It’s hard to argue with Rick Waren’s business acumen or his unprecedented success. It’s most obvious to me that his main gift is the gift of Administration. (see I Cor 12:1, 28, Rom 12:8). The word translated from the Greek in I Cor 12:28 means “to steer a ship”.
The Purpose Driven series is a well thought out marketing and business plan. Thus, the principles therein can be used for just about any service or product. In fact, so good is his business plan and marketing strategy that it’s used in my own company. We have a class called, “Purpose Driven Hiring”.
However, my biggest issue is his usage of scripture in both, “A purpose Driven Life” and “The Purpose Driven Church.”
Frankly, I’m more than a little dismayed that a guy with a Doctorate degree in Theology is so cavalier with the Word Of God. Moreover, not only is he cavalier with scripture, but he seems “purpose driven” to keep the reader in the dark as to the scriptural references and what translation or paraphrase he uses. Why did he feel he had to cloak us? What’s the reason that he chose to employ this type of methodology? I’ll get to some examples momentarily but let me first state a few of my concerns.
1) He uses fifteen different translations, of which some are paraphrases and not actual translations.
2) He often pulls out a selected phrase or part of a verse, but he doesn’t give the reference or what translation it’s from on the page. For that you must go to the back of the book and look them up by the reference number, then you must look in a different section to find out what translation or paraphrase he used. It shouldn’t be this hard!
3) Each time he references scripture, he states, “The Bible says” and then quotes the verse or part of the verse, which rarely is the KJV, NKJV or NIV.
I don’t know how they do things in seminary now, but if I turned in a paper to my professor doing any of the above, I’d get a big fat zero, and more than likely a good scolding.
It’s obvious that he knew his “gun slinger” methodology would ruffle the feathers of a few of us who actually eclipsed the 3rd grade and who do study the Bible. There’s what I would call a disclaimer page in the back of the book. Wherein, he did his best to excuse himself. It’s found on page 325 of “The Purpose Driven Life”, under the heading, “why I use so many translations.” Please let me know if you buy it. I certainly did not!
He starts out by letting the reader know that he used nearly a thousand quotations from scripture. Yeah, if you can figure out what Bible version and what scriptures that’d be fine. Happy hunting!
Here are some of the excuses he uses. And I’m sorry but I do not see them as good reasons. I’ll only state a few. You can read it for yourself. He states, “I have deliberately used paraphrases in order to help you see God’s truth in new, fresh ways.” Yes, but doing so it can water down the meaning. “Also, since the verse divisions and number were not included in the Bible until 1560 A.D., I haven’t always quoted the entire verse, but rather focused on the phrase that was appropriate. My model for this is Jesus and how he and the apostles quoted the Old Testament. They often just quoted a phrase to make a point.”
Well, here’s my rebuttal to that, Rick. (On a side note, I’m not trying to be disrespectful by calling him Rick. He states plainly in his book that he wants to be referred to as “Rick” not “Dr. Warren” or “Pastor Warren”). Jesus is God, we are not. The apostles were inspired by the Holy Spirit and their letters are part of the canon of scripture. Sorry Rick, but neither you nor I have this privilege. Need I remind you that Satan was a master at pulling out certain parts of scripture and presenting it in such a way as to misconstrue it’s meaning. (i.e. Serpent and Eve and Jesus in the Wilderness)
Here’s what I think he was doing. He finds a translation, or a paraphrase that fits into his particular subject or theme and attempts to give it Biblical verification. It’s hard to question, “The Bible Says.” I know, some of you probably think by now that I’m just being petty, but please indulge me just a little longer. I’m going to give you some prima facia evidence.
On page 35 of The Purpose Driven Life, “Verse to Remember”, “You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you.” (TEV, aka The Good News Translation) The object here is “purpose”.
Now let’s look this same verse up in the NLT. “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thought are fixed on you!” What’s the object here? It’s God, not purpose.
In the section, “Made for a Mission”, page 281, “The Purpose Driven Life.”
“In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.” John 17:18 (msg) The Message is a paraphrase, not a translation.
“As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” (NKJ) Rick needed to have the word “mission” so it would fit neatly into his chapter.
“The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me”. Acts 20:24 (NCV) Now let’s look at a real version.
“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my [b]race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God”. Acts 20:24 (NKJ) (bold mine)
1) The Gospel is the subject, not “mission.”
2) Rick states, “Your ministry is your service to believers, and your service to unbelievers.” (p.281)
Paul states that the ministry that he received from the Lord was to testify to the gospel. The gospel is shared with unbelievers, not believers. To share the gospel with believers would be superfluous.
In the chapter, Sharing Your Life Message. (p. 294)
The Bible says, “[God] does not want anyone to be lost, but he wants all people to change their hearts and lives.” 2 Peter 3:9 NCV Now let’s look at it in a real version.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 NKJV
Notice any kind of important word that is missing in the NCV? How about “repentance”? With the NCA, one is led to believe that they can simply change one’s heart and hence their life. From what to what? I don’t think that there’s any ambiguity about it! Repentance is absolutely necessary to acquire salvation. The Bible makes it crystal clear! Again, let’s look at a real version.
“2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:2-5 NKJV (bold mine)
For this next example we’ll need to loop back to the Warren-Schuller connection.
“Rick Warren’s implication and Robert Schuller’s contention that God is “in” every person is at the very heart of all new Age thinking. The Bible does not teach this. The New Century Version that Rick Warren quotes is dangerously mistaken in its translation of Ephesians 4:6. The only books I had ever seen that taught that God was “in” everything had nothing to do with biblical Christianity. In fact, it didn’t take me long to find this same unbiblical teaching in A Course in Miracles. The word “purpose” was curiously prevalent throughout the teaching. I read the lesson heading shown below from A Course in Miracles, and then noted what followed:” (p.81) (Deceived On Purpose, by Warren Smith, Sept 2005)
Further, this author points out that on page 88 of The Purpose Driven Life, “Because God is with you all the time, no place is any closer to God than the place where you are right now. “The Bible says, ‘He rules everything and is everywhere and is in everything.’ (bold mine) There’s another word for “God’s in everything”. It’s called Pantheism! As fundamental orthodox Christians, we don’t believe in Pantheism!
We’ll get more into this later, but I find it suspect that he often prefaces a Bible quote with “The Bible says.” But you need to go find what verse and what translation. I had to go look at the references on page 328 to find the what the scripture was. It’s Eph 4:6. Then I had to go to another section to find what translation. Once again, It’s the NCV. It stands for New Century Version. This is a revision of The International Children’s Bible. It was written at a 3rd grade level. For those readers with a 4th grade education and up, please see below.
“one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in [a]you all”. Eph 4:6 NKJ. Let’s set the record straight. God is in them all. Paul is talking to believers, not universal mankind!
Sufficive to say, I could easily go on and give 10-15 more examples, but I think you get the point.
There’s just something wrong when you have twist, obscure, and cherry pick certain phrases, and use fifteen different versions/paraphrases of the Word of God to give your writing a semblance of biblical validity. If you feel this is a trivial matter, I don’t know what to tell you. In my book, no pun intended, it’s very incriminating. And I surely wouldn’t want to stand before God and give an account for it. No matter how successful or how much good I’ve done. (see Matt 18:6-7)
Let’s recap. First, you have the fertile field of Evangelicals that have “itching ears” ready to receive some “new revelation” from a “Christian” celebrity. Second, these teachers, cognizant or not, distort scripture to fit their teaching. Third, the truth of God’s word is commingled with New Age doctrine. Fourth, these mixed doctrines (myths) are so insidious that many will be deceived and led astray.
An admonishment to Pastors or Teachers who are considering teaching the Purpose Driven series to their congregation.
Please, prayerfully consider the evidence I’ve tried to convey in these posts. If the Holy Spirit is confirming what I have written is true, please don’t move forward. Personally, I’d rather go against my local church, even my entire denomination, if I felt a conviction that what they wanted me to do could cause someone to stumble. I say this as someone who the Lord has called to be a teacher. And I don’t take that responsibility lightly. “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” James 3:1 NIV
Witten by, D. Joel Zenner, Licensed/Ordained Minister of the Gospel. And with Contributing Editor, Sierra A. Zenner, Educator/master’s candidate 2024