April 2007 False Advertising Award for Ancient Biblical Stress Relief

Do you have stress?

If you do then drugstore.com has all kinds of products than can help you. Here are some examples.

Stress Relief Pills.

Stress Relief Tea

Stress Relief Spray

These all seem pretty standard. But, have you ever thought that Christianity or Jesus could be the answer to all your stress? If not, then don't worry (that was a pun) Rick Warren is now marketing the Christian faith and Biblical truths as 'ancient secrets for a less stressed, more relaxed and lighter, freer lifestyle. Here is the marketing piece that Saddleback sent out for this particular sermon.

We were so impressed by this brazen form of false advertising that we couldn't help but give Pastor Warren our April 2007 False Advertising Award.

If Christianity is supposed to be about stress relief, then we think those Christians who have suffered persecution for their faith around the globe and for the last 2000 years should sue Saddleback church and get their tithe money back.

Maybe Pastor Warren has forgotten the words of Jesus.

Matthew 10:34   "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword."

John 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

The Apostle Paul should also sue Saddleback church. Here is what he experienced as a Christian.

2 Corinthians 11:23 ...with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

Perhaps Paul was doing something wrong. Why did Paul go through all this stress and trouble when all he had to do was apply the ancient secrets of Biblical stress relief? If we are to take Rick Warren seriously then we must conclude that Paul truly didn't understand what the Christian faith was all about. Otherwise Paul would have had far less stress in his life. Therefore, we should read 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 as a warning to us about what happens to people who don't properly apply the principles of Biblical stress relief.

Or maybe, just maybe Rick Warren's marketing of the gospel is way off! Perhaps Warren isn't telling people the truth about the cost of discipleship. Maybe Warren is sugar coating Christianity and teaching a different gospel.

Either way teaching people that the Christian faith is about relieving stress contradicts scripture and is false advertising and it deserves a mention in our museum of idolatry.

Comments

[Val]

anyone who falls for this type of marketing will leave the Christian faith as soon as they experience stress again.

I can't imagine the Apostles preaching a stree free life!

They preached Christ Crucified for sins and raised from the dead.

This is disgusting!!!

[Ken Silva]

Wow, Rick is just so amazing!

Man, even Saddleback spin doctor Mark Kelly must now be able to see that Rick obviously knows more about this "Christian" thing than even God Himself.

It would now appear that the Holy Spirit erred when He said: "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Timothy 3:12).

O call me an old-fashioned "fightin' fundie" but being persecuted would seem to involve a certain level of stress and curtail some "lighter, freer lifestyle."

[Sarah Lyman]

It is difficult for me to determine just who is more at fault in this situation. Is it Rick Warren who is promoting this false version of the gospel, or is it those who are clamoring to hear it? Over the past several years I have had opportunity to share the true gospel with several individuals and found them entirely uninterested. But along comes Rick Warren and they all seem to be willing to march to the beat of his rhythm. Why? The Bible says, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." II Tim 4: 3-4. I think that this is a classic case of supply meeting demand.

[el leon]

This breaks my heart and makes me want to pray for the depravity of the world. To pray for Rick, those that are seeking this message, my own pastor, the ignorant sheep, Christians who know better and yet do nothing but blog about it, Christians who don't know better because all they ever hear are messages like RW's, and all those that are lost. May God have mercy on us!
Please pray! Do you love enough to sincerely pray? Or just blog?

[Pastor Paul Willis]

Wow! Now I get it! The church really is a filling station. And all this time I thought the church was the place we gathered to worship and praise the God of all creation. I guess I need to quit looking at passages like James 4:9&10,"Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up."

[Lindon]

"The church really is a filling station"

Pastor Paul, I was at the grocery today waiting to be served at the Deli and overheard this conversation:

Woman 1: Yes, I go to church every Sunday.
Woman 2: Me too! My week just goes so much better when I attend church.
Woman 1: Me too!! It really helps me get through the week.

All one would have to do is substitute 'therapist', 'gym' or 'spa' for 'church' and it could have been the same conversation

[Rita Martinez]

Alittleleaven, I think people should see the actual service: "http://anon.trinity-global.speedera.net/anon.trinity-global/ondemand/service050522M.asx"

it is way worse than the video shown here...They do the entire service, in mime.

[Ryan Smithson]

Everyone... I understand the concern...I do see problems with many of these videos and adds... But let me also say that if the extent of your time is dedicated to judging these other ministers then you too are guilty of the same thing. Can I ask you the last time you sat down and prayed for Rick Warren? Not for God to judge him, but that God would speak to him through the holy spirit? Lets chill on the trash talking and focus on the issues you have because we ALL have fallen, are falling and will fall short of the glory of God... Im sorry but this site is vile to me...

[James Larson]

I think the comment about spending our time with true concern for those christian leaders is admirable....and at the same time, information that sheds light on the teaching errors of those who, for one reason or another, are in a position of having great influence over many people is absolutely vital. This generation is a "entertain me and meet my needs immediately" group. What we need is the hard, straight-forward truth. If we reject that, we are accountable for our own actions....but feeding parishing people sugar, when true norishment is the only thing that will save them is worse than complete apathy. A parent who gave their children nothing but candy could truly be guilty of child abuse. I believe the same holds true in the church. What is the ultimate goal? To teach Christ and Him crucified, so that He who is worthy will receive the reward of His sufferings? Or that egotistical pastors can fill the seats, sell books, and promise that we will have a better self-esteem and live a life of prosperity and ease? People need to know that there is a subtle yet enormous difference between christianity and humanism.

[James Larson]

I think the comment about spending our time with true concern for those christian leaders is admirable....and at the same time, information that sheds light on the teaching errors of those who, for one reason or another, are in a position of having great influence over many people is absolutely vital. This generation is a "entertain me and meet my needs immediately" group. What we need is the hard, straight-forward truth. If we reject that, we are accountable for our own actions....but feeding parishing people sugar, when true norishment is the only thing that will save them is worse than complete apathy. A parent who gave their children nothing but candy could truly be guilty of child abuse. I believe the same holds true in the church. What is the ultimate goal? To teach Christ and Him crucified, so that He who is worthy will receive the reward of His sufferings? Or that egotistical pastors can fill the seats, sell books, and promise that we will have a better self-esteem and live a life of prosperity and ease? People need to know that there is a subtle yet enormous difference between christianity and humanism.