Not really. Rick Warren is.

That all might sound a little sacrilegious, but honestly, Christians, churches, and pastors all around the world say the exact same thing (or something similar) by their lifestyle, their choices, and the way they run their lives and ministries.

Now I don’t have anything against Rob Bell or Rick Warren. I don’t necessarily agree with them on every point (maybe even any point). But God bless them.

I’m also not against them using their experience and spiritual insight to help others.

However, I am against people rearranging priorities and making other things and other people a god rather than God Himself. Now you may think you can see what I’m saying, but let me carry it a little further.

All around the country there are conventions, conferences, symposiums, gatherings, etc, etc, etc of Christians getting together for an “idea exchange.” At these “idea exchanges” leaders, pastors, and others get together to exchange what they’ve done, what has worked, what sounds good, what the latest statistics have said, or the next big idea to get people to the church. These things and more are all talked about in these meetings.

I sat in one such meeting many years ago and nodded my head, said “Amen,” and thought some of the things they were saying were great. But that was years ago before I knew what I know now. I heard about what worked on the first 100 days on a college campus and how to get students into your student ministry. At the time, they all sounded great. In fact, they were and are great ideas. I still listen to that mp3 I have.

In like manner, people grab the latest book that tells them how to be a success, how to influence people, or how to develop effective habits. They read books by CEOs, board of directors, celebrities, and so on. Then they take what these people have had a success with, and apply it to their lives, their ministries, etc.

However, they leave out the most important factor—the Holy Spirit. Instead of getting on our knees and seeking the Holy Spirit, we decide to pick up a book and apply some principles that someone else came up with. That might have been God’s plan for them, but that doesn’t mean it’s God’s plan for you.

But too many of us are more concerned with the easier way—reading a book, instead of God’s way—the Holy Spirit.