THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE: A Critique by Jim Owen, Sr. This book is sweeping the church world. Many local churches are using it as the standard textbook on successful Christian living. Church marquees announce the book as the new solution to the quest for a more meaningful Christian life. THE THEME OF THE BOOK The dust jacket declares the book to be a “blueprint for Christian living in the 21st century.” This seems to beg the question: is the child of God to live differently in the 21st century from the way God planned for him to live in the past? A further question could be asked: has God not provided enough resources through His Word for the believer to live victoriously in the 21st century? After all, it was given by God that the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:15-17). THE AUTHOR Rick Warren is the founder and pastor of the Saddleback Church of Lake Forest, California. It is one of America's largest and best-known churches. The author has also written The Purpose Driven Church. It has sold over a million copies in 20 languages. WHY THIS CRITIQUE? This book is well written and makes some good points. Yet, the solutions the author puts forth in order to accomplish the goal of successful Christian living have a fatal flaw typical of most books on this subject today. While the author denies that his book is a self-help book, that is exactly what it is. In it, the author sows the seeds of failure in the lives of earnest, well-meaning believers. I believe Rick Warren is a sincere Christian brother. Yet, I must take issue with him regarding the most basic fault in this book: where is the Lord Jesus Christ? Thus my criticisms will not be leveled at him, but at his ideas of how a child of God should live the Christian life. For the sake of fairness I would like to point out some areas of agreement with the author. POINTS OF AGREEMENT The author has some good points to make in a number of areas. Although we don't believe it is biblical to set goals for one’s life as Warren does, he does emphasize that such goals must not miss God's purpose for our lives. Warren also does a good job on the subject of worship: that life, like worship is not about you, but God. Warren believes that spiritual maturity is not measured by the amount of biblical information one has and doctrine one knows. To this we can say Amen. He also believes that there are no accidents with God. Everything comes through Him and has a purpose. Warren is strong in his teaching on being a servant to others. This is a much needed emphasis. He further promotes prayer and places the emphasis on its power to get things done in life.
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"While the author denies that this is a self-help book, that is exactly what it is." | ||||||
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