Rick Warren: God is looking for holy people to use
God is looking for people he can use - those he can bless and honor in great ways. And he's looking to use people who want to be holy.
by Rick Warren, Christian Today Guest Columnist
Posted: Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 13:37 (BST)
God is looking for people he can use - those he can bless and honor in great ways. And he's looking to use people who want to be holy.
When you, as a leader, want to be holy, you'll see God. Hebrews 12:14 (TLB) says, "Try to stay out of all quarrels, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for one who is not holy will not see the Lord."
That's what we want as Christian leaders - to see the Lord and then help others see the Lord. As a Christian leader, there's no greater way to be used. And we've got to be holy to do that.
What does it mean to be holy? Psalm 24:3-5 (TLB) says, "Who may ascend to the hill of the Lord and who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart who does not lift up his soul unto an idol nor swear by what is false. He will receive the blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his savior."
In this passage we find four characteristics of holy people:
1. You've got to have clean hands. "Clean hands" simply means a clear conscious. Does that mean we're perfect? No. None of us is perfect. But we can keep short accounts with God. 1 John 1:9 (TLB) says, "But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong." So when we sin, we just say, "God, I was wrong. I confess it." There is no power without a clear conscience.
Have your say on this article
The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Monday, October 22, 2007, 3:22 (BST)
Mr. Bean,
Maybe you can quote a page out of Warren's earlier book that mentions Sanctification. You say it is there but I did not see it.
I'm quite familiar with this subject in the New Testament. In Romans alone which covers the major topics of Christianity chapters six, seven and part of eight are dedicated to this subject. All the more reason it should not have been overlooked in a book that supposedly communicates God's purpose for our life.
You are a fan of the man and that is ok. I am not.
Stephen Searfoss, Mexico City, Mexico
Added: Monday, October 15, 2007, 15:15 (BST)
Mr. Searfoss. Look again it is in the book, and there is another book called the Bible. No apology needed from Dr. Warren he is human remember not God. God is God and you are not.
Mr. Bean
K. Bean, Perris, CA
Added: Saturday, October 13, 2007, 18:15 (BST)
Rick Warren is a Johnny Come Lately to the subject of Holiness and Sanctification.
Maybe I missed something but in his book A Purpose Driven Life, I did not find the subject of Holiness taken up on any of the 40 days.
Maybe Rick owes millions of people an apology for "overlooking" such an import elemental aspect of a Christian life.
Stephen Searfoss, Mexico City, Mexico
Added: Thursday, October 11, 2007, 14:30 (BST)
The Lord has spoken to me and strengthened me this morning through reading this article and the Scriptures found within. Thank you. I have been blessed. May I please have a clean heart and mind through the power of the WORD.
Veronica Penk, McAllen, TX United States of America
Added: Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 18:54 (BST)
Yes, I agree with the gentleman from the UK when he said that we are made righteous and holy through Jesus, yet nothing Rick Warren said contradicts that statement that I see.
We do have to "walk in" that holiness in order for it to manifest in our life though. Titus 2:7 "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine [shewing] uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, ."
If we don't let Christ reign in our lives through the work of His His Holy Spirit than we will not manifest His holiness. Eph 4:24 "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
We must "put on the new man to be manifest holiness. Titus 3:8"[This is] a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men."
Yet I agree that nothing we "do" as in "works" will MAKE us holy (Gal 2:16)"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
We "do" works out of love for our Savior Jesus Christ who dies for us to present us holy and blameless before the throne of His grace and to show our faith to a lost and hurting world! James 2:18 "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Eph 2:10"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Thank the Lord for that fact or we would all be in trouble since there are none that are "good" on their own...no not one! The Bible does say that their are works that will last and we will receive heavenly"rewards" and "works" that will perish...burned in the fire.
That, to me, denotes that we are judged on our "works", but I do not believe this to mean our salvation rests on this Titus 3:5"not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit"!
It also says in that same verse that we ourselves will be rescued from the fire...although barely....sorry can't find that verse, but Revelation 2:5 says, "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent."
He is talking to "the church" not the unbelievers! Rev 20:12 also states, "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before *God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is [the Book] of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books."....again talking to believers. Anyway, there are hundreds of verses on this topic so I encourage you all to study the Scriptures to find out for yourselves! God Bless!
Follower of Christ, OC, California
Added: Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 17:26 (BST)
I agree with Mr. Warren for the most part, but I have a few clarifications to mention, and must take issue with Mr. Husband's comment. I must be more concise than I wish, because these are in-depth issues at stake, but time and space do not permit.
To summarize, Mr. Warren is exactly correct in our efforts at holiness. Jesus' perfect life is our model. Hebrews 12:14 (ESV) says more literally, "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." Notice the phrase "strive for." There seems to be in Scripture both effort on our part and the working of God. Paul admonished the Philippians in Php 2:12-13, "Therefore, my beloved, ...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." What will matter when we face God at judgment day will not be our efforts. Only Christ's sacrifice will be sufficient for holiness. In this, Mr. Husband is very much correct. But the salvation offered by Christ is not the end. It is merely the beginning of a new life in Christ. We must "obey (Deut 11:13)," "work (Phil 2:12)," "choose (Josh 24:15)," and "decide (Rom 14:13)." In this, Mr. Warren is very right. Like much of life, there must be balance. Our works will never save us, but repentance is work.
Also, I must humbly disagree with one of Mr. Warren's comments. Under point number two "We need a pure heart.", he quotes Jeremiah 48:10 as a supporting Scripture. While I agree with his point, Jer 48:10 is being misread here. In the ESV, Jeremiah says, "Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed." This verse is part of the words of the Almighty to the enemies of the people of Moab. He is commanding Moab's total destruction. And He is not speaking to the nation of Israel, but to a pagan nation that will destroy this Moab that has abused God's grace. And the ESV word "slackness" that is translated "deceitfully" in the KJV can mean either. Idle, slack, and slothful are not the same as deceit, guile, and false. But the point is clear in its context. God will use non-believers to do His will against the nation of Moab, and He will not judge lightly. In summary, this verse does not support the concept of pure motives for Christian leaders. I only point this out because if Mr. Warren were a journalist, he would need thorough fact-checking. As a pastor, he needs careful exegesis.
May busy schedules never excuse a lack of care and caution with the Holy Word of God. (And for the record, I may disagree with Mr. Warren on some things, but he certainly is not a purveyor of a new gospel! His good news is that Jesus has sacrificed himself for us, and we must repent and receive that gift!)
Aaron Tucker, Tallulah, Louisiana, USA
Added: Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 16:24 (BST)
I am very thick. Can someone please explain to me what David is trying to say? I thought that Rick Waren preached the gospel as most Baptist churches do.
Peter Waring, Rushden, Northants, England
Added: Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 14:29 (BST)
We are made holiness and righteousness unto God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, there is nothing that we can add to what He does for us. He, Jesus, is the One who will present us faultless before the presence of His Father with exceeding joy Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen. (Jude)
We shall NOT present ourselves as if we had done anything, that would be works which will be burned up.
Rick Warren unfortunately is a purveyor of 'another gospel' (Galatians 1 vs 8 & 9) and we know that we are not to receive such.
Standing for the truth and the faith ONCE delivered.
David Husband, Birmingham U.K.
