False Churches and Deception: The Lies of the Antichrist (The Purpose Driven Life)

False Churches and Deception: The Lies of the Antichrist

A powerful array of deceptions and lies has entered the church and false teachers have twisted scripture to make these lies seem believable. False teachers are promising blessings and prosperity to their followers, but this contradicts the clear teaching of scripture. We will expose in this article the deception of Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Kenneth Copeland, and other false teachers. We will primarily focus on Warren's teachings since his are the most influential of the group.

“THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE” IS NOT FOR CHRIST

In Rick Warren’s best-selling book, The Purpose Driven Life, a false gospel is taught. It does not promote any repentance from sin and it does not promote Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. For example, Rick Warren writes:

(Photo: Rick Warren. Source.)

“If you are not sure you have done this, all you need to do is receive and believe. ... First, believe. Believe God loves you and made you for his purposes. Believe you’re not an accident. Believe you were made to last forever. Believe God has chosen you to have a relationship with Jesus, who died on the cross for you. Believe that no matter what you’ve done, God wants to forgive you. Second, receive. Receive his forgiveness for your sins. Receive his Spirit, who will give you the power to fulfill your life purpose. ..." (The Purpose Driven Life, pp. 58, 59) (1)

There is no mention anywhere of repentance. Repentance is necessary because if a person continues in sin and refuses to repent, that sin has become his or her master. Jesus Christ told us that…

Luke 16:13-15 

13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 

14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 

15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Jesus said: “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Jesus Christ also said: “…for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” We cannot chose to serve ourselves (and refuse to repent from sin) and also serve God.

Jesus Christ told His disciples how to preach the Gospel…

Luke 24:46-47 (emphasis added) 

46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Repentance and remission of sins (through Jesus Christ’s blood) must be preached…not just remission. Repentance is essential to obeying Jesus Christ’s commandment to deny oneself, take up ones cross, and follow Jesus…

Mark 8:34-35 

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

This is not about living a life to please one’s carnal nature. This is about living for Jesus Christ, denying oneself to do so. It is a relationship with Jesus that comes from seeking Jesus and walking in obedience to Him (see John 15). We are only saved by Christ’s blood and we need to choose whom we will serve. Joshua 24:15: "...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Paul preached to the Greeks in Athens repentance. Acts 17:30: “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:”

Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Lord if we truly know Him personally (2 Peter 3:18 and John 17:3).

Rick Warren has promoted another “Jesus” and another “gospel” which do not have the power to save. He has even gone so far as to include Muslims under his “faith” umbrella.

MORE DECEPTION FROM “THE PURPOSE DRIVEN” CHURCH

Saddleback Church, Rick Warren’s mega-church, has a document they unveiled called “King’s Way” which states that Muslims and Christians serve the same God. (2). This is a lie right from the Devil. The Bible says…

1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” 

Acts 4:12: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” 

John 14:6: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

(Photo: Rick Warren. Click for source.)

Muslims do not believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of mankind. They believe their own works and Allah’s mercy will save them if their good works outweigh their bad works. Muslims and true Christians are not following the same God.

Besides not preaching repentance from sins and denying oneself to follow Jesus, Rick Warren also does not mention anything about the Biblical reality of eternal damnation in Hell. This is the part of the Gospel that very few want to speak about, but Jesus Christ taught about it many times, warning people to get rid of what causes them to fall into sin (i.e. what “offends” them).

Mark 8:45-48 

45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 

46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 

47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 

48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Jesus is telling us to get rid of what offends us or what leads us into sin. He told many parables about forgiveness and repentance and that refusing to repent would lead to Hell. He was not about making us live in fear: Jesus was about helping us to understand that God is Holy and that sin (and rebellious, self-centered people) cannot enter Heaven (see Revelation 21:7-8, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21, etc…).

Rick Warren, on the other hand, says the lie that you should listen to your heart and that God wants people to do what they want to do. Warren says:

“Listening to your heart. The Bible uses the term heart to describe the bundle of desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams, and affections you have. Your heart represents the source of all your motivations--what you love to do and what you are about most. ..." (The Purpose Driven Life, pg. 237)(1)

The Bible tells us this in Jeremiah 17:9: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

Where does denying oneself, taking up one’s cross daily, and following Jesus Christ fit in with Rick Warren’s system of having a “good life”? Rick Warren wants people to feel happy doing their own will, not God’s will. God’s will involves one surrendering to Jesus Christ and following Jesus where He leads.

John 12:25-26 

25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 

26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

We Christians are saved from sin by the blood of Jesus Christ so that we can live our lives for Jesus; not for ourselves. Living for Jesus Christ is what a friend and servant of God does.

Sadly, the mega-church pastors (such as Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, and Joseph Prince) and many other false teachers promote messages that “tickle the ears” (see 2 Timothy 4:1-4) and please the carnal nature of man. They do not preach repentance and seeking God with all one’s heart. They do not preach the truth about denying oneself, taking up one’s cross, and following Jesus Christ (Luke 9:23).

Luke 9:23: “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

Would you like to find out how to Know God's Name Personally?

IF YOU ARE SEEKING TO KNOW GOD, please read this message.

1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” 

Acts 4:12: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” 

Ephesians 2:8-9 

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

God loves us so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins and shed His precious blood to pay for all of these sins. It is not by any works of ours that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9). (See John 3:16; and 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; and Romans 5:8-11.)

If you repent (turn away) from your sins (Acts 3:19), looking to God for help; and believe and confess aloud that Christ has paid for all your sins and washed them away (Romans 10:9-10); and have made Him your personal Lord and Savior (again Romans 10:9-10) you are saved.

When you make Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior, you are choosing to look to Him for help in repenting (turning away) from sins. God will help you to repent from sin as you look to Him and make the choice to do what is right and not what is wrong.

Seek God with all your heart. Seek to know Him and you will (Jeremiah 29:13). God wants to have a personal relationship with each one of us (through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord).

Again, remember to repent whenever you are convicted about sin so that you can grow closer to Jesus Christ as you seek Him. Please also remember, you are not saved by works but by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Repentance is necessary for walking with God and getting close to Him. Willfully refusing to repent (when God convicts you about sin) is hardness of heart (see Hebrews 3).

Acts 17:30: “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” 

John 17:3: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” 

Jeremiah 29:13: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” 

John 14:6: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” 

Acts 4:12: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

WORKS CITED

(1) Cloud, David. A Review Of Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life.” wayoflife.org. Way of Life Literature Inc. 10 March 2008. Web. 23 Feb. 2015.

(2) "Megapastor Rick Warren now cozier with Islam?" wnd.com. WND.com. 8 Oct. 2013. Web. 23 Feb. 2015.