Slice of Laodicea

Casts of thousands are joining Saddleback Church, and Rick Warren wants you to be among those signing on for membership. Here are eight reasons he lists that you should join now and not procrastinate. Rick writes:

1.  I’m personally teaching Class 101 for the first time in ten years.

2.  I’m personally baptizing after Class and you’ll receive a photo & baptism certificate.

3. You’ll get a free one year subscription to Purpose Driven Connection magazine.  (Never offered before)

4. You’ll get free copy of The Purpose Driven Church book.

5. Your name will be included in the historical list of Saddleback Pioneer Members who joined in our first 30 years.  (This Easter is our 30th Easter and I want you included in this list.)

6. The class is 1 hour shorter than normal. You can watch session 3 here online now.

7. You’ll be a part of making Christian history!  The largest membership class ever!

8. We love you & want you in our family. There is no good reason to procrastinate.

I was asked, “Rick, If you could wish for anything to celebrate your 30 years of service at Saddleback, what would you dream of?”  I said, “To experience a repeat of Pentecost – and see 3,000 people affirm their faith and join our church family on a single day.”   Will you be a part of making this a reality?

Does “Rick” have any idea how arrogant it sounds to tell people to join because HE will be personally teaching the class? Where is Jesus Christ in all this? Where’s the Gospel?  “Rick” dreams of seeing a Second Pentecost. But wait! The individuals at Pentescost were being converted to Christ, not joining an institutional church. Pentecost was about the Holy Spirit descending from Heaven with fire, turning hearts to believe the Gospel that was preached with power and authority. It wasn’t about gimmicks, making “Christian history”, getting magazine subscriptions and baptismal photos with big name apostles! Nobody was being bribed with goodies to sign on to somebody’s megachurch. The 3,000 heard the story of Redemption, their hearts were converted by the power of the Holy Ghost, and the world of that day was turned upside down.

This Saddleback church membership ad is the most pathetic thing I have ever seen. It is devoid of Christ, it is filled with “Rick’s” ego and fleshly desire to build an even greater name for himself and his false church. It also does much to explain the size of Saddleback. Anybody, “Rick”, can build a club with cool goodies and incentives and a chance to rub shoulders with magnificent people. But the church of Jesus Christ has always grown through blood and tears, through much difficulty and affliction, and the people of God travel a narrow and treacherous path through this world. Rick Warren offers a very, very broad way, filled with fun, bells and whistles, entertainment, Gospel-free social work and self-fulfillment opportunities. Warren beckons to the masses to come join him on that Broad Way that ultimately leads to hell. The wise will recognize “Rick” for what he is and the false gospel he offers, and they will turn instead to obey the voice of the Good Shepherd.