Book Review - Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life

In my first pass at reading your review, I must say that I agree with most of your assessments. I’ve spent a lot of time in the past year and a half researching the “purpose-driven” methodology in both church and personal application, and have found it wanting. I left a PD church one year ago, because it was devoid of scriptural teaching. The pastor, much like Warren, used scripture (or should I say verses from paraphrases and translations of dubious origin) to support his sermon points. I found it shallow, and a poor substitute for being taught the whole counsel of God found in scripture.

I am hoping in the coming weeks to be able to post more of my reflections on the web, written in article form.

In recent church history, there has always been a fad. There will always be a deception. Now that I’ve spent thirty years in ministry, I’m old enough to understand that most of the fad books of the past several decades are little more than fodder for the next yard sale. We’ve been deceived, thinking that profound authors and speakers have written their answers. The apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 2:1-5:

And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling.
And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
(NAS)

I should think that if Paul’s wisdom was not a good enough basis for our faith, neither are the present ‘gospel gurus’ of this present age.

Only God can bring change to the heart, not the persuasive words of wisdom from men. All the books and sermons intended to coerce change pale to the power of the Word of God to bring change. Warren has written 40 chapters to convince his readers of the need to change their lives. Save your money and get in the Word.

If you are planning to ‘expose’ some truth regarding the Purpose Driven Church, don’t be surprised if your warnings are both unheeded and unwelcome. Part of the PD church structure stresses unity to such a degree, that people who oppose the system are seen as threatening the unity of the church.

Before leaving a PD church over a year ago, we witnessed the marginalizing of many who dared to challenge the PD structure. Most left, as we did. It was not a pretty sight.

As you research the PD Life, you may discover it is only a tip of the whole PD iceberg. The PD church book and methodology has been around longer, and is quite an extensive (almost turnkey) system of running a church. You may even purchase Rick Warren’s sermon notes and outlines for use with your own congregation. No need to actually have to read and teach the word.

I would not agree that “one of the biggest problems” we face in attracting non-believers is trying to be understandable in sharing Christ. The whole premise of trying to attract unbelievers at all is suspect, and difficult to defend from a Biblical perspective. Jesus builds the church, and He will draw unto Himself. Our responsibility is to be faithful in being a witness and proclaiming Him, not create new ways to attract a crowd.

Over the years in ministry, I’ve heard many people defend the various trendy methodologies of how to “do” church, or how to live the Christian life. And in times past, I’ve heard people use the same analogy that we should not question what the Holy Spirit might be using at any particular moment. If whatever the ‘wave’ happens to be does not align with scripture, I would be hesitant to attribute it to the Holy Spriit.

For good reason Paul says in Eph 4:14, “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine”. In Acts we read that Peter stands up and preaches to the crowd, using texts from Joel and the Psalms. Three thousand people were saved. It had nothing to do with Peter’s methodology. He was simply being faithful to proclaim the truth of Scripture, and the Lord used it to draw men unto Himself.

Waves come and go, and not everything that washes up on the shore is good. I would rather forego trying to figure out what the latest trend in church methodology is, and simply do what the Bible says to do. That way, God gets the glory, and we’re not tripping over ourselves promoting someone’s new book or trying to catch the next gospel wave.

My comments are not offered to offend anyone who believes otherwise. I can certainly appreciate the zeal expressed by some who evidently find much in the PD movement to promote. But we’ve spent billions of dollars in the last several decades chasing new trends in Christianity, and yet I find more to be concerned about in the Evangelical church at this time than any other time in my life.

The oft-quoted “this book changed my life” phrase used by so many about so many new and different books in recent times rings hollow without the benefit of seeing that change lived out over a lifetime. The next time someone says that to me, my response will be, “we shall see”.

In my 30 years of ministry, I’ve read a great many “new” Christian books. So far, I can only say “this book changed my life” in relationship to the Bible. I don’t expect that to change anytime soon.

Thank you for your prayer request. I too have checked back a number of times to see little activity in posting on this subject. Occasionally I will search for more articles on the issue, and have found some good ones. More people seemed to be aware of the danger of this new methodology, but it is still a small minority. Until people are fully convinced in their hearts of the sufficiency of teaching God’s word, more will fall prey to the parade of deceptions that will come.

Seeing the success of this book, no doubt others will follow with another fad and methodology. I’d be surprised if Rick Warren isn’t already writing a sequel. As I talk with people about this issue, my heart is to warn them of any man or methodology that seeks to establish themselves or their methods as a way to God. Our High Priest is Jesus. We need no other.

The church of the past 50 years has become very accustomed to following self-proclaimed leaders. We often esteem too highly the Dobsons, Swindolls, Colsons, and Warrens of our time. A good leader will lead you to the cross, and won’t continue to stand in the way once you’re there. Man, I want Jesus. I want to be taught the word, not about the machinations of man.

I recently received an email from someone who had just gone through the 40 Days of Purpose at their church. In his excitment he proclaimed “now if we can only be diligent to practices the 5 purposes we learned, we’ll see how God can move in our church”. Whoa…that sounds like old covenant to me. God isn’t looking to see how well we do in practicing Warren’s five purposes so He can move in our churches. Paul says in I Corinthians 1 that man in his wisdom did not come to know God. Why is it that men keep trying to devise ways to know God? What is it in the church that keeps people searching for a new way to be ‘spiritual’? Why do we feel the need for ‘another’ high priest?

So many questions…in the meantime, we need to pray for all the churches like Susan’s that are diverging from the Word of God.

Susan’s experience is very disappointing, but not surprising. I’m not sure if the church is an ‘official’ PD church, but unity is stressed to such a degree that disagreement is not tolerated.

I recently came across this quote from A.W. Tozer regarding church division,
“When confused sheep start over a cliff, the individual sheep can save himself only by separating from the flock. Perfect unity at such a time can only mean total destruction for all. The wise sheep to save his own hide disaffiliates.”

Powerful words written decades before PD was invented. All church unity is not of God.

Someone asked about a Bible-teaching church in Orange County. Most Calvary Chapels teach the word systematically in expositional style. Most would not fall for the PD thing, and some are preaching against it. Though viewed by some as “Charismatics” because they are not cessationists, they really have very little in common with most Pentecostal or Charismatic churches. I find their emphasis on the word most comforting. Even John MaCarthur has had favorable things to say about them.

I like David’s “tangential” thoughts. I’ve wondered too why we tend to principalize our beliefs in neat little systems to follow. Is there something in our fallen nature that strives to live under the law? I wonder if many Christians do not find grace “sufficient”, and devise clever works to achieve righteousness.

I would be interested to find out more in regards to “centering prayer”, etc mentioned in the post above, especially as it relates to PD and CGM.
I’ve compiled a page of links to various PD and CGM topics located at http://www.campwest.com/ministry.htm
Information about others would be appreciated.

Just read the “Resistors” article…wow. That hurts just a wee bit. All too familiar.

Eric,
I read the article you referenced with great interest…good stuff. I believe one of the authors, Mike Hale, is a good friend from my past. I was not able to find an email address on the site. Can you provide one?

I can appreciate Ed’s concern of the various critique’s offered in this rather lengthy exchange of ideas. If it were simply a matter of whether or not the five purposes are in some manner or form found in the Bible, then we would have little upon which we base our disagreement. But to those who have lived in and through a PD church experience, there are deeper concerns. Many of those have already been expressed in this blog.

Despite how the five purposes have been worked into Mr. Warren’s church structure, there is arguably much that has been “made up” in the PD church. To me, the system devised for the church structure in Warren’s PD Church book stands in stark contrast to indepth study of the church as delineated in the New Testament. Few of us have called into question his motives or heart for the Lord. But many have taken upon themselves to be Bereans in this matter. To many, the writings of Warren have been weighed against the truth of Scripture, and been found wanting.

As regards the five purposes, I’ve wondered if they are not more of being symptoms than goals of the man who is passionate toward God. I’ve wondered also why Prayer is not considered as one of the five purposes. I believe it is conveniently tucked under one of the other headings. However, in Acts 2:42, it is listed as one of the four characteristics of the early church. In that same verse, we read that the early church was devoted to the apostle’s teaching. Many are concerned that the PD church seems a bit more preoccupied with the teachings of Warren then proclaiming the whole counsel of God.

One of the many weaknesses with the whole PD movement is the tendency to principlize and summarize the word of God into little spoon size bits. Both PD Church and PD Life are rife with trying to reduce biblical truth into a few major principles for living. If that was God’s choice for His word, He certainly could have economized better with paper and effort.

If the five purposes are indeed all found in the Book of Acts, then I suggest that the Purpose Driven books and plethora of materials are superfluous. Let’s cut out the middle man and go straight to the Bible.

Juan’s logic is not elusive, though I personally have no issues with contemporary worship. It appears that he is taking issue with the foundational practice of the ‘seeker friendly’ church in trying to attract the world to church. Perhaps he is challenging the ‘end justifies the means’ approach that is often used in these churches. If that is not his argument, then I beg his forgiveness for misrepresentation.

Even if he is not taking up that argument, I shall. There is no biblcial precedence for creating a church or church service intended to attract the lost souls in the world. There is no biblical teaching encouraging pastors to shun teaching the word in favor of messages intended to be practical, positive, and relevant. Those that do are violating the teaching of I Corinthians 2:1-5.

I find it fascinating that in both Paul and Peter’s last written words before their deaths, they exhibited a considerably passionate plea to the church. These pleas are as relevant today as they were then. (2 Timothy 4:1-5 and 2 Peter 3) These are not words of instruction to the church to attract the masses.

“I think you are overlooking the Great Commission”

Oh, not at all. I totally agree that we as believers are to go into the world and preach the gospel. That is precisely the point…we are commanded to go into the world. The PD church methodology reverses that command and asks the world to come unto it. It seeks to attract the world by trying to eliminate what it would see as hinderances to why people avoid church. But getting people to church to hear the gospel is not what the great commission is all about, nor what Paul so diligently teaches throughout his epistles regarding the role of the church.

As for the “hinderances”, I have no issues with churches utilizing contemporary worship or choosing other style ‘preferences’ that may deviate from traditional stylistic forms. My issue is with their choice to deviate from declaring the whole counsel of God in teaching the Word, in preference to shallow teaching to attract the crowd.

It presupposes that their methodology and not God’s word through illumination of the Holy Spirit draws men to Jesus. Such arrogance flies in the face of Paul’s admonition in 2 Corinthians 2:4-5,
“And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God”.(NAS)

Most churches today have ceased to proclaim the whole counsel of God by teaching the word. Instead, they have opted for positive topical messages to attract the crowd. Of course, the PD church along with other CGM institutions proclaim that indepth teaching takes place in the context of the small group. In referencing their own materials, the church structure is designed to slowly draw people into mature Christianity (around the baseball diamond, or into the core of the circle).

Aside from having no biblical basis, this strategy is often not what it proclaims itself to be. Having endured a PD church for several years, and been involved with small groups that utilize Warren’s study guides, I can say that the teaching in that context remains shallow. Warren proclaims that we are to adopt contemporary means without compromising our message. But compromise he does in acts of commission by misusing scripture to promote his methodology, and acts of ommission by failing to teach the whole counsel of God.

Time will fail me if I attempt to introduce many other misguided and unbiblical features of the PD church such as their system and training in membership, church unity, campaigns, commercialism, books, materials, and other systems disigned to circumvent the truth that it is Jesus who builds the church and Jesus through the Holy Spirit who draws men unto Himself. The whole of this complex system does not resemble the simplicity of the operation of the church as outlined in the New Testament. It assumes the burden of being under law, that if ‘such and such’ is done, then ‘such and such’ will happen.

It does not surprise me that the church is so willing to enter into compromise. We have grown accustomed to following prey to the methods and marketing of men in regards to the church and our spirituality. This won’t stop with either the Purpose Driven church or Purpose Driven Life. No doubt, the sequel is being planned. No doubt, another writer envious of Warren’s success is planning his own strategy for the Christian and the church.

It is sad and it is devastating. The reliance on methodology presumes that the Bible is insufficient, and that somehow our culture demands something more than the mere word of God. It concludes that for the church to be successful, it must adopt the complex systems of corporate America. It fails to acknowledge that only Jesus builds the church. It looks at Peter’s discourse in Acts 2 when 3,000 were saved, and analyzes his methods and strategy. It fails to take into account the faithfulness of simply proclaiming His word, and then watching the Holy Spirit draw people to Christ.

I’m glad we found some common ground to agree, Dopderbeck. Maybe there is more than you think. I must be missing your reference to church planting, because I don’t see where I mentioned that. My whole point was aimed at the modern CGM churches that are compromising the teaching of scripture and creating a type of church that attempts to attract the unbeliever to them. That is all…I’m not suggesting that missions or church planting are wrong. To me, those are legitimate expressions of the Great Commission to go and make disciples.

Again, my argument is addressed primarily to the CGM and PD churches that fail to preach the word in an attempt to emphasize the positive attributes of coming to God, saying nothing of sin, repentance, grace, or other key doctrines of the faith. To obscure the difficult parts of scripture to keep people comfortable and build a church seems a bit deceptive. Perhaps we agree on this.

We remain in disagreement on I Corinthians, as I believe a close examination of the first two chapters says much about the weakness of man’s methodology. Paul is establshing the superiority of God’s wisdom and power with respect to salvation, contrasted with the inferiority of man’s wisdom. Just because Paul was directly addressing a division within the Corinthian church does not undermine the fact that he is revealing his heart in ministry. We can attribute practically every passage in scripture to a particular event in time and space, germane to the recipients of the letter. Yet, we as Christian establish our doctrine from these letters.

It seems entirely possible from I Corinthians 2 that one’s faith can rest upon the wisdom of men and not on the power of God. With the emphasis of methodology, motivational messages, and persuasive teaching within the 21st century church, it seems entirely possible that we are witnessing a faith that is resting upon the wisdom of men. With even some of Warren’s proponents admitting that he misuses scripture to establish his PD methodology, it is difficult for me to conclude otherwise.

The following quotes are located on the cover of Purpose Driven Life:

“In the traditions of Oswald Chambers, Rick Warren offers distilled wisdom on the essence of what life is all about”.

“…Rick Warren’s new, groundbreaking manifesto will set millions of people free to live the lives God intended.”

“If you only read one book on what life is all about — make it this one!”

“…Rick Warren has written a masterpiece of wise counsel for you.”

Seems like Warren’s wisdom is being a bit elevated here. Thanks, but its not what I care to pursue.

Klenck’s articles were among the first I read when I began to investigate the PD movement. He has many good things to say. It is difficult to evaluate all the issues he raises, though I cannot deny that his arguments sound plausible. As I continued my research, I felt led to focus more on the biblical contrasts to Warren’s PD church, as opposed to the potential underlying sinister philosophical issues that Klenck raised.

Perhaps I decided that I’m not smart enough to figure that part of it out, or perhaps just unwilling to dig into the research. Whatever the reason, I remain most burdened by the digression of the modern church from biblical foundation into the ever-changing sea of methodology. Satan will always be ready to utilize anyone who is willing to produce a new deception upon the church, unwittingly or not. I don’t necessarily regard all such people as intentionally trying to deceive the church per se. Perhaps ego, financial gain, or just a strong desire to share their own pragmatic experiences are to blame.

We should all guard our hearts against deception, knowing that any heart that strays from the truth and sufficiency of God’s word is capable of introducing strange doctrine.