The other day in Rick Warren on Oprah’s Lifeclass: “We’re All Intentionally Flawed To Make Us Unique” here at Apprising Ministries we gave you a peek at his appearance with Oprah last Sunday.

In the clip I used we see Rick Warren, whom Oprah aptly refers to as “America’s most powerful religious leader,” share a lesson of human potential that came as a revelation he received concerning blue jeans.

Here’s what Warren concluded from the label of these jeans:

I bought a pair of jeans the other day, and I got home—distressed jeans—and there’s a little tag on it that said, “These jeans are intentionally flawed to make them unique. (Oprah: “Wow.”)

(turns to audience) You need to write that one down. We are all intentionally flawed to make us unique. ((2:18-2:35 of the video here: http://bit.ly/UXGkts, accessed 1-18-13.))

Now I realize Warrn’s comment about blue jeans, and us being intentionally flawed, was referring to our outward appearance; but what if he does hold more to teachings of human potential than he lets on.

Take for example the Man-Centered Methods Of Rick Warren A La Robert Schueller where Dr. Gary Gilley reminded us that by March of 2005 “Warren’s popularity with the masses ha[d] risen to” rather lofty levels.

So high that Rick Warren had “been asked to write a monthly column for the Ladies Home Journal.” Gilley then brings out that:

Rather than preach Christ, Warren’s message, as reflected in the title of his article is, “Learn to Love Yourself.”

In his March, 2005 article the man who opened his book with the words, “It’s not about you,” shows that he really thinks it is.

He tells his readership, “To truly love yourself, you need to know the five truths that form the basis of a healthy self-image.”

What are they? (All the following are direct quotes from Warren’s 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.

What a disappointment! Not only does Warren not share the gospel, the glory of Christ or any theological truth, he muddies the waters by offering anemic pop-psychology none of which is supportable from Scripture.

Briefly, remember that Warren is not writing to believers but to the general populace, which he would have to assume is largely unsaved. (source)

Warren often sounds like, rather than preaching sin and human depravity, he is talking about altering someone’s thinking to get them to “make better decisions.” And in this way we will make the world a better place, etc. etc.

I mean, why would someone even go on Oprah’s Lifeclass in the first place if they didn’t believe that way? For you see, that’s what Oprah herself believes; and do we really think that Warren preached the Gospel while there?

There’s certainly no indication that he did from what we saw publicly. With this in mind, Rick Warren would need to alter the Scriptures to better accommodate his theory. And he’s certainly no stranger to Bible twisting.

In closing this, for now, here’s a few renderings from a possible Rick Warren Version of the Bible:

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for I have created him intentionally flawed like blue jeans to make him unique. Neither will I ever again strike down every living intentionally flawed creature as I have done.” (Genesis 8:20-21 RWV)

I praise you, for I am fearfully made intentionally flawed so I would be unique. Intentionally flawed for uniqueness are your works; my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:14 RWV)

“If you then, who like blue jeans are unique because you’re intentionally flawed, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11 RWV)

Intentionally flawed man that I am! Who will deliver me from this distressed body of uniqueness? (Romans 7:24 RWV)

And like blue jeans you were intentionally unique through the flaws in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of uniqueness—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of intentional flaws, uniquely, like the rest of mankind. (Ephesians 2:1-3 RWV)

Further reading

• OPRAH WINFREY IS NOT A CHRISTIAN
• MAN-CENTERED METHODS OF RICK WARREN A LA ROBERT SCHULLER
• RICK WARREN AND TEACHINGS OF DEMONS