Rick Warren on Fundamental Doctrine

Rick Warren made this statement on May 23, 2005, at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: “The word ‘fundamentalist’ actually comes from a document in the 1920s called the Five Fundamentals of the Faith. And it is a very legalistic, narrow view of Christianity.”

The five fundamentals of The Faith to which Warren referred are:

1. The inerrancy and authority of Scripture
2. The Deity of Jesus Christ
3. The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ
4. Christ’s vicarious death and atonement for sin
5. The literal second coming of Jesus Christ

Rick Warren has a problem with these doctrines BUT, according to God’s Word, they are absolute, non-negotiable and essential for true, biblical faith.

If Rick Warren identifies Christians who hold to these basic foundational doctrines of THE FAITH as narrow and legalistic, then I am proud to declare here that I am narrow and legalistic. Furthermore, I am disgusted about the general degradation of the word “Evangelical.” Today, there are so many liberals and non-believers who are comfortable with that tag. Actually, in Rick Warren's vacuous theological framework, Christianity is very broad; everyone is an evangelical Christian. As for me, I do not wish to painted with that broad brush; I will just wear the label, “Fundamentalist” as a badge of honor.

Starting TODAY, I am beginning a new topic (label) on this blog and I intend to post often on this subject. The label is, “Hirelings and Dumb Sheep.” There is a dangerous threat facing the majority of Christian churches today. It is commonly known as the Church Growth Movement and is perpetrated by men like Rick Warren. It is pervasive; it is subtle and it is probably impacting your church. Hirelings are at work to change their churches from Christ-honoring bodies to man-pleasing centers for the sake of growing their numbers. And they are able to do it because, for the most part, the sheep are totally unaware of the dangers and are willing to blindly trust and follow their shepherds.

But we are called to be watchful; to guard The Truth; to earnestly contend for The Faith. We are to examine every teaching and philosophy in the Light of Scripture. We are exhorted to resist and correct or separate ourselves from those who teach and practice error.

If church leaders really believe that God is giving them new visions and that He desires for them to change the nature and purpose of their churches, they should be men enough to own up to it, admit it, declare it openly and then convince the people of their vision. Then the people would know what they were doing and would be able to make informed decisions about their continuing attendance and support.

But in most cases that would not work; most real Christians would never agree to unbiblical methods if they really knew what was happening. That is why, according to the Purpose Driven “instruction manual,” the process must begin secretly with a few change agents in the church who are willing to take it over by stealth. Resisters must be identified and marginalized. By the time the people realize what has been done to them, it is too late to reverse the damages.

Dedicated to the Resistance,