Extreme Theology

Warren Unveils the R.I.C.K. Plan on Humility

This is a BRILLIANT piece of satire. This NAILS the problem on the head! This is an absolute MUST read! Click Here.

Great JOB to the writers at 'The Sacred Sandwich'!

Unity in Deeds is NOT Unity Indeed

What is the mission of the church? Well if you believe Rick Warren, then it is something far different than making disciples of all nations.

Here is what Rick Warren said earlier this year at the Baptist World Congress regarding his call for a Second Reformation.

You know friends, 500 years ago we had a reformation. Martin Luther nailed his theses to the door. Somebody had enough sense to pull it down and put it on a printing press and spread it all over Europe. It’s time for another reformation. We need a new reformation. 500 years later its time for another reformation. But this reformation will be different. The first reformation was about belief. This one needs to be about behavior. Its not about creeds its about deeds. Its about what does the church do in the world. Its about being the church. You see, we know all the right things. We don’t need a reformation of belief. But we do need a reformation where we start acting on what we already know to do. And that is why Jesus said you will be blest if you do these things. A lot of us think that if I just know the truth then I’ll be blest. No, if you do the truth. The Bible says be doers of the word not hearers only. So we need a reformation of not creeds but deeds, not belief but behavior. To be doers of the word. Its not about our message. We know what our message is. It’s about our mission. The first reformation divided the church, we need a new one that unites it.

I want to highlight this statement again.

It’s not about our message. We know what our message is. It’s about our mission.

Rick Warren truly believes that the mission of the church is something other than its message. That is what is causing the controversy regarding his invitation to Barack Obama to speak at Saddleback Church.

Warren believes that if he puts people together who normally don’t talk to each other (because of their creedal differences) and UNITE them in a good deed, like solving the AIDS crisis then the church will again be united and fulfilling its mission.

What could be wrong with that? Fighting the blight of AIDS is a good and noble thing isn’t it? Shouldn't we be working with everyone to solve this problem?

Answer: If you overlook and ignore what Jesus said the mission or ‘purpose’ of the church is and who the church is to unite with and what the basis of that unity should be then it is not a good thing, regardless of how noble the cause may seem. In other words, "The ends NEVER justify the means."

Rick Warren bemoans the fact that “the first Reformation divided the church”.

Pastor Warren was that really a bad thing?

The first reformation was a fight of scriptural truth verses man-made religious errors.

Errors such as…

1. The selling of indulgences in order to free your dead relatives from purgatory.
2. Forced celibacy of the clergy
3. Justification by Works
4. The infallibility of the Pope
5. Prayer to the Saints
6. The scriptures only being read in Latin

Pastor Warren, when you ‘talk down’ the first reformation you are literally telling the world that it doesn’t matter what anyone believes. You are also making it clear that the distinction between ‘truth’ and ‘error’ is not a distinction that matters in YOUR ‘second-reformation’. This explains how you can unite with a man like Barack Obama who believes in a creed that says it is okay to murder un-born children. You believe that if we just stop bickering about right and wrong and work together that we can accomplish greater goals.

However, just because you can unite with the forces of hell to accomplish your vision doesn't mean that you should. Remember that when the books are opened on the last day if you didn’t accomplish the mission that Christ Jesus gave the church then all of your temporal successes in all of your global initiatives will be for naught and those people you saved from AIDS will instead be suffering in hell.

Scripture teaches us that the ultimate battle that is being waged on this planet is a battle of truth against lies, light against darkness, true worship against idolatry, salvation by grace alone against salvation by good works.

The primary problem of humanity is its rebellion and sin against its creator. All the other problems of the world are the fruits of that ONE problem, including AIDS, illiteracty, and poverty.

Jesus knew this and taught this. That is why He gave the church a mission that would cure humanity's rebellion and sin.

Jesus gave the church this command, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” - Matt 28:19-20

Those who walked and talked with Jesus for three years went into the world carrying ‘A Message’. That was their primary mission and they went to their deaths carrying out that mission out.

The spreading of the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, his redemption won for us on the cross and the teaching of sound doctrine IS the mission of the church. It is the faithful preaching and teaching of this message that God uses to change lives.

Pastor Warren, when you tell the world that the church’s mission is something other than its message, you are in error and telling a man-made lie. When you tell us that the church should unite with people who subscribe to and promote devilish creeds you are gravely in error. Please stop doing that. You are hurting the church and doing serious harm to the body of Christ.

Obama’s Creeds Nullify His Deeds

Rick Warren’s insistence on launching a Second Reformation of ‘Deeds NOT Creeds’ is leading to some very aberrant behavior on Rick Warren’s part.

Rick Warren has invited Senator Barack Obama to speak at the Global AIDS Summit being hosted by Saddleback Church on Friday December 1, 2006. The session Obama will be participating in is entitled “We Must Work Together”.

Well there is a BIG, HUGE, ENORMOUS rub here.

Barack Obama subscribes to a CREED which supports the murder of unborn children even in late term pregnancies. As a teacher in the Christian Church I find Obama’s belief in a creed that supports abortion to be repugnant and contrary to the clear teachings of the Word of God.

Rick Warren is out of his mind if he thinks that the Christian church can unite with Barack Obama to solve the AIDS crisis when Obama’s creed on abortion runs 180 degrees contrary to the clear teaching of scripture.

That is why I am proud to have put my name to the press release calling on Rick Warren to repent by un-inviting Obama to speak at Saddleback Church.

Obama has NOTHING to say to the church. But the church has much that it should be saying to Obama. The Senator from Illinois must hear that he is sinning by supporting and defending the murder of un-born children, that he needs to repent and that there is forgiveness of his sins offered to him in Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, Pastor Warren’s “Second-Reformation” must be repudiated because it contradicts scripture and the church’s true mission of making disciples of all nations. Scripture clearly teaches that Christians are to be strong in both their Creeds as well as their Deeds.

The church cannot unite in deed with those who oppose true creeds.

Plundered Treasure

When the Romans conquered Jerusalem in 70 A.D. they took the temple treasures back to the Italian peninsula as plunder and paraded them through the streets of Rome. A ‘portrait’ of their triumphal procession with the looted temple treasures is set in stone relief in the Arch of Titus, which stands as warning to us even to this day.

The arch of Titus demonstrates a timeless truth; Satan and the world are at war with the one true God and cannot bear His presence on the earth. Satan and the world seek to destroy God’s temple and plunder her treasures and parade them in triumph.

One of the greatest treasures of the church has been her hymns. For nearly 2000 years the rich hymnody of the church has been the golden lamp stand of the church, shining forth the light of the great doctrines of our faith. These hymns were also a fragrant incense that comforted troubled souls in times of trial. For millennia the church has used this precious treasure to sing ‘the faith’ into the hearts of worshipers. Not so anymore.

Rome and her false gods of ‘culture’ and ‘relevance’ have again laid siege to Jerusalem, to the church of Jesus Christ. In these dark days, too many churches have already fallen. Too many have surrendered to Rome and have had their treasure taken as plunder. Gone are the great hymns. Shallow and meaningless tunes have taken their place. These are songs that do not shine the light of the great truths of scripture nor can they reassure a troubled soul with the comforting words of the Gospel. These songs do not tell us of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ, they do not tell us of His triumphs and His victories. They speak nonsense, they mean nothing, they’re designed not to offend the Roman ear, lest the siege begin anew.

Thankfully I have a hymnal that wasn’t stolen by the Romans. I secretly pull it out every morning and let the light of these great treasures shine into my heart as I clumsily sing these ancient tunes. What comfort they bring me! What doctrine they teach me! What light they shine forth in these dark days!

Let me share just a little of this precious treasure with you. Compare this to ugly trinkets that are sung in your church. Let your heart be warmed by the light and fire of these great doctrinal truths! Let your soul be comforted by the soothing words of the Gospel that is so richly woven into these verses. Taste and see that the LORD is good!

Salvation unto us has come
By God’s free grace and favor;
Good works cannot avert our doom,
They help and save us never.
Faith looks to Jesus Christ alone,
Who did for all the world atone;
He is our one redeemer.

What God did in his Law demand
And none to him could render
Caused wrath and woe on every hand
For man, the vile offender.
Our flesh has not those pure desires
The spirit of the Law requires,
And lost is our condition.

It was a false, misleading dream
That God his Law had given
That sinners could themselves redeem
And by their works gain heaven.
The Law is but a mirror bright
To bring the inbred sin to light
That lurks within our nature.

From sin our flesh could not abstain
Sin held its sway unceasing;
The task was useless and in vain,
Our guilt was e’er increasing
None can remove sin’s poisoned dart
Or purify our guileful heart
So deep is our corruption.

Yet as the Law must be fulfilled
Or we must die despairing,
Christ came and has God’s anger stilled,
Our human nature sharing.
He has for us the Law obeyed
And Thus the Father’s vengeance stayed
Which over us impended.

Since Christ has full atonement made
And brought to us salvation,
Each Christian there-fore may be glad
And build on this foundation.
Your grace alone, dear Lord, I plead,
Your death is now my life indeed,
For you have paid my ransom.

Let me not doubt, but truly see
Your word cannot be broken;
Your call rings out, “Come unto Me!”
No falsehood have you spoken.
Baptized into your precious name,
My faith cannot be put to shame,
And I shall never perish.

The law reveals the guilt of sin
And makes us conscience-stricken;
But then the Gospel enters in
The sinful soul to quicken.
Come to the cross, trust Christ and live;
The Law no peace can ever give,
No comfort and no blessing.

Faith clings to Jesus’ cross alone
And rests in him unceasing;
And by its fruits true faith is known,
With love and hope increasing.
For faith alone can justify;
Works serve our neighbor and supply
The proof that faith is living.

All blessing, honor, thanks and praise
To Father, Son, and Spirit,
The God who saved us by his grace;
All glory to his merit.
O triune God in heaven above,
You have revealed your saving love;
Your blessed name we hallow.

The Gospel Collides With Pharisaical Legalism

What is the proper understanding and teaching of God's Law? Does it contradict the Gospel? These questions will be answered in this edition of the Extreme Theology Podcast.

Click Here to Download the MP3 Audio File

The notes for this class are available by clicking here.

If you are learning and growing in God’s Word as a result of this teaching, please support this podcast by sharing it with your friends and fellow Christians.

Originally taught at Capo Valley Church, San Juan Capistrano, California on Sunday, November 5, 2005.

Rick Warren, Member of the Council on Foreign Relations?

We’ve just entered the twilight zone. The internet is literally abuzz with this story. I normally don’t do politics but this story is so wild I have to pass it along. Apparently Rick Warren has admitted to being a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Click Here to Read Article.

The CFR is one of the favorite topics of whack-job conspiracy theorists and half-crazed end-times prognosticators. Despite the hype, it is commonly reported that the CFR has a goal of setting up a global government.

Here are some articles that lay it out better than I can explain.

Article 1
Article 2

I think Rick Warren has just shot himself in the foot, or maybe even higher up in his anatomy with this admission. End-times loonies are now going to crawl out of the woodwork and claim that Warren is either the Anti-Christ or the Whore of Bablyon. He might even get written into one of those ‘Left Behind’ books as a satanic bad guy.

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any weirder, something like this happens and proves your wrong.

Just Bread and Wine?

Most of the Christian Church recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion. In a prior post, baptism was covered as a means by which God gives us faith and salvation as well as other gifts, Baptism Saves! . Holy Communion is the sacrament in which we also receive the promise of the forgiveness of our sins.

There are many phrases that we use to describe Holy Communion: The Lord’s Supper, The Last Supper, the Eucharist, and the Holy (or Devine) Meal.

What is “Is”?

In Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and 1 Corinthians 11, we see close to the similar words from Christ. In all four passages, Christ states that the bread is his body. Likewise, Christ states that the wine is his blood.

The key question is what does “is” mean? Does “is” mean a literal “is” or not? If the bread and wine is Christ’s body and blood, then we are actually eating his body and blood. If not, then the bread and wine are merely symbols of Christ’s body and blood. How we understand what “is” is determines how we approach Holy Communion. If we view “is” as literal, then the focus is on Christ since we believe that Christ is present in the bread and the wine. If we view “is” as symbolic, we then focus on “do this in remembrance of me”, which places the focus on us.

In 1 Corinthians 11:27, St. Paul wrote that if one eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. If the bread and wine are just bread and wine, then how can one sin in taking it in an unworthy manner? In verse 29, St. Paul stated that if one eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.  St. Paul viewed the bread and wine as being more than just bread and wine, but the body and blood of Christ. Finally, St. Paul stated that some in the Corinth Church have died (fallen asleep) for taking the bread and wine in an unworthy manner. If the bread and wine are just bread and wine, then these verses make no sense.

Unlike the Roman Church, we cannot state the bread and wine actually change to Christ’s body and blood. We can say only what Christ says and that the bread and wine

Where Do You Place the Focus?

For many American “Evangelical” churches, they may have an “alter” at the front of the sanctuary with the phrase “Do This in Remembrance of Me”. When Holy Communion is served, they will most likely call it “The Lord’s Supper” since they don’t view Holy Communion as a sacrament but an “ordinance”. The problem is that they place the focus on the individual and not on Christ. A “Do This” view says that it’s want we do that matters to Christ in the we make Christ “pleased” with us in following this command.

If the focus was placed on Christ, the key words are “This is my Body…” and “This is my Blood…” then “Do this” is Christ’s command for us to 

If a church no longer as an alter, as part of their worship space, what does that say about how they view Holy Communion?  In an ironic sense, the term “alter call” has nothing to do with Holy Communion; it is about a theology that places the will of the individual over the sovereignty of God (“decision theology”). A true alter call is when the pastor invites the people of God to take the gift of God found in the bread and wine.

How Often You Take Holy Communion Matters

While we are not told how often to take Holy Communion, we do see how seriously the early Church took Holy Communion. In Acts 2:42, the believers were devoted to breaking of bread as long with teaching, fellowship and prayer. In Acts 20:7, the Church gathered on the first day of the week to break bread. Holy Communion is tied with worship and teaching/preaching of the Word.

Unlike baptism is a one time event in the life of the Christian, Holy Communion is an on going means by which Christ come to us in the bread and wine. In Holy Communion, we continue to find the forgiveness of sins. Since we continue to sin and we are still sinful, we still need forgiveness and to hear the forgiveness of our sins in Christ.

Taking Jesus’ Words Seriously

How we treat the words of Christ, and want he says about Holy Communion, shows how we view the forgiveness of sins and salvation. Like baptism, if we reduce Christ’s words to symbolism,

What is the Church?

What is the church? Is it the gathering of believers as the Bible teaches or is it something that can be ‘tipped towards unbelievers”? Is the only reason the church focuses on meeting the needs of believers “because they pay the bills” as Rick Warren claims? Or, is the church where believers gather to devote themselves to the apostolic teaching as the scriptures teaches? This edition of the Extreme Theology podcast answers these questions.

Click Here to Download the MP3 Audio File

The notes for this class are available by clicking here.

If you are learning and growing in God’s Word as a result of this teaching, please support this podcast by sharing it with your friends and fellow Christians.

Originally taught at Capo Valley Church, San Juan Capistrano, California on Sunday, September 25, 2005.

I have issues...

I'd like to again thank the Rev. Todd Wilken for having me on his radio program yesterday to discuss "The Purpose Driven Church & Liberal Theology". As always, it was a pleasure and a privilege to be on his show.

You can hear the program by clicking this link. (Windows Media Player Required).

You can also visit the show's website at issuesetc.org then click on the listen online link.

Hey Todd, I love the T-Shirts! Don't you think that guests should get one for appearing on the show? I wear an XL. :-)

Mis-quoting James

A favorite verse referred to in passing by the proponents of “Deeds not Creeds” is James 1:22.

The phrase they rip from context and then repeat over and over again is ‘Be doers of the word.’

But, if you read James 1:22 carefully you will discover something very interesting. Here is what the verse says…

James 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

James is telling us to be doers and NOT MERELY hearers.

It would be absurd of James to tell us to be ‘doers of a word’ that we were not hearing or not being taught.

James is assuming that the persons he is referring to are ALREADY HEARING God’s word.

In other words, James is describing a church where God’s Word is being taught in its entirety and some hearers still do not have faith. How does he know this? Because they are boasting that they don’t have any works.

Why is this important? Because the The Bible is ACTUALLY teaching a position that is the opposite of what Rick Warren is teaching.

Rick Warren teaches Deeds NOT Creeds.
James teaches Deeds AND Creeds.

Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Church Model water’s down God’s word and barely teaches it at all in order to be relavant to the 'unchurched'. Warren is high in deeds but shallow at best when it comes to creeds.

The New Testament church however, was both deep in its teaching of scripture (creeds) and high in deeds.

James was by no means teaching that creeds don’t matter. This verse shows us that he was teaching that deeds follow creeds and that both are critically important.

So who is right, James or Rick Warren?

The artwork for this entry is Jean Fouquet's painting entitled "The Martyrdom of St James the Great" circa 1452-60. James paid the ultimate price for refusing to compromise his creeds. This deed in particular demonstrates that fact.