Rick Warren, a Baptist preacher, wrote a best selling book entitled The Purpose Driven Church. This book has been read by many denominational preachers as well as preachers in the church of Christ. In a word, the book focuses on evangelism.

Mr. Warren tells the story of his efforts in Southern California. He began a church with just his family. It grew to over 10,000 in attendance in fifteen years. This success has many preachers and church workers asking "what’s his secret?" In order to find out you must read the book and follow his example.

The success story, Warren claims, has to do with having a clearly defined purpose for the church. This purpose then drives you to choose which efforts to engage in and which ones to let go of. We read in Eccl. 3 that there is a time to get and time to lose.

I believe a clearly, defined mission is important in any work. How do you know if you are successful or not if you do not know your goal? How can you tell how close you are to being finished? How can you determine which labor is a waste of time and which is profitable? We need to know where we want to go before we start traveling down the road.

The goal of the church (in the book) is called a purpose statement. This is a sentence or two that is designed to capture the aim of the church. I do not believe it is wrong to have such a statement, unless it reflects a goal that is unscriptural. Jesus made a mission statement in Luke 19:10 when He said He came to seek and save the lost The problem is not in the statement, but in whether or not it is what God would desire of us.

Rick Warren had a goal of numerical growth. He reflects that aim in his mission statement. Saddleback’s Purpose Statement: "To bring people to Jesus and membership in his family, develop them to Christlike maturity, and equip them for their ministry in the church and life mission in the world, in order to magnify God’s name." His statement sounds pretty good until you, start to look at some of the errors in his thinking.

Mr. Warren began his effort with three errors in mind. First, he believed that all people were saved if they belonged to any denomination. Thus he only sought to convert people who had no religious ties. This does not work for us. We know that men who follow the teachings of men are lost. Our mission to lead the lost to Christ needs to be based on Bible teaching, not men’s opinions.

Secondly, Warren began his efforts by canvassing the neighborhood with surveys. He asked what people wanted in a church, what turned them off about a church, and similar questions. He then catered his church to fit the desires of the people. This too, we can not do. We are aware of men’s needs, and we will not allow their wants to dictate a change in our efforts.

Thirdly, although Rick Warren is a Baptist, he refused to teach any of his denomination’s doctrines to the new visitors. They are only given this information when they have become committed to the effort. This leads to large numbers and no divisions. Of course, the true church can not teach anything but the Bible. If you attend our services we will not hold back anything that is contained in God’s word.

I do not believe Mr. Warren’s methods will work very well in true church. His book does have some merit but I am alarmed when I hear about preachers and elders in the Lord’s church making drastic changes that Warren recommends.

His congregation is called Saddleback based on its location. He purposely leaves the Baptist name out as it will prejudice some visitors. I have known of Christians who recommend the same thing. They desire not to call the church by a scriptural name because it may turn away some visitors.

In advertising there is a trick called the bait and switch. It involves getting someone into the store by advertising something you do not have or want to sell. Once they are in the store you present them with a more expensive item and explain how it is much better than the advertised special.

It seems to me that Mr. Warren has grown his church largely through this method. Do not tell them the church is Baptist. Tell them you have what they want. Impress them with numbers, music, and messages without Biblical content. After they become comfortable with you, then tell them what you really are. The Lord’s church will never claim to be anything other than what it is. We are the Lord’s church, and we offer nothing but God’s way.