The purpose-driven left turn
By Donald Hank
According to the Family Research Council, a new Barna poll shows that the “born again,” whatever that might mean this week, now overwhelmingly support Hillary (20% of the “born again” vote) and Obama (18%).
How is it possible that seemingly devout Christians could support the party that stands like a phalanx behind partial birth abortion and redefining marriage into oblivion and opposes biblical free market principles?
Look no further than “America’s Pastor” and the Saddleback Church, where Obama and Hillary were guests last year. Rick Warren, while claiming to be acting in a Christian, conciliatory manner, treating these leftwing politicians as though they were ideological equals (perhaps they are), was in fact spreading the message that it’s ok for evangelicals to vote for pro-abortion politicians who spurn the free market, because they are decent folks like him, concerned with the same issues, like AIDS, poverty, and peace. Thus his message is in line with the rest of the “religious left,” which, in terms of social issues, can be summed up:
Abortion, marriage and the like social issues pale against the problems of poverty, the environment and world peace. The Democrat message of ending poverty and disease and seeking world peace is a Christian one. It is un-Christian to oppose abortion and gay marriage because this sullies non-Christian sensibilities.
These hopelessly naive people have never learned the lessons of the War on Poverty or the lessons on appeasement taught by the clueless Neville Chamberlain. Sheep-like, their followers fall into line.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported last May:
“Howard Dean, Democratic party chairman, recently credited Rick Warren and Joel Osteen with helping the Democrats.
”Dean specifically cited the positive impacts of Christian leaders such as Rick Warren - [...] — and of young pastor Joel Osteen, …. who has welcomed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to his Houston-based Lakewood Church.
‘Those people don’t beat up on other people to make their point and raise a lot of money,’ he said. ‘And we need to reach out to those folks, and work with them, and not be afraid. There is common cause with folks that we never thought we had common cause with.
‘That’s how you grow (the Democratic Party) to be inclusive and to control America again …’”
When all the celebrating is over, the purpose-driven pastor and prosperity-driven pastor, respectively, and their ilk have succeeded in blinding people to the truth, of which older, biblically minded religious leaders once convinced the majority of their flock, namely, that the platforms of the Democrat party are inconsistent with the message of Christ, who did not support killing the unborn, command taxpayers to care for the poor or order nations to make peace with implacable enemies bent on destroying them. In fact He said “you will always have the poor with you,” and that he had come to “bring not peace but a sword.” Unlike Confucius, for example, He was indifferent to the workings of government. He healed the sick and fed the multitude only to show who He was. Thus when some of that multitude followed Him across the sea and asked Him to “show us a sign,” He understood they didn’t really want or need a sign, because He had already fed them miraculously. They hinted that the “sign” should be in the form of handouts, manna from heaven. They wanted socialism, a perfect Kingdom of God free of hunger, i.e., essentially the Democrat platform.
But Jesus made it clear that the only bread he could offer them was the bread of life, whereupon many left and never walked with him again. These “social issues” Christians were the faithless secularist hangers-on with ulterior motives.
Most church denominations today have distanced themselves so far from Christ’s message that their founders would no longer recognize them. Major denominations have openly Sodomite pastors with “partners” to whom they are “married,” legally or de facto. Most denominations will not oppose abortion and some favor terrorist Palestine over democratic Israel to the point of boycotting companies that do business with Israel. Most also refuse to defend traditional marriage. Most denominations, even the most “fundamental” ones, believe it is un-Christian to love one’s country, and gauche to deem America a world leader. All in all, most do not deserve to be called Christians and, minus the government incentives, many would voluntarily drop the “Christian” label in a heartbeat.
All of which brings us to a hard question:
If tax freedom, faith-based initiatives and other government support produces a net negative for orthodox Christianity of the kind that Christ and the apostles would recognize as their own, if Wiccans, Unitarians and terror-sponsoring mosques, are equally exempt, and if the IRS threatens right-wing churches with rescission of tax exemption while tacitly approving openly Marxist churches, isn’t it time to rethink tax exempt status for churches? This is not as hard a question as you may think. Multimillion dollar church buildings dot the landscape, many with pastors receiving salaries in 6 digits. It should be crystal clear that, even without tax deductions, such affluent congregations as these would have no trouble building and maintaining adequate buildings and paying their pastors well enough, if their flocks were sincere and not money-driven.
There are a few churches that already refuse the tax deduction, most of them poor. They are to be lauded for sticking to the original gospel message, not watering it down to hang onto a government subsidy with strings, nay, ropes, attached to it. Jesus said his followers would be persecuted and not approved by men (”woe unto you when men speak well of you”).
Tax exempt status isn’t persecution. It’s approval. And at this point in history, it appears to be a net negative for the authentic Gospel of Jesus Christ. Isn’t it time to give it a decent, Christian burial?
Contact the author: zoilandon@msn.com
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February 8th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I look at Rick Warren and Joel Osteen, just yucking it up, and never saying anything that resembles living the life of a Christian.
Rick Warren openly grovels at the feet of Israel’s sworn enemy, Syria.
Joel Osteen just grins and says ‘aw shucks’ I don’t want to talk about those things like hellfire and damnation.
How can people be so dumb?
February 9th, 2008 at 1:42 am
As far as I know, Saddleback Church extended invitations to all candidates to discuss their HIV/AIDS plans, and only Democrats showed up.
February 9th, 2008 at 2:29 am
The tax exempt status has become the New Thirty Pieces for much too much compromised Church.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher, Founder & Chairman
Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc.
http://www.crcoa.com
February 9th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Hi… “Born Again”, means to be born from above. It is a spiritual birth that happens when a person calls on Jesus Christ in truth, believing on Him for salvation, that He rose from the dead, and that He is Lord God Almighty.
A person cannot believe anything else for salvation. If he/she is truly born again, he/she believes on Jesus Christ Lord God, and on no other for salvation. And he/she believes on the REAL Jesus Christ, not the Mormon “Jesus” who lives on a planet with wives and kids, and not the RCC “Jesus” who needs Mary in the equation of salvation.
When a person is truly ‘born again’, that person will have the fruit of the Holy Spirit in him/her, and the “works” of the Holy Spirit will be prevalent in his/her life. If there are no “works” of the Holy Spirit, then that person’s ‘faith’ is dead, not alive.
Scripture tells us to be careful, that many anti-Christs have been sent out among us. I believe that Rick Warren is one of those anti-Christs.
However, we must be careful and not go after one anti-Christ, while working for or closely with, another.
You may want to learn more about a site that you post on. RenewAmerica.US, is owned by a Mormon who has pushed Mormonism on the site.
If you are going to blast Rick Warren, a man who clearly deserves to be blasted for promoting Hillary and Obama, you must also look at who you are promoting. (I am sure you probably had no idea.)
With Respect,
Debra J.M. Smith
http://www.InformingChristians.com
February 9th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
This a.m., I got an unexpected email from Rick Warren. I won’t disclose the contents of that email at this time, although he did ask me to correct the column. He didn’t say what part he wanted me to correct. I told him I would appreciate having him come to the site and share his comments so that we can all see what it is he wants me to correct.
February 9th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
That would be interesting to see what Rick Warren posts here, should he actually be brave enough to.
I should add to my previous post, that RenewAmerica.US is not actually owned by Alan Keyes. It is owned by the editor, Steve Stone (Steve is Mormon). Many people think that Alan owns it, but he doesn’t. Alan is the chairman of the site.
djms…
February 10th, 2008 at 4:38 am
Thank you Don,
1. I have always opposeed both abortion and gay marriage.
2. Don’t believe everything you’ve read in the media. Sometimes people that I’ve never talked with or met often attribute quotes to me that are untrue.
3. Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, and John McCain also brought messages at our AIDS conference. about what they’d do about AIDS. The liberal media conveniently didn’t report that.
Thank you! rick warren
February 10th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Hello Rick,
Thanks for dropping by Laigle’s Forum. You and I are miles apart theologically but I must admit you are a gentlman.
I will be responding to your concerns in a separate article, Lord willing. I hope you will drop by again. Your thoughtful comments are always welcome here.
I would like to give you the short answer now, but will save the details for the bigger article. Please don’t miss it!
Re. your itemized comments:
1–My article does not say you do not oppose abortion and gay marriage.
2–Judging from your private email, I guess you are referring to Howard Dean here. Howard did not quote you. He praised you for inviting Obama and Hillary to your church and suggested that this helps the Democrats “control America.” Perhaps you disagree. I do agree. My article shows why.
3–The media report that Huck, Mitt and McCain did not “bring” messages to your church. They sent videos. “Bringing” a message is coming there and participating. Christ requires rigorous truthfulness of us, Rick.
Let me explain why only the Democrats showed up at Saddleback: you are not generally perceived by the Christian conservative base as a conservative, so the Republicans cannot gain anything from attending. They can only lose. But the Democrats can gain because they are generally perceived–with good reason–as opposing religion. You lent them camouflage(Obama fought to protect partial birth abortion, BTW). That is why they appreciate you. Maybe you have never thought of it that way.
By having these people come and speak at your church, you helped create the false impression that they are actually decent Chrsitian folks like everyone else in your church.
You may oppose abortion in your own quiet way, but unlike Dr. James Kennedy, for example, you do not oppose it with any palpable passion, and you do not engage the culture. That is a major shortcoming when America is at war. And we will not win this culture war if we do not recognize the enemy for who he is and engage him. Making nice will lend him strength, as Howard’s words confirm.
This may not all be your fault. Perhaps it is a question of personality. You genuinely want to get along and that is a good impulse.
But in real life, you will be faced with choices: to get along with some, you will have to reject others.
Those of us who love the American way and biblical free market principles seem to be the ones you are rejecting. Therefore, you can’t expect us to support you enthusiastically, now can you?
Thank you again for showing up at Laigle’s. You have been a good sport and I hope you will consider prayerfully what has been said.
I pray for America every day, that she will change, and I am not talking about the Obama slogan. She must change to repent and accept the ancient truths, not warp them so badly that they become unrecognizable. I am certain that Jesus would not invite Hillary or Obama to address his followers. They are unworthy. You must also make yourself worthy to address them–us. Being American’s pastor may be fun, but it is also a grave responsibility because so much is at stake. Our nation is in the balance. And I am convinced that only our nation can defend freedom in the world.
Best,
Don Hank
February 10th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Good points raised here and I think it is brought to a head in your statement:
“But in real life, you will be faced with choices: to get along with some, you will have to reject others.”
The reason we have so many weak and struggling Christians in our churches is because they have not been taught to develop any spiritual discernment,and this begins with a clear understanding of right and wrong. Such knowledge MUST be taught by pastors and other Christian teachers.
Too often church has become the place where “I go to get encouraged and to, as it were, get back on my “spiritual high.” Now, this is good to a certain extent, and especially in the initial stages of ones walk with God, but we must then walk on to deeper spirititual maturity and to a True Godliness in our lives which will enable us to become responsible and productive servants — not fickle, in-and-out Christians always wondering why we cannot seem to live victorious lives!
Christ called Herod a “fox.” When was the last time Rev. Warren so described one of today’s numerous enemies of the cross!
Any political figure like Obama or Clinton who has bloodied their hands by casting votes for abortion and supprting homosexual “marriage,” should not be suffered to enter any House of God and use it as a platform for self promotion. Keep the campaigning outside the church. This is an abomination and can only contribute to heightened confusion not only amongst churchgoers, but for the watching world itself whichs expects a more “certain sound” from the church and its leaders!
February 11th, 2008 at 7:02 am
Rick Warren,
You don’t fool me! You are a viper!
Not only do you promote Hillary and Obama, and welcome the likes of Rupert Murdoch into your church, you blaspheme the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
I heard you with my own ears say on a “Christian” money segment radio advertisement, that you would teach ministers how to get members to tithe. You said that if people tithe, they will be “Like Jesus”!
Jesus is a righteous person’s righteousness! Tithing does not make a person righteous!
I had to laugh when I read a woman’s comment on your church’s website. She said that your church does not want people who are not members to tithe. Nice touch, Rick! Ya, get them to trust you, then when they become members, sock-it-to them with the fear of Satan!
Shame on you!
Debra J.M. Smith
of
http://www.InformingChristians.com
February 11th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Debra,
I don’t know if teaching pastors how to get people to tithe is a big sin or not. Leaving Rick out of this for a moment, I would urge caution with regard to tithing, for the reasons I mentioned in the column. Personally, I can’t bring myself to tithe to any denomination, because the last generation has shown that even the most solid Bible-believing churches are easily dismantled by wolves in sheep’s clothing. Fortunately, there are other ministries and groups to help that are not churches. There are street ministries. I can really warm up to street ministries. These are for the most part, part of the remnant that the Bible speaks of.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Rick Warren was telling them to tell the people in their churches, that they would be “like Jesus,” if they tithed. That is bad. …Debra
July 28th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
[...] Comments Debra J.M. Smith on The purpose-driven left turnobserver on FLDS case threatens child welfare. TAKE ACTIONClara Eve on San Diego gay pride or [...]
August 16th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
[...] Further reading on Rick Warren at Laigle’s Forum: http://laiglesforum.com/2008/07/28/three-strikes-for-rick-warren/ http://laiglesforum.com/2008/02/08/the-purpose-driven-left-turn/ [...]
August 19th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
[...] of course, is essentially what I had said back in February in my column “The purpose-driven left Turn.” No other columnist had mentioned this back [...]
August 28th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
[...] religion is fading fast in Europe (while here Christianity is being absorbed by the Left. See here, here and [...]
September 16th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
[...] Too many Christians ignore that the church, including the evangelical church, is now heavily riddled with leftwing ideology, carefully phrased to pass the low bar of unsuspecting Christians who don’t read their Bibles. I have written several articles on this problem and if you have not seen them, a representative sampling can be found here, here, here, and here. [...]
September 27th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
[...] Campolo) and was mainstreamed by preachers like Robert Schuller and later his protégées such as Rick Warren as well as supposedly “conservative” church leaders. If this sounds like blasphemy to [...]
November 12th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Many so-called pastors, teachers, evangelists today are more interested in building a name for themselves instead of preaching messages that will drive people to conform to the image of Christ. Many of these same messages lack the chronological order in which a person should receive salvation. When I attended a Bible preaching fundemental church back in the 60’s, we heard words like “conviction”, “repenting”, “confessing your sins to God” and “praying through” till you “got the victory”. Today you hear little to nothing about conviction. Men and women were truely converted from a life of sin, alchoholism, smoking, cussing, carousing and the like. They became changed people and it was by the power of the Holy Spirit. They were truely “born again”.
Today all we need to do is make mental assent to God and all is fine. There’s no real “conversion”. The “old man” [old sinful nature], is not really crucified with Christ … we’ve just given him a slap on the wrist and try to keep him under control.
Too long now we have been hearing a social gospel without any real Biblical doctrinal substance. We have heaped to ourselves teachers having itching ears. We are more interested in the church socials and programs than we are in hearing the deep truths of God that are able to change man into the creature that God can use.
Too many church people today can name their favorite players on a ball team and cannot name 5 books of the Bible in consecutive order. We know the words to the ungodly songs and music of the world and cannot quote anymore scriptuer than the 23rd Psalm or John 3:16.
They know who John, Paul, Ringo and George are, but do not know Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. We are too busy watching the idiot box and garbage like Access Hellywood, Entertainment Tonight, Dancing With the Stars and the ungodly talk shows of the likes of Oprah and Ellen, Maury, Springer and others.
We need a great revival in this country and we need it soon.
Turn off the TV and get your Bibles out and read and ask God to help you. Yes, repent and turn to God. He will hear and He will save us.