So you and Andrew Evans would have said to Jesus when He warned us to take heed that no one deceive us (Matthew 24:4)

Jesus, we can’t help feeling that your warning lacks compassion because you never once said that we should pray for false teachers. In fact, we are appalled at you having inspired Paul of Tarsus to include those dastardly horrid words in 1 Galatians 8-9 in your Word. Shame on you, Jesus. I’m sure you know that all the things said about Rick Warren, including his wonderful Chrislam theology, are untrue, unkind and inaccurate. Your warning in Matthew 24:4 is a cheap and untrue comment designed to make “Jesus” look right – but let me remind you, the point of truth isn’t to look right – it’s to bring it with compassion to people who need it.

OK, wiseguy, tell us how you are going to tell false teachers the following with compassion.

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Gal 1:8-9)

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. (Jud 1:11-13)

Maybe you should let them know you are pumped up with compassion by including little hearts and kisses at the end of the above passages from Scripture.

I don’t know enough about Rick Warren to comment on him – he’s not such a big deal here in the UK. But I can’t help feeling that the tone of the article and comments here leans somewhat towards relishing the idea that “we were right all along”. It kind of seems some people on here enjoy others being wring so they can feel superior because “we’ve got the truth.” But tf what I’ve read above is true perhaps the right response is to get on our knees and pray for these people and recognise that we are, in the end, all the same – weak and sinful individuals all prone to error and unbelief.

Also I think it’s pretty difficult to assert than Rick Warren has “never been slandered.” You think nobody has ever said anything about him that is untrue, unkind and inaccurate? If so he’s pretty unique for a guy in the public eye! That was a cheap and untrue comment designed to make the “Deborah” look right – but the point of truth isn’t to look right – it’s to bring it with compassion to people who need it.

Good point

Then anyone who might align with Piper (oh and also Matt Chandler who has done the exact same thing) would be partaking in not second degree separation, not first, as Piper (Chandler) become “wicked” as the ones they align with.

Warning!

Doug

Maybe because it’s an article on Jon Piper???

Secondly, you didn’t look very hard, Articles on Rick Warren

…weird.

Karen

My aren’t you just such a nice person. Since you are JUDGING ME I feel the need to go to the Bible and pull out a whole lot of scripture just for you:

As Christians We Must Judge Righteously

As Christians we do not judge a person’s life, i.e., sin, because we are all sinners (Matt 7:1)., we judge righteously according to the Word of God. The Bible commands us to judge fellow Christians teachings and their fruit. Those in the church we are to judge according to the Word of God. Those outside of the church we show them the error of their ways, preach the gospel to them and then leave them in God’s hands. We are also commanded to judge/test their teachings/doctrine to make sure it is correct and that it ties up with scripture.

There are many verses in the bible where we are told to JUDGE/TEST:

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1 Thessalonians 5:21 (Amplified Bible)

21But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast.

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Matthew 7:15-20 (Amplified Bible)

15Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves.

16You will fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?

17Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit [worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit.

18A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear [excellent fruit [worthy of admiration].

19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.

20Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits.

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1 Corinthians 5:12-13 (Amplified Bible)

12What [business] of mine is it and what right have I to judge outsiders? Is it not those inside [the church] upon whom you are to pass disciplinary judgment [passing censuring sentence on them as the facts require]?

13God alone sits in judgment on those who are outside. Drive out that wicked one from among you [expel him from your church].

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1 Corinthians 14:29 (Amplified Bible)

29 So let two or three prophets speak [those inspired to preach or teach], while the rest pay attention and weigh and discern what is said.

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John 7:24 (Amplified Bible)

24Be honest in your judgment and do not decide at a glance (superficially and by appearances); but judge fairly and righteously.

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Titus 1:9-16 (Amplified Bible)

9He must hold fast to the sure and trustworthy Word of God as he was taught it, so that he may be able both to give stimulating instruction and encouragement in sound (wholesome) doctrine and to refute and convict those who contradict and oppose it [showing the wayward their error].

10For there are many disorderly and unruly men who are idle (vain, empty) and misleading talkers and self-deceivers and deceivers of others. [This is true] especially of those of the circumcision party [who have come over from Judaism].

11Their mouths must be stopped, for they are mentally distressing and subverting whole families by teaching what they ought not to teach, for the purpose of getting base advantage and disreputable gain.

12One of their [very] number, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, hurtful beasts, idle and lazy gluttons.

13And this account of them is [really] true. Because it is [true], rebuke them sharply [deal sternly, even severely with them], so that they may be sound in the faith and free from error,

14[And may show their soundness by] ceasing to give attention to Jewish myths and fables or to rules [laid down] by [mere] men who reject and turn their backs on the Truth.

15To the pure [in heart and conscience] all things are pure, but to the defiled and corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are defiled and polluted.

16They profess to know God [to recognize, perceive, and be acquainted with Him], but deny and disown and renounce Him by what they do; they are detestable and loathsome, unbelieving and disobedient and disloyal and rebellious, and [they are] unfit and worthless for good work (deed or enterprise) of any kind.

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1 John 4 (Amplified Bible)

1BELOVED, DO not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world.

Andrew’s comments are worth considering because what I get from most of you who have commented here is, as he said, an exclusionary, holier-than-thou attitude and an “I was right” mentality that has no place in the Kingdom. Andrew is one of the few who exhibited any love or compassion in his response.

I don’t agree with everything Piper says or does, but he’s doing far more for the kingdom than I have, so I keep my mouth shut. I don’t commend him or condemn him – I commend Christ and condemn sin. God is the judge of people. Who are you to judge another man’s servant? (Ya’ll need to spend more time in Romans chapter 14!)