Posted: 06/18/08

Rick Warren Reversing the Reformation

By Ken Silva

Apprising Ministries

From a February 5, 2008 article in The Washington Post (WP) we are reminded about how the secular world views Southern Baptist Purpose Driven Pope Rick Warren:

a megachurch pastor and philanthropist who is courted by political leaders worldwide, says he thinks Christianity needs a "second Reformation" that would steer the church away from divisive politics and be "about deeds, not creeds."

Speaking today to a group of Washington Post reporters and editors, the evangelical author said he had an "epiphany" in recent years due to his wife's battle with cancer and the success of his book, "The Purpose Driven Life," which has sold more than 25 million copies. Humbled and scared, he said he decided to focus on helping the needy and the sick, particularly those with AIDS. [1]

I have previously pointed out that in addition to being a Southern Baptist pastor I also happen to be a former Roman Catholic whom God graciously delivered from apostate Roman Catholicism into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. And that's why, as one of the critics invited to a recent meeting with Rick Warren, my main concern remains his woefully wrong position regarding the Roman Catholic Church.

In addition to the aforementioned WP piece longtime Saddleback member and well-known Christian apologist Richard Abanes fills us in that:

Warren is directly talking about a NEW Reformation that must occur as a follow up to the old reformation, and this new reformation is about deeds, not creeds (established through the First Reformation)... Warren's intentions might best be put in an basic Q&A format for us to consider:

QUESTION: Why would a Second Reformation be about deeds, but not about creeds?

ANSWER: Because the First Reformation, begun by Martin Luther, was about the creeds (doctrine). Our doctrines were established by the First Reformation. Our deeds must be established by a Second Reformation...

Warren [is] perfectly fine with the doctrines that came from the First Reformation. This is why they do not need to be re-visited (or REFORMED). They are just fine as they are... [2]

The doctrines of the Protestant Reformation are "just fine" with Warren? That's odd; for here is Rick Warren's position on the Roman Catholic Church, which was deemed apostate by the Reformers who hammered out those doctrines at the risk of death:

"The small group structure is the structure of renewal in every facet of Christianity - including Catholicism." [3]

But then Abanes tells us that Rick Warren is saying out of the other side of his mouth:

I am calling for a return to nineteenth-century evangelicalism. It's more muscle and less mouth. It was the evangelicalism of Charles Spurgeon, who started schools and orphanages all around England as well as teaching the Gospel... We figured out the correct beliefs 500 years ago. We got our doctrinal beliefs. Here's what the Bible says. Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Soli Deo Gloria. [4]

By the way we note here that the other "sola" which Warren didn't mention is Solo Christo. I really could understand why those around Warren would also be wishing for a Christianity with "less mouth" because one wonders if Warren even listens to himself. Rick Warren wants a return to the evangelicalism of Charles Spurgeon? Really?

Well, here's Charles Spurgeon on the Roman Catholic Church:

In these times, when liberality is the only popular virtue, and zeal for truth the cardinal sin, it is worth much to let the public know assuredly that Popery is not the angel of light it professes to be. "Distance lends enchantment to the view;" but, to the rightminded, to see Romanism is to abhor it. It is a system which is as dangerous to human society, as it is hostile to true religion...

The sooner we let certain Archbishops and Cardinals know that we are aware of their designs, and will in nothing co-operate with them, the better for us and our country. Of course, we shall be howled at as bigots, but we can afford to smile at that cry, when it comes from the church which invented the Inquisition. "No peace with Rome" is the motto of reason as well as of religion. [5]

This is why I can sympathize with my friend Bob DeWaay when he says in his Christian Worldview Network article My Visit to Ask Rick Warren to Preach Christ:

One of the disconcerting things about dealing with Rick Warren is that in spite of many problematic, public teachings, he claims to agree with orthodox Christian doctrine... In our private meeting Warren again asserted that he believes orthodox theology. [6]

I guess, as another Southern Baptist once said, it all depends on what "your definition of is...is." But here's the question that we need to ask: How is it that one of the most powerful and prominent pastors in the Southern Baptist Convention-the largest Protestant denomination in America-flatly contradicts the doctrine of the Reformation he says he believes in and no SBC leader has stepped forward to call him to account for his sin?

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? [7]

By Ken Silva Click here for bio and archived articles