One of the things I love is when pastors use that title to try and end an argument. Sadly, it’s not just the “fightin’ Fundies” who do it. It’s an infection that is in most of our churches. Click here to read more of my thoughts on this problem.

Logic in the neo-fundamentalist mind follows a track illustrated thus: “The church is not here to reform society, cure disease, stop wars, or whatever. The church is here to be the ‘new creation’ something totally apart from the rest of the world. The world is dead.”

Let’s unpack this a bit and compare it to a sermon found in Matthew:

Stopping wars – “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt 5:9). So much for that comment.

Reforming society – “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they see your good works, and glorify your Farther who is in heaven. Do not think I came to abolish the Law and the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:16-17).

Certainly the prophets were concerned with holiness and righteousness, no doubt. But the Law and the Prophets are also full of admonitions on how to treat the poor, how a society should provide for the helpless, and guidelines for the behavior of those in leadership. Therefore, it is the duty of the church to do the same. And when we see a society failing to do so – the church is to be salt and light. So, if a society says it’s acceptable for one race to own another – the church opposes. If a society says a widow should burn along with her deceased husband – the church opposes. If a society kills its unwanted unborns – the church opposes. If a society promotes behavior that spreads disease – the church opposes. And along the way, sometimes a society is transformed.

The church is totally apart. It is true that the church is to be totally different. We are to be separate in the sense that we do not buy into the world’s system. Yet, “[We] are the salt of the earth…” and “[We] are the light of the world…” (Matthew 5:13 & 14, respectively). This potential contradiction is easily remedied when one realizes that we are not totally apart from the world, we are thoroughly a part of it… a part others think a bit odd because we’re different – the part that shines and preserves.

The error of the neo-fundamentalists is to drink too deeply the Kool-Aide of Manichean Cosmogony. The error of a previous generation – the postmillennialists – was being overly optimistic and confident. The error of the neo-fundamentalists – mostly dispensationalists – is being overly pessimistic and confident.

So in this new article, Ken claims that Rick’s ego is much bigger than his. Maybe that makes Ken sleep better at night. Here’s the small article and the video

On occasion here at Apprising Ministries I have been accused on occasion of being prideful. But I am truly humbled the more I listen to Rick Warren because I have many, many, many miles to go before I would be in the neighborhood of this guy’s ego. Listening to Warren here in this You Tube clip I find myself wondering: Do we even need the Holy Spirit anymore when we have Rick?

The video used can be watched here

What!?! I cannot see Rick’s ego in this clip for the life of me!! The most that Rick says about himself is that he has met with several countries, and will work with anyone to cure aids. Is Ken running out of of material and resorting to blatantly empty name calling? It certainly seems that way these days. Or maybe Ken hopes that by writing this, others will not notice the fact that he puts himself at the same level as God. If anyone was trying to replace the Holy Spirit it would be the Most Holy Right Reverend Ken Silva. While Ken’s earlier blogs at least had a thread of some logic, his more recent threads seem to just be shots fired in the dark. This new trend at apprising / CRN is rediculous.