When a Megapastor Denies Christ

Alert Focus: The Falling Away / Deception / False Teachers 2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW NETWORK - By Ingrid Schlueter - November 25, 2006 -- As a writer for Christian Worldview Network, I am committed to speaking the truth in love. More than anything else, I love the truth of God's Word and the Church for which Christ died. Because of that love, I cannot remain silent when I see the subtle entry of error taking place within evangelicalism. I believe that if the martyrs in other parts of the world are having to die for their faith, the least I can do in America is risk scorn and condemnation for speaking out on behalf of the Gospel. Again and again today, we are seeing evangelical leaders deny Christ. According to the dictionary's definition of the term, to deny is not just an outright rejection of something or someone. To deny is also to withhold, to refuse access to or give out information, or to refuse to recognize or acknowledge. It is critical that we understand what the denial of Christ looks like. It is everywhere these days. If you want to see what the modern denial of Jesus Christ looks like, I encourage you to watch this video clip. This clip features megapastor Rick Warren as he addresses the attendees of the TED Conference in Monterey, California. TED describes itself as a conference that brings together more than 1,000 thought leaders, movers and shakers every year to share ideas. The website claims that, ''After four days, you gain an understanding of how your own work fits into the larger web of knowledge and you get to connect with extraordinary individuals who are helping in creating a better future for all of us.'' As a Christian pastor, what did Rick Warren have to say to this group of people? He spoke for a little over 20 minutes. He said everyone had a purpose and that God wanted everyone to use their gifts and talents. He talked about his crisis in purpose when he made "tons and tons of money" with his famous book. He told about how he and his wife use a reverse tithe and how they started foundations to help solve the world's problems. He quickly established that he was a "pluralist". He said that everybody is betting their life on "something". The implication was that you believe in this, I believe in that. It's all good. Despite his repeated references to "God", Rick Warren never told this group of unbelievers who God was. He told the crowd that meaning in life is found through service and giving of ourselves. He never told them that we don't find salvation through service, but rather through a right relationship with our Creator, through His Son Jesus Christ alone. He talked of God smiling when we use our gifts. He never talked of the perilous state of our souls unless we repent and believe the Gospel. He gave these conference attendees a message of works righteousness--salvation through serving. This man with the label of Christian pastor seems to have ignored a very basic Bible verse, Titus 3:5: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; If any man had the right to boast in his service of Christ, it would have been the Apostle Paul. Yet even he said this in I Timothy 1:15: Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. Rick Warren did not follow in the train of the Apostles who preached Christ fearlessly and without apology, as the great Apostle described in I Corinthians 1:22-24: For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (Emphasis added.) Could any true minister of the Gospel be handed such an opportunity to bear witness to Jesus Christ and instead talk about purpose and meaning and just leave it there? Rick Warren denied Christ because he was ashamed to tell these people what the Gospel really says. These haunting words of Jesus should shake all of us who are too embarrassed to speak forth what God has done for us through His Son. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33 Warren could talk about a generic “God” very comfortably in front of this audience. God, purpose, fulfillment, service, meaning--none of those terms will evoke a negative reaction from the world. It's Jesus Christ who is the stumbling block. It is the exclusivity of the Gospel message--that is what the world hates. So if I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition that God made us and has a plan for us, but avoid that single point that God made us holy but that we sinned and are in rebellion to God in our natural state, we are not confessing Christ, however boldly we may claim to profess Christ. I have heard repeated claims that some of evangelicalism's biggest superstars are propagating the "Gospel". It is clear that there is little understanding today as to what the Gospel actually is. It is not about "opening your life to God" or "accepting his purposes for your life." It is to acknowledge that we as individuals have sinned and that we deserve the wrath and curse of God. It is to turn from our sin and to look to Christ alone and believe that He took that wrath of God on Himself to satisfy the just demands of God the Father on our behalf. It is to believe that He rose again in triumph over sin, death and hell and sits at the right hand of God the Father interceding for us. There is no Gospel outside of an articulation of God's holy hatred for sin. There is no good news without the bad news first. The true amazing meaning of God's sovereign grace will never be understood until our desperately hopeless state without Him is grasped. If Rick Warren loved those souls to which he spoke, if he had a view of hell as described by Scripture, where these lost souls will forever suffer if they reject the Son of God, if he truly loved that Savior who hung bleeding and naked on an old rugged cross to pay for our sins, how could he fail to share that message? Do not elite movers and shakers also need Jesus Christ? Did not this crowd need to hear more than a works righteousness message? God save us from this kind of spiritual leadership. May we get our eyes off these evangelical celebrities who are denying Christ and put our eyes on the Lord alone. He is the one who gave that Great Commission. He is the one who has already declared our purpose here in His eternal Word. Let the compromise around us spur us on to lift ever higher the cross of Christ and without shame, proclaim His saving power. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. --Romans 1:15-17 KJV

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