Joseph Farah has Excellent Article up about Rick Warren's Efforts for Unity

Warren and these other "evangelical pastors" are the pied piper's who are leading the great apostacy of this age... and this is just one more example.

Krispy

Rick Warren says:

"You've got to protect the unity of your church. If that means getting rid of troublemakers, do it."

I KNOW that Rick Warren is saying this to those that oppose his theology, but the statement itself is not wrong. He really believes what he is teaching is the right way. You can't fault him for saying that.

I find nothing wrong with any of his 6 warnings. What I don't like is the NIV being used. There is a difference in being in agreement AND having the mind of Christ.

Here are Rick Warrens 6 admonitons for Pastors.

1. Avoid situations that cause arguments. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:23-24 (NIV): "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful." Pastors should avoid causing arguments. As a leader you need to set the example for your whole church on this issue. When a minor argument comes along, refuse to get in the middle of it. You don’t need to have an opinion on everything. Some discussions don’t deserve your participation. Focus your conversation on topics that matter

2. Teach troublemakers to repent. 2 Timothy 2:25-26 (NIV) says, "Those who oppose him [the pastor] he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." Most pastors don’t like confrontations. But we can’t run from them. As the pastor, you must gently instruct those creating dissention and opposing the teaching in the church.

3. Warn those causing trouble that their negative words hurt others. 2 Timothy 2:14 (NIV) says, "Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words. It is of no value and only ruins those who listen." People need to know that their words have consequences.

4. Make a plea for harmony and unity. Paul did this in Philippians 4:2 (NIV). He said, "I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord." There were two very strong willed women in the church named Euodias and Syntyche who were causing so much friction in the church that Paul’s plea for them to stay united is in the Bible. Fighting in a church doesn’t just affect the combatants; it influences the whole church as people start taking sides. Just like Paul did, at times, you’ll need to make a plea for unity directly to those causing problems.

5. Rebuke with authority if necessary. Paul says in Titus 2:15-3:1, "These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you. Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good." You may need to confront the contentious person as well.

6. Remove them from the church if they ignore two warnings. Titus 3:10-11 says, "Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned." No pastor wants to do this, but at last resort you may need to remove the contentious person from the church. You’ve got to protect the unity of your church. If that means getting rid of troublemakers, do it

If I were a Pastor, but I'm not, I could not be at peace or feel I was working toward the unity of the church or unity in God's Word as Pastor if at anytime I permitted anyone who supported abortion and homosexual rights speak to the flock about anything, clear and simple. We are in the world, but not of the world. Now if someone, through the regeneration of the Holy Spirit had left their former ways and became a new creation and had a new way of thinking on abortion and homosexuality then they would have a testimony of the power of God in their life and bring HIM glory, their past way of thinking would not matter, and God's power would be manifested in their life and testimony. Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost. He didn't call the lost to speak to the church, but the church to speak to them. If a person supports these issues it is a good implication and a very good sign to me they could very well be lost. Am I judging? Not unless I give the punishment. I just used a preponderance of God's Word.

Rom 1:26-2:1
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.[b] Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.[/b]

28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Do be careful that you do not make evaluations according to YOUR slant unsubstantiated by adequate research. And do be careful that you do not pigeonhole others, including RW, according to YOUR biased criteria. For in doing so, your sin could be greater than the one you are condemning.

Regarding the NIV, I am blessed that you are using it. However, I was only commenting on the one verse regarding two people that should come into agreement (NIV) or should have the mind of Christ (KJV). That shouldn't offend anybody. We shouldn't always just take a version at face value. There are several instances in the KJV that I would like it to be worded differently because it just doesn't look right. For example,

1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

Stay cool 8-)

P.S. For all others when reading the above statement that I made, "I would like it to be worded differently because it just doesn't look right". Please read into what I am saying. I am not saying that I want the KJV to read according to my understanding, I am only referring to the grammer that was used at the time it was written. If not, then TORA! TORA! TORA!