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ThePurposeDrivenLife
AReviewofScriptureMisuse*
IfthesenseofapassageofScriptureisupforgrabsifyourunderstandingisasgoodasmineifatext
hasmorethanonemeaningandallmeaningsareequallyjustified,thenwhystudytheBibleatall?
WhynotthinkupsomethingyouwanttoteachandthenruntotheScripturestotrytofindapassage
thatsupportsyourviews?Ofcourse,thishasbeenanalltoocommonpracticeforyears.Butnow
thereisanewtwist.WhenaleaderwantstodevelopacertainthesisandgrounditintheScriptures,
butnoobjectivelyunderstoodpassagecansupportthisparticularnotion,whatistobedone?Hemight
forceapassageoutofcontext,simplymisinterpretitandhopenoonenotices.Orhemightallegorize
orspiritualizethepassage,addingaforeignmeaning.Butallofthishasbeendonebefore.Anovel
approach,onethatmightworkevenbetter,istogetcreativeandfindatranslationorparaphrasethat
willbackyourclaimevenifthattranslationhasseriouslydistortedthepassage.Withthisfinal
methodology,thereistheadvantageofactuallyusingtheScripturesastheauthorityandafairamount
ofcertaintythatfewwilleverbothertocheckthepassageforitsaccuracyand/orcontext.Allofthis
bringstomindPeterscommentsconcerningtheuntaughtandunstabledistortingtheScripturesto
theirowndestruction(2Peter3:16).Theworddistortinthatversebasicallymeanstotorture.Itis
theideaoftwistingScripturetomakeitmeansomethingitwasnotintendedtomean,withtheend
resultbeingourowndestruction.
IfirstdiscoveredthisnewfadwhenIvisitedsomemarketdrivenevangelicalchurches.Herewere
churcheswheretheirworshipserviceswerecrowdedandfullofenthusiasm.Spirituallifeappearedto
flowasthecongregationssangpraisechoruses.ButsomethingwasmissingBibles.Iwonderedwhy
untilIsatthroughtheservicesandfoundthatBibleswerenotneeded.TheScriptureswerenever
opened,neverread.Whenthepastorpreached,atleasthedidopenhisBible,butheaskednooneto
opentheirs,nordidheexpectanyonetodoso.HepreachedamessagelooselybasedonScriptureand
throughouthissermonhismainpointswereprojectedontheoverheadscreensalongwithafew
Scriptureverses.AchurchwithnoopenBiblescreatedthescentofspiritualdeathtome.Manywho
cometochurchtodayareBiblicallyilliterate.TheycanbarelyfindGenesis,letaloneEzekiel.
Churchesallacrossthelandarefollowingthesamemethodologies.Apparentlythechurchgrowth
leadershavebeenrecommendingthisapproachandtheirdiscipleshavejumpedonboardinmany
cases,perhaps,withoutseriousevaluation.ButitisdangerousforChristianstoclosetheirBibles.
WhatareBereanstodowithouttheirBibles?Whatiftheleadershipofthechurchhasanagendathey
wanttofosterandtheymisusetheScripturestopromoteit?WhowouldexaminetheWordandsee
whetherthesethingsareso(Acts17:11).

ThePurposeDrivenLife
Aboutthattime,IpickedupRickWarrensrunawaybestseller,ThePurposeDrivenLife.Warrens
bookpromisestobeaguidetoa40dayspiritualjourneythatwillenableyoutodiscovertheanswers
tolifesmostimportantquestion:WhatonearthamIherefor?Morethanthat,Bytheendofthis
journeyyouwillknowGodspurposeforyourlifeandwillunderstandthebigpicturehowallthe
piecesofyourlifefittogether(p.9).Withthiskindofpromo,andwithWarrensnotoriety,wewould
expecthisbooktosellwell,andithas.NotonlyisitthenumberonebestsellingChristianbookatthe
timeofthiswritingbutthousandsofchurchesaregearinguptotakehis40dayspiritualjourney.
First,weshouldsayawordortwoaboutWarrenhimselfandhisbookingeneral.Hisfirstbook,The
PurposeDrivenChurch,hasgreatlyinfluencedchurchesthroughouttheworld,duecertainlytothe
factthatthechurchhepastors,SaddlebackChurchinsouthernCalifornia,isoneofthelargest
churchesinAmerica,andatrendsetteramongnewparadigmchurches.Saddlebackreportsthatover
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300,000pastorsfromover100countrieshavebeentrainedattheirleadershipconferences.Warren
obviouslyhasastoundinginfluenceoverchurchesthroughouttheworld.
ThereareanumberofsimilaritiesbetweenThePurposeDrivenChurchandThePurposeDrivenLife.
Both,forinstance,offersomegoodadvice,helpfulBiblicalinsight,andpracticalsuggestionsAND
bothareriddledwitherrorsthroughout.Thehighlydiscerningreadercanperhapssiftthroughthe
wheatandtaresandmakeagoodloafofbread,butmostreaders,Ifear,willswallowthepoisonalong
withthesubstance.Thisleadsmetoask,WhoisWarrensaudience?Iwasthoroughlybewildered
astowithwhomtheauthorwastryingtoconnect.Ifitisabookfortheunsaved,thenhefails
miserably,forthegospelisneveratanytimeclearlypresented.Theclosesthecamewaswhenhe
wrote,ReallifebeginsbycommittingyourselfcompletelytoJesusChrist(p.58).InWarrens
gospel,nomentionismadeofsin,repentance,oreventheCross.Reallife(i.e.,alifewithpurpose)
seemstobethereward,andlackofreallife(purpose)theproblem.ThethesisofThePurposeDriven
Lifeisstated,Ibelieve,onpagetwentyfive,Wediscoverthatmeaningandpurposeonlywhenwe
makeGodthereferencepointofourlives.Warrensmessageisthis:FindGodandyouwillfind
yourself(purpose).
WewillagreethatmeaningandpurposewillbearealitytotheChristian,buttheyarenottheobjects
ofthegospelitself.ThegospelisthatweasrebellioussinnershaveoffendedaholyGod,aredeadin
oursins,enslavedtosinandthedevil,andunderthewrathofGod.ButGod,richinmercy,sentHis
Sontodieasoursubstitutetoredeemusfromourlostconditionandgiveuseternallife.Wereceive
thisgiftbyfaithasweturntoChrist,andfromsin(Ephesians2:110).Thatourlifetakesonnew
purposeatthatpointisabsolutelytrue.However,wedonotcometoChristbecausewesensealackof
purpose,butbecauseGodhasopenedoureyestoourneedforforgivenessofsinandarelationship
withHim.Thisisoneofthefatalflawsinthemarketdrivenchurchsmessageinwhichtheunbeliever
iscalledtofollowChristinordertoreceiveanynumberofbenefitsfulfillment,selfesteem,an
improvedmarriage,athrillinglifestyle,orpurpose,ratherthanfreedomfromsinandthegiftof
eternalsalvation.
IfWarreniswritingfornewbelievers,whichseemsthecaseduetotheelementarytoneandsubstance
ofthewholebook,heagainmissesthemark,forheusesmanyexpressionsandBiblicalreferences
thatwouldbeunfamiliartothenovice.Ontheotherhand,ifheiswritingtothemature,hehaswasted
paper,foranysemiwelltaughtbelieverwillbecompletelyboredwiththisbook.So,whilemuch
praisewillsurelybelavishedonThePurposeDrivenLife,itescapesmewhowillreallyprofit.
AsIbeganreadingthisbook,theproblemsweresonumerousandobviousthatIbackedupandbegan
markingtheseerrors.Ifound42suchBiblicalinaccuracies,plus18outofcontextpassagesof
Scripture,supposedlyusedtoprovehispoint,andanotherninedistortedtranslations.(Moreonsome
oftheselaterinthisreport).Ingeneral,thereismuchthatisdisturbingwithinthepagesofThe
PurposeDrivenLife.Eventhoughhedeniesit,Warrenisobviouslyadiscipleofpoppsychology,
whichislitteredthroughout.Thewisereaderiswellawarethatsimplybecausesomeonedeniesthey
areteachingsomethingdoesnotmeantheyarenotteachingit.(JohnMacArthurandLarryCrabbare
goodexamplesofteacherswhoutilizethistechnique.)Theproofisnotinthedenialbutinthe
substance.
Inthiscase,Warren,ontheonehand,repeatedlyrejectspsychobabble,butontheotherhand,he
immerseshisreadersinit.Oneexampleishisstatement,Mostconflictisrootedinunmetneeds
(p.154).YouwillfindthatideainRogersandFreudandCrabb,buttrytofinditinScripture.He
quotesfavorablyfromawidevarietyofdubiousauthors,fromAldousHuxleyandAlbertSchweitzer
toGeorgeBernardShawtoSt.JohnoftheCross(Catholicmystic).Heapparentlybelievespracticing
RomanCatholicsaretruebelievers,severaltimesmentioningmonksandnunsasChristianexamples,
andofcoursetheobligatoryreferencetoMotherTeresa(twice).Thisunqualifiedacceptanceand
promotionofCatholicsbringsintoquestionWarrensunderstandingofthegospelmessageitself.Ifhe
believesthatfaithfulRomanCatholics,whobelieveinaworksrighteousness,arebornagain
Christians,whatdoeshebelievethegospelis?Dowereceivethegiftofsalvationbyfaithalone,orby
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faithpluscertainworksandsacraments?Thisisnominorissue,especiallyinabookthatneverspells
outtheplanofsalvation.
Wheneverythirdpage(onaverage)ofabookpresentseitheranunbiblical,oratleastaBiblically
unsupportableidea,thereisnotmuchsensebotheringtoreadit.Andthatwouldbemysuggestion
dontbother.

TorturingScripture
WhatwewanttodointheremainderofourexaminationofWarrenspopularbookistopointout
someexamplesofhisdistortionofScripture.Thisisnottosaythateverythinghesaysiswrong.The
ironyisthatoftenhewillsaysomethingthatisBiblicallycorrect,butratherthanuseproperScriptural
support,hechoosestotwistthemeaningofsomeotherpassagetoprovehispoint.Ourconcernhereis
focusedonhisblatanttwistingoftheBiblicaltexttosuithispurposes.
Matthew16:25
Asstatedabove,itisnotunusualforWarrentomakegoodstatements,suchashisrejectionofpop
psychology,thenturnaroundandbyhismisuseofScripturepromotetheverythinghejust
condemned.Thereaderisthenfacedwithtwoproblems:WhatdoesWarrenreallybelieveaboutthis
subject,andmoreimportantly,whyhashechosentoeitherdistorttheWordofGoddirectlyorthrough
hisuseoffaultytranslations?Forexample,inthemidstofhisdenialofpoppsychology(p.19),he
quotesTheMessagetranslationofMatthew16:25Selfhelpisnohelpatall.Selfsacrificeisthe
way,myway,tofindingyourself,yourtrueself(emphasisminethroughout).TheMessagehasaltered
themeaningofJesuswordsintoameansbywhichapersonfindshimself,afadhavingrootsbackto
the1960sbutnottotheBible.ComparetheNASBrendering:Forwhoeverwishestosavehislife
shallloseitbutwhoeverloseshislifeforMysakeshallfindit.Jesusisspeakingofeternallife(v.
26makesthisclear),notthemoderndayconceptoffindingyourself.
Thereisabitofbaitandswitchgoingoninmanyofthesequotes.Warrenisattemptingtotapintothe
currentfeltneedsmakingtheroundsinthiscasefindingourselvesand/orfindingourpurposeinlife.
HeisthenpresentingtheChristianlifeasameansofmeetingthatfeltneed.ItistruethattheLord
willgiveyoupurposeinlife,butthatpurposewillbetoliveforandfollowChrist.Itisnotapromise
thatwewillfindourselves(ifyoueverfindyourselfyouaregoingtobedisappointedanyway)but
thatwewillfindtruelifeinChrist.Whatoftenhappensissubtle:Warrenturnsthesepassages,and
theChristianlife,frombeingChristcenteredtobeingcenteredonthehumanself,theindividual.The
focusnowbecomesusratherthanChrist.
Romans12:3
Thethesisofthebookisfoundonpage25,whereWarrensays,Wediscoverthatmeaningand
purposeonlywhenwemakeGodthereferencepointofourlives.TheMessageparaphraseof
Romans12:3says,TheonlyaccuratewaytounderstandourselvesisbywhatGodisandbywhathe
doesforus.TheMessagehassubtlychangedthemeaningofthetext.TheNASBreads,Forbythe
gracegiventomeIsaytoeverymanamongyounottothinkmorehighlyofhimselfthanheoughtto
thinkbuttothinksoastohavesoundjudgment,asGodhasallottedtoeachameasureoffaith.The
thrustoftheverseistheproblemofpride,inthecontextofspiritualgifts(seeverses48).Apparently,
someinthechurchbodywerearrogantabouttheirspiritualgifts,leadingtoanger,bitternessand
vengeance(seeverses921).Paultoldthemnottothinksohighlyofthemselvesbuttohavesound
judgmentinreferencetotheirgiftedness.Theresultwouldbetheproperfunctioningofthebody.The
passageisnotgivingaformulaforhowtounderstandourselves.TheMessageabusesthetrue
meaningofthetext,yetWarrenquotesittosupporthisthesis.
InbothoftheseexamplesWarrensuseofScriptureisnotevencloseenoughtobeconfusing,let
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aloneacceptedwithoutquestion.Thisisnotaminorissue.Oncewebelievewehavetherightto
changethemeaningofGodsWordtosuitouragenda,thereisnolimitastohowfarthe
misrepresentationofGodstruthcango.Thisisexactlyhowvirtuallyeverycultandheresyisstarted.
ItshoulddisturbusevenmoretodiscoverthatsofewChristianscare.
ICorinthians2:7
Inchapterone,WarrenmakesseveralstatementswithwhichIwouldagree.HewritesthattheBible
explainswhatnoselfhelporphilosophybookcouldknow(p.20).Hethenquotes1Corinthians2:7
fromTheMessageparaphraseassupport:Godswisdomgoesdeepintotheinteriorofhis
purposes.Itsnotthelatestmessage,butmoreliketheoldestwhatGoddeterminedasthewayto
bringouthisbestinus(emphasisminethroughout).LetsfirstcomparethistotheNASB:butwe
speakGodswisdominamystery,thehiddenwisdom,whichGodpredestinedbeforetheagestoour
glory.JustaquickreadingrevealsthatTheMessagesparaphrasehasnorealconnectionwiththe
meaningPaulwasintending.PaulwaswritingofthewisdomofGod,whichisunliketheworldsin
severalways.First,itisamystery,whichinScripturespeaksofsomethinghiddeninthepastand
unknowablewithoutrevelationfromGod(seeEphesians3:35).Godswisdomisstillhiddenfrom
thepeopleoftheworld(vv.6,8),butrevealedtoGodspeoplethroughtheHolySpiritintheNew
TestamentScriptures.Godhaddeterminedthiswisdombeforetimebegan,buthasnowworkeditout
inthepresentage.Allofthiswasforourglory.Inthecontextofthepassage,thisreferstotheeternal
salvationofGodspeopleasaresultofthecrucifixionofChrist(seev.8).OurgloryisBiblical
languagereferringtothefinalgoalofsalvation,whichistoshareinthegloryoftheLordHimself(v.
8b).Now,letsbackuptoWarrenandhisuseofTheMessage.ThewisdomofGodthathasbeen
revealedthroughtheapostlePaulisnotthatGodhasdeterminedthewaytobringoutHisbestinus,
butthattheLordhasdeterminedthewaytobringustoeternalglory.Itisnotaboutpurposeinlife,
butaboutthetruthofsalvation.TheproblemisthatheismisusingScripture,inaratherimaginative
fashion,toprovehisposition.
Ephesians1:11
Asimilartypeofthinghappensintheverynextparagraphofthebook.WarrenmakesaBiblically
defensiblestatement,Youmustbuildyourlifeoneternaltruths,notpoppsychology,success
motivation,orinspirationalstories.ButratherthanbackingthistruthwithproperScripture,he
decidestouseadistortedparaphraseofEphesians1:11,foundinTheMessageonceagain.Itreads,
ItsinChristthatwefindoutwhoweareandwhatwearelivingfor.Longbeforewefirstheardof
Christandgotourhopesup,hehadhiseyesonus,haddesignsonusforgloriousliving,partofthe
overallpurposeheisworkingoutineverythingandeveryone.Warrensaysthatthisquotegivesus
threeinsightsintoourpurpose,thefirstofwhichis,Youdiscoveryouridentityandpurposethrough
arelationshipwithJesusChrist.
TheNASBreads:Alsowehaveobtainedaninheritance,havingbeenpredestinedaccordingtoHis
purposewhoworksallthingsafterthecounselofHiswill.Thisversesaysnothingaboutdiscovering
ourpurposethrougharelationshipwithChrist.ItspeaksaboutourpositioninChristoureternal
inheritanceinHim.ThisversetellsusthatwehavebeenmadetheheirsofGodthroughnomeritof
ourownweweregiventherighttoalltheblessingsofsalvation,bothnowandineternity.Itspeaksof
beingpredestinedaccordingtoHispurpose,notfindingourpurposeoridentity.
Jeremiah29:11
AmorecommonformofmisuseofScriptureistakingpassagesoutofcontext.Warrengivesthis
exaggeratedpromise,Ifyouhavefelthopeless,holdon!Wonderfulchangesaregoingtohappenin
yourlifeasyoubegintoliveitonpurpose,followedupwiththisquotefromJeremiah29:11,Iknow
whatIamplanningforyou.Ihavegoodplansforyou,notplanstohurtyou.Iwillgiveyouhope
andagoodfuture(p.31).ButthisisapromisetoIsraelconcerningtheirfuture,notageneral
promiseforallpeople(evenChristians)atalltimes.Justafewchapterslater,thepromiseisreversed,
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Behold,Iamwatchingoverthemforharmandnotforgood(44:27).AndinLamentations3:38,the
sameprophetwrites,IsitnotfromthemouthoftheMostHighthatbothgoodandillgoforth?Itis
strangehowpeoplelovetoclaimJeremiah29:11andignorepassagessuchastheselasttwo.Ihave
yettofindanyonewhohasclaimedJeremiah44:27astheirlifesverse.
Genesis6:8
ChapternineisdevotedtothekindofpersonwhomakesGodsmileandisrootedinthisLivingBible
paraphraseofGenesis6:8:NoahwasapleasuretotheLord.TheNewKingJamestranslatesthis
verse,NoahfoundgraceintheeyesoftheLord.Someotherliteralversionstranslategraceas
favor,andtheHebrewwordcanhavethatmeaning.ButwhenusedofGod,thewordalwaysmeans
unmeritedfavororgrace.WhenNoahfoundgrace,hewastherecipientofundeservedDivinefavor.
Hewasnotsparedthefloodbecauseofhisrighteousness,butbecauseofGodsgrace.Bychanging
thewordfromgracetopleasure,theLivingBiblehasturnedthetruemeaningofthepassageon
itshead.NowNoahissparedduetohisgoodnessheisthekindofguythatmakesGodsmileand
youcanbesuchapersontoo.Butnowgraceisnolongergraceithasbeentransformedintoawork
thatpleasesGod.Thisisnotaminorerror.ItstrikesattherootoftheChristianfaith.(Ironically,
Genesis6:9,whichtellsusthatNoahwasarighteousman,blamelessinhistime,andNoahwalked
withGod,couldhavebeenusedtosupportWarrenschapter,sokeepinmindourconcern.Wearenot
accusingWarrenofbeingwrongineverythingheissaying,butweareaccusinghimofdistorting
Scripture.)WarrenisunderminingtheWordofGodbychangingitsmeaningtosuithispurposes.In
thiscasethemarvelousdoctrineofgracetakesthehit.
Job22:21
WarrenstrainsScripturetointerestinglimitsbyusingnoneotherthanEliphazashisspokesman.The
BibleiscrystalclearabouthowyoubenefitwhenyoufullysurrenderyourlifetoGod.Firstyou
experiencepeace(p.82).TheprooftextisJob22:21,StopquarrelingwithGod!Ifyouagreewith
him,youwillhavepeaceatlast,andthingswillgowellforyou.Ifyourecall,thisspeechfromJobs
friendisapromotionofworksrighteousnesswhich,alongwithEliphazswholetheologyofliving,
willbecondemnedbyGodlaterinthebook.TouseitasameansoffindingpeacewithGodis,at
minimum,anextremelycarelessuseofScripture.
Romans6:17
Inthesameparagraph,WarrenalsopromisesfreedomifwesurrendertoGod.HeusesTheMessages
renderingofRomans6:17:OfferyourselvestothewaysofGodandthefreedomneverquits.[his]
commandssetyoufreetoliveopenlyinfreedom!ItistruethatwehavebeensetfreeinChrist,but
whatkindoffreedomisPauloffering?TheNASBtranslatesthisverse:ButthanksbetoGodthat
thoughyouwereslavesofsin,youbecameobedientfromthehearttothatformofteachingtowhich
youwerecommitted.Verseeighteencontinues,andhavingbeenfreedfromsin,youbecameslavesof
righteousness.WarrendoesnotmentionthatthefreedompromisedinScriptureisfromsin,andthat
thebelieverbecomesimmediatelytheslaveofanotherrighteousness.Noristhereanymentionthat
thisslaverytransferalisnotpredicateduponasubsequentsurrenderonthepartoftheChristian,but
ratherisactuallythedefinitionofaChristian.WhenpeoplecometoChristforsalvation,theirmaster
ischanged.TheynolongeroweanyallegiancetosinfortheyhavebecometheslaveofGod.Whether
theyliveinfidelitytothisnewMasterisanothermatter,butownershiphaschangedhands.Thisisthe
argumentofRomansSix,whichisignoredbyWarren.Instead,heforcesittosaywhatGodnever
intended.
Hebrews12:1
WarrenusesTheLivingBibleparaphraseofHebrews12:1toteachthatGodhasassignedcertain
boundariestoeachbeliever:WhenwetrytooverextendourministryreachbeyondwhatGodshaped
usfor,weexperiencestress.Justaseachrunnerinaraceisgivenadifferentlanetorunin,wemust
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individuallyrunwithpatiencetheparticularracethatGodhassetbeforeus(p.253).Butthisverse
simplyreads:Letusrunwithendurancetheracethatissetbeforeus(NASB),andisspeakingofthe
Christianraceoffaithingeneral.ThisversecannotbepressedtoteachthateachChristianhasa
particularracetorunitissimplynotthecontextormeaningofthepassage.
Philippians4:7
WearetoldthatworryisthewarninglightthatGodhasbeenshovedtothesideline.Themoment
youputhimbackatthecenter,youwillhavepeaceagain(p.314).HethenquotesTheMessages
translationofPhilippians4:7:AsenseofGodswholenesswillcomeandsettleyoudown.Its
wonderfulwhathappenswhenChristdisplacesworryatthecenterofyourlife.Whiletheremaybe
truthinwhatWarrensays,apropertranslationofthisversewillnotteachwhathesaysitdoes:And
thepeaceofGodwhichsurpassesallcomprehension,shallguardyourheartsandmindsinChrist
Jesus(NASB).Letsbreakitdownabit.AsenseofGodswholeness,whateverthatmeans,isnot
thesamethingasthepeaceofGod.ThelastsentencefoundinTheMessageisforeigntothepassage.
ThepeaceofGodguardingourheartsandmindscannotbecontortedtomeanthatsomething
wonderfulhappenswhenChristdisplacesworryatthecenterofyourlife.Warrenisdevelopinghis
propositionsuponfaultyparaphrasesofScriptureandtheaveragereaderisnonethewiser.Placing
Godbackatthecenterofyourlifemayindeedresultinpeace,but,andthisistheimportantthing,
Philippians4:7doesnotsayso.TomakeScripturesaywhatitdoesnotsayismanipulation,not
exegesis.
Ofcoursewecouldgoon,buthopefullyyougetthepoint.OthernotableexamplesofWarren
contortingScriptureare:
Page24James1:18
Pages25,30Isaiah49:4
Page104ICorinthians14:1617
Page105Romans12:1,2
Page109Job23:810
Page110Job7:11
Page219IICorinthians3:18
Page223Habakkuk2:3
Page232Mark8:35
Pages272273ICorinthians1:27
Pages273IICorinthians12:910

Summary
So,whatdifferencedoesallthismake?WhatifWarrenismisrepresentingScriptureover40timesas
wellaspepperinghisbookwithextraBiblicalpsychologicaltheoriesandotherearthlypiecesof
wisdom,disguisedasBiblicalprinciples?Overallhesayssomegoodthings,andeveninthesections
whereScriptureisabused,hesometimessaystherightthing,butuseswrongScripturetosupportit.
Whatsthebigdeal?Thebigdealisthis:OncewesignoffonthiskindofChristianteachingand
torturingofScripture,theskyisthelimit.Itshouldnotgowithoutnoticethateverycultclaimsto
believeintheBible.TheuniquenessofcultsisthattheytwisttheinterpretationofScripturetosay
whattheywantittosay,andfailingthat,theywritetheirowntranslationstosupporttheirheresies
(e.g.JehovahWitnessesNewWorldBible).Shouldwethenendorsethesesamemethodologieswhen
professingevangelicalspromotethem?Orshouldwerefutethosewhoopenlysanctionsuch
approachestoScripture?Remember,wearenotdiscussingdifferentopinionsoninterpretationsof
certainpassages.Thattoocannotbeignored.Butofamoreseriousnatureisthiscarelessandwanton
mishandlingofScripturethatwehavebeendiscussing.Topurposelyignorethepropertranslationofa
passageandinsertonethathasnobasisintheoriginallanguagesinordertoundergirdaparticular
pointofviewisoneofthemostdangerousthingsimaginable.Theonlythingmoreconcerningwould
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betodiscoverlargesegmentsoftheevangelicalcommunitybeingincapableofdiscerningthiskindof
problemand/ornotcaring.
*Thematerialinthisreportwasexcerptedand/oradaptedfromatwopartreportbyGaryGilley,
SouthernViewChapel,Springfield,IL(ThePurposeDrivenLife:AnEvaluation,October&
November2003,ThinkonTheseThings).

BiblicalDiscernmentMinistries11/2003

HOME NOTEBOOK MAIL

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