Rick Warren and the real Daniel plan Posted by glennchristopherson I know, I know, you are sick of hearing about Mr Warren. Me too. But there’s a good chance your pastor, favourite preacher or Christian author isn’t. Many of these “leaders” have been convinced that if they just follow the Right Reverend Ricks lead, they too can have a mega-church, mega-ministry or mega book sales. That’s why they want you to buy his books and subscribe to his latest fantasy, I mean plan. It seems that Rick’s plan to bring peace to the world using his usual interfaith strategy has taken a back seat to a new and improved plan to bring health to the church. And so the “PEACE plan” makes way for the “DANIEL plan”. Now, of course it is a worthy goal to get some of the brethren ship-shape rather than shaped like a ship but it’s really quite simple; watch what you eat (without becoming a fanatic) and get some exercise. Not our Rick, though, he has brought in world class celebrity experts to harass, I mean teach the saints how to be a picture of health. One slight problem is that amongst his experts is a Muslim, a Jewish gentleman and one who is alleged to be a Christian. O well one out of three isn’t bad I guess. Hang on… the ”Christian” is a student of Kundalini meditation and a student of the cultist Swedenborg. Maybe none out of three is not so good after all. Aren’t there any Christian health experts in America? The interesting thing is Rick has been called to account for his interfaith tendencies many, many, MANY times and yet here he is again leading the saints down a garden path of rebellion against the Most High God. But that aside, what is the REAL Daniel plan as opposed to Rick’s version of cherry picked verses backed up with a heaping helping of the Message “Bible”. This title for Ricks new age health extravaganza is based on the premise that Daniel was a health nut who swore off meat. The result was his vegetarian diet made him and his friends the healthiest bunch in the pagan king’s court. Voila, the Daniel plan! But let’s back up for a second. Daniel was taken captive to Babylon when that nation conquered Israel as a punishment from Yahweh for consistently and blatantly rebelling against their divine King. Daniel found himself in a pagan nation serving a wicked king and surrounded by idolatry and gross immorality. But this young man probably only 15 or 16 years old, purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the food and drink offered in the king’s court.(Daniel 1 :8) Defile is a “faith” word not a “health” word. Daniel’s objection was not to meat, but defiled meat. That is either meat forbidden in the Torah or meat that had been sacrificed to idols or most likely both. See, Daniels goal was not to lose a few pounds but to please his God. The health consequences were a side issue and a result of God’s blessing alone. Incidentally in the New Testament Jesus declared all foods clean.(Mark 7:18-19) So Daniel’s plan? To refuse to compromise his faith no matter the consequences. When commanded not to pray to anyone but the pagan king he refused and prayed consistently and publicly to the God of Israel knowing the consequences of such actions. When threatened with the lions’ den he decided he would rather honour God and die than disobey and live. Daniel is one of the very few scriptural characters of whom no sin is recorded against him. He could not be bought, he could not be coerced he could not be seduced. He remained faithful to the instructions of Yahweh through the rise and fall of three kings and finished his life as one of the most inspiring believers ever recorded in scripture or history. Unlike Rick Warren, Daniels plan was not some superficial health kick. Unlike Rick Warren, Daniel would not confuse the message of the Most High God by defiling himself with idolatry. Unlike Rick Warren, Daniel would not join his worship with the occult practices of pagan religions. Unlike Rick Warren, Daniel did not make a fortune selling books and holding seminars teaching God’s people how to compromise. No he set the example of a man who by the grace of God and by the power of the Holy Spirit and by studied obedience to the scriptures, resolved not to defile himself. Daniels real plan succeeded and brought honor to the Holy One of Israel and strength and courage to his fellow believers. I hope the Reverend Rick may abandon his new age twist on Daniel’s plan and embrace the real one..
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 21:06:53 +0000
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