Webster’s definition on the word “Propagation”: “the spreading of something (as a belief) abroad or into new regions.”
The May 9th issue of Rick Warren’s newsletter is propagating New Age/emerging theologies through its promotion of those who teach such.
This week’s newsletter states the following about the National Pastor’s Convention which took place earlier this year:
Zondervan podcasts its National Pastors Conference – You can now get Zondervan’s Pastor’s Conference on your iPod. Eugene Peterson and John Eldredge were among the featured speakers at the conference. Zondervan also podcasts interviews with some of its authors, including Phillip Yancey and Ann Spangler.
The National Pastor’s Convention, an event that Rick Warren has also attended in the past, was originally presented by Youth Specialties. Now, the event is hosted by Zondervan publishers. Both Zondervan and the convention have become venues for contemplative (i.e., mystical) spirituality and the emerging church movement (both of which are New Age in nature and premise).
This year’s National Pastor’s Convention list of speakers includes some of the strongest proponents of contemplative/emerging spirituality: Brian McLaren, Ruth Haley Barton, Eugene Peterson, John Eldredge, Mark Yaconelli, and several others.
While over 400,000 churches have participated in the Purpose Driven Life program thus far, most people do not realize Rick Warren’s connections with mystical/New Age theologies. Former New Age follower Warren Smith was one of the first people to alert others to Rick Warren’s spiritual proclivities in his 2004 book, Deceived on Purpose. Later in 2005, a special report showed that Rick Warren had teamed up with New Age sympathizer Ken Blanchard.1 Today, two years later, Purpose Driven is still going strong, and Rick Warren is part of an ecumenical, global movement to unite all religions. Under the auspices of Warren’s global P.E.A.C.E. Plan, he is helping to bring about a new reformation,.2 one he says will be built on unity and works rather than beliefs and doctrine. He has consistently marginalized Bible believing Christians 3 and endorsed those who have taught a panentheistic gospel.
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For further documentation on Rick Warren’s propagation of mysticism and the New Age, see:
Database of articles on Purpose Driven reformation
Rick Warren Distorts the Instructions of Jesus to Fit His Global Peace Plan
Is Rick Warren Promoting Contemplative Prayer?
Also read: A Time of Departing
