Rick Warren to North Korea

I actually no very little about the beliefs of Rick Warren, I do know he is controversial. I am aware of Warren’s book “A Purpose Driven Life.” I have not read his book, however the church I attend has it in their bookstore.

So I found out from Craig von Buseck of CBN that Warren is going to North Korea preach the Word of God. This piqued my interest about Warren because North Korea is an official atheistic Stalinist style Communist nation in which Kim Jung Il has developed a near religious-like cult centering his personality.

With that in mind, I cannot imagine Warren being allowed to preach the Good News that will lead people to the Kingdom of God. Knowing this I did a quick Wikipedia check on Rick Warren. The article tended to provide a favorable light of Rick Warren, and then I got to the “Criticism” section of article.

His books have come under fierce and widespread criticism from other evangelical teachers for their content. Many evangelical teachers question the practices promoted in these books, claiming that they distort the gospel or otherwise employ questionable tactics, including New Age teachings. Other common criticisms include objections to the accuracy with which it presents the Christian gospel, the accuracy of their Biblical exegesis, and various allegedly unbiblical teachings.

Warren is inclusive beyond his Southern Baptist roots, and welcomes pastors and leaders from all denominations to his training programs. Warren claims to stick to the "essentials" of the faith and focus on "loving people into the Kingdom" of God in an attractive way without compromising the essential tenets of his faith[8]. Many critics, however, contend that Warren does compromise on various doctrinal truths in his teachings, and that he espouses ecumenical teachings. Rick Warren has also come under fire for his appearance at the 2006 Centenary of the Azusa Street Revival, which also had Word of Faith preachers such as Benny Hinn , T.D. Jakes, Kenneth Copeland, and Creflo Dollar as guests.[9]

That is good company as far as I am concerned. Word of Faith preachers condemn “new age” teaching, they do not promote it in any way. If there is a criticism about Word of Faith preachers they tend to take a good Word from the Bible and promote it as a central tenet of faith. For example Word of Faith preachers are heavy that one should have faith to attain material wealth. Indeed, that is in the Bible but there is also no condemnation of the poor in the Bible. Sometimes the Word of Faith preachers miss the balance, but that does not make them heretics anymore than certain Believers not accepting the Baptism of the Holy Spirit or other Believers praying to canonized saints and to Mary. Well you get the picture.

What is Rick Warren going to be allowed to do in North Korea? Will the North Koreans use Warren as a propaganda instrument? What is the “purpose” of behind the Communists and Rick Warren?

I am certain we will see as the time draws near.