Evaluating 40 Days of Community

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]
This is an excellent chapter with appropriate warnings and wise guidance. I have a few things I want to point out and a few of my own comments to add.

"We're Connected to Grow Together...By Warning Each Other."

"Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin" (Heb 3:13, ESV).

Continuing on in the ESV:

"For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.' For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief." (Heb 3:14-19, ESV).

If even those who experienced the tremendous miracles of the signs from Moses, the 10 plagues on Egypt, the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, the passing through the Red Sea, manna from heaven, water from the rock, clothing that lasted 40 years, the voice of God and thundering at Mt. Sinai... if these still did not believe, then we ought to realize that even many miracles cannot sway unbelief. How is it that we find true belief? The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We do not truly believe until we are fully submitted to Him, and this is hard (even impossible) if we do not understand ourselves in truth from God's perspective, that we are sinners saved by grace and not of works -- we are totally unable to please Him and are all in the muck together. How amazing it is that He saved me, then adopted me and gave me a son's inheritance! How undeserving I am, and how utterly loving He is. How can I not give everything to Him? Everything I have obtained in this life is absolutely worthless compared to knowing Jesus Christ!

...God wants us to "tell each other the truth, because we all belong to each other in the same body" (Eph 4:25, NCV). Note that the basis for telling the truth and for warning each other is that "we all belong to each other."

In the NASB, we read something slightly different: "Therefore, having put away falsehood..." This says that we have already put away falsehood. If you are a disciple of Christ, you have repented and put away the desires and lusts of the old nature and crucified them. If you haven't, then Jesus said that you will perish. This doesn't mean you won't make mistakes, and we will by no means become perfect in this life, but it does mean that you don't purpose to lie. After all, the Bible says in Rev 21:8 (NASB): "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." The basis for telling the truth is because we have repented of our sinful lives and turned to Christ. Therefore, Paul is exhorting us to tell each other the truth because of the this fact which means that we belong to one another. Our belonging is the result of our repentance and belief in Christ.

Anyone who would knowingly let us swerve into the path of danger wouldn't be a true friend; and the warning to us is not to tear down our driving skills, but to keep us on the correct path. As in driving, the warning should be immediate--"as long as it is called today." We should seize the moment because waiting on warning only leads to disaster.

This is very well said, and I agree whole heartedly. In fact, this is the reason I am writing this blog. As you can see, there is some good truths in this book, but there are also many misleading sign posts which could misdirect those who are searching for truth onto the wide path and away from the straight and narrow. From the context of this day's reading, we can see that Rick is speaking about those slipping into moral failures. However, its just as true when it comes to doctrinal purity. "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Tim 4:16, NIV).

John MacArthur has done a teaching video series on the lack of truth being taught in churches today. If you know me, ask me for it and I will lend you a copy. The DVD series is entitled "Does the Truth Matter Anymore?" It is produced by Word Pictures and you can find it listed here or browse their website at http://crosstv.com/. Here is the series abstract:

"Everywhere is apathy. Nobody cares whether that which is preached is true or false. A sermon is a sermon whatever the subject; only, the shorter it is the better."

Those words were written by Charles Spurgeon MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO! Yet, he might have just as easily been describing the state of the church at the beginning of the 21st Century.

Well, in this "tell-it-like-it-is" indictment of the attitudes, methods and approaches of much of the modern church, Pastor John MacArthur picks up where Charles Spurgeon left off.

This video series is 'MUST VIEWING" for the modern Christian.

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're Connected to Grow Together...By Teaching Each Other."

We are all teachers of the faith. We may be good teachers or we may be bad teachers, but we are teachers.

To an extent this is true, especially concerning the faith. However, Jesus does not call us teachers but disciples, and we are to make disciples, teaching them to obey everything that Jesus commanded of His first disciples. In Matt 23:8, we read (NET): "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers." We are not to call ourselves teachers, but brothers or sisters. As such, we are to be open to instruction from our brothers and sisters in the Lord, but we should not rely on them.

Rick's comment that we are all teachers is not entirely clear. It is true that we can have influence over and can teach one another, but Paul does very clearly state "all are not teachers, are they?" (1 Cor 12:29, NASB). However, teaching is a fruit of a mature Christian as the writer to the Hebrews attests: "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who becaues of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil" (Heb 5:12-14, NASB).

Also, Rick's statement is without the scriptural warnings concerning false teachers and the stricter judgment for those who operate in the capacity of a teacher. For those of us who are of greater influence and desire to teach, we would do well to heed the warning in James 3:1 (NASB): "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment." The Bible only identifies two types of teachers: true and false teachers. What Rick means by a "bad" teacher is not entirely clear to me; he may be intending someone who teaches error, although it seems he either means a hypocrite or perhaps even someone who doesn't live a moral life.

In writing to an ordinary group of believers, the Apostle Paul states, "I know that you have all the knowledge you need and that you are able to teach each other" (Rom 15:14b, NCV).

The NASB says "And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another." Admonish is not the same as teach; rather it is to warn or forewarn, to exhort, even to cousel. Rick seems to want to mix up teaching with counsel, advice or insight. I think its important to make a distinction between these, because the Bible makes the distinction and it warns of "false teachers among you" (2 Peter 2:1).

King Solomon ... said it is vital to learn from our friends (Prov 12:15).

This is true only if our friends give us godly advice. Should Job have listened to the counsel of his wife who told him to curse God and die? Or how about his friends whose advice was ill-informed? King Solomon actually said, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel" (NASB). This is not the same thing as saying that we must learn from our friends, but we must take godly counsel. King David welcomed the reproof of a righteous man (Psalm 141:5), but friends can give us ill-counsel. "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:1-2, NASB). Our reliance must be upon our Lord and saviour--we must learn from Him. God said through Jeremiah "But who has stood in the council of the LORD, that he should see and hear His word? Who has given heed to His word and listened?" (Jer 23:18, NASB). Who was Jermiah's counsel? If it is imperitive that we learn from our friends, where were Jeremiah's friends? Yet still, godly people will be used of God to warn those of us who are straying to keep us all on the straight and narrow. It is vital that we be open to correction and reproof as King David was.

Let the words of Christ live in your heart. We must know God's word before we can teach it. ... Use God's word to teach and cousel each other. ... Too often we look to the world's conventional wisdom when we're seeking answers. ...once we learn from the wisdom of God, we must correctly appy it in our lives.

Amen! This is godly wisdom. But how is it that Rick is abiding by his own advice? Does he not look often to the world's conventional wisdom teaching others to do the same, frequently making use God's word as a stamp of approval to prooftext his own ideas? We must allow God's word to renew our minds and change our human way of thinking, correcting what we have been taught, much even from teachers in the church. We must take on the mind of Christ and not follow after the ways of this world (which has infiltrated the church) in an attempt to try to be successful and market Christianity in unbiblical ways and with smooth words, trickery and worldly appearances. I want to reiterate Rick's statement: we must know God's word before we can teach it.

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're Connected to Grow Together...By Encouraging Each Other."

We have the power to kill or give life.

Wow! Rick sure places a lot of power in the hands of mere humans. The Bible says in Deut 32:39 (NET): "'See now that I, indeed I, am he!' says the LORD, 'and there is no god besides me. I kill and give life, I smash and I heal, and none can resist my power.'" Jesus emphasized this very clearly when He stated: "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!" (Luke 12:5, NASB).

Many of the messages we hear from the world are the killing kind. We're told: "You're not smart enough; you're not thin enough; you're not fast enough; you're not GOOD enough." The Bible says, "Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit--you choose" (Prov 18:21, MSG).

It seems to me that Rick is advocating that we ought to be raising people's self-esteem instead of calling them to deny self and find God's strength in their weakness. True, words can be used for harm, and many have committed suicide because of the words of others--James confirms "no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men..." (James 3:8, NASB). He then goes on to show that it should not be so amongst believers. We are not to curse or condemn others, but we are to proclaim the truth in love, and while the truth has the effect of tearing down one's pride, our intent is to do this ultimately to build a person up in Christ (not in self). The flattery that lifts up self and suppress the truth will ultimately not "furnish this people the slightest benefit" (Jer 23:32).

In a world where people are beat up and put down, we can provide a counterbalance to the negativity.

In this statement I see much of the theology of Robert Schuller--the power of positive thinking. Yes we are to encourage the brethren, but for someone who needs to repent, isn't building up their self-esteem counter-productive? Does a doctor try to make the sick patient who doesn't think they are sick feel good as motivation to take the cure? No, rather he convinces the patient of their dire condition so that they will hunger and thirst for the cure and then in desparation grab for it.

We see an example of this in Luke 13, where Jesus heals a woman who's been unable to stand up straight for 18 years. ... Jesus healed her physically, but he also built her up.

I would say here that the general principal in the Scriptures is: law to the proud, grace to the humble. Jesus was being gracious to this humble elderly woman, yet He didn't build up her self-esteem. He simply treated everyone as equals and was not a respector of persons.

The Bible says we should "look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out" (1 Thess 5:15b, MSG).

There is an element of truth in this in that we are to see the best in people and think of others more highly than ourselves. Complementing others is scriptural. However, the scripture that Rick quotes here actually says in the NASB: "...but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people." It may not be the best to tell an unrepentant sinner that he's doing pretty good and God loves him just like he is (ie. don't change). However, returning favor to someone who has just tried to harm us is a way of showing them that we do not care for ourselves and put others first. The scripture says that this will heap coals on his head, but hopefully stirs him enough to desire repentance.

An encourager works hard at bringing out the best in others.

Again, we have to take care that this is not at the expense of core truths. Our job is to encourage people in the faith, not in self.

May your conversation this week be peppered with phrases like: "I believe in you..."

Where does the Bible tell us to believe in one another? Let's be careful to encourage with words that keep people on the narrow path. Encourage--yes, but with a sincere desire for what is best for them knowing the result of a proud heart in the presence of God.

I hope my comments today make sense to you and you don't think that I am saying we should be going around trying to discourage people and nit-pick at their faults. That is not at all what I am saying. Love overlooks faults; but it doesn't steer people away from the truth that they are sinners saved by grace in whom God's strength is best displayed while they are weak. John the Baptist prepared the way by making the path straight, filling in the valleys (building up the broken-hearted) and leveling the hills (breaking up the proud heart). Be encouraged! God loves you so much that He has graciously given us His truth, and if we love and obey His Word, we will be protected from the evil schemes of the enemy who seeks to devour and destroy all that he can.

In light of the Purpose Driven Church movement, I thought you would find the following article interesting as it documents a new kind of Christian: the Secular Christian. Here is a clip from the article which you can find here:

I don't believe in God.

I don't believe Jesus Christ was the son of a God that I don't believe in, nor do I believe Jesus rose from the dead to ascend to a heaven that I don't believe exists.

Given these positions, this year I did the only thing that seemed sensible: I formally joined a Christian church.

Standing before the congregation of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas, I affirmed that I (1) endorsed the core principles in Christ's teaching; (2) intended to work to deepen my understanding and practice of the universal love at the heart of those principles; and (3) pledged to be a responsible member of the church and the larger community.

So, I'm a Christian, sort of. A secular Christian. A Christian atheist, perhaps. But, in a deep sense, I would argue, a real Christian.

...The pastor and most of the congregation at St. Andrew's understand my reasons for joining, realizing that I didn't convert in a theological sense but joined a moral and political community. There's nothing special about me in this regard -- many St. Andrew's members I've talked to are seeking community and a place for spiritual, moral and political engagement. The church is expansive in defining faith; the degree to which members of the congregation believe in God and Christ in traditional terms varies widely. Many do, some don't, and a whole lot of folks seem to be searching. St. Andrew's offers a safe space and an exciting atmosphere for that search, in collaboration with others.

How is it that such a thing as this can blatantly exist in today's church? What could be the reason why a person could continue to be comfortable in a church community and yet not believe in God?

Some food for thought...

I recently came across an article by Bill Berkowitz (thanks to Roger Oakland) in a publication titled "Working for Change," a publication of a secular activist organization named "Working Assets." Bill Berkowitz is a longtime observer of the conservative movement. You can find the article here. The following are some interesting highlights from the article that I want to highlight and comment on:

Here is what a handful of mainstream publications are saying about
[Rick Warren] (these quotes are prominently displayed at his website):

• The Economist - "arguably the most influential pastor
  in America."
• The Times (London) - "Business and political leaders across America are turning to [him] for guidance."
• Forbes - "Were it a business, Saddleback Church would be compared with Dell, Google or Starbucks."
• ABC News - "The Purpose Driven Life is the epicenter of a spiritual shockwave taking root across America in unlikely places like offices and university campuses. It has become a movement."

These accolades from the world are concerning to me because of Jesus' words in John 15:18-21 (NASB): "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me."

Why is it that the world seems to love Rick Warren?

Promoting the P.E.A.C.E. agenda

Like many Christian evangelicals/missionaries before him, Rick Warren, the son of a Southern Baptist preacher, has a grand vision. However, unlike most of his predecessors, Warren has a robust array of skills and resources: He is smart, media savvy, has a well-honed business sense, is fully conscious of the power of the Internet, knows how to manage his message, and has an impressive cash flow -- according to Warren, much of the money generated by the sales of his books goes to his Acts of Mercy Foundation. Warren and his wife are also contribute to and are deeply involved in the worldwide fight against HIV/AIDS.

Warren's agenda revolves around "attacking what he calls the five 'Global Goliaths': spiritual emptiness -- "[People] don't know God made them for a purpose"; egocentric leadership -- "The world is full of little Saddams. Most people cannot handle power. It goes to their heads"; extreme poverty -- "Half the world lives on less than $2 per day"; pandemic disease -- "We have billions of people dying from preventable disease. That's unconscionable"; and illiteracy/poor education -- "Half the world is functionally illiterate."

"His goal is a second Reformation by restoring responsibility in people, credibility in churches, and civility in culture."

To attack these evils, he has developed what he has called a PEACE agenda:

• Plant new churches, or partner with existing ones.
• Equip leaders.
• Assist the poor.
• Care for the sick.
• Educate the next generation.

Somehow I thought that perhaps Evangelism or making disciples would be key items in Rick's P.E.A.C.E. plan, but this does not seem to be the case. I know that we are to be peacemakers (Matt 5:9), but it doesn't seem to me that we are to try and reform the world, but rather make peace between people and God by exhorting people to repent and telling them the gospel. I cannot help but be reminded of 1 Thess 5:3 (NASB) which says "While they are saying, 'Peace and safety!' then destruction will come upon them suddently like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape." Jesus never proclaimed peace on this earth. In fact, He tells us plainly: "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matt 10:34, NASB). How much clearer could He be? And this is not the sword of Islam for Jesus said "for all who take the sword shall perish with a sword" (Matt 26:52, NASB). Rather, it is the sword of the Word which divides people from one another, the believing from the unbelieving. Rick seems to be doing something altogether different; there seems to me to be a proclamation of peace on the earth and a blending of the world into the church. This next comment from a professor of socilogy of religion seems to confirm my assessment:

Besides being amongst the most influential evangelical leaders, Scott L. Thumma, a professor of the sociology of religion at Hartford Seminary and the author of a forthcoming book on mega-churches, told Nussbaum, "one of the interesting things is that he crosses boundaries...he's not just respected by the evangelical world but by many outside that world."

The following quote is the Author's note of the church movement currently underway resulting in the undoing of the reformation for which many laid down their lives. The odd thing is that the Roman Catholic church has not recanted the anathemas of Vatican I which condemn many things protestants believe, like salvation by faith alone, and it is also still practicing indulgences--the very reason Luther posted his ninety-five theses.

Then the other story that I would encourage you to look at is this evolving alliance between evangelical Protestants and Catholics, particularly in the evangelical wing of Catholicism.

The following quote amazed me--that a secular organization like Starbuck's has replaced Bruce Springsteen with "spiritual" quotes from Rick Warren on their coffee cups!

Last year, the sale of Bruce Springsteen's album "Devils & Dust" -- which describes an explicit encounter with a prostitute in the song 'Reno' -- was banned by Starbucks. This year, according to a Knight Ridder report, "Starbucks will print spiritual quotes from the Rev. Rick Warren, author of the best-selling "The Purpose-Driven Life," on coffee cups."

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're Connected to Grow Together...By Being Examples to Each Other."

"Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you" (Phil 3:17, NIV).

We all need models to help us mature.

Many people make the mistake of thinking all they need to grow spiritually is God's Word and prayer. But the truth is, we need people to help us grow. Christlike character is built through relationships, not in isolation. There are many things God wants you to learn about life that you'll never learn on your own. You'll only learn them in community. We always grow faster and stronger with living, breathing examples who can model for us what a purpose driven life looks like. We need more than explanations, we need examples.

Christlike character is built by Christ in us and tested through our relationships with one another to the glory of God and as a witness to the world. I understand that Rick is concerned that some people don't see the need to fellowship with other believers and have even abandoned doing so. Perhaps they feel that watching a sermon on TV or listening by radio is sufficient. It is not, and the scripture clearly says "...not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near" (Heb 10:25, NET). However, Rick's statement that community is necessary for spiritual growth go beyond scripture. Those who model the pattern given by the apostles will be spirit-led, not purpose driven. The latter is confusing to the world because so many worldly people are purpose driven; we ought not to display our own strength and the power of community, but glory in our weaknesses and display the glory of the power of Jesus Christ.

The scripture that Rick quoted was Paul exhorting the Philippians (and all disciples) to follow his example and to take note of [consider, or regard] those who live according to the pattern given by Paul and the apostles. The pattern given to us and suitable examples are written down for us in the scriptures, though we may (and hopefully do) also have living examples among us. When did God ever say, "Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God...and the social communities you will form"? Rather, Paul says in 2 Tim 3:16 (NIV): "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the [person] of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

When Paul would travel to a city to start a church, he would begin by simply living among the people. ... Paul lived out the truth of the word in his own flesh as he dwelled among the people.

While this is true, we would do well to note the scripture reference that Rick quoted in Phil 4:9 (NASB): "And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things." Paul spoke so that they would hear, he taught so that they would learn and he gave that they might receive the truth in addition to living according to it. Paul emphasizes speaking and learning above his actions, though the latter is most necessary. When James said "but become doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (James 1:22, NASB), it seems to me that the hearing came first and he is simply saying that it must be accompanied by faith which results in doing since hearing alone cannot save.

As believers, we're often better at "telling" than "showing."

While I am sure there are those who are hypocrites, saying what is right but doing another, I think many are afraid of sharing the gospel with people. Instead of encouraging believers to be boldly proclaiming the truth of the gospel, Rick seems to be saying that we are already doing this and now we need to show it by doing acts of kindness. Is it really true that we are boldly proclaiming the truth of the gospel, tearing down imaginations that keep people from a true knowledge of God? I don't think so. We should be encouraging others to boldly proclaim the message and live in such a way that they do not bring reproach to Christ.

In today's culture, the world desparately needs people who can show us how to love our spouse and make a marriage last; how to relate to our kids; how to do business with integrity; how to handle conflict like Jesus would. These are lessons we learn by watching others.

Really? If our goal is to show the world how to live a moral life, do you think they will then feel it necessary to come to Christ? Rather, what they need is to hear the gospel proclaimed boldly by Christians who are not living like hypocrites, but I don't hear Rick saying this. Rather, he emphasizes preaching by moral living (using actions first and only words if they become necessary, the essence of St. Francis of Assisi's quote), but there are many generally moral people who are not Christians. Why wouldn't someone watching you not be spurred on to becoming a JW or a Buddhist? After all, you haven't told them of their need for Christ, but rather showed them how to live a better life. Let's combine words with action with emphasis on the words without neglecting the action. This is what is right. And I pray that God will give you and I the grace to live according to His perfect will.

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're Chosen to Fellowship Together...By Being Honest With Each Other."

...but we know the truth, and the truth has set us free (John 8:32).

Who is Rick speaking of here when he says "we"? The scripture says, "So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free'" (John 8:31-32, NASB). Jesus says later in verse 37 of those who were seeking to kill Him: "...because My word has no place in you." We will only know the truth if we continue in His word--this was not a general statement for all professing Jesus as their Lord.

Lies of omission--These are lies where we fail to tell the whole truth, or we wink at the deceptions of others. ... "In the end, people appreciate frankness more than flattery" (Prov 28:23, NLT).

We would do well to remember this when we are sharing the gospel with others. Should we flatter people and uplift their self-esteem? Or should we rather help them see that they are condemned already (John 3:36) and unless they repent, they cannot have eternal life? This can be done in love by leading people to a knowledge of the truth by asking them if they have violated the 10 commandments and showing them that even if they only have done so in thought, God also sees this as the act itself. [A teaching that I have found personally helpful is a program titled "The Way of the Master"--you can find out more information at http://wayofthemaster.com/ or http://www.livingwaters.com/]. Coming to Christ for the wrong reason(s) can be fatal if not corrected since repentance is required. Paul said in Acts 20:26-27 (NET), "Therefore I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of you all. For I did not hold back from announcing to you the whole purpose of God."

Otherwise, dishonesty will pollute our lives together, and it will be difficult to develop a deeper trust for one another (Luke 16:10, NLT).

This is not what Luke 16:10 says. The NET reads "The one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." It is true that dishonesty will break down trust for one another, but more importantly, it is condemned in scripture ("...and all those who lie, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. That is the second death," Rev 21:8, NET) and brings dishonor to God.

Overall, I think this was one of the best chapters I have read yet in Rick Warren's book.

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're Chosen to Fellowship Together...By Being Patient With Each Other."

"Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love" (Eph 4:2b, NLT).

"...with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love" (Eph 4:2, KJV). This is a good scripture reference, although the NLT changes "in love" to "because of your love." We are to bear with one another in love because of God's love and forbearance of us, not because of our love. Let us never forget that God died for us while we were yet sinners.

It helps when facing a patience-challenge to remember God will never ask you to give more patience to others than the patience he gives to you.

I think what Rick is trying to say here is that God will supply us with the patience that He requires of us (if we are abiding in Him). Indeed, we are to be patient with others. However, this does not mean that we do not correct one another in love, but that we don't give up on one another, or condemn one another. If our brother or sister in the Lord is living in sin, they may need to be put out of the fellowship for a time. But this is for the purpose of bringing them back into fellowship with the Lord, and we are to always hope and pray for them and welcome them back with complete forgiveness when they repent.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with--even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently" (Rom 14:1, MSG).

Eugene Peterson seems to have taken an opportunity to rant here, inserting his views about doctrinal disagreements--and in so doing, he goes beyond what Paul is saying in this passage. Peterson makes it seem that Paul is speaking generally of all things. Yet this is not so since we know that Paul also states in 1 Cor 5:11 (NASB) "But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?"

Rather, Rom 14:1 reads in the NASB: "Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions." What is being referred to by opinions? Reading the following verses clarify that it is in the area of non-commanded things such as what one eats or drinks (in moderation), or which days one regards as holy. We are commanded not to judge one another on such things, but to keep from causing one who is weaker in faith to stumble because of our freedom. We are told later in this chapter that everything we do must be done in faith, or for us it is sin (Rom 14:22-23).

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

When you find yourself in an argument with other believers ... Look for God's presence (Matt 28:20). Satan wants us to believe we're in the battle alone.

I'm not sure what Rick means by the statement that we are to look for God's presence when we are in an argument. Perhaps he means that we should ensure that we are communicating God's truth and not our wishes.

When you find yourself in an argument with other believers ... Lean on the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:15-16). ... what appears to be right to us may very well be wrong (Prov 14:12). ... Look for the conflict's true source (Eph 6:12).

This is of course good advice. The last part of 1 Cor 2:16 says that "we have the mind of Christ." What a blessing God gives us as believers who abide in Him! However, we should always take the attitude that if we are wrong we want others to show us the error of our ways so that we can repent and live in truth.

When you find yourself in an argument with other believers ... Lay down human weapons (2 Cor 10:4-5).

Again, good advice. Although, we should never be using human weapons at any time, whether we are interacting with believers or non-believers. Furthermore, we should always be wearing the full armor of God and learning how to use it properly.

When you find yourself in an argument with other believers ... Learn to use spiritual weapons (2 Cor 10:4). ... After we put on the whole armor of God, we're to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests" (Eph 6:18, NIV).

Rick's comments here and in his statement concerning forgiving others is great advice from the scriptures.

We don't always have to agree to get along. ... In an orchestra, there's a big difference between unison and harmony.

I agree with Rick here in matters not commanded in the scripture. However, does this mean that if someone is living in sin that we are to continue to "get along" and fellowship with them? Or if someone is preaching a false gospel in our midst, should we just agree to disagree and remain buddies and chalk it up to difference between trumpets and saxophones? What about someone who says that if you eat ham you are sinning (thus, if you continue in sin, you do not know God)? What about someone who says if you teach men (and you are a godly woman knowledgeable of the scriptures and not teaching error), you are in sin? These are serious allegations that must be treated seriously and not permitted to infect the church. After employing the biblical method of confronting this brother or sister in error, if they do not repent they either must be put out of the congregation and we are not even to eat with them (for sins of morality or teaching a false gospel). We are to practice Biblical separation, and a brother that refuses to walk right must be shunned for both their sake and the sake of the purity of the church. But we are not to treat them like enemies: if they repent, then they are to be welcomed back with loving arms.

Rick's comparison of disagreement to something of beauty (like it was intended to be that way) is not what scripture says. For instance, could he be insinuating that Roman Catholics play trumpets while Evangelicals play saxophones and that both are right and make beautiful music together? But they teach a different gospel from each other. What harmony can there be between truth and error? This is not to say that there are not true believers on either side, but we must make error clear to all by separating from it.

1 Cor 1:10 (NASB) says "Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment." Now this doesn't mean that there won't be disagreements or that we have to get them all worked out before we can fellowship with one another. In some cases where scripture is unclear or where the truth has not been made manifest, untruth may even continue for some time. But where it the difference is clear, we need to stand for truth. The scriptures make it clear that we are all to be truth seekers and lovers of the truth. Everyone who is anointed of God (all true believers) can be taught all things by God (1 John 2:27). This doesn't mean that we don't have to study, yet if we ask God for wisdom and eagerly seek the truth, He has promised that He will give liberally to all without finding fault (James 1:5, see also Col 1:9, 28). And we are to bear with one another and use the spiritual gifts that God has given us for building up the body of Christ.

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're Chosen to Fellowship Together...By Getting Along With Each Other."

"I beg you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so that there won't be splits in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose" (1 Cor 1:10, LB).

Arguing certainly can become counter-productive if not done in the right spirit. It would be best to have discussion (even if it is heated because both sides believe strongly in their views) where both sides listen to each other, but also where truth is being sought and not simply support for each parties' differing world views. We are told by Jude "...I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints" (Jude 3, NASB). However, when it comes to our interactions with others, Paul reminds us through his exhortation to Timothy that:

"The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will" (2 Tim 2:24-26, NASB).

Those that know the truth can actually feel so right that they become proud and therefore not communicate with the love and grace that Jesus had shown them all those years that they themselves were in error and in the clutches of the devil. We need to continue to keep Jesus' words to the church of Ephesus in the forefront of our minds as we earnestly contend for the faith:

"I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place--unless you repent" (Rev 2:2-5, NASB).

Jesus' command to those of the church of Ephesus is close to my heart, and I pray that it always remains that way. I never want to lose my first love, which is in the person and work of Jesus Christ and His mercy for others. I find that reminding myself that I once believed the same errors for so many years before I came to repentance helps me to interact with people as Jesus would have me to do. I must constantly remember that I am a sinner who has many times violated all of God's commandments and have not followed in His will, yet God had patience with me, knowing that I would come to repentance. I have this same hope for others, the hope described of love in 1 Cor 13:7, yet I am acutely aware of the ramifications of continuing in error and unrepentance and pray that God would accomplish His perfect will through the Word that is spoken. Speaking the truth in love is a balancing act, but it comes out of a heart of love for others. It is not the kind of love that fails to speak where necessary, but it also knows when to allow the person to walk away. We cannot force people to believe the truth, but we can only warn them and try to help them to see. If we are also in error, wouldn't we want others to warn us and help us to see also?

"I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see" (Rev 3:18, NASB).

Concerning the Living Bible paraphrase that Rick Warren has chosen for 1 Cor 1:10, it unfortunately distorts the true meaning of this passage and makes it sound like it is supporting the works-based unity that Rick Warren is promoting and not the unity of the Spirit which is based upon sound doctrine. In the NASB, we see that Paul says "that you all agree" and that we "be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment." Is it possible that we could all agree and not just agree to disagree? I believe that this is what Paul is actually stating here. If we all loved the truth and desired to be freed from the false doctrines we have been taught in the past through the renewing of our minds by the washing of the Word, then we could all come to agreement. However, there are those who of their own choice are blinded and do not seek to know the truth and be made free. This is why Paul says a little later:

"For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you" (1 Cor 11:19, NASB).

Yes, Paul says "must." The word translated factions actually means heresies in the Greek. It is false doctrine that divides, and unfortunately the false teachings being spread by Rick Warren are dividing the church and creating a false unity centered around works instead of the truth of God's living and active Word.

Stop trying to win arguments.

How, then, am I to earnestly contend for the faith? We don't contend for the sake of winning an argument, but rather for the sake of sharing the truth since the Bible says that "the truth will set you free" (John 8:32b, NASB). Debate and holding forth the truth is to tear down speculations and imaginations that prevent people from knowing God as He has revealed Himself to be (2 Cor 10:5).

Argument:

1. A discussion in which disagreement is expressed.
2. A course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating truth or falsehood.

Contend:

1. To strive in opposition or against difficulties; struggle.
2. To strive in controversy or debate; dispute.

When you find yourself in an argument with other believers ... Let mercy guide your response (Prov 3:3-6). In a conflict, most of us say we only want what's fair, but God's approach isn't about being fair. It's about grace and mercy (Rom 5:8).

Surely, we must respond with mercy in the same way that God had mercy on us: "Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?" (Matt 18:33, NASB). When the slave who owed much to his master asked for mercy and his master forgave him completely, should this slave not also have offered the same grace to the one who owed him a much lesser amount when he asked for mercy? Proverbs 3:3 in the NASB says "Do not let kindness and truth leave you." We read in John 1:17b (NASB): "...grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ." While we must be gracious to one another, there must be truth. If there is not truth, can you have just grace?

When you find yourself in an argument with other believers ... Let God determine the truth (2 Cor 13:8). ... Truth is what God says it is; he is the lone authority for interpreting any situation (2 Cor 10:5).

I concur with Rick's statement above, although I'm not sure how he is trying to apply 2 Cor 13:8 here and he is misapplying 2 Cor 10:5 (although this is an excellent scripture). In 2 Cor 13, the apostle Paul is urging the Corinthians to do what is right even though it may appear that Paul and the apostles have failed the test by correcting them (referring to the test of true faith, 2 Cor 13:5: is Jesus Christ in you?). Perhaps the Corinthians thought that Paul should only have mercy on them... Then Paul says in the 10th verse that he writes these things while he is absent so that they might have time to repent so that when he arrives he might not have to deal harshly with them. Remember the merciful master in Matt 18:23-35 who forgave the large debt of the first slave? That same merciful master threw the first slave into prison to be tortured until he repaid back all he owed. The moral of the story is in Matt 18:35 (NET): "So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart."

2 Cor 10:5-6 (NASB) says: "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete." Wow! Paul makes some strong statements here. Rick applied this as "[God] is the lone authority for interpreting any situation" yet Paul here is so convinced of the truth that he destroys speculations and lofty things, and is ready to punish all disobedience! Part of the job of the Christian is to tear down speculations and imaginations that prevent people from knowing and understanding God as He has revealed Himself to be. We are to renew our minds so that we are depending upon Him and not on the ways of people. Interesting also how Paul says that he is ready to punish all disobedience for those who have profess to repent and believe the gospel. Paul is calling us to a serious faith.

Concerning Jesus who came in mercy and truth, we also see something instructive for us in how Jesus responded to the Pharisees who were offended when Jesus rebuked them. When the disciples asked Jesus if He knew that the Pharisees were offended by His statements, He replied "Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit" (Matt 15:12-14, NASB). Those who listened received mercy; but to those who consistently refused to acknowledge the truth, Jesus rebuked and left alone.

(... continued in the post for Day 19b)

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're Chosen to Fellowship Together...By Supporting Each Other."

God enables us to love the fear out of one another. We drive fear from our community by loving one another so supportively that each member feels safe inside the group (1 John 4:18). ... We give to one another the same uncommon safety Christ gives us--to be real, to be sad, to be messed up and confused, yet, to be loved.

The above sounds so wonderful, doesn't it? After all, doesn't everyone want to be in a community where there is no fear? I was in the presence of such a community last year at the gay pride festival in Vancouver, BC in Canada. It was clearly evident that these people had no fear or inhibitions. They let it all go. People who were perhaps reserved at work, always wary of what people think of them or how they are perceived were letting go of all their cares at the festival. I met an elderly woman sitting in a chair on the side of the street taking in the festivities. I was amazed by this, and so I stopped by to talk with her and to ask her why she was there. She said it was because these people have learned to let go of their fears; they were free. Indeed, they were free... They were free to do as they wanted. Were these people not loving the fear out of one another? Is it not true that these people felt safe in this community of people who outwardly displayed their inner lusts that day?

Now, I think there is a very relevant example of the early church community in Acts 5. Let's see if it matches up with the description that Rick Warren provided above. Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property and, giving a portion of the proceeds to the apostles, told them that they gave the full proceeds from the sale. The Holy Spirit revealed this sin to Peter who questioned them: "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God" (Acts 5:4, NASB). At this, Ananias fell down and died. In like manner, his wife Sapphira also lied and breathed her last. And what do we read? "...and great fear came over all who heard of it." In Acts 5:11 (NASB) we read: "And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things." Verse 13 continues: "But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem." Maybe the disciples should have taken the 40 Days of Community so they could learn from Rick that "God enables us to love the fear out of one another."

Jesus, although He is completely forgiving to those who repent and prostrate themselves at his feet, He also has an "uncommon safety" as Rick puts it (although not in the way that Rick means): "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!" (Luke 12:5, NASB). In John 10:19, we read that "A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words." In John 6:66, we read "As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore." In Matt 10:34, Jesus said "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Jesus often rebuked the disciples for their little faith. Hardly encouraging words. And when the Samaritans did not receive Jesus because He was traveling towards Jerusalem, James and John asked Jesus "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But He turned and rebuked them, [and said, "You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."] (Luke 9:54-56, NASB). Jesus also said discouraging things like, "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt 5:48, NASB). When Jesus spoke against the pharisees, the disciples once came to Him and said, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard that statement?" to which Jesus responded "Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit." (Matt 15:12-14, NASB). Yes, Jesus had a very uncommon safety. Yet He was overwhelmingly compassionate on those who came to Him in repentance.

Going back to the quote from the beginning of Day 18, notice how "we" and "self"-focussed the quoted statements are. If "we love the fear out of one another," then we don't need God, do we? It is God's love that drives out fear, yet fear is the beginning of wisdom. Why? Well, because fear drives us to God, then God drives it out. Rick quotes 1 John 4:18, which is an excellent verse. But notice that the previous 3 verses explain why there is no fear in love and how we can access this comfort. Is it from others in my community? You be the judge:

"Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world." (1 John 4:15-17, NASB).

If you think I'm being overly critical, please slowly read over the first paragraphs of Day 18 again.

God challenges us to create a community ... where we can each "live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28, NIV).

Where does God challenge us to create a community? There are many communities where people can live and move and have their being, where they are accepted and feel like they have things in common. Rather, Acts 17:28 states: "for in Him we live and move and exist..." Note that it does not say "for in community."

We exhibit tender hearts when we say to one another: ... It's OK to admit your mistakes; It's OK to say your marriage is failing; It's OK to confess your addition ...

I think Rick is rightly contending with a general problem that has been in the church for a while now which is a lack of acceptance of people who are honest with where they are at. Let me clarify that it is very important that we don't judge others as being more sinful than us lest we become like the "holier than thou" types who confess to God "thank you God that I'm not like that sinner." This is an ungodly and haughty attitude that we need to do away with... and fast. If you show love differently to someone who is a thief than to someone who is a homosexual, you are not judging rightly. All sin will be judged by God, and James said "for whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at one point, he has become guilty of all" (James 2:10, NASB). All sin is despicable to God, and you hidden lust is as the act of adultery in the eyes of God. Those who judge others who they perceive to have worse sins don't see themself rightly before God as they should.

However, while it is OK to admit our mistakes and failings, we need to call one another to repentance. And those who do not repent and continue in sin are not even to be associated with after going through the proper Biblical process. In our acceptance of people, we have to remember the importance of repentance and not ignore it in order to be liked. After all, it was Jesus who said, "Do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:4-5, NASB).

Humble people aren't focused on how little they think they're worth, and they don't concern themselves with acting humble. Behavior like that is actually self-centered and reflective of false humility.

Rick makes an excellent point here. Often we are blind to our own self-centeredness, hiding behind a veneer of what we think is humility when it is really just the opposite. We should help people so that they don't remain in this state of self-delusion.

True humility also means we understand our own value in Christ, and our own unique purpose.

Rather, true humility comes from understanding that we are condemned sinners just like the rest of the world is. Were it not for the grace of God, we would all perish. And the sooner we let the law do its work in our lives to bring down the mountain of our pride by informing us that we have failed at all points in God's law, the sooner we will learn true humility. We are all in the muck; some may float a little higher in it than others, but nonetheless, we are all completely separated from God. I used to think I was 80% of the way to God and that I simply needed Jesus to fill the gap (because no one can be 100% perfect). Well, I was wrong; I was actually 0% of the way and thought more highly of myself -- I had failed at every point either in thought, deed or lack of deed... again, and again, and again, and again. Once I realized this, I finally humbled myself before Christ and gave up my life (Luke 7:47). I finally began to love God much and my life was transformed because God finally, for the first time, had all of me. I may have called myself a Christian before, but I was not. Jesus said that it is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle for a very good reason. Anyone who trusts in self-righteousness even one iota, doesn't see themselves rightly before the one and only creator-redeemer, a just and holy God who must punish all sin with eternal separation from His glory. That place of punishment is hell, and hell will one day be thrown into the lake of fire. It is a place of conscious, eternal torment as Jesus described it, and we would do well to heed His words of warning about it.

We exhibit humble minds when we say to one another: It's OK to be happy you got a new car; It's OK to celebrate that you got a HUGE raise; It's OK to say you won the sales competition...

While we certainly can celebrate with the material successes of others, this is not what the Bible is calling us to. If the bible says that it's harder for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, should we not show concern for those souls that are engrossed in the materialism of this life? We can celebrate briefly, but our celebration should be girded on every side by deep concern for them that they do not become seduced by the boasting of the flesh, by wealth, success and power. It is so easy, and it leads people away from God. That is certainly not something to celebrate about! Yet we need to remember that if we are living indulgent lives ourselves that our example is not demonstrating a separation from the world that it should be. This doesn't mean that we cannot have things, but that we must hold them loosely and not be consumed with thinking and talking about them. Things are really tools, a means to an end. We should be using our wealth to buy friends, not to indulge ourselves more and more. But to those who think that God has gifted them with lots of money because He needs the rich to fund His church, they should remain gravely concerned for themselves that they do not fall into temptation. Is it better to build your house on the edge of a cliff or in the middle of a field? Be thankful for wherever God has placed you, but be always willing to give it up. Keep your bags packed!

Jesus called Peter a "rock" when the fisherman was still acting on impulse (Matt 16:18)...

This is a common misconception, especially in the teaching of the Roman Catholic church. Jesus called Peter's confession (which was revealed to Him by God) the Rock upon which He would build His church. The foundation of the church is that Jesus is our deliverer and the Son of the living God! I love how God knew that people would take this verse out of context. For only a few verses later when Peter rebukes Jesus, Jesus says to Peter: "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but on man's" (Matt 16:23, NASB). So Rick is wrong in asserting that Jesus was trying to puff Peter up by calling him something that he was not. In the case of Gideon in Judges 6:11-12, God was prophesying what He would do through him. But this is not like calling Peter the foundation of the church (which he was not).

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're Chosen to Fellowship Together...By Respecting Each Other."

"Excel in showing respect for each other" (Rom 12:10b, GW).

Respect for one another is a scriptural principle, although reading the above verse in a proper translation, we can see that the Bible goes further by saying "give preference to one another" (Rom 12:10, NASB). Elsewhere we also read "regard others as more important than ourselves" (Phil 2:3, NASB).

Part of listening means we don't rush to fix things or to give an answer; we respect others enough to let them share their full story.

Rick shared some good practical advice prior to the above statement about respecting others by listening to them. Later, he also rightly says that we show respect in how we talk about others when they are not around. We should not gossip which is to treat ourselves as better than others. However, while part of listening involves not inappropriately interrupting someone, and certainly not rushing to always fix things, we must be willing to offer godly wisdom, correct someone who is in error or even rebuke someone living in sin. In fact, the very nature of how Rick is writing is to offer instruction and correct what he considers to be errors, and rebuke sin like gossip.

We excel in showing respect when we work hard at being: Tactful, not just truthful; ... Understanding, not demanding; ... Gentle, not judgmental; ... Polite, not rude.

Rick has some good instruction here, and we would do well to heed this advice.

One final note on respect: God entrusted the pastors and spiritual leaders of your church to "watch over your souls," and they are accountable to God for this task (Heb 13:17, LB). They must correctly teach God's Word; confront false teaching before it spreads; proclaim the Gospel to nonbelievers; pray for all people, including you and your family; train and appoint leaders; and they must do this all while serving as an example of what it means to be a follower of Jesus (1 and 2 Timothy; Titus). (emphasis mine)

Very well said indeed. It seems that Rick should therefore be supportive of this blog in my attempt to "confront false teaching before it spreads." Why are not more elders and pastors doing the same? And why does Rick violate his own good advice to "correctly teach God's Word" by consistently taking scripture out of context? Does using snippets of paraphrases that contain his favorite key words and catch phrases that are often in addition to or in contradiction with the literal reading in context demonstrate by example how to "accurately handle the word of truth"? (2 Tim 2:15).

"Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you" (1 Tim 4:16, NASB).

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're Chosen to Fellowship Together...By Committing to Each Other."

"Let us agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other" (Rom 14:19a, MSG).

Commitment to one another is an important scriptural truth. We are first committed to Christ who gave Himself freely for us that we might be made heirs with Him. Secondly, we are to serve one another with brotherly love, and in humility regard others as more important than ourselves. If this is a Biblical principle, why then does Rick Warren right off the bat quote The Message which distorts the truth of the scripture by changing the original meaning and placing an over-emphasis on unity? Romans 14:19 (NASB) says "So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another." This doesn't say to use all our energy to get along, but in context, we are told to set aside arguments over what to eat and drink and pay attention to the truths of the gospel (which makes for peace) and the building up of one another. Romans 12:18 (NET) says, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people." This includes non-believers. We give no one a reason to be offended at us except for the truth we speak and our persistence in standing for it in love.

It means we commit to being there for each other, "none of this going off and doing your own thing" (Col 3:15b, MSG).

Here again, Rick has found part of a paraphrased sentence in The Message in an attempt to put God's stamp of approval on his own ideas. Col 3:15 (NET): "Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful." The idea of not "going off and doing your own thing" is not even remotely referred to in this passage. Rather, it is affirming that the peace of Christ, which comes from the knowledge of the forgiveness of sins given by belief in the gospel, should be what controls our hearts. Remember how you have been forgiven and forgive others in the same way. Don't be selfish. Don't take revenge. We are to take up our cross, crucify our selfish nature and fleshly lusts, and give up our own interests, regarding others as more important than ourselves.

It's by God's design that we define our lives by our commitments: marriage, children, work, church.

If we define our lives by our commitments, why doesn't Rick mention Christ first? Perhaps Rick doesn't understand, but loving our spouse, children, doing well at work and then going to church twice a week (or having coffee with a Christian brother) is not how we show our love for Jesus. The demonstration of that love is this: loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; having no other idols in His presence; not taking God's name in vain (don't make Him common, but regard Him as Holy and special); and remember the sabbath (we are to rest from working and dedicate at least one day to God). Our love for God is demonstrated by submitting to the Word daily, taking all things to Him in prayer, and living our lives with His priorities and plans in focus. If we place God first and have our eyes firmly fixed upon Him (when you think of Him, don't immediately think "church"), all other things will fall into place. But remember, that doesn't mean that you will be wealthy, healthy and have it all together in the stuff of this life. In fact, we are given the promise that "all those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim 3:12, NASB).

It means moving beyond superficial friendships and becoming "a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Prov 18:24, NIV).

No doubt we cannot have close friendships with many people. But is this what this passage is saying? That I "don't need a lot of friends" (as Rick states later), and that I "do need a few good ones"? If that is so, why doesn't the passage say "a few" instead of "a" as in one? Prov 18:24 (NASB): "A man of too many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Who is our friend who sticks closer than a brother? ...even closer than our Christian brothers and sisters? Is it not Jesus Christ Himself? And Rick left out the part that declares that a man of too many friends comes to ruin. Could this be in reference to Luke 6:26 (NASB): "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to tread the false prophets in the same way"?

Who--or what-- are you committed to? And who knows it? Have you ever gone to anyone, besides your spouse, and said, "I want you to know that I will always be there for you?"

Are we as mere people to make such promises to others? James 5:12 (NASB) says: "But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment." Do you think that you can in good conscience say that you will always be there for someone?

Point to Ponder: Community is built through commitment.

And that would be true of any community group, including those in the world. However, Christian fellowship is a gift of God to those who commit themselves wholly to Christ and out of obedience serve one another in humility.

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're Chosen to Fellowship Together...By Admitting Our Need For Each Other."

"Since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others" (Rom 12:5, NLT).

There is truth in this chapter in that the body of Christ is in need of all of its parts. This is because all the gifts God has built into the church are necessary for the proper function and health of the church as a whole. However, Rick goes too far in his assertions, and even concludes that without meeting together regularly with other believers, not only can you not grow spiritually (as he mentions in the introduction to his book), but he also says you cannot survive spiritually! This is nothing less than scaring people into coming to church, and it also encourages them to depend on people to meet their spiritual needs instead of God.

The last statement in the NLT (italicized in the blockquote above) is not in the original text. The text simply states that we are members who belong to one another. The only one we need is Christ. If all I had was Christ, I would be no less a Christian and could grow spiritually and fulfill the calling He has placed on me. What of those who are destitute and alone? If they are like a finger without the rest of the body, how could they possibly survive? If you were taken from your small group and placed in solitary confinement until the day you died, would your Christian faith perish because you were cut-off from the presence of other believers? All I need is Christ. However, this is not to say that we are to aspire to be alone and to live apart from others--not so! Since we are all one in Him as fellow believers, then we belong to one another and therefore serve one another with the individual callings and giftings that He has bestowed upon each member of the body. But belonging to one another and needing one another are two different things. Each part of the body is necessary and serves an invaluable purpose. However, using the illustration to say that one cannot grow spiritually without other believers as Rick stated in the introduction to this book is to directly contradict 1 John 2:27 which says "...you have no need for anyone to teach you; but His anointing teaches you about all things..."

Loneliness is the most common disease in the world, yet we continue to build walls instead of bridges between each other.

What Rick states above is nothing different than what a good social group in the world would tell you. Yet, the truth is that Jesus is the healer of all our diseases. He told us to come to Him and we will have rest and be satisfied. It is true that people can become reclusive and self-serving. However, is the root of the problem that they are not socializing and opening up in a group, or could it be that they are not depending, leaning and trusting in Jesus every moment of the day so that they can belong to others in service?

But there is absolutely no shame in needing others. God wired us that way! He wants his children to depend on each other.

We can help and serve one another, but God doesn't want us to depend on each other. What if people fail you? No-one is perfect, and people will fail you. If you depend upon people, you may be disillusioned. In fact, this may be the very reason people can get so hurt that some end up crawling into their shell and become reclusive. God wants us to depend on Him! How can I underscore this. It is so important that we see the difference. Its so important, in fact, that God placed this truth in the middle verse of the Bible, Psalm 118:8 (NET) "It is better to take shelter in the LORD than to trust in people."

In The Purpose Driven Life... If you haven't read that book yet, it's important that you do.

I find it interesting how Rick promotes his own book as being important to read, but I don't remember him even once promoting the Bible in such a fashion. If he does, I ask you to please show me.

Even in the perfect, sinless environment of Eden, God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone" (Gen 2:18, NIV).

True, but God created a helpmate, not a dependent. Adam was still to depend solely upon God.

God hates loneliness.

But are we ever alone if He says that He will be with us until the end of the age (Matt 28:20) and will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb 13:5)? While we help and serve one another and share special relationships with one another, we can still feel alone because people fail us. Hear the truth that should warm your heart to the core--you will never be alone with Jesus Christ when you believe and trust fully in Him.

And, like parts of any living body, it's impossible for believers to thrive without each other. (1 Cor 12:21b, MSG). You must be connected to a church fellowship to survive spiritually. (emphasis mine)

Perhaps the scripture that seems to refute what I am trying to communicate in this post is 1 Cor 12:21 (NASB) "And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you'; or again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.'" Yet, the kind of need for one another that Rick Warren is communicating seems to put our relationships with one another at a higher importance than our relationship with God and a proper understanding of our relationship to Him. The end goal of our need for one another according to Rick seems to be to "stop traffic" so to speak, where many numbers of purpose-driven people change society. But how is it that Coke, a secular profit-driven coporation could use the Purpose Driven Life as a success manual? Can you be purpose-driven and not a Christian?

Back to 1 Cor 12:21... The idea in scripture is that in the body of Christ, all of the members are valuable; God doesn't neglect a single one and can use each to build up the body. This is how it is meant to be. It is true that we as a part of the body are not to say that we have no need of another part even though it may be different from us. Each believer contributes necessary functions to the body which is in Christ. Yet, while I can take comfort in being with like-minded believers and working together with them in the work of the gospel, and while God promised a spiritual family to each believer as their inheritance while still on this earth, each must come to the proper understanding that they consist and have their full life completely in Christ and in Him alone. I contend that it is only then that one can serve others properly at all times and as God intended us to.

The first step is to admit that we need each other, living like our spiritual lives depend on each other--because they do!

Rather, the first step is to admit that we need God every moment of every day! As Paul said in Acts 17:28 (NIV), "For in him we live and move and have our being..." Jesus never said that the first step is to admit that we need each other. He said that the first and greatest commandment is "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." Then He said, "The second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself'" (Matt 22:37-39, NET). We need to keep them in their proper order; it is the only way we will keep from being led astray.

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're Commissioned to Reach Out Together...By Representing Jesus."

We are to be his face and hands and feet...

This is a common expression used in the church today which is likely taken from Rom 12:5 "so we, who are many are one body in Christ" or 1 Cor 12:27 "now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it." However, the first refers to the fact that though we are different peoples, both Jew and Gentile are made one in (or because of) Christ. The latter refers to Christ's "spiritual body," or God's appointed "body parts" described as apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healings, helps, administrations and languages. We must take care to remember that the Bible says "for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" (Eph 2:10). So it is the work that He is doing in us, not the work that we are doing to try to take His place in His absence as if He wouldn't be able to accomplish anything if it were not for us in this world. He chooses to use us, but He doesn't need us. Always remember that lest we become too haughty with ourselves.

We function as ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5:14-21); we serve at the will of King Jesus.

This is exactly what we are. An ambassador is one who does not represent their own interests but those of the one in whose name he or she was sent. As ambassadors of Christ, we are to declare His will in no uncertain terms.

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor 5:20, NASB).

"Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak — that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak" (Eph 6:19-20, NET).

We reach nonbelievers by living in such a way that they ask us about the King we represent.

While it is true that we must live the truth walking according to the scriptures, but we must be careful to not take the attitude of waiting until they ask us. Imagine trying to rescue someone from the demise of cancer by living like you don't have cancer. Does that make sense? Of course not! What we do only serves to confirm the message we speak. The miracles Jesus' performed and the things that He did confirmed that He was who He said He was. But it was the message that brought people to the truth. We ought to remember that Jesus condemned many of the cities where He did the most miracles because of their lack of repentance (Matt 11:20)! Also, are we so arrogant to assume that we will live such good lives that unbelievers will bow down at our feet and accept Jesus without speaking the gospel to them and convincing them of their sin? How will they know to repent and not just try to please God through works? Jesus said, "the world ... hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil" (John 7:7, NASB) and "...'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also" (John 15:20, NASB). We are commissioned to speak, but it should go without saying that we must live what we believe. Yet Rick Warren spends most of his time on the latter and very, very little on the former.

His love not only compels us to explain our faith, it will sometimes prompt us to confront evil behavior in others.

I'm glad that Rick mentions this, but he does it so seldom that it becomes buried in all the deeds. Comparatively, it is much easier to give someone a bowl of soup or a basket of groceries or to shovel their driveway or mow their lawn than to show them their sins before a righteous and Holy God, how they will fare on the day of Judgment which could come at any time, and what they must do to be saved. We should not cease in doing good deeds, but look for every opportunity to share the gospel. This of course can be done with grace, and our selfless acts (not just petty little deeds) will demonstrate that we are abandoning our life for eternal life, confirming the message of repentance, not just intellectual assent.

Great sacrifice equals great influence...

Perhaps, but it doesn't mean great acceptance if we stick to the message that God has given us to proclaim as His ambassadors. Again, is the slave greater than his master (John 15:20)?

Why doesn't the church have great influence? In a message entitled "How to Become Fishers of Men," C.H. Spurgeon makes the following statement: "I believe that one reason why the church of God at this present moment has so little influence over the world is because the world has so much influence over the church."

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

I want to note here that this chapter has some good admonitions, but they are overemphasizing the physical needs to the point of de-emphasizing spiritual needs. We need to take care to maintain the correct emphasis while demonstrating that physical acts of kindness are how people feel that you mean what you say and believe the truth you speak. I hope and pray that my comments will help shed more light on this as you read. Please post a comment if you have something to add or disagree with something I've said.

"We're Commissioned to Reach Out Together...By Giving Practical Help."

People know we love them when we show we love them.

Indeed, this is true. 1 John 3:16 (NASB), "We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." Note carefully that the love God makes to live in us through belief in the gospel is that which causes us to in the same way lay down our lives for people. If you are not laying down your life for others, you should question whether or not God is living in you (2 Cor 13:5). This doesn't mean asking to be executed; it simply means treating your life as though it is worth less than that of others (giving preference to others over yourself). But take note: it is those in the family of God being spoken of here and not the unbelieving. We give to all (believers and unbelievers alike) as though we are not going to keep anything, and we work hard for the sake of those in the family of God. The effort I am putting into more clearly expounding the truth of the scriptures in this blog is part of my fulfillment of this. But we also work to help those in the family of God who are in physical need.

Jesus approached love from a show, then tell perspective.

If Rick is trying to make the statement that Jesus always did some good deed before giving someone the gospel, I don't think that he can substantiate such a claim from scripture. However, I completely agree that we cannot think to ourselves that we are only going to tell people the good news without it affecting us enough to give of what we have to them that are in need. Words of love not accompanied with an outward demonstration when possible is not love at all. If we have nothing to give to mee their immediate needs, we certainly can pray for them and ask God to meet their needs. But of course, these are real needs. A need to have cash to go on another drinking or drug binge is not a need we should satisfy. The real need is to be freed from that bondage. But the person has to want to be freed from it; you cannot force a condemned person to accept a pardon. We can declare to them they are forgiven and pray for them, but they need to believe in Jesus' provision and possess the will to change. And showing them how much God has done for them and what He has saved them from (and how deserving they were of God's punishment) is God's chosen motivation.

...when he touched people, they realized "...they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among them. they were quietly worshipful--and then noisily grateful, calling out among themselves, 'God is back, looking to the needs of his people!" (Luke 7:16, MSB).

Luke 7:16 (NASB): "Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and, "God has visited His people!" In response to John the Baptists' question concerning if Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus responded "Blessed is he who does not take offence at Me" (Luke 7:23, NASB).

The Bible says, "If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear" (1 John 3:17, MSG).

But this is not what the text is saying. In the NASB we read "But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?"

Her act of service was a reflection of her faith in God [referring to Luke 7:50].

Yes, but Jesus tells us more. He gives us the reason why she has faith and Simon does not. He says in Luke 7:47 (NASB) that "...her sins, which are many, have been forgiven for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." We each need to see that we are forgiven much, and the natural response should be that we love Him much. Even still, of the 10 lepers that were healed of such a terrible disease as that which they had, only one returned to thank Jesus. Only ONE had faith since only ONE realized how much he had been forgiven.

"...Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?" (James 2:17, MSG).

I like how Eugene stated this. The two go together. You cannot speak unless you are able to breathe, and in the same way you cannot preach the gospel without being concerned for the physical needs of those who hear the message.

Francis of Assisi once wrote, "Preach the gospel, if necessary, use words."

This implies that we can preach the gospel without using words. If this were the case, then why do we have a Bible? Why did Jesus say that man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God? (Mat 4:4, NASB). I think that this quote from Francis is not promoting a biblical view. Yes, preach with words. But don't think that you can do this while ignoring the immediate need if you truly have compassion for people.

Jesus specialized in acts of service most people try to avoid: washing feet, helping children, fixing breakfast, and serving lepers.

Yes, but Jesus was not simply giving us an example that we should literally go around and wash everyone's feet. This was symbolic of the washing of the word. Jesus told Peter that he was already clean because he already had a bath (ie. baptism of repentance by belief in God's word); the word continues to sanctify us, and we are to "wash one another's feet" so to speak in this way. These other things do nothing to save or sanctify; they are simply normal, everyday tasks and needs that should be and need be met by those who desire to lead.

Simply remember this: laying down your life is not the same as mowing someone's lawn once in a while or feeding soup to a needy person once per week. Without the gospel, ALL will perish, and your kindness will go unremembered. Never forget that. I hope this has helped you understand God's will better. God bless!

The content of the gospel is not something we have been given creative license with. We are not to water it down (ie. only mention the good parts and leave out the life that Jesus is calling us to), but neither are we to hide it under an emotional experience (setup the "atmosphere" to seduce decisions), use non-biblical motivations, trickery or peer pressure. To speak to this issue, I want to refer you to 3 blog posts that I made to my God's BMW blog. The first is this post where I quote an excerpt from Dave Hunt's booklet entitled "The Non-Negotiable Gospel."

What's Wrong With Just Preaching About God's Grace?
There's nothing wrong with preaching the grace of God! In fact, it is what we are commanded to do. But what is the grace of God if not a thorough understanding of the moral requirements of mankind--the Law (ie. the 10 Commandments) which magnifies the grace of God to us? For more on this matter, and the testimony of a pastor who had a ministry and life-changing dream from God, please see this blog post.

Billy Graham Reveals Secret Behind Failure of the Church
On September 22, 1958, Dr. Billy Graham preached a message in Charlotte, North Carolina. Using the 10 Commandments, he reveals the secret behind our failure as a church, as elders and deacons, and as Sunday School teachers, collectively and individually. In nearly 50 years, much has stayed the same and even worsened, and we are continuing to bear the fruit of our folly. For more details, please see this blog post.

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're Commissioned to Reach Out Together...By Building Friendships."

"Be friendly with everyone. Don't be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people" (Rom 12:16, CEV).

The NASB reads: "Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation." In other words, do not be proud such that you disassociate from the lowly; do not be self-righteous. This is not saying that we should not act like we have the truth. Indeed, if we know Christ, we have the truth. And we need to show the unbelieving that what they are trusting in is a lie. But it is something that we give to others in service to their spiritual needs.

"Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you" (2 Cor 5:20b, MSB).

The Message puts an unscriptural twist on this passage. 2Cor 5:20 in the NASB reads: "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." Does this passage speak of friendship? Is admonishing someone to be reconciled to God the same as telling them that He's already a friend to them (even if they don't reconcile to Him... ie. repent)? To tell an unbeliever that God is already a friend with them is very misleading, especially when John 3:36 (NASB) states: "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." Should we tell someone living in disbelief and disobedience to Christ that God is already a friend to them when the Bible says that God's wrath abides on them? Here is the crux: if God is already their friend, then why do they need to turn from their sin?

...and so he became friends with those who needed to become friends with God.

Rather, He became the doctor to those who where sick and in need of a healer. Are you friends with your doctor? I don't know about you, but I don't always want to go to my doctor. He's always trying to convince me that I need to live heathier or to take my medication or to go under the surgical knife for the saving of my life. His primary motivation is not friendship or else he would avoid telling me anything that might cause me to dislike him. Yet, in fact, this is true friendship--a friend cares for your well-being. Yet, Jesus seems to avoid this terminology (but you will have to look to a literal interpretation to see this), perhaps because it is easy to misinterpret. He doesn't command us to be friends with our neighbour, but to love our neighbour. Love doesn't just try to make someone feel good; the kind of love God speaks of is that love that accepts them no matter who they are or where they have been but it must show them their need for medical attention. One who truly loves knows that giving someone the shirt off their back or a hot meal or a cold glass of water will only last a short time, but the Word of God will feed them and satisfy forever. Both the physical and the spiritual needs are met with one aim: to remove any hindrance to hearing the most necessary Word which brings life.

Rick quotes from Matthew 9:10-13 in The Message, but I would encourage you to read it in the NASB (or similar). Verse 10 says that while Jesus was reclining, many tax collectors and sinners came. They came to Him. These were the ones who knew they needed a doctor, and knew that Jesus was a good doctor. The following statements from The Message "I'm after mercy, not religion. I'm here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders" are not true to the text. Jesus said "I desire mercy, not sacrifice, for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Eugene Peterson turns sacrifice into religion, but the former speaks more convictingly to us since we don't like to think we are religious. Is Jesus referring to the insiders (those who are already believers) when He says the righteous, or those who think they are righteous and don't realize they are sinners? Are not we all sinners? No one is righteous, no not one? Is there anyone righteous without Christ? Beware of The Message.

"I do this to get the gospel to them and also for the blessing I myself receive when I see them come to Christ" (1 Cor 9:21-23, LB).

This seems to make Paul's motivations to be self-centered--that he might receive a blessing. Not so! In the NASB, Paul says in 1 Cor 9:23: "...so that I may become a fellow partaker of it." But what is it? Well, the answer is clear in the first part of this verse: it is the gospel. Paul says in 1 Cor 9:16 (NASB): "...for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel."

When Jesus began talking to the woman at the well (John 4:4-26), he searched for common ground rather than condemning her.

Jesus didn't need to search for common ground--we all have physical appetites; thirst and hunger. He simply related the natural to the spiritual...and He did so very quickly. He didn't condemn her because she didn't refuse to believe the gospel; He was in the process of explaining it to her. In the same way, we don't open conversation with people with "You are going to Hell!" First, show them their need. Unless they see their true need for Christ, their attachment will be simply to gain some sort of worldly benefit.

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're commissioned to reach out together...by showing acceptance."

We are to accept others the way that Jesus accepts us.

Amen! I think this chapter is very good. Rick makes some very important points, and I think we would do well to take note of them. We should not look down on sinners because we also are sinners saved by grace. Jesus doesn't reject us on account of any sin aside one--lack of belief in Himself as the only hope of salvation. He paid the price for our personal sins that we would otherwise bear ourselves, and the punishment is eternal. I believe that if we only realized what we have been rescued from and if only we would lose all hope in ourselves (and not try to keep propping up our self-esteem), we would fall at His feet in utter contempt and hate of our life and love for and devotion to Him.

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted. The book states that this material was adapted from a book by Karen Mains.]

"We're commissioned to reach out together...by using hospitality."

... we could significantly alter the fabric of society. We could play a major role in its spiritual, moral, and emotional redemption.

This seems to suggest that we are the ones who can alter the fabric of society, which has been the thrust in the all-too-prevalent "kingdom now" theology. Is society going to be redeemed, or are individuals redeemed, being called out of this world? Kingdom Now theology looks for a promised great revival and a bringing down of The Kingdom to earth. In other words, the ruling and the reigning will happen in our society at large. While we all long for true revival and for all to come to salvation, Jesus did say that His kingdom is not of this world--otherwise He would have called His servants to fight and prevent His execution. Even while He was on this earth, few believed and were saved. And Jesus prophecied that in the end times, there will be a great apostasy and a falling away (Matt 24:10, and Paul in 2 Thess 2:3), and you cannot fall away from something you never claimed to belong to in the first place. Jesus' first statement in response to the apostles' question about what the signs of the end of the age were was "see to it that no one misleads you" (Matt 24:4, NASB). I repeat this admonition for your benefit.

Entertaining always puts things before people. ... Hospitality, however, puts people before things.

Good wisdom here. Also, I want to emphasize that our hospitality should be to strangers and those who cannot pay us back (ie. the needy), especially of those who are of the family of Christ.

Verse to Remember: "Open your homes to each other without complaining" (1 Peter 4:9, TEV).

The NASB reads: "Be hospitable to one another without complaint." The TEV takes the liberty of constraining the meaning to opening ones home, although this does not seem to be in the Greek. The Greek for hospitable is "a friend of, loving or kind to" one another--so all those who do not own or live in a home can be hospitable too! :)

The remainder of today's reading had some beneficial admonitions and advice.

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're commissioned to reach out together...by using our small group."

"...you are working together and struggling side-by-side to get others to believe the Good News." (Phil 1:27b, CEV).

"We" is more powerful than "me."

This last phrase is a cute saying, and it is true in a human sense only. However, it is absolutely and resolutely false in God's view and how He wants us to see things. God never encourages the idea of "strength in numbers" in the scriptures; in fact, He strongly discourages it. Remember the tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9)? Remember what God did to Gideon's army of 22,000 men (Judges 7)? Remember when David numbered the people to determine his strength (1 Chron 21)?

Let's take a look at a more reliable translation than the CEV. Phil 1:27-28 in the NASB: "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents--which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God." God wants us to ALL know the truth, the full truth and nothing but the truth so that we are all the same in mind, standing firm as one in spirit against opposition (even if there are only 2 of us), and striving together for the faith. This unity for the gospel is a sign to them who oppose us even though they may successfully persecute us.

Different perspective than Rick Warren is trying to impose, isn't it?

...because "two can accomplish more than twice as much as one" (Eccl 4:9, LB)

The Living Bible has corrupted what Solomon is saying here. The text in the NASB says "Two are better than one because they have a good return [ie. reap more benefit] from their labour." Verse 10-12a continues... "For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him." So Solomon is simply saying that two are better than one since they can help each other out, not that the results of their labour is more than twice as much. In Solomon's examples, with just one person, he may fall into a pit and not be able to get out, or go to sleep and freeze or be attacked and robbed. But with two you are better off. Is it possible that Rick's purpose to make the scripture emphasize small group evangelism drives him to use a paraphrase that says what he wants and then use it out of context?

Please don't get me wrong here: it is good to come together as believers, to encourage one another and lift one another's requests to God in prayer. Jesus also sent the disciples out two-by-two, probably for safety, to help out another out, to support one another and to encourage one another. However, Rick takes it too far in trying to place power in numbers.

First, pray for an opportunity to talk about Jesus (Col 4:3). As God to give you an opportunity to tell others about Christ, and to invite them to church. You don't have to doubt it--God will answer that prayer!

Col 4:3-4 actually says in the NET (http://www.netbible.com/): "At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may make it known as I should." First, this scripture says nothing of inviting unsaved people to church. Church can be seeker-sensitive, but it should not be seeker-centered. The gathering of the saints was primarily for believers; for things like training, correction, encouragement, prayer and worship. And we are not simply to tell others about Christ, but about the mystery of Christ, which is how the man Jesus satisfied all the prophecies in the scriptures concerning the Messiah and through this has been made known to all the nations (Rom 16:25-26). Another mystery is how God through Jesus brought the gentiles into the promise of the Jews (Eph 2:12-3:1). Another mystery is that while we were yet sinners, Christ--God in the flesh, died for us and rose again, and because He lives, we have life evermore! Faith is not a matter of blind belief! We are to discuss the evidence with people, showing them the fulfilled prophecies, convincing them with many convincing proofs (Acts 1:3) that Jesus is the Christ and that the testimony of scripture is true. Use the law to show them their sin and need of a saviour and the testimony about His death and resurrection in the gospels to show them that He is who He said He was. To the glory and honor of God!

...and give an inventive creativity to our methods for outreach. Father, in faith we ask you that in this next year our small group will be able to reach twenty people for you.

Is it our methods or God's methods? We should take care to learn and use God's methods if we want to avoid false conversions. And when we pray "in faith," it is faith not in our words and ideas, but in what He has already said will come to pass--it is believing God at His word. If Noah said this prayer, don't you think he would have been discouraged in his faith? That's because God didn't say it! After all, if this is all that we need to do, why don't we pray that everyone in the whole world would be come to a knowledge of Christ? And I think we should pray for this, but praying for it doesn't make it so. God has ordained that people are to be given the freedom of choice, and so forcing them to convert by pressing Himself on them doesn't make sense. And tricking them into church by making it look like a theme park or a cafe won't save them either. Unless there is a change of heart, unless they see their need for a saviour and repent and turn to God, there is no salvation. People are saved by words, by conviction of sin, by turning to God and fully trusting and depending upon Him.

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're commissioned to reach out together by being intentional."

I want to make a general comment here that I think this chapter is pretty good and I am in general agreement with it. There are a few items I want to comment on, but overall Rick had good advice and exhortation here.

Rick shows how it would be unloving to know the cure for some fatal disease and keep it quietly to yourself while others are dying around you. I whole-heartedly agree. But what he doesn't say explicitly is that if you are not sharing the cure with those around you, it is evidence that you are not saved. We are all called to be doctors (not necessarily evangelists and public speakers), but sharing the good news of the gospel with those around us. A proper understanding of the gospel in its entirety (which entails by what standard God will judge, what we look like before a Holy God and the penalty for sin) gives us adequate motivation. I think that this needs to be made clear to people, especially those in the "Laodicean" church who are in danger of being "spewed" out like the man that hid his single talent (the gospel truth which had been shared with him).

However, the tough part for me came when I wanted to share the good news with people, but they didn't want the cure -- they were not interested one bit in the life-saving serum. The best way to explain this is that its like trying to give someone a cure to a disease that they think they don't have. Unless you convince them that they have the disease first, they won't want the cure. This is what a good doctor has to do--treat the disease with grave seriousness and not brush it off. And this is where much of the work is in evangelism, and many of us try to squirm out of it somehow because it is uncomfortable. But those of us who understand how a good doctor must convince his patient of the severity of his condition and what will happen to him if he doesn't take the cure, especially one that has to be appropriated daily, will know we ought to do the same with the gospel. If becoming a disciple of Christ requires abandoning self even to the point of hating your life, taking up your cross daily and not following your plans but God's plans, a person has to be pretty motivated in order to live with this kind of abandon. And Jesus says that it is only with this kind of abandon that you can even be a disciple of His. Jesus is not like the modern "baby-step" preachers; with Him, it is all-or-none. Having no other Gods before Him means having no other gods in His presence, not having Him as the chief amongst many gods. Jesus cannot be Lord if money, self or even others are also our gods.

The Apostle Paul was a veteran at reaching out to nonbelievers because he cared about what God cares most about: people!

I understand what Rick is trying to say here, but the statement is not entirely true. God actually cares more about His reputation than about sustaining rebellious people who continually reject Him. God was about to destroy Israel, but for the sake of His reputation before the world, He allowed them to remain (though not all of them). It was for HIS sake, not the sake of the rebellious people that He had mercy on them. If what God cares most about is people, then how is it that any of them are punished? What about all the peoples living in the land of Canaan that Israel was to abolish (man, woman, child, infant and beast)? What about all those that perished in the flood? What about those who will find themselves in Hell? How did God get along without people before He created the world? Do you see how Rick's statement takes the focus off of God and puts it onto people?

"Conduct yourselves with wisdom towards outsiders" (Col 4:6, NASB). It is true as Rick states that we our actions in everyday circumstances should reflect the worldview that we have, that we are living examples of Christ. However, Paul was primarily stating here that we should share the truth, though it may hurt, in love for them and not bash them over the head. No blowhorns and screaming, but in love while meeting their needs, showing them the way of salvation. We have to confront their idols, but be wise in how we do it (not that we avoid it). This is why Paul asked them to pray for boldness to speak as he ought (despite the persecution that would ensue).

Rick speaks about sharing a "simple" word of testimony about the difference Jesus Christ has made in your life. We have to go beyond this. We must share the gospel and not just that we are better people. We are sinners saved by grace enslaved to Christ and evidenced by the things we do and put priority on in our lives.

...make sure our words are "always kind and pleasant." When you know the truth, it is tempting to be preachy and pushy with the gospel. But people are never argued into the family of God. They are attracted to it by love.

People will be offended by our words no matter how loving we are, and we should know to expect this. But love does get emotional and heated at times. Love does defend the truth in debate, though not in mindless arguing over preferences. In fact I am having ongoing debate with an Athiest right now concerning sin and God's judgment. I continually show him kindness and care for him, but I am very strong in what I say at times. This is most necessary. Imagine saying something like: "Its nicer over at my house and I've already got a pot of tea on" to someone whom you are trying to convince to leave their burning house. You have to share the truth, and sometimes forcefully... but always motivated in love for them and not notches in your belt or any other personal satisfaction.

Question to Consider: Will anybody be in heaven because of you?

That kind of question implicitly motivates me to count numbers and maybe compromise the truth to get people to make "decisions" which may be no decision at all. A better question would be: "would God consider you to have faithfully obeyed Him when you enter heaven?" We must obey God even if no one responds. What about Noah? If numbers in heaven was a measure of faithfulness, then Noah wouldn't have been very faithful... only 8 and all from his family.

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're compelled to love God's family...because it is a witness to the world."

Jesus gave the world the right to judge the authenticity of our faith by
how much we love one another.

It seems to me that Jesus simply stated a fact.

We prove our faith in Christ, not by the rules we keep, but by the love we give. Notice Jesus didn't say, "Love me," as proof of our discipleship. He said "love one another, and that will show the world you belong to me."

The first point that I want to make is that we prove our faith in Christ by Him in us (2 Cor 13:5). Doing something nice or a selfless act of love does not prove your faith in Christ. My athiest neighbour does plenty of selfless acts of love and kindness but obviously this doesn't prove that he is a disciple of Christ. Doing good deeds and doing them selflessly is certainly part of living out our faith, but if this is where we left it at, people in other religions or community organizations who do good and benefit others may think they are Christians too. My friends at work help out at the food bank, for instance. If I just do what they do, I'm no different than they are. Do I therefore have to help out 4 times a week to outdo them so that they go, "wow -- he really blows me away with his good deeds... I feel sinful, maybe I need to repent and believe in Jesus"? Think about how such a view would play out. Wouldn't it a) put a serious burden on the believer and b) results in boasting (I was able to win Bob to the Lord because I showed him how giving a Christian should be)? If anything, it shows people that you are generous, and it may make them want to emulate you (perhaps their conscience bothers them after seeing you do so much)... but it doesn't follow that they will then desire to know your God. I hope you can see this very important point.

The second point is that the evidence of our love for God is our love for Him and His Word. Saying to my wife that I love her and that I will evidence it by loving the young blonde neighbour lady down the street is non-sense! First things must be first; people are second to God, and we absolutely must get that straight. Loving people is an evidence that we are being selfless which is one of the fruits of repentance and trust in God, but it is not necessarily proof that we love Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the creator and judge of all.

Jesus said that keeping His Word (John 14:23) and obeying His commands (John 14:15) would be the proof that we mean it when we say that we love Him. Then and only then are we truly His disciples. He said that love for God will (and indeed must) have fruit. You cannot create the love God requires by trying to produce fruit without repentance and belief. A stick on the ground doesn't sprout leaves and then grow fruit and then get grafted into the vine; but when it is in the vine, producing fruit should be natural. "Should" is an important statement here, because there are those who are on the vine but are not producing fruit who will be broken off (Rom 11:19-23). But note in this passage in Romans that fruit is a result of belief. The fruit comes from the love relationship with our Lord and saviour founded in belief (see Luke 7:47). He said in Luke 6:46 (NASB), "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" Later in Luke 6:48, Jesus says that "[the one who hears and obeys] is like a man building a house who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock."

Digging Deep - My Testimony
The first time I dug deep and plowed up the hardness of my heart was by reading out God's charges against me in the 10 commandments back in August of 2004. Before then, I professed faith, but didn't obey. Sure, I went to and even led Bible studies and attended church each week and felt spiritual, but I didn't have true faith. I was still harrassed by habitual sin and couldn't find the power to break it. I identified with Paul in Romans 7 (which was pre-regeneration), but not with him in Romans 8.

How do I know I lacked true, saving faith? Luke 14:26-35. It is because I was holding back. I feared giving myself to God because a) I thought He would take it all away, and b) because I thought I was still pretty good and that God merely closed the gap between myself and Him with Christ. I didn't truly cherish what He did (though I didn't really realize this) because I lacked a personal connection between my sin and His sacrifice. My unhealthy fear of man and personal loss came from the fact that I was still holding onto myself and this world... I still loved myself. I feared losing my self, my things, my plans. The key for all believers, I have come to understand, is to know the truth that sets us free from self! John 12:25 (NASB): "He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal." And how free I am indeed! Praise be to God! But it came from the work of the law in my heart which the Holy Spirit used to convince me I was absolutely and completely hopeless... it was then that I began to thirst for righteousness before God (the cure)... and Jesus Christ was the only cure that satisfies God. What an experience that was!!! Hallelujah!

Rick Warren's teachings are obscuring this truth, building up my self-esteem instead of tearing it down (in order to rebuild it in Christ), and misusing God's Word to support his own ideas which are not God's. It would be inconceivable if I did not expose this because exposing it is a fruit of knowing the truth of saving faith in Christ alone. Who lights a light but keeps it covered?

As we love people into God's kingdom, we start first by loving other believers. Until the world sees the love of God modeled in Christian community, they're going to have trouble believing it could ever exist.

That last statement is definitely true. But which is first? God or people? How is the formula in his first statement above any different from other world religions or the New Age teachings? How is it different from a social club with close relational bonds between one another?

...we show the world a love so tangible and contagious that they can't help but be attracted to it.

What is it? From what I am reading in this book, it is our love, not truly God's love for us.

"...being of the same mind, maintaining the same love,...intent on one purpose" (Phil 2:2, NAS).

One purpose... not five purposes, right? What do you suppose that one purpose is? I contend that it is abiding in Christ, for unless a person is abiding in Him, they cannot produce the kind of fruit that will last.

...we're meant to be the salt (Matt 5:13) that increases their thirst for the living water (John 4:10).

Amen to that!

Our love for one another ... shows them that community requires unity.

This cannot be what the Bible is saying. There is community in the world all over the place. Most community in the world is fueled by common interest. Some communities are bound by their common purpose -- to eradicate world poverty, reduce global warming or other purposes. These communities are often purpose driven to boot. But everyone in the group doesn't have to believe the same thing about God or be repentant and trusting in Jesus as their saviour. By no means! They merely have to have the same purpose about something they want to achieve. That is not the kind of unity that the Bible is advocating. Rick's statement is not only misleading, but plain false. True Christian fellowship is something that no man can achieve. It is something altogether different. It comes from a true work of grace in the hearts of believers. Believers that do not hold anything to themselves and deny themselves, taking up their crosses daily.

Isn't it alarming then, to think that we're often known for what we are against, rather than by what we are for...?

Rick has valid concerns with the church today, but the solution to put works first and let words take a back seat is not Biblical. It is very important to be known for what we are for... so we must tell them!! And to clarify the truth, we have to "turn the light on" so to speak and illuminate what is in darkness so they might see. But the world must feel a deep love and concern for them though they strongly are offended by the truth we share. Trying to make them feel "love" by not sharing the truth with them creates a false pretense. You are more likely to keep the deception up because as you grow closer to the person and value their love returned to you, you are less and less likely to want to offend them with the truth. You demonstrate by all of this that you value people more than God and people more than what He did for you and them. After all, if they don't hear the truth and perish eternally for it, they will not be happy with you on the day of judgment no matter how many food hampers you gave them or even how many times you prayed with them for their problems.

People are less impressed with our words than they are with our actions of love for one another.

This may be true, but it is because they must see your actions in alignment with what you say. You still must speak the truth, but don't think they cannot smell a hypocrite. In fact, the world seems to be better at detecting hypocrites than many of the churched folk are.

Questions to Consider: How loudly do your actions speak about the love of God? How loud is the voice of your small group?

These are good questions and they should challenge us to see if we really believe what we think we believe. However, I would be careful in talking about the voice of your small group. The reason is this: we will be individually held accountable for our individual faith and resulting actions. Just because our small group's voice is being heard doesn't mean that everyone in it is saved, and we should take care not to give anyone that false impression. Just make it personal. Are you obeying what God has commanded? If not, why not? Your answers will reveal what is foremost in your heart's desires.

I think we all want to get back to following the example of the early church as documented in the book of Acts. I certainly do. Is it true, then, that the evangelistic preaching of the Apostles as recorded in Acts emphasized one's love relationship with God and personal life enhancement? If not, did these disciples of Christ focus on something else? This is directly applicable to our discussion here because it demonstrates a commonly held misunderstanding about how the early church reached the lost.

Greg Koukl wrote this article exploring this issue. Take a read and let me know what you think.

I just started reading the Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren yesterday and was amazed to read the following accolades from Bruce Larson on the first few pages of the book:

"Rick Warren is the architect for the church of the 21st century, and this is the blueprint!"

But the Word of God says in Heb 11:10 (NASB): "...for he [Abraham] was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God."

See also Heb 3:1-4, Eph 2:19-22, Gal 2:18, 2 Cor 5:1. I find that 1 Cor 3:9-15 is probably the most instructive scripture here. It is very clear that we are builders as God's fellow workers, but we are also His field, His building. Paul was like a wise master builder, but he was not the architect and never claims such a thing. The rest is very instructive about how you build and with what you build, all of which the architect is the specifier of. Now, is Bruce Larson actually saying that he thinks Rick Warren has found another blueprint? The question is, could Bruce be right? I think that is a reasonable question we ought to be asking. I cannot answer this yet as I have not read the book. What I do know, however, is that Rick Warren did not write that statement, but why he would allow such a statement to be in his book completely mystifies me. Allowing someone to represent you in that way without correcting them or removing it from your book demonstrates agreement. And allowing yourself to be called the architect which is God's place alone is, dare I say, blasphemous.

Some things for you to think about concerning standing for truth in love.

"Seek the truth, listen to the truth, learn the truth, love the truth, speak the truth, hold the truth, defend the truth until death."

- John Huss, burned at the stake July 6, 1415

"The arrival of the lawless one will be by Satan's working with all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders, and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved. Consequently God sends on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false. And so all of them who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil will be condemned."

- The Apostle Paul, 2 Thess 2:9-12 (NET)

"But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head."

- The Apostle Paul, Eph 4:15 (NET)

"Just as in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth."

- The Apostle Paul, Colossians 1:6 (NET)

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

- Jesus Christ, John 14:6 (NET)

Always remember: grace and truth; there can be no grace without truth. The truth is like turning on a light while the person is standing in front of a mirror; the law reveals God's standard like a mirror, but the light shines on them so that they can see themselves in truth.

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted. Also, I had some serious concerns with statements made and Bible translations used in this chapter.]

"We are compelled to love God's family...because it is practice for eternity."

"We are anxious that you keep right on loving others as long as life lasts, so that you will get your full reward." (Heb 6:11, LB)

This translation is unfortunately very misleading and sounds very works-based. Read instead the NASB, Heb 6:11-12: "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." For the Living bible to translate (paraphrase?) it to say keep on loving so that you will get your full reward is very misleading. I understand how believers can interpret this within the correct framework, but to an unbeliever, a seeker or a confused believer, this is one of the many things about the material that is plain confusing at best. That it is a twisting of God's Word and that it may lead people away from the truth is the serious nature of the matter.

The greatest lesson in life is love.

There are lessons in love, but I contend that the greatest lesson is not the things that we do for others. Rather, it is understanding and comprehending and grasping the love God has for us through Jesus Christ and a deep awareness of our sin.

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:8, NIV).

Note that it does not say "whoever is not learning to love..." but this unfortunately is what Rick Warren is leading the reader to believe in most of what he writes. The fact that he says it correctly a few times just means he is contradicting himself.

...but the love we learn now will last forever. This life is practice for an eternity of love.

It sounds hash to be critical of such a statement of love, but it is just not leading us down the straight and narrow. I hope you see this. Rather, unless we HAVE love (past tense) we ARE NOTHING and GAIN NOTHING. Read 1 Cor 13 again. The "have love" being spoken of here is to "have Christ" Himself.

No doubt, we will be surprised in heaven by how our love has flowed into eternity (Eph 4:4).

It is true that we will be surprised in heaven by how our full devotion to Christ (investment) on earth paid off. We will see the results of our labour. But the above statement is very New Age . Will we be surprised by our love? ...or by His love alone for us and others? This is really a slick slip-in of a New Age concept.

There is an urgency about learning to love now because today could be our last day on earth. ... One day our earth-bound lessons will end, and we'll love for eternity in heaven.

I agree that there is an urgency to find Christ, but where is the urgency in his last statement? Read Heb 6:11 in the NASB again (quoted above). It speaks of eagerness for the fulfillment of our hope of redemption in Christ! Rick Warren sounds like he is saying that we are adding up "graces" or "brownie points" in heaven. Such a way of thinking affects our motivations and makes them impure.

We have to study it for a lifetime, until we "know it so well, we've embraced it heart and soul." We're to "take up permanent residence" in this life of love, where we "live in god and God lives in us" (1 John 4:16, MSG).

I know you think I'm picking at words, but please read the above carefully again. Its message is pervasive in RW's book thus far. What is the "it" that Rick and Eugene Peterson are speaking of here? Is "it" a thing? ...this life of love that I live here on earth? Is it rather not God?? Yes, it is the love which God has for us, not the life of love that we live. BIG difference, and very confusing as written.

We're to keep loving so we will get our "full reward" (Heb 6:11, LB). The greatest rewards in heaven will be for love, and those who love the most will be the most rewarded. It is in those we love where we will find our greatest reward.

This is again a serious, serious error. I'm addressing this again here because of its implications. We don't keep loving to get a full reward, but we are to simply continue and abide in Him. Its not works-oriented, but God-oriented. The way Rick writes it here seems to suggest that we are to look at others as opportunities to earn more gold crowns. And how would an unbeliever take such statements? Utter selfishness!! But we love because Christ first loved us, not for reward. It is our reasonable expectation when given the greatest news ever heard and being redeemed from eternal hell. Rom 12:1 says that it "is your spiritual service of worship". See also Luke 7:47 (NET) - "Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little." The key is this: the love that God gives follows from understanding just how much we have been forgiven.

Question to Ponder: How can you practice love more urgently, conssitently, and expectantly?

Phil 1:9-11 (NASB): "And this I pray, that your love may about still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." AMEN!!

Eph 3:17-19 (NASB): "...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God." AMEN, AMEN!!

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're compelled to love God's family...because we're a family."

We belong, and we help others believe that they belong.

Rather, we help convince others of their need for Christ, but once they believe, then they automatically belong. Encouragement, yes, but no convincing by man is required. To try to convince someone of their salvation when you don't know their heart is dangerous at best. By telling them what God requires because of what He will do through you when you are saved, you help them to know if their heart is right with God.

Our small groups are meant to be Holy Spirit-led laboratories for learning to love one another deeply and earnestly (1 Thess 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22).

1 Thess 4:9 says, "You yourselves are taught by God." I agree with Rick that we are to be Holy Spirit-led, but he seems to be contradicting himself since he also says that we need to be purpose driven.

Character tends to be more caught than taught...

If Rick meant that it is a gift from God, then he is right. But from the context, he means caught from others. What if others are wrong? 1 Thess 4:9 says it is taught not caught -- and from God, not others.

Point to Ponder: Love must be learned.

No, love is 1) a person, the person of Jesus Christ. And 2), when He indwells you by believing through faith, love is the gift from God.

Question to Consider: How devoted are you to your church family?

Good question and it is some of the evidence demonstrating saving faith, but the more important question is instead how devoted are you to God, believing Him at His Word, searching for truth and standing against error?

Other than the above more major points, Rick had some good insights in this chapter.

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're compelled to love God's family...because it shows we are saved."

"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love other believers." (1 John 3:14 (GW).

Loving other believers is the evidence that we belong to God's family.

Amen to that! But note that loving is as God defines it, not as we think of it. True love doesn't just give material gifts or time or friendship; it stands for and shares truth with grace.

Consider this: if you have no love for others, and if you're only concerned about your own needs, then you should question whether Christ is really in your life.

Amen again!! See 2 Cor 13:5 and Phil 2:1-7. But again, we need to remember that love is not just doing nice, selfless things for people: it is intolerant of evil. Love loves the truth first and foremost. And love meets the real need by feeding the needy with God's Word and demonstrating grace by declaring freedom from the bondage of sin and death -- but in order to do this, we must refute error and stand for truth.

Note Matt 7:21 (NASB): "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father."

Will you accept God's offer?

And in order to do this, we must count the cost. We are not coming for mere blessings, but because of a thirst for righteousness--not a social club with its benefits of community. Also, because God works in us who truly believe, we need to be careful to plow the soil of the hard heart and to "salt the oats" so to speak--break through hard heartedness and create a thirst for righteousness, since the natural man does not seek after God nor can he. The blessing is that we are yoked together with the Holy Spirit who does the work of conviction of sin, convincing of Jesus Christ and the need for righteousness. But if we are yoked together with Him, then at least we will be moving in the same direction.

The Bible says, "...whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever! (John 3:36a, MSG).

The Message is very misleading here. In the NASB it is: "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." If we are being made sanctified, if we are going to take up our cross daily and follow Christ, then life most definitely will get more difficult here on earth. But amazingly, the spiritual bread that God feeds us through the Word and prayer sustains us through it with a smile on our faces!

"Jesus, I believe in you and I receive you." ... If you sincerely meant that prayer, congratulations! Welcome to the family of God! You are now ready to discover and start living God's purpose for your life.

What does sincerely mean? What about counting the cost? Rick gives assurance without warning, and that is serious business. Our assurance should not be given by men, but through the Holy Spirit and the evidence of our completely new lives, heart and desires to please Him and to know and love the truth.

There may be others of you reading this who've already made a commitment to Jesus, but you realize now that you haven't been doing a very good job of loving other believers. That's OK--God will help you grow in your capacity to love.

Was it a full commitment? If not, this person is not a disciple of Christ (Luke 14, especially verses 27, 28 and 33). Again, we need to reiterate that loving is natural to the true believer. And again, is Rick Warren giving these people false assurance by saying "That's OK" and encouraging them into a works righteousness? This is not about being perfect in everything you say, but this is the

Q: If you were put on trial for your faith, and your expression s of love were the only evidence, what would the verdict be?

But what if you were put on trial before God? Would anything you do save you? Think about the examples of Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela.

Mother Teresa

• Mother Teresa gave her entire life to helping the poor and destitute, but she didn't understand the gospel or share it with anyone of another religion. She said: "I’ve always said we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Catholic become a better Catholic." She also said, "There are so many religions and each one has its different ways of following God" -- but she failed to declare that there is only one way to God.

Nelson Mandela

• Nelson Mandela suffered greatly and spent 27 horrible years in prison because of his fighting for the freedom of his people. He was able to sustain himself through this unfathomable torture. Upon his release, he soon became the president of South Africa. Nelson said the following: "During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." Nelson was most definitely purpose driven. But Nelson worshipped an ideal for this existence on Earth. His mind was not set on things above. How could someone endure 27 horrible years in a small, dirty prison cell for the benefit of his people and an ideal without Christ? Nelson's mentor was Ghandi.

So, simply showing love to people doesn't prove you are a Christian. In fact, even if you gave everything you owned to the poor (Mother Teresa), or gave yourself over to be burned at the stake (similar sacrifice as Nelson), you are nothing and gain nothing without Christ!

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're compelled to love God's family...because it is how we love God."

I would reword this as follows: "...because it is the evidence that we have experienced God's love and received and appropriated it." If merely loving God's family is how we love God, then why did God give us the first commandment? Why not just give us the second one or tell us that the first was a commandment and the second was showing us how to obey the first. But He didn't do that. He said that all the law hangs off of these two commandments. And again, we show evidence of our love for God by loving others. Not try to prove it, evidence it -- ie., what already exists. If we are not overwhelmed with love for one another, perhaps we need to remind ourselves what we've been saved from.

...stop judging others according to appearances and start viewing them from a heavenly perspective (2 Cor 5:16).

I agree here that we must not judge according to appearances because Jesus explicitly states this (John 7:24, NASB) "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." Grace and truth must go together.

• How will you explain those times when projects or things were more important to you than people?
  • Change question to: ...more important to you than God, and therefore His command to feed His sheep and do good to all?
  
  
• Who do you need to start spending more time with?
  • God.
  
  
• What do you need to cut out of your schedule to make that possible?
  • All things self-serving (entertainment, time-wasting, reading for entertainment, trying to get ahead in life, improving self-esteem, etc.).
    
  
  
• What sacrifices do you need to make?
  • Take up my cross daily. Feed His sheep. Clothe the naked with Christ's robes of righteousness. Proclaim freedom from sin and death. Invite people into a relationship with the creator and saviour.
    
  
  
• What does the way you show love to others say about your love for God?
  • It demonstrates whether or not I believe the gospel and have faith and live by faith in God.

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We are compelled to love God's family...because God commands it."

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34, NIV).

Yes, and this is the natural response to receiving the love of God (1 John 5:3), therefore, we can be measured by it.

Why is obeying connected with love? Because it reflects unity among believers--a oneness of spirit within our congregations and small groups that is foundational to kingdom work.

From my understanding of the scripture, obedience is connected with love as it reflects unity among believers that already exists because of Christ. This unity, since it is a work of the Holy Spirit, is part of the kingdom of God that has already come to those who believe. There is no unity that has to be contrived in order to do "kingdom work." And that kingdom work is not to reform the world and make it a better place by imposing good values. While this is certainly beneficial, it is not our calling. Our calling is to call people out of this world into the kingdom of God. And when that happens, lives will be radically changed. Unfortunately, many are not going to believe, so trying to coerce them into acting like they do only deceives both themselves and others.

We cannot obey Christ's command in isolation.

But at the same time, others are not necessary nor responsible for my obedience or lack thereof.

His standard of love is personal--reaching out to the undeserving, looking past their faults and into the desperate needs of their hearts.

As a doctor, it is because of their sickness that He meets their needs. If they are unconvinced of their sickness, He cannot meet their need. Jesus asked one, "do you want to be made well?" So to, people need to see their depravity and thirst for righteousness which only Jesus Christ can provide. If they don't see it, we need to help them in love.

His standard is so staggering we can only reach it by faithfully adapting Gal 2:20: "It is no longer just I who loves, but Christ who loves in me."

How can Rick just change scripture like that? There is no "just" and "loves" should be "lives." We ought not to try and make a scripture say something it doesn't. Not to say that this message is not clear in scripture (minus the "just"), but such loose handling of scripture is unbecoming of the respect for the Word of God that ought to be part of every believer.

We love merely because of how He loves us. It is nothing insurmountable (1 John 5:3). It is merely our reasonable service, nothing above and beyond the call of duty. Once you realize what Christ really did for you and how bad you really are, you will be able to see this truth clearly. Loving won't be a chore, but a priviledge! Jesus did not come to give us self-esteem! He told us to deny self, for it is in our weakness that His strength is made known to us.

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're compelled to love God's family...because God loves us."

"Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 John 4:11, NIV).

And God loves us by:

• sending His son to be the propitiation for my sins,
• by freeing me from the bondage of sin and death,
• by feeding me spiritual food and drink that will satisfy my thirst and well up to eternal life.

Thank God for His mercies which endure forever!!

The purpose of your time on earth is not primarily about acquiring possessions, attaining status, achieving success, or even experiencing happiness. Those are secondary issues.

Are these even secondary issues? I think the scripture is clear that they must be non-issues (Luke 14).

God loves you deeply and unconditionally.

This is true in that His love doesn't depend upon you, but Rick doesn't qualify this. Such a half truth is very dangerous, and most certainly unbiblical. Can he assume that everyone reading this book are true believers, or just people with purpose? You have to believe (to accept and appropriate it) in order to receive God's promise of unconditional love. John 3:36 (NASB) states unequivocally, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

Hopefully, as we grow we become more giving and less selfish; but we've all known people who never grew up and never considered anything but their own wishes, desires, and cravings.

Note that its not about adding some selfless acts to our repetoire, but dying to self, taking up our cross daily (Luke 9:23).

Real love focuses on how I can serve you, not how you can serve me.

Well said!

Learning genuine love is not easy, but it will bless your life beyond imagination here on earth, and prepare you for eternity.

This statement may be very misleading. If we come for the blessings, we may be sorely disappointed and may end up being like the person who began to build without first considering the cost. Living a true Christian life is not a party; it is hard labor, full of pain and tears and persecutions -- indeed, "all those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim 3:12, NASB). All the apostles except for maybe John has severely shortened life expectencies because of the gospel. Our joy is in the Lord, not in this life.

You must develop relationships with many different kinds of people in order to practice loving others. The Bible calls this being in "community," which is another word for fellowship.

This description does not fit the Bible definition of fellowship. Christian fellowship is an unlearned, immediate thing shared between two true believers. The church is not a social club, and the gospel is not a social gospel. The world has many social gatherings where there is a real sense of community, but nothing comes close to Christian fellowship for the simple reason because it is not built or learned but a gift from God!

Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last, first." (Mark 10:29-31, NASB).

Jesus here was speaking of the fellowship we would instantly have when we become disciples of Christ (Luke 14:26-27, 33). Though we willingly give up what we have, no matter where we go in the world, we can find fellow believers in Christ (our new families) who will share their homes and land with us simply because of our bond in Christ.

[NOTE: if you haven't read my introduction post, please scroll to the bottom or click here. Also, please note that Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

Today, millions of people around the world have begun to enjoy living a purpose driven life.

Many, many, MANY people live purpose-driven lives. I see them all around me. But few live Spirit-led lives and are disciples of Christ. That is a whole different matter.

In fact, it is impossible to fulfill God's five purposes for your life by yourself. We need each other!

I would say, we need God! Rick's statement of impossibility doesn't leave much hope for those who by no choice of their own have to live alone (imprisoned, persecuted, hated, stranded, abused, etc. -- see Heb 11:37-40).

The goal of 40 Days of Community is to water the seeds of purpose...

Let us be very careful here. Nowhere in the scripture does it say that we are to water the seeds of purpose. Again, lots of people in this world have purpose in their lives. Its how they excel at what they do. And lots of people are driven. These are concepts and ideas that are upheld by the world systems encouraging achievement and prosperity. So, if this is not the gospel, is it God's work? We really need to ask that question of everything we do in God's name. Let me put it another way that may be more understandable: is teaching my children the way of obedience to show them that they can do it? Or is it rather to show them that they are inadequate and need God's grace? And if by grace, then is it not a natural outflow from saving faith and not something learned?

Real community (koinonia) is caught, not taught.

I can agree with the above statement if it is referring to the fellowship resulting from people believing the gospel. However, in the next line Rick states, "...you'll not just learn how to build community--hopefully, you'll experience it." But Philippians 2:1 says, "if there is any fellowship" which assumes that it already exists amongst those who belong to Christ. Yes, fellowship is caught from the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 13:14) by believing the gospel.

During the next six weeks we'll examine the five reasons we need each other to fulfill God's purposes for our lives.

Don't we need God to fulfill His purposes? In 1 Thess 4:9 we read, "Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another" (1 Thess 4:9, NASB). The following verses continues, "for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren..." -- you see, those who heard the true gospel and responded in faith, already knew what to do. God promised, "...I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people" (Jer 31:33, NASB). How does a new born baby know how to breathe? Or suck the nipple? Is it taught? Does it have to learn it? In the same way for the one born of God, these things come naturally because they abide in God and God in them.

"You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common" (1 Cor 1:10c, MSG). Notice that fellowship is something we must learn how to do. It must be intentionally cultivated.

Must true fellowship be cultivated? Where does the scripture say this? The Apostle Paul is exhorting people to all agree (the KJV says "speak the same thing") and to end their divisions. This happens when the truth is made known. The NASB reads: "Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment." Nothing about learning here, unless it is to learn the truth. Division comes because untruth is allowed to grow unchecked.

We grow better together. ...you cannot grow spiritually if you are detached from fellowship with a local body of believers.

I can agree that we grow better together because we encourage, exhort, correct and train one another. Iron sharpens iron, and so we grow by helping another see what he is unable to see. However, the statement that one cannot grow spiritually if you are detached from fellowship with a local body of believers is a false statement! The Bible says that we cannot grow if we are detached from the vine. The statement "better" is not the same as "cannot."

The apostle Paul did not need the other apostles or believers to grow spiritually. After his Damascus road experience, he went away to Arabia for 3 years and returned preaching the same gospel as Peter and the apostles without consulting any man! (Gal 1:15-18). If Paul could grow spiritually in the absence of a local body of believers, can't we? Not that we ought to do so, but I think the point is clear that we cannot grow without other believers cannot be true. We are to gather together in fellowship to serve one another -- this is a clear commandment from scripture (Rom 12 and 1 Cor 12 are both excellent).

There are many benefits to serving God together instead of by yourself: we compensate for each other's weaknesses, we're more efficient, we multiply our effectiveness, we can defeat bigger problems, and we can support each other when we're tired or discouraged.

A hearty amen to this! However, lets be careful that we don't begin to trust in numbers. After all, its God who defeats all problems, not larger numbers of believers.

"Worshiping together gets us out of our solitary conceit" (C.S. Lewis).

True, congregational worship should be a time where we are convicted of our sin, encouraged in good deeds, and affirm Christ's Lordship.

Someone once pointed out that snowflakes are frail, but when enough of them stick together they can stop traffic. ... That is the awesome power of community!

Think about this for a moment... is this not the same thinking that prevailed at the Tower of Babel? No doubt that the proverb "there is strength in numbers" is widely held today, even amongst many in the midst of the congregation. But this kind of thinking is dangerous and leads to trusting in people and not in God. Thus, you will see that it is an idea discouraged by God. It leads to corporate pride. Our strength comes from God and is in Him alone. Otherwise, what would I do if there are not enough "believers" around me? Do I depend upon others or upon God? Remeber how God took Gideon's army of 22,000 men and trimmed it down to 300? Then the LORD said to Gideon, "I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands; so let all the other people go, each man to his home." (Judges 7:7, NASB). But it seems that the above statement from Rick actually suggests that we should trust in numbers of people and not in God. When we are weak, then He is strong; but when we are strong, we tend very quickly to forget about Him. We need to encourage one another to have faith so that we don't forget that God (and not us) can do all things. James 5:16b (NASB) says, "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." Luke 18:8b (NASB) warns us solemnly, "However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

The following are word-for-word transcripts from the first video in this series by Rick Warren entitled "What Matters Most." Alongside Rick's teaching, I have added my commentary in [Red].

The scripture that I think best summarizes my comments in this session are the following words of Jesus:

"So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done." Luke 17:10 (NASB)

Gal 5:6 (CEV): "If you are a follower of Christ Jesus...all that matters is your faith that makes you love others." What matters in life is one thing: the faith that makes you love other people. He says that if you missed that, then you've missed the most important thing in life. [I think that what matters most in life is a love relationship with Jesus Christ, and I can only have that if I come to Him hungering and thirsting for righteousness. The evidence of this is love, but I must seek the source - not the outcome.]

In these next 6 weeks together, we are going to focus on living a life of love in 3 primary areas:

1. the community of our church,
2. the community of our small groups, and
3. the community of the world around us.

1 Cor 13:1-13 (NIV). We are going to spend the next 6 weeks, taking this chapter apart, looking at it phrase by phrase.

God says the same thing in this chapter on love in 5 different ways. He wants us to understand that the most important thing in life is learning how to love. That's what 40 days of community is all about. Your relationships, my relationships... how we love each other -- that's what matters the most, more than anything else. [Is it true that what matters most is how we love each other? Can we love each other and not know Christ? If so, then it is imperitive that we tell people this. It must therefore not be what matters most, right?] And if that's what matters most to God, then that's what should matter most to you and me. And that's why we are going to spend 40 days on how to build a community of love.

The Bible makes 5 radical statements about love in 1 Cor 13.

1. If I don't live a life of love, nothing I say will matter. 1 Cor 13:1 (NLT). Words without love are just noise; are empty.


2. If I don't live a life of love, nothing I know will matter. 1 Cor 13:2 (NCV). What God is saying is this: You may be 5 beta cappa. You might be a Mensa member. Maybe you graduated suda cum lauday. You might be a walking Bible encyclopedia or have an incredible knowledge of math, science, literature or history. But God says, if you don't have love in your life, all you know is worthless. [What do you suppose is being spoken of here? Is it not possible that Paul in 1 Cor 13 is referring to Christ Himself?? Oddly, Rick does not mention this fact; rather, he speaks of our works, the love that we show by our actions. But is it possible to love as Christ has commanded us to? If so, then how much is enough? How much love do I need to live so that 'what I know' will matter? ...so that 'what I say' will matter? If I don't love perfectly, does this mean that the words I speak are meaningless? Is the Bible meaningless because it has been given to us as mere words on a page?]


3. If I don't live a life of love, nothing I believe will matter. There's a myth that being a Christian is just a matter of believing certain truths. [Jesus said in John 6:29 "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (NASB).] That simply is not true. Following Christ is far more than simply believing intellectual facts, or understanding and adhering to certain doctrinal truths. [True -- we must have a relationship with Christ -- no amount of good works is going to do us any good in the end without Christ.] Being a Christian, or a Christ-follower, is living a life of love in community. 1 Cor 13:2 (LB). You see, it takes more than belief, it takes more than faith to really please God. [Is Rick Warren adding to the gospel? True Faith produces works, and without that faith it is impossible to please God no matter how much you outwardly love others. All that is required is true faith -- belief, as John 6:29 states, and contrary to Calvinism, it IS a work.] He said that it takes faith that results in loving others. Religion without love doesn't matter. [Religion without Christ doesn't matter.] Its not enough to say that I believe, or even that I know my purpose. What matters is how I love God and how I love other people. That's the great commandment. [If that's what matters most, then do I think I am able to fulfill it? What of Christ's command: "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mat 5:48)? Can you fulfill this? The Bible tells us to "test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?" (2 Cor 13:5, NASB)] 1 John 4:8 (NIV). Think about that for a minute; people may have great knowledge of the Bible, but it says that if you don't love, you don't know God. 1 John 4:20 (NIV). If I don't live a life of love, nothing I believe will matter.


4. If I don't live a life of love, nothing I give will matter. 1 Cor 13:3 (NLT). Can you be in a relationship and give for selfish motives? Giving is not necessarily always loving. Some people give in order to give back. That's not love; its selfishness. Some people give out of a guilty conscience. Some people give to control other people. Some people give for prestige, glory or honor. But that's not love. You can give for a lot of wrong motives, and the Bible says that if I'm not giving in love, then none of my giving counts, and nothing I give will matter. [Rick Warren does a very good job here of completely tearing down every act of love that I try (or learn) to live out. If its not done to God's standards, it counts for nothing! I'm not joking that he has done a great job, here. One should now feel completely hopeless... not encouraged (at least by what Rick has said). Do you have perfect motives? If not, according to Rick, nothing you say, do, believe, give or accomplish will matter! Is that not what he states? But is not Paul saying rather that if I do not have Jesus Christ, nothing I say, do, believe, give or accomplish will matter? Thanks be to God that this is the truth! I am TOTALLY free to love in Christ! Rather than trying to find pure motives, I must find Christ. Understand Luke 7:47 and you will understand the key the scriptures are communicating.]


5. If I don't live a life of love, nothing I accomplish will matter. The Bible says that nothing that I accomplish will matter if its not done in love. [Actually, that's NOT what it says; it says that if I do not have love. There is a BIG difference. Love is a PERSON! Only that which is done in Christ will last.] 1 Cor 13:3 (MSG). [The Message corrupts the Greek -- it says "but I don't love," but again the Greek says "if I don't have love." My righteousness comes FROM GOD on the basis of faith alone in Christ alone (Phil 3:9). Otherwise I have reason to boast. Why does Paul say that he boasts in his weakness (2 Cor 11:30)? Because he can do NOTHING to please God without Christ. The word have is the same one as is used in 1 John 2:23 in reference to the Father. In 1 John 5:12, of the Son. In reference to both: 2 John 1:9.] The Bible says that its all worthless if you don't learn to love. [Do you see the problem with how he is stating this? If you learn to love, you don't need Christ!! There are a lot of worldly people who love, and ashamedly many do so more unselfishly than professing Christians do.] That's why its the most important lesson in life: learning to love. And that's why we are going to spend 40 days looking at how to build a loving community. [Christian fellowship is not built by people learning to love; rather it is immediate upon belief in Christ, and the virtues that follow are the gifts and inner working of the Holy Spirit. We learn by reading the Word of God, and apply by believing it in faith -- then we will do it. It is a new birth, not a reformation of the old.]

The Bible says that relationships are more important than accomplishments. [Of course, that depends upon which relationship we are referring to!] God says that I can have the eloquence of an orator, the knowledge of a genius, the faith of a miracle worker, the generosity of a philanthropist and the achievements of a superstar, but if I don't have love in my heart, its all worth zero. [He comes so close here... without mentioning who it is that must be in your heart. As Christians we can overlook this, but any unbelievers will only be confused or reinforced in works-based righteousness.] The only thing that matters to God is do I love Him and do I know how to love other people. All the other stuff is superfulous. THE ISSUE IS: HOW WELL DID YOU LOVE. [I find this statement very dangerous -- this is a works-based righteousness -- perfectly compatible with ALL of the world's religions!!... and humanism to boot. Do you see how saying this more clearly makes a BIG difference?]

Let me just review it one more time because this is the basis that we are building ALL 40 days on: If I don't live a life of love, nothing I say will matter, nothing I know will matter, nothing I believe will matter, nothing I give will matter and nothing I accomplish will matter. [What do you think? Is this correct?]

Now think about this. If love is that powerful, if it is the primary objective of life, if it is the supreme value of life, if it is what matters more in life... what is love? What in the world is it? [I'm shivering with the realization of just how close he gets to stating the truth finally without actually stating it. The enemy is VERY slick indeed! Is this not a fascination with love itself instead of with the person of God?]

We're going to start by giving you a couple of definitions right out of the chute. This is just going to scratch the surface, but at least its going to get us started for this week.

1. Love is a command. God commands that we love each other. That means that it is not optional -- if we don't do it, the Bible says we're sinning! [Wow, Rick really lays it on thick here... and in 1 John we read that if we continue on sinning, then we never really knew Him!! I think we really need to understand this well. How do we then obey this command? For the answer, see Luke 7:36-48.] This is not well, if you can have time for it, attach it to your schedule, make time for your relationships.... no, God says that this is what life is all about: its about relationships. Jesus said it in John 13:34 (NIV). [Doesn't it seem that although Rick lists the two commandments in the right order, everything else he says demonstrates that he places the second commandment before the first. The order is significant, and we must not get it backwards.]


2. Love is a choice. It can't be forced on anybody. Now when God commands it, that's because we have a choice to accept or reject that command. [Wait a minute... He doesn't command it because we have a choice, He commands it because it is a requirement! Unless we obey His commands, we do not love Him -- so it is merely a statement of what follows from true faith in Christ and our relationship with Him. It is the evidence of true, saving faith. Without truth, there can be no grace.] If love were a feeling, you can't command a feeling. Its like telling a little child, "I command you to be happy" and the child would say, "I'm trying to be happy!" [We are commanded to love because if we do not it is evidence that we are not truly saved. If we are trying, whether by choice or by command, we've got it all backwards. What possibly could Jesus mean by "from within you will flow springs of living water"?] You can't force a feeling, but love is not a feeling. Though it produces feelings, but love is a choice. Its part of our behaviour. The Bible says in 1 Cor 14:1 (MSG): "Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it because it does." [Are we to go after a life even if it is a life of loving deeds, or to go after Him? Wow -- if what the Message is saying is not works-based righteousness, then I don't know what is. 1 Cor 14:1 in the NASB says, "Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy." This is not even remotely like The Message (above).] Its intentional; you must decide to become a loving person. [Is that really it? Must I not hunger and thirst for righteousness and come to Christ in repentance placing all my hope and trust in Him?] You must choose to become a loving person; you must learn to become a loving person and you must practice becoming a loving person. It is not natural. [He says this as though love that God commands is achievable.] You see, I am naturally a self-serving person. I want everybody to serve me; I want everyone to love me; I want everyone to meet my needs. [Precisely.] It is not my nature to think automatically of other people, but that's what love is all about -- its a volitional act of the will. Now, you can choose to love in spite of your feelings or circumstances, and in fact that is the most mature love. [What then is our motivation? Can it be pure if we are feeling envy but choose to love? etc.] If you are doing something to get something back, that's not love. Love is committing to the well-being of another person, or your church, or your small group, or your community without any guarantee that they are going to give back to you. And that's the kind of love that God wants you to become a pro at. [Does want == command?] He wants you to become an expert at while you are here these few days on this earth. God put you in this group to be a laboratory for love, and before you were even born, God knew that you would be in this particular small group, and the people there are intentionally chosen by God to help you learn to really love. [Are we to learn something that God has gifted to us? Is not love a gift of the Holy Spirit, or is it learned?]


3. Love is a conduct. Its something you do; a behaviour. Love is acting. You just don't think about it; its something you do. In 1 John 3:18 (LB): "Let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them and show it by our actions." [careful... missing "in deed and in truth"!]


4. Love is a commitment. 1 John 4:16 (CEV): "God is love. If we keep on loving others, we will stay one in our hearts with God and he will stay one with us." [This is very different in the NASB: "We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."] Did you know that our relationship with God is largely determined and affected by our relationship with other people? That's why we are going to do 40 days of community. If we stay in a relationship of love with those in our family, with those in our small group, in our church, and we learn to love the community around us, then we are going to stay one in our hearts with God and He'll stay one with us. [But wait a minute here -- Jesus says in Luke 14 that unless I hate my family -- even my own life, I cannot be His disciple -- a follower of Christ. Doesn't this sound different than what Rick is saying?] Why? Because God is love. Circle "keep on" loving in your study guide. You see, love keeps on loving. Its durable, its persistent, its diligent, its determined, it keeps on giving through hardship, and test and trial and tribulation. And you can be sure of this, in the next 40 days -- I'm warning you -- your love is going to be tested in ways that you have not imagined. Why? Because its like a muscle. It only grows when you stretch it. [Here we see Rick inferring that this love is within ourselves and we can work it and stretch it and make it accomplish what God commands.] Mature love is tested love, and God wants you to become like Him, and God is love. [But the kind of testing that the Bible speaks of only proves that you already have Him. 2 Cor 13:5.] Now, God is the only one that can give you a love like that; a love that will last a lifetime. [Now why doesn't he show us how God gives us this love. If there are no requirements, then everyone would have it, right?] Human love, fails. Human love runs out. Human love is not strong enough to last through all the difficulties of life. But God's love in your heart can help you through the inevitable tests of your love in the days ahead.

You are never going to learn how to love others by sitting alone reading a book in your room. That's why the small group portion of the 40 DOC is THE most important part. .... It is in your small group that you have the laboratory to practice. You only can learn love in connection with other people. [Again, another misunderstanding of the love Paul is talking about. When you have Him -- you have Him to the full; there is nothing to learn or we might be able to boast in how well we have done learning it... right?] You know what? You can't love a crowd. [But Jesus had compassion on the crowds. Is Rick saying that Jesus did not love the individuals in the crowd unless they were in His inner circle of 12?] You have to be with a smaller group of people if you are going to learn the real meaning of love. [REALLY? This is a spit in the face of many who "went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated, (those of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised..." (Heb 11:37b-39, NASB).]

How many times have you thought, "you know, I need to write a letter to that person... I need to make that phone call... I need to give a word of encouragement to that person, send some flowers, offer a meal... I need to go next door to my neighbour and get to know him and do such and such." You've had all these great intentions, I know you have... of loving and showing kindness and showing unselfishness to people who can't pay you back. But you didn't do it. What happened? The opportunity bypassed you, and now its gone. And now you've missed that opportunity to grow in love. Don't miss the next 40 days.

Whenever you see an opportunity to show love to somebody, do not wait... just do it! We're going to practice loving for the next 40 days, and at the end of this 40 days you are going to have a deeper sense of community in your small group, in your church, in your neighbourhood. ... See how many acts of love and kindness that you can commit this week.
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Remember, what matters most is love. Let me pray: "Heavenly Father, nothing matters more than learning to love You and learning to love each other. We pray that as a result of these small groups that we will grow closer together in community, we'll grow more committed in our church community, and we'll reach out to the community around our church... because you loved us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen." [Notice that he lists the commandments in the right order, but his prayer is not that we might love God, but people. We need to be very careful to magnify the love of God by using God's law to show the depth of sin. This is the gospel truth.]

May God bless the truth of His Word to your heart!

For six weeks, my church gathered together in small groups to watch video teachings from Rick Warren, read daily from his book and hear his sermons weekly. Meeting together in small groups as believers is an important part of our Christian walk. It is very important to study God's Word together, to hold one another accountable, to build one another up, to spur one another onto good works and to reach out to the lost. We must also exhort, admonish, encourage, correct, rebuke, train and disciple one another in the way of righteousness. If this is the reason for our getting together, I am all for it.

Rick Warren has had an IMMENSE influence on churches around the world who are adopting his teachings and small group format. It should go without saying that it is very important to test everything that I write here, what your preacher teaches and anything you hear on TV or read in a book against the Word of God. Rick Warren and his teachings are not by any means an exception. Words have real meaning, and the Word of God is the truth and shows us the way of eternal life. What it tears down and divides in heart and soul, bone and marrow it does in order to build us up in Christ. If Paul, being the chief apostle and an eyewitness of Christ, exhorted people to test what he wrote, then for sure we need to test the teachings being delivered to us by Rick Warren.

My purpose in writing these articles is not to divide the body of Christ, nor to speak against or for the man Rick Warren, but simply to help you divide the true from the false in order to be a good Berean (Acts 17:11). My aim is to do everything in love, as it is my goal to edify the church and to maintain the unity of the Spirit. However, just like a good immune system in our bodies, there is also need of a healthy immune system in the body of Christ. Where there is error, it must be expelled to maintain the health of the body. And when the truth is muddled, it needs to be clarified--especially concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I want to point out something very important here: If at any point you feel that there is something that I have misquoted or if I have made a misrepresentation or other errors, please correct me by posting a comment (see the link at the bottom of each message). And, if you disagree with any position I take and are willing to contend with me, I would love for you to respond with your comments. I will endeavour to answer your challenges and to respond to your comments or correct any errors as soon as I am able.

Some Warnings to Heed

I want to briefly list a number of things here which you should be wary of as you take in Rick Warren's teachings.

1. Rick Warren often quotes from paraphrases such as The Message (MSG, by Eugene Peterson), the Living Bible (LB), and many other non-literal translations such as the New Century Version (NCV), etc. These often contain many errors and liberalities which should not be taken with the Word of the eternal, omniscient and all-powerful God. This is not to negate everything that Rick Warren states, but it is an exhortation to take care that we absorb and teach only what the Word of God teaches in its context. How do we know the truth? Scripture says that His anointing teaches us (ie. every believer who places their trust in Him and asks for wisdom) all things (1 John 2:27). This almost always requires that we earnestly seek Him for wisdom and search the scriptures daily (Acts 17:11). And, it is important that God's Word be used accurately and not simply as a tool to support our human ideas and agendas. Please make sure you read every reference that he uses in a literal translation such as the New American Standard Bible (NASB), a Literal Translation (LITV), or the King James Version (KJV or MKJV).


2. Consider not only what is being said, but what is not being said. Make sure to read all verses in context (never read a single verse--read the verses before and after the verse quoted). There is more to this in determining the full context, but this will give you a very, very good start. Please remember: stating half the truth as though it was the whole truth is considered a felony (perjury) in a human court of law where temporal physical punishment is at stake, and it is no less important in God's eternal court where the eternal lives of people are at stake.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you find this material edifying and faith building (John 8:32 "...The truth will set you free").

May God richly bless you as you study His Word and as we put it into practice together.

Your brother in Christ,

Ryan Schatz