Is Rick Warren ignoring sin in search for 'peace'?

Jim Brown - OneNewsNow - 7/29/2008 7:30:00 AM

Christian broadcaster and author Tom McMahon says evangelical pastor Rick Warren's belief that the church must take the lead in solving the world's problems of poverty, disease, and war cannot be reconciled with the scriptures.

Pastor Warren will be hosting an interfaith meeting next month with 30 Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders "to discuss cooperation for the common good of all Americans." Warren's P.E.A.C.E. plan mobilizes churches to address global problems. But McMahon, president of The Berean Call ministry, says the popular Christian author is introducing evangelical Christianity to the social gospel that he learned from his mentor, social scientist Peter Drucker.
 
"As a Christian, as a biblical Christian, I have real concerns about this because I don't find this in the scriptures," McMahon explains. "You see, it's true the world has all kinds of problems, but he's working on the symptoms and avoiding the root cause, which is the sin nature of humanity. So how can you work with all kinds of people [who are] called 'people of faith,' but it's not biblical faith?"
 
McMahon contends that only the biblical gospel can change the heart of man, and that Warren is compromising that by working with people who reject the gospel of Christ. He says that although Pastor Warren claims his life's calling is "to proclaim the gospel truth of salvation in Jesus Christ," it is doubtful that gospel will be proclaimed at the interfaith meeting.
 
"I believe that Rick has a low view of prophecy," McMahon contends. "Well, I think he needs to heed the words of Jesus [in Luke 18:8]: 'When the Son of Man cometh shall He find faith upon the earth?'  Well, 'people of faith' yes, but certainly not the faith that Jude exhorts true believers to contend for."

To view Matt Friedeman's video commentary on this story, click here.

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