PEACE Plan: The Final Verdict

On A Generation for Truth we have discussed and critiqued Rick Warren's PEACE Plan over the past few weeks. Now comes the time for a summarizing opinion, the final verdict if you will. My personal opinion, simply boils down to that the PEACE Plan misses the mark. Listen to Rick Warren's words regarding his Plan, "The first Reformation was about belief; this one's going to be about behavior." Falling back on my debate training and instincts I would now like to show the advantages and disadvantages of enacting the PEACE Plan.

Observation 1: Definitions

Philosophy of the PEACE Plan: Listen to Rick Warren's words regarding his Plan, "The first Reformation was about belief; this one's going to be about behavior." I would like to comment first by saying that Christians have been trying to influence Godly behavior since before the 1^st century.

PEACE Plan:

Promote Reconciliation

Equip servant leaders

Assist the poor

Care for the sick

Educate the next generation

Observation 2: Harms of the Status Quo

Rick Warren calls these the five "giant problems" that exist today.

Spiritual Emptiness (Aaron finds a major problem with the word "empty." I have a tendency to feel that they just messed up a little bit and should have used the phrase "Spiritual Darkness.")

Self-serving Leadership (Rick Warren hobnobs with some leaders that feel to belong in this category, however, if Warren attempts to truly make some of these socialistic thinkers to truly think about the people they claim to serve, then great.)

Extreme Poverty (As someone who enjoys finding historical patterns and cycles, extreme poverty occurs often when dictatorships arise. God creates both the wealthy and the poor, of those who receive much, much is expected. Also, if someone will not work, neither shall he eat.)

Pandemic Diseases (Diseases are a direct consequence of sin and many sins cause illness. Christians have established thousands of hospitals, clinics and other source of medical care across globe.)

Educate the Next Generation (What type of education are we talking about? A God centered philosophy or man centered ideologies?)

Observation 3: Advantages of the PEACE Plan

First Christians will address these problems and will be living witnesses for Christ although that is not the primary objective (see main disadvantage for further discussion). My church headed up ShareFest in our area and I believe had a positive impact on our community, why not reach out to the whole world if you can?

Observation 4: Disadvantages of the PEACE Plan

If Rick Warren had not made his "2nd Reformation" claim and instead stated that he believed that the church should help people in need, it would be an extremely great plan. But he focuses on the deed as opposed to doctrine. God judges the heart, not the outward appearance. Groups like Samaritan's Purse and Operation Christmas Child provide aid and supplies to countries around the world and the Gospel. The PEACE Plan could do this too.

The Bottom Line: "The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him." Proverbs 18:17

The Clipboard: Brain Mclaren's Gospel

I was at the library the other day and on a whim, I searched for books by Brian Mclaren. Normally, when I am about to critique someone or their ideas I like to read their ideas in context before I throw my words out of my mouth and a foot enters the void. I looked at The Secret Message of Jesus and I am still working on Everything Must Change, but these books explain why Mr. Mclaren advocates a social gospel. In his introduction he says that there are three kinds of people who read his books, People who are...

1. Converts to his teachings.



2. Curious about his teaching.



3. Critics of his teachings

I would place my self in between 2 & 3. Why? I am interested in what he has to say, but I am critical of his ideas. Like a well trained debater he has pre-empted his opposition and is very kind to them throughout the entire book. Initially, he used to believe in the standard gospel, but was influenced by a friend to adopt a social gospel/kingdom dominion viewpoint.
Why is the message of Jesus a "secret?" Mainly because Jesus speaks in parables and metaphors. Such as "born again" (John 3:1-8) and "living water" (John 4: 10-15). But that is a just a small point compared to why Mclaren believes in a social gospel/kingdom dominion.

In Chapter 11: The Open Secret, Mclaren relates to a significant conversation at a restaurant. During this lunch, Brian Mclaren was asked what he believed the gospel to be by a friend who claimed that most people had the gospel wrong. He replied by quoting Paul about justification, salvation, and Christ dying for our sins. Mr. Mclaren then asks his friend what he believed the gospel to be, expecting heresy. His friend answered with,"The kingdom of God is at hand. That was Jesus' message. Don't you think we should let Jesus tell us what the gospel is?"

"Some would say that we have exchanged "Christianity" for "Paulinity." Christianity was about the kingdom of God coming to earth for everyone, they would say. Paulinity is about about a select few escaping earth and going to heaven after they die. (The Secret Message of Jesus, pg. 91)"

He goes on to say later in the chapter:

"But the question remains: if Paul doesn't use the exact same language with the similar frequency, how does he translate Jesus' message into his own, new situation?(The Secret Message of Jesus, pg. 95)"

Aaron covered a lot of the issues regarding kingdom dominion in his post on Thursday so I will not expound on the in depth issues so as not to bore you with redundancy. However, one issue begs of discussion. Paulinity vs. Christianity. In II Timothy 3: 16-17 it says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." The key phrase is that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God." Does it say that only certain parts of the Canon represent truth? No, the entire Bible is completely infallible.

For a detailed review, which covers a lot of Mclaren's ideas that are presented in The Secret Message of Jesus, click here.

The Bottom Line: "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14: 7)

A Generation For Truth Podcast Episode 2

Today we are talking about the social gospel and how the Emergents have replaced the true gospel with this heresy.

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The podcast is also availible for download at.

http://swordmaster31.podbean.com/2008/06/09/a-generation-for-truth-podcast-episode-2/

The Social Gospel

"Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary" - Francis of Assisi. This quote is a source of controversy, mainly over whether he actually said this or not. However, in this article I am not going to be dealing with the what Francis of Assisi did or did not say, but rather the idea promoted in the alleged quote. The Emergent Church promotes the "social gospel." Aaron will address "kingdom dominion" which deals with social gospel as well. As a debater, I like to define my terms:

Social gospel - That the gospel is ending poverty, solving AIDs, and helping out people is preaching the gospel. This philosophy entails thinking that Jesus dying for our sins and the Ten Commandments are secondary to to "helping" people.

The key word is social. As in socialism. When the social gospel began to gain momentum, many of the people behind the social gospel would have also been considered progressivists . These people observed poverty brought on by evil capitalists who owned factories and mines. So they promoted big government, labor rights, and socialistic ideas like a welfare state. Before we go any farther, I want to make it clear that I do not relish the idea of having eight-year olds working in coal mines and that some of the factory owners took advantage of their workers. On the other hand, teenagers, the reason why you cannot get a job till you are fifteen or sixteen is because of these people who instituted child labor laws. The free market represents the best economic model and the more the government messes with it, the more off kilter it gets. FDR's New Deal legislation and many other socialistic government programs have created a major bill for myself, you, and your decedents. And for those of who do not enjoy school and learning, the social gospel people/progressivists pushed for more enforced school attendance. All of these measures were an effort to improve the moral lives of fellow citizens.

Many people claim that environment and wealth dictates one's moral standing. They are absolutely wrong. If money plus nice neighborhoods equal strong moral values, what happened in Hollywood? Every moment you turn around, some celebrity is in rehab or court. If you live in Cincinnati, you lost the majority of your pro football team to low moral standards, even though these guys get paid a ton and can live in a good neighborhood in they wanted to. No, morals begin and end with someone taking a personal stand and deciding that they will choose the path of truth.

The Emergent Church takes the alleged Francis of Assisi quote quite literally, they feel that saving the world is all that is necessary for evangelism. But we are commanded to preach the gospel, not promote energy efficient lightbulbs in hope that people will desire God. Think about it, if I drive a hybrid, do you think my friends will say something like, "Noah, you drive a hybrid and you try to save the world. What motivates you to do this? I want the passion that is with in you too." I highly doubt that, although I wouldn't mind the great gas mileage. (By the way, I do not own a hybrid.)

I do not want to discourage people from living a life of service and high moral standards, but rather the opposite. Live a life that is pleasing to God, one of integrity, humility, and love. For instance, during the summer my church is in charge of a community service coalition. Churches throughout the area join together to volunteer and serve the community, from painting buildings, running a completely free car wash, and gratis yard sale. But our church firmly believes in preaching the true gospel as well. Help out your community, but do not rely on your service work alone to spread the gospel.

The Bottom Line: "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works." - II Corinthians 11: 13-15