Evaluating 40 Days of Community

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Ryan

You might be wondering if I am against attending a 40 Days of Community small group. Well, if you are wondering whether you should go, my answer is a qualified YES. My qualification is this: if you have your ears perked up on alert, if you rely on the scriptures and the Holy Spirit to test all things, if you read all the scriptures being referred to in context... you are prepared to handle anything that comes at you. This is not to give the green light to approve every teaching out there; we should desire to eat good fruit and not to have to dig through 90% sinew for a measly 10% meat, but it is to say that if your church has begun a program that you don't agree with, staying home probably is not the best thing to do. You can be of help to others if you read the text with an open mind, test what is being said and bring discernment to the group. Beware, however, that many who have attempted to hold Rick Warren's teachings accountable to God's Word have been suppressed, reprimanded and even disallowed from attending such a small group. The reason cited is that they are disrupting the unity of the group, however if that unity is based on error, then it is not true unity based on the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.

I've been thinking pretty hard about this issue of attending Rick Warren's small groups. I am reminded of my thoughts about sending my children to public school to be exposed to ungodly teachings about evolution, self-fulfillment, and other worldly philosophies where they will meet ungodly people that could thwart their lives... and I'm reminded of what Jesus said in Matt 10:16 (NASB): "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves." My children have the distinct advantage of having parents that are going to help them in the midst of the trouble. But if we teach them well, they will become extremely strong through this process. I have written this blog with you in mind -- that your eyes may be opened to the truth so that you would be discerning in what teaching you digest.

For our part in the church, there should not be a time when we stop testing the things that are being told to us. We cannot let our guard down, relax and assume the spiritual coast is clear and all is safe.

"Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not extinguish the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt. But examine all things; hold fast to what is good. Stay away from every form of evil." -- 1 Thess 5:19-22, NET.

The argument that we can trust a teacher or minister because they seem to be sincere is fatally flawed. Here's the problem: does the fact that one is sincere guarantee that what they are saying is the truth? Is it not possible to be sincere and also to be wrong? We must be good Bereans and test all things to see whether they are true.

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

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

This chapter is again, very good. So again, I have nothing to offer other than to add a few comments.

Fellowship without forgiveness is impossible.

This is a true statement, and an excellent point to stop and ponder. I was recently listening to several sermons by the late Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones where he also made a similar statement. I was also reading a commentary on Leviticus 3 by C.H. Mackintosh that elaborated on this priciple from the nature of the fellowship offering. This is a very important topic of the scriptures, and one which we need to carefully consider and ponder in our hearts. Our familial relationships teach us this same thing; if we are a member of the family, we must live in mutual submission or there is no fellowship. The same is with God. If we think we can come into His presence without the conviction of unconfessed sin, we are wrong. True worship is not a party and a method of achieving an emotional high which we hope will last us through the week. It is an extension of private worship which occurs within the congregation, but is nonetheless entering into the very presence of the Most Holy and creator of the universe. We ought not to take such a great priviledge lightly. Finally, those who claim to be in fellowship with God but remain in unrepentance towards God are liars and, as the Apostle John stated so clearly, have no part with Him.

As believers, we're called "to settle our relationships with each other" (2 Cor 5:18, MSG).

While it is true that we must forgive one another as is so clearly communicated in Matt 18:35. Even still, the Message has again constrained the meaning of 2 Cor 5:18 to exclude our primary mandate on this Earth which is to reconcile people to God. The NLT translation clearly indicates this, but leaves out our duty to also be reconciled with one another. Plainly stated in the Greek, we have the ministry of reconciliation, though we are not commanded to compromise our stand for truth to reconcile relationships with people who have rejected that truth, and therefore have disdain for us.

God sets the standard so high because he knows how much is as stake in our life.

For the true believer, forgiveness will be natural. And with the inner working of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness even for those who are unrightly stoning you to death like Stephen will be the words that flow from your perishing lips. Matthew 18:35 is very clear: if you do not pass on forgiveness in like manner as your Father in heaven has forgiven you, then you are not saved. You can be sure of that! You will be amongst those gnashing their teeth in anger on that day of reckoning. So be sure to know, understand, and fully comprehend the forgiveness the Father has for you, so that you, like the woman in Luke 7:47, will show much love because you understand just how much and how deeply you have been forgiven. So its not just how much is at stake in our lives and the pain that unforgiveness causes us in this life, but what is at stake eternally. Which do you suppose is more important? The temporal results of unforgiveness is your warning against eternal loss.

When we remember the price Jesus paid to forgive us, how can we not forgive?

Not only this, but all true believers are compelled in their innermost being to forgive from their hearts. If you find that you cannot do this, earnestly seek God for the answer. Review the law in the 10 commandments and see how you compare in thought, word and deed (remember, if even you commit adultury in your heart, it is the same in God's sight). Now do you see how you have been forgiven? Now think of what it took to convince Almighty God to take on a body of flesh and bones to live amongst the vilest of sinners and become a servant of all, even so much as to die a painful and shameful death on the cross, bearing our sin before His Father in heaven! Can you see His vast love for you? Strive to understand it, weaken your knees and tremble before Him... for this sort of fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and results in the good soil of conversion that produces a 30, 60 or 100-fold crop!

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

"We're Connected to Grow Together...By Confessing to Each other"

This chapter is very good, so I have nothing to offer other than to add a few comments.

The purpose of confession is not disgrace, but grace.

This is an excellent point. Whenever we confess our sins to God, the Bible says that He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Being forgiven and cleansed in this way should form a deep love within us for God and for others which is the motivation for us to forgive and offer God's cleansing to others as well.

It's also important to note that this forgiveness has to do with fellowship, not sonship. ... In other words, you don't need to confess your sin to get back into God's family--you're still a family member--you confess to restore your fellowship with God.

If we are true believers, we will live a life that is open to God's inspection. If we've abandoned ourselves and crucified self and been risen in Christ, though we still sin because we live in bodies of flesh, our lives will be characterized by a desire to know the truth about ourselves and God, we'll be submissive to God's will for our lives, and we will desire to confess all sin to God as soon as we become aware of it. Then we must make the decision to avoid temptations and to turn from evil. If we don't do the latter, then we evidence that we have not been truly saved. This needs to be made clear to people so that no one lives with false hope in the promises of God without repenting of their sin. Yet, in Christ, all our sins are covered--past, present and future, known and unknown. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Yet, as John states in his epistles, if we abide in Christ and He in us, then we will naturally shun evil, confessing our sin and live wholly for Jesus Christ our saviour.

So, where in the church could this ever happen? Most confession won't and shouldn't take place in a corporate worship service. It is not likely to happen in the typical Sunday school class where the focus is usually on Bible study. The one place in church life where James 5:16 has the best shot at being practiced is in a small group. It must be in an environment that is safe and marked by unconditional love.

This is where I believe that Rick makes up his own plan. I can see how this can result in the stifling of the Holy Spirit from working in people's lives during corporate worship and the study of His word. When we worship corporately, we desire to draw near to God and to come into His presence. Whenever we truly come into His presence, our sins are exposed as we must remain broken before Him so that everything we are glorifies Him and not ourselves. The two places where conviction of sin and confession should be occuring is during times of worship when we draw near to God and come into His presence and when we are studying God's Word. Can we honestly be worshipping Him as He desires if we are not doing so in spirit and in truth? Can we truly worship Him if sin remains before our consciences unconfessed? When we are convicted by the Holy Spirit, the most appropriate response is immediate confession of our specific sins to God (though not necessarily blurting them out to all those around us). And confession is not the same thing as asking forgiveness from God, but is the admittance of wrong and a desire to change.

During the study of God's Word, we need to apply it to our lives right then and there and allow God to do His work in our hearts, repenting of our selfishness and renewing our desire to follow His will. Our fellowship with one another should merely be a continuation of our corporate fellowship. Here we also confess to one another and hold each other accountable to God's Word in love. We should be willing to be open with one another and desire to share what God has laid on our hearts for the edification and building up of one another.

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

"We're Connected to Grow Together...By Giving Preference to Each other"

Placing the needs of others before our own and giving preference to others is a topic that needs to be spoken about. It is very easy to be self-serving even while giving to others. How can someone given everything they have to the poor and not have love? How could someone give their own lives up, even their bodies to be burned, and not have love? The Bible says that it is so in 1 Cor 13:3. So how then can we get beyond ourselves and truly love others? The Bible tells us to understand and remember where we came from and what Jesus did for us, and how He had patience with us. Jesus died for us while we were yet helpless and dead in our sins. Even if we are perfect from this day forward according to God's standards (which is not possible -- Jesus said that we must be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, Matt 5:48) we would still be condemned because of our past sin. God found nothing good in us, yet despite this and the fact that God is just and must punish sin, He is also compassionate and desires to show and demonstrate His love to all who respond to it. Therefore, He took our sins upon Himself, willingly accepting our punishment inflicted by the Father on the cross in our place in order to both satisfy His perfect justice and also demonstrate the full extent of His infinite love for us whom He has saved. This is mind-boggling! Is there anything else that we can do but to become His bondslaves? As such, we no longer belong to ourselves, but are living for another out of love. Our first desire should be to do only what the Father shows us to bring the most glory and honor to His name as Jesus did.

Rick presents a number of good "how-to" pointers in this day's study. However, there is one thing in particular that I must point out, as is in dangerous contradiction with the Word of God:

"Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self" (Matt 16:25, MSG).

This reading dangerously twists the meaning of this text. Consider that this passage was spoken by Jesus right after rebuking Peter for saying that Jesus should not be killed. Peter showed concern for Jesus' life, and since He believed that Jesus was the Son of God, it was unconscionable that Jesus should be whipped and killed at the hands of the Gentiles. But despite his concern, Jesus rebuked him strongly because he was thinking of himself: "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's" (Matt 16:23, NASB). It is after this that we read the verses we wish to discuss (Matt 16:24-26, NASB):

24. Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
25. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
26. "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Jesus doesn't say, "If anyone wishes to find his true self..." -- there is nothing of this kind of language contained here. Whether its the old self or the true self, the emphasis of The Message is still on self. We are to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus, yet we don't find Jesus trying to find His true self: (Phil 2:5-8, NASB)

5. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6. who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7. but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

If Jesus was trying to find "his true self," He would not have taken on the form of man to become the servant of all, and He certainly wouldn't have gone to the cross to become the scapegoat and sin offering for the wickedness of a sinful people. This is why He rebukes Peter in Matt 16:23 -- because it is a strong temptation for Him to not carry out His Father's will to the death. He is innocent! He never deserved death!

Jesus' words to us in Matt 16 are clear: the person who tries to save his life and looks to self-interest and appeasement will lose his life -- and He is speaking here of eternal life. The Apostle Paul said "for I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come" (2 Tim 4:6). How then could he be looking for his true self in this? Is he longing for the abundant life that the word of faith teachers are promising? No, he is losing his life for the sake of Christ. Yet, someone can perform even the most self-sacrificial acts and still be self-serving. We know this from 1 Cor 13:3 (NASB): "And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing." God is love, we can only love as we ought if His spirit is resident in us. Jesus did nothing of Himself. This is a really hard concept for us to grasp. We believe Him to be God, the very creator of all things. However, as a man He was fully dependent upon His Father for everything that He said and did. He is our role model, and we should be striving to completely empty ourselves as well and live to obey the Father in everything we say, think and do. That is the goal, not to find our selves. Our true self, in fact is dead in sin. Everything we are in Christ has been given to us -- it is not of ourselves! We do not then have the right to go and do as we please -- even if it is in His name, but we are to empty ourselves and to seek the will of the Father and what pleases Him.

Some time ago, I received an email from Rev. Chris Currey in Ontario on this topic and I thought it was so good and relevant that I got permission from him to post it on my God's BMW blog here. I think the following short snippet is very relevant to my discussion of Rick's gospel presentation and is worth repeating here for emphasis. Please feel free to comment.

Unfortunately, some have decided to simply reach out with good works while leaving any offensive gospel preaching in the dust. The trend is to offer inclusive acceptance rather than be forthright. By doing so, we risk losing converts by seeking the friendship and approval of the 'post-modern minded.' We tuck truth under the table for fear we’ll scare them off, but in the end we do them more harm than good. We might have them in our church, but does God have them in His Kingdom?

One of our greatest examples of Christian charity is the salvation army. But listen to the words of William Booth, “Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you ‘go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin.’ Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there.” Obviously, he was not referring to just feeding the poor. How would such utterances be received by the church today? No doubt, William Booth faced a society much like ours. He did not bow to the threatenings of a callous and base-minded society by changing the method of reaching them. If we are going to reach this post-modern world, we must do it the same way Jesus instructed us to do it 2000 years ago... preach the gospel! It was Jesus who said, "unless ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." By today's standards, Jesus would be considered a radical for saying such things. So while we follow His example of charity, let us follow His admonition to preach the gospel in its entirety. To deviate from the blue-print is to build a crooked house on sinking sand.

[My comments are inline--in brackets--and in blue text]
Subsequent to my earlier posting on Rick's video entitled "What It Means to Follow Christ", I wanted to elaborate on Rick's other gospel presentations.

The following is Rick's gospel presentation in Chapter 7 of The Purpose Driven Life:

Right now, God is inviting you to live for his glory by fulfilling the purposes he made you for. It's really the only way to live. Everything else is just existing. Real life begins by committing yourself completely to Jesus Christ. [Rick provides no explanation of what is meant by "real life"--and that in order to have it, you must first lose your life.] If you are not sure you have done this, all you need to do is receive and believe. [What about repent? (Luke 13:3,5)] The Bible promises, "To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." Will you accept God's offer? [Presented this way, who wouldn't want to receive this no-strings-attached offer to become children of God? Yet Jesus said "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate...even his own life, he cannot be My disciple" (LUke 14:26, NASB).]

First, believe. [How about "first, repent" (Mark 1:15)] Believe God loves you and made you for his purposes. Believe you're not an accident. Believe you were made to last forever. Believe God has chosen you to have a relationship with Jesus, and died on the cross for you. Believe that no matter what you've done, God wants to forgive you. [...IF you repent. And how will they know how to repent if they don't even know what they are repenting of? Is it purposelessness?]

Second, receive. Receive Jesus into your life as your Lord and Savior. [But how do you receive Him this way? Don't you have to make Him Lord of your life? Jesus says, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven... I will declare to them, 'I never knew you...'" (Matt 7:21,23, NASB).] Receive his forgiveness for your sins. Receive his Spirit, who will give you the power to fulfill your life purpose. The Bible says, "Whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever!" [This is John 3:36; see what it says in the NASB: "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."] Wherever you are reading this, I invite you to bow your head and quietly whisper the prayer that will change your eternity: "Jesus, I believe in you and I receive you." Go ahead.

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. I urge you to tell someone about it. You're going to need support. [Especially with this modern, watered-down gospel message strewn atop the rocks and weeds...] If you email me, I will send send you a little booklet I wrote called Your First Steps for Spiritual Growth.

For Rick's gospel presentation from the 40 Days of Community workbook, see Day 4. It is very similar to his presentation in The Purpose Driven Life.

The following is a transcript of Rick's gospel presentation from the first video in the 40 Days of Purpose series:

Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ? If you aren't sure of this, I'd like the priviledge of leading you in a prayer to settle the issue. Let's bow our heads. I'm going to pray a prayer and you can follow it silently in your mind:

Dear God, I want to know your purpose for my life. [Is "life purpose" what the unbeliever is to hunger and thirst for (Matt 5:6)?] I don't want to waste my life on the wrong things. Today I want to take the first step in preparing for eternity by getting to know You. Jesus Christ, I don't understand it all, ["And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the [person] who hears the word and understands it..." (Matt 13:23, NASB)] but as much as I know how, I want to open my life to you. I ask You to come into my life and make yourself real to me. Use this series to help me know what you made me for. Thank you. Amen.

If you just prayed that prayer for the very first time, I congratulate you. You've just become part of the family of God!

[The following text is adapted from an article by Berit Kjos posted at http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/2003/1-purpose.htm].

Is this a response to the gospel? Where is repentance? Acknowledgement of need for righteousness before God? Confession of and understanding of personal sin against God? Where is the cross and the bodily death and resurrection of Jesus? The Bible says that saving "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom 10:17-18). But none of the scriptures that show the gospel are even mentioned in this first lesson. Biblically illiterate friends and neighbours who join the group would / could pray this prayer without any real knowledge of the cross, of the saviour, or of God's view of sin. In fact, the concept of salvation isn't included in the first lesson. And if it had been there, the context of the lesson would suggest that we are merely saved from a purposeless life--not from bondage to sin.

The first lesson deals with the "consequence of not knowing your purpose"--NOT with Jesus Christ. It warns the group that "without knowing your purpose, life will seem TIRESOM... UNFULFILLING... UNCONTROLLABLE." And it repeats the positive (but not particularly Biblical) promise that knowing the purpose of your life will:

• Give your life "FOCUS"
• Simplify your life
• Increase motification
• 'PREPARE YOU FOR ETERNITY'

Even so, all who pray the prayer will be affirmed and celebrated as new members of the family of God. But are they? We don't know. Yet statistics suggest that most people who call themselves Christians have little understanding of the gospel.

Let us take care not to give false hope to people.

Some scriptures concerning repentance:

• Mark 1:4 - baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.
  
• Luke 5:32, Luke 15:7, Luke 24:47 (good news) => commission.
  
• *Acts 11:18, ***Acts 13:24, **Acts 26:20
  
• 2 Cor 7:9-10 (godly sorrow), **2 Pet 3:9, *Matt 4:17
  
• **Matt 11:20-21 (Repent w/ sackclock + ashes)
  
• *Mark 1:15 (Repent + keep believing), Mark 6:12
  
• **Luke 13:3 (Unless you repent, you too will all die)
  
• Luke 17:3 (if your bother repents, forgive him)

See also my post entitled The Non-Negotiable Gospel.

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

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

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

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

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

[*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)