Does Ecumenicalism Undermine Biblical Unity?

Yesterday I highlighted the troubling report of Luis Palau’s partnership with Roman Catholics in his upcoming crusade in Omaha. Some folks may look at my assessment and think it narrow and a detriment to unity, while others may agree without reservation. In either case I want to try to provide a bit of development with respect to this type of Ecumenicalism. So in the next couple of days I will post on this topic and, in keeping with the blogospheric norm, these posts will not be exhaustive. However, I aim to provide a biblical answer to ecumenism, showing the unity that God forbids, while also promoting the unity God commands. Hopefully it proves helpful.

Ecumenism Defined

What are we talking about when we speak of the Ecumenical Movement? Simply put it is the initiative to assert and preserve unity among diverse religious groups.

Within the protestant or evangelical community the ecumenical movement seeks to join folks from traditionally polemical positions. Under the umbrella of unity folks from conservative backgrounds unite with liberals. What’s more, we have seen in recent years an increased partnership within the evangelical community with adherents of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as Jews, Muslims, and Mormons.

Ecumenism Explained

When one encounters ecumenical streams of theology and practice the prevailing goal becomes clear; it is unity at all costs. This goal is distinguished from all competition. Those who pursue such unity are able to tolerate extreme doctrinal variation in effort to achieve their chief end. In fact, the only thing that the ecumenical movement seems to not tolerate is disunity.

The idea of unity is appealing. Even a quick glance at the religious landscape in general and the Christian community in particular will reveal extreme variation and opposition. The apparent disunity has been a favorite criticism by those who find themselves outside of and antagonistic to the Christian church.

Ecumenism Examined

So what is wrong with a movement or philosophy that promotes such radical spiritual partnership?

We see right away when considering the ecumenical movement that the basis for unity is a common desire for unity. This likeminded ecumenical spirit enables adherents to overlook doctrinal differences in order to achieve this chief goal.

The ecumenical spirit takes on different forms but it maintains this same unified goal. In other words, groups elevate various goals as their chief end and these goals become the driving force for all unity; if you can agree on the common goal then they can agree on partnership.

In the 1990’s The Promise Keepers sought to unite men to become better husbands, better fathers, better employees and better “men of faith”. This broad target audience included anyone who was interested. Their approach came across as evangelically conservative so by this nature it did eliminate some who could not stomach their bible quoting and tendency to lean toward the right politically and socially. However, they were intentional in their aim towards unity across doctrinal lines for the sake of their goal of impacting men. This was seen clearly in their under emphasis of doctrine and wide spectrum of theological convictions with the leadership.

Evangelist Billy Graham has been intentional throughout his ministry on bringing people on board who hold doctrinal convictions that are outside the realm of orthodox evangelicalism. Graham had no problem joining hands with protestant liberals and Roman Catholics in ministry because he believed they aided him in gaining a wider audience for his evangelism crusades. Thus it was not uncommon for Graham to have a Roman Catholic speaking on the platform during his crusades. When asked about this strange partnership Graham has said, “I have no quarrel with the Catholic Church.” And further, “I do not think the differences (between evangelicalism and Roman Catholicism) are important as far as personal salvation is concerned.”

In recent years evangelist Luis Palau has enjoyed Billy Graham-like success. For his festival in Omaha, Palau received the endorsement of the Catholic bishop of the Omaha dioceses and has partnered with multiple Catholic churches for the promotion and support of the event. (see also this post)

Best selling author and pastor Rick Warren has been a loud proponent of ecumenicalism. In conducting pastor-training programs he welcomes Catholics, Methodists, Mormons, Jews and ordained women. When questioned about how he can have such untraditional spiritual friendships Warren said, “I’m not going to get into a debate over the non-essentials. I won’t try to change other denominations. Why be divisive?” (USA Today 7/21/2003) It is disturbing to see Warren’s commitment to helping those who promote a different gospel become more effective at doing so. Warren is aiming to help apostate and cultic churches to grow. This is a dangerous ecumenicalism.

Whether we are talking about an evangelism crusade, a masculinity rally, a pastoral training conference or a prayer meeting, the unifying factor remains the goal of the respective group. This unifying goal distinguishes itself as the ultimate authority of the ministry.

However, how does this square up with the teaching of the New Testament? Is God concerned with how and with whom his people do ministry?

(we’ll pick this up tomorrow, examining both the unity that God forbids and commands)

Q & A Friday :: Why do you write negative posts on evangelical leaders?

This question comes up more often than I would have anticipated. I first want to point out that I have posted over 300 posts in the last year. Out of that number their have been only 10 or so that could be construed as “negative” toward evangelical leaders. A 3% negativity rate is pretty low. I have purposely tried to keep the tone of this blog positive as we as Christians have a lot to be excited, optimistic and thankful for; great things are happening in the church today. And frankly, having our gaze riveted upon the Savior is the best medicine for error anyway.

So why go after these guys? Well, to be honest, they go after Jesus. Yes, you read that right, they go after Jesus. Folks who edit the gospel attack the gospel and to attack the gospel is to attack the Savior. There is no other way to spin it. God has not given us editorial rights on his perfect gospel but rather he has given us a proclamation privilege.

So the first question I ask myself is if they are really in error concerning the gospel. It is the gospel that is of first importance Paul said (1 Cor. 15.3) and it is the gospel that brings a curse if one changes it (Gal. 1.8). When I sat in the front row of Rick Warren’s church last year and listened to him tell me and hundreds of others that God made the world for me and that the cross shows me how valuable I am, I almost threw up. My instinct was to get up, take off my shoes and walk down the aisle toward the exit clapping the dust off my shoes, but I checked myself and realized that this type of thing would not be the best thing to do at the moment. I prayed and broke as I looked around and saw folks drinking in his poison gospel like kids with a slurpie.

Also, when we talk about Billy Graham, he has now, as noted in this article denied cardinal doctrines of Christianity such as the sufficiency of Scripture.

So to the question of whether we should stop pointing out error concerning the gospel or the teachers who have great impact within our evangelical community. I say no. I can’t. For God has called us to point out error and promote the truth (1 Tim. 4.6). When Rick Warren has a leading pro-abortion, pro-homosexual union Senator come to speak at his church, from his pulpit, I have to say something. It is disgusting

I do believe that I have the responsibility as a pastor to point out things like this (1 Tim. 4.6; Tit. 1.9). I am not going to let a people who have a reputation for blurring, obscuring, marginalizing or editing the gospel get away with it; especially those with significant influence within evangelicalism.

I am frankly shocked with the outcry of support for a guy like Rick Warren (see comments here and here). I have never heard him clearly articulate the gospel, only fumble it, but yet countless people defend him like his the fourth person of the God-head. It is true as John MacArthur has said, “Evangelicals have spiritual AIDS.” They do not fight off the spiritual disease of heresy, because their immune system or discernment is lacking.

So what do you do? You pray. You talk to folks. You promote the truth. You attack error (as opposed to the guy). All of this is to be done in love and with fear of God.

Some may say that we should not do it in a blog. My policy is that if someone puts it in writing or otherwise disseminates it into the public forum then I too have a right to interact in public. I have sent written correspondence to Saddleback, but haven’t heard anything other than comments on my blog…that didn’t go very far.

Finally, I just want to say that it is not a Rick Warren thing, but it is a gospel thing. But where I live that guy has made a big impact; I think he shares the crown with the Catholic Church for the most spiritual influence on Omaha. I meet evangelicals from all over the city who are just enamored with this shallow gospel and frankly, I am compelled to speak up and point people to the immeasurable depths of greatness of Jesus Christ and his gospel.

I am encouraged that the Apostle Paul wrote Philippians where he said, “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice (Phil. 1.18).

But notice Christ must be proclaimed.

Paul also wrote these words in the same letter:

Philippians 3:2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;

Jesus himself, in Matthew 23 unleashed a blistering tirade against the Pharisees for their continued biblical molestation and compromise over the truth.

So I am encouraged and resolved to continue to expose contemporary error while promoting and defending the glory of God. In this I am constantly examining my own doctrine, life and motives in the light of Scripture, knowing that my speech concerning those who undermine God in their teaching our language must not be any different than any other facet of life. For everything I do is to be done in love (1 Cor. 16.14). There are no exceptions. If we are flying off the handle loosing self-control and attacking people then we are out of step (Gal. 5.22-23). However, if we are lovingly pointing out unfaithfulness with the gospel in effort to warn our hearers and promote Christ’s glory then we are on good biblical footing. May God give grace that we might be humble and faithful.

–Fridays are Q&A Fridays here at IrishCalvinist.com so if you have a question fire it in to…

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Saddleback: The Healthiest Church in America?

As has become the custom when we visit the Shepherds’ Conference, we trekked down The 5 to Lake Forest to see what is going on at Saddleback Church.

To say that this part of the trip is vexing is an understatement. Each year we have seen hundreds of folks come into the beautiful facilities of Saddleback only to have their ears tickled with theology that rivals Oprah more than the Apostle Paul.

One of the guys in our party told another that he would give him a dollar for every Bible that he saw. This may be an expensive object lesson…right? At the end of the night my friend did not owe even one dollar, because Bibles were as scare as the gospel.

I resolved to sit in the front row so that I could get a good view of things. After a couple of songs Rick Warren came out and to my surprise announced that they were “On our way to becoming the healthiest church in America!”

I was shocked.

Warren was not referring of course to spiritual health but to physical health. They have implemented a new program of walking and worshiping. The congregants get up early and go for a walk together. This sounds like a good and healthy endeavor. It was just the irony of the whole thing that got me. Here you have a church where no one brings a Bible, the pastor obscures the gospel with dreadful persistency, and from the conversations I had with folks there, the church has no clue about what spiritual health is all about. They are going to work on the physical heart, and boast in the results while ignoring the spiritual heart and the requisite boasting in Jesus.

One person in our group called his shot. He said that this is going to be the new Rick Warren book/program phenomenon, a weight loss program led by Rick Warren, and it sounds like it will sell. I think Warren said he is aiming to loose 65 lbs. So look for that to flood your local Christian bookstores in time for the New Year’s Resolution season of ’08.

This is really a sad situation. Here we have a guy with worldwide influence and a growing church in Southern California, and they are neglecting the only thing that can bring lasting fruit. The first year I went the gospel was obscured, last year it was perverted, and this year it was completely marginalized. This church is a merry go round that is suspended over the flames of hell. They are captivated by entertainment, flippancy, irreverence, and trends. This comes from the top down. And this is not soley because they are going for walks in the morning, but because of their track record of mishandling the gospel, which is the only thing that can bring true health.

I talked to so many people at Saddleback who have been coming to the church for years and had no clue about the gospel. I am not being theologically nit-picky here either, I am serious. Jesus is more of a non-judgmental buddy who died to show us how valuable we are than he is a wrath guzzling substitute who is the only mediator between heaven and earth providing righteousness, hope, life, joy and peace through his atoning cross-work.

As I evangelized folks I was so disturbed, I do pray that they heard the truth and will receive it. Also, that they would find Jesus to be infinitely glorious and mighty to save. I pray that God would be pleased to shake Rick Warren and cause him to believe the gospel that he no doubt knows but so carelessly obscures.

Confronting Error without Falling into Error

Jacob asked a good question yesterday in the comments relative to our response to those who would be promoting error. In promoting error I mean Christians who either do not promote the truth of Scripture, this is most commonly done through adding or subtracting to the message.

The question addressed our response to Rick Warren, and whether or not we have been loving to him. Apparently Warren was on a Christian broadcast yesterday and the host called for believers to scale back the critiques of the popular Saddleback pastor.

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drumroll….Purpose Driven is Dead

Christianity Today has reported that the organization Purpose Driven has been effectively shut down. Purpose Driven is the organization led by Rick Warren amid the unprecedented success of his books. The organization has trained over 300,000 pastors since its inception.

Amid the changes Purpose Driven has lost its CEO, laid off dozens of employees, and significantly scaled back its influence. Apparently gone too are the national 40 Days of Purpose campaigns, which have so enraptured evangelicals and even served to narrow the seemingly unbroachable chasm between historic protestant theology and that of Catholicism (I’m not sure if this was done on Purpose or not J).

I remember reading where Rick Warren talked about the need to anticipate and be flexible while riding the waves of popularity. We could literally sit on the beach and watch the pop-evangelical church surf from wave to wave and from fad to fad as they seek to find the magic bullet for church growth. My fear is that the next ‘shepherd’ of the undiscerning wing of evangelicalism might be worse. Can you say Emergent Driven Life?

Rick Warren to share his pulpit with a Pro-Abortion Senator

In a surprising move, even for Warren, Democratic Senator Barack Obama, from Illinois will speak from the Saddleback pulpit. The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Obama will be joining Warren in the annual World AIDS Day. Apparently Obama and Warren have struck up a pretty good friendship, with Warren doing some editing of Obama’s newest book.

So why is this so bad? Well consider Senator Obama’s position on abortion. He is pro-choice, heartily supporting the Roe v. Wade decision. In fact he has been a leader in the IL legislature in promoting the abortion agenda. Additionally, he has voted to increase funding to family planning services (i.e. Planned Parenthood).

This would be a good time for all friends and defenders of Tricky Ricky to apply for free-agency. The guy is clearly not doing what a New Testament pastor is called to do. In fact he is entangled with the world. He is using Obama, who happens to be the democrat with the most upside these days, for shameless self-promotion. At the same time Obama appears to be using Warren in effort to snuggle up for some evangelical votes. And at who’s expense? Well for starters how about the millions of murdered babies that Obama has put his approval stamp on?!

I am more convinced today than ever that Warren is a politician and not a pastor. He has prostituted his post as a pastor for continued political posturing that requires compromise on the issues that matter.

How Evangelicals Can Undermine God -in Sanctification

I have found that I have personally become quite exercised about some of the various methods and practices that are employed within the popular American evangelical community. Sometimes I have, through introspection, wondered if my offense was based upon my preference and these evangelicals’ divergent view of ministry. In other words, I wondered if my issue was chiefly my offense or God’s.

So in effort to have clean hands, a clear conscience and pure motives I examined this, and tried to understand what in the world contemporary evangelicalism is doing. And you know what? I’m offended. But now more than ever I feel that my offense is rooted in the attack upon God’s method for accomplishing his own end.

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What Rick Warren wants on his tombstone

Preaching Today has posted what Rick Warren would like on his tombstone…”At least he tried”

You know what, this is really consistent with what we have come to expect from Warren (tricky ricky), hopelessly vague and man-centered.

(HT: SFpulpit)

The Way I see it…Ricky is tricky.

I was recently enjoying a hot cup of anniversary blend of Starbucks when I glanced at the commentary on the back of the cup. And who do I find on my cup but the pop-evangelical pope himself, Rick Warren. So as you can imagine I was eager to read what ‘Dr.’ Warren said.

In reading the words an amazing thing happened: I agreed with him. He didn’t write anything heretical or blasphemous, in fact he took aim at selfishness. So for a matter of a brief few seconds I found myself ok with Rick.

Then in what seemed like taking an extra aggressive sip from a extremely hot beverage and burning my mouth I recoiled with extreme disappointment in myself.

I read the words:

You are not an accident. Your parents may have not planned you but God did….You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense.

I immediately nodded my head in agreement. But you know what? So would the Catholic, the Mormon, the Muslim, the Jehovah’s witness and pretty much any other theist. Pretty much everyone except the local athesist chapter would agree with these statements.

Why?

Because Rick Warren has neglected to use the word that carves biblical Christianity out as distinct. He omits the name of Jesus.

Anyone can toss the word God around and engage in God talk. In our post-modern culture God has been de-godded and re-godded in every corner. This is why the Muslim, Catholic, Morman, Methodist, Jew, and liberal evangelical can hold hands and pray to ‘God’ in the name of tolerance and acceptance. The term God has so many bumper stickers on it these days that you can barely see any distinctive contours.

However, the name of Jesus is different. Just imagine what would have happened if Warren would have written this:

“You were made by Jesus and for Jesus. He made you for his own pleasure. When we rebel against him it makes him angry. But Jesus, being so loving, came and became a man and lived and died to fully satisfy the Father’s anger in the place of sinners like you and me.

Jesus is now commanding everyman to understand God’s purpose in their life, which is simply to submit to Jesus as the ultimate authority and Lord and stop rebelling against him.

With every day that we refuse to do this Jesus is getting more and more ticked off. And one day he is going to come back, this time he won’t be a baby but an insulted King, with your spit in his eye, ready to take vengeance on rebels. Only by submitting to Jesus now as our King and agreeing with him in obedience do we find our purpose in life.”

The way I see it, if you are going to be on a Starbucks cup you might as well speak your mind….and…well perhaps Rick did.

Warren’s books and sermons are no different. His venti cup of vagueness mixed with a double shot of semi-pelagianism while holding the name and power of ‘Jesus’ is a lethal tonic for the spiritually blind. Rick Warren dances on graves with his Christological omissions.

And the way I see it, this is regrettable. Because the last time I checked, God is pretty much obsessed with Jesus being preeminent. And really the only thing that matters is The Way GOD sees it!

So shame on Rick Warren for forgetting to mention Jesus when he had the chance to be biblical and exclusive; the Starbucks cup may have sold a few more books, made him more popular and perhaps even made a few more friends along the broad road.