40 Days 2.0: No Repentance Necessary
You may have heard, Saddleback Church is going through the 40 Days of Purpose campaign again. I’ve read many opinions/critiques and listened to radio programs that describe the vacuous teaching of the Purpose Driven Life, while also hearing praise from many Christians in Southern California that have gone through the 40 days campaign. There was a period around the year 2002, where it seemed like there was no escape from the Purpose Driven Life (PDL). I’ve come across a few people in Orange County that attend Saddleback Church. As I speak with these individuals, it becomes apparent that they need to hear the Gospel. You may ask, “Why should a committed Saddleback attendee need to hear the Gospel?”. After listening to a recent Rick Warren (RW) sermon, it becomes glaringly apparent. I’ll describe the sermon and then leave my comments to the end.
The sermon was given on October 21, 2007 and was the first in a series of the famous 40 Days of Purpose. RW tells the audience that he will answer three questions: Why am I alive? (a question of existence), Does my life matter? (a question of significance) and Is there a purpose for my life? (a question of intention).
The answer to the first question of “Why am I alive?” is: We were all created to be loved by God. RW quotes from 1 John 4:7-9 and then offers a commentary emphasizing that God IS Love. He says that God created the whole universe for the sole purpose of loving people. Three sentences that are repeated throughout the message by RW go something like this, “God will never love you any more and never any less. There is nothing we can do to make God stop loving us. We cannot make God not love us.” To answer the first question, RW continues with Ephesians 1:4 and comments that “When you let the love of Christ into your heart, you will be made whole from hurts, habits and hang-ups.” RW then uses Jeremiah 31:3 and says that “God’s love won’t quit.”
Three verses serve to answer the second question of “Does my life matter?”. First, God cares about every detail of our lives (Matthew 10:29). Second, God planned our days before our birth (Psalm 139:16). Note: RW uses this point to say that abortion is wrong, because it “short-circuits” God’s plan. I have to pause and ask the question here…Did anyone in the audience see that RW is claiming that everything in history is planned ahead of time and then contradicts himself by saying that our actions “short-circuit” God’s plan? Moving on, the third verse is Ecclesiastes 3:11, which gets commentary from RW saying that God made us to last forever by putting an eternal soul in us. RW also makes the point that “You matter to God” as he stares intently into the camera to drive home his point.
In order to answer to the third question of “Is there a purpose for my life?” RW quotes Proverbs 16:4 (a). It would have been great if he used the whole verse. I about fell out of my chair when he mentioned this verse because I knew what was coming. RW quotes from the first part of the New Living Translation and doesn’t include the whole verse. The NLT says “The Lord has made everything for his own purposes.” The second part of the verse says, “…even the wicked for the day of disaster”. No doubt that the itching ears of the audience would have stormed out if RW presented the whole truth of Proverbs 16:4. RW answers the third question by commenting that there is no created thing that does not have a purpose.
RW sums it up by saying, “It’s never too late to become what you might have been. God has a purpose for your life. He wants the rest of your life to be the best of your life.” RW continues the humanism by stating that we discover our purpose by getting to know God. I quote, “Do you want to know why you have the problems you do? Get to know God. You want to know how to build strong relationships? Get to know God. You want to know how to make the most of your life? Get to know God. You want to know your purpose in life? Get to know God. Do you want to know why you’re stressed out all the time? Get to know God.”
RW closes with inviting everybody to pray a simple prayer that goes like this, “Dear God, I realize that if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t even be alive. Because you made me, you must have a purpose for my life. I admit that I have focused on my plans and my purposes, not yours. I want to know you and I want to know why I was put on this planet. I want to do your purposes for my life. So I commit the next 40 days to learning all about it. Thank you that you made me to love me. Thank you that you cared for me, even when I didn’t know it. Thank you that you cared about all of the details of my life. Thank you that I was made to last forever. Dear God, I want a life filled with meaning, so the best that I understand it, I ask that Jesus Christ would come into my life and help me to understand why I was created. I want to take the first step with you today. In your name, Amen.”
RW further invites people to the prayer garden outside the auditorium to the right or they can be baptized in the heated pool to the left and proper baptismal clothing would be provided.
Congratulations on making it through the sermon summary! I hope that you don’t send me the bill for the big bottle of aspirin that you might have to invest in after reading that.
The idea that we were created by God for the sole purpose of loving us is dangerous at best and blasphemous at worst. God doesn’t need us or desire anything from us to make him complete. Instead, we were created for His glory. A few verses to support this can be found in Romans 11:36, 1 Corinthians 6:20-31 or Revelation 4:11. The best one-liner that I have heard came from a radio host, Ingrid Schlueter at VCY America during an interview that she did with Pastor Bob DeWaay. When they were discussing how RW puts forth the idea that God sees something desirable in mankind, Ingrid quipped, “It’s as if God has a man-shaped hole in his heart”.
In the interest of being brief, I’ll comment on one more item. The prayer that RW leads people in at the end of his sermon requires no repentance. What if there was someone in the audience that sincerely prayed the prayer and immediately went out to be baptized? What would his reason be for being baptized? Maybe he would say, “I’m getting baptized so that I can find my purpose and to understand why I was created”. This person would have no business being baptized. In fact, if someone was to explain the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ to this “seeker”, he may run away and run back to his sin that he loves so much. Jesus Christ was hated by many and said that his disciples would be persecuted: Matthew 5:11 (NASB) – Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Unless God first does the work in this man’s life, this man may feel that he was duped by RW into giving up the sinful life that he loves. Hence the reason why I said at the beginning that faithful attendees of Saddleback may need to hear the gospel. The gospel is not, “You matter to God” or “You were created to be loved by God”. The gospel requires a clear presentation about the holiness of God, the sinfulness of man, the provision of a savior for those who would believe and a response by the sinner after regeneration for a true conversion. When the apostles preached the gospel there was a call to repentance. They never promised that God would set them free from “hurts, habits and hang-ups” or that they would have no stress, no problems and great relationships.
Let us pray that Rick Warren and the pastors of Saddleback would adopt a biblical approach to preaching and evangelism. Instead, they have changed their approach to be suitable to a bunch of non-believers and forsaken God’s Word in the process. They are truly ashamed of the gospel as presented in the bible. Many have pointed out the errors and dangers of the teaching occurring at Saddleback. Let this be yet another call to Saddleback Church to REPENT and preach the whole counsel of God that includes all of his attributes, including those attributes that put fear into the heart of man.
21 Comments, Comment or Ping
E.Speedy Camez
That was a convincing essay. I will join you in praying for Rick Warren and the pastors of Saddleback would adopt a biblical approach to preaching and evangelism.
Well done!
Nov 12th, 2007
Stephen
“No doubt that the itching ears of the audience would have stormed out if RW presented the whole truth of Proverbs 16:4.”
…for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole quarter-pounder with cheese of the counsel of God.
Uh, Rick, Acts 20 says: “20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
And
“26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”
Oh yeah Rick, and:
“28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
and Rick, while we’re at it:
“29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.”
Thanks for the post and commentary Drew!
Nov 12th, 2007
Mario
This so much needs to be known! My mother in law actually attends there on Sundays! Throughout the neighborhood you see the “40″ days of “community” signs. I have been much tempted to go out and put up signs that say “40 Days of BS.” Not bible stories either, more closer to “Barbara Streisand”, as the good Doc refers to. Right on brother Drew!
Nov 13th, 2007
Reformed Mama
Well done…and sad. May God grant repentance 2 Tim.2:25.
Nov 13th, 2007
darrin
Dkerr, nice job. I like the picture you chose. It is very fitting for the gospel of Warren. Notice that Warren’s message is not one of Immersion into the Gospel of the Resurrected Christ, where you may have to endure hardship, loss of friends, job, family, comforts, health, and possibly even life itself. Warrens gospel is a Float. A true position of leisure where one could easily work the self into a back stroke toward the side of the pool for a Mai-Tai and/or some pooltime snacks. A message that contains the true gospel message can be preached at anytime in history and be found as an oasis in the midst of turmoil for believers. I do not even think Warren himself would find comfort in his own message if he were living in 150 A.D. as he must face the roar of the arena and soon the jaws of a wild beast. Would such a message soothe the soul of Warren if he were to be found in a damp, dark prison amongst the vilest rodents and flesh rot of the Ante-Reformers. I would doubt it. Even today in Southern Africa, does such a gospel comfort those fathers who are looking at their children missing limbs, eyes, and innocence simply because their family and tribe will only bow to Christ as King and not Allah, the false prophet muhammad, and his Naziesque followers? I say Warren’s message would be of no comfort to them as well. Our LORD is the same, yesterday, today and forever. Therefore HIS message is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If today’s message is not the same as yesterday’s then it is not the same message of the same LORD.
Nov 13th, 2007
Josh in AK
“I hope that you don’t send me the bill for the big bottle of aspirin that you might have to invest in after reading that.”
I was thinking more about getting a big bottle of whiskey after that. It would make more sense then.:)
Thank you Drew for putting this up for us to read, this guy is a POWERFUL man in America right now, it boggles the mind. But I guess we should expect it in these “signs and wonders” seeker sensitive times we live in.
Please share anything more you have on R-dubya, I for one would appreciate it.
Nov 13th, 2007
Josh in AK
Perfectly put darrin.
That is the truth of the whole matter!
Nov 14th, 2007
Hebba
That photo is hilarious. Great Post!
Saddleback…more like Saddlewhack!
On a serious note… it saddens me that so many people are being led astray.
Nov 14th, 2007
ebert
interesting take on RW he surely is trying to go after the masses.
Nov 18th, 2007
R. C.
Rick Warren is also saved.
These issues you put forth are not a matter of salvation, but of sanctification.
It grieves me that in being so hypervigilent you are equally hypercritical of someone who is a brother in Christ. I’m certain that Rick would not disagree that God works in us toward his own Glory. And that finding our Purpose is quite a similar concept to Find, Follow and Finish God’s will. (A book not yet written).
Helping us through “hurts, habits and hang-ups” is the message of maturing in Christ and by His power.
Yahweh Heals. Indeed, there is no shame in glorifying God by the pastor and the congregation ministering love and prayer to wounded sheep. Saddleback does that quite well. Better in acting out the gospel, one-anothering, than many who might be better at distilling and summarizing it intellectually.
Rick’s not wrong that God loves us though we are wretched, ignorant whores, like Isreal before us. Love IS the fulfillment of the law.
Sure the message is milk, not meat on Sunday. But not everyone can sit around a table, writing on a blog, or standing in front of mic judging others without first taking their rafter out. Sunday isn’t the best place to find what is good about Saddleback. It’s growth is because it has programs available all week that have more depth if you look.
Want a Saddleback sermon on the purpose of evil in a believer’s life? Would that make you happy? Then go hear the testimonies at the recovery groups.
So Rick wrote 1 best selling book about 40 days, and some write 40 books without 1 best seller. Apparently it’s part of God’s will to have Rick’s people minister lovingly to people, while they accept Christ. Don’t you think Yahweh will use those saved individuals at Saddleback to His Glory for His own good pleasure anyway?
Adonai does in fact love us. Even if certain individuals prefer to emphasize the less appealing aspects of the gospel like suffering— in the end the message for believers to get saved, baptized in the Trinity, find God’s purpose and live His will by demonstrating love and encouragement to other believers is a solid message.
Has anyone asked Rick to dinner to talk about this? Maybe he just needs some gumbo and tweeking.
Nov 19th, 2007
Joey Frascella
Amen way to tell it like it is brother!!!
Nov 20th, 2007
Brian James Shanley, Minneapolis, MN
Excellent article. I am cutting & pasting it, and sending it out to my Christian mailing list!
Keep them coming.
BJS
Nov 20th, 2007
SMP
It’s interesting R.C that you said “Even if certain individuals prefer to emphasize the less appealing aspects of the gospel like suffering”
In my experience as a child of God, as I walk more align with the Scriptures the more “suffering” (I like to say “refinement”) occurs.
It is not so much that I like to emphasis it as if it’s the highlight of my day, but I cannot escape it.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 expresses it so eloquently
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflication so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundence, so also our comfort is abundent through Christ.”
I find the refinement to be very appealing and a blessing, not something to hide from.
SMP
Nov 21st, 2007
Stephen Macasil
R.C., you wrote “These issues you put forth are not a matter of salvation, but of sanctification.”
Sanctification is chronologically after justification. Justification equals salvation and presupposes repentance. RW’s message does not require repentance (hence the title). Thus it is not a matter of sanctification, but of salvation.
“But not everyone can sit around a table, writing on a blog, or standing in front of mic judging others without first taking their rafter out.” - I have a better one. Not everyone can (with a clear conscience, with the smile of God, etc) prostitute the gospel of God for the dollar of man without first taking the offense of the gospel out and displacing it with worldly lusts of the flesh.
And what’s with the Hebrew names of God? Ever read the epistle to the Hebrews, the Gospel according to John? You know, the New Testament?
If you respond, please don’t be so cryptic, please. Do you like shrimp or sausage in your gumbo?
Nov 21st, 2007
R. C.
We are saved by grace alone. Our justification is Christ, not our works. What are you talking about? You just said Rick doesn’t require works to be saved. What’s wrong with that?
The act of being baptized and acdepting Chirst’s salvation indicates repentence and humility as well as being subject to Christ as Lord.
No one is required to be completely clean and correct to be saved or we’d all have no hope!
Are you offended by God’s name? Yahweh and Yeshua. Jehovah and Jesus. There is nothing cryptic here.
Nov 25th, 2007
Stephen Macasil
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matt. 3:2
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matt. 4:17
Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. Matt 11:20
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15
So they [the twelve apostles] went out and proclaimed that people should repent. Mark 6:12
I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. Luke 5:32
No, I [Jesus] tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:3
No, I [Jesus again] tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:5
Just so, I [Jesus] tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7
Just so, I [Jesus again] tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10
Then he [Jesus] opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Luke 24:45-47
“The prayer that RW leads people in at the end of his sermon requires no repentance.” Drew Kerr
“These issues you put forth are not a matter of salvation, but of sanctification.” R.C.
“Sanctification is chronologically after justification. Justification equals salvation and presupposes repentance. RW’s message does not require repentance (hence the title). Thus it is not a matter of sanctification, but of salvation.” Stephen Macasil
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. Romans 2:4-5
“The act of being baptized and acdepting Chirst’s salvation indicates repentence and humility as well as being subject to Christ as Lord.” R.C.
Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. Acts 8:13 (Simon was just baptized)
(…5 verses later)
Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” Acts 8:18-23 (he was baptized as an unbeliever and still needed to repent, according to Peter!)
“No one is required to be completely clean and correct to be saved or we’d all have no hope!” R.C.
R.C., you are certainly right in saying this. But, repentance is not becoming completely clean or correct in order to be saved. When the Spirit of God regenerates our heart, enabling us to recognize our own sinfulness and inescapable guilt before God the Judge, and when presented with the perfect and sole substitute for our punishment, Jesus Christ the Messiah, through the preaching of the Gospel, there is a single motion of turning to God for salvation. This one motion of turning to God, requires that one turn away from all else and to Him.
The example of Simon in Acts 8, reveals to us that one can move toward God without turning from sin and to God. Notice how Peter viewed Simon as an unbeliever after Phillip (or those with Phillip) baptized him as a believer.
If you’re dating two gals, and decide to marry one, you must break things off with the other. You cannot marry the one and continue to fool around with the other. Your mind may still be occupied from time-to-time with memories of her (the girlfriend), but those memories must be turned away from in order to devote your full heart to your wife, to whom you must be fully committed.
I hope this helps. If this is over a misunderstanding, may god be glorified in all of our foolishness, beginning with MINE!
Nov 25th, 2007
R. C.
You quote the verse concerning Simon, then why also don’t you pray for Rick as Peter did for his brother Simon—if you indeed believe Rick’s heart is wrong. (By the way, he donated the proceeds of PDLife book. Do you sit as judge over his finances?)
In the prayer, Rick enjoins his congregation:
“I admit that I have focused on my plans and my purposes, not yours.” RW. Sounds like even your own definition of repentance to me.
If Rick didn’t ask people to go down and get baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit, then I’d say go ahead and attack him for misleading people. He doesn’t have a cult, and he isn’t asking people to worship him or only follow his teaching and that of a small group of his leaders or not have Christ.
He’s just a Christian dude with a big audience. With great responsibility comes great accountability.
But you are definitely arguing sanctification issues, not salvation issues.
MT 19:23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
MT 19:25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
MT 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Here’s some Bible software back at ya—-”saved”.
MT 10:22
MT 19:25
MT 24:13
MT 27:42
MK 10:26
MK 13:13
MK 15:31
MK 16:16
LK 7:50
LK 8:12
LK 13:23
LK 18:26
LK 23:35
JN 2:10
JN 5:34
JN 10:9
AC 2:21
AC 2:47
AC 4:12
AC 11:14
AC 15:1
AC 15:11
AC 16:17
AC 16:30
AC 16:31
AC 27:20
AC 27:31
RO 5:9
RO 5:10
RO 8:24
RO 9:27
RO 10:1
RO 10:9
RO 10:10
RO 10:13
RO 11:26
1CO 1:18
1CO 3:15
1CO 5:5
1CO 10:33
1CO 15:2
2CO 2:15
EPH 2:5
EPH 2:8
PHP 1:28
1TH 2:16
2TH 2:10
2TH 2:13
1TI 2:4
1TI 2:15
2TI 1:9
TIT 3:5
HEB 10:39
1PE 3:20
1PE 4:18
The big issue becomes “Saved—now what?” And that is where you become part of a community and find God’s purpose for you. If anything, Rick’s peeps need help with some of their meaty doctrines so that all of those new believers aren’t spiritually starving. Rick usually delegates them off to courses, weekly group meetings and books.
Again, Rick’s the one you need to talk to. Certainly Dr. Bob or others of his caliber of peers would have access if they wished, rather than disfellowshipping each other over using different words to describe the same things. Quit harping and fix it. If it’s God’s will nothing would stop you.
Nov 26th, 2007
Drew Kerr
Hey R.C.,
I’m having trouble understanding your writing, but you said, “You quote the verse concerning Simon, then why also don’t you pray for Rick as Peter did for his brother Simon—if you indeed believe Rick’s heart is wrong”. I wrote the original post and asked my fellow brothers & sisters in Christ to pray that Rick would stop preaching a Gospel focused solely on the love of God.
You also wrote, “Do you sit as judge over his finances?” This statement has nothing to do with the discussion here and seems to be an accusation against Stephen that is unfounded.
You commented on RW’s statement in prayer (”I admit that I have focused on my plans and my purposes, not yours”), stating that this sounds like repentance as defined by Stephen. The statement by RW in the closing prayer is only an admittance of guilt. If someone came up to me and admitted that they slashed the tires on my car and offered no other words, then that wouldn’t be an apology. Furthermore, the holy, almighty and righteous judge called Yahweh demands that the penalty for the things we do in violation of His law be paid for. Where is the idea in RW’s prayer that the violator is sorry for the sin in his life and more importantly, where is the doctrine of trusting in the works of Messiah that he is able to pay the penalty for sin.
Each of your comments states that we are talking about sanctification rather than salvation. The original post is talking about the Gospel being changed by RW. The Gospel is about salvation, as indicated in Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Nov 26th, 2007
Stephen Macasil
“3″ Timothy 1:1-4 [R.C.V.]
1:1 Paul, a Christian dude according to the purpose driven church, of the happier life that is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, p.e.a.c.e., but no repentance necessary.
3 If charges from man be brought against you concerning the message that you preach, 4 remind them that you are just a Christian dude with a big audience.
Nov 26th, 2007
R. C.
Wow. You really are mean people or just really stupidand judgemental or possibly just uneducated or ignorant. I didn’t realize that you know the gospel but not love.
What part of a prayer to God where the prayer admits to wrongly following his own ways and then contrasts that to being willing to find God’s will for their life isn’t repententace? YOU defined repentance, not Stephen. Read what I said!
YOU titled your article “No Repentance Necessary” then YOU quoted Rick’s prayer about repenting, or turning away their ways and toward God’s.
What exactly do you want Rick or his followers to repent of? Do you want them to repent of not repenting when they just repented in prayer to the living God? Do they now need to come to your blog and explain to you exactly what they meant and the details of what they repented of when they say “I admit I focused on my ways not Yours”? Do you need a list? Honestly, what would satisfy you?
Jesus preached a Gospel solely on the love of God. For all the law and it’s punishments or rewards hang upon the idea of love.
LEV 19:18 ” `Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
MT 22:37 Jesus replied: ” `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Nov 27th, 2007
R. C.
LEV 19:18
LEV 19:34
MT 19:19
MT 22:39
MK 12:31
MK 12:33
LK 10:27
RO 13:9
GAL 5:14
JAS 2:8
Also, my comment about finances was obviously regarding Rick, not Stephen since Stephen didn’t pen the Purpose Driven Life nor make donations from the proceeds.
YOU are the one implying Rick’s heart is wrong, like Stephen’s. You gave a financial example from the bible and I responded, asking if you were judge over Rick’s finances.
And Rick’s prayer is not just an empty admission of guilt. It also was a statement of commitment in the opposite direction, and then an action (baptism) to back it up.
It would be like saying “I lead a tire-slashing life, but it’s over.” The tires were slashed by me because I thought it was right, but I’ve learned that’s wrong, and I’m not going to slash tires, I’m going to find a different purpose that honors God and by the way, I’m commiting to that through my action to get baptized. that is the definition of repentence again. Anyway, you’re slashing Rick’s tires, he’s not writing a blog about you.
Futhermore, you go on to say, “Furthermore, the holy, almighty and righteous judge called Yahweh demands that the penalty for the things we do in violation of His law be paid for.”
I don’t know what Gospel you heard, but there’s GOOD NEWS Rick and his followers understand that price was ALREADY paid by JESUS CHRIST.
It doesn’t need to be exacted out of their hides by YOU!
You then accuse:
“Where is the idea in RW’s prayer that the violator is sorry for the sin in his life and more importantly, where is the doctrine of trusting in the works of Messiah that he is able to pay the penalty for sin.”
To answer you, RW quotes Ephesians: 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will– 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
RW preaches the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. That is NOT an apostate Gospel. It is not false doctrine.
Sounds like YOU and yours, not RW and his, do not believe in a Gospel that saves everyone who simply believes on grace, faith and Christ alone. (Romans)
AND SPECIFICALLY to the arrogant, prideful, feeling-superior-to RW, presumptuous dufus who misquotes first Timothy in order to be cruel or think he’s funny, God who you say you represent is not laughing with you. Read the rest from verse 5 because it’s speaking to you:
1 Tim 1:5 “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.”
I will pray for all of you that you follow what Christ says and go directly to the brother you have an issue with first before you put up a website and become full of malicious gossip and slander without even examining yourselves first.
I’d be ashamed to be your pastor if this is what you think represents his opinion, scholarship, or love and encouraging of the Christain community.
Nov 27th, 2007
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