First, we must remember that in 1995, Rick Warren was a rising star in the evangelical world; however, he and his methods were not widely known throughout the evangelical church. Warren’s Saddleback Church was growing rapidly, but most Christian leaders had not delved beneath the surface of his philosophies and methods to determine what drove its growth. Second, it is a natural and common practice for well-known Christian leaders to give a “hand-up” to energetic young pastors that appeared to be destined for stardom. Robert Schuller had a similar “hand-up” from each of the leaders of the two broad currents of American evangelicalism. In 1957, internationally renowned Norman Vincent Peale preached from the top of a concession shack for Robert Schuller whose church was located in a drive-in movie theater.[3] In 1970, while Schuller’s was still in the earlier and less doctrinally-deviant days of his ministry, Billy Graham encouraged Schuller to go on television with his ministry.[4]
Growing up on a dairy farm, I was naturally an expert on the freshness of milk. There were two tests to determine if milk was “blinky” which meant that it was close to being soured. The first test was to smell the milk. Although it may not have smelled sour, there were occasions when it still seemed that there was something just not quite right about the milk. This called for a second test—the milk had to be tasted. Although the milk may not have soured, the taste test would determine if it was blinky. A mere sip could cause one’s eyes to blink because of its assault on the taste buds. Another reason for the use of the term “blink” arose in more superstitious times when one supposedly blinked under the gaze of an evil eye. In those less enlightened eras, evil influences also were believed to have caused milk to be bewitched or turned sour by witchcraft.[5]
Twenty years ago Rick Warren’s purpose driven message and methods were not well-known but had been newly explained in his 400 page book. For many the book had passed the smell. Yet, some perceived that there may be something not just quite right about Warren’s message and methods but were inclined to give him the benefit of a doubt. In other words, they didn’t want to judge Warren’s work without all the facts. It deserved a taste test.
Blinky milk is not served to drink, but it is not thrown out either. It is used for making breads, biscuits, and cornbread but must be cooked at high temperatures that eliminate potentially dangerous bacteria. Although passing the smell test, it is almost certain that many of those endorsing Warren’s book did not totally agree with his message and some of his methods but were willing to withhold final judgement until a taste test could be done. Like blinky milk, if Warren’s message and methods did not pass the taste test, perhaps there may still be some potential for good to come from Warren’s efforts. In addition to fresh milk and blinky milk, there is a third stage in which milk becomes curdled or soured. Curdled milk has not only separated, but the solids have settled to the bottom of the container as curds. Curdled milk is harmful to humans and cannot be consumed. It must be thrown out or fed to the livestock.
After twenty years, it has become obvious to many that the Purpose Driven Church model has changed the direction of the evangelical church in America. There are some good things that have come from portions of Warren and the Church Growth movement’s message and methods, but there has been preaching and innovations which over time have proven to be misinterpretations or misapplications of scripture. Warren and his Church Growth peers have roused a lethargic and disinterested evangelical church that since the 1960s has slumbered through or ignored the message of Christ’s great commission because of a hostile, humanistic culture. But in their zealous effort to make disciples, they have failed to understand that the mission is to the sinner and not the unchurched. Warren and his peers have also called attention to the needs of the hurting masses outside the walls of the local church. But in practice this has often become a retro-social gospel focused on social justice, poverty, and building an earthly kingdom instead of building His kingdom that is “not of this world.”
Far more grievous and disturbing than misinterpretation and misapplication of the scriptures, Warren and other Church Growth ministries have allowed into the evangelical church the spirit of the world and many heretical New Age philosophies. These philosophies have mixed with and curdled the sincere milk of His Word. But the Bible says, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.” [1 Peter 2:2. KJV] To understand what the Bible means by sincere, one need only look at its synonyms: genuine, honest, truthful, and authentic. Real kingdom growth comes from no other source.
The Church Growth-Purpose Driven message offers many counterfeits of the Bible’s doctrines and teachings. A counterfeit may work for a while but doesn’t perform as well as the genuine article. Over time defects appear that are not covered by a guarantee from its maker. The once-valued diamond and gold-plated ring is found to be merely a bit of glass mounted on a gold-toned band. The knife made of cheap metal quickly loses it edge. A cheap imitation of a hardened-steel wrench can’t stand the pull of the mechanic. But counterfeits are not only defective and disappoint, they can be life-threatening. So it is with the Christian whose eternal life with God is threatened by New Age counterfeits of biblical doctrines and teachings. It is in this area that the efforts of Warren and many others in the Church Growth movement have caused the greatest concerns. Because of the curdling effect of New Age poisons which have been mixed with the biblical message in many evangelical churches, the Church Growth-Purpose Driven message has greatly weakened or destroyed the integrity and effectiveness of those churches that have embraced its message.
The full title of Warren’s book is The Purpose Driven Church – Growth Without Compromising Your Message or Mission. But after much research and in light of the examinations and conclusions discussed in previous chapters, it is this author’s considered belief that Warren has compromised and damaged the mission of the church through misinterpretation and misapplication of scripture. Additionally, Warren’s strong associations and interactions with leaders of false religions and his associations with and endorsement of New Age leaders and their books have damaged the integrity of the church and given cultural legitimacy to the enemies of Christ and the church.
The statements of the author should not be taken at face value. Rather, the reader must do his own taste test of the Church Growth-Purpose Driven message and methods which will be conducted over the next several chapters. In performing this test we must follow the example of the Bereans and not the Thessalonian Jews. Acts 17:1-9 describes Paul and Silas’ days in Thessalonica. As was his custom, Paul went to the synagogue and for three weeks argued with the Jews from the scriptures that it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead. A great many were persuaded—some Jews, some Greeks, and not a few of the leading women. But other Jews who were jealous of Paul incited the wicked rabble rousers, gathered a crowd, and created havoc in the city. They eventually attacked the home of Jason, Paul’s host. The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away for their own safety. They went to Berea and again to the synagogue.
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. [Acts 17:11-13. KJV] [emphasis added]
The Bereans did not uncritically accept what Paul preached to them but checked Paul’s message against the scriptures. In the next several chapters the philosophy, tenets, practices, and methods of the Church Growth movement as preached and practiced by Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, and other Church Growth leaders will be examined in the light and context of the scriptures as has already been done with regard to the ministries of Norman Vincent Peale and Robert Schuller.
This is not about Warren and Hybels. It appears that, like Peale and Schuller before them, they are sincere, good, and caring men with personal integrity and a professed love for God, but those things are for God to judge. However, the Bible tells us to beware of many seemingly well-intentioned men and women who for a variety of reasons bring heresy into the church and cause multitudes to go to hell for want of a truthful witness. We cannot beware unless we are aware of those coming to us with pleasing words but peddling a blinky or curdled message.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [Matthew 7:15-23. KJV]
Larry G. Johnson
Sources:
[1] Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995), pp. 1-4 (unnumbered).
[2] Warren B. Smith, A “Wonderful” Deception, (Magalia, California: Mountain Stream Press, 2011), pp. 103-104.
[3] George Mair, A Life With Purpose, (New York: Berkeley Books, 2005), p. 108.
[4] Robert H. Schuller, My Journey, HarperSanFrancisco, 2001), p. 293.
[5] “blinky,” Word Wizard. http://www.wordwizard.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=18809 (accessed November 2, 2015).
