40 Days 2.0: How Does God View Man?
I’m blogging on Rick Warren (RW) for the purpose of polishing an apologetic against the seeker sensitive movement in general. I see a need for Christians to be ready to give a defense of the true Gospel versus a watered-down gospel or God’s Gospel message as given to us in the Bible as opposed to a message made up by man to remove all offensiveness.
Rick Warren delivered the second message entitled, Looking Up When You’re Burned Out, in the 40 Days of Purpose series on 10/27 and 10/28. I will skip the sermon summary and go straight to something that was touched on in the last Saddleback related post. A strong thread of RW’s theology seems to be that God sees something desirable in man. RW’s message is opened up by the statement of “God enjoys watching you be you, because he made you.”
A quote from RW’s Purpose Driven Life will serve to show the idea of God’s man-shaped hole in his heart (hat tip to Ingrid Schlueter). Page 69 of Purpose Driven Life says, “Fortunately, the Bible gives us a clear example of a life that gives pleasure to God. The man’s name was Noah…But there was one man who made God smile.” Warren continues with a quote from Genesis 6:8 of the Living Bible telling us that “Noah was a pleasure to the Lord.” RW expresses the words that he thinks God would use from this verse as, “This guy brings me pleasure. He makes me smile. I’ll start over with his family.” Although the Living Bible says, “Noah was a pleasure to the Lord”, the NASB, ESV and NIV say, “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” The NKJV says, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”
We have two opposing views here. RW’s view is that Noah brings God pleasure and the biblical view shows that God’s grace delivered Noah through the flood. RW’s view describes Noah already having something worthy in him at the time God evaluated mankind, while the latter describes God giving unmerited favor to Noah. Romans 1:29-32 describes the state of mankind without grace and supports the latter view:
29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (ESV)
Genesis 6:9 says “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation.” Does this verse refute my position and say that God actually found something in Noah worthy of the smile of God? No! The righteousness found in Noah was due to the provision of grace on God’s part. God’s supply of grace produced the righteous behavior. Noah was no better than the grace of God made him. 1 Cor. 15:10 describes how the grace of God flows to the elect. The Christian’s accomplishments are due to God’s grace. The apostle Paul did not credit himself with the work he performed. Instead he glories in being a mere vessel in the work of the Lord.
Dr. Morey gave a two-part sermon in November and December 2006 on the grace of God in the Old Testament. The ministry of Faith Defenders has provided the audio below, so strap on your scuba tanks as Dr. Morey takes you deep into scripture and explains how Noah, Abraham and other Old Testament figures found the grace of God.
Grace in the Old Testament Part 1
Grace in the Old Testament Part 2
3 Comments, Comment or Ping
Reformed RICH
Great work Drew! Keep up the great work! And exposing the purpose driven (STRIFE).
Nov 26th, 2007
Josh in AK
Awesome Drew, thanks for giving us more on the PDL.
As for the Grace in the Old Testament sermons, I can attest to their greatness!
I listened to these awesome sermons over and over on many a long lonely trip driving my truck from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay. Alot of my truck drivin “buddies” listen to “books on tape”, I listened to Dr. Bob on Ipod and spread the word via FM shortwave radio and cb on the haulroad!
Excellent!
Nov 26th, 2007
Reformed Mama
Well done!
Nov 28th, 2007
Reply to “40 Days 2.0: How Does God View Man?”