Nov
10
2009
New Biography of Rick Warren
CT’s David Neff reviews Jeffery Sheler’s new biography, Prophet of Purpose: The Life of Rick Warren (Doubleday, 2009). Neff writes, “The empirical, analytical Warren meets the mystical, subjective Warren at key points in Sheler’s narrative.” His conclusion: “Sheler, for many years the primary religion writer at U.S. News & World Report, delivers a solid journalistic biography that is a pleasure to read.”
(You can also read an excerpt from the book, on the Warren’s marriage, their disastrous honeymoon, and the counseling that they sought.)
12 Comments
Not sure what to do with Rick Warren. I praise God for his ministry and the work God has done through him. I would not want to bear the load he has had to bear nor accept the criticism he has dealt with. I long to be the kind of leader that he is and yet I cringe at some of the things he has said and written. Of course I am sure some people have cringed at some of the things I have said or written. Thanks for the post, I will put the book on my wishlist!
GB
Rick Warren makes me cringe too when he fails to speak clearly from the Scriptures when he is on television. The whole seeker sensitive movement makes me angry, and as I understand it this man started it.
Not to get into the controversy, but I got out of prison (where I was converted), and paroled to Southern California. I began attending a Baptist church and ended up working with the youth..and the very first Christian conference I went to was in Fresno, Ca and one of the seminars was Rick Warren teaching methods of Bible study (that later became perhaps his first book). I still have the mimeographed (it was in 1977) “notebook” with a handwritten note that he gave us all permission to duplicate in any way …and regardless of current “stuff,” that methodology is valuable to this day, and in an age of such Biblical illiteracy, I am forever thankful I attended that seminar and am able to pass it on
“And God clearly said to me, ‘Say yes, and I’ll bring the feelings.’ So I said yes.” They kissed for the first time.”-Kay
God spoke to Kay Warren and told her to say yes, and that He would bring the feelings. I don’t know, it just don’t sound like God to me.
Rick Warren is the evidence of how shallow the Church has become in the deep things of God. I believe he is a brother in Christ, and is an excellent marketing chap, but as a pastor, he is pretty bad. he would be a great politician in MHO.
The title would more accurately be, “Prophet of Purpose – The Lies of Rick Warren”.
I’m one of the worst to speak up on this because far too often I do the very thing I’m about to condemn, but can we please hold off on the Warren bashing?
Sure, he says things and does things differently than the majority-reformed readership of this blog might prefer, but before we move to attacking him, can’t we thank God for whatever ways he has used Pastor Warren? Read Jack’s comment again – that’s a mighty work of Christ in a brother’s life accomplished through the ministry of Pastor Warren. We should thank God for it.
Look, there’s things I dislike about his methodology, and there’s a place for talking through those disagreements, but drive-by potshot blog comments don’t respect him as a brother or honor the Lord that both he and the readers of this blog serve.
Sorry, /rant.
peace
Jake Maedor is correct, I agree that there “are things we dislike about Warren’s methodology.” But to simply reduce this to a small matter would demonstrate that we do not care about the truth.
When I say that Warren makes me cringe it is because he falls short of faithfull Bible exposition, and he also consistently waters down certain doctrines. I admit he is not on the level of gross heresy like Joel Osteen, but just give him some more time. I hope I am wrong and Warren will sincerely see his errors and put down his global peace plan ideas and do what the Bible commands, namely feed the sheep and preach the Word.
Everyone needs an enemey to make himself feel better. Sure sounds more like “God, I thank you that I am not like this tax collector” than “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Oh the crazy world of neo-Reformed folk, they take so much *pride* in their doctrines of “grace.” Defend that truth carmine, you might be the only one and the faithful proclamation of the Gospel rests on your shoulders.
yeah… like you guys are doing to the “Warren Bashers.” I love how the false cloak of humility works. When criticizing Rick Warren, oh no… we can’t have that… but there sure is nothing wrong about criticizing those who criticize hi…
no, that’s much different.
Nice job ;-)
no one is noticing…
Saying that Rick Warren is going to shapeshift into Joel Osteen overtime is like saying that all you reformies will be holding up God hates fags posters with Westboro Baptist Church if we “give you some more time”. Its the worst kind of nasty slippery slope argument, its hardly constructive to the church and it simply reveals your own pride and arrogance. Since when is always our job to be the critics of everyone else on just about everything. Everyone who reads this blog and is in touch with things like the gospel coalition knows the problems with Warren, it doesn’t need to be mentioned everytime you see his name. That to me really does smack of bigotry and self-justifcation, rather than sound correction that edifies the church.
Carmine, what is so evil about Global Peace? Too much reading Left Behind?
To Dick (Richard) are you saying that it is ok to critique Warren sometimes and this is not the time? Also what did I post that was wrong, that you would not agree with?
Also my only problem with his global peace plan is that he uses some Scriptures to justify it and they are misused. Also, God has not called his ministers to be more involved with political actions to the exemption of pastoral duties. O yeah and I am not into the Left Behind series, thank you for judging my motives though.
Greg – Oh, I know there’s a certain irony to it. That’s why I said up-front it’s ironic for me to make the comment because anyone who knows me knows that I do my share of Christian bashing. But that’s something I’m trying to change because the spirit has helped me see that this is, in my life at least, a manifestation of the sin of divisiveness.
The basic question is what are the issues on which we will speak and what are issues on which we’re willing to say nothing. I personally don’t think my disagreements with Pastor Warren are worth stating in a forum like this – they aren’t going to accomplish anything. But I do think it’s worth saying something when brothers start an argument over an issue not worth arguing about. I want to take Jesus’ words in John 13 and 17 about church unity seriously so I will say something when I see that unity being challenged.
Anyway, all that to say, I’m aware of the irony, but still felt like someone should say something.
peace