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Day 5
Day 6
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Day 8
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Intro
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DAY EIGHT

            Every time that I think this book has gone as far away from God’s Word as it can, it proves me wrong.  This entire Chapter, supposedly on “worship”, never lifts up faith in God’s promise of our forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal heirship solely on account of the vicarious satisfaction of Christ Jesus.  How is it possible to discuss “worship” without placing faith at the very center?

            Warren begins this Chapter with a purported translation of Revelation 4:11 from the NLT.  Warren’s choice of translation should be compared to the NIV or better yet, the NASB.  The NASB translates that verse as “worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created.”  The NLT obviously was deemed to serve Warren’s purpose better than a translation true to the original text.

            As to Warren’s use of Psalm 149:4a, the rest of that verse should also be considered where it states “…he crowns the humble with salvation.” (NIV). 

            It is critical to understand that the entire Scripture is but a loving letter from our Heavenly Father setting forth His gracious purpose and work of our salvation unto eternal life with Him.  He presents His pleasure as His grace.  Warren’s treatment of God’s pleasure in this Chapter is that of a benevolent Master who seeks only willing obedience from His servants.  That may well be what man does with power, but our Covenant Savior Lord presents Himself, His purpose, and His work as contrary to the sin corrupted ways of man. 

            Contrary to Warren, the “first purpose” of a believer’s life is saving faith in the Person and work of Christ Jesus, and Him Crucified.  The first purpose of a believer is a life in the Gospel, not in the Law.  The Law condemns, accuses and kills.  Only the Gospel gives and defines life in Christ.

            Warren’s presentation of God’s pleasure is so confused that the entire Chapter is false.  God is pleased with the thanksgiving and praise of His believing people first of all, because He has forgiven the sin that tainted and would have otherwise corrupted those same deeds, words and thoughts of thanksgiving and praise.  He is pleased with all that which proceeds out of saving faith only on account of His Son. 

            With a right understanding of God’s grace, we then know from the Scriptures that the life of a believer is totally shaped by and filled with God’s Divine Service to us.  It is Him feeding and serving us by Word and Sacrament and that same Word returning to Him in thought, word and deed that defines the life in faith.  Warren treats “worship” as man’s sacrifices to God rather than God’s sacramental work to man, in man, and through man.  Of course, Warren treats Word and Sacrament as only the actions of man.  To say that “we worship for God’s benefit”, page 66, is to deny the Living Word by denying our complete corruption by original sin, salvation by God’s grace alone, through Christ Jesus alone, grasped through faith alone, and known through Scripture alone.  The very thing that pleases God, that being the presence of living true faith within His people by His free gift only, is what Warren rejects. 

            For example, Warren’s statement that “This is what real worship is all about – falling in love with Jesus”, page 67, is rejecting the Person and work of our Savior. 

            The works of life, lifestyle, and service should be examined by every believer under God’s Law.  With that examination, we will see just how feeble, week and sinful we are in the best of our deeds and flee to God’s grace in Christ Crucified.  Any focus that is not centered and maintained upon Christ Crucified is looking away from the God revealed in the Scriptures and seeking a small god created in the imagination of sinful man.

            Those taking the time to read Warren’s book would be better served by listening to our Lord speak as Galatians 3:3; 2:19-21; 3:10-14, for example.  Obviously, I have concluded that Warren seeks to bewitch his readers.  See Galatians 3:1.

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