By Chris Rosebrough
When does a pastor become an accomplice to an egregious sin that is being committed by someone under his Pastoral care?
Answer: When the sin is public information and the pastor doesn’t follow through on his Biblical duty to discipline the person committing the sin.
Scripture is crystal clear about the church’s responsibility as it pertains to Christian brothers who are openly and unrepentantly committing egregious sins. 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 states:
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
According to the scriptures, we’re not even supposed to associate with a person who ‘bears the name of brother’ if that person is guilty of openly and unrepentantly committing such sins a sexual immorality, greed and idolatry. Scripture tells us to ‘purge the evil person from among us’.
Knowing that this is the scriptural standard for church discipline, the question I would like to know the answer to is, “Why hasn’t Rick Warren disciplined media mogul Rupert Murdoch for his proliferation and distribution of pornography?”
It is a well known fact that Rupert Murdoch has been publishing pornography for decades and that in the last year he’s expanded his porn distribution business in Europe.
Please consider this quote from London’s “The Business”
RUPERT Murdoch, the born-again Christian who chairs media giant News Corporation, has been secretly building a stable of wholly-owned pornographic channels for his BSkyB subsidiary. The Business has learnt that BSkyB now owns and operates its own pornographic channels – the 18+ Movies selection – after years of hosting third-party content only. (Online Source)
Please notice that “The Business” is not only telling us that Rupert Murdoch now owns and operates his own pornographic channels but that his actions are discrediting his claims to being a born-again Christian.
What does this have to do with Rick Warren?
Answer: Rick Warren on more than one occasion has openly admitted to being Rupert Murdoch’s pastor.
In the Sept 12, 2005 edition of the New Yorker Rick Warren said:
"I had dinner with Jack Welch last Sunday night," he said. "He came to church, and we had dinner. I've been kind of mentoring him on his spiritual journey. And he said to me, 'Rick, you are the biggest thinker I have ever met in my life. The only other person I know who thinks globally like you is Rupert Murdoch.' And I said, 'That's interesting. I'm Rupert's pastor! Rupert published my book!'" Then he tilted back his head and gave one of those big Rick Warren laughs.(Online Source)
As Murdoch’s pastor, doesn’t Rick Warren have a Biblical duty and obligation to discipline Murdoch for his open, unrepentant and repugnant sin of porn publishing and distribution?
Answer: Of course he does. (Unless the Bible doesn’t apply to Rick Warren). When Rick Warren became Murdoch's Pastor, he took on ALL the responsiblities that go with that office; these include discipleship, spiritual care, prayer, AND discipline.
Now, some of Warren's defenders may try to deflect blame away from Pastor Rick by giving him the benefit of the doubt and believing that Warren wasn’t aware of Rupert Murdoch’s porn empire. However, we know that is not the case because of an interview that Rick Warren did with Gwendolyn Driscoll of the Orange County Register in November of 2006. Here is what that article said:
Warren says he is pastor to Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. subsidiary publishes "The Purpose-Driven Life" but also publishes tabloid newspapers featuring topless women."I don't have to agree with 100 percent of what another person does in order to work with them on the 20 percent that we do agree on," Warren says.
That pragmatic attitude has paid off. Murdoch was among the first to support the PEACE plan, donating $2 million.(Online Source)
Notice that Driscoll pointed out the obvious contradiction that exists between Warren’s claim to being Murdoch’s pastor and the fact that Murdoch “publishes tabloid newspapers featuring topless women”.
But also notice that Rick’s answer completely dodges the REAL issue and does NOT address the contradiction. Warren said:
“I don't have to agree with 100 percent of what another person does in order to work with them on the 20 percent that we do agree on.”
But, “Working with a person” is a completely different issue than “pastoring a person”.
All of us work with people who have different religious beliefs than we do or have different moral values than we have. That is just part of the reality of the ‘working world’. But when it comes to our pastors we expect to share the same values and same morals that they do. In fact, I can’t imagine going to a church where I only shared 20 percent of the same beliefs as my pastor. One could easlily argue that if you disagreed with 80% of your pastor's beliefs you probably don't even share the same religion.
The fact remains, and still needs to be addressed that if Rick Warren is Murdoch’s pastor, why has he not done his Biblical duty and disciplined Murdoch for being one of the world's leading distributors of pornography?
Is it because Murdoch published "The Purpose Driven Life"?
Is it because Murdoch will be publishing Warren's newest book later this year?
Is it because Murdoch contributed $2 million dollars to Warren’s Global PEACE plan?
Or is it some other reason?
Either way, I think it is time for Christians to insist that Warren do his Biblical duty as Murdoch’s pastor and call him to repentance and insist that he dismantle his porn empire. If Murdoch refuses to repent then he should be put out of the church.
If Warren refuses to do his biblical duty then the church should discipline Warren for his role in allowing Murdoch to continue 'un-checked' in this monstrous sin.
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When I attempted to contact Rick Warren to get clarification on this issue I was told by Warren's assitant that "Rupert Murdoch is not a member of Saddleback Church." I kindly reminded her that no one was saying that Murdoch attended Saddleback, but that Rick was claiming to be Murdoch's pastor. She said she was unable to comment any further on the matter and asked me to send Rick an email. She also said that I'd hear back from Rick in the next 2 weeks.
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Click Here to read the press release that I sent out calling on Rick Warren to discipline Rupert Murdoch.
Click Here to listen to my interview on the Cross Talk Radio Program on this issue.
Click Here to read Rick Warren's own standards regarding Church Discipline.
Click Here for a pastor's perspective on this issue.
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