CalvinandHodges
Puritan Board Junior
Hi:
Below is from a tract I received by a friend that was published by Southwest Radio Ministeries. I thought it alarming enough to reproduce part of it below.
"In the past ten years a large percentage of churches in America, and in other countries, have changed from a traditional New Testament church model to a contemporary Purpose Driven model, many with sorrowful results. Contrary to Purpose Diven Church proponents, millions have been leaving their churches after the change occurred. I is important that every church member know if their church is targeted for a Purpose Driven Church takeover.
Initially, a small clique of church staff, possibly including the pastor or a new pastor, plans the change without telling the rest of the church membership. Church Transitions, an associate of Saddleback Church in California, trains the clique initiating the change in eight published steps. The church membership is not to be informed of the transition until the fourth step. After the sixth step in the process of change, if there are some in the church who voice concerns, the following is suggested:
1) Identify those who are resisting the changes;
2) Assess the effectiveness of their opposition:
3) Befriend those wh are undecided about the changes;
4) Marginalize more persistent resisters;
5) Vilify those who stay and fight;
6) Establish new rules that will silence all resistance.
This means the church membership is not told until it is too late to make a difference. In other words the members either accept the changes, or leave the church, which they may have served and given to build."
The tract then lists 24 symptoms that indicate a change to the Purpose Driven style. Here are a few:
1) Change in music to a contemporary rock style.
4) Repetitive singing of praise lyrics.
5) Dressing down to casual attire.
7) The pastor, or a new leader with a few assistants, usually four, takes charge of all church business.
10) Sunday morning, evening, and/or Wednesday prayer meetings are changed to other times; some may be eliminated.
14) In accordance with Dr. Warren's instructions, new version Bibles are used; or only verses flashed on a screen are referenced during regular services.
15) Purpose Driven Church films, purchased from Saddleback, precede or are used during regular services.
17) The word "church" is often taken from the name of the church, and the church may be called a "campus." Denominational names may also be removed.
20) The elimination of such words as "unsaved," "lost," :sin," "Hell," "Heaven" and other gospel verities from the pastor's messages.
22) The marginalizing, or ostracizing, of all who are not avid promoters of the new Purpose Driven program."
Later on the tract reads:
"Dr. Warren stated on may 23, 2005, at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: "The word 'fundamentalist' actually comes from a document in the 1920's called the Five Fundamentals of the Faith. And it is a very legalistic, narrow view of Christianity."
The five fundamentals of the faith to which Dr. Warren objected are:
1) The inerrancy and full authority of the Bible.
2) The virgin birth and full Deity of Jesus Christ.
3) The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
4) Christ's atoning, vicarious death for the sins of the world.
5) The literal second coming of Jesus Christ."
The tract concludes:
" To start a Purpose Driven Church or change to one with the full knowledge and consent of the membership is one thing, but to practically steal a church from Christians who have given and served to build it without their knowledge or consent is quite another. One major problem of the PDC is that while food and entertainment may temporarily attract teenagers, when the senior adults leave, the church closes for lack of financial support. Charles Spurgeon said, "The biggest lie the Devil ever told was that churches can win souls with entertainment."
I guess my overall question is whether or not Rick Warren should be considered a brother in Christ, or, a destroyer of the Church?
Blessings,
Rob
Below is from a tract I received by a friend that was published by Southwest Radio Ministeries. I thought it alarming enough to reproduce part of it below.
"In the past ten years a large percentage of churches in America, and in other countries, have changed from a traditional New Testament church model to a contemporary Purpose Driven model, many with sorrowful results. Contrary to Purpose Diven Church proponents, millions have been leaving their churches after the change occurred. I is important that every church member know if their church is targeted for a Purpose Driven Church takeover.
Initially, a small clique of church staff, possibly including the pastor or a new pastor, plans the change without telling the rest of the church membership. Church Transitions, an associate of Saddleback Church in California, trains the clique initiating the change in eight published steps. The church membership is not to be informed of the transition until the fourth step. After the sixth step in the process of change, if there are some in the church who voice concerns, the following is suggested:
1) Identify those who are resisting the changes;
2) Assess the effectiveness of their opposition:
3) Befriend those wh are undecided about the changes;
4) Marginalize more persistent resisters;
5) Vilify those who stay and fight;
6) Establish new rules that will silence all resistance.
This means the church membership is not told until it is too late to make a difference. In other words the members either accept the changes, or leave the church, which they may have served and given to build."
The tract then lists 24 symptoms that indicate a change to the Purpose Driven style. Here are a few:
1) Change in music to a contemporary rock style.
4) Repetitive singing of praise lyrics.
5) Dressing down to casual attire.
7) The pastor, or a new leader with a few assistants, usually four, takes charge of all church business.
10) Sunday morning, evening, and/or Wednesday prayer meetings are changed to other times; some may be eliminated.
14) In accordance with Dr. Warren's instructions, new version Bibles are used; or only verses flashed on a screen are referenced during regular services.
15) Purpose Driven Church films, purchased from Saddleback, precede or are used during regular services.
17) The word "church" is often taken from the name of the church, and the church may be called a "campus." Denominational names may also be removed.
20) The elimination of such words as "unsaved," "lost," :sin," "Hell," "Heaven" and other gospel verities from the pastor's messages.
22) The marginalizing, or ostracizing, of all who are not avid promoters of the new Purpose Driven program."
Later on the tract reads:
"Dr. Warren stated on may 23, 2005, at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: "The word 'fundamentalist' actually comes from a document in the 1920's called the Five Fundamentals of the Faith. And it is a very legalistic, narrow view of Christianity."
The five fundamentals of the faith to which Dr. Warren objected are:
1) The inerrancy and full authority of the Bible.
2) The virgin birth and full Deity of Jesus Christ.
3) The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
4) Christ's atoning, vicarious death for the sins of the world.
5) The literal second coming of Jesus Christ."
The tract concludes:
" To start a Purpose Driven Church or change to one with the full knowledge and consent of the membership is one thing, but to practically steal a church from Christians who have given and served to build it without their knowledge or consent is quite another. One major problem of the PDC is that while food and entertainment may temporarily attract teenagers, when the senior adults leave, the church closes for lack of financial support. Charles Spurgeon said, "The biggest lie the Devil ever told was that churches can win souls with entertainment."
I guess my overall question is whether or not Rick Warren should be considered a brother in Christ, or, a destroyer of the Church?
Blessings,
Rob
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