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Who Gets the Glory for Doing Good? |
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Written by Pastor Larry DeBruyn
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Wednesday, 04 June 2008 |
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Is the church supposed to receive a “P.E.A.C.E.” of it?
By Pastor Larry DeBruyn
[Note: We interrupt Jeffrey Whittaker's excellent report on his "encounter" experience with Brian McLaren's "Everything Must Change" tour in order to bring you this very current report.]
On WorldNetDaily.com, a contention has surfaced between columnist Joseph Farah and Rick Warren. [Read HERE and HERE.] With words Pastor Warren does not deny, Farah quotes him: “At a wedding the bride is the main character, the center, the start of the show—everyone else is supporting cast, but the glory goes to the bride . . . The PEACE Plan is built on the same principle. The Bride of Christ—of which the church is its local expression around the world—deserves the focus, the credit and the glory for faithfully serving their communities year after year.’”[1] To Warren’s assertion that “the bride deserves the credit,” Farah counters, “Give Glory to God!”[2]
Saying it was his general policy not to respond to his critics—thus providing the impression that he strives to live above them—Warren broke his policy and publicly responded to Farah. In yesterday’s WorldNetDaily posting, he chides Farah, “Give PEACE a chance.”[3] In six categories, Warren cites thirty or so proof texts which supposedly prove his assertion, “God wants His body and bride to receive glory.”
Thus we ask who is right - Warren or Farah? Is God, or the church, to receive the glory? The best way to answer the question is to look at the biblical texts to which Pastor Warren appeals to support his assertion. As we look at the individual texts, I will offer my impression as to whether or not the verses actually support Warren’s statement: “God wants His body and bride to receive glory.” We turn now to Warren’s Bible study which he says proves his premise.
Read the rest here
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