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I found a post on a fairly popular (from a traffic perspective) Christian blog where the blogger’s and visitors’ comments were ripping Rick Warren apart for his statements in an article on The Christian Post titled Some Rules for Selecting Music. I had several questions for the blogger and visitors on that blog. This post is largely what I had to say about criticizing Rick Warren over the article.

Have you been to Saddleback? The blogger spoke of the music at Saddleback as if having visited there. I have not been to Saddleback but I have heard Rick Warren in person. I have led a 40 Days of Community group. I have not read The Purpose Driven Life. I started it and lost interest. It seemed to be geared towards non or new believers. I was personally looking for a more in depth study of the scripture at that time. My wife loved the book. I trust her judgement.

Now back to the article and the music issue. As for criticism of the contemporary music in church, I say that you should not get caught up in criticizing of the ceremonial rituals of worship. Your heart condition is what is the most important. I am not saying that anything should be allowed in church services, but a little spirit in the tune is not going to harm anyone.

Like it or not, Rick Warren is helping deliver souls into the arms of our Savior Jesus Christ. That my fiends is what should be the primary focus for all of us. We should not entrench ourselves in tearing down a man for his ministry. I asked the blogger and visitors if any of them had personally witnessed damage caused by Rick Warren himself? I then quoted the following scripture:

“The witnesses must throw the first stones, and then all the people will join in. In this way, you will purge all evil from among you.” Deuteronomy 17:7 (NLT)

At the time of this posting the blogger had not approved/moderated my comments. The category of the post was “Purpose Driven Madness” so you can imagine that my siding with Rick Warren on this issue was not in the majority. In this instance the blogger and visitors were quick to judge Rick Warren for his choice to use contemporary music (new things) in church instead of more traditional hymns.

Hmm??? Why are these folks even on the Internet? They like me seem to have no problem using technology to minister to people. Where are the scrolls? Where are the stone tablets? Where are the animal sacrifices? Why are you using the Internet to transmit to lost souls when there are plenty of leather bound Bibles? If you are against using new methods of reaching people with things like contemporary music then why is the Internet OK? Why don’t these folks just turn off their computers right now and cancel their Internet service?

There are a gazillion lost souls out hear on the Internet. The blogger and visitors mentioned above made no bones about publicly tearing down a man who has been able to reach more people with God’s Word that many of us could have never dreamed of reaching. The fact is that Rick Warren’s material is chocked full of scripture. Thumb through his books and see for yourself. He may misinterpret and use some scripture out of context at times. Point to one man who you are certain does not do this. We are all human. I have not found one person on this planet that I agree with 100% of the time including Rick Warren. Heck, I don’t even agree with myself 100% of the time. Why? Because I am not perfect. I am a sinner.

I say we get these discussions off of the Internet and out of public forums. If you have a problem with your brother in Christ then you should take it to him in private. Have any of you who criticize Rick Warren wrote a letter to him expressing your views of his ministry? There are too many souls to be won out on the Internet and a real enemy to fight. We should not be publicly bickering over what rituals and ceremonies are used to deliver the Good News to the lost. All this bickering among Christians over ceremonies and rituals has better chance of tuning people off instead of leading them to the Lord. I guess some folks are not too concerned about the salvation of others as long as they think theirs is still intact.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 4th, 2006 at 12:42 am and is filed under Faith. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.