A Letter to Rick Warren on Your Statements on Islam

By Paul McGuire

Rick Warren was a regular listener to my nationally syndicated radio show which broadcaste d from Southern California for over 10 years. The words I write are my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the company which syndicated the show I hosted. As a listener, Rick Warren called in to the show live and we have talked on the air. In addition, I had his wife on the program and some of Saddleback Church’s pastors. However, in the spirit of Christian love, I would like to challenge some of the things Rick has said at the Islamic Society of North America.

First, I know personally people who have accepted Christ through Rick Warren’s ministry and books. But, in love as a brother in Christ I must challenge some of Rick’s statements. The reason I am doing this in public is because his statements have been made in public.

I have no problem with Rick Warren’s desire to reach out to the Muslim world with the message of Jesus Christ. However, respectfully I do have a problem with the methodology and what I perceive is the lack of a solid Biblical basis for his actions. At any time I would be glad to talk to him about it privately or in the media. Secondly, I see an extremely dangerous theological error in the foundation of his approach. From the Old Testament to Revelation, the Lord God is the “King of Israel.” God made an everlasting covenant to the physical descendants of Abraham to give them the physical land of Israel. It is true God blessed the descendants of Ishmael, but not with the physical land. Also, the Church has not replaced Israel. As far as I know Rick Warren’s church and other “Seeker Friendly” churches do not spend much time teaching on the Book of Revelation. In a spirit of humility and love, I would like to offer my services to teach Bible prophecy at Saddleback in a way that is Biblical but non-confrontational. I think Rick would agree that you cannot understand the Bible without understanding Revelation and the fact that Jesus Christ returns to Jerusalem in fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant, I do not believe that Christians can have any serious discussions with Islam as long as they continue to make public statements denying the Holocaust and calling for the complete destruction of Jews and Israel. To ignore those statements, is like Chamberlain ignoring Adolph Hitler’s statements before he killed 620million Jews.

At the convention, Warren said,” Muslims and Christians should be partners in working to end what he calls “the five global giants” of war, poverty, corruption, disease, and illiteracy.” Superficially, Warren’s statements sound Christian. But, militant Islam is the primary force in the world today causing war, poverty and disease. Christians and Jews by the millions are being slaughtered around the globe by militant Islam and al Qaeda threatened to nuke the U.S. To date, I have heard know unified public apology from Islamic leaders for 911 and the mass genocide. Iran, the Palestinians, al Qaeda want to divide Israel for the purpose of “wiping Israel off the map.” PLO leaders like Yasser Arafat and many others like the President of Iran have gone on record with these statements. Militant Islamists in Pakistan, Iran and other nations are actively acquiring nuclear weapons for the purpose of jihad.

Warren who is a gifted communicator said, “it’s easier to be an extremist of any kind bec ause then you only have one group of people mad at you,” he said. “But if you actually try to build relationships “” like invite an evangelical pastor to your gathering “” you’ll get criticized for it. So will me.” I take issue with Warren’s manipulation of those worlds. Is Jesus Christ an extremist because He said, “I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER THROUGH HIM?”

Building in relations is noble, but not when they are relations built on compromise. A man can build a relationship with a prostitute, is that noble? Chamberlain built relationships with Hitler because he ignored the evil that Hitler was doing.

In his speech, Warren also urged Muslims and Christians to speak out against stereotyping of any group and to respect each other even while disagreeing. Addressing Muslims who “have been in America for many generations now,” he urged them to help “the newcomers learn what it means to be American.” I agree with Warren, I do not believe=2 0 we should stereotype Muslims. For example, I know many American-Iranian Muslims who are not fanatics and make a real contribution to our nation.

Rick, as someone who has called my radio show and as someone whom I have met and heard preach a Gospel-centered message, I desire to build a bridge with you and reach out to you as a brother in Christ. I am not saying this to be self-righteous, but I pray for you because you have been given enormous responsibility. I am available to talk publicly or privately as brothers in Christ.

I will close by mentioning several concerns: I do not know to what extent you endorse the leaders of the Emerging Church. But, a number of Emerging Church leaders have made public statements that are not in a grey area. They are statements of Apostasy and since they have not taken back their statement, I can only assume they are the apostates the Apostle Paul warned us of. I cannot deal with this Apostasy with a weak hand. In my conscience before the Lord, I must confront it for what is and that is Apostasy.

One final concern, I have heard Rick Warren that your are either a member of the Council on Foreign Relations or work closely with them? The Council on Foreign Relations masquerades as merely a “think tank.” However, under the direction of Rockefeller their goal is a one world socialist government, world currency and the establishment of a New Age Religion. I can document that for you in my book “The Day The Dollar Died” and spend as many hours as you like providing exhaustive documentation of their goals which are in direct opposition to God’s World. Malthusian population control, indoctrination of youth into humanism beginning with Julian Huxley, the founder of UNESCO. The CFR established the U.N. for the purpose of a one world government.

Rick, I hope you receive this letter to in a spirit of true Christian love. Again, should you chose, I am available to meet with you. I thank God for the many good things you have done. But, as your brother in the Lord, I must speak t o you the truth in love.