Rick Warren, PDL, & Blogging
The following is an open letter to Jason Janz, myself, and other bloggers in response to the harsh tones of criticisms of Rick Warren and the Purpose Driven Life often levied among our side of the blogosphere. It was initiated as I read a post (not even about this topic) on SharperIron.org, an excellent blog.Jason-
I just read your post on advertising on SharperIron. I just wanted to say congratulations on your success. I am just getting started on my end (hantla.com/blog) and like it is for everyone (except Phil Johnson) the going is slow. I've sat back as a reading-but non-contributing fan of SharperIron for some time. When I read the post on your advertising aspirations, I came across a backhanded reference to Rick Warren ("Contrary to Rick Warren, I don’t associate numerical success with the blessing of God."). I have fought many fights, trying to encourage pastors (particularly pastors in my own family) to not use his material and to show them the problems with it. I would be known in my family and those in my local body who have heard me chime in on the subject as "anti-Purpose-Driven-Life." I have mentioned that only to give you background as to where I'm coming from. My gut cheers when I hear the slights that he receives often in my favorite neighborhoods on the blogosphere, but I'm pretty sure that those cheers are not flowing from a true concern for the Gospel. I think my gut in these times is more flesh-powered than Spirit-powered. Although it isn't very well written, I would be interested in you reading a post that I wrote a couple weeks ago on the topic of discussing PDL and letting me know what you think.
After much thought and many replies to emails and comments that I received based on that original post, my concerns are primarily three-fold: (1) For us "reformed-fundamentalist folk" who frequent these blogs: That we would not allow our frustration with the book to move from a concern for the Gospel to an opportunity for the flesh to sin in a hateful, spiteful, arrogant, jealous, or other manner.
(2) For other Christians (true brothers and sisters in Christ) who might not feel as comfortable with our beliefs (which to the best of my abilities to discern are true): That they would not write us off as those who have succumbed to the sins warned against in #1. I believe that knowing the glories of God's Sovereignty and Grace which are best known through a deep knowledge of God in His word and particularly as summarized by truths the doctrines of grace should be known by all Christians. It's my prayer that the joy and peace that I know, which I have been shown as I seek to know the God of the Word, would be known to everybody. I believe that we have a great obligation and a great privilege to make known the glory of the cross and the wondrous Gospel--not a man-centered Gospel, but the God-centered Gospel of the Bible and reformed theology--of Christ. But the glorious content will lose its appeal if it is inconsistent with the mercy and love which it proclaims. Let's seek hard to be known by our love AND our doctrine as expressed through our living.
(3) Non-believers: The fact of the matter is that many non-believers and especially non-believers in our churches are reading Rick Warren's stuff. With such a popular blog as SharperIron, PyroManiac, and others the chances of these blogs coming up on a google search for Rick Warren or Purpose Driven Life are high and are climbing. The reason why we primarily disagree with PDL is because the Gospel is not explicitly known in his books, but if our sites are stumbled upon and these blogs read, the Gospel may neither be explicitly nor implicitly made known--and if it is declared, the mercy of the message may be tainted by the tone. Let's strive to be careful and full of grace with the tone in which we blog.
Sincerely and Humbly by His Grace,
-Jacob Hantla
Thanks again.