More Than A Purpose, An Evangelical Response To Rick Warren And The Megachurch Movement

More Than A Purpose, An Evangelical Response to Rick Warren and the Megachurch Movement

Product Description

Are you dissatisfied with The Purpose Driven Life? Have you read Rick Warrens bestseller and wondered, "Is that all there is?" If you feel like something is missing from Rick Warrens best-selling books, The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, you are not alone. Evangelical leaders are beginning to voice their concerns about the seeker-sensitive model of ministry. In More Than a Purpose, Dr. Marshall Davis Documents what evangelical leaders are saying about the megachurch movement. Explores the origins of Rick Warrens approach in the Church Growth Movement and Robert Schullers gospel of self-esteem. Examines the theology of Warrens Saddleback Church and finds that it falls short of historic Christianity. Exposes the market-driven methodology and philosophical pragmatism of The Purpose Driven Church. Shows how the entertainment model of worship has taken over evangelical churches. Reveals how New Age spirituality has influenced the beliefs and the practices of The Purpose Driven Life. Challenges Christians to recover the essentials of evangelical Christianity that will restore integrity to the twenty-first century church Dr. Marshall Davis is an ordained Baptist minister with thirty years of experience as a pastor. He holds advanced degrees from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky. He presently serves as a pastor in western Pennsylvania.
Rate Points :3.5
Binding :Paperback
Label :Pleasant Word-A Division of WinePress Publishing
Manufacturer :Pleasant Word-A Division of WinePress Publishing
ProductGroup :Book
Studio :Pleasant Word-A Division of WinePress Publishing
Publisher :Pleasant Word-A Division of WinePress Publishing
EAN :9781414106632
Price :$17.99USD
Lowest Price :$11.10USD
Customer ReviewsOn the mark
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :8
For those of us who have read Warrens books and come away with the feeling that we had just encountered "Gospel lite: tastes great, less filling," but couldnt pin down exactly why, this book hits the mark exactly. It wont, however, convince the Warrenites, who have so embraced the Warren brand that they are unwilling to open themselves to the real message of Jesus Christ - which includes suffering, confession, repentance, and atonement, none of which youll find in Warrens ad campaigns.

More Than Superficial
Rating Point :1 Helpful Point :19
Mr. Davis attack on the "Purpose Driven Life" is superficial and misguided.

He contends that "In Warrenism there is no genuine commitment to Christ because the genuine Christ has not been preached." The commitment to Christ and His church required for membership at Rick Warrens church is the same commitment that has been preached for almost 2000 years of church history. In fact, the expectations for a Saddleback member are far higher and more biblical than those of many, if not most, evangelical churches in the history of our nation. People may initially come as "consumers" as Mr. Davis contends, (dont most of us start our journey with Christ needing something from Him? forgiveness, love, hope?) but Christ turns most into devoted followers with servant hearts who are involved in ministry and missions in obedience to Jesus.

A comprehensive review of Warrens preaching and teaching would reveal that Ricks message is not watered down or anything less than the full council of Scripture. Mr. Davis simply has not done his homework on these issues. As for "The Purpose Driven Life," it is a simple, but not simplistic, introduction to the Christian life. Warren is not seeking to write a systematic theology for long time believers. (Although the "Foundations" series that Purpose Driven has produced is a solid and thorough treatment for laity). The fact that Mr. Davis would write a book like this explains why many churches in America are failing.

My advice? Follow Christ. Get busy accomplishing your God given purpose within your local church and community and dont waste your time on this book.

Oustanding Work
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0
This book is an excellent source on the true nature of the purpose driven church. This movement is not entirely bad, but it falls way short of the true nature and purpose of what the bride of Christ should be and the message it is to proclaim.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know why the megachurch is so successful in creating members but not as successful in creating disciples. This book answered a lot of my questions about why I was not satisifed after visiting a couple of megachurches.
These churches are great self-help seminaries and training grounds for people who want to buils their self-esteem.
As for myself and a lot of other believers, we want to go to church to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached from the pulpit. We want to hear about the birth, life, death, burial and ressurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That is the foremost reason for going to church and the rest is just icing on the cake.

Respectfully Submitted,
Glenn E. Rogers

Do Your Research
Rating Point :1 Helpful Point :11
If you want to really find out what Rick Warren believes, read the Statement of Faith made by Saddleback Church. No hidden agendas, and youll find it is based on sound doctrine. Also if you want to get the other side of the controversy this book participates in creating, read "Rick Warren And The Purpose That Drives Him" Rick Warren and the Purpose That Drives Him: An Insider Looks at the Phenomenal Bestseller

The claim in this book that the Gospel isnt taught at Saddleback and there is no real commitment to Christianity, is unfounded. One thing that most will agree is that as a Christian who is effective in winning souls to Christ, you will face much spiritual opposition. Rick Warren seems to face a lot of it. Test his teaching against the correct interpretation of Scriptures before you make up your mind about him.

If you havent been formally trained on proper biblical interpretation, take a look at this book - "Basic Bible Interpretation" by Roy Zuck Basic Bible Interpretation, also biblical study techniques "Living by the Book" by Howard Hendricks Living By the Book: The Art and Science of Reading the Bible Then you would be qualified to disagree on the finer points of theology if you had differences with his position on Soteriology. There are legitimate questions that are debated in areas Scripture has not been completely clear. But, by no means are those who disagree on these issues to be considered heretics, or to be publicly criticized. We will never know all the answers until Christ returns.

Purpose Driven
Rating Point :3 Helpful Point :3
This book is all it claims to be. However, the author does not present any clear alternatives.

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