Touch Not Mine Annointed
In light of a recent blog conversation, I've noticed a few things about defenders/followers of Rick Warren and his Purpose Driven Church (PDC) and Purpose Driven Life (PDL):
- It is beyond their comprehension that anyone would not be familiar with Mr. Warren, his teachings or writings (hereafter referred to as "PDC/PDL").
- If they happen to stumble upon someone as described above, it becomes their misssion to introduce and indoctrinate them into the "truth" ("truth" being defined as anything that procedes from the mouth or pen of Mr. Warren).
- It is beyond their comprehension that once someone has been exposed to PDC/PDL they would not whole-heartedly embrace it or *gasp* might even speak out against it.
- It is further beyond their comprehension that anyone could/would muster a Biblical defense against PDC/PDL. Any attempt to do so is immediately met with comments such as:
- "your position is extreme...nonsensical."
- overuse of acronym ROFL--Translation "your comments don't agree with my opinion and are therefore so stupid they make me laugh."
- "[your opinion] obviously is unable to stand up to scrutiny." Translation "my scrutiny is superior to yours." - It absolutely infuriates them when they cannot convince, intimidate or berate someone to their way of thinking.
Look, I'll be the first one to admit that I can be hard-headed, but this (PDC/PDL) is not a topic I am unfamiliar with. I've read both books. I've listened to/read sermons by Mr. Warren. I've scrutinized PDC/PDL in light of my own understanding of Scripture and I just can't embrace it. And just in case you're contemplating the idea that just MAYBE I might be pursuaded otherwise...save yourself a lot of time; don't bother.
Psst...don't tell the PDC/PDL "fan club," but there is also a large segment of the population that doesn't like broccoli. God help us if Rick Warren comes out with "Purpose Driven Broccoli" and ANYONE speaks out against it.
"Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm." 1 Chronicles 16:22 (NIV)
2 comments:
Yea, good points. And then there is also the phenomenon over at Extreme Theology. That is one wierd thread with the dragon slayers breathing fire at Chris R. simply for being "respectful and gentle".
In the words of the Wicked Witch of the West, "What a world, what a world...".
Rick: I've been watching the thread at ET. I probably would not have accepted RW's invitation (as if he would have made me the offer), but I don't think I would have made the invitation/decline public either.
Being "gentle and respectful" is a good thing. I don't anticipate Chris R coming back and saying: "I got RW and PDL all wrong."
I do think it's funny that the CRN.Info group jumped on the bandwagon as if to say: "Yeah, Chris R is gentle and respectful...just like us! I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together... I find their "How We Seek to be Different" page to be self-deceiving:
...we will strive to take the high-road in dialogue at all time and to this end Posters and Commenters on this site are expected to:
1) refrain from using terms of condescension
2) respond to arrogance and anger with a gentle answer
3) not escalate the level of rhetoric or anger
Do you know when they hope to implement the above guidelines? (Sometimes I actually like those guys...they're fun to play with)
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