The Purpose Driven Life??

[krikin]

Our church is starting a series on "The Purpose Driven Life" book that has become so popular. Has anyone read the book and is it
Biblically sound??

[nooneuno]

faith in what a book has to say over relying on God's word, the Bible

[krikin]

no, I understand that point - but I'm trying to figure out why a church needs to do a series on the book?

[Daddys_girl]

because everyone else is, silly :D:

[nooneuno]

THAT, my dear, is exactly THE question! :nod :thumb

[Mindenite]

Self-help Christianity is becoming a very popular, and lucrative, business. You've already pointed out Rick Warren, but also ask Joel Osteen.

[krikin]

if that's what this whole thing amounts to then it really would be a waste of my time! I'm not a baby Christian - I want something with substance!! so I'll go back to the only book that has true changing power - The Bible!

[sandy111]

The pdl has ruined churches...

please check with rebecki here on the board, she has some good stuff and
has personally seen what it is doing.

[His Bride]

We left one church because of RW. After almost a year we are now visiting another. It seems most of the churches dabble in RW in one way or another. It is soooooo difficult for me. All anyone has to do is read up on his philosophy and mentors. It is mind boggling how people have been deceived. I realize that God can and does use people and movements, but it is sad to watch people give up their brains and be led around like dumb sheep.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus, and save us from ourselves.

[Cindybobindy]

:popcorn

[antitox]

My last church of 13 yrs started PDL, and it just turned me completely off, so I ended up leaving after a while. I do not want to hear that stuff on Sunday morning or wednesday night. I want the freshness of the word -real meat, not packaged bologna or soy bean.

[ShoutToTheLord]

If you want to see more threads just put Rick warren or Purpose driven in search on here. We have had so many threads exposing the dangers of this movement. We also left a church because of the RW theogy......

[warrior-child]

... I do not want to hear that stuff on Sunday morning or wednesday night. I want the freshness of the word -real meat, not packaged bologna or soy bean.

Yes! Exactly! Thank you! I do not want to join any church that is into this PDC stuff. Been there, done that...ugh! The purpose of a church is found in God's Word, and the more churches are putting that aside, well ... let's just look up!:rapture

[sewserious]

It all depends on how it is handled. Is your church just doing a study on the book and then moving on to something else or is there going to be the whole 'Purpose Driven Church" thing too!

They are really different things if people would take the time to separate them. There is no harm in doing a study on the book but there is harm in relying on it as the sole means of living your life.

PDL is about finding the purpose God put you here for. PDC is about church growth, easy believism, and "seeker sensitive" growth. They are really quite different from each other. We did a study of the book at my old church and it was just that, a study. It was like anything else we studied, we gleaned from it what GOD wanted us to glean from it and then moved on to another study, most of which are not "book" studies per se but true Bible studies without outside text. We did not "follow" the book as a model for our lives, we just read it and discussed it. End of story. If that is all your church does, there is NOT a problem. The problem comes if everyone is expected to "follow" the book as a model for their lives.

STAY AWAY from PDC stuff though.

[sracer]

It all depends on how it is handled. Is your church just doing a study on the book and then moving on to something else or is there going to be the whole 'Purpose Driven Church" thing too!

They are really different things if people would take the time to separate them. There is no harm in doing a study on the book but there is harm in relying on it as the sole means of living your life.

PDL is about finding the purpose God put you here for. PDC is about church growth, easy believism, and "seeker sensitive" growth. They are really quite different from each other. We did a study of the book at my old church and it was just that, a study. It was like anything else we studied, we gleaned from it what GOD wanted us to glean from it and then moved on to another study, most of which are not "book" studies per se but true Bible studies without outside text. We did not "follow" the book as a model for our lives, we just read it and discussed it. End of story. If that is all your church does, there is NOT a problem. The problem comes if everyone is expected to "follow" the book as a model for their lives.

STAY AWAY from PDC stuff though.

What prevents you or anyone from discovering God's "purpose for your life" by prayer and reading the Bible?

2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

...this makes it very clear that the Bible is all we need. I have a general dislike for all books on "Christian Living" because they are simply man's attempt to get a word in edgewise. But PDL is especially dangerous, IMO, because in these last days, the reading and understanding of the Bible is waning. A person who is unfamilar with Scripture can read PDL and think that it is solid and use THAT as the basis of living their life, rather than the Bible.

All of the churches that I have seen using PDL and PDC in their fellowships and ministries are ones that don't have Bible studies, who's pastor doesn't preach/teach from the Bible, and in general, have little use for it.

When a church relies more (or only) on a book written by man than on the book written by God... that's a problem.

But hey, maybe I'm just weird like that. :wacko

[Crescendo]

My experience has been different from those mentioned above. I personally know several people who have both enjoyed and benefited greatly from their small group study of PDL. In multiple cases, its been eye opening and a blessing. I, in turn, have been blessed by witnessing these families. That said, I have not and am not advocating a dropping of Biblical teaching in order to put the PDL book (or any other) on a higher level of importance. I do not expect to change anyone's mind, nor do I strive to do so. I do however once again feel the need to speak on my own experiences as its a popular pasttime in these parts to emphasize the negative aspects of what one has seen in a PDL ministry. I am not disagreeing with those sentaments if they're based on personal experiences but there are at least two sides to the story.

[Harley]

What prevents you or anyone from discovering God's "purpose for your life" by prayer and reading the Bible?...


and i'll add - what prevents us from knowing all we need to know about eschatology by prayer and reading the bible? - so i'm thowing out all my books on eschatology.

and of course nothing prevents me from understanding missions by prayer and reading the bible - so i'll throw my missions books out as well.

[sracer]

and i'll add - what prevents us from knowing all we need to know about eschatology by prayer and reading the bible? - so i'm thowing out all my books on eschatology.

and of course nothing prevents me from understanding missions by prayer and reading the bible - so i'll throw my missions books out as well.
If you wish to deliberately mischaracterize what I said, so be it. If you feel the need to defend PDL, please do so on its own merits.

I specifically stated that I have a dislike for books on "Christian Living"... discovering one's purpose falls under "Christian Living".

Solid books on Eschatology, Hermeneutics, Soteriology, Pneumatology, etc. are great additional resources. If you can't see the difference between PDL and those types of books... oh well. :doh

[Black Eye Susan]

sracer, I feel as you do. Why not go to the REAL source for help, which is God's word - the Bible. Instead of going to a book written by a man. I would rather have the REAL thing. Not that the man's book is bad - but I would rather read from my actual Father's word. AMEN!

[Harley]

...I specifically stated that I have a dislike for books on "Christian Living"... discovering one's purpose falls under "Christian Living".

Solid books on Eschatology, Hermeneutics, Soteriology, Pneumatology, etc. are great additional resources. If you can't see the difference between PDL and those types of books... oh well. :doh
actually, i'll gave to agree with ya on this...

[sewserious]

What prevents you or anyone from discovering God's "purpose for your life" by prayer and reading the Bible?

All of the churches that I have seen using PDL and PDC in their fellowships and ministries are ones that don't have Bible studies, who's pastor doesn't preach/teach from the Bible, and in general, have little use for it.

When a church relies more (or only) on a book written by man than on the book written by God... that's a problem.

But hey, maybe I'm just weird like that. :wacko

Sorry, my church didn't use the PDL or the PDC in their ministry. We did a small group study on the PDL book and that was that! We had more bible studies than you could shake a stick at and our pastor not only preached/taught from the Bible that was all he used. You didn't find him anywhere without it close by!

I agree that there is a problem with a church that relies on the teachings of any man rather than the WORD of God, but doing a study on a book is not relying on its teachings either. There is a difference there that some just are too blind to see.

[carmen]

I didn't read anything in PDL that was unscriptural. However, it certainly wasn't comprehesive; it seemed focused on those that were already believers (despite what the world at large seems to think--which may be indicative of a problem as a whole with the book, or may just be that people like to perceive themselves as children of God, no matter what); and not very deep at all as far as biblical teaching goes.

In other words, while I didn't find it to be unsound, I also didn't find it to be particularly useful or helpful to my own walk. It's milk, and mild milk at that, IMHO.

[Mindenite]

There may be egregious problems with the purpose driven church program and people who find comfort not in the Bible but in the books, this I will admit. However, I disagree with those who are saying real change (for the better) and such cannot be ound outside of the Bible. As a spiritual, Christian guide, of course nothing can beat the Bible, but the Bible is not an encyclopedia either. If it were, we wouldn't have so many splits and denominations. (Some) People love Lewis' Christian writings or writings from preachers like Edwards, Wesley, or more contemporary ones. These are MEN just like Warren. As a primary source, any book by any person is going to woefully fall short. But, many books by people as secondary sources are great and wonderful tools.

[antitox]

I didn't read anything in PDL that was unscriptural. However, it certainly wasn't comprehesive; it seemed focused on those that were already believers (despite what the world at large seems to think--which may be indicative of a problem as a whole with the book, or may just be that people like to perceive themselves as children of God, no matter what); and not very deep at all as far as biblical teaching goes.

In other words, while I didn't find it to be unsound, I also didn't find it to be particularly useful or helpful to my own walk. It's milk, and mild milk at that, IMHO.

Agreed. It seemed to just scratch the surface and remain general in scope on the subject. This is a common tactic of seeker-friendly material, which is the style that some pastors preach with on Sunday morning.

[ohappyday]

The main problem I see with the PDL is its teaching is just the opposite of what the book of Acts teaches on the church. The PDL focus is on you the christian, as a individual, you control what happens in your life because you have this knowledge. This knowledge is what can I do to help myself. We are to reevaluate everyone in our lives and root out all peoples, events and such which do not help me reach my God given potential. Its a self centered, self controlled life style which is the same mind set Satan temped Eve with in the garden. You can be, you are??, only now God is portrayed as the one with the apple. Its not how I can help my brother but how can my brother help me. This is not Gods way. Sorry if I went on here.

[Live4Jesus]

My experience with PDL and PDC is this. When our pastor refused to go along with the "elders" in doing PDL and PDC exclusively. The "elders" held up the PDC and said (and these are the exact words - I was there) "this is the book we go by." Our pastor lifted up the Bible and said, "This is what I go by."

Shortly after that there was a church split and half the church went with the pastor. Several months later the part of the church that stayed with PDC, disbanded completely.

[antitox]

My experience with PDL and PDC is this. When our pastor refused to go along with the "elders" in doing PDL and PDC exclusively. The "elders" held up the PDC and said (and these are the exact words - I was there) "this is the book we go by." Our pastor lifted up the Bible and said, "This is what I go by."

Shortly after that there was a church split and half the church went with the pastor. Several months later the part of the church that stayed with PDC, disbanded completely.

Wow. Now that was a bad one. It is expected that a church would not do well having put the bible on the back burner. I think I like that pastor. :):

[Holly3278]

I read the entire book except for a few chapters about a year ago and I personally found it to be an excellent book. I recently gave it to my Mom for her to read but I don't know if she has read any of it or not. I want to know why it is supposedly "spiritually dangerous".

[sracer]

I read the entire book except for a few chapters about a year ago and I personally found it to be an excellent book. I recently gave it to my Mom for her to read but I don't know if she has read any of it or not. I want to know why it is supposedly "spiritually dangerous".

"This is more than a book; it is a guide to a 40-day spiritual journey that will enable you to discover the answer to life's most important question: What on earth am I here for? By the end of this journey you will know God's purpose for your life and will understand the big picture -- how all the pieces of your life fit together. Having this perspective will reduce your stress, simplify your decisions, increase your satisfaction, and, most important, prepare you for eternity." Page 9.

Oh the arrogance! Speaking with self-proclaimed authority, Rick Warren is saying that HIS book will unlock the secrets of your life. HIS book will prepare you for eternity?! The implication is that the Bible alone is NOT sufficient. Rick Warren apparently has some new revelation on how to read Scripture, has some new formula for happiness. Which is a good thing, because apparently God left humanity high and dry all of these centuries until Rick Warren wrote his book. :rolleyes

"The next 40 days will transform your life." Page 10.

"I know all the great things that are going to happen to you. They happened to me, and I have never been the same since I discovered the purpose of my life." Page 12.

Wow.

There is so much wrong with the book that if you do a google search you will find an avalanche of solid and sound criticism of the book. Sure there are a couple of way-out-there bashings, but those extremes don't invalidate the valid criticisms.