CONTEMPLATING CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER: IS IT REALLY PRAYER?

The entire article can be read at: Christian Answers for the New Age

By Marcia Montenegro

BEYOND THE MIND: NO-THINKING
According to Keating, CP should be "detachment" from thought, getting into a state of "no-thinking" and that "it is the time to let go of all thoughts, even the best of thoughts," so that only "pure awareness" exists.17 He even claims that the Holy Spirit will not "barge in" if we are using reason and intellect, and it is "only when we are willing to abandon our very limited human modes of thought and concepts and open a welcoming space that the Spirit will begin to operate in us at this divine level . . . when we Center we practice leaving our human thoughts and reason behind and attending to the Divine, to the Spirit."18 This presents a radical redefinition of prayer, as well as a false duality between thought or reason and spirituality, a concept common in the New Age.

Pennington discusses "a shift in consciousness" and going beyond "ordinary consciousness" into a state of "pure consciousness" in which we leave the "false self" for the "true self," and attaining a "unity-consciousness" with God.19 He quotes "the Fathers"20 as saying that "so long as a man is aware he is praying, he is not yet praying," and he agrees with Merton that we should "rise above thought."21 Pennington has a chapter titled "Pure Consciousness" in which he states that God "is known in pure consciousness rather than by some subject-object knowledge."22

A writer for Youth Specialties, an organization devoted to youth ministries, states that his interest in CP began by reading Dallas Willard and Richard Foster, and later, mystics like Meister Eckhart, Teresa of Avila, and Morton Kelsey.23 He built a prayer room and reports: "In that space I lit candles, burned incense, hung rosaries, and listened to tapes of Benedictine monks. I meditated for hours on words, images, and sounds. I reached the point of being able to achieve alpha brain patterns, the state in which dreams occur, while still awake and meditating." This sounds like going into an altered state of consciousness -- a light trance state -- which is the same state one enters in Eastern/New Age meditation, and which parallels techniques of self-hypnosis. In fact, the purpose of Eastern and New Age meditation is to go beyond the mind because the belief is that the mind is a barrier to spiritual enlightenment. This same writer also states that at a retreat, "We held 'thin place' services in reference to a belief that in prayer, the veil between us and God becomes thinner. Entire nights were devoted to guided meditations, drum circles, and "'soul labs.'"24

Yet in the Bible, meditation on God or on the words of God is never presented as an exercise without thinking. Many of the words translated as "meditation" in the Bible are words meaning to muse, ponder, utter, or make a sound. Most of these words are in Psalms where the psalmist is praising the precepts and words of God and affirming that these are what we should learn, obey, and think upon. This is definitely not leaving ordinary thinking for another level of consciousness. Nor do we take actions to make a (non-existent) "veil" between God and us thinner. Did not the death of Jesus on the cross rip the heavy veil in the Holy of Holies of the Temple, forever serving as a symbol of how Jesus opened the way to God for those who believe?25

Due to Eastern and New Age influences in our culture, the word 'meditation' has come to mean a technique to enter another state of consciousness, to go inward, to go beyond thinking, or to realize spiritual enlightenment. We cannot read these techniques and purposes into the Biblical word translated as "meditation," which originates from several different Hebrew words that do not carry the Eastern-New Age meanings. The contexts of these words indicate an active pondering, thinking and learning, not a technique nor a disengagement from the mind.

BEYOND SELF: THE FALSE SELF VS. THE TRUE SELF
Thomas Merton claims that "the superficial 'I' is not our real self," but only our "individuality" and "empirical self," not the "hidden and mysterious person in whom we subsist before the eyes of God."26 This kind of thinking is found also in Keating and Pennington.

Keating states that CP takes us to a place "in which the knower, the knowing, and that which is known are all one. Awareness alone remains. The one who is aware disappears along with whatever was the object of consciousness. This is what divine union is."27

Little realizing that he was anticipating many of the teachings of CP today, one writer on mysticism asserts that the "highest state of the mystic life can only be reached when there has been a complete death of the selfhood" and when one enters the "Dark Silence, that Nothingness, that Wayless Way."28 The author goes on to say that mystical states are "more than states of feeling, they are states of knowledge."29 This is a gnostic view of knowledge-- a secret knowledge obtained only by those able to attain these higher states.

Keating and Merton both discuss the false self and the true self. Keating capitalizes Self, and states, "God and our true Self are not separate. Though we are not God, God and our true Self are the same thing."30 According to Merton, our "external, everyday self" is mostly a "fabrication" and is not "our true self" which "is not easy to find. It is hidden in obscurity and 'nothingness,' at the center, where we are in direct dependence on God."31 Likewise, another writer asserts that the "basic idea always found in God-mysticism is that of the return of the spirit to its immortal and infinite Ground, which is God."32 Note the word "return," as though our spirits were originally with God, a distinctly unbiblical notion.

Buddhism teaches that our identities are merely fleeting images or impressions, like images on film, or a "sequence of happenings, of processes,"33 and that we must discover our true nature, the Buddha nature. The "conventional 'self' or 'person' is composed mainly of a history of consisting of selected memories."34 As one Zen Buddhist says, "There is no you to say 'I.' What we call 'I' is just a swinging door which moves when we inhale and when we exhale . . . when your mind is pure and calm enough to follow this movement, there is nothing: no 'I,' no world, no mind nor body; just a swinging door."35 Self is illusory in Hinduism, Taoism, and Buddhism, because the only reality is the Absolute, the Tao, or the Buddha nature.

The CP teachers do not say that we are really God, but they present a dichotomy between a false and true self. The Bible talks about the old sin nature versus the "new creature" in Christ; it is not put in terms of "true" and "false" selves, or illusion and truth, but rather in terms of bondage to sin and regeneration. It is not a matter of awareness, but rather a matter of being born again and being regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Merton does acknowledge this point in one book,36 though he still speaks of false and true selves, sometimes in Freudian psychological terms, sometimes in spiritual terms. Is our sin nature a "false self?" Not false in the sense of not being real, certainly. Such terms echo Eastern concepts, and, at the very least, are confusing and misleading.

BEYOND NATURAL: SPECIAL SPIRITUAL TECHNIQUES
Most of the CP teachers announce that CP is not a technique, and then they go on to recommend various techniques. Pennington offers three "rules or guides," which include being relaxed, to be "in faith and love to God who dwells in the center of your being," to "take up a love word," and "whenever you become aware of anything, simply, gently return to the Lord with the use of your prayer word."37

Merton, Keating and Pennington, and sometimes Foster, suggest repeating a word or phrase such as Jesus, Lord, Father, Friend, or the Jesus Prayer38 during CP. This can be repeated aloud or "deep within," or used as a word to return to when one become aware of anything else. Pennington advises, "Memorize it and slowly repeat it to yourself, allowing it to interact with your inner world of concerns, memories, and ideas."39 Keating credits the mystical Cloud of Unknowing for this idea, and states that it should be a "love word" which will take us "beyond our ordinary consciousness" as "an outreach of love to the Infinite."40

In Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, Transcendental Meditation, and sometimes in New Age meditation, a word, called a mantra, is given to the meditator to repeat. This is often the name of a deity, or sometimes a phrase meaning, "I am That," "Not this, not that," or simply, "I am." The purpose of this mantra is self-purification, and to become open to spiritual truths. Repeating a word or phrase over and over is also one of the tools of self-hypnosis.41 Many of the terms used by CP teachers are the same terms used in hypnosis and in Eastern/New Age teachings (i.e., "shift in consciousness, "pure consciousness," "emptying the mind," "creating a space," "go beyond thought," etc.).42

Foster quotes heavily from CP teachers and mystics. There are problematic statements such as, "Let me suggest we take an experiential attitude toward spiritual realities;" "We are working with God to determine the future! Certain things will happen in history if we pray rightly;" and, when praying for others, we should not pray "if it be Thy will" to God.43 He advocates using a visualization technique when praying in order to bring about the results.44 He also comments that "God is not a male deity as opposed to a female deity."45

The focus on relaxation, repeating a word or phrase, concentrating on breath, detaching from thought, and trying to go beyond reasoning should cause concern. Having learned and practiced various forms of Eastern and New Age meditation for many years before becoming a Christian, I can attest to the ability to enter a light trance state using the techniques suggested by CP advocates. This state is one which New Agers and others call "pure consciousness," where one is suspended from active thought and the ability to make judgments. In fact, Zen Buddhism teaches that one needs to cultivate the ability to detach and to set aside judgment. The mind is open and receptive, without critical thinking skills in place.46 Although Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we are not immune to deception or delusion; otherwise, the Bible would not so consistently warn believers about deception and false teachers.

Do techniques bring closeness to God, especially when such techniques are parallel to Eastern religious practices? Ephesians 2:13 tells us, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." We draw near to God through Christ (Heb. 4:16), not through techniques. When First John talks about abiding in Christ, it speaks of following Christ's commandments and showing love for each other.

BEYOND THE WEST: WISDOM FROM THE EAST
Keating quotes from a major Buddhist text, the Diamond Sutra, to discuss "letting go," and tells the reader that although psychic powers such as levitation may result from CP, such powers "are like the frosting on a cake and we cannot survive on frosting alone," and so, if the reader is interested in psychic phenomena, to "be sure to practice them under an approved master."47 Such warnings about getting attracted to psychic gifts resulting from meditation are commonly issued by those teaching Hindu and Buddhist meditation.

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Add To Rick Warren's Apostate Teachings of Ecumenism and Mysticism the Doctrine of Dominionism

The P.E.A.C.E. plan will be a "revolution" for global Christianity, Warren told the congregation."I stand before you confidently right now and say to you that God is going to use you to change the world," Warren said. (Jesus Christ never said to change the world the way Rick Warren is planning. Rick Warren is presently preaching changing the "poor" of the world by meeting their "felt needs" rather than through giving them the gospel as Jesus Christ commanded. In the near future I will further comment on this, after I have fully viewed his latest address at Saddleback Church regarding his newly announced Global P.E.A.C.E. plan. Jesus commanded Christians to GO OUT and preach the gospel, to show people how they can obtain forgiveness for their sin, restoration to a holy God, and eternal life; not to build huge mega-churches and draw everyone you can IN through a false and watered-down "feel-good" gospel, or lack of the gospel altogether.)

"The great evangelist Dwight L. Moody said, 'The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him,'" Warren said. "I'm looking at a stadium full of people who are telling God they will do whatever it takes to establish God's Kingdom 'on earth as it is in heaven.' " (This is a deceptive statement for most Christians who are not aware of what he is really saying here, and false teachers like Warren make it deceptive for this reason, BUT for someone who has realized what is really taking place this statement is rather direct, in that it is a dominionist statement, about building God's kingdom on the earth. The Bible never tells us to establish, nor build, God's kingdom on the earth. Dominionism is the result of combining secular humanism (and it's complete gamut of atheistic and agnostic man-centered "man is God" philosphies) with bewildered evangelical and Roman Catholic leaders who have misread and misquoted Bible scripture, somehow believing that mankind will fix the earth's problems rather than waiting on Jesus Christ to fulfill this as prophecied in the Bible. What Warren and other deceived evangelicals do not fully realize or, in some cases, fail to acknowledge is that this errant movement is actually facilitating the exact ecumenism presently pushed by the UN and the New World Order, which will usher in the prophecied kingdom of Anti-Christ, before the second coming of the Lord. Jesus Christ will personally fix the earth's problems Himself when He returns at His second coming (and He does not need nor ask for mankind's help), when He will also destroy His enemies, among whom many false prophets and teachers, such as Rick Warren and his many cohorts, will be included if they do not repent and get right with God before then.)

Gathering Or Scattering?

By Paul Proctor
April 23, 2005
NewsWithViews.com

I suppose I should rename this column “The Warren Report,” since so much of my writing time these days seems to be spent rebuking much of the spiritual whiskey he pours his patrons in the name of Christ, rendering them drunk, delusional and unable to distinguish right from wrong, good from evil and sacred from sacrilegious.

Like alcoholics, the more his regulars drink, the thirstier they get; the thirstier they get, the more they drink, until they all begin sounding brilliant to each other and yet silly to the sober souls around them that fear God. Oblivious to His Word and the consequences of their carelessness, most end up laughing, crying, hugging and high-fiving each other while bragging about all of the great things they’re going to do for God, which frankly turns my stomach.

There are, of course many parachurch organizations and movements that have evolved over the years, some new and some not so new, from the Alpha Course, to the Promise Keepers to the Willow Creekers to the Purpose Driven to the Mosaics to the Emerging Church; each with their own set of false prophets and demonic doctrines steadily steering their respective groups into the coming one world religion of tolerance, diversity and unity, having forsaken the Word of God for the seductive will of men in an ancient occult effort to undo the confusion and separation the Lord inflicted upon the world under the rule of Nimrod. Though they are many and varied, they are all related in some way or another and are empowered by the same spirit that the Bible says will emerge in the latter days to make war with God.

There are numerous books, web sites and writers today that address these men and their movements; but for now I will continue to focus on the one that is currently deceiving the greatest number from among my own denomination, Southern Baptist.

On his church’s 25th anniversary, Rick Warren launched what he calls his Global P.E.A.C.E. Plan to “eradicate five giant problems that oppress billions of people” around the world with “five smooth stones of (P) - Planting Churches, (E) - Equipping Leaders, (A) - Assisting the Poor, (C) - Caring for the Sick and (E) - Educating the Next Generation.”

The Baptist Press reported on the event held at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California on April 17th before a crowd of 30,000 Saddleback Church members.

“Billions of people suffer each day from problems so big no government can solve them," said Warren, Saddleback’s pastor. "The only thing big enough to solve the problems of spiritual emptiness, selfish leadership, poverty, disease and ignorance is the network of millions of churches all around the world."

So, we need a “big thing” to solve the worlds problems, huh; or does he consider the Lord to be a large inanimate object? No, I believe he’s just preaching churchianity: salvation by cooperation.

In typical Saddleback style, Warren twists the biblical account of David and Goliath (“five giants and five smooth stones”) into a useful tool of deceit that stirs emotions while teaching the exact opposite of what the Lord intended us to learn; proclaiming that the answer to the world’s "giants" is a “church network,” even though it was a “network” of faithless Israelites who cowed before the great warrior Goliath.

Rather than empowering King Saul and his trembling “network” to bring down the giant, the Lord raised up one small shepherd boy named David, who couldn’t even wear the armor of the king and took no sword with him but only five rocks and something to throw them with as accessories to his fearless faith. The lesson here is, of course, when you go into battle for a righteous cause, it doesn’t matter what weapons you carry or how many of you there are or how trained you are; the only thing that really matters is your faith in God. He and He alone will deliver you in time of need.

So, what is Warren teaching his followers by invoking selective parts of the David and Goliath story to sell his Global P.E.A.C.E. Plan? Here are a few revealing quotes Berit Kjos found in some of Warren’s 40 Days materials that she included in a recent article of hers entitled: Creating Community (Part 2). They will illustrate quite clearly how he uses socialist slogans to teach Laodocian lies.

Warren: "We is more powerful than me.”

Warren: "There is power in partnership.... Evangelism is always a team effort.”

Warren: "There's no such thing as a lone ranger Christian.... We're better together and we belong together.”

Warren: "The Bible says we're better together. We were created for community."

He's Teaching that bigger is better, more is mightier and you can’t win by going it alone using, of all things, the story of a small shepherd boy who single-handedly whipped the Philistines while the Israelites watched in amazement from a nearby hill.

If it hasn’t dawned on you yet, he’s using the Bible to teach humanism or, to put it another way; he’s using truth to frame lies. You know, it’s bad enough that he twists scripture into his own deceitful device; but I find it rather alarming that so many professing Christians cannot see him doing it or don’t care that he does.

According to the Baptist Press, the anniversary event in Anaheim included greetings from President Bush and Billy Graham. This, like many other church celebrity endorsements and appearances, adds a perceived legitimacy to the movement while distracting participants from the unbiblical nature of the man and the plan. Chuck Colson was also there to give Warren his support; but these men, like all Warren supporters, should know that the Bible has stern warnings about strengthening the hand of evildoers.

“Warren used the occasion to announce his vision of a spiritual awakening that would sweep the world as Christian churches tackle the problems that Jesus Himself confronted during His ministry.”

“Go ye therefore and tackle the planet’s problems?” Is that the Great Commission? Did Jesus die on a cross to fix a broken world or deliver us from it? If you’re not sure, you may want to refer to James 4:4 where scripture says: “friendship with of world is enmity with God.”

"The Scripture shows us that Jesus shared the Good News, trained leaders, helped the poor, cared for the sick and taught the children," Warren said. "Our P.E.A.C.E. plan will just do the five things Jesus did while He was here on earth."

So, if you bring good news, train leaders, help the poor, care for the sick and teach children, you are fulfilling the Great Commission? Isn’t that what the U.S. is doing right now in overseas, bringing good news, training leaders, helping the poor, caring for the sick and teaching children? Isn’t this also what the United Nations and many of its non-governmental organizations say they’re all about? Isn’t it what liberals, socialists, communists, Marxists, Fascists and every other corrupt leader, regime and revolution throughout history claim they were all about, as well? I’ll bet even Fidel Castro believes he accomplished all these things and more down in Cuba when he took over.

If that’s the case, then what’s the difference between the church and the world? Could it be that something else is being taught amid all the pomp and circumstance of Warren’s grand coming out party? Could it be he is suggesting, ever so subtly, that when it comes right down to it, there really isn’t much difference between the church and the world; that his Global P.E.A.C.E. Plan is just another upgraded form of humanism and socialism, better packaged, better managed and better marketed with better people and better technology all wrapped up in Christmas paper to be presented as his glorious gift to the world?

And, just for the record, Jesus came to preach the Gospel, make disciples, comfort the poor, heal the sick and teach God’s Word to anyone who would listen. If you’ll notice, that’s markedly different from Warren’s P.E.A.C.E. Plan.

Warren: “The emphasis calls for church-based small groups to adopt villages where spiritual emptiness, selfish leadership, poverty, disease and ignorance keep people from experiencing the kind of life God wants them to have…”

“Spiritual emptiness, selfish leadership, poverty, disease and ignorance, huh?” We have all of that and more here in the villages of America! If the Purpose Driven Lie isn’t working here (read the latest Barna reports and government stats) what makes him think his P.E.A.C.E. Plan will work in Rwanda or anywhere else in the world? OR, is there another agenda behind the Global P.E.A.C.E. Plan? Draw your own conclusions…

“There are thousands of villages in the world that have no school, no clinic, no business, no government -- but they have a church," Warren said. "What would happen if we could mobilize churches to address those five global giants?"

Is that what Jesus did? “Establish schools, clinics, businesses and governments” in countries that didn’t have them? No, that’s nation building. In fact, its amazing how much his plan sounds like Bush’s plan to import “freedom, democracy and prosperity” to the rest of the world. As I recall, God allegedly gave Bush much the same vision. The only differences I can see between Warren’s plan and Bush’s plan is the way it was funded and the president's use of the military to expedite it all; but, if Warren's Plan qualifies under the guidelines of some future version of Bush’s “Faith Based Initiative" that extends the "hand of compassion" to cover "charitable" endeavors abroad, it may well end up being at least partially funded by U.S. tax dollars; and, why not? These two renowned “Christian” men seem to share many of the same publicly stated goals even though they obviously chose different sectors of society with which to achieve them. But then, it's all about unity, isn't it? Bringing people together...

Let me just say this: There are two types of Marxism: Traditional Marxism and Transformational Marxism; one uses force and weaponry while the other uses flattery and gradualism. One is quick and brutal, the other, slow and seductive.

I am not suggesting that Bush and Warren are Marxists; but I am saying that they use many of the same tactics and strategies Marxists have employed throughout history; and the humanistic values, ambitions, methods and goals they share are certainly not supported by scripture even though they ARE generally supported by the church at large; and I fully expect to see their agendas align publicly along with the agendas of other religious leaders from around the world, including those of the Vatican, in the not-too-distant future. After all, world unity is the goal here and peace and prosperity is the bait; and those leading the charge toward a new world order from the spiritual front to the political front, to the economic front, will admittedly stop at nothing to achieve it. They just can’t say who’ll actually be in charge of it all when it's finally accomplished. That’s OK; the Bible gives us a pretty good idea.

“The P.E.A.C.E. plan will be a "revolution" for global Christianity, Warren told the congregation.”

And you thought all of the hippies, peaceniks and flower children from the 60’s had gone away. Hardly… They’ve just been blending in and waiting around for another sunny opportunity to bloom. Guess what? Its spring and the church grounds are bursting out all over with them; and, believe it or not, many of them have W stickers on their cars!

Assist news reported that before Pastor Warren spoke to the crowd at Angels Stadium, he broke into an impersonation of Jimi Hendrix singing his big hit song, Purple Haze with the help of his church’s band. You know what they say: “Impersonation is the sincerest form of flattery” and Warren is, as many folks know, a frustrated rocker. You remember Jimi, don’t you? the occult led, drug laden guitarist who choked on his vomit after an apparent overdose of illegal drugs a few decades ago? Ah, there’s just no business like show business, is there? Yes sir; give ‘em what they want and leave them begging for more! I heard the crowd in Anaheim went wild. Go figure…

Warren: "I stand before you confidently right now and say to you that God is going to use you to change the world."

“Change the world?” Isn’t that what John Lennon sang about in his song “Revolution” with Yoko Ono by his side? Are you seeing a pattern here yet? No, you won’t find any directive in the scriptures where Jesus or any of the disciples ever instructed us to “change the world.” In fact, the Bible teaches something completely different:

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1st John 2:15-17

And let’s not forget that back in September of 2002 Warren told the Baptist Press “the goal of The Purpose Driven Life is to help people develop a heart for the world."

Warren: "I'm looking at a stadium full of people who are telling God they will do whatever it takes to establish God's Kingdom 'on earth as it is in heaven.”

So, doing his impersonation of Nimrod, pastor Warren stands before thousands of cheering fans telling GOD what they’re GOING to do. Quite the antithesis of Biblical obedience and humility, wouldn’t you say? Especially since he doesn’t really say what God he is referring to. I was taught that it was intended to be the other way around; that God was supposed to tell US what to do. I guess that’s the price we fundies pay for choosing old-fashioned scripture over new age, help-yourself books like The Purpose Driven Life. In fact, the Old Testament speaks of another individual from long ago who became infamous for his many proud “I wills.” By the way; he also has a plan for a kingdom on Earth.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” – Isaiah 14:12-15

If you’ll notice in the earlier Warren quote, he also stated that they will do “whatever it takes” to establish God’s Kingdom on Earth. Excuse me, but that’s lawlessness; the only code violent criminals and desperate men recognize. You simply cannot obey the Word of God and do “whatever it takes.” But, those were Pastor Warren’s very words; so again, draw your own conclusions.

And while you’re at it, please tell me; when was the church ever commissioned to establish God’s Kingdom on Earth? Once again, Warren bastardizes scripture by inappropriately tying on a segment of the Lord’s Prayer ("as it is in Heaven") to his own words ("establish God's Kingdom 'on earth") to try and authenticate and accommodate his global agenda. What Jesus actually said in Matthew 6:10 was:

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

Jesus wasn’t talking about the church building a kingdom on Earth; he was talking about people obeying God on Earth, something we certainly don’t see much of these days, in or out of the sanctuary.

The truth is: Jesus Christ came to DELIVER US FROM this fallen world, not contract us to repair it with church covenants, promises, programs, creativity, imagination, human initiative and dynamic donators. Deliverance is and always has been His Plan for us even though we presently occupy this wretched place in His name. He never told us to build Him a kingdom here or change the world as best we could by doing “whatever it takes.” It is only the spirit of antichrist that desires to "change" this rotting planet into a kingdom.

The Lord is not going to rapture His church out of a world He is changing for the better. Helloooo???? He is not returning to conquer and claim a kingdom built with human hands. God is not remodeling the globe for the new millennium any more than he remodeled the first temple in Jerusalem into the second temple or remodels the lost to look more Christ-like. Ye must be born again! That’s the plan; and the process is not going to be any more peaceful than it ever has been. In fact, in spite of Warren’s grand vision of P.E.A.C.E. it’s going to be a lot like Hell on Earth in the coming days. Whether we realize it or not, in the great hurricane of history, this age of grace we've been enjoying is merely the eye of the storm; and it is quickly passing over us, ready or not.

“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh...” – 1st Thessalonians 5:3a

The Baptist Press article closes with a couple of amazing questions posed by Warren that speak volumes about his beliefs and the makeup of his movement:

"What will happen if the followers of Jesus say to Him, 'We are yours'?" Warren asked. "What kind of spiritual awakening will occur?"

Apparently, the good reverend doesn’t understand that one is not a follower of Jesus Christ UNTIL he or she has completely surrendered their life to Him. You may be Purpose Driven; but if you are NOT His, you are NOT a follower of Jesus. The only person I’ve ever heard of that followed Jesus and was not His, was Judas Iscariot; and we all know what became of him.

This is why there is so much confusion and prideful disobedience in the Purpose Driven movement because even its leader doesn’t seem to be able to grasp what being a Christian really is. It’s as if he thinks we’re all just a bunch of Starbucks junkies looking for some clever way to make God happy by building Spiritual Supercenters around the world to meet everybody's felt needs with our dreams, visions and filthy rags; when, in reality, we’re only gratifying ourselves.

So, while appearing to be gathering the sheep, he's really only scattering them.

“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD…Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD….Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you…I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal… Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.” – Jeremiah 23:1,2b,16, 25-27, 30-32

Related Articles:

1 Rick Warren, At 25-Year Point, Launches Global Initiative
2 Warren Hits Home Run With Announcement Of Global Peace Plan
3 Creating Community (Part 2)
4 Rick Warren Teams Up With New-Age Guru Ken Blanchard