Some who have read the previous four parts to this series dealing with Rick Warren’s interview with Raymond Arroyo of EWTN may still be asking the question: Why would Understand The Times spend so much time and energy on this topic? What is wrong with “America’s Pastor” expressing his support for the Roman Catholic Church and many of their beliefs and practices?
The answer is simple. Bible-believing Christians are called to “contend for the faith” [1] . When a Christian leader publically makes statements or endorsements by saying or doing things that contradict the Bible, the leader needs to be addressed in a public manner so those who have been influenced can be put back on track.
While many professing Christians who embrace full blown ecumenical unity with Rome remain silent and see no harm with the direction Warren is headed, we are compelled to sound the alarm. In the previous four commentaries we have addressed several critical topics indicating Warren is headed down the road to Rome without hesitation. Some of these include:
-
Endorsement of Catholic saints and mystics and their methods
-
Endorsement and praise for Pope Benedict – who Warren calls “our Pope”
Unity with Catholics and other religions for the cause of “religious liberty”
-
The PEACE Plan and the “faith sector” working together with all faiths
-
Warren and his “spiritual director” and the connection with Jean Vanier
-
The New Evangelization delegation from Rome to Saddleback
Now, in
this
commentary
we will
address
what I
consider
the most
blatant
endorsement
of Roman
Catholicism
revealed
in his
entire
interview
with
EWTN. It
was so
revealing
that
even
Raymond
Arroyo
expressed
surprise
when he
asked
Warren
to
comment
on the
following
topic:
Tell me about your—the little breather you take in the day when you watch television. When we first met, you came up to me afterwards—I can’t believe you watch Chaplet of Divine Mercy. [2]
In response to Arroyo’s comment, Rick Warren expounded:
I’m an avid fan of EWTN. I make no bones about it. I probably watch it more than any Christian channel. Well, you know what? Because you have more, more, uh, shows that relate to history. And if you don’t understand the roots of our faith, that God had been working for 2,000 years, regardless of what brand of believer you are, God has been working for 2,000 years in His church. And if you don’t have those roots you’re like the cut flower syndrome. Or you’re a tumbleweed. [3]
Warren’s
main
reason
for
watching
the
Roman
Catholic
Eternal
Word
Television
Network
is to
gain a
knowledge
and
understanding
of
Christian
history,
then
there is
no
question
he is
getting
a biased
one-sided
view.
While I
admit I
do not
watch
EWTN as
much as
Warren
apparently
does
(and
certainly
not for
the same
reasons),
I do
know
that a
major
part of
Christian
history
dealing
with the
Reformation
and the
Counter-reformation
is not
one of
the
favorite
topics
presented.
Perhaps
a quick
review
of Fox’s
Book of
Martyrs
would be
a good
balance
for
Warren
and a
reminder
what
happened
to
Christians
who
stood up
against
the pope
of Rome
and his
Jesuit
enforcers
in the
past for
believing
the Word
of God
rather
than the
word of
man.
Notice
carefully
that
Warren
not only
stated
that
EWTN was
his
favorite
Christian
Television
Network
he
further
offered
that he
had a
favorite
program
he and
his wife
watch
regularly
on that
network.
When I
first
watched
the
entire
EWTN
interview,
it was
the
statement
Warren
made at
this
point
that
became
the
motivating
factor
that
triggered
me to do
this
series.
If
Arroyo
was
shocked
by this
revelation,
the best
way to
describe
my
reaction
to his
response
would be
astonished
and
outraged.
In
Warren’s
own
words:
One of my favorite shows, which you repeat often is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which I love. And when I’ve had a very stressful day, I’ll come home, I’ve got it taped and Kay and I will both, we’ll listen. We’ll put it on and just sit back, relax and worship. And in the time of reflection, meditation and quietness I find myself renewed and restored. So thank you for continuing to play the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. [4]
Arroyo responds to Warren’s statement, “Thank Mother Angelica.” [5] Warren than echoes, “Thank you, Mother Angelica”.
Mother Angelica, as we have previously documented was the founder of the Eternal Word Television Network. Among the programs making up the daily broadcasting schedule is “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy.” A description of this program provides background information:
The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy is a Christian devotion based on the visions of Jesus reported by Saint Mary Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), known as "the Apostle of Mercy." She was a Polish sister of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and canonized as a Catholic saint in 2000. Faustina stated that she received the prayer through visions and conversations with Jesus, who made specific promises regarding the recitation of the prayers. Her Vatican biography quotes some of these conversations. As a Roman Catholic devotion, the chaplet is often said as a rosary-based prayer with the same set of rosary beads used for reciting the Holy Rosary or the Chaplet of Holy Wounds, in the Roman Catholic Church. As an Anglican devotion, The Divine Mercy Society of the Anglican Church states that the chaplet can also be recited on Anglican prayer beads. The chaplet may also be said without beads, usually by counting prayers on the fingertips, and may be accompanied by the veneration of the Divine Mercy image. [6]
Note the
reference
to “the
veneration
of the
Divine
Mercy
image”
that is
an
essential
component
of the
Chaplet
of
Divine
Mercy.
Further
documentation
provides
additional
information
that
will
clarify
that
idolatry
is the
only
way to
describe
what is
taking
place:
The earliest element of the Devotion to the Divine Mercy revealed to St. Faustina was the Image. On February 22nd, 1931 Jesus appeared to her with rays radiating from His heart and said, Paint an image according to the pattern
you see, with the signature: Jesus I trust in You. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and throughout the world. (Diary 47) I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also
promise victory over its enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I myself will defend it as My own glory. (Diary 48) I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the
fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature “Jesus, I trust in You." (Diary 327) [7]
I
suppose
it would
be
reasonable
to
suggest
Warren
was just
“making
conversation”
with
Arroyo
when he
made the
claim
that The
Chaplet
of the
Divine
Mercy
was his
favorite
“Christian”
television
program
and that
he meant
it as a
joke.
If that
is the
case
then
Warren
should
make a
public
statement
explaining
he was
not
sincere
or that
that he
never
views
the
program.
Clearly,
if
Warren
does
not, he
is
defying
the God
of the
Bible
and
willingly
ignoring
the
commandment
in the
Bible
that
states:
Thou
shalt
not make
unto
thee any
graven
image,
or any
likeness
of any
thing
that is
in
heaven
above,
or that
is in
the
earth
beneath,
or that
is in
the
water
under
the
earth
[8].
While
researching
this
issue, I
took the
time to
watch
several
Chaplet
of the
Divine
Mercy
programs
posted
on the
Internet.
Staring
at
images
of
“Christ”
or
worshipping
a
monstrance
containing
the
supposed
body of
Christ
while
repeating
the
rosary
apparently
brought
peace
and
relaxation
for
Warren.
It does
not take
a great
deal of
discernment
to
realize
these
unbiblical
practices
are
rooted
in
paganism.
I have
decided
the best
way to
confirm
this
point is
to
provide
an
Internet
link to
an
actual
Chaplet
of
Divine
Mercy
service
so you
can see
with
your own
eyes
what
Warren
and his
wife Kay
consider
a
“Christian”
devotional.
This is
only one
of many
programs
that you
can
watch
that all
show the
same
thing.
Please
check
out this
8 minute
video
clip of
a
Chaplet
of the
Divine
Mercy
program.
The Bottom Line
The
scientific
method
provides
a useful
and
practical
way to
gather
facts,
present
a
hypothesis,
and then
draw a
conclusion.
My
background
in
science
has
provided
a
framework
to
present
the
facts in
order to
present
my case.
Pastor
Rick
Warren
is on a
dangerous
path
away
from
sound
biblical
doctrine
towards
an
ecumenical
apostate
form of
Christianity
with
Rome
that has
the
potential
to lead
many
astray.
I am not
the only
one who
sees
this
happening.
When
others
have
pointed
out the
serious
consequences
of
Warren’s
departure
from the
faith,
they
have
been
ignored
or
shunned
because
of their
concerns.
Based on
the
evidence
provided
by the
facts
presented
in this
series
of
commentaries
relating
to
Warren’s
interview
with
EWTN, I
challenge
any
blind
follower
of Rome
to wake
up and
consider
the
consequences.
What
does it
mean “to
earnestly
contend
for the
faith”?
If Jude
was in
our
midst
today,
what
would he
have
written
to the
church?
When he
stated
that
“certain
men” had
“crept
in,”
what did
he mean?
Is sound
biblical
doctrine
being
compromised
for the
sake of
unity in
the
church
today?
When a
pastor
endorses
a
television
program
that
promotes
idolatry,
shouldn’t
that
pastor
be
called
out or
at least
asked to
give a
public
explanation?
Are pastors today following men primarily for the sake of success and their church-growth methods? Why are pastors who should know better remaining silent and saying nothing?
t was
for this
very
reason I
publically
departed
from the
Calvary
Chapel
movement.
After
being
part of
the
Calvary
Chapel
Movement
for over
20 years
I had to
make a
decision
based on
my
understanding
of Bible
and the
Last
Days
apostasy
the
Bible
warns
about.
You can
find
numerous
articles
and
commentaries
we
posted
on our
web site
that
fell on
deaf
ears
with
regards
to the
direction
Rick
Warren
was
headed
then and
his
affiliation
with the
emerging
church
such as
“Calvary
Chapel
and
Purpose
Driven."
Now,
over
five
years
later,
the
facts
presented
in this
EWTN
series
confirm
we were
not
unrealistic
in the
warnings
that
were
sounded
then.
While
not all
Calvary
Chapel
pastors
have
joined
hands
with
Rick
Warren
and
continue
to
teach
the Word
of God
faithfully
every
week,
there
are
those
who are
highly
influential
in the
movement
who are
confusing
their
flocks
by their
public
endorsements.
The
facts
have
been
presented
and a
hypothesis
can be
formulated
that
leads to
a
reasonable
conclusion,
at least
for the
present.
My
prayer
is that
the
damage
done to
biblical
Christianity
can be
corrected
though
open
repentance
and
public
statements
that set
the
record
straight
by
Warren
himself
and
those
who
follow
him.
Rick Warren And
The
Chaplet Of Divine Mercy
Transcript of Series 5 - Rick Warren And The Chaplet Of Divine Mercy
[1] Jude 3
[2]
Transcript
[3]
ibid
[4]
Transcript
[5]
Transcript
[6]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaplet_of_Divine_Mercy
[7]
http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/image.htm
[8]
Exodus
20:4