What Rick Warren Said We Need to Do to Get to Heaven
Posted: 05/05/2008
What Rick Warren Said We Need to Do to Get to Heaven
I'm putting this up as a discussion piece.
Tell us whether or not people will make it to heaven based upon what Rick Warren said on Sean Hannity's show on February 10, 2008.
To help this discussion I've taken Rick Warren's solution to 'making it to heaven' and altered some passages about salvation to help see if this fits what the Bible teaches.
John 6:28-29 Then they said to Jesus, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “Give as much of yourself as you understand to as much as you understand about me and then keep growing in it.”
Acts 2:37-39 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Give as much of yourself as you understand to as much of Jesus Christ as you understand and then keep growing in it."
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever gives as much of themselves as they understand to as much of Jesus Christ as they understand and keep growing in it shall have eternal life.
So what do you think? Is Rick Warren's solution to making it to heaven consistent with what God's Word says?
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I've read Rick Warren's books and heard him speak. If you listen to his entire message it is very scriptural. Adrian Rogers taught the "law of light"....Respopnd to the light you are given and God will give you more light. Do you presume to correct Dr. Rogers also?
I don't understand your resentment toward Mr. Warren. Perhaps it is pride on your part due to all the recognition he has received for his work. Some self examination might be in order. Click here to reply to this post
Jesus is the only way
Posted On: 05/07/08 02:06:15 PM
Age 59, NV
Christ said in Jn.14:6 he is the only way through him do we get to Heaven. When we receive him through the work he did not are works. Yes do what Jesus did. Only after we recieve God's free gift his son, and only his son can we go to Heaven. There is no other way. I get so upset that Preacher's said opposite of what God's word say's. If i fellow Christ all my life and never receive him into my heart I have worked for nothing. Christ and only Christ his blood washes are sins a way. NOT BY WORKS WE DO. Click here to reply to this post
Rick Warren's Gospel
Posted On: 05/07/08 09:54:04 AM
Age 48, TX
1 Corinthians 1:17 "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power."
Warren seems to want the gospel not to offend. It IS offensive to those who are lost. How about let God worry about how he addresses the issue and about how he worded it.
Thank God my youngest son was told he would go to hell if he was not saved (the true gospel way--know I'm a sinner, confess, repent and THEN follow in obedience.) Click here to reply to this post
Context? Terminology? Intent?
Posted On: 05/07/08 08:10:13 AM
Age 50, TX
Maybe each of us should have a conversation with Rick Warren and learn his views on salvation PRIOR to making public statements about his intent. Seems to me that every statement I have heard from him is directed at unbeleivers who might respond to the love of God. Doctrinally most of you are correct concerning repentence unto salvation, but even you don't stand in front of Walmart and yell at unbelievers telling them they are damned to burn in hell. We all temper the invitation of the gospel as Peter admonishes in I Peter 3:15,16. Most of you guys are judging a man on words and messages that are being delivered to unbelievers where our Christian catch phrases don't work. After you observe Rick leading someone to the Lord in salvation, then make a judgement concerning his theology. For now let's focus on winning the lost. Click here to reply to this post
Rick explained how to live the life of a Christian after you have accepted Jesus as your Savior. But Mr. Warren did a lousy job explaining how to truly know Jesus Christ and to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are going to heaven when you die(or the Lord returns).
In that clip he didn't mention what you must do to know Jesus Christ as your Savior - by confessing your sin, asking Him into your heart, then when you become a child of God you'll want to read the Bible daily(Our handbook & history from God about God), you'll want to get involved with those of like faith to know how to live a Godly life.
Rick Warren explained it as more of a good works type of thing - chosing this way or that. A great writer like that should have no problem making it as simple as possible I'd think.
But thankfully God even made it simpler than that - We only have to chose what Jesus did for us on the cross just one time!
Everyday we have to make the decision on whether to follow Jesus or 'do our own sinful thing', it's totally up to us to choose.
But if you truly know God and love Him and want to do what He has planned for you to do, then it gets easier and easier to follow the Maker of all every day!
mm Click here to reply to this post
Yes, it's scriptural
Posted On: 05/06/08 10:08:54 PM
Age 35, FL
Faith, by definition, involves lack of perfect knowledge - otherwise it wouldn't be "faith". Knowledge grows out of the seed of faith planted in our hearts (see Ephesians 3:16-19). Jesus even said in Mark 10:15, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Last I checked, little children didn't know everything. All that is required to enter God's kingdom is faith - "and this not of ourselves, it is the gift of God; not by works (or complete knowledge, etc), so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) The New Testament is full of scriptures exhorting us to grow in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus - including 2 Peter 1:5-8 (in a letter written to believers/those who had already received the gift of precious faith): "make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." Knowledge being listed *after* faith, I take it to mean we don't have to have perfect doctrine or knowledge as a prerequisite for being saved, and that repentance is a continual growth process, also known as sanctification - a life-long process of partnership with the Holy Spirit which will only be complete upon meeting Jesus face to His glorious Face. God tells us through Paul in Philippians 3:16, "Only let us live up to what we have already attained" as we "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called (us) heavenward in Christ Jesus." (v.14) In other words, put into action what God has already revealed to you, and press on daily to pursue your love relationship with Jesus and the resulting Christlikeness - the "goal" (Romans 8:29).
Like Paul, I certainly don't know everything I need to know or will know, but I do know that I know that I know that I am saved by grace, through the faith I received from Him and placed in Him when I was only 7 years old. I'm so glad He didn't leave me with that limited knowledge, and that He has enlightened the eyes of my heart to know more fully the hope to which He had already called me, and to know more fully "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." (Eph. 3:18) "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in (me) will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6) Hallelujah!
How's about we give all sinners ready to be saved room to grow in their knowledge of Jesus and what it means to repent & surrender to His Lordship? Jesus did. Click here to reply to this post
WOW!!
Posted On: 05/06/08 08:12:16 PM
Age 40, NH
Amazing how you can ignore the plain words Warren spoke and twist them to mean something else. He didn't say you "get to heaven" that way, he said you follow Christ with all you know and understand and grow in that understanding. Goodness, this is plain and simple a hack job against Warren. When attacking someone on an issue, please make sure you are correct.
You owe Warren a public and personal apology as well as an apology to CWN and those who run it for making a false accusation and THEN redoing Scripture to try to make your case.
Grace and Peace,
Jim Click here to reply to this post
did you actually watch the video?
Posted On: 05/07/08 07:19:07 PM
Age 47, NC
did you see the same video i did? warren said to be a follower of Jesus Christ you have to give what you understand? where is THAT in the Bible? to be a follower of Jesus Christ you have to REPENT AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD AND SAVIOR; THAT HE DIED FOR YOUR SINS AND THAT HE IS THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIGHT AND NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THRU HIM. where was THAT message in what warren said. yea he is leading many straight to hell. i think there will be MANY who stand before Jesus and He will say "Be gone from me. I never knew you." Click here to reply to this post
read the Whole Transcript
Posted On: 05/08/08 08:48:31 PM
Age 40, NH
Warren spoke of those who are followers, not how to get saved. If the whole interview is read or watched, the context shows Warren (for once or twice) said nothing incorrect.
Read the whole transcript or watch the whole interview and it becomes apparent that this video was nothing but a hack job attempting to make Warren give an answer he didn't give.
This is the kind of stuff that turns people away from the church (the people. This hack job was propaganda reminiscent of the Soviet Union; untrue, plain and simple.
And please spare me the screaming caps of how one becomes saved, He rescued me already. Screaming in caps is rude by the way.
Grace and Peace,
Jim Click here to reply to this post
Rick Warren/how we get to Heaven
Posted On: 05/06/08 06:45:12 PM
Age 38, CA
On the surface it wouldn't seem that Rick Warren said anything particularly wrong, except that following Christ takes total surrender and complete submission (so many of us often fail in that area) of our lives to His Will, not just "as we understand". That sounds lame. Most people aren't going to see anything wrong from that one little excerpt, however; those of us who are familiar with Rick Warren's teachings know he preaches "another gospel". This little clip didn't prove much. Click here to reply to this post
JESUS CHRIST
Posted On: 05/07/08 09:52:50 AM
Age 80, TX
How much plainer could Jesus Christ make it? Than,"I am the way, the truth and the life: Rick Warren had a chance to tell thousands of people that we get to heaven by trusting in the blood of Jesus Christ.
Read John 3:16. When He died on the cross, He died for your sin, and mine. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.:I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life" 1 John 5:11-13). 0 Click here to reply to this post
Do Some Research!!!
Posted On: 05/06/08 06:21:43 PM
Age 47, WI
All of you who think that Chris is being too harsh on Rick Warren or think that Chris is out to get him should do some research on Rick Warren and The Purpose Driven Movement. Rick Warren is the same guy who said the Five Fundamentals of the Faith (the deity of Christ, the virgin birth, the blood atonement, the bodily resurrection, and the inerrancy of scripture) is a very legalistic, narrow view of Christianity.(The Pew and Religion Forum, May 23, 2005). Come on people, wake up and realize that at the heart Rick Warren is a false teacher. Click here to reply to this post
Be a Berean
Posted On: 05/07/08 08:53:56 AM
Age 71, NJ
You are so right about Rick Warren and you sound as frustrated as I sometimes get dealing with people who have the discernment of a flea but still say they are Christians. I guess some people are just very naive but the Bible tells us all to be Bereans and check everything out against the scripture (not a paraphrase like the Message). I'm happy to learn that there are a few Christians out there who really do it!
You are an encouragement to me. Sister in Christ. Click here to reply to this post
Rick's teaching
Posted On: 05/06/08 06:03:40 PM
Age 41, AR
what is being said here is rick's teachings are completely wrong.he never preaches that Jesus is the way,the truth,the life,no one can come to the father but only by Jesus himself,he never preaches repentance.only if you have Godly repentance can come to Jesus and be saved,we are saved by faith in Jesus and in Jesus alone.anyone that follows rick warren's teachings is following him into the pits of hell.the Bible makes it very very clear.not the rick warren endorsed version,that is NOT the word of God.i recomend the the King James or New King James translations.compare those translations to the rick warren endorsed one.i would not want to be in rick's shoes,as a teacher he will undergo a greater condemnation
at judgement.don't follow him there,follow Jesus instead!! Click here to reply to this post
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