My issue with Saddleback Church has nothing to do with nonessential issues. So, he looks at the Bible through the lens of his own ideas and uses Scripture out of its proper context and meaning to support those ideas. While Saddleback does not use the word "Baptist" in its name, the church is affiliated with the 13.7 million-member SBC. I am in complete agreement with you on all fronts. It could be just a place that entertains and tickles peoples ears. 4 Reasons You Need a Break by Lane Sebring Freeimages.com. Every time someone, hits you with a negative or personal attack, you come right back because youre argument is based purely on scripture and I am blown away and in some cases admittedly Im a bit amused at how professionally and to the point you handle everything. I went to Saddleback in 2000, and Rick Warren wrote The Purpose Driven Life in 2002. With its main campus in Lake Forest, Saddleback Church has grown to 14 locations in Southern California, with an average weekly attendance of 30,000, and more than 7,000 small groups meeting in . Also, my post is not snide or prideful. We are all different and take many approaches on teaching Gods word; thats whats most important. Here is the Associated Press:. Pastor Andy Wood and his wife, Stacie, outside Saddleback Church in Lake Forest. She started at The Times in 2006 and has worked across a wide range of sections including entertainment, home and garden, national news, technology and science. Its about a slower time of worship and being with God. Hey Charles. Or you can do this, and then your church will explode in size because your pastor is a self-help guru, not a faithful preacher of the Word of God. All trends in theological education indicate that fewer and fewer men are going to seminary and seeking the degrees that have historically been conferred upon pastors in Southern Baptist life. God IS awesome! Are we going to start kicking out churches who have pastors who are intemperate? You are full of ugliness and pride. I was wondering when wed get to this. Yes, theology is important and doctrine matters. You dont agree and you think Im a terrible person, but that doesnt refute my points. Have you spoken to the SBC or Pastor Rick about your concerns? It is your opinion that you find the message to not be clear. I always used the excuse that this was just for a season. I suggest you read my post on calling out false teachers. A generation ago, a pastor was the only voice in his community. Your opinion couldve prevented someone from finding God. The notion that women should be silent in church, found in 1 Timothy 2:12 and 1 Corinthians 14:3, refers specifically to instances of the church and marriage. I certainly hope it isnt true. Ministry is the box, the delivery system, but Jesus is the gift. But now a pastors people listen online to the best communicators anywhere in the country, so theres pressure for a pastor to deliver. Im Julie. Thank you so much for doing what you do. So, if someone in my church sinned against me, then Id follow those steps rather than publicly rebuke her. 1.) Get Connected Yes, but if somehow you managed to get saved through this clumsy attempt at sharing the gospel, you have no guidance in how to find a church besides Saddleback. As a recovered alcoholic (decades ago) I can assure you that the addict HAS to put there recovery as the sole purpose of the program. My family has a history of alcoholism, and I watched my mom slowly kill herself through her addiction. Whats the big deal, you ask? No thanks to you. My personal rule of thumb is that if the church, book, etc. However, for the five years my husband and I spent as Southern Baptists, it seemed like Pastor Warren got a pass for anything questionable about his church. As for Pastor Warren, there are a couple reasons I havent spoken to him. I am happy to hear you believe your life has been positively changed through Warrens ministry, and I wish you all the best in the future. CR offers an opportunity to say the prayer of salvation (which is not a real thing, by the way), and shares testimonies about salvation that are more about recovery than Jesus. Judging a minister who has sacrificed so much to enrich peoples lives with the gospel of Christ is disturbing to me. Pastor Rick Warren speaks during an outdoor Easter service at Saddleback Church, which just returned to in-person worship, on Thursday evening, April 1, 2021. Easy to judge mistakes of others. Can you imagine a minister who refused to benefit financially from the sales of his Purpose Driven Life book, a minister who does reverse tithing, giving 90% of his income and keeping 10%? People only have so much time, and if they say yes to your churchs volunteer opportunity, theyre saying no to something else. The standards given in the book are based on Warrens experience. Instead you should feel bad for Warren. I do think in many cases, and this is just my opinion, that God is working in spite of the megachurch to accomplish His will. Its amazing how that inability to only think of ourselves can be changed with the power of salvation. Thank you so much Julie for your piece on Rick Warren. Im actually sad that he is so liberal and strays from the gospel. He is also the author of the book Replenish, which is dedicated to helping leaders live and lead from a healthy soul. Saddleback changes the SBC. An example of this eisegesis can be seen with the following verse: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God..