Purpose of being Driven (out): Eminent Domain, PDL Style

Posted on March 8, 2007 by David Dansker

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Tom Bartlett arrived at Celebration Church in 2004. Presumably, he didn’t just drop through the roof, but went through some sort of hiring process; possibly to replace a retiring pastor. Today, there are some who think the roof might as well have caved in. Bartlett is taking credit for riving a dwindling congregation of 40 and raising the number up wards to 300 congregants,[i]but it hasn’t been so much about growth as it has been about replacement.

One of the first people to be replaced was Joe Owings, a retired pastor. Owings and others left the church because the new pastor implemented Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church method for church growth. “It was during that time we began to get uncomfortable with the music. The emphasis seemed to be more on younger people and a new generation, and we just felt like we did not fit in.”[ii]So, Owings and others were promptly ‘out-fitted’ with a new church of the great outdoors. Bartlett defends his reliance on contemporary music as the draw for these new, younger congregants because they are the people he is trying to reach, “and we see them leaving the church in droves.”[iii] Maybe they’re being enticed back in by the sound of contemporary music, but there is reason, and authority, to question the integrity of the sort of faith that depends on it:

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (1Co 2:4-5)

Because the wisdom of man is no match for the spiritual warfare unleashed on the minds of mortals who would repent and turn towards God, Paul was adamant that our faith be sourced in the power of God. This is accomplished by preaching in the power of the Spirit. Your faith should not stand with enticing sounds from man’s guitars either, but the seductive power of music is often used in religions that depend on sensuality for producing initiates and controlling them. Mix in a heavy diet of “psychological techniques,”[iv]or man’s wisdom, for behavior modification in place of doctrine, and they’ll never know what hit them.

While it is tragic to consider hundreds being deluded into believing they are experiencing saving grace, it is made possible by what may turn out to be the largest landgrab since the Catholic church ruled the kingdoms of Europe. PDL churches are not build-new churches, they are takeovers.

What happens to an original congregation, a congregation that was probably made to feel guilty for lower attendance, guilty for not utilizing their resource to reach the community, guilty for not taking out a second mortgage to upgrade the sound system and lighting, guilty for expecting a shepherd in their senior years in the church they sacrificed to build; what happens to them? “Well,” says their pastor Bartlett, “that’s why there’s different churches for different folks.”[v] [] And, no, we’re not exaggerating about the guilt tripping tactics that are used to get members to leverage themselves until they’re ripe for a corporate-style, hostile takeover. Here it is from his eminence, Rick Warren:

“Every church has to make the decision…. Is it going to live for itself, or is it going to live for the world that Jesus died for?”[vi]

The Church of Jesus Christ lives for, which means serves, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. The doctrine of the Gospel is preached so that men may be saved out of the world they serve, and born into the Kingdom to serve the King of Kings.

Warren‘s gospel, which is not the gospel, is a gospel of works wherein you must serve the world in his volunteer community works programs, and give up your church property to become one of his local offices. He has given up the cross for his acrostics (i.e. his service projects: P.E.A.C.E., C.H.U.R.C.H., S.H.A.P.E., S.T.O.P., S.L.O.W, etc.), and he means to have eminent domain.

Endnotes:

 

[i] Martin Bashir and Deborah Apton, “Rick Warren and Purpose-Driven Strife”:

Pastor’s Unconventional Approach Inspires Some, Alienates Others,

ABC News Nightline. March 7, 2007

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=2914953&page=1

 

[ii] Bashir and Apton, “Rick Warren and Purpose-Driven Strife” http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=2914953&page=2

 

[iii] Ibid.

 

[iv] Ibid. 3.

 

[v] Ibid. 2.

 

[vi] Ibid. 4. Owings describes content, PDL sermons.

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16 Responses to Purpose of being Driven (out): Eminent Domain, PDL Style

  1. David Norris says:
    March 8, 2007 at 2:39 am

    In many cases, Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life and Church has replaced the Bible and greater emphasis is placed on it than the word of God itsekf. In Africa, Purpose Driven material is being passed out in lieu of the word of God which is tragic.

    Reply
  2. David Norris says:
    March 8, 2007 at 2:39 am

    In many cases, Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life and Church has replaced the Bible and greater emphasis is placed on it than the word of God itsekf. In Africa, Purpose Driven material is being passed out in lieu of the word of God which is tragic.

    Reply
  3. David Dansker says:
    March 8, 2007 at 8:32 am

    Africa seems to hold out a particular lure for these guys; I am reminded of Wilkinson who’s vain repetitious prayer of Jabez finally let him down there (see “Bruce Wilkinson Quits Africa!” Lighthouse Trails Research Project, http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/wilkinsonquits.htm)

    Reply
  4. David Dansker says:
    March 8, 2007 at 8:32 am

    Africa seems to hold out a particular lure for these guys; I am reminded of Wilkinson who’s vain repetitious prayer of Jabez finally let him down there (see “Bruce Wilkinson Quits Africa!” Lighthouse Trails Research Project, http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/wilkinsonquits.htm)

    Reply
  5. David Norris says:
    March 8, 2007 at 1:40 pm

    Bruce Wilkinson has turned the Prayer of Jabez into the Prayer of Wilkinson and made a hefty buck in reagrd to his coast. Its now the Prosperity Prayer of the Faith Movement.

    Reply
  6. David Norris says:
    March 8, 2007 at 1:40 pm

    Bruce Wilkinson has turned the Prayer of Jabez into the Prayer of Wilkinson and made a hefty buck in reagrd to his coast. Its now the Prosperity Prayer of the Faith Movement.

    Reply
  9. Jim at Watcher's Lamp says:
    March 8, 2007 at 4:22 pm

    David

    Thank you for taking the time to visit the site and your words of encouragement. keep contending for THE FAITH.

    God Bless

    Reply
  10. Jim at Watcher's Lamp says:
    March 8, 2007 at 4:22 pm

    David

    Thank you for taking the time to visit the site and your words of encouragement. keep contending for THE FAITH.

    God Bless

    Reply
  11. David Dansker says:
    March 8, 2007 at 4:27 pm

    Jim,

    Amen, Thanks for keeping the fire burning at your end. I was glad to find your site; have it bookmarked,

    David

    Reply
  12. David Dansker says:
    March 8, 2007 at 4:27 pm

    Jim,

    Amen, Thanks for keeping the fire burning at your end. I was glad to find your site; have it bookmarked,

    David

    Reply
  13. Jason Goodwin says:
    March 11, 2007 at 5:47 pm

    David,

    I have a rather bizarre quote for you, but I think you will see the logic behind it when you read what I have to say afterwards.

    “Pay no attention to what the critics say. No one has ever put up a statue to a critic.” Jean Sibelius, Finnish classical music composer.

    My response: How true, Mr. Sibelius. Billy Graham has his own statue. Is Rick Warren next?

    Give that one some thought and see if that doesn’t make any sense.

    Jason

    Reply
  14. Jason Goodwin says:
    March 11, 2007 at 5:47 pm

    David,

    I have a rather bizarre quote for you, but I think you will see the logic behind it when you read what I have to say afterwards.

    “Pay no attention to what the critics say. No one has ever put up a statue to a critic.” Jean Sibelius, Finnish classical music composer.

    My response: How true, Mr. Sibelius. Billy Graham has his own statue. Is Rick Warren next?

    Give that one some thought and see if that doesn’t make any sense.

    Jason

    Reply
  15. David Dansker says:
    March 11, 2007 at 6:33 pm

    Jason,

    Thanks for the very applicable quote. Sad, but it makes sense. It was very hard to believe that Graham would allow a statue of himself to be cast and displayed. He is a topic in himself. if Warren can trumpet the fact that he reverse tithes (there, he has his reward), and not realize that in his pretense at humility hs is a apportioning to himself, by analogy, God’s portion, his statue is not far behind

    Reply
  16. David Dansker says:
    March 11, 2007 at 6:33 pm

    Jason,

    Thanks for the very applicable quote. Sad, but it makes sense. It was very hard to believe that Graham would allow a statue of himself to be cast and displayed. He is a topic in himself. if Warren can trumpet the fact that he reverse tithes (there, he has his reward), and not realize that in his pretense at humility hs is a apportioning to himself, by analogy, God’s portion, his statue is not far behind

    Reply

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