And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.  When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” (Acts 18:4-6, ESV)

Withholding The Gospel And Leaving People In Sin

 By now you likely know the online apologetics and discernment work Apprising Ministries has been among those who’ve been reporting on an ill-advised decision by Dr. John Piper to bring Purpose Driven Pope Rick Warren into the Desiring God Conference 2010 as the keynote speaker. Unfortunately it got even worse when Dr. Piper defended his decision:

At root I think [Rick Warren] is theological and doctrinal and sound. 
(as cited Online source)

And so, Warrengate is now slowly simmering; O yes, we know how it works in apostatizing evangelicalism: “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” That’s precisely why the Lord is now using the Internet to bypass leaders unwilling to make a stand and to get the truth into the pews. Think about it; many, pretending to be Protestant, evangelical spokesmen won’t even speak out about something as clear cut as the apostate Roman Catholic Church condemning the very Gospel they claim to believe. For far too many evangelicals the Church of Rome is merely another Christian denomination.

Think I overstate my case? Think again; the following is from the Christian Research Institute, which I cannot recommend in good conscience:

While Catholicism is foundationally or structurally an orthodox Christian church (affirming the creeds), Reformed theologian Roger Nicole is nevertheless correct in stating: “Reformation Protestants believe that much in Catholic theology tends to undermine and compromise that orthodox Christian confession — especially as it relates to the crucial issue of the gospel message.”

In agreement with most evangelical scholars, then, the Christian Research Institute regards Roman Catholicism as neither a cult (non-Christian religious system) nor a biblically sound church, but a historically Christian church which is in desperate need of biblical reform. (Online case)

Apparently “most evangelical scholars” forget that 1) the Roman Catholic Church placed its anathema (damnation) upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ itself; and 2) “biblical reform” was already tried. It really didn’t work too well as e.g. John Hus, Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley would tell you, having been brutally murdered on orders of allegedly “infallible” popes. But what’s this got to do with Rick Warren? I’m glad you asked; Warren claims to believe the 5 solas of the Reformation but the nauseating evidence presented in Rick Warren And Purpose Driven Roman Catholics clearly show otherwise.

O but it’s ok; Dr. Piper says Warren’s “doctrinal and sound.” Plus, Warren’s got a big church; so obviously God’s with him, and apparently…say…Joel Osteen too, right? After-all, the Word Faith mogul’s also got a huge church. Pastor Rob Willmann, my fellow contributor at Christian Research Net, tells us in his latest piece Rick Warren and His Pragmatic Approach to Everything about Warren’s most recent interfaith escapades. Willmann is commenting on a article at Jewish Journal by Jessica Pauline Ogilvie called Religious Leaders Meet for Interfaith Dialogue at Sinai Temple. Oglivie tells us:

Rabbi David Wolpe, Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, Najeeba Syeed-Miller, CEO of the Center for Civic Engagement and Dialogue, and Reverend Cecil “Chip” Murray, retired pastor of First AME Church came together at Sinai Temple in Westwood on Tuesday, April 20 for an interfaith dialogue in honor of the 62nd anniversary of Israel’s independence. Moderated by Tavis Smiley, PBS National Talk Show host, the event was also hosted by America Jewish Committee (AJC). (Online source)

And even though pastor Willmann isn’t a big name, and he’s not on the list of approved bloggers by the self-appointed blogging elite, he still somehow manages to hit the target dead-on when he says:

Rick is compromising the Word of God:

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 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?

Yes, I understand that feeding the hungry, helping the poor, doing justice to those wronged are all Christian works, but where does Scripture say that we must yoke ourselves up to unbelievers to do it?

We don’t read where Rick, when given the opportunity, witnessed to these folks. Where is his concern and compassion for the LOST that were sitting in the room with him? Oh, that Rick would repent, and worship Christ alone! Then he would present the Gospel like a man of God, not a man-pleaser who downplays the very thing that makes us different from Jews, Muslims, and others of various faiths. (Online source)

Below you can see for yourself what Rick Warren teaches in these interfaith dialogues; well that is, until the videos will likely vanish. No worries; we already have them archived. But that aside, as you’ll see below, these video clips were placed online by the Jewish group Synagogue 3000 and are from a June 16, 2005 meeting featuring Pastor Rick Warren and the Synagogue 3000 Leadership Network: 

Doubt And Belief

Belongers and Believers

See also:

RICK WARREN AWARDS PURPOSE DRIVEN ROMAN CATHOLICS

DR. MICHAEL HORTON ON THE CHAMELEON-LIKE RICK WARREN

THE INADEQUATE GOSPEL OF RICK WARREN

REFUTING RICK WARREN

SBC PROTESTANT PASTOR RICK WARREN DOUBLE-MINDED ON THE REFORMATION AND ROMAN CATHOLICISM

DR. ROD ROSENBLADT CALLS RICK WARREN’S MAN-CENTERED THEOLOGY “ROMAN CATHOLIC”

HAS THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH REALLY CHANGED?