I am quite simply concerned about Rick Warren's P.E.A.C.E plan because of the ecumenism and theology it presents. This acronym (P.E.A.C.E.) once stood for Planting churches, Equipping leaders, Assisting the poor, Caring for the sick, Educating the next generation.

You might say, "Well what is wrong with that?  It sounds like a noble and good Christian plan."

Well perhaps... sure it does... on the surface.

Nearly four years ago when Rick first introduced the plan, the "P" in PEACE stood for Plant Churches. This "P" in the PEACE Plan WAS the only reference to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Well, last year the "P" was changed to Partner with Local Churches. Now without the planting of churches, the maker of the PEACE Plan, has lost the focus of spreading the gospel.

We have seen local parish's coming on board, or being assimilated into the PEACE plan, but by being all encompassing with local churches, the followers of the PEACE plan have to all share the same or similar doctrine. But how can this be accomplished? Pastor Warren’s quest for enlarging an all encompassing Christian organization under the watchful eye of Saddleback, proved to have its complications. How do we reconcile all the denominations to work together and partner together? The only solution is to sacrifice doctrine for the sake of comfortably seating all churches who want to be a part of the plan. Warren obviously noted this difficulty last year and therefore has yet again changed the 'P'.

Unveiled now as PEACE 2.0, this time the "P" stands for Promote Reconciliation. You will note that this still is a significant departure from the 'planting of churches', which was the only portion of the original P.E.A.C.E acronym that bared any resemblance to the fulfillment of the great commission of Matthew 28:19.

It has been said that Rick is leading a New Reformation, and I believe that he believes it. Warning bells go off though when it becomes obvious that he gives little concern about the belief's of those that he is willing to work with in accomplishing the new P.E.A.C.E 2.0 plan.

"When I go out and I start telling people, “Do you want to work with us on poverty, disease, AIDS, illiteracy, injustice?” I often find people are more unwilling to work with us than we are willing to work with them. In other words, we’re saying, “You don’t have to change your beliefs for us to work with you.” If you can only work with people that you agree with, then most of the world, you’re ruling out. Okay. I don’t insist that a Moslem change his belief for me to work on poverty. I don’t even insist that a gay person has to change their beliefs. They’re not going to accept my belief, or I’m not going to accept theirs." ¹

(This above quote and some below are from this video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5555324196046364882 You really should watch it for posterities' sake)

'You don't have to change your beliefs' he said (among other things). Now I agree that there is a lot of good that we can do in the world, and that we don't have to be religious to do it. But let's take stock at what Rick just said and let's compare it to what scripture says.

Recall that Rick just said that he wants these people to help him Plant Churches (Now Promote Reconciliation), Equip Leaders, Assist the poor, Care of the Sick and Educate the next generation.

The bible says.

2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed:
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.

So understanding this, can Muslims, Roman Catholics and other religions help spread Christianity? Teach the next generations the gospel? Our answer should be a resounding no. We do not reconcile with False Doctrines.

Rick has another interesting method, or standard that he talks about; It’s his ‘three legged stool’ illustration.

Peter Drucker (1909-2005), a business management guru, came up with this idea as a means to bring all societal sectors into one manageable, controllable roof. Drucker believed that the only way to persuade the world to accept change is to engage all three sectors of society, working together to effect change. The three "legs" of the stool are:

1. a public sector of effective governments
2. a private sector of effective businesses
3. a social sector of effective community organizations, including faith-based organizations

Rick Warren was mentored by Peter Drucker for several years and has been promoting the 3-legged stool concept with vigor.  Now Warren is using the Stool Concept in conjunction with his P.E.A.C.E. Plan

Rick's '3 legged stool' is, however, slightly modified.

"A one-legged stool will fall over, a two-legged stool will fall over, and business and government alone cannot solve these problems. They haven’t, or they would’ve. The third leg of the stool is the churches. There’s a public sector role, there’s a private sector role and there’s a faith sector role." ²

In addition to the reference footnote, here is a video link of Rick saying this exact thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwoCzLli3Ig

Warren stated in an interview once that the church had 3 roles in this leg of the stool:

1. The first role is to become a "universal distribution" system for -- "health care, business development, teaching literacy, things like that."
2. The second role is to become the "largest volunteer force" in the world. Elsewhere this is referred to as an "army."
3. The third role is for the church to seize upon its greatest asset, which Warren claims is "local credibility" in every village.

This 'Faith Sector' role (3rd Leg) Rick has called the 'inclusive church'.   What does that mean?

Well, the previous quote I showed said clearly "you don't have to change your belief's for us to work with you....... I don't insist that a Muslim change his belief for me to work on poverty......"

So Muslim's are welcome in the inclusive church?

What about others?

In his interview with Charlie Rose, Pastor Warren was asked whether or not he was willing to work together with Roman Catholics to establish his P.E.A.C.E. Plan. Warren responded:

"Christianity is a global movement. In fact, Christianity was global 200 years before anybody started talking about globalism. It is the only global organization in the world. There are 2.3 billion Christians in the world."³

Further, Pastor Rick expounded how he believes a global organization could be established as a global force that could implement a global P.E.A.C.E. Plan. He stated:

"Probably 600 million of them, I believe, are Catholic. And so when you take all of these together, it is the largest network in the world. In just the network that I’m in, I have been training leaders for 26 years. And we’ve trained about 400,000 pastors in 163 countries, all different denominations. Well, this network of 400,000 pastors, that’s just a small, tiny network compared to Christianity around the world."⁴

In order to clarify the ecumenical nature of the P.E.A.C.E. Plan, another statement made by Pastor Rick Warren will be helpful. At the PEW Forum held in Key West, Florida in July of 2005, he said:

Now when you get 25 percent of America, which is basically Catholic, and you get 28 to 29 percent of America which is evangelical together, that's called a majority. And it is a very powerful bloc, if they happen to stay together on particular issues… I would encourage you to look at this evolving alliance between evangelical Protestants and Catholics. ⁵

Alliance with the Roman Catholics?  I thought the reformation affirmed that that Catholicism has irreconcilable differences with Protestantism.

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Please note in this passage that it is they that promote doctrine contrary to what we have learned that cause division, and we defenders of the true faith are not. (Too many modern evangelicals get that point reversed)

Unbeknown to some, it is quite apparent that the Roman Catholic Church believes that protestant doctrines are not 'true' Christian. The pope reiterated the fact that the protestant churches are not 'real' churches only last July - (http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/07/10/vatican-church.html?ref=rss  )

The article states:

"The Vatican issued a document Tuesday restating its belief that the Catholic Church is the only true church of Jesus Christ...  The document adds that Protestant denominations — called Christian Communities born out of the Reformation — are not true churches, but ecclesial communities."

That being said then, It begs the question if the RCC would really have anything to do with Rick Warren's PEACE initiative.

Well.... I'm glad you asked.

In an article titled 'Pope Urges Today's Wise Men to Shape a World Based on Christ' ,  John Thavis wrote:

Pope Benedict XVI "said the age of globalization is challenging political, scientific and religious leaders to shape a new world order based on spiritual values."⁶

An article reported by Asia News titled 'Pope Calls on Magi of today for Peace', quoted Pope Benedict’s speech word for word and made his mission clear. According to this article:

"The need emerged for a new world order in economic and political spheres but also and especially in cultural and spiritual spheres, that is, a renewed humanism. A new social, political and economic order does not work if there is no spiritual renewal, if we do not find God." ⁷

Based on these two articles, it should be clear that Pope Benedict was calling for a New World order based on joint human effort from three sources – political, economic and spiritual leaders of the world’s faiths.

“All three categories are important as the church continues its task of transforming the world,” the pope said.⁸

It sure sounds like the Pope is on the same track and has a similar agenda to that of Rick Warren's PEACE plan.

In a rough sense it really sounds to me like a sort of reverse reformation.

Rick Warren, through the PEACE plan and aligning with all faiths and denominations (to do it under the idea of 'P'romoting reconciliation), is providing a man made plan to usher in the Kingdom of God. The Crusades, incidentally, had the same purpose; and we all know how well that turned out. Let's listen to Rick on the subject:

"I stand before you confidently right now and say to you that God is going to use you to change the world. Some will say, “That's impossible,” but I heard that line 25 years ago, and God took seven people and started Saddleback Church. Now we have a new vision and a whole lot more people to start with. The great evangelist Dwight L. Moody said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him.” I'm looking at a stadium full of people who are telling God they will do whatever it takes to establish God's Kingdom 'on earth as it is in heaven.’ What will happen if the followers of Jesus say to Him, “We are yours”? What kind of spiritual awakening will occur?"⁹

"Our goal will be to enlist 'one billion foot soldiers for the Kingdom of God,' who will permanently change the face of international missions to take on these five ‘global giants’ for which the church can become the ultimate distribution and change agent to overcome Spiritual Emptiness, Self-serving Leadership, Poverty, Disease and ignorance."¹⁰

The solution to those 5 giants is the 5 smooth stones of P.E.A.C.E, as Rick puts it. Ricks three legged stool fixes the worlds problems through government, business and through the GOOD WORKS of the church (if I can call it the ‘church’ when it's so wide and encompassing). Now the bible does say that we should do Good works as evidence of our faith. But really, partnering with the world is not the way to spread the gospel. In fact, your worldly partners are eventually going to rear their ugly heads and bite you. That is UNLESS you succumb to compromise and change, or stop preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ because the gospel, that is the TRUE gospel, is divisive at the very core.

Luk 12:51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.

It is very clear to me that Rick Warren has forgotten these words of Christ from Luke 12:51 on the subject of peace.

The gospel is divisive because it breaks down pride. A man (or woman) must come to terms with the fact that they are not ‘good. That because of their sinfulness they are under the wrath of God (Rom 1:18), that they are far short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23), that they will die and face future judgment (Heb 9:27) and will spend eternity in hell (Rev. 20:11-15). To be accepted by Christ unto salvation, we must realize our own wretchedness; repent, and trust in Jesus alone to save us.

We were not commissioned here on earth to spread peace in the name of Jesus. We were commissioned to preach this 'divisive' gospel and to disciple all nations.

Mat 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 
Mat 28:20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Apparently Rick (and many others) has forgotten these commands before us. Feeding the poor, helping the sick are all noble tasks, however, they do not focus on producing conversion and repentance which is what the world so desperately needs. What does it profit a man who is fed here on earth, while his soul remains destined for damnation and hellfire. Our focus is to be on the eternal, not the carnal and so limited to just here and now.

I also bring attention to the desire of Rick to “establish God’s Kingdom ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’”

My friends, we do not usher in the Kingdom of God. To assume that we are responsible for this is not only arrogant, but it goes against the teaching of scripture. The kingdom comes in God's timing. We are sent here on earth to preach the gospel. We are to stay the course and not succumb to the world. Christ promised to build his Church. All he wants us to do is preach the gospel and make disciples. Warren is ‘straying the course’ into what is being called Dominion or Kingdom Now Theology. It is a social agenda that diverts the church from the difficult task of preaching a divisive gospel to a fallen world, and tries to solve the world’s problems in the name of Christ. Scripture is clear that the only thing that is going to fix the world is when Christ himself returns. We have nothing to do with the timing of it. Our task is preach, teach, disciple and keep our eyes on Jesus.

I have often stated that I don't always agree with every bad thing that is said about Pastor Warren. However, when it comes to this global influence he is trying to attain, I have become very, very concerned.  His earnest dedication to the mission is commendable, but the mission itself has lost the focus from the 'true' gospel.

In my opinion, Pastor Warren appears to be planting the fields of ecumenism and false hope that the Beast (antichrist) and false prophet of Revelation will one day reap.

Until next time. Stay the course.

"If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us." - 2Ti 2:12

J.R.Hall

References: 
1. Rick Warren Interview with Charlie Rose, August 17, 2006, http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5555324196046364882 
2. Michael Ireland, “Rick Warren Talks about AIDS, Celebrity Status, Elections, January 9, 2007, http://www.crosswalk.com/news/religiontoday/1460297.html 
3. Rick Warren Interview with Charlie Rose, August 17, 2006, http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5555324196046364882
4. ibid.
5. Rick Warren, PEW Forum, Key West, Florida, May 23, 2005, http://pewforum.org/events/index.php?EventID=80 
6. John Thavis, "Pope urges today’s Wise Men to shape a world based on Christ", pg 4., Today's Catholic, January 14, 2007, http://www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY/archive/2007%20pdf/02%20Jan.14,%202007.pdf
7. Asia News, January 8, 2007, http://speroforum.com/site/print.asp?idarticle=7351 
8. Catholic News Service, January 8, 2007
9. Rick Warren, quoted by Mark Kelly, "Rick Warren Launches global intiative", http://www.biblicalrecorder.org/content/news/2005/4_19_2005/ne190405rick.shtml
10. Rick Warren, in an email letter to Saddleback Members on Sat, 25 Nov, 2006.  See http://op.50megs.com/ditc/warrenexplanation.html for copy and commentary.

For more articles by J.R.Hall Click here --> J.R.Hall Articles