Evaluating 40 Days of Community

I was browsing Rick Warren's website, http://purposedriven.com/, and I noticed a video link on the main page entitled "What it Means to Follow Christ" (Windows Media: high / low). Rick presents the gospel message in this video, and to tell you the truth, this was the very best presentation of Rick Warren's that I have ever seen. Why didn't he put this one on the first tape of his 40 Days of Purpose study? Rick spoke with passion and you could tell it was coming from his heart. From both the Purpose Driven Life and the Better Together (40 Days of Community Workbook), the gospel message is misleading and watered down so much it is virtually unrecognizable.

In the video, Rick used some great examples. One was if your Grandma was married and your parents were married, it doesn't make you married. We are not saved because our parents were saved; we must make the decision to follow Christ for ourselves just as marriage is a personal decision. This example shows that entrance into God's kingdom doesn't come through osmosis or relations with others in the kingdom. Also, his example of drinking poison although one is sincere, would still make one sincerely dead. A very good point indeed. It was also good that he brought out the fact that we are not measured by God by a scale with the good on one side and the bad on the other.

On the other hand, it did take Rick some time to get around to the death of Jesus. Previous to that point, he almost made it seem that we are forgiven by Jesus' perfect life. I don't think he put any emphasis on the price of our forgiveness, and this is an important point to miss. For example, Rick didn't mention Hell or about God's wrath (John 3:36) or that we are enemies of God without His forgiveness which we cannot have if we remain in unbelief toward Him. Our attachment to Christ is much stronger when we realize that Jesus paid an immense price in order to save us from a terrible punishment. Rick also didn't put very much emphasis on the cost of our sin, nor did he mention that Jesus was raised bodily. He said that He rose again, but didn't define this. This would mislead someone of the Jehovah's Witness faith into thinking that they were eligible since they believe that he rose from the dead as a spirit. Carefully articulating these doctrines is very important to the gospel message.

Rick talked about our being sorry for our sin and that was good. He also took the person through a prayer that mentioned they were sorry. He never did all of this in the Purpose Driven Life. As for the assurance, he says that anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved. Although that is true, it is important to note that our calling on the Lord is a repentance, a turning away from sin and turning to the Lord for salvation. His prayer asked God for forgiveness, so this was good. Also, he did a good job to help people get past the "feelings."

All in all, there would be little to write about if Rick kept up this kind of presentation and used scripture as consistently in context as he did here.