John Calvin, Rick Warren, Repentance and the Purpose Driven Life

Two trains of thought that were rattling around in the wilderness of my brain collided today and I thought I would share what came out of the wreckage.

Train #1 involves Rick Warren, his book The Purpose Driven Life, and the subject of repentance. One of the knocks on Rick and the book, from the critics standpoint has been that it doesn't deal with repentance, therefore it doesn't proclaim the whole gospel. Of course, this is a knock on his entire ministry - his critics say he is a "feel-good-culturally-relevant-but-biblically-soft" preacher.

His defenders say au contrair - he does preach repentance and he does care about things like theology. One of his defenders has said that Warren believes that repentance is a change of mind, but it doesn't stop there, it moves into behavior. He does preach on sin and disobedience and our need for us to turn away from sin and turn to God. In other words, it sounds like he is preaching the typical evangelical view of repentance, and maybe even a stronger view than the typical evangelical.

Since I haven't finished reading the book, I don't want to try to comment on it, but I would recommend Tim Challies review of the book. At least as far as the book goes, Tim suggests that a Biblical doctrine of repentance is not found there. Maybe something else happens at the church, but repentance isn't talked about in the book.

The second train running in my head came from Calvin's commentary on Genesis 8:21. I am preaching this passage this Sunday and was reading Calvin's comments on the phrase: "the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth." There is one line that struck a chord with me on this -

Philosophers, by transferring to habit, what God here ascribes to nature, betray their own ignorance.

Although this doesn't address the subject of repentance directly, the indirect hit is spot on. Here is what I mean.

The typical evangelical view of sin is that it is a behavior. Those who have a stronger view of sin would call it an attitude that underlies behavior. This may be where Warren is coming from and if that is the case, then he is certainly no worse, and maybe even better, than many evangelicals in their preaching on sin and repentance.

However, Calvin gets at something we have lost in our day - sin is not a matter of habits (either attitudinal or behavioral) it is a matter of nature. Therefore, true Biblical repentance involves a change of nature, not just a change of mind, behavior, attitude, or habits.

Therein lies the rub - we can't change our nature any more than the leopard can change his spots. A change of nature can only come through the supernatural work of regeneration. Seen in this way, repentance is a gift of grace, not a mere decision to change your mind/attitude/behavior/habits.

But, you argue, Warren and evangelicals are dealing with repentance on the human level. We can't see what is going on in the heart of man, we can't see if God is working in someone's heart or not. All we can see is the outward evidences of the inward reality. In that case, we are looking for the evidences of true repentance (i.e. regeneration - a change of nature). Isn't a change of mind/attitude/behavior/habit the outward evidence of the inward reality of regeneration? And if that's the case isn't Mr. Jollyblogger just playing word games with us here?

For the sake of argument I will agree that changes of mind/attitude/behavior/habit are outward evidences of the inward reality of repentance. John the Baptist tells those who come for baptism to bring forth fruits in keeping with repentance. Certainly changes of mind/attitude/behavior/habit qualify as fruits of repentance.

However, it is equally true that one can change all of those things without a reference to the person of Christ. In the common gospel message that is preached today, Christ is portrayed as a means to an end. Come to Christ and you can have eternal life, come to Christ and you can have an abundant life, come to Christ and find purpose in life, come to Christ and find yada, yada, yada, and so on and so forth.

In such an environment people are willing to change whatever they need to change to get what they want. The question is this "is it Christ they want, or His benefits." We live in a self-esteem kind of world, where we are told to love ourselves and esteem ourselves and "learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all." So, when someone hears a gospel message that only focuses on God's love, that sounds great. "Wow -God loves me as much as I love myself - that's my kind of God - sure I'll accept Him." You could apply the same reasoning with topics such as purpose, the desire for an abundant life, the desire to not burn in hell, etc.. Almost anyone is willing to change any part of their lives in order to avoid an undesirable outcome.

So, the question is, "is modern evangelical repentance a turning from sin to Christ, or is it a turning from one lifestyle to another lifestyle which gives me more of what I want in life."

The fact is that Christ can never be a means to an end - Christ Himself is an end in and of Himself. Our message needs to be "come to Christ and you will have Christ."

In his book, Seeking the Face of God, Gary Thomas points out that we often fight sin with more sin. For example, maybe we know an alcoholic, and we appeal to him to turn away from his alcoholism because he could lose his job and his reputation. Both of those appeals are appeals to fight sin with more sin. In saying that he could lose his job we are appealing to his love of mammon, and in appealing to his reputation we are appealing to his love of self or fear of man. And we may even say that Christ can help you do this. Christ can be an agent in helping you feed your love of mammon and preserve your love of self. Examples like this could be multiplied but the thing to notice is that this isn't biblical repentance. This is turning from one sin to a more socially acceptable sin.

The old Puritans and Jonathan Edwards got it right in these matters. Rather than merely accepting "decisions" for Christ or looking at changes in behavior, they looked for a change of nature as evidence of repentance. For example, consider Edwards Religious Affections, or Matthew Mead's, The Almost Christian Discovered. Both are extensive inquiriers into the nature of true conversion and repentance. Someone may argue that those authors went overboard, but the fact is that they took repentance far more seriously than we are wont to do in our day.

In all fairness, we probably shouldn't be picking on Rick Warren in this matter. As I said, even though Purpose Driven Life doesn't give good information on repentance, for all I know he may be preaching a stronger view of repentance at his church than the typical evangelical. The problem is not so much with Rick Warren, as it is in evangelicalism at large. A low view of repentance is pervasive in evangelicalism and the only way to recover this is to join Calvin in agreeing with God and ascribing to nature that which many ascribe to habit.

Comments

[Bob]

Great post, Jollyblogger! I'm about to embark on the PDL thing myself, as a "home host" as a matter of fact. My question for you is this: Is the issue of repentence different with regard to a believer than a non-believer? I mean, believers also need to repent, of course, but is repentence for them equally a change of nature, as in the case of the non-believer? Is the continuing life of repentence a progressive inward change? The reason I ask is, if Warren's book about faith-building, about growing in discipleship, rather than about coming to faith, does this make the absence of repentence in the book a less egregious problem? Just wondering. Bob

[David Wayne]

Bob,

Thanks for the comment - I started to give a knee jerk reaction on this and one thought led to another and I decided I will make this the subject of a new post. However, it will take me a day or two to get it up - today's an especially busy day for me so I don't know if I'll get it done.

Maybe this would be a good question for both of us to put on our blogs and see what kind of discussion we can stir up?

David

[Mike Janz]

Hi, I am new to this but I thought I would make a comment on Rick and his idea's of repentance as expressed in PDL. He does write about it as he speaks of the speed boat illustration. He asknowledges that our problem is not the sins of our lifes but that the boat is being driven by a sinful, flawed nature. A nature that cannot gloryfy and honor our Savior. The only choice is to turn to Him. To let him take control of our life. (our boat so to speak)
He mentions when we wrench that sterring whell going against our nature we will asways fail, we simply cannot hold on to changes we want to make, so we will always go back to the wrong purposeless life or sin and pain. The only wya to find real purpose is to let the New Man, our new nature in Christ, empowered by The Holy Spirit take over the controls of the boat.

[TS]

TS: This is a bit of a conversation I am having with Richard Abanes on his blog

TS: Can you tell me where it says in Warrens book to repent one must be willing to turn from sin as you did? Referencing the entire book is a bit vague.

RA: I suggest you read the book again. Pages 9-319 declare in detail the various aspects of turning one's life over top Christ as Lord and Savior and begin living for God rather than for the self. Those who have eyes to see and hears to hear will see and hear.

TS: Interesting.... RA suggest I have to read the whole PDL book pp 9-319 to find where Warren describes what repentence is. Repentence is after all a key factor in Salvation, is it not? Warren writes on pg 58 of PDL the following on how to get into the family of God;

"Wherever you are reading this. I invite you to bow your head and quietly whisper the prayer that will change your eternity: "Jesus I believe in you and I receive you." Go ahead. If you sincerely meant that prayer, congratulations! Welcome to the family of God!" ok.....

So I have narrowed the request down substatially to less that 58 pages. Richard please show me in PDL pryor to Warrens leading the lost into the above prayer on pg.58, where he gives a Biblical definition of repentance as you have, when you clealy stated the following; "The call to repentance is a call to deny the self and follow Christ as Lord and Savior"

"change in one's mind from wanting to live for one's self in sin to wanting to live for God in His service with Christ as Lord"

I believe that we may be waiting a very long time for an answer Ladies and Gentlemen. It is such a shame that so many people are buying into this, when the PDL is "clearly" a mockery in so many ways from start to finish. Is this how we want to live our Christian lives folks, turning our backs on Truth?

[Doug Gibson]

To paraphrase someone in the 1800s "Whew, what a relief. All this time I was under deep conviction of sin and of the immediate duty to repent, but what a relief when I discovered that my nature must first be changed and that I cannot change my nature. All this time I thought God expected me to repent, but now I found out that I cannot unless he changes me. I will simply wait God's time and if I am one of the elect, he will convert me when he is ready. All this time I wrongly thought he wanted me to repent NOW. I thought I was guilty for not repenting, but now I see that God is responsible for my continuance in sin. If all I have to do is WAIT, that is easier."

[Doug Gibson]

To paraphrase someone in the 1800s "Whew, what a relief. All this time I was under deep conviction of sin and of the immediate duty to repent, but what a relief when I discovered that my nature must first be changed and that I cannot change my nature. All this time I thought God expected me to repent, but now I found out that I cannot unless he changes me. I will simply wait God's time and if I am one of the elect, he will convert me when he is ready. All this time I wrongly thought he wanted me to repent NOW. I thought I was guilty for not repenting, but now I see that God is responsible for my continuance in sin. If all I have to do is WAIT, that is easier."

[Ted Gibson]

I typically do not write blogs…I was doing a search on the internet, looking for a T-shirts with John Calvin stuff on it as a Christmas gift for my brother in law and ended up on this site somehow. I read through this and found it interesting, so here is my unsolicited response.

I tend to lean more towards the reformation side of theology when it comes to salvation/regeneration (John Calvin-five points, Martin Luther-justification through faith alone, etc.). I read Warren's book. I just assumed that this book was primarily written for those who had already put their faith in Christ. Regardless if it was or was not, for myself, I thought it was kind of fluffy, but it showed a positive side to God that was kind of nice (coming from a very legalistic upbringing). For a new believer, this book may be an introduction and a start in understanding the nature of God, even though it should come from him, the Bible and the fellow believers (brothers and sisters in Christ whose nature has truly been changed through regeneration). I understand that we need to draw a line and take a stand when it comes to some of the “name it and claim, blab it and grab it, feel good , prosperity” messages that are published in books and unfortunately preached from some evangelical churches (which some newer believers that are not established may fall victim). It appears that churches of today get you saved and leave it up to the new believer to disciple themselves (which is a shame). I personally enjoyed the book. If this book helps new believers understand God better (along with scripture to back it up) then I am OK with it. That is the neat thing about our sovereign God; He has the ability to reach the hearts of everyone and anyone he chooses on an individual basis for his purpose and pleasure. There is no need to wait, he is calling the world (John 3:16).

God Bless
Ted

[Rémi]

yes we need to repent because God is asking us to repent. I don't think he would command us to do something we are not able to do even though we need Him.
This is hard for us to put it together as it is hard for us to reconcile other apparently contradictory doctrines. Sometime the best thing to do is to present and share the Bible in all its aspects without trying to take side.
If we are commended to repent and repentance is also a gift from God, we should accept it eventhough it's hard for us to fully fathom it.
Now if we don't repent and follow Christ do you think we are going to Heaven? No on the contrary we are going to hell if we don't repent and follow Christ eventhough there are other ( or complementary) aspects of salvation presented in the Bible.

Now another theme found in the Bible is the necessity for Christians first to become disciple and then to make disciples.
The world disciple is related to the word discipline.
Yes it takes work to be a disciple!
Without it we are spinning our wheels as individuals and as a church.
What is the main road block : Our weak flesh. We must pray without ceasing and ask god what is impeding us from being a disciple. When we find out what it is we must repent from it, no if or but. Then as we are obedient the Holly Spirit is given to us. Acts 5:32
And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
The churches need badly to refom.
Let spent the first hour of the day praying and reading the Bible. Let us confess our sins and repent from them. Let us share what we are sure the Bible is teaching as God is leading. Let us be strong and courageous. We really are going to suffer for it but it is better than to suffer for our sins (which will happen if we are not discipled). Let us not confuse the role of the man and the role of the woman and therefore so as not to confuse and turn off others. The man is the head of the women in the home and women should not teach or have authority over men especially in the church and this the command of the Lord.
Pretty soon we might be thrown in prison for affirming such things and living by it. But so be it.
We need to endure to the end.
Shoud we not to do
something right because a cult does it? Let us do door to door evangelism eventhough there are studies that will prove you that it's not efficient. For what?
For the church to grow in number? Is it our goal?
Respectfully