Deceived on Purpose [Paperback]

Warren B. Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 12, 2004

Christian author Warren Smith s book Deceived on Purpose warns about the serious New Age implications of Pastor Rick Warren s book The Purpose Driven Life. Smith takes the reader into the inner workings of today s evangelical world as he explores the questionable interconnections of several of its top leaders. As Rick Warren goes worldwide with his purpose-driven Global Peace Plan, Smith presents an in-depth examination of this mega-church pastor s spiritual agenda. He explains how Rick Warren s Peace Plan could eventually merge with the New Age Peace Plan that is being similarly presented by key New Age leaders. Smith contends that Crystal Cathedral Pastor and New Age sympathizer Robert Schuller has had a great influence on Rick Warren s teachings and that Schuller s influence can be found throughout Rick Warren s book The Purpose-Driven Life. Smith writes, The more I read Robert Schuller, the more I was shocked at how so many of Rick Warren s thoughts, ideas, references, words, terms, phrases, and quotes in The Purpose-Driven Life seemed to be inspired by Schuller s writings and teachings . Smith s distinctive background as a former New Age follower who has converted to biblical Christianity gives him a uniquely objective perspective as both an outsider and an insider. He draws deeply from his extensive knowledge of the New Age subculture that is now being subtly woven into the Christian church by Rick Warren and other Christian leaders. Smith believes that wittingly or unwittingly, Rick Warren is walking the church into a spiritual trap. This exceptional book is sure to appeal to a wide-ranging audience. Anyone who desires to know how the evangelical and New Age plans are moving toward oneness will find this book to be especially insightful. Smith s easy-going style makes this a fast-paced read.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The testimony of a former New Ager and how he sees a connection between Purpose-Driven Life and the New Age!It is clear that Robert Schuller is tied in with New Age leaders and philosophies - now the question is, is Rick Warren connected to Robert Schuller? We believe he is, and that puts the majority of the Christian church at risk!

From the Author

I was not that surprised that Robert Schuller would use a New Age leader to make a sermon point about hope. But Rick Warren? Bernie Siegel's New Age hope is a false hope and no hope at all. Was it Schuller's obvious high regard for Bernie Siegel, and Rick Warren's high regard for Robert Schuller that prompted Rick Warren to make this reference to Siegel in The Purpose Driven Life.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: Mountain Stream Press; 2nd edition (December 12, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966707133
• ISBN-13: 978-0966707137
• ASIN: 0976349205
• Product Dimensions: 0.5 x 5.5 x 8.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #89,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Warren Smith (B.A. University of Pennsylvania; M.S.W. Tulane University) A free lance writer and community social worker who was formerly involved in the New Age movement. He has served as a program coordinator for people with special needs, directed several homeless programs, and has worked most recently as a Hospice social worker in New Orleans and on the California coast. He has written extensively on the subject of spiritual deception and has been widely interviewed on radio and television.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

148 of 178 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Critically Important Book! January 14, 2005

By Tim Challies TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

Deceived On Purpose is probably the most important contribution in the ongoing discussion about Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life and all things Purpose Driven. It is one of only a couple of book-length treatments of the subject and the one that brings the most to the table. The author, Warren Smith, is a former New Ager who, after being saved, researched and has written extensively on the topic of spiritual deception. Having been immersed in the New Age movement for many years, he is sensitive to the inroads of New Age beliefs into Christianity. He says "Because of my New Age background, I have written this book Deceived on Purpose to specifically address some of the New Age implications of these purposes [for the church]." His discussion of the New Age implications of The Purpose Driven Life merits consideration by all concerned believers.

The author is clear from the beginning that this book is not a mix of positives and negatives. He believes that Rick Warren is leading the church astray and will mince no words in defending the Body of Christ. Leafing through the book, the reader might be surprised to see how much of the book is dedicated to a discussion of Robert Schuller. As a matter of fact, I suspect the book has more references to Schuller than to Warren. Why this apparently misplaced emphasis? Smith contends that many of Warren's ideas and beliefs were shaped by Schuller. Hence to learn about Schuller is to learn about Warren.

Smith leaves no stone unturned in exposing Robert Schuller as a major player in the New Age movement. Schuller has often invited New Age teachers to appear on his show and preach from his pulpit. New Age courses have been taught on the campus of his church, New Age materials are sold in the bookstore and he often declares his affection for the teaching of New Age gurus. It seems his New Age beliefs are common knowledge amongst New Agers as they consider him a leader who may be able to bridge the increasingly blurry gap between the New Age and Christianity.

Ironically and alarmingly, Schuller is also a major player in the Christian church. Having spent great attention on exposing Schuller as a false teacher, the author then shows the connection between Schuller and Rick Warren. Warren trained extensively under Schuller and acknowledges him as one of his primary influences. Many of the concepts and even sentences from The Purpose Driven Life are taken directly or almost directly from Schuller's writings, and these were in turn culled from New Age material. The author provides many examples of this, but I will contain myself to one. In this brief section Warren quotes from The Message:

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren - "The Bible says, 'He rules everything and is everywhere and is in everything.'"

Hour of Power (November 9, 2003) by Robert Schuller - "Yes, God is alive and He is in every single human being!"

Prescriptions for Living by Bernie Siegel - "God is in everyone and everything."

There are many similar (and even more clear) examples where Warren has borrowed or even plagarized the writings of Schuller. The conclusion we must draw if that Schuller is as corrupt as Smith portrays him, we must necessarily be suspect of Warren and any others who have trained under Schuller. While they are not covered in great detail, the author dedicates a small amount of time to exposing The Message and the writings of Bruce Wilkinson as having a similar New Age bent. Wilkinson was another man who was profoundly influence by Schuller, and thus by the New Age.

It is no great surprise that this book has been published by a small publishing company (Mountain Streams Press). While it is well-written, well-researched and convincing, it deals with a subject matter most publishers will want to avoid. Despite being confined to small distribution channels, I was glad to see that it is in its second edition and that a third is underway. I believe it has many important things to say and that Christians need to evaluate the teachings of Warren to see if they are consistent with the Scriptures. "In these times of heightened danger and trecherous deception, we must always go to the Lord for truth and direction. Christians following deceived leaders will only end up deceived themselves. We must always measure everything by the true Word of God. Seek the truth and you will find it. Knock and the door will be opened. Ask God in sincerity and in true faith, and He will give you the wisdom you need...May we always have a love of the truth. May God give us wisdom and spiritual discernment as we seek to contend for the faith." (Page 180)

Warren has written a book that is alarming, but not apocalyptic - a book that shows a love for the church and a godly concern for her welfare. I highly recommend this one.

41 of 52 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Take It From Someone Who Knows The TRUTH November 15, 2006

By J. M. Walker

Format:Paperback

If you're concerned about the way the 'evangelical' church is headed, if you have questions that no one can answer with sufficient Biblical authority, if you question the paraphrased "hippie" style version of the Bible that many are using, quoting, and embracing; then this book is a must.

Warren Smith exposes the Purpose Driven 'phenomenon' back to its source with carefully detailed, indisputable facts. Just because 'everyone' is doing it, doesn't mean it's right or of God. THINK CHRISTIAN, THINK!

36 of 46 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Canary in the Mine June 22, 2006

By Theophilus

Format:Paperback

Deceived on Purpose addresses a very important issue in the church today, namely the infiltration of New Age beliefs and practices into evangelical churches. Warren Smith knows what he is talking about. He has first hand knowledge of the New Age movement, having been a devotee himself. He is more sensitive than the rest of us to the use of New Age terms and ideas. Whereas most of us would skip right over Rick Warren saying that "God is in everything," Smith legitimately sees this as a New Age concept. Smith reads "as above, so below" in Eugene Peterson's translation of the Lord's Prayer in The Message, and red lights go off in this mind. This is New Age language! We need to listen carefully to people like Warren Smith. He is the canary in the mine.

But I believe that he sometimes overstates his case. Some of the connections he sees between Warren and New Age thinkers appear to be stretched. I am reminded of the concept of "six degrees of separation," the idea that everyone on earth is connected to everyone else through a chain of acquaintances with no more than five persons. Warren's connection to most of the New Age people seems to be little more than six degrees of seperation. He would have done better to focus on the obvious dangers in The Purpose Driven Life, like its advocation of "contemplative prayer" which is nothing more than Eastern meditation in western garb.

Yet for all its faults, this is a book that needs to be read by everyone who believes in Purpose Driven Christianity. It will open your eyes. Other newer books, which I think do an even better job at critiquing the Purpose Driven phenomenon, are: More Than a Purpose by Marshall Davis, and Redefining Christianity by Bob DeWaay.