I am in no way trying to attack Rick Warren or bring him down. And I am not trying to attack his genuine belief and sincere presentation.
But saints, we must be discerning of what others are preaching as “the gospel of Jesus Christ”. In this very video, you will see evidence of many things that are typical in a modern gospel presentation, such as:
Repeat this prayer
Easy-Believism
Make a Decision
4 Simple things
Religious cliches
Manipulation
Deeming men saved, especially from praying a prayer
Invite Christ into Your Life
Paul, in speaking to his disciples, said he was pure from the blood of all men for he ceased not to declare the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:26-27). And God set Ezekiel to be a watchman to warn Israel to turn from their sins or God would judge them in righteousness. God warned Ezekiel, that if he didn’t warn the people to turn from their sins, their blood would be on his hands. But if he warned them, no matter if they turn or not, Ezekiel is free from their blood; because he was faithful to give them the true message from God. Notice carefully in this video, that there is no mention of the following:
God’s Wrath and Anger for Sin & Sinners
(Matt 3:7; Luke 3:7, 21:23; John 3:36; Rom 1:18, 2:5-8, 5:9, 9:22; Eph 2:3, 5:6; Col 3:6; 1Thess 1:10, 2:16, 5:9; Rev 6:16-17, 11:18, 14:8,10,19, 15:1,7, 16:1,19, 19:15)
God’s Holiness & Holy Living
(Isaiah 6:3 and countless others on God’s Holiness; Rom 6:19,22; 2 Cor 7:1; Eph 4:24; 1 Thess 3:13, 4:7; Heb 12:9,10,14)
Man’s Wickedness
(Jeremiah 17:9-10; Psalm 5:5, 7:11, 11:5, 14:1-4, 101:3-4,8, 104:35, 119:155, 145:20, 146:9, 147:6; Prov 2:22, 4:19, 14:12, 16:25; Matt 19:17; Mark 10:18; Rom 3:10-18)
God’s Coming Judgment
(Matt 12:36; John 5:22,27,30, 8:16, 9:39, 16:8; Rom 2:2,3,5, 5:16, 18;1 Tim 5:24; Heb 6:2, 9:27, 10:27; 1 Peter 4:17; 2 Peter 2:3,9, 3:7; Jude 1:6,15; Rev 14:7, 17:1)
Repentance
(Matt 3:2,8,11, 4:17, 9:13; Mark 1:4,15, 2:17, 6:12; Lk 3:3,8, 5:32, 13:3,5, 15:7, 24:47; Acts 2:38, 3:19, 5:31, 8:22, 11:18, 13:24, 17:30, 19:4, 20:21, 26:20; Rom 2:4; 2 Cor 7:9,10; 2 Tim 2:25; Heb 6:1,6; 2 Peter 3:9; Rev 2:5,16,21,22, 3:3,19)
Regeneration (new birth;born-again)
(John 1:13, 3:3,5-7; 2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15; 1 Pet 1:23; 1John 2:29, 3:9, 4:7, 5:1,4,18)
Separation from the world
(John 17:17,19; Romans 12:1-2, 15:16; 1 Cor 1:2, 6:11; 2 Cor 6:17; Heb 7:26; 2 Tim 2:21; Heb 2:11; 1 John 1:6-7, 2:15-17; Jude 1:1)
Promise and Warning of Suffering
(Acts 5:41; Rom 8:17; 1 Cor 4:12,9:12,12:26; 2 Cor 1:6, Philippians 1:29,4:12; 1 Thess 3:4; 2 Thess 1:5; 1 Tim 4:10; 2 Tim 1:12, 2:12, 3:12; Heb 11:25,13:3; 1 Pet 3:14,17, 4:16,19)
Self-Denial, Cross Bearing, Follow Christ
(Matt 10:38, 16:24, Mk 8:34, Lk 9:23, 14:27,33)
So, as you can see. This video does not present “the rest of the story”. We cannot preach a one-sided God. God is both Holy & Just, and Graceful & Merciful. He is both Angry and Wrathful and Loving & Kind. He is both Powerful & Mighty, but also Humble & Pure. So we must warn these sinners of God’s judgment and requirement of perfection. And that the only way God will see them as perfect is if they go through His perfect spotless lamb, His son Jesus Christ. If God draws them by His Spirit and makes them born again, and they repent and believe the Gospel, they will be saved! It’s not about a prayer, 3-step plan, repeat-after-me, or walking an aisle. It’s about the miracle of conversion. Which is done only by God.
Rom 10:13 for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
Rom 10:14
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15
How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!”
Rom 10:16
However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?”
Rom 10:17
So faith {comes} from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
If we don’t warn sinners, no amount of religious cliches, man-made analogies, redefined terminology, or simplified version of the Gospel will do. Only by hearing the word of Christ will they receive faith and believe on Him.
