Customer Reviews

More Than A Purpose, An Evangelical Response to Rick Warren and the Megachurch Movement

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I have grown up in a solid Christian environment and I knew after reading "The Purpose Driven Life" was that something was not right. "More Than a Purpose" answered a lot of my questions. It shows how Rick Warren has been influenced by the Norman Vincent Peale/Schuller brand of Christianity. It shows how/why biblical teaching isn't a big part of the mega-churches. I also understand a little bit of why many of my friends liked PDL - it is a Christian flavored self help book. It also described how spiritual consumerism and personalization has affected the megachurch and evangelicalism.

In showing the deficiencies of the PDL and the megachurch movement, "More Than a Purpose" also clearly presents the gospel and a true picture of Christianity. This book is an excellent critique of The Purpose Driven model, the megachurch movement as a whole, and the state of modern "evangelical" Christianity in these United States. It also provides direction as to how the church can get back on track.

It is straight forward, easy to read and not beyond the average lay person.

For those of us who have read Warren's books and come away with the feeling that we had just encountered "Gospel lite: tastes great, less filling," but couldn't pin down exactly why, this book hits the mark exactly. It won't, however, convince the Warrenites, who have so embraced the Warren brand that they are unwilling to open themselves to the real message of Jesus Christ - which includes suffering, confession, repentance, and atonement, none of which you'll find in Warren's ad campaigns.

Rick Warren is pastor of the largest Baptist church in the United States and author of the international best sellers The Purpose-Driven Life and The Purpose-Driven Church. Marshall Davis is pastor of a small Baptist church near Pittsburgh and this is his first book, setting up a "Davis vs. Goliath" confrontation.

Mr. Davis contends that the Gospel presented by Mr. Warren is deficient. "In Warrenism there is no genuine commitment to Christ because the genuine Christ has not been preached and the way of salvation has not been explained." The teaching of Rick Warren, Mr. Davis asserts, is "Gospel lite: tastes great, less filling."

Such assertions might draw a debate, especially from the millions worldwide who testify to the positive effect of reading the Warren books, but this next observation will be met with a chorus of amens: "The American Christian has gone from being a disciple to being a customer, from being a follower of the Lord Jesus to being a consumer of a spiritual commodity." In this new marketplace, Mr. Davis says, entertainment has replaced worship in the public gatherings of Christians.

The antidote, he contends, is a fresh attention to evangelism, worship, theology and ethics. It's a good read on a timely subject.

- Book Review, Dallas Morning News

While I normally do not like books written by Christians to criticize other Christians, I have to admit that reading some of the reviews of the other commentators here and the preview of this book helped me decide and kept me from buying "The Purpose Driven Life".

I was looking for a good Christian book to give as a present to one of my friend who isn't a Christian and was considering buying "The Purpose Driven Life". I had read a portion of it before. While I wasn't able to determine exactly what was missing in this "best selling" book, I felt that it seemed kind of plain. I wrote it off to the author coming from a Baptist background, while my background was more a charismatic / pentecostal one (no offense, fellow Baptist Christians!). I know that eventually it does not matter, as I believe that true Christians can be found in all denominations.

I think that the fact that "The Purpose Driven Life" has become so popular in itself seems to be a warning sign, since the Bible tells us that the way that leads to life is narrow and there are few who choose it.

This book is an excellent source on the true nature of the purpose driven church. This movement is not entirely bad, but it falls way short of the true nature and purpose of what the bride of Christ should be and the message it is to proclaim.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know why the megachurch is so successful in creating members but not as successful in creating disciples. This book answered a lot of my questions about why I was not satisifed after visiting a couple of megachurches.

These churches are great self-help seminaries and training grounds for people who want to buils their self-esteem.

As for myself and a lot of other believers, we want to go to church to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached from the pulpit. We want to hear about the birth, life, death, burial and ressurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That is the foremost reason for going to church and the rest is just icing on the cake.

Respectfully Submitted,

Glenn E. Rogers

IN his book (the pages Amazon includes in it's "Click to LOOK INSIDE!" section) , he comes out against the 'Religious Right', minimizes the 'homosexual issue', and uses the typical pro-homosexual lobby talking points. He assumes it's to divert from sin in the church. Though Christians need to deal much more with this, the Bible allows for political action & speaking to the culture and advocating Judeo-Christian morals, etc:

1) "Blessed is the nation whose God is YAHWEH." Not a generic something called 'Spirit', etc.

2 & 3) "You are the salt of the earth." "You are the light of the world." It doesn't includes politics, and it mainly speaks of things other than political/culture changing, but it doesn't negate it. It allows the application to all nations and what is allowed by law.

4) "Righteousness exalts a NATION; sin is a disgrace to ANY PEOPLE."

So, if Christians are to speak out, vote, etc., they should advocate biblical morals, positions, and so forth. NOT a so-called 'theocracy' (That's a deceptive smear & inaccuracy by the Secular & Religious Left), and not the top priority, but IS allowed for in the above verses. John the Baptist also did not hesitate to denounce a politician for moral 'sin'.

Christian evangelism, Christian growth, body life, etc., are certainly more important than political involvement, as are feeding the hungry, etc. However, the Bible does NOT justify Big Gov't as the solution in the Church age, or the gov't doing the charity work by forcing as much money as politicians want to get their programs in place, or as big as they want them. The church should do it through the church/worldwide body of Christians in a biblical manner, including an evangelistic side (though no need to be pushy, but it can be done tactfully. A Song and/or prayer before meal is served, tracts at the door, a tract at the tables for each person to take it or leave it, etc).

The author also praises and advocates liberal self-confessed Marxist (YES. He SAID he is A MARXIST- plain & clear) & that 'redistribute the wealth' = "that's what the gospel is all about" Jim Wallis of Sojourner's. I HEARD him advocate and state BOTH in interview(s).

SEVERELY wrong & heretical. The ONLY definition of the New Covenant Christian gospel is in 1 Cor 15:1-4: "THIS is THE gospel..by WHICH you are saved..that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and resurrected according to the Scriptures". NO works (So the LDS/Mormon Church's theology that it includes works (Book of Mormon: 3 Nephi 27), including "LAWS and ORDINANCES of the [LDS] Gospel" (LDS Article of Faith 3) and Mormon temple works ("The Life and Teachings of Jesus & His Apostles", p 418/419 print & online as of 2/5/2011) preaches a false gospel and damns (Gal 1:6-9, 2 Cor 11:3-4,13-15).

Adding Marxist and/or Socialistic principles still pollutes the biblical gospel, and is to be denounced and rejected.

For the author on homosexuality, Wallis, Religious Right - read pp 199-203. More illogical and shallow thinking then is covered here. One thing- he asserts homosexuality ("homosexuals", evolution, etc., aren't the problem.

Well, actually, if he investigates much further, he can see how all of that influences the youth and others who go to the church, and weakens, or destroys biblical teaching in their minds and hearts. I could go into more details. Don't be misled by the author here. It is a tactic of the Secular and Religious Left. I don;'t know how much he is into the Religious Social Left, but he sure parrots their lines in some places.

I have problems with Rick Warren, but be careful for one set of errors to advocate the Left & Far Left diversionary line falsehoods in Wallis' system of political/social/'social justice' agenda substituting for Warren's errors. Wallis is a spiritual adviser to Barack Obama.

Birds of a feather ... flock together.

Caution!

Mr. Davis' attack on the "Purpose Driven Life" is superficial and misguided.

He contends that "In Warrenism there is no genuine commitment to Christ because the genuine Christ has not been preached." The commitment to Christ and His church required for membership at Rick Warren's church is the same commitment that has been preached for almost 2000 years of church history. In fact, the expectations for a Saddleback member are far higher and more biblical than those of many, if not most, evangelical churches in the history of our nation. People may initially come as "consumers" as Mr. Davis contends, (don't most of us start our journey with Christ needing something from Him? forgiveness, love, hope?) but Christ turns most into devoted followers with servant hearts who are involved in ministry and missions in obedience to Jesus.

A comprehensive review of Warren's preaching and teaching would reveal that Rick's message is not watered down or anything less than the full council of Scripture. Mr. Davis simply has not done his homework on these issues. As for "The Purpose Driven Life," it is a simple, but not simplistic, introduction to the Christian life. Warren is not seeking to write a systematic theology for long time believers. (Although the "Foundations" series that Purpose Driven has produced is a solid and thorough treatment for laity). The fact that Mr. Davis would write a book like this explains why many churches in America are failing.

My advice? Follow Christ. Get busy accomplishing your God given purpose within your local church and community and don't waste your time on this book.

If you want to really find out what Rick Warren believes, read the Statement of Faith made by Saddleback Church. No hidden agendas, and you'll find it is based on sound doctrine. Also if you want to get the other side of the controversy this book participates in creating, read "Rick Warren And The Purpose That Drives Him" Rick Warren and the Purpose That Drives Him: An Insider Looks at the Phenomenal Bestseller

The claim in this book that the Gospel isn't taught at Saddleback and there is no real commitment to Christianity, is unfounded. One thing that most will agree is that as a Christian who is effective in winning souls to Christ, you will face much spiritual opposition. Rick Warren seems to face a lot of it. Test his teaching against the correct interpretation of Scriptures before you make up your mind about him.

If you haven't been formally trained on proper biblical interpretation, take a look at this book - "Basic Bible Interpretation" by Roy Zuck Basic Bible Interpretation, also biblical study techniques "Living by the Book" by Howard Hendricks Living By the Book: The Art and Science of Reading the Bible Then you would be qualified to disagree on the finer points of theology if you had differences with his position on Soteriology. There are legitimate questions that are debated in areas Scripture has not been completely clear. But, by no means are those who disagree on these issues to be considered heretics, or to be publicly criticized. We will never know all the answers until Christ returns.

This book is all it claims to be. However, the author does not present any clear alternatives.