Saddleback Church propaganda influencing my Catholic Sis In Law- Help!

[MartinJordan]

Hi guys. Im sorry if this may sound like a mountain out of a mole hill, but anyone can guide me how I can get my sis in law (who’s a Catholic and goes for daily Mass) but is slowly being influenced by Saddleback Church.

Not that she’s been going to daily Mass because of Saddleback;she goes because my bro is Catholic…I think.

Let me clarify that going for Daily Mass is fine and Im glad she is. I just wonder if she’s really playing along and not actually for the Eucharist but to please her husband.

Lastly, she given up on having children (13 years married without a child) and she once told me she has accepted it as fate and mentioned Saddleback made her realize this.

Thanks.

MJ

 

[puzzleannie]

I still don’t understand the situation. She cannot be attending daily Mass at Saddleback because it is nondenominational and they don’t have Mass, and I doubt very much they have daily services at all.

 

[MartinJordan]

I still don’t understand the situation. She cannot be attending daily Mass at Saddleback because it is nondenominational and they don’t have Mass, and I doubt very much they have daily services at all.

Thanks for responding!

Im sorry, maybe (and probably) I didn’t make it clear enough, she doesn’t go to Saddleback at all. She goes for Daily Mass at the local Catholic Church (St. Lawrence) near their residence and this is in Sri Lanka (plenty of Catholic Churches there).

What is happening is that she’s using Saddleback’s newsletter/email as her guide and even passing it on to me (which I refuse to read).

MJ

 

[JRKH]

Thanks for responding!

Im sorry, maybe (and probably) I didn’t make it clear enough, she doesn’t go to Saddleback at all. She goes for Daily Mass at the local Catholic Church (St. Lawrence) near their residence and this is in Sri Lanka (plenty of Catholic Churches there).

What is happening is that she’s using Saddleback’s newsletter/email as her guide and even passing it on to me (which I refuse to read).

MJ

Well I would suggest that you being reading the newsletter so that you can act as her guide to understanding any errors in their theology.

I’ve never heard of “Saddleback”. What is it and why is it of such concern?

Peace
James

 

[Spencerian]

Well I would suggest that you being reading the newsletter so that you can act as her guide to understanding any errors in their theology.

I’ve never heard of “Saddleback”. What is it and why is it of such concern?

Peace
James

FYI: The Saddleback Church is the seat of presidential debate host and pastor Rick Warren from the 2008 election. It’s yet another megachurch. Mr. Warren is a rather smooth-speaking person (which was possibly why Obama chose to have a debate with him as host).

 

[aicirt]

I use to get Saddleback’s daily messages. Obviously, I liked them otherwise I wouldn’t have subscribed. However, I know I’ll never be anything but Catholic. I’ve read C.S.Lewis too, who I think would have been made a saint if he had become Catholic, but that doesn’t mean I’d switch to Anglicanism. My Protestant realatives were my inspiration in life but I’m still Catholic. My Protestant friends I treasure along with my Jewish friends but still I’m Catholic.
Maybe she read something about accepting the things she cannot change re. her inability to conceive. Who knows she might start considering adoption.

 

[JRKH]

FYI: The Saddleback Church is the seat of presidential debate host and pastor Rick Warren from the 2008 election. It’s yet another megachurch. Mr. Warren is a rather smooth-speaking person (which was possibly why Obama chose to have a debate with him as host).

Thanks for the Link - I went from there to their official site.

Their beliefs appear to be pretty common “evangelical”, “calvinist” in nature.
They subscribe to OSAS, and symbolic communion which of course are dangerous errors.
On the other hand they are Pro-life and Pro-Christ…

However - even with the errors, I have found that most protestant communions offer much that is good in living a sound Chrisitan life.
Thus I say again to the OP, that you should read the newsletters offered. support what is good in them and, where they might differ from or speak agains the Catholic Church, offer correction to your SIL.
Please don’t miss this opportunity to talk with and grow closer to your SIL and to your brother as well.

Peace
James

 

[TimothyH]

You may want to point your sister in-law to the article titled “Saddleback on Salvation” from this website. catholic.com/thisrock/2006/0612btb.asp

Rick Warren wrote “Purpose Driven Life” which has many doctrinal errors. Reference catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0512fea2.asp

Saddleback is Southern Baptist. The problem for Catholics who follow Saddleback’s Southern Baptist theology are many including:

• Liturgy is empty ritual.
• The Bible is the singular source of God’s revelation to man and that it is an owners manual for our lives. All you have to do is pick it up and read it and you will have all the inforrmation you need to make it to heaven. The logical conclusin is that you don’t have to adhere to the teaching of the Church established by Christ himself for the purpose of saving our souls.
• All you have to do is believe in Jesus and you are granted immediate and irrevocable entry into heaven. No matter how you act or what you do, you can never loose your salvation.
• There is no such thing as confession to a priest. Priests are an artificial insertion of a human between a man and his pesonal lord and savior.
• Baptism is only symbolic. It is not required for salvation.

This is just a start. Much of what they teach is in direct opposition to the teaching of the Church established by Christ himself for the salvation of our souls and infallibly guided by the Holy Spirit to that end.

The problem with Saddleback and other Southern Baptists affiliated Church teaching is not what they teach that is good but what they teach that can place your salvation in jeapordy. The original poster is absolutely correct to be concerned about the salvation of anyone who starts following a Souther Baptists church.

What they say is emotionally pleasing but there is one Church. ONE. Established by Christ himself and he strictly demands loyalty.

Revelation tells us that nothing unclean will enter heaven. Paul tells us in Hebrews 13 that we must strive for that “holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” Jesus tells us that we must be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect. Living a “Sound Christian life” is not good enough.

-Tim-

 

[babylonsfalling]

Hi guys. Im sorry if this may sound like a mountain out of a mole hill, but anyone can guide me how I can get my sis in law (who’s a Catholic and goes for daily Mass) but is slowly being influenced by Saddleback Church.

Not that she’s been going to daily Mass because of Saddleback;she goes because my bro is Catholic…I think.

Let me clarify that going for Daily Mass is fine and Im glad she is. I just wonder if she’s really playing along and not actually for the Eucharist but to please her husband.

Lastly, she given up on having children (13 years married without a child) and she once told me she has accepted it as fate and mentioned Saddleback made her realize this.

Thanks.

MJ

I’ve been to Saddleback church and it’s a legitimate Christian church, and it’s fine to read their newsletter.

Rick Warren is not that good a speaker and I suspect he might have a bit of an ego problem but he’s not claiming perfection and we can all find imperfections in every pastor and priest in every church.

I do think the Catholic Church is better, much more prayerful, and much more humble before God. But that doesn’t mean that Saddleback is not Christian.

 

[MartinJordan]

Thanks for the Link - I went from there to their official site.

Their beliefs appear to be pretty common “evangelical”, “calvinist” in nature.
They subscribe to OSAS, and symbolic communion which of course are dangerous errors.
On the other hand they are Pro-life and Pro-Christ…

However - even with the errors, I have found that most protestant communions offer much that is good in living a sound Chrisitan life.
Thus I say again to the OP, that you should read the newsletters offered. support what is good in them and, where they might differ from or speak agains the Catholic Church, offer correction to your SIL.
Please don’t miss this opportunity to talk with and grow closer to your SIL and to your brother as well.

Peace
James

I appreciate this advice. I need to be closer to her however, my bro is a very loyal Catholic and possibly because my SIL has not actually shown any sign that she wants to leave the CC, he’s letting her be.

Goodness Ive actually talked to her about it once 2 years ago and she says it doesn’t matter. As long as they’re teaching good things, etc. Then goes on about how certain CC clergy (in her Parish and in the said country) getting political, changing the subject to that kind of thing.

What irks me most is Saddleback keeps using different Bibles every time to get a point across. They are NOT consistent. In particular using The Message Bible, then the NIV and at times the KJV. I don’t know what their deal is.

MJ

 

[JRKH]

I appreciate this advice. I need to be closer to her however, my bro is a very loyal Catholic and possibly because my SIL has not actually shown any sign that she wants to leave the CC, he’s letting her be.

Goodness Ive actually talked to her about it once 2 years ago and she says it doesn’t matter. As long as they’re teaching good things, etc. Then goes on about how certain CC clergy (in her Parish and in the said country) getting political, changing the subject to that kind of thing.

What irks me most is Saddleback keeps using different Bibles every time to get a point across. They are NOT consistent. In particular using The Message Bible, then the NIV and at times the KJV. I don’t know what their deal is.

MJ

Yes it can be frustrating. The one thing I would say is to caution her that while, “teaching good things”, is all fine and good, except where they are not. Then it is not Good at All.
Like for instance, OSAS is an error and the Eucharist being symbolic is an error. These are core teachings of this (and many other) protestant church.
Their newsletters might be OK for daily encouragement (heck I read guideposts mag), she should absolutely NOT rely on it for any kind of sound teaching.

Good Luck

Peace
James

 

[MartinJordan]

Yes it can be frustrating. The one thing I would say is to caution her that while, “teaching good things”, is all fine and good, except where they are not. Then it is not Good at All.
Like for instance, OSAS is an error and the Eucharist being symbolic is an error. These are core teachings of this (and many other) protestant church.
Their newsletters might be OK for daily encouragement (heck I read guideposts mag), she should absolutely NOT rely on it for any kind of sound teaching.

Good Luck

Peace
James

Thanks again for your kind encouragement.

BTW, Ive just now checked out The Message Bible’s version of the Our Father and I think it’s a good place to start to tell her, not to depend on Saddleback if they’re gonna be using MSG as a guide…

It’s so astoundingly peculiar :

Matthew 6:9-13

With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best— as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.

:dts:

MJ

 

[MartinJordan]

You may want to point your sister in-law to the article titled “Saddleback on Salvation” from this website. catholic.com/thisrock/2006/0612btb.asp

Rick Warren wrote “Purpose Driven Life” which has many doctrinal errors. Reference catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0512fea2.asp

Saddleback is Southern Baptist. The problem for Catholics who follow Saddleback’s Southern Baptist theology are many including:

• Liturgy is empty ritual.
• The Bible is the singular source of God’s revelation to man and that it is an owners manual for our lives. All you have to do is pick it up and read it and you will have all the inforrmation you need to make it to heaven. The logical conclusin is that you don’t have to adhere to the teaching of the Church established by Christ himself for the purpose of saving our souls.
• All you have to do is believe in Jesus and you are granted immediate and irrevocable entry into heaven. No matter how you act or what you do, you can never loose your salvation.
• There is no such thing as confession to a priest. Priests are an artificial insertion of a human between a man and his pesonal lord and savior.
• Baptism is only symbolic. It is not required for salvation.

This is just a start. Much of what they teach is in direct opposition to the teaching of the Church established by Christ himself for the salvation of our souls and infallibly guided by the Holy Spirit to that end.

The problem with Saddleback and other Southern Baptists affiliated Church teaching is not what they teach that is good but what they teach that can place your salvation in jeapordy. The original poster is absolutely correct to be concerned about the salvation of anyone who starts following a Souther Baptists church.

What they say is emotionally pleasing but there is one Church. ONE. Established by Christ himself and he strictly demands loyalty.

Revelation tells us that nothing unclean will enter heaven. Paul tells us in Hebrews 13 that we must strive for that “holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” Jesus tells us that we must be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect. Living a “Sound Christian life” is not good enough.

-Tim-

Tim, thanks for taking the time on the above. And all others who have given me some food for thought.

I am aware of the TPDL book and she has read it;infact she gave one copy to my wife…as a Christmas gift 2 years ago;didn’t bother reading it but thanked my SIL.

Ive told my bro to have a look at This Rock so that he realizes the dangers of TPDL and perhaps to slowly vean her off Saddleback.

MJ