Purpose Driven or Scripture Driven? - Way of Life Literature

Warren Critics Called “Leaders fromHell”Transitioning: Leading Your Church through Change, abook by Dan Southerland that is highly recommended byRick Warren, implies that those who oppose the PurposeDriven philosophy that so many pastors are trying to pushupon their people are “leaders from hell.”Southerland is speaking of opposition in general, but itobvious from the overall context that he is referring to thosewho resist the new philosophies. Southerland is “the leadingexpert on implementing the Purpose Driven paradigm inexisting churches” (Church Transitions web site).Southerland says they have experienced two major sourcesof criticism as they have transitioned churches to the PurposeDriven model: Christians from traditional backgrounds andtraditional pastors. He hastens to add that not all of thetraditionals oppose them, “just the meaner ones” (p. 116).On page 115, he likens opponents to Sanballat who resistedthe building of the walls of Jerusalem in the time ofNehemiah. Southerland says, “Sanballat is a leader from hell.We all have some Sanballats in our churches. This is the guywho opposes whatever you propose. ... You cannot call thisguy a leader from hell to his face--but you could call himSanballat” (p. 115).Sanballat was an unsaved opponent of God’s Word, God’swork, and God’s people. To liken Bible-believing Christianswho love the Lord Jesus Christ and who stand for His Wordin this apostate age to Sanballat is a slander.Isn’t it interesting that about the only time that the Warrencrowd talks about Hell is when they mis-apply it tofundamentalists and evangelicals of a stricter stripe!61