Warren: "'The future of the world is not secularism. It’s religious pluralism…."

"Synopsis: Rick Warren, author of A Purpose-Driven Life and the founding pastor of California’s Saddleback Church, addresses the need for change in the church in this session of the Sunday Forum.

"Warren says that he recently told a group of business leaders,

"The future of the world is not secularism. It’s religious pluralism…."

"The world is becoming more religious, not less.. We’re going to have to minister in a context where we… learn how to get along.'...

"To that end, Warren is trying to increase civility in the world, and he is calling Christians to act on their own teachings. 'I think we need a second Reformation in the church about how we behave,' he asserts.

'The first Reformation was about creeds. I think the second Reformation needs to be about deeds…If Christians of all stripes…would just practice what we know Jesus taught, the world would be an incredibly different place.'

"He calls this second Reformation a 'mobilization.' Saddleback is developing a 'Peace Plan' and worldwide mission to promote reconciliation through service...."

What is Pluralism? Ponder this definition from the Pluralism Project:

First, pluralism is not diversity alone, but the energetic engagement with diversity. ...eligious diversity is a given, but pluralism is ... an achievement. Mere diversity without real encounter and relationship will yield increasing tensions in our societies.

Second, pluralism is not just tolerance, but the active seeking of understanding across lines of difference.... Tolerance is too thin a foundation for a world of religious difference and proximity. It does nothing to remove our ignorance of one another, and leaves in place the stereotype, the half-truth, the fears that underlie old patterns of division and violence....

Third, pluralism is not relativism, but the encounter of commitments. ... It means holding our deepest differences, even our religious differences, not in isolation, but in relationship to one another.

Fourth, pluralism is based on dialogue. The language of pluralism is that of dialogue and encounter, give and take, criticism and self-criticism. Dialogue means both speaking and listening, and that process reveals both common understandings and real differences. ... Pluralism involves the commitment to being at the table -- with one’s commitments.

—Diana L. Eck, an authority on Hinduism and Director of the Pluralism Project. It's Advisory Board includes Wiccan author Margot Adler and Dr. Charles Haynes, a zealous promoter of religious dialogue in classrooms across America.

Learn more about the Pluralism Project, Dr. Haynes and Ms Eck in our article, "Twisting Truth through Classroom Consensus."

See Warren's Peace Plan & UN Goals: Part 1 - "The Emerging Global Church"

Part 2: Equipping Leaders to 'Lead like Jesus'? and Part 3: Whom do you serve?

"Rick Warren: Mainline Church Problems Need Evangelical Solution"

www.christianpost.com/article/20080128/30996_Rick_Warren:_Mainline_Church_Problems_Need_Evangelical_Solution.htm

"Megachurch pastor Rick Warren suggested Sunday that mainline churches need to reconcile with evangelicals to counter its mounting problem of membership decline.

“'The reconciliation is that in a pluralistic world…we (Christians) need to be on the same team because we share the same savior,' Warren contended Sunday, as he spoke with the dean of the Washington National Cathedral, Samuel T. Lloyd III, who observed that evangelical churches are thriving and full of vitality, while most mainline denominations are confronting worrisome membership decline.

"During the Cathedral’s weekly Sunday Forum: Critical Issues in the Light of Faith, Lloyd asked Warren how mainlines should tackle the problem.

“'100 years ago the phrase ‘social gospel’ first came out,' Warren responded. 'Some people took that to mean only if we reform the social government and society and not personal faith in Christ Jesus – that is, if we make the world a better place – we don’t need personal redemption.' That idea led to mainline churches going 'one way'and evangelical churches another way, he said.

[Note: To understand that conflict, please read Treason in the Church: Trading Truth for a "Social Gospel"

and Transforming the World by Subverting the Church. It's far more alarming than Warren suggests]

"In general, mainline churches focused on social morality such as fighting poverty, racism and economic justice. Meanwhile, evangelical churches concentrated on personal morality such as personal salvation, fighting pornography, and upholding family values.

“'Who’s right? The fact is both are right,' Warren emphasized. 'Somehow we got divided like Jesus didn’t care about society or members of society didn’t need Jesus. I think we need both.'

Warren called for 'reconciliation' between mainline and evangelical churches...

Earlier in the program, Warren shared about his 20,000-member Saddleback Church.... Warren said proudly that there are more people meeting in small groups each week – about 30,000 – than attending Sunday service.... Warren also highlighted that the evangelical church offers about 22 different worship styles across its campus on Sunday but listens to the same sermon."

“'God likes variety,' Warren said with a laugh." [All kinds?] ...