Extreme Theology

Infantile

Steven's post on "What Does Rick Warren Really Believe" got me thinking.

Saddleback Church’s ‘statement of belief’ reveals a serious shortcoming in ‘purpose driven churches’, they are Biblically infantile.

Statement 1 “God is bigger and closer than we can imagine” sounds a lot like the first table prayer I taught my children when they were toddlers.

God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for our Food. Amen

That prayer isn’t deep doctrine or theology. But, it served its purpose in helping to teach my children to thank God for their daily food.

Two of my children are now teenagers. Imagine how silly it would be if they still prayed that prayer before every meal. What type of father would I be if I had never taught my children the deeper aspects of the Christian faith?

If I had stopped with that prayer, my children wouldn’t know that God became a man. That His name is Jesus. That Jesus lived a perfect and righteous life. That He atoned for their sins. That he rose bodily from the grave three days after His crucifixion under Pontius Pilate. They wouldn’t know that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ. They wouldn’t know that He is coming again to judge both the living and the dead.

In short, if I had only taught my children that prayer and nothing more they would still be spiritual infants despite the fact that two of them are old enough to drive and my youngest is in the 5th grade.

Does our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ call us to a life of spiritual infancy or does He encourage us to grow and mature in our faith? I know that the answer to this question may seem like a ‘no-brainer’. However, before I give the Biblical answer to this question, stop and think about this. If we take the statement of belief from Saddleback Church and consider it to be the ‘doctrinal target’ that they are shooting for, then we have no choice but to believe that one of the largest churches in America is nothing more than a Mega-Nursery for Spiritual Infants.

Here is what scripture says on the matter.

In Ephesians 4:11-15 we read this about ‘spiritual infants’…

Ephesians 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

This passage tells us that, Christ called some to be apostles, some to evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers. Verse 12 makes it clear that pastors and teachers are to prepare God’s people for works of service and to help them to become spiritually mature. The way they accomplish this divine task is by building them in knowledge of the Son of God. When pastors and teachers do what they are supposed to be doing, their hearers will no longer be spiritual infants. What is the mark of a spiritual infant? An infant is one who is tossed about by every wind of teaching and deceitful scheming.

The author of Epistle to the Hebrews chastises the recipients of his letter for being spiritual infants when they should have already been teaching others the faith. Here is what he has to say on this matter.

Hebrews 5:11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Again, scripture does not have ‘kind’ words for spiritual infants. The author of this letter is admonishing his hearers to grow up. How? Through Doctrine. A.K.A. ‘teaching about righteousness’. This is why Jesus tells us in Matt 28:19-20 to go and ‘make disciples’. We are not told to go and make ‘converts’ or to go and make ‘spiritual infants’. A disciple is a mature Christian who is thoroughly trained and taught in God’s word and is grounded in true Christian Doctrine. A disciple is equipped to defend the faith as well as teach others. Pastors and teachers serve the church and fulfill the great commission by ‘making disciples’.

Consider this: The statement of belief put out by Saddleback Church is at best, watered down spiritual milk. Anyone who makes this type of ‘food’ their primary spiritual diet will be stuck in spiritual infancy. Their spiritual growth and maturity will be severely stunted, and worse, they will be left vulnerable to every bad ‘wind of doctrine’ and scheming that comes down the pike.

Could anyone explain to me how this is supposed to be a ‘better’ way to do church? I really don’t get it.

Baptism Saves!

Most American “Evangelical” Christians would reject this statement. Why? Many believe that baptism is something that we do for God and for others.  Ironically, most Christians in the rest of the world believe this statement as well as the historic Church

The historic church has confessed that baptism provides for the forgiveness of sin. In the third article of the Nicene Creed, many confess “We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sin.” This creed is confessed by the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, as well as Reformed churches.

Definition of Baptism

The Greek word for baptism (noun) is baptisma, the Greek word for baptize (verb) is baptizo. For both words, they simply mean to wash, immerse, dip. Both words are used throughout the New Testament for cleaning and washing (Mark 7:4, Luke 11:38, Hebrews 9:10) that is unrelated to the act of baptism or action of baptizing. Since a Greek word can have multiple meanings, context is critical to understanding what the word means in a particular verse.

Why Baptize?

This starts with Jesus and John the Baptizer. While Jesus did not require baptism, he shows us that baptism is associated with the Holy Spirit as well as an action that God approves of. When John questioned Jesus’ need for baptism, Jesus replied “… it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt 3:15).

When Jesus was baptized, we see God the Father approve of what God the Son just had done as well as God the Holy Spirit descending of Jesus. This marks the beginning of the Jesus “public” ministry.

In Jesus’ meeting with Nicodemus, Jesus states one cannot enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit (John 3:5).

At the completion of Jesus’ earthly ministry, Jesus returns to baptism when he make baptism as part of making disciples. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matt. 28:19-20a). Baptism is part of making disciples and listed prior to teaching. If baptism is part of making a disciple (a Christian), then it is more just an action we do.

What does Baptism do?

In the Acts of the Apostles, we see baptism play an important role in the growth of the young Church. Baptism has many benefits for the believers, but the most important is the forgiveness of sin. The first time we hear this is then Peter tells those in Jerusalem that it is baptism that brings the forgiveness of sin (Acts 3:38).

When Paul was recounting his conversion to the crowd in Jerusalem, Paul stated that he was to be baptized which washed away his sins (Acts 22:16).

In Acts, we see other benefits of baptism that God gives to the believer such as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

In Romans, Paul writes that we receive new life in Christ when we are baptized (Rom. 6:4). We also see that baptism removes our sins (Titus 3:5-6).

Peter writes about baptism is his first letter about how the Great Flood was a symbolic form of baptism for Noah and his family since it saved them. Peter clear teaches that baptism now saves us. Baptism is the pledge of a good conscience words God. Baptism saves us by Christ’s resurrection. This is consistent with what Paul wrote in Romans 6.

It is wrong to conclude that baptism is the only way of salvation. Baptism is a way of salvation that God has given us. We find examples of those who were saved through baptism and those saved prior to their baptism or with no baptism at all.

Who is doing the Work?

When you read these verses, who is acting and who is passive? God is active in baptism while we are passive. We can only receive what God gives through baptism.

In Acts 4:38, Peter states that we receive both forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit in baptism. We are the passive players in this action.

In both the Romans and the Titus verses, we are passive in this act. Titus 3:5-6 states that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are the active players “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit”. In Titus 3:6, the only part we play is passive “. . . so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” An heir does not merit their inheritance, but is given to them by the generosity of another.

Who should be baptized?

Jesus simply states that we are to baptize all nations. There is no limit to gender, ethnic/nationality or age in his command.

Likewise, Peter instructed those on Pentecost that baptism and the promises associated with it is for both the adults and their children. In Acts 16:32, the jailer and all of his family were baptized into the faith after Paul and Silas presented the Gospel to the jailer.

Other Resources

Chris Rosebrough has a very good lesson on Baptism in his Extreme Sunday School series, http://www.extremetheology.com/2005/10/answers_to_the_.html#comments, http://www.extremetheology.com/2005/09/the_means_of_gr.html#comments.   Also, Issues Etc. has several good links on baptism, http://www.issuesetc.org/links/guide.htm#Baptism.

 

What does Rick Warren Really Believe?

A lot has been made of the Rick Warren’s theology. Many have look at his various books, “Purpose Driven Life” and “40 Days of Purpose” to better understand what he believes. As a pastor, a good place to look is at his church’s website. The following is from the link http://www.saddlebackchurch.com/flash/believe.html where we find what Saddleback Church wants to tell the world what they believe. The list is more a group of statements than a coherent statement of doctrine. But one should not be surprised since Warren’s new saying is “Deeds not Creeds” and it is reflected in this statement of belief.

What’s interesting is that there is a link to a more complete statement which includes Bible verses. Why doesn’t the second page just replace the first? The following is the good, the bad and the ugly of the first list of what Saddleback believes.

The Good

“Jesus is coming again” is the most correct statement.

“Through His Holy Spirit, God lives in and through us now” is a good statement. However does the Holy Spirit live is all of us and how did the Holy Spirit get there?

While “Nothing in creation ‘just happened.’ God made it all” is a good statement it is not particular a Christian statement.

“Grace is the only way to have a relationship with God” is another statement that looks good until you start trying to define what grace is. Grace is God giving us what we do not desire. It’s 100% God and 0% us. We desire nothing from God. What is missing here is God’s mercy where God doesn’t give us what we desire. Since we all are desiring of God’s present and eternal punishment for our sin, it is God’s mercy that we have been given life in Christ and the gift of eternal life with him.

The Bad

“God is bigger and better and closer than we can imagine” tells us nothing about God. This is statement that a Mormon or a Muslim could affirm.

“Nothing in creation ‘just happened.’ God made it all” looks good on the surface until you ask the question “Did God make sin?” God made creation, but God did not make sin. One must be careful on what we attribute to God.

“Heaven and hell are real places. Death is a beginning, not the end” is a true statement, but it doesn’t tell why some go to one place over another. Also, what does “Death is a beginning, not the end” mean? If someone dies and spends eternity in hell, this is not a reassuring statement.

“The church is to serve people like Jesus served people” makes the church sound like a Boy Scout troop and Jesus is ultimate Boy Scout. The Church is the body of Christ and consists of those who place their faith in him. While the Church serves person, that is not the primary purpose of the Church. The Church is proclaim the Gospel of salvation in Christ’s name. Anything else is a distant second. As for Jesus, he served us by dieing on the cross for the sins of the world. This is something only Christ can do.

The Ugly

“The Bible is God’s perfect guidebook for living” sounds like the Boy Scouts Handbook for Christians. The Bible is more than just a “guidebook”. The Bible is about Law and Gospel, sin and grace. It is about man’s fall into sin and God’s salvation brought through Christ. To call the Bible a guidebook is to trivialize the Bible.

”Jesus is God showing himself to us” doesn’t even come close to describing who Jesus is and what he has done for us. This statement implies that Jesus and God are the same person, just that Jesus was God in human form for a brief point in time that that God the Father and Jesus are one in the same. This is called Modulism and was condemn as a heresy by the early Church. Also, there is nothing in this statement about who Jesus is and what he has done for us.

“Faith is the only way to grow in our relationship with God” completely misrepresents what faith is. Faith is the ability to accept that Christ did for us. It is a gift that comes through hearing the Gospel. This statement also confuses justification and sanctification. It is the active work of the Holy Spirit in conjunction with the Word of God causes our relationship with God to grow. We cannot do anything to grow this relationship.

“God has allowed evil to provide us with a choice, God can bring good even out of evil events and God promises victory over evil to those who choose him” is a very dangerous statement. First, this statement implies that God is responsible for evil. Evil is a consequence of sin and man’s action. This statement also implies that man can choose not to do evil. While the first part of the second sentence is true, the second have is just plain wrong. We cannot choose God. We are dead in sin. It is God who chooses us.

What’s Missing

First, sin is missing. There is no mention of our sin and our sinful nature causing a complete separation between us and a holy God. No matter how good we try to act, we cannot do anything that will justify God’s mercy towards us. The result of our sin is that we are distended for eternity in hell. This is not a very “user friendly” statement.

Next, Christ’s atonement is missing. Without Christ’s death for our sin, there is not way that we can experience God’s mercy. In order to appease God’s holy demand for the payment of sin, Christ lived a perfect life to that by fulfilling the Law so that his death will provide the forgiveness of sin for the entire world. This is greatest expression of love.

Finally, salvation is a gift of God. We cannot even believe in Christ since we are dead to sin. The gift of salvation is based on God giving us the faith to the believe. It’s 100% God in Christ, and 0% us.

Saddleback Execs Put on Circus-Like Spectacle to Grow Their Fledgling Church

Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church is now franchising like a corporate fast-food chain. The first in many Saddleback satellite churches began operations on Easter 2006 and is located in the sleepy surf city of San Clemente, California. The church meets at San Clemente High School and services include upbeat music and sermons delivered by Rick Warren via jumbo tron.

The audience at the Easter Service topped out at 2000 + attendees. Since then the fledgling franchise has been unable to get more than 750 consumers to attend it’s two Sunday services.

Ever mindful of the Purpose-Driven mantra, “A church that isn’t growing, is failing” Saddleback executives back at corporate headquarters in Lake Forest decided that it was time to put on a circus-like spectacle tailor-made to cater to the culture of San Clemente in order to increase their attendance. The growth solution they decided upon was called Endless Summerfest.

Saddleback Corporate pulled out all the stops and dug deep into their wallets to insure that everyone in San Clemente knew about their big event. The media blitz included advertising, posters, a billboard truck that trolled every major street in town as well as a banner towing airplane that circled the beaches.

The event itself featured a high-flying motocross stunt show, a classic car show, an appearance by a Bono look-alike singing U2’s greatest hits, lots of food, a bounce house for the kids, and an outdoor showing of the surf movie “Step Into Liquid”.

Saddleback Executives apparently believe that the way to grow a church is by letting the community know how kewl and relevant their church is. These execs must believe that San Clemente church consumers make "church buying decisions" based upon how high their motocross outreach can fly. Sadly, they may be right.

Want to see pictures from the event? Click Here.

WSJ Exposes Purpose-Driven "Bully Tactics" to Eliminate Resistance

Those of us who have been critical of Rick Warren's Purpose-Driven Church (PDC) movement have known for a long time about the leadership abuses and bulldozer tactics employed and encouraged by the elite in the PDC movement.

Up til now, people would look at you cross-eyed in disbelief if you told them that PDC leaders employ fascist totalitarian despotic tactics for destroying the reputations of and silencing the voices of anyone who would dare oppose or challenge a church’s decision to become ‘Purpose-Driven’.

Finally, a reputable national newspaper has picked up on the 'dark-side' of the Purpose-Driven Movement and has written about it. Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal did a piece entitled “A Popular Strategy For Church Growth 
Splits Congregants”. Click Here to Read the Article

Scripture tells us to "test everything" and Jesus tells us “you can tell a tree by its fruit.” Two main fruits that I see of the Purpose-Driven movement are.

1. Divisiveness – It divides churches and destroys the reputations of anyone who resists, challenges or criticizes its methods or content of its teaching.
2. It takes the focus of church preaching and teaching off of Christ and puts it on humanity and ‘myself’.

What do these fruits tell you?

Back from Vacation

I'm back from a nice summer vacation and itching to do some Extreme Theology. I've got some good stuff in the que and have been invited to do an interview with the BBC on religions podcasting. Stay tuned.