— Critical issues concerning the Church —

Fellow Warrior,

Few aspects of our calling are more distasteful than speaking out against error.  Then again, who welcomes dental, medical and repair bills?  They’re part of life’s unpleasant realities.  Because of today’s forewarned glut of false teachers and their injurious impact on Christ’s body, we join a cadre of wailing sirens already screaming with alarm.

As soldiers in God’s army, we’re told that the "... struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Jesus’ warnings against wolves  and religionists, added to those of the Apostles, point up the issue’s gravity and stand in judgement upon hearers only.  May WE have ears to hear.

Purpose-Driven?

What’s behind this latest craze, and can we trust it?

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. ... Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees ... .  Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." — Mt 7:15; 16:6; Eph 5:11

Joining the Manifest Sons of God, Word-Confession, Restoration, Latter Rain, Hyper-Faith, Discipleship, Prophecy, Prosperity, Toronto Blessing, River Revival, Jabez and a host of un-named phenomena — another wildfire is blazing through churchdom: the “Purpose-Driven” teaching.  With 20 million related books circulating, it behooves us to know what or who is behind it.  A perusal suggests it’s innocuous, but is it?  Let’s begin by meeting the author and his associates.

Dr. Rick Warren

Much has already been reported about the Purpose Driven Church and Purpose Driven Life (PDL) books and their author, Dr. Rick Warren, pastor of California’s Saddleback Valley Church.  Some 20 million copies are now in circulation with a potential gross of 400 million dollars.  Added to Warren’s related enterprises, it’s reported that he is now a multi-millionaire pastor.¹ Thousands of churches have been indoctrinated for 40 days with his concepts and thousands of leaders, world-wide, are being prepped through his “Purpose-Driven” seminars.  His theme-park-like church campus includes a dozen buildings and has an annual budget of $90 million.  It features psychedelic rock concerts with music that would rival Jimi Hendrix, K.I.S.S., and the Grateful Dead.² Obviously, Warren is not the garden-variety pastor — considering himself to be a promoter, salesman and preacher.  What’s he and this “P-D” all about?

Having subjected ourselves to part of the 40-day PDL church conditioning campaign last year, we report from personal experience as well as the sources listed at this article’s foot.  Please be advised: author Warren’s motivations or character are not (here) up for consideration, but we do question his theology and judgement. “From whence cometh thou?” is my standard question when approaching a personally unknown person, work or ministry.  In this way we learned that Southern Baptist Warren comes from the doctrinal lineage of Fuller Seminary, an openly ecumenical school; Dr. Norman Vincent Peele, promoter of “positive thinking” and Dr. Robert Schuller of Crystal Cathedral notoriety, himself a Peele protege’ and originator of the “seeker-sensitive” church-growth movement.  Fraternally-related are the likes of Pastor Bill Hybels of Illinois’ Willow Creek Community Church, another Schullerite and Dr. Peter Drucker, author and business-management consultant.

Insights to one’s wiring can also be gained by perusing their choice of books and friends.  In his PDL book (and website) Warren recommends two books; one by Dallas Willard, the other by his like-minded disciple: Richard Foster; a Quaker and mystic.  In Foster’s book, Celebration of Discipline, (plugged by Warren) “he provides step-by-step instructions on how to meditate, contemplate, ‘center down’ ... and ‘concentrate on breathing.’  Using guided imagery, he leads readers through the occultic practices of visualization, meditation, and even astral travel.”¹ In it, Foster quotes a Thomas Merton 13 times.  He’s another mystic; an RC Priest, Trappist Monk and writer who is quoted as saying that he wanted, “to become as good a Buddhist as I can.”  Admirer Foster, brags of him, “... his interest in contemplation led him to investigate prayer forms in eastern religion.”¹ “Contemplation” is defined by Shalom Prayer Institute, from which Renovare’s co-director, William Vaswig graduated: “... an openness to unknowing, a willingness to be led and guided by God without having to comprehend what is happening.”¹ Renovare is an organization that conducts mystical workshops ... Foster is its President!  He’s also linked to John Main, another mystic, and Dr. Eugene Peterson who is deeply involved in the Christian Mystic movement; best known for his  controversial: The Message Bible (paraphrase) upon which Warren heavily relies, quoting it 98 times in PDL (PDL uses 15 Bible versions but no KJV).

In PDL, Warren also quotes: •Roman Catholics: Irenaeus, Mother Teresa the humanitarian and Catholic mystics, Madame Guyon and Brother Lawrence.  •Erotic writer, Anais Nin •Dietrich Bonhoffer — a religious humanist and mystic who didn’t believe in the Bible or the Resurrection.  •Floyd McClung, a leader in the “Toronto Blessing” movement and •Gary Thomas, author of the ungodly, Sacred Pathways — subtitled: “Discover your soul’s path to God” in which he reveals that its inspiration came from a “spirit guide” named Philemon, who gave it to Carl Jung, a noted humanistic psychologist.³

Though space will not permit inclusion of our entire file, it’s important to expand on two key advisors whose influence have helped shape Rick Warren’s theology, his church and his teaching — Drucker and Schuller.

Dr. Peter Drucker is a professor at Claremont University, author and business management consultant,  highly respected for expertise in economics and business-related social science.  Praising him often, Warren makes a point of rereading his books every year.¹ While claiming to be an Episcopalian, his words and actions peg him as a certified secular huminist.  He believes that the world’s problems can all be solved by man’s efforts alone; without God.  He views the church as any other “non-profit” and pastors as “change agents.”  Drucker employs the management concepts of George W. Hegel, a transformational, Marxist social psychologist who believed there are no moral absolutes.  Via his Drucker Foundation, Peter promotes the feminist movement and rates very high at the Humanist Institute.¹ It’s upon his business concepts, that Schuller, Hybels and Warren designed and manage their churches.  Warren also credits Drucker for the P-D concept.

Dr. Robert Schuller is a graduate of the liberal, Fuller Seminary, whose president, Richard Mouw was quoted in the U.S. News & World Report as saying: “I borrow unashamedly from the teachings of the Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodoxy in my attempts to grow in holiness.”  Fuller also happens to be associated with the Drucker Graduate School of Management.  H-mm.  Of the vast store of Schuller’s heretical statements in his 30 years on the Hour Of Power, we select one published in Christianity Today on 10/5/94: “I don’t think anything has been done in the name of Christ and under the banner of Christianity that has proven more destructive to human personality and hence, counterproductive to the evangelism enterprise than the often crude, uncouth, and un-Christian strategy of attempting to make people aware of their lost and sinful condition.”  Though Schuller claims to embrace the biblical view of salvation by faith, his teachings suggest that HIS concept of salvation is being rescued from poor self-esteem.  Further exposing his own low biblical esteem is this note from a Spring 1997 report of the homosexual group, Evangelicals Concerned, Inc: “More than 80 gay and lesbian pastors and lay leaders from the Metropolitan Community Churches participated in this year’s Robert Schuller Institute for Successful Church Leadership.”  Christianity Today’s 11/02 issue quoted Warren’s wife (Kay) as having said that Schuller “ ... had a profound influence on Rick.  We were captivated by his positive appeal to nonbelievers.  I never looked back.”

In view of the unbiblical, apostate — even heretical thinking of the persons who have mentored Warren, plus the ungodly credentials of his colleagues, friends and of those whom he endorses, can we not fairly assume he is of like mind?  Having learned that the “inspiration” for his ministry approach and the PDL came NOT from the Holy Spirit but from an ungodly source — dare we, as children of light, embrace it?  No!  We can safely conclude that the man behind the “Purpose Driven” concept and his spiritually incestuous ilk, publish enough heresy to trigger the wolf-alarm of every Bible-101 graduate. His books may well contain some good, but “poison usually comes mixed with a good taste.”  To assert that Warren is merely “ecumenical,” would be gratuitously complimentary.  Our Lord warns of such: “Beware!”

It’s a tough time for advocates of Truth who still use the biblical standards of prayer, seeking God and waiting on Him, while faithfully teaching sound doctrine.  Whistle blowers risk being labeled divisive or jealous of those whose compromised works temporarily flourish.  Love’s only response can be in terms of prayer and more intercession.  We take great comfort in knowing God honors lighthouses of Truth who, in love, pierce the dense fog of deceit as beacons of light in the growing darkness of this age.  Back to the prayer closet!

ABOUT US:  Founded in 1993, Hallelujah Living Ministries is a donation-based, non-denominational Christian outreach to uplift, inform and challenge followers of Jesus Christ.  For more information or a copy of our always-free print newsletter, please include a  postal mail address along with your comments and prayer requests. Thank you for visiting  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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