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Rick Warren

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Rick Warren (born January 28, 1954 in San Jose, California, is the popular yet controversial Evangelical Christian pastor of Saddleback Church, one of the largest churches in the United States.

The media has occasionally referred to him as "America's most influential spiritual leader" and "America’s Pastor." U.S. News and World Report named Warren one of America's Top 25 Leaders in the October 31, 2005 issue of the magazine. At the same time though, Warren has been criticized by many leading Christian pastors and teachers for what they consider to be questionable teachings and practices, such as various tactics for increasing church attendance.

He is perhaps best known as the author of The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life. The former is listed in "100 Christian Books That Changed the 20th Century", and has been described as “The best book on entrepreneurship, management, and leadership in print.” The latter has sold over 25 million copies, making it the bestselling hardback in American history according to Publisher’s Weekly. However, both books have come under fierce and widespread criticism from other evangelical teachers for their content. Many evangelical teachers question the practices promoted in these books, claiming that they distort the gospel or otherwise employ questionable tactics. Other common criticisms include objections to the accuracy with which it presents the Christian gospel, the accuracy of their Biblical exegesis, and various allegedly unbiblical teachings.

Warren leads the Purpose Driven Network, a global movement of churches in 162 countries. Over 400,000 ministers and priests have been trained worldwide, and 189,000 church leaders subscribe to Ministry Toolbox, his weekly newsletter.

Dr. Warren has advised leaders in the public, private, and faith sectors on leadership development, poverty, health, education, and faith in culture. He has been invited to speak at the United Nations, the World Economic Forum in Davos, the African Union, the Council on Foreign Relations, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, TIME’s Global Health Summit, and numerous congresses around the world. TIME magazine named him one of “15 World Leaders Who Mattered Most in 2004” and in 2005 one of TIME'S 100 Most Influential People in the World.

Warren has lectured at Oxford, Cambridge, the University of Judaism, the Evangelical Theological Society, and numerous seminaries and universities. His six books are known for explaining theology in understandable ways, and have been translated into over 50 languages, Dr. Warren says he teaches theology without using theological terms and telling people it is theology.

Much like his mentors, Bill Hybels and evangelist Billy Graham, Warren is inclusive beyond his Southern Baptist roots. He welcomes pastors and leaders from all denominations to his training programs. Warren claims to stick to the "essentials" of the faith and focus on "loving people into the Kingdom" of God in an attractive way without compromising his faith's essential tenets. Many critics, however, contend that Warren does compromise on various doctrinal truths in his teachings, and that he espouses ecumenical teachings.

Rick and Kay Warren are known for giving away 90% of their income through three foundations: Acts of Mercy, which serves those infected and affected by AIDS, Equipping the Church, which trains church leaders in developing countries, and The Global PEACE Fund, which fights poverty, disease, and illiteracy.

Warren holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from California Baptist University in Riverside, California, a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, as well as a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He also holds several honorary doctorates.

Unlike some well-known Christian pastors, Warren does not have his own television or radio program because he believes it competes with other local churches instead of helping them.

Criticisms of Rick Warren's Books and Teachings

Many Christian authors and teachers have expressed concerns regarding Rick Warren's teachings and writings. While acknowledging some valuable content in his books, these authors and teachers complain that Warren tends to use sloppy exegesis, inaccurate paraphrases of the Bible, ecumenical teachings and a watered-down presentation of the Christian gospel. Many have also complained about pragmatism in his books, alleging that he endorses church practices based on their outcome, rather than whether they are doctrinally sound.

Warren has also been criticized for affiliation with Bill Hybels and his "seeker-sensitive" or "seeker-friendly" approach to church growth. This "seeker-friendly" movement has been criticized for being more interested with, and catering to, people's (often self-centered) "wants" rather than their real "need" (the latter representing traditional Biblical preaching). Critics also complain about the quality and content of the teachings espoused within this movement.

The P.E.A.C.E. Plan

Rick Warren has been engaged in various humanitarian efforts. These efforts have focused on five problems in particular, which Warren refers to as "Global Goliaths."

GLOBAL GIANT #1 - SPIRITUAL EMPTINESS: Billions of people live without hope and purpose. They have little to live on, and even less to live for. Their lives lack meaning. They don’t know that they were made by God and for God, that he loves them, that their lives are not an accident, and that they were made to last forever. They don’t know that God wants them to know him and his purposes for their lives.

GLOBAL GIANT #2 -EGOCENTRIC LEADERSHIP: Most of the problems in our world could have been solved years ago if we had more unselfish leaders. There is a severe shortage of servant leadership on our planet. Instead, in much of the world, self-centered, and even corrupt leaders in both public and private sectors abuse their power to serve themselves instead of using their power and influence for the good of those who need help the most.

GLOBAL GIANT #3 - EXTREME POVERTY: Half of our world -- three billion people -- live on less than two dollars a day. About one and a half billion live on less that one dollar a day. One-sixth of the world’s population lives in slums, in grinding, dehumanizing poverty.

GLOBAL GIANT #4 -PANDEMIC DISEASES: While a cure is yet to be found for the 40 million people infected with HIV/AIDS worldwide, billions of others suffer from curable and/or preventable diseases such as malaria (300 million) parasites, typhus, yellow fever, polio, measles, mumps, leprosy, diarrhea and water-born eye diseases. What is unconscionable is that most of these diseases we learned how to cure or prevent in the 19th and 20th century, yet billions still suffer needlessly in the 21st century because we’ve lacked the leaders who will say “Enough is enough! We are going to eradicate this!”

GLOBAL GIANT #5 -ILLITERACY AND EDUCATION: Half of our world is functionally illiterate. 70% of the world is still an oral culture. What hope is there for these people in the global economy if they cannot read and write?

These problems are so huge that every attempt by the public and private sector has failed. Warren believes the only organization big enough to take on these problems is the network of Christian churches around the world. With 2.1 billion members, and universal distribution in practically every village, it is a sleeping giant awaiting to be mobilized. The church was global long before anyone else even thought of the idea.

The P.E.A.C.E. Plan is a church-to-church plan, using small groups, to Plant churches, Equip servant leaders, Assist the poor, Care for the sick, and Educate the next generation. For the past 2 years,4,500 Saddleback members have been quietly testing the prototype in 63 countries. The plan will be released to other churches for use in2006

Warren ways "A stool needs 3 legs to stand, and it will take all three sectors working together- public (governments), private (businesses), and faith (churches)."

Work in Rwanda

Time magazine dated August 22, 2005, has run an article about Rick Warren's efforts in genocide tormented Rwanda. Warren has been asked by President Paul Kagame to help his country become a "Purpose-Driven nation." Over 2,000 Saddleback church members have agreed to go to Rwanda in small groups to initiate a national strategy for Warren's P.E.A.C.E. Plan to (P)lant congregations, (E) Equip servant leaders (A)Assist the poor (C) Care for the sick, and (E)Educate the next generation. Warren has already enlisted the cooperation of 600 Rwandan churches, key business leaders, and leaders of parliament in Rwanda

Media Quotes

The Weekly Standard - “…clearly among the two or three most influential Americans working from the West coast.”

The Economist-“Rick Warren is arguably the most influential pastor in America.”

The Times (London)-“Business and political leaders across America are turning to Rick Warren for guidance.”

Forbes - “Were it a business, Saddleback church would be compared with Dell, Google or Starbucks.”

ABC News- “The Purpose-Driven Life is the epicenter of a spiritual shockwave taking root across America in unlikely places like offices and university campuses. It has become a movement.”

TIME -“Movie stars and political leaders aren't the only ones turning to Rick Warren for spiritual guidance. Millions of people — from NFL and LPGA players to corporate executives to high school students to prison inmates — meet regularly to discuss The Purpose Driven Life.”

Notes

Bibliography

  • The Purpose Driven Church (ISBN 0310201063)
  • The Purpose Driven Life (ISBN 0310205719)
  • Answers To Life's Difficult Questions (ISBN 0966089529)
  • The Power To Change Your Life(ISBN 0966089510)
  • What on Earth Am I Here For? Booklet (ISBN: 0310264839)
  • Personal Bible Study Methods (ISBN 0966089502)

External links

External links to critiques of Rick Warren and his Purpose Driven® movement

Articles, essays and audios dealing with concerns raised regarding Rick Warren and his Purpose Driven® movement, his teachings and associations.

Audio resources

Rick Warren's "Purpose Driven" philosophy was examined from several angles.
A local church often takes on the Purpose Driven mold after a pastor expresses his "vision" (not God's vision) for the church, gains the support of leaders in the church, and finally announces it to the congregation, with the expectation that all will embrace the "vision". Those who do not agree with the changes, are characterized as opposing God's vision, and asked to leave.
In a way each church becomes a franchise, (like McDonalds), where standardized methods, preaching, etc. are introduced, and only those who agree can stay. But, like McDonalds, the menu is pared down to a few attractive messages, while hard biblical truths are ignored.

Articles and Essays

A Berean's Discernment Tool for The Purpose Driven Life

A Critique of Rick Warren's P.E.A.C.E. Plan & UN Goals

Pyromarketing

Rick Warren's use of Pyromarketing to sell his Purpose Driven® products.

In 2005, Zondervan senior marketing editor Greg Stielstra published Pyromarketing, which in part described how The Purpose Driven Life was marketed. This led to a dispute with Rick Warren, who felt that it was inappropriate to associate the success of his book with marketing, rather than with spiritual explanations.

Books

I have received many emails over the last two years from people who are concerned about what has happened to their church since it became Purpose Driven. This book will explain what has happened, why, and how a Purpose Driven church is different from a Bible-centered, Gospel church.
Excerpt from Redefining Christianity:
"Jesus said, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:19). Not even the greatest marketing genius can change this without redefining the church. Seeking the approval of the world is precisely what the Purpose Driven movement is all about."
Bob DeWaay
247 Pages from 21st Century Press
Available January, 2006
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