In case you thought Rick Warren was fading into the background giving the New Apostolic Reformation the spotlight, think again. While the NAR “apostles” target youth ripe for revival, Warren is back in the saddle targeting pastors around the globe for his one-world P.E.A.C.E. Plan.
For the first time in almost a decade, Saddleback pastor Rick Warren is bringing back his Purpose Driven Conference for pastors and leaders, and inviting a worldwide audience to stream it online (for a mere $199). The conference takes place at his Lake Forest, California church on June 28 – 30.
In his official invitation, Warren reminded his audience:
“A pastor’s job is not to impress but to influence.”
But the question is, influence them to do what?
The Bible says a pastor’s job is neither to impress nor influence his congregation. His job is to preach the Gospel. True faith comes by hearing the Word of God:
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. (2 Timothy 4:2)
That’s what the Bible says. Let’s take a few minutes to look at the event, what Warren says about it, and then some concerns about the pattern of influence he has had on the visible church.
The Event
In a promotional video, Warren says this is the most influential conference in existence, and that he has been teaching millions of pastors, leaders and congregants around the world to build processes and paradigms for growth. The key to keep growing is to be fast, fluid and flexible.
Of his conference, Warren says it is God’s mandate to bring the training back on American soil as part of his P.E.A.C.E. Plan:
“Now that the PEACE PLAN is mature and impacting millions of people around the world through thousands of churches, God has shifted my focus from church planting to church renewal, beginning in America.”
He explains that the Purpose Driven paradigm is like “the operating system for the church, but we have discovered so many new apps over the last ten years.”
“We need to introduce a new generation to the paradigm all together, and we need to introduce our old friends to what we’ve learned in the last ten years.”
The Concerns
Over the past several decades, there have been many red flags and concerns voiced by Christian leaders as to why Rick Warren’s activities, partnerships and teachings are a counterfeit of what the Bible teaches. Because there are so many, I’ve bulleted these so that you can read an do your research:
- Protégé of Peter Drucker, to create consumer-driven mega-church model
- Cited as the father of the Emergent Church Movement.
- A strong advocate of contemplative prayer, and encourages pastors to use Centering and Breath Prayers.
- Signed on to “A Common Word Between Us” that seeks common ground between Muslims and Christians.
- Gave the invocation at the presidential inauguration in January 2009, praying to Isa of the Qur’an along with Jesus.
- New Age proponent Leonard Sweet, who calls himself an emergent church leader, trained many of Warren’s church leaders and pastors at the 2008 Saddleback Small Groups Conference.
- Uses The Message paraphrase of the Bible for much of his writings.
- Promoted on the “speakers corner” of the Islamic Society of North America, an arm of the Muslim Brotherhood and a financier of the Hamas terror organization.
- Supports the work of Tony Blair and his global spiritualization movement.
- Supports the “Catholics Come Home” campaign.
- In spite of photo evidence, denied his involvement in King’s Way, a bridge-building movement with Muslims at Saddleback.
- Creator of the controversial P.E.A.C.E. Plan
- As part of the P.E.A.C.E. plan, his top missions pastor was photographed teaching that Muslims don’t have to convert to Christianity to be saved.
- Created the The Daniel Plan: God’s Prescription for Your Health to get the folks at Saddleback Church healthy. To create his alleged biblical plan, he elicited the aid of unbelievers — Dr. Mehmet Oz., a Sufi Muslim, Dr. Mark Hyman, a secular Jew and New Ager, and Dr. Daniel Amen, a professing Christian who dabbles in Eastern mysticism.
- Promoter of the problematic The Bible, Son of God and A.D. miniseries, and packaged church sermons and video Bible studies.
- Gathered with the Pope at the Vatican, along with Russell Moore, Muslims and Mormons to promote unity around family issues.
Finally, if you’ve ever wondered what the “big deal” is about the fruit of the Purpose Driven Church created by Peter Drucker and championed by Rick Warren, Bob Buford and Bill Hybels, you’ll want to check out the ultimate video titled, Church of Tares: Purpose Driven, Seeker-Sensitive, Church Growth & New World Order:
This must-watch video is several hours long and represents extensive research on the teachings, activities and partnerships of Rick Warren, and answers all the questions you may have from a sound biblical perspective:
“Can the Church borrow the marketing tools of the world and apply them to the Church? What is the history of the Church Growth movement and its false premises? Who is involved in the new evangelicalism and second reformation? Why are these movements embracing contemplative mysticism? How does this movement play into the New World Order?”
It’s an excellent film to watch with your small group, church leaders and family members.
Helpful articles
- People might not go to heaven if you don’t tithe by Jeff Maples
- PSEUDO-MISSION: Rick Warren’s 3-legged Church by Sarah Leslie
- The Dialectic of War and P.E.A.C.E by Sarah Leslie
- Rick Warren’s new book “Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life” awash with doctrines of demons by Marsha West
- Purpose Driven Dismantling of Christianity by Marsha West
- Rick Warren and Joel Osteen acquiesce to Oprah by Marsha West
- Rick Warren on Roman Catholic EWTN Network by Ken Silva
- Rick Warren and Lifeway to Release Video Bible Study on “Son of God” film by Ken Silva
- Rick Warren’s “Power of a Campaign for Revival and Spiritual Awakening”
- Be skeptical of Dr. Oz’s remedies and Rick Warren’s “plans” by Marsha West
- Saddleback Church raising $71 million for its largest expansion yet (bereanresearch.org)
- Rick Warren Will Speak at Papal Mass in Philadelphia (bereanresearch.org)
- Rick Warren and 21st Century ideological Reduction/Case Study (Post 6 in the study “Church Growth Movement)
- What do Rick Warren, Russell Moore, Muslims, Mormons and the Pope have in common?
Downloadable PDF of our Purpose Driven White Paper to print and share
© Berean Research, 2016
Great article. Thanks for the bullet points. That makes it quick and easy to nail down specific heresies. He also lied on video about whether he was for or against California’s gay marriage constitutional amendment a few years back. He was against it before he was neutral….
It is with a heavy that I must say most pastors do not realize what a dangerous heretic this man is, it is my sincere opinion, if this man is alive when the antichrist is revealed he will lead his deceived flock to worship the beast. This man is NOT a Christian in any sense of the word, he uses key words associated with Christianity to further his plan, I don’t believe he’s in it for the money any longer, I truly believe he is diabolical, either directly influenced by the devil himself or an extremely powerful demon, his uncanny success, the millions of followers, the prostitution with world leaders, the lies, affirming an antichristian religion diametrically opposed to Jesus Christ. The list goes on, yet he can do no wrong. How can he fool so many millions? Unless there’s a wicked power behind him he could not. Look into his origin, who his mentor was, an antichristian business guru………… I don’t think the word repentance has ever been uttered by Rick Warren, in the context of being saved. He is corrupt, through and through. Same as the SBC and its leaders.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND EVERYONE WATCH THE VIDEO “CHURCH OF TARES!” It’s a little long, but I guarantee your jaw will drop to the ground! So well researched, written and produced, you’ll see how the Warren organization began, who guided him, and what is happening in Africa because of him, truly diabolical, just as an example, Rwanda was the first “Purpose Driven” country! It’s mind boggling the insidious effect of that hellish book and how the president of a country has embraced it and his country too, think of it as a prototype of what’s to come, when countries fall like dominos, worshipping the man of sin. Frightening and sad.
Ah! “Back in the saddle”! That is a screamer, I laughed myself into a ball over that one. Not that this whole thing is funny, but that nailed it.
Lest we forget, the harlot church is also in a saddle:
“and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names”
Revelation 17; 3 The harlot church rides the beast. Harlots are motivated by money.
Oh, and Rick Warren has also stated that ‘fundamentalist Christians’ are ‘the enemy of the 21st century’. 2005. Google or see Lighthouse Trails.
Fundamentalist was defined by believing in the 5 fundamentals of Christianity; like
the atonement, virgin birth, resurrection, etc. (21st century is code for their new age era). Also, pope francis (whom he so lavishingly endorses) has made a similar comment about ‘ideological Christians’ being ‘a cancer on the church’ to be ‘dealt with.’ Google it.
Folks, it’s later than you think. Whatever you do, do not base your eschatology on the wolf Tim La Haye’s ‘Left Behind’ series. That was all part of the confusion.
It was a well orchestrated, intentional, deliberate, conspiracy plot they devised to infiltrate and deceive the sheep right into antichrist’s arms. Those who have eyes to see, see it.
The good news is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings is going to knock all these deceivers right out of their saddles!
Do not forget that we are persecuted for His Namesake first. Other’s have been, no one is too good. See Revelation 12; 11 and 17; 6. Don’t let the left behind series fool you.
Wow! Leaves me reeling.
I have known Rick for many years and have listened to hundreds of his messages either in person or by recording. As I have listened I have also kept in mind the many critics who charge Rick with everything from “cult leader” to “diabolical.”
Never have I heard Rick speak anything but Salvation by grace alone through Christ Jesus. He is passionate about “one more for Jesus,” a favorite mantra of his Pastor-father. I have also heard Rick many times offer his deep admiration of the unheralded Pastors of small churches spread across the country.
I regret when Pastors adopt a Saddleback-like model for personal engrandisement and selfish gain. However, such evil ambitions are not the fault of Rick Warren.
I truly believe from personal association and many hours of listening and observing, Rick is a true follower of Jesus whose passion is to spread the true gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.
I so regret that we cannot stop sniping at others who, though engaging and nfamiliar methodologies, are nonetheless preaching the message of salvation through Christ Jesus.
“Pastor Warren was among the speakers in November 2014 at Humanum, the Vatican’s International Religious Colloquium on the Complementarity of Man and Woman. Humanum brought together faith leaders from both Christian and non-Christian religions around the world, to examine and propose anew the beauty of the relationship between man and woman in marriage.
In an interview with EWTN’s Raymond Arroyo which aired after the conference, Warren called for adherents of various Christian denominations to unite with Roman Catholics and Pope Francis to work together on three shared goals, focusing on the sanctity of life, the sanctity of sex, and the sanctity of marriage. He went on to defend Catholicism and to clarify some of the most common misconceptions about Catholic teaching, pertaining to Marian dogmas and prayer to the saints
– See more at: http://aleteia.org/2014/12/19/megachurch-pastor-rick-warren-joins-pope-francis-in-support-of-common-mission/#sthash.Jy0xXQj9.dpuf“
So you’re OK with this?
“melissa etheridge and rick warren are getting it right
Melissa Etheridge got it right when she decided to reach out to Rick Warren, and Rick Warren got it right when he expressed regret for how he has spoken about gay folks and prop 8:”
http://brianmclaren.net/archives/blog/melissa-etheridge-and-rick-warre.html
Rick Warren is a compromised wolf in sheep’s clothing, follow at your own risk. This has been beaten to death, there’s more than enough video evidence that show what Warren is about! Duplicitous!