Unity and Community
Part 2
Reviewed by Berit Kjos,
November 2003
Page 119 Rick Warren wrote "Here on earth we
are given "the riches...of his grace...kindness..patience..glory..wisdom..power..and
mercy. #10. On this one, he failed to list which "Bible version" he
used, but listed 6 verses. Searching the scriptures, I found he had used
scriptures necessary to salvation, but removed everything necessary for
salvation.
1) Eph. 1:7 In Whom we have redemption through
His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace.(
What happened to redemption, blood and forgiveness of sins?)
2) Rom. 2:4 Or despiseth thou the riches of his
goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of
God leadeth thee to repentence. (His attributes lead us to repentence.)
3) Rom. 9:23 And that he might make known the
riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared
unto glory. (The Father was not taken by surprise, leaving the cross as
plan B, as some churches are teaching).
4) Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both
of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and
his ways past finding out. (Wisdom and knowledge refer to his judgments.)
5) Eph.3:16 That he would grant you according
to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in;
the inner man. (It is the Holy Spirit that gives us power).
6) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great
love where with he loved us. (It is by
his mercy and love we can be saved).
Using the Message, Warren has used the salvation
verses to appeal to the flesh.
"Because God is
love, he treasures relationships. His very nature is relational, and he
identifies himself in family terms: Father, Son, and Spirit." 117
"...Why is baptism so important? Then I realized it is because it
symbolizes God's second purpose for your life: participating in the
fellowship of God's eternal family." 120
Does it? The Scripture Romans 6.
Baptism is pregnant with meaning. Your baptism declares your faith,
shares Christ's burial and resurrection, symbolized yr death to your old
life, and announces your new life in Christ. It is also a celebration of
your inclusions in God's family.120
"Like a wedding ring, it is a visible reminder of an inward commitment
made in your heart. It is an act of initiation, not something you put off
until you are spiritually mature. The only biblical condition is that you
believe." 121 But demons also believe.
The Bible says, "Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the
same family. That is why he isn't ashamed to call them his brothers and
sister." Heb. 2:11 CEV
"For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are
all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren."'
NKJV Heb 2:11-12
"You are a part of God's family, and because Jesus makes you holy,
God is
proud of you!" 121 add next Scripture
God wants his family to be known for its love more than anything else.
Jesus said our love for each other -- not our docrinal beliefs-- is our
greates witness to the world. He said, "Your sornng love for each toher will
prove to the world that you ar my disciples." 124
Love cannot be learned in isolation. You have to be around people--
irritaingk imperfect, frustrating peope.
"Life without love is really worthless." Paul makes this point, " No
matter what I say, what I believe and what I do, I'm
bankrupt without love." 1Cor. 13:3 Message 124
KJV: "And though I have the gift of
prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all
knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove
mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I
bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my
body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." 1
Co 13:2-3
NKJV: "And though I bestow all my
goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have
not love, it profits me nothing." 1 Co 13:3
"God says relationship are what life is all about" 125
No, not as implied here. Gal. 5:13. He doesn't call us to dialectical
relationships but to serve one another and encourage in truth.
"As mother Teresa said, "It's
not what you do, but how much love you put
into it that matters." Love is the secret of a lasting heritage." 125 Pastor
Warren uses Mother Teresa as a model for eternal rewards, but she was a universalist. She believed every person was filled with the life of Jesus.
Does Pastor Warren agree with that?
"In our final moments we all realize that relationships are what life is
all about. Wisdom is learning that truth sooner rather than later." 126
"The Bible knows nothing of solitary saints or spiritual hermits isolated
from other believers and deprived of fellowship. The Bible says we are put
together, joined together, built together, members together, heirs together,
fitted together and helped together and will be caught up together." 130
"While your relationship to Christ is personal, God never intends it to
be private." 130
"
You discover your role in lie through your relationship with others. The
Bible tells us, "Each part gets its meaning from the body
as a whole,
not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of
chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as part of his
body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much,
would we?" Roma 12:4-5
|
KJV |
NKJV |
Message |
| "For
as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same
office: 5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one
members one of another." Ro 12:4-5 |
" |
"Each part
gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around.
The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people.
Each of us finds our meaning and function as part of his body. But as a
chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we?"
Romans 12:4-5 (page 131) |
"If an organ is somehow severed from its body, it will shrivel and die.
It cannot exist on its own, and neither an you. Disconnected and cut off
from the lifeblood of a local body, your spiritual life with wither and
eventually cease to exist.. This why the first symptom of spiritual decline
is usually inconsistent attendance at worship services and other
gatherings." 131 (What about persecuted Christians - Richard
Wurmbrants?)
"The church is indestructible and
will exist for eternity.... The church is so significant that Jesus died on the
cross for it. "Christ loved the church and gave his life for it." Eph. 5:25
Actually mentions church 73
times. 21 times refer to the whole church - the Body of Christ
"Except for a few important
instances referring to all believers throughout history, almost every time
the world church is used in the Bible it refers to a local, visible
congregation. The New Testament assumes membership in a local congregation.
The only Christians not members of a local fellowship were those under
church discipline who had been removed from the fellowship because of gross
public sin." 132
"The Bible says a Christian without a church home is like an organ without a
body, a sheep without a flock, or a child without a family. It is an
unnatural state. The Bible says, "You belong in God's household with every
other Christian." Eph 2:19b LB 132
No, that's not what it says.
|
KJV |
NKJV |
Message |
| "...ye
are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints,
and of the household of God; And
are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ
himself being the chief corner stone..."Eph
2:19-21 |
"...you
are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the
saints and members of the household of God,
20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone...."
Eph 2:19-21 |
"You belong in
God's household with every other Christian."
(page 132) |
"Today's culture of
independent individualism has created many spiritual orphan--"bunny believers" who
hop around from one church to another without any identity,
accountability, or
commitment. Many believe one can be a "good Christian" without joining (or even
attending) a local church, but God would strongly disagree." 133
"Blessed is the man who
walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he
meditates day and night." Ps 1:1-2
"Your words were found,
and I ate them,
And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart;
For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.
I did not sit in the
assembly of the mockers, nor did I rejoice;
I sat alone because of Your hand, for You have filled me with
indignation." Jeremiah 15:17
"A church family moves out of
self-centered isolation... 133 The local church is the classroom for
learning how to get along in God's family. It is a lab for practicing
unselfish, sympathetic love.... 133
Biblical fellowship is being as
committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ. 133
"It may seem easier to be holy
when no one else is around to frustrate your preferences but that is a
false, untested holiness. Isolation breeds deceitfulness; it is easy
to fool ourselves into thinking we are mature if there is no one to
challenge us." (or when everyone pats you on the back and
shows sympathetic love when you sin) 134
"Satan loves detached believers,
unplugged form the life of the Body, isolated from God's family and
unaccountable to spiritual leaders, because he knows they are defenseless
and powerless against his tactics.136
Chapter 18:
The Body of Christ, like your own
body, is really a collecton of many small cells. The life of the Body of
Christ, like your own body, is contained in the cells. For this reason,
every Christian needs to be involved in a small group within their church,
whether it is a home fellowship group, a Sunday school class, or a Bible
study. This is where the real community takes place, not in the big
gatherings." 139
"Authentic fellowship is not
superficial, surface-level chit-chat. It is genuine, heat-to-heart,
sometimes gut-level sharing. It happens when people get honest about who
they are and what is happening in their lives. they share their hurts,
reveal their feelings, confess their failures, disclose their doubts, admit
their fears, acknowledge their weaknesses and ask for help and prayers." 139
more
Sympathy meets two fundmentsla
human naeeds: the need to be understood tha the need to have your feelings
validated. Every time you undersand and affirm someon't feelings, you build
fellowship..... 141 (focus on self not God)
Real community happens when
people inow it is safe enough to share their doubts and fears withou being
judged."149 ??? No. it's when God reigns in our midst. when we look
at Him together - not at ourselves.
I urge you to make a group
covenant that includes the nine characteristics of Biblical fellowship:
1share our true feelings
(authenticity)
2. encourage each other -
mutuality
3. support each other -
sympathy
4. forgive each other - mercy
5. speak the truth in love
(honesty)
6. admit weaknesses - humility
7. respect our differences
(courtesy
8. not gossip (confidentiality)
9. make group a priority
(frequency)
Skipped 20 -- do it later
21
Unity in the church is so
important that the New Testament gives more attention to it than to either
heaven or hell
Our model for unity is the
Trinity. The Father, Son and HolySppirit are competly unifieds as one.
(Means standing together on His Word)
How do we "keep the unity of
the Spirit in the bond of peace?
Focus on what we have in common,
not our differences. 161
We must stay focused on what
matters most -- learning to love each other as Christ has loved us, and
fulfilling God's five purposes for each of us and his church. 162-top
God blesses churches that are
unified. At Saddleback Church, every member signs a covenant that includes a
promise to protect the unity of our fellowship. 167 When God
has a bunch of baby believers he wants to deli er, he looks for the warmest
incubator church he can find. NO!
22
"Spiritual maturity is not a
solitary, individual pursuit! You cannot grow to Christlikeness in
isolation. You must be around other people that interact with them....
Remember, it's all about love-- loving God and loving others.
Spiritual maturity:
Referring to this process, Paul says, "This 176 finish
Parable of sower 188
Select a few Bible verses
out of this book --- 190
I cannot overstate the value of
being a part of t a small Bible study discussion group. We always learn form
others truths ... 192
Develop the habit of writing down
exactly what you intend to do. This action step should be personal,
practical and provable With a deadline to do it). (Measurable as in a
system???) 192
29
The Biblwe warns unbleivers, "He
willl pour out his anger and wrtath on those who live for themselves," but
for Chitians it will mean a loss of eternal rewards.
|
KJV |
NKJV |
NLT |
| "But
unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,"Romans
2:8 |
"...but
to those who are self-seeking and do
not obey the truth, but
obey unrighteousness—indignation
and wrath,"
Romans 2:8 |
"He willl
pour out his anger and wrtath on those who live for themselves," page
232 |
Paul undersood that his
calling was not to accomplish everyting or please everyone but to focus
only on the particular ministry God had shaped him for. He said,
"Our goal...." emphasis on shape rather than gifts and grace
|
KJV |
NKJV |
NLT |
| "But
we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the
measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to
reach even unto you."
2 Co 10:13 |
"We,
however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere
which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you." 2 Co 10:13 |
"Our goal
is to stay within the boundaries of God’s plan for us, and this plan
includes our working there with you." 2 Co 10:13,
p. 253 |
36
|
KJV |
NKJV |
NLT |
| |
"we
are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we
implore you on Christ’s behalf, be
reconciled to God." 2 Co 5:20 |
"We're
Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to
drop their differences and enter into Gods work of making things
right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become
friends with God."
p. 283 |
mentions reconc
|
KJV |
NKJV |
NLT |
| "But
we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the
measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to
reach even unto you."
2 Co 10:13 |
"We,
however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere
which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you." 2 Co 10:13 |
"Our goal
is to stay within the boundaries of God’s plan for us, and this plan
includes our working there with you." 2 Co 10:13,
p. 253 |
|
KJV |
NKJV |
NLT |
| "But
we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the
measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to
reach even unto you."
2 Co 10:13 |
"We,
however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere
which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you." 2 Co 10:13 |
"Our goal
is to stay within the boundaries of God’s plan for us, and this plan
includes our working there with you." 2 Co 10:13,
p. 253 |
Endnotes:
1.
http://www.pastors.com/aboutus/
2.
Ken Witty, "Peter Drucker's Search for Community,"
Business Week Online, December 24, 2002.
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/dec2002/nf20021224_6814.htm
3. Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven
Life (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002).
44. More information at
Speech and Communication Problems
(West Virginian University):
"...air pressures or the sounds themselves can be of sufficient force (volume) to rupture an eardrum. Sound volume or more correctly air pressure is, measured in decibels (dB). According to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), sounds greater then 80 dB’s are potentially hazardous. However, they note that not only the volume of sound but the length of exposure is a factor. A brief exposure to a painfully loud sound may damage the ear.... Bodily injury apparently produces endorphin-like substances that tend to have a calming effect."
This next website shows other ways that people use music to manipulate the body:
Cool Edit -- a digital sound editor for Windows:
Using Alpha Synchronization (8Hz to 12Hz), expect similar increases in the neuro-chemical levels of Norepinephrin
(11%), Serotonin (21%) and Beta-Endorphins (25%). http://www.cult.tpu.fi/sound/Coolman.doc
4.
A New Song - Part 2
5. Rick Warren, The Purpose
Driven Church (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1995), page 62.
6. Dennis Costella, FOUNDATION Magazine, March-April 1998.
http://www.fundamentalbiblechurch.org/Foundation/fbcsdlbk.htm. You can find
a very similar message in Rick Warren's article
titled "Selecting
Worship Music" (July
29, 2002)
at
http://www.pastorport.com/ministrytoday.asp?mode=viewarchive&index=18
7.
Warren on church music,
http://www.sunlandneighborhoodchurch.com/articles_view.asp?articleid=1382&columnid=
8.
Selecting Worship Music
by Rick Warren
at
http://www.pastorport.com/ministrytoday.asp?mode=viewarchive&index=18:
"...when I read about biblical worship in the Psalms, I see that they used
drums, clashing cymbals, loud trumpets, tambourines and stringed instruments.
That sounds a lot like contemporary music to me!
9. Pastor Warren mentions God's wrath on page 232, but in this
relational context of "service" and "helping others"
-- a Biblical command which is being conformed to the global concept of
community service and "service learning." This kind of organized "service"
focuses on felt needs and dialogue and often rules out spiritual needs and
Biblical truth. This will be explained more fully in Part 2.
Note. "Hope is as essential to your life
as air and water. You need hope to cope. Dr. Bernie Siegel found he could
predict which of his cancer patients would go into remission by asking, 'Do
you want to live to be one hundred?' Those with a deep sense of life
purpose answered yes and were the ones most likely to survive. Hope comes
from having a purpose." Rick Warren
[3, page 31]
This illustration suggests that a secular or New
Age hope serves the same purpose as the Spirit-given hope we have in Jesus
Christ. There can be no true hope or unity unless we stand on the
unchanging truth of God's Word!