Whose Purpose is it Anyway?
By the time I was half way through chapter one of The Purpose Driven Life I felt I was reading a typical contemporary American self-help book by the latets Oprah opproved guru. And when I had finished it (not in forty days), I felt like I had waisted my time. I most assuredly did not have anything close to the life-changing experience so many of the readers of this book have claimed. When I completed the book, I tossed it aside, and did not think of it again.
The contemporary Christian musical group The Newsboys has a song entitled "Spirit Thing" which I identify with very strongly. In that song they compare the Holy Spirit to an early warning device and a teleprompter. This is exactly how I experience it sometimes; and, as they say, "It's just a little hard to explain."
As I was reading The Purpose Driven Life, the early warning device in my head was sounding an alarm, and the teleprompter kept flashing the message, "Pay no attention to this. It is meaningless. It will not do you any good."
Now, despite what some may say, I am certain these messages were coming from the Holy Spirit. But I continued to read the whole book because I kept trying to figure out what all the excitement was about. After some thought, I finally figured it out.
However, what still mystified me was why so many evangelical Christians were raving about this book and man. I have to admit that my first thought was, "Have they all gone mad?" But, after some somber pondering, this matter became clear to me as well.
With Christianity under attack from so many quarters, there is a very strong desire to embrace anyone who brings favorable attention to the church. Especially in such large numbers. But, we must not forget that we have seen large numbers of people drawn to the church by populist preachers in the past. Has it really been so long a time that people do not remember Jim and Tammy Faye Baker?
Karl Marx, the philosopher who invented the social/political system known as communism, said, "Religion is the opium of the masses." This statement was the result of his honest observation that many Christians of his age looked not for spiritual enlightenment, but for relief from the pains and cares of every day life. Just as the rich used opium as an escape from life's woes,so called Christians used an ecstatic emotional religious experience as an escape from the difficulties of a lower class life. This is still the case in our society today where the emotion of the Sunday morning worship service is more important that the life guiding teachings of the Bible.
It is, therefore, not unreasonable to assert that many people are drawn to mega-churches and populist preachers not because they seek spiritual enlightenment, but because they seek instant gratification for their desire to feel good. They want quick, easy solutions to life's every day problems and concerns. They want job satisfaction, marital bliss, financial security, and assurance that their life means something.
The great majority of these people are not looking to relinquish their lives to someone else - Jesus Christ. Instead, they seek THE PLAN or FORMULA that will enable them to get what they want. They want a guru to tell them the secrete wisdom he has acquired that will empower them to take complete control of their feeble, miserable lives. Thus they can create for themselves the perfect life. Then, with the perfect job, the perfect marriage, and the perfect financial plan, they will be able to enjoy quilt free bliss forever.
The fans of The Purpose Driven Life and Rick Warren believe they have found such a guru with such a plan. In forty days you can go from being lost and miserable to having a successful, happy and meaningful life. It's quick, easy and fun.
So, that is why the masses have been so taken by this phenomenon. And, it makes sense.
As for me, I do not need a guru or a program. I have the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And they wrote a really good, best selling book. It's called The Holy Bible. With that, I honestly assure you, I have every thing I need for a really great life. Praise God!
May God's blessings be upon you.
Be bold. Be Brave. And the grace of God and the Lord Jesus be with you.
Thank you for stopping by. Please email any comments you might have. Peace.