Purpose Driven Life critique (cont.)

The call from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church (Ephesians l:22-23), is to return to the Author and Finisher of your faith. May we begin that journey back today.

Paul is also declared by the author to have been one who lived a purpose-driven life. Yet it was Paul who summed up his life as wholly Christ. And Paul's purpose is clearly stated in Philippians 3:10: “That I might know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.” He did not keep before him these five purposes to which he had to strive to attain. Nor does He teach the first-century saints these goals for their lives. What Paul does teach us is that the just shall live by faith (Galatians 3:11). Warren’s instructions on how to live the Christian life is not life, it is slavery.

Warren's book is simply another system of self-effort to become something and do things that someone has decided is the essence of the Christian life. Yet, like trying to keep the Mosaic Law, there is no clear way presented by the author to do so. It is hardly enough to say in passing at the end of the book, “The only way we can make this paradigm switch is by a moment-by-moment dependence on God.” The child of God must be introduced to the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ, so that he will understand Jesus is more than The One Who saved him from Hell and will take him to Heaven when he dies. He must be presented in all His beauty as the One Who wants to have a personal relationship with him. And this truth takes time to understand and have it become real in one’s life. Therefore, the emphasis must be on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, not on us.

Beside all of this, the emphasis in the Scriptures is not dependence upon God, but rather, child-like trust in Jesus Christ. Paul, in Galatians 2:20, states, “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of (in) the Son of God Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Can anything be clearer?

The Bible tells us that it is Christ Who is the Good Shepherd (John 10:14). He is always leading us in triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14). He knows what we will face in the future and He will be there and provide for us (Mark 4:35-41).

The Christian life can only be lived by Christ through us, and He does so as we wait upon Him. The Christian life is His direction, His wisdom, His solutions, His answers, and His provisions. This is a life without all the formulas, the to-do lists, and the myriads of instructions. It is a life of restful waiting and obedience toward the Head of The Church. So, not only is the Christian life a simple life, but it is also a life that is content with Christ having the preeminence (Colossians l:18), not us or anyone else.

While man makes the Christian life so involved, the Lord Jesus, through His Word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit makes life simple. That isn't to say that it is easy. The apostle Paul and the martyrs testify to that. And any mature Christian can attest that the Christian life is not easy. But the Christian life is simple, for Jesus Himself is the life.

But where is He today? If He were given the honored place in every church, our programs would be few but our purpose would be clear—the exaltation of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:5-11). If our emphasis was on the Lord Jesus our Christian books would direct our thoughts to God's Son—His life, His work, and His Person. They would direct our thoughts to His glory and to His honor. Instead, we have a hundred and one things that take His Place. While well-meaning, they are still deadly to the Christian life.

The Body Of Christ has lost its way today, especially in America. We are like the Laodicean church of Revelation 3. Like that church 2000 years ago, many of our churches imagine that they are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing. Yet the Lord Jesus sees them as wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked and in need of repentance. And, like the church at Ephesus, they have lost their first love (Revelation 2:1-7). This is why in Revelation 3:20 we see Jesus standing at the door and knocking. Having found no place in the churches, He is outside knocking for entrance into any believer's heart who will open his heart—let Him come in—and have communion with him.

Copyright @ 2004 James R. Owen, Sr. All rights reserved.

"Warren's book is simply another system of self-effort to become something and do things that someone has decided is the essence of the Christian life. "

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