Is Rick Warren ignoring sin in search for 'peace'?
Tuesday, July 29, 2008 Labels: Rick Warren 3 commentsThe following is an article from 'One News Now'
Christian broadcaster and author Tom McMahon says evangelical pastor Rick Warren's belief that the church must take the lead in solving the world's problems of poverty, disease, and war cannot be reconciled with the scriptures.
Pastor Warren will be hosting an interfaith meeting next month with 30 Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders "to discuss cooperation for the common good of all Americans." Warren's P.E.A.C.E. plan mobilizes churches to address global problems. But McMahon, president of The Berean Call ministry, says the popular Christian author is introducing evangelical Christianity to the social gospel that he learned from his mentor, social scientist Peter Drucker.T.A. McMahon
"As a Christian, as a biblical Christian, I have real concerns about this because I don't find this in the scriptures," McMahon explains. "You see, it's true the world has all kinds of problems, but he's working on the symptoms and avoiding the root cause, which is the sin nature of humanity. So how can you work with all kinds of people [who are] called 'people of faith,' but it's not biblical faith?"
McMahon contends that only the biblical gospel can change the heart of man, and that Warren is compromising that by working with people who reject the gospel of Christ. He says that although Pastor Warren claims his life's calling is "to proclaim the gospel truth of salvation in Jesus Christ," it is doubtful that gospel will be proclaimed at the interfaith meeting.
"I believe that Rick has a low view of prophecy," McMahon contends. "Well, I think he needs to heed the words of Jesus [in Luke 18:8]: 'When the Son of Man cometh shall He find faith upon the earth?' Well, 'people of faith' yes, but certainly not the faith that Jude exhorts true believers to contend for."
Here is a link to the P.E.A.C.E. plan website
Furthermore, Jesus also said that there would be poverty and war until the end of this age when He returns. In the mean time, we have (classical) liberal capitalism as a mechanism for lifting people out of poverty. If Christians who take this as their calling are serious, they would demand the following 5 point plan of every government for the sake of the poor:
1) A sound monetary policy based on precious metals.
2) Free trade in goods and services, equally, between all parties.
3) An end to subsidies for all goods and services.
4) True rule of law.
5) A coordinated campaign to root out and eliminate public corruption.
We are called to feed the hungry; care for the poor, orphaned, and widowed; to not be at war, but to be at peace with all mankind. So Mr Warren has truth behind that outreach - and it is 100% completely reconcilable with Scripture.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matt%2025:31-46;&version=72;
Working on the symptoms of a problem is a way to reach the root of the problem. Relationship is often necessary in order to reach people with the word; that is what missionaries live and breath every day.
This is a great post, thanks for writing it