A Little Leaven

Church Dating Series Includes Song from Grease that Glorifies Pre-Marital Sex

What could be more relevant than performing a song from Grease that glorifies pre-marital sex?

Here is 'Summer Nights' as performed by Granger Community Church.

"She Was Good. You know What I mean."

What is Granger Church teaching folks with a performance like this?

Apparently Granger forgot a few passages of scripture that are relevant to their use of so-called 'relevance'.

Galatians 6:14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

James 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Pop Goes the Church

Listen carefully to how they decide what they are going to preach about at Granger.

Then compare what you hear to what scripture says:

2Tim. 4:1   I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Titus 1:7 For an overseer,as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

God on MY TERMS 1

Do you refuse to go to church unless you can find one that plays rock-a-billy music and believes that the Bible is an 'owners manual for life'? Well if so, then you're in luck. You can now attend Hot Rod Church for Sinners.

This church offers a fun experience combined with useful tips for 'tuning up' your life. Whether or not you will actually hear Christ-Centered Cross-Focused preaching at Hot Rod Church is anyone's guess. But, who cares? Rock-a-billy music is soooo fun and life tips from the owners manual for life are soooo relevant. Crucified saviors, expository Bible preaching and songs that have more than 7 words are nothing more than relics of an outdated irrelevant church. Right?

Relevant Life Issues? What are Those?

What is the purpose of Church? Is church a place where we learn about "Relevant Life Issues"? Or does the Bible instruct Christian pastors to teach something else?

Compare the messages of both of the men featured below. The first is Pastor Ken Squires and the second is the Apostle Paul. Then answer this question: "According to the scriptures, who got it right and who got it wrong?

If you're not sure who got it right, read the verses below.

Acts 2:42   And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

2Tim. 4:1   I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

1Tim. 4:13 devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

Titus 1:9 He must whold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Further Resources...

1. Christless Christianity & The American Captivity of the Church - Part 1

2. Christless Christianity & The American Captivity of the Church - Part 2

3. Christless Christianity, by Michael Horton

4. Preaching Christ from All the Scriptures, by Dennis Johnson

5. Why I'm Not a Purpose-Driven Pastor

Release Your Brilliance??

"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money..." - 2Tim. 3:1

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." - 2 Tim 4:3

This book by a "Christian" author is 180 degrees wrong. The emphasis is on the self and is combined with the self-indulgent heresy that teaches that you are 'destined' for greatness and all you have to do to unleash that destiny is apply the steps outlined in this book. Here's what a recent press release about this book said:

"Simon T. Bailey's new book RELEASE YOUR BRILLIANCE: The 4 Steps to Transforming Your Life and Revealing Your Genius to the World is a transformational guide to unlocking your potential. It is centered around the metaphor of a diamond: Each of us is a rough-cut, unpolished diamond, unremarkable to ordinary eyes; yet within lies enormous potential that's been trapped over the course of our lives.

"You are a priceless diamond, and only the most skilled craftsman can reveal the brilliance that lies within you," Simon writes. "Who is this master cutter? God. Certainly, you will do most of the work to discover and release your brilliance, and other people in your life will also help shape and polish you. But God is the master cutter. Only He knows the divine plan--the shape and size of the diamond you will become."

If this is really what the Bible teaches then why would we need to buy this book to teach us this? Wouldn't we discover this by simply reading our Bibles?

What Rick Warren Said We Need to Do to Get to Heaven

We're putting this up as a discussion piece. In the past our videos have provided the analysis. This time we're not doing that.

So, you tell us whether or not people will make it to heaven based upon what Rick Warren said on Sean Hannity's show on February 10, 2008.

To help this discussion we've taken Rick Warren's solution to 'making it to heaven' and altered some passages about salvation to help see if this fits what the Bible teaches.

John 6:28-29 Then they said to Jesus, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “Give as much of yourself as you understand to as much as you understand about me and then keep growing in it.”

Acts 2:37-39 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Give as much of yourself as you understand to as much of Jesus Christ as you understand and then keep growing in it."

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever gives as much of themselves as they understand to as much of Jesus Christ as they understand and keep growing in it shall have eternal life.

So what do you think? Is Rick Warren's solution to making it to heaven consistent with what God's Word says?

Naked Church?

Naked Church? Those are two words that we wouldn't normally put together, nor is this something we really want to see. Okay, Shawn Lovejoy of Mountain Lake Church in Cumming, GA is not really advocating coming to church without your fig leaves. This is just another example of how the new breed of pastors uses shock marketing and innuendo to draw a crowd. Whatever happened to holiness?

HT: Old Truth

"Pastor" Rick Warren's Lie

Video is from the 2006 TED Talks

Is this the Biblical Gospel?

The video below is from Rick Warren's appearance on Comedy Central's Colbert Report. This was an incredible opportunity for Pastor Warren to share the gospel with literally millions of non-Christian viewers. Tragically, Pastor Warren didn't give them the Biblical Gospel. He gave them a different 'gospel'. This just so happened to be the same 'gospel' that Pastor Warren presented at the 2006 TED Talks. For a complete doctrinal evaluation of this other 'gospel' please read this article.

Pastor Warren correctly teaches that the Great commandment tells us to 'Love our neighbors as ourselves." But, if we truly love our neighbors then wouldn't we tell them the true Biblical Gospel? Sadly, Rick Warren didn't tell the Comedy Central audience the truth.

HT: Watcher's Lamp

Fear Factor, the Sermon?

The Oaks Fellowship in Red Oak, Texas recently did a sermon series entitled 'Real Life' and based it on the reality T.V. shows, Fear Factor, Dancing With the Stars, The Amazing Race and the Biggest Loser. We've put the promo video for the Fear Factor sermon here in our museum because it is another excellent example of the man-centered Christless Christianity that is sweeping through the American church in the name of being Purpose Driven, seeker sensitive and culturally relevant.

The line to listen for in this video is when Pastor Scott Wilson says:

"You were born with purpose everybody. I want you to know that. You we’re born with a God-sized dream for your life. The Bible says in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10, “that you are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which he prepared you in advance to do.” You need to know that because some of you today may think “Man, I don’t have a dream. I don’t have a vision. There’s nothing big that God has for me.” I just want you to know there is. And probably the reason that your feeling that there isn’t is because you’re living in real life. And real life problems or real life issues or real life circumstances seem to weigh down the God-sized dreams and purposes he meant for us to have. We’re going to talk about that in this series. And I want you to know that you are awesome and God made you for greatness and we want to help you overcome your fear and the stumbling blocks and the things of life that keep holding you back."

Sorry but this is not Biblical Christianity and this is not the Biblical doctrine of sanctification. Instead, this is a man-centered pop-psychology self-help infomercial gospel that pastor Wilson is peddling and he learned this 'other gospel' from men like Rick Warren and Robert Schuller (Warren's Mentor).

We are praying for pastor Scott Wilson and The Oaks Fellowship. We pray that God would open their eyes and bring them to repentance and that they would turn from these man-centered pop-psychology messages and instead rightly handle and preach the Word of God. After all, we cannot say that we are truly loving our neighbors if we're not telling them the truth about what God's Word actually teaches.

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1Cor. 2:1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Further Resources...

1. Christless Christianity & The American Captivity of the Church - Part 1

2. Christless Christianity & The American Captivity of the Church - Part 2

3. Christless Christianity, by Michael Horton

4. Preaching Christ from All the Scriptures, by Dennis Johnson

5. Why I'm Not a Purpose-Driven Pastor

You Call This Church?!

Ladies and Gentlemen, the video that you are about to see was the opener for a service at Buckhead Church. The song that the 'ministers' of Buckhead chose to open their "church service" is called "Ladies & Gentlemen" by the secular band Saliva. Click Here to See just how "Christian" the band Saliva is. Also, here is a sample of the lyrics for this song.

Ladies and gentlemen please
Would you bring your attention to me?
For a feast for your eyes to see
An explosion of catastrophe

Like nothing you’ve ever seen before
Watch closely as I open this door
Your jaws will be on the floor
After this you’ll be begging for more

Welcome to the show
Please come inside
Ladies and gentlemen

Boom
Do you want it?
Boom
Do you need it?
Boom
Let me hear it
Ladies and gentlemen

Ladies and gentlemen good evening
You’ve seen that seeing is believing
Your ears and your eyes will be bleeding
Please check to see if you’re still breathing

Why are these 'pastors' bringing this garbage INTO the church? This doesn't glorify or exalt Jesus Christ.

More importantly, Pastor Jeff Henderson preached an 'evangelistic' sermon after this performance that boiled down to the statement that "Jesus came for the real you, not the fake you." Apparently, Jesus came to earth to solve the problem of 'inauthenticity'. Henderson's solution to this 'problem' is synergism. Think about it. His solution makes your salvation based upon you, your decision and your actions. Ironically, after listening to the sermon 3 times, we're still not sure what Pastor Henderson was teaching we are being saved from.

Rick Warren Councils Jewish Leaders On How to Recruit Congregants

This story from the Christian Post is just mind boggling. It says:

"Megachurch pastor Rick Warren attended a large Reform Jewish gathering last week to share tips on how to build a community....

The “Purpose-Driven” pastor spoke to thousands of Jewish leaders Thursday night at the Union for Reform Judaism’s biennial convention in San Diego.

With the holiday season in mind, Warren urged clergy to take advantage of crowded events to publicize other programs so people can get involved in the community through smaller groups.

“There are some principles that apply regardless of our faith, if it’s Jewish or Christian,” he said at the convention....

After Warren spoke a few minutes at the podium, he sat alongside two popular Southern California rabbis for a casual talk about strengthening congregational life."

Are we missing something here? We've been working from the notion that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way of salvation and that we as the church are called to make disciples through the preaching of Christ Crucified for sinners. With that being the case, we don't see any freedom given by God in His Word for a Christian pastor to help Jewish synagogues recruit people.

Have we completely missed the boat here? Are non-Christians now saved? Is the only thing that matters to God is that people go to "A" house of worship regardless of whether it is Christian, Jewish, Muslim or 'other'?

How is what Rick Warren did NOT a complete betrayal of Jesus Christ?

HT: Watcher's Lamp

Rick Warren's Denial of Faith Alone

Pay close attention. This video shows Rick Warren denying the doctrines of Sola Fide, Solo Christo & Sola Deo Gloria.

If you're not sure what that all means, here is a link to a lecture given by Chris Rosebrough (The Curator of this Museum) that Biblically refutes Warren's teaching. Click Here to Listen You can view the powerpoint slides for this lecture by clicking here.

***For more context for the video clips read this article and watch the video of the sermon entitled Managing Your Time

John 3:16   “For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

John 6: 27 Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

iLife?? Is That What Christianity is About?

Apparently Christianity is no longer about Jesus Christ but it is now about offering you an iLife so that you can iLive, iLove, iWork and iPlay. This sounds eerily like Isaiah 14:13-14. We wonder when this church will do a sermon series about iSin, iRepent and iAmForgiven?

"YOU" are a Hero and "YOU" Have What it Takes! (Not Really... But, That Message is Guaranteed to Draw a Crowd)

Non-Christians (oops we meant the 'un-churched') are just not going to come to church to hear someone preaching expository Bible sermons (or so the story goes). So why not preach about popular TV shows instead and try to loosly tie them to the Bible? Pastors are already exegeting blockbuster movies and comic books, so adding popular TV shows to their repertoire just makes sense.

Below we've posted the graphic for the upcoming sermon series at South Hills Church in Corona, CA. (This is the same church whose pastor rather than preaching about Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday thought it would be better to preach about dysfunctional relationships. We can't wait to see what he preaches about on Christmas Day. We bet it will be about weight loss or new year's resolutions). Now pastor Chris Sonksen is going to tie the popular TV show, Heroes to the Bible. He plans to let everyone at his church know that they are 'heroes' and that "THEY have what it takes". Sermon Topics Include...

• How courage can help YOU conquer a storm (Noah)
• How faithfulness can keep YOU from quitting (Abraham)
• How generosity can multiply YOUR impact (Rebekkah)
• How commitment can take YOU beyond YOUR limitations (David)

In Sonksen's religion you already 'have what it takes' to be a hero. You just need to learn how to put it into practice. But a careful reading of the scriptures will show you that Noah's story isn't about Noah's courage at all. It is about God's justice, God's mercy and God's salvation. Noah was FAR from virtuous. Noah shamed himself and scandalized his sons through the sin of naked-drunkeness. The story of Abraham is NOT about Abraham's faithfulness. It is about God's faithfulness! Abraham lied about his marriage to his wife (twice) in order to save his own skin. Abraham also fathered Ishmael because he'd lost faith in God's promise. Rebekah was far from generous. She conspired with her son Jacob to trick Isaac into blessing Jacob and steal Esua's birthright. (stealing is the opposite of generous) As for David, we all know how well he kept his commitments. He was a murderer and an adulterer.

Reducing these Biblical stories down to morals or virtues (like Aesops fables) that we can somehow apply to our lives so that we can be heroic completely misses the point. The thing that we all have in common with Noah, Abraham, Rebekah, and David is that we are all wicked sinners. We are not virtuous, courageous and faithful. Instead we are faithless, heartless and ruthless. We are not heroes we are all villains. The Bible tells us that all of us are sinners in need of a savior. In other words, NONE of us 'has what it takes'. We, like Noah, Abraham, Rebekah and David NEED a hero and a savior to redeem us and save us. That's why those Biblical stories are NOT about Noah, Abraham, Rebekah or David, they are ultimately about Jesus Christ.

But, Pastor Chris is a proponent of the infomercial gospel and has bought into the lie that drawing large numbers of people to church is what determines success. He preaches these types of man-centered feel good messages in order to be seeker-sensitive and attract a big crowd.

We wonder if Pastor/Life Coach Sonksen has heard the news that this approach to church has been proven to be completely impotent at making disciples of Jesus Christ?

We wonder if he has the moral character to admit that he's been doing the wrong thing and repent? We wonder if he will stop preaching pop-psych and self-help. We wonder if he will stop pointing people to themselves and will instead point the people in his church to our one true hero, Jesus Christ?

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1Cor. 2:1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Saddleback’s Sermons = Steady Diet of Self-Help & Pop-Psych

Did you know that Rick Warren claims that the book the Purpose Driven Life is NOT a self-help book? It’s true. Here is what he says on page 19:

This is not a self-help book. It is not about finding the right career, achieving your dreams or planning your life.

Notice that Warren, in this quote defines self-help as information that will...

1. Help you find the right career
2. Achieve your dreams
3. Plan your life

On page 20 Warren goes on to talk about the type of truths that God wants us to build our lives on. Said Warren:

‘You must build your life on Eternal Truths, not pop-psychology, success-motivation, or inspirational stories. The Bible says, “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.”

You would think that since Rick Warren so emphatically denies that the book the Purpose Driven Life is self-help and because he so confidently declares that God wants us to build our lives on Eternal Truths rather than Pop-Psych that the sermons at Saddleback Church would NEVER veer into self-help or pop-psych. If you thought that then you were dead wrong!

Rather than preaching Christ-Centered sermons and the the eternal truths of scripture, Rick Warren and the other pastors of Saddleback preach a steady diet of Pop-Psych and Self-Help sermons.

Let’s review some of their recent offerings and you will be able to see this fact for yourself. (The artwork for each sermon listed below is the artwork created by Saddleback Church for each sermon series)

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Sermon Series: Growing Through Goal Setting

Sermon Title: Setting Financial Goals

Date: May 27, 2007

Presenter: Rick Warren

Genre: Self-Help (All Law, Zero Gospel)

Question: How many "financial goal setting" sermons did Jesus and His Apostles preach? Are ANY recorded in the scriptures?

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Sermon Series: Growing Through Goal Setting

Sermon Title: Managing Your Time

Date: June 3, 2007

Presenter: Rick Warren

Genre: Self-Help (All Law, Zero Gospel)

Question: How many "time management" sermons did Jesus and His Apostles preach? Are ANY recorded in the scriptures?

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Sermon Series: Handling Toxic People

Sermon Title: Handling Toxic People

Date: September 23, 2007

Presenter: Rick Warren

Genre: Pop-Psych

Question: Can you please point us to ONE systematic theology text or even ONE historic confession of faith that addresses the doctrine of toxic people?

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Sermon Series: Running on Empty... Learn the Ancient Secrets From God's Word for a Less Stressed, More Relaxed, and Lighter, Freer Lifestyle.

Sermon Title: Lightening Your Load

Date: April 15, 2007

Presenter: Rick Warren

Genre: Pop-Psych

Question: Since when is Christianity a religion that offers stress relief? Jesus told us to take up our crosses and follow him and He promised Christians that they would be persecuted for their faith in Him.

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Sermon Series: Breaking Free from Desperate Hidden Lives

Sermon Title: What I Eat and What's Eating Me

Date: March 4, 2007

Presenter: Recovering Overeater, Steve Arterburn

Genre: Pop-Psych

Question: Which Biblical epistle was written to those who need to join a recovery support group for overeaters?

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Why on Earth would Rick Warren and his pastoral staff preach Pop-Psych and Self-Help sermons from the Saddleback pulpit when Warren makes it clear in his book that this is NOT the type of information God wants us to build our lives on?

Shouldn't we instead be following the example of the Apostle Paul who said:

“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1Cor. 2:2 )

Church or Sex Club?

This is from The Gathering in Sevierville, Tennessee (a Purpose-Driven Church). They sent 51,000 of these mailers to the people in their community which means that thousands of children were exposed to this scintillating marketing piece when they opened their mailboxes. This upset many parents in Sevierville county (and it should have). Reaction to this mailer can be seen in the video posted in this exhibit.

What ever happened to the idea that, "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea?" (Mark 9:42) What about holiness and not causing a brother to stumble?

All of these Biblical restraints are gone because these purpose-driven, culturally relevant, innovative churches only care about the numbers. It doesn't matter what you use to get people to come to church, the only thing that matters to these churches is that their attendance is growing. In fact, The Gathering is reporting that 87 people 'got saved' during the first week of their Red Hot Sex sermon series. So in their mind the ends justify the means. But, how is this ANY different than using Pole Dancers to attract people to a church?

Purpose Driven Success NOW!

Is the Purpose-Driven Life not working fast enough for you in producing the results that you were hoping for? Do you want Pupose-Driven Success NOW?

If this is true for you, We've Got Great News!

The good folks over at ThinkTQ have developed a program based upon Rick Warren's Purpose-Driven Life that will supercharge the results and bring you paradise on earth quicker than you can say "It's Not About Me".

Purpose-Driven Socks

These Purpose-Driven Socks are JUST like the book the Purpose-Driven Life. They are made from twisted scripture. The material is thin, cheaply made and full of holes.

But if self-centered self-help philosophies are your cup of tea then these socks were made for you.

Purpose-Driven Idolatry

Did Jesus die for your sins or did he die so that you can discover your purpose?

Hmmm... we'd wager that the people who would buy this cross would also be VERY offended by a crucifix that showed Jesus hanging dead on the cross. They would consider that to be an idol. But if that is true, then why is it okay to put the word PURPOSE on the cross instead?

Suggested Saddleback Venues Changes

Many people are not aware that Rick Warren's Saddleback Church is like a churchy amusement park. There are church services designed to meet a variety of entertainment tastes. Take one look at the Saddleback Venues web-page and you'll understand what we're talking about.

Sadly, times are changing and Saddleback church has not been able to keep up with the new preferred worship flavors of today's discriminating seeker. Therefore, we've developed an entire new set of Venues for Saddleback church to implement. See our proposed changes to Saddleback's Venues web page below.

Broad is the road....

It used to be that churches were named after Biblical people and doctrinal concepts. Here are some simple examples, Christ The King Presbyterian Church, Saint John the Baptist Episcopal Church, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church etc.

Then along came Robert Schuller, Rick Warren and the seeker-sensitive types. These boyz have a really bad habit of building monuments to themselves and their clever ideas.

Case in point, Saddleback Church just finished some new construction. They added a new parking lot and a new street. What did they name their new street? Answer: "Purpose Drive".

Heck, why doesn't Rick Warren just rename the entire property. He should call it Purposeland!

Purpose Driven ≠ Disciple of Jesus Christ

Does Satan Really Hate Victory Family Church?

Victory Family Church in Decatur, Texas has a new billboard campaign that features the Prince of Darkness saying, "I hate Victory Family Church".

After recovering from the obvious repugnance of using Lucifer to promote your church, even if it is 'reverse psychology', we decided to peruse their website to see if the offense of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified for Sinners was the front and center message that this church is proclaiming. Why? Because we know from scripture that the message of the cross is the the one that REALLY burns the Devil.

Let's see how offensive Victory Family Church would be to demonic forces.

The Good

• Their building has a cross on it. That is a good start. But, remember the devil is always in the details. We need to ask some very important questions.

What are they teaching about the cross?

What do they say that Christ accomplished on it?

Are they even preaching about the cross at all? After all it is one thing to have a cross on your building it is another to actually preach about it.

• They have an orthodox statement of faith. This is also good. But, are they preaching the doctrine they've posted or is that document collecting dust because of dis-use? It is one thing to have a sound doctrinal statement it is another to preach and teach those doctrines.

The Bad

• Red Flag - The church's slogan is 'Putting Victory in Your Family'. Hmmmm...this is not a Biblical theme.

• Major Red Flag - The church has a NEW vision statement prominently featured on their home page. It says some very disturbing things:

1. God designed a plan of victorious living for each Christian. It is our mission to help you find God's perfect plan.

2. At Victory, we believe in helping you achieve a dream family.

3. God intended for believers to have a place where they could fellowship and learn to overcome life's challenges. Christians aren't supposed to live a defeated, miserable life! God has so much more in store for you.

Woah! Victory's vision statement contradicts the Biblical 'vision statement' laid out by the founder of the Church, Jesus Christ.

Jesus told the church to go and make disciples. Victory Church is making 'dream families'.

Scripture tells Pastors to Preach the Word. Victory's Pastor teaches people how to 'overcome life's challenges'.

Scripture says that Christians will be persecuted. Victory says that 'Christians aren't supposed to live a defeated, miserable life.'

The UGLY

Scripture says to preach Christ and Him Crucified. Victory preaches man-centered sermons. Here is the list of the last few published sermons from Victory Family Church.

"Living On Purpose"
"The Power to Get Wealth Part 4"
"The Power to Get Wealth Part 3"
"The Power to Get Wealth Part 2"
"The Power to Get Wealth Part 1"
"The Authority of the Believer"

Conclusion

Victory Family Church has wandered off into Seeker-Sensitive La-La Land. They don't preach and teach sound doctrine, or Jesus Christ Crucified for Sinners. They exist to make 'dream families' instead of disciples grounded in the words of scripture and sound doctrine. They preach about man instead of Christ.

Victory Family Church should be sued for false advertising!

Satan doesn't hate their church. He loves it!

This Purpose-Driven Church Has "Friends in Low Places"

Imagine showing up at church to find that your pastor has decided to stage his very own American Idol contest.

A church member decked in country and western garb walks on stage and begins singing "I've got friends in low places".

In a western twang he belts out such inspired lyrics as:

I've got friends in low places
where the whiskey drowns
and the beer chases my blues away

As soon as this 'church' song is finished the music minister stands up and calls people to worship the Lord.

Does this sound too insane to be true?

It's not! Here is the video to prove it!

This is from Newspring Church in Anderson, South Carolina.

Perry Noble is their pastor and he is a disciple of Rick Warren. Click here to read his open letter to Rick Warren.

After watching this video please scroll down and read the update. This story gets better.

*** Update ***

This story gets weirder by the minute.

We received a tip from a reader that “Pastor” Tony Morgan of NewSpring Church commented on the “American Idol” sermon series at his blog. Here is what he said:

"The vote for next weekend's opening song included Brick House by the Commodores. I'm just praying that God loves funk."

Here is the link.

Yep, "Pastor" Tony was personally pulling for the funk song ‘Brick House’. This is a song that is about the female anatomy. And yes, this song was sung in their church as part of their American Idol contest. Here are some of the lyrical highlights of ‘Brick House’:

Verse:
1. She knows she got everything
a woman needs to get a man, yeah.
How can she use, the things she use
36-24-36, what a winning hand!

Verse:
2. The clothes she wears, the sexy ways,
make an old man wish for younger days
She knows she's built and knows how to please
Sure enough to knock a man to his knees

We're sure these lyrics fit perfectly with the other sermon series they did called "Girls Gone Wild". How kewl is it that they named an entire sermon series after a series of porn videos.

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Golly those Purpose-Driven Churches sure are relevant.

Rick Warren 'Works With' and 'Strengthens' Mormon Churches and Other Non-Christian Sects

Did you know that Rick Warren and Saddleback church will work with and help ANY church become "Purpose-Driven" regardless of its 'doctrinal convictions'?

Here is what Saddleback Church said last week:

"There are Purpose Driven congregations in more than 200 different denominations and associations. Our desire is to work with denominations to strengthen their churches. Each church can maintain its own heritage and doctrinal convictions while cooperating with others on accomplishing the five purposes" (Online Source)

By their own admission Rick Warren and his Purpose-Driven ministries will 'work with' and 'strengthen' ANY church.

Where does this 'strengthening' and 'working with' take place?

Answer: At a Purpose-Driven Church Pastor Training Conference

What happens at these Pastor Training Conferences? Here is what the Purpose-Driven website says:

The Purpose Driven model offers leaders in your church a unique, biblically-based approach to help them establish, transform, or maintain a balanced, growing congregation. What is a balanced, growing congregation? It’s one that is growing larger in numbers as it grows deeper in carrying out the God-given purposes for churches... (Online Source)

Conference Sessions include workshops on:

• Targeting Your Community for Evangelism - Understanding Who You are Trying to Reach

• Attracting a Crowd - How to Design Seeker-Sensitive Services

• Building Your Congregation - Turning Attenders into Members

• Structuring Your Church on Purpose - How to Organize Your Church for Growth

Did you know that these training sessions are attended by Mormons, Catholics and Jews?

Here is what Rick Warren told USAToday about his "Purpose Driven" training programs:

"Warren's pastor-training programs welcome Catholics, Methodists, Mormons, Jews and ordained women." (Online Source)

Wait a minute! Mormons and Jews are NOT Christians. How on Earth can a "Christian Pastor" 'work with' them and help them 'strengthen' and grow their congregations?

Here is Rick Warren's explanation for training Mormons and Jews. Said Warren:

"I'm not going to get into a debate over the non-essentials. I won't try to change other denominations. Why be divisive?"

Since when is helping to strengthen and grow a non-Christian church a "non-essential"?

Christians are not called upon to help train non-Christian churches on how to strengthen and grow their congregations! Those congregations are sending people to hell? We don't want them to be healthy, strong and growing. We want those non-Christian churches to shrink and die by having their members repent and believe in the true gospel.

Plus, God forbids Christians to do this! Here is what the Bible says on this matter:

2 Corinthians 6:14   Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you.

Sorry, Warren's explanation demonstrates a complete disregard for clear Biblical teaching! Warren said that he didn't want to be 'divisive' but in reality Warren IS being divisive by flatout disobeying God and helping to strengthen and grow these non-Christian sects.

Sadly, Rick Warren is trying to portray himself as being 'magnanimous' by working with leaders from all faiths and "building bridges" with them. But, when you compare what he is doing to what God’s Word tells us to do you'll discover that the correct word to describe Warren's behavior IS "divisive". The reason for this is because he is being openly rebellious to God's clear commands which forbid Christians to be in partnership with false churches and unbelievers.

For those of you tempted to think that USAToday got their facts wrong, please consider this: The week that the USAToday story broke, Rick Warren's Pastors.com website said this about the article:

Click Here to Visit the Pastors.com website

Rather than repudiate the article's claims regarding Warren's training of Mormons and Jews, Rick Warren instead asked for people to pray that the article would be successful in introducing the "The Purpose-Driven Life to a whole new secular audience."

Rick Warren obviously approved of this article and its contents.

Shaking it for Jesus - Saddleback Style Part 2

The song is called "We are the dancing generation".

Rather than looking like 'deep worship' this looks like The Lord of the Flies Youth Group.

Fact: Rick Warren's Most Prestigous Parishioner Peddles Porn

An Open Letter to Pastor Rick Warren, of Saddleback Church:

Dear Pastor Warren,

It has been a year-and-a-half since the world first learned that you are media mogul, Rupert Murdoch’s pastor. We’d like an update to learn how Mr. Murdoch is progressing in his spiritual growth.

Although, many Christians were pleased to learn that you’ve been able to help guide Mr. Murdoch along in his spiritual journey, we’d like to know if you’ve had the opportunity to share God’s law with Mr. Murdoch and show him from God’s Word that it is sinful and unthinkable for a Christian to earn money from or own a company that makes a profit from pornography and the sexual exploitation of women. Have you told Mr. Murdoch that he needs to repent of this terrible sin?

We're sure that you are aware that NewsCorp, which is owned by Murdoch, sells more pornographic films than Larry Flint. Sadly, this business report reveals that Murdoch's porn empire is growing rather than shrinking.

We know that you would agree that pornography is a sin. We also know that you've publicly encouraged those addicted to pornography to get help breaking their addictions through programs like Celebrate Recovery.

Pastor Warren, since you openly reach out to consumers of pornography, we’d like to know how you’re using your influence to help limit and reduce the supply of pornography?

There is no way that God's purpose for Rupert is to be a porn peddler. There is also no way that Mr. Murdoch's S.H.A.P.E. test said that has the spiritual gift of 'pornographer'.

Have you encouraged Rupert to enter a Celebrate Recovery program to help him break his addiction to pornography profits?

How is it going?

When will we be hearing the details of Rupert Murdoch’s plan to dismantle his porn distribution empire?

Pastor Warren, you’ve said that you’re addicted to changed lives. Is Ruport Murdoch’s life changing? Is Mr. Murdoch more ‘Christ-like’ than he was a year and a half ago?

When can we expect to see the fruit of this change?

Sincerely,

The Museum of Idolatry

Rick Warren Teaches Self Love

In the March 2005 Ladies Home Journal, Rick Warren, rather than teaching the Biblical gospel to his audience of mostly unbelievers instead gave his readers advice that could only be classified as man-centered pop-psych that contradicts Biblical truth.

(Click on magazine artwork to see a larger image of the cover)

Listed below are Pastor Warren's salient points from his article entitled "Learn to Love Yourself ". (These are Rick Warren's actual words from the article)

Accept Yourself

God accepts us unconditionally, and in his view we are all precious and priceless. Focus on this and you will not waste any time and effort trying to be someone you’re not.

Love Yourself

[Warren’s wife affirms], “God really does love me without strings attached.” [On this basis we apparently have been given the freedom to love ourselves]

Be True To Yourself

Discover, accept and enjoy our unique "shape" [which refers to Warren’s S.H.A.P.E. program] ….Be content with them [our weaknesses].

Forgive Yourself

God doesn’t expect perfection but He does insist on honesty. When I honestly admit my errors and ask forgiveness in faith, He doesn’t hold a grudge, doesn’t get even, and doesn’t bring it up again. We should practice such a forgiving attitude with ourselves.

Believe in Yourself

Start affirming the truth about yourself! The truth is God has created you with talents, abilities, personality and background in a combination that is uniquely you. It’s your choice. You can believe what others say about you, or you can believe in yourself as God does, who says you are truly acceptable, lovable, valuable and capable.

Doesn't the first sentence of the Purpose Driven Life say, "It's not about you"?

We here at the Museum of Idolatry have no idea which Bible PASTOR Warren was reading from in order to come up with these suggestions.

Maybe we're just a bunch of unsophisicated dolts who are not hip to the 'new thing' God is doing but doesn't God's Word say that 'self love' is the source of humanity's problems instead of the solution?

The Bible that we read doesn't teach us to love ourselves it teaches us to love our Lord. We think the list should have read something like:

• Accept Jesus

• Love Jesus,

• Be True to Jesus

• Receive Jesus' Forgiveness

• Believe in Jesus

***

Please view the comments to this post for a complete Biblical critique of Pastor Warren's article.

Rick Warren’s Top 5 List of the Things Jesus Did While He Was on The Earth

Time for another pop-quiz. Here is the assignment:

List the top 5 things that Jesus did while He was here on Earth on a piece of paper.

Question: Did Jesus’ death on the cross for the sins of the world and his resurrection make it on to your top 5 list?

You are probably saying, “Duh! Of course they did. Those are the most important things that Jesus did here on Earth.”

We at A Little Leaven would agree with you.

Believe it or not, Rick Warren was recently interviewed on a ‘spiritual’ website called beliefnet.com and during his interview he listed the 5 things that Jesus did when He was on Earth and Jesus' death and resurrection DID NOT make Warren's list. Here are the things that Warren listed.

“It's the five things Jesus did when he was here on earth.

The first thing he did was he planted a church.

The second thing he did was equip leaders. He spent three years training these disciples.

The third thing he did was he cared for the poor. In fact, in his very first sermon, he says, "I am here to preach the good news to the poor.” He cared for the poor.

Fourth, he healed the sick. One-third of his ministry was a health ministry.

The fifth thing is he taught. Particularly he cared about the next generation.”

Click Here to Hear this List in Warren’s Own Voice.

How on earth could Rick Warren, a CHRISTIAN PASTOR miss Jesus' death and resurrection?

Apparently Pastor Warren missed the memo that the Holy Spirit sent us through the Apostle Paul. Here's what the memo said.

1 Corinthians 1:22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Well, let's be fair.

The interview on beliefnet.com was about Warren's 'Second Reformation'. (That's Warren's own personal reformation of Deeds NOT Creeds.)

We admit that Jesus' death and resurrection sure do sound creedal and mentioning them in an interview about Warren's Second Reformation would probably confuse people.

But here is something to think about... since Warren isn't willing to affirm Jesus' death and resurrection as part of his Second Reformation we probably shouldn't even call it a 'Christian' Reformation. No movement that is truly Christian would ever consciously omit Christ's death and resurrection, would it?

Click Here to read Warren's beliefnet.com interview.

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.

The March 2007 "It's All About Me" Award

The first sentence of Rick Warren's run away best seller, The Purpose Driven Life states, "It's not about you."

Apparently, one of the "leaders" at Saddleback Chruch must have skipped over that sentence, or forgotten about it. This character goes by the name J-Reezy and he appears from time to time in videos produced by the folks at Warren's church, including a rap video for the 2006 Purpose-Driven Worship Conference.

J-Reezy's latest production entitled Hotel, Hotel exemplifies the very antithesis of the first sentence of the PDL. The contrast is so stark that we at A Little Leaven thought it deserved an award.

The award is called “The March 2007 ‘It's All About Me’ Award” and we’re presenting it to Saddleback's own J-Reezy for his music video entitled Hotel, Hotel.

Congratulations J-Reezy! Your video is truly all about you.

The chorus of your song says it all.

Hotel, Hotel yo so sweet
you bring me all the things that I say I need
Hey!
Bring me a toothbrush
Bring me a hair comb
Bring me some Aqua Fina
Bring me my cell phone
Bring me some new sheets
Bring me my car keys
Bring me a sewing kit
Bring me some CD’s

Is the Purpose Driven Life a New Bible?

Saddleback's Missionaries are flying round the globe handing out copies of the PDL to poverty stricken villagers in order to teach them "their purpose". Inmates in Kenya are having their lives transformed by the PDL.

The PDL is such an amazing book who needs the actual Bible anymore?

In fact, if you have the stomach to visit the Purpose Drive Life store on line you’ll find that the Purpose Driven Life is being marketed as if it were a Bible.

It's really, really creepy.

Let’s go shopping and you’ll see what I mean.

	The Purpose-Driven Life - Deluxe Edition This Handsome Italian Duo-Tone® Purpose-Driven Life book will make a wonderful gift. We also have a matching Journal.
	I'd like to know if it comes in a red letter edition?
	The Purpose-Driven Life - Deluxe Edition Combo This Handsome Italian Duo-Tone® Purpose-Driven Life Book and Purpose-Driven Life journal will make the perfect gift.
Here's our personal favorite...
	Purpose-Driven Life Book Cover Great cover for your bible or for your Purpose Driven Life book.
Yes sir, that PDL is sooooo important that we’d better put it in a Bible Cover. But, don't worry if both books don't fit in the cover, you can always make room for the PDL by removing your Bible.

Potty Evangelism?

“Hey Pastor I think we need to do a better job of evangelizing and sharing our faith with the world around us.”

“I agree. Do you have any ideas?”

“I sure do. I think YOU should spend more pulpit time doing in-depth expository teaching from God’s word. You should really go deep into the Bible and teach us what we believe and why we believe it. That would help our members become more informed Disciples of Jesus Christ who are equipped to share the saving message of Jesus' death for sinners with their neighbors. It will be like having an entire church full of evangelists. Imagine what an impact that would have on our community. ”

“Sorry, but I won’t do that. That type of preaching only helps believers and we’ve decided that our services are going to be Seeker Sensitive. You've got to remember that our market survey told us that Seekers don’t want to hear expository Bible sermons. They want more practical messages that teach them life skills like “How to Plan to Win”, “How to be a person of vision”,”How to be a person of Character” and “How to Be Fulfilled in Your Marraige”. We’ve made a commitment to meeting the needs of seekers and I would offend them with if I preached the types of messages that you are suggesting. But don’t think that I don’t care about discipleship and evangelism. They are very near and dear to my heart. Do you have any other ideas?”

“Well, I guess we could trick out the men’s room and make it more manly. Ever since the women’s ministry leader insisted on installing a diaper changing station in the men’s bathroom a lot of men have left the church. Maybe if we put a bunch of manly things in there like racing cars and motor parts the guys won’t notice the diaper changing station and will come back to church.”

“Great idea! That’s what I call evangelism!”

Click Here to See Our Museum of Idolatry Exhibit on ‘Potty Evangelism”

Shaking it for Jesus - Saddleback Style

This is a video of a Saddleback Worship Concert.

There are teenage girls doing dance moves that include Pelvic Thrusts.

Is this really worship to the one true God of the Bible or is this worship to one of those pagan sex gods? You be the judge?

Here is one frame from the video of teenage girls 'worshiping' God.

Missionaries for Christ or Missionaries for Purpose?

When a Christian Church sends out missionaries, shouldn't those missionaries be packing their Bibles? Shouldn't those missionaries preach from their Bibles?

Apparently, if you are a missionary sent from Saddleback Church, you don't need to pack your Bibles or preach and teach from God's word. They have a book that is much more important than the Bible. It is called, The Purpose Driven Life. Here are pictures that Saddleback's missionaries shared with the world after a recent PEACE Plan trip to Argentina. Notice which book they are using for their missionary work.

Looks like the PDL is a Bible substitute for Saddleback's missionaries. It's just like Mormons and the Book of Mormon.

Hey that gives me an idea...

I think a fitting name for believers of the PDL would be Warrons.

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You can see entire video by clicking here.