Purpose Driven Life

[kayre]

Summary: Servants think more about others than about themselves; think like stewards, not owners; think about their work, not what others are doing; base their identity in Christ (do not need worldly reassurances of worth or value); think of ministry as opportunity, not obligation.

My thoughts: Okay, he supports the first point with a totally bogus translation. Philippians 2:4 he quotes as “Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.” The NIV reads “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” That’s a very significant difference. “You can’t be a servant if you’re full of yourself”... maybe not, but you must be fully yourself. “Self-denial is the core of servanthood.” I don’t think so.. love of God and love of neighbor are the double heart of service. And then he somehow gets “If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life” from “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

Similar all-or-nothing discussion of money under the second point, complete with threats of hell again.

Another bizarre paraphrase under point three; The Message must really butcher Paul.

Someone commented yesterday that it sounded like Warren was presenting a recipe for burnout; I didn’t agree at that point, but I certainly do now. If we’re supposed to view service as opportunity rather than duty-- why does he spend so much time hammering on duty?