The Purpose Driven Life by Richard Warren, Rick Warren (2002)

I started reading The Purpose Driven Life at the request of a friend who was going through a difficult time in her life. The book is designed to teach the reader about God's purpose for his/her life and how to live in such a way as to fulfill that purpose. It contains 40 short chapters (4-5 pages each) and suggests reading 1 chapter a day for 40 days (a symbolic number in the bible...40 days of rain, 40 days in the desert, etc.) The book recommends reading it with a friend so that you can stay accountable to the reading, discuss each chapter with that person, and better absorb the message.

The book is designed for Christians at any point in their faith. It does not matter if you are new to Christianity or have been following God for 60 years, it has something to teach you or reinforce in you wherever you are in your walk. Pastor Rick Warren does a good job of defining God's purpose for our lives as found in the scriptures. He writes in a very accessible way and because you only read 1 short chapter a day, you have time to let each message sink in. While at times some of the messages seem basic, it is through mastering the basics that we can grow and evolve into more authentic, committed Christians.

In addition to writing about God's purpose for us, Pastor Warren provides practical ways to fulfill our role. Each chapter concludes with a "Point to Ponder" (the message of the chapter), a "Verse to Memorize" (to reinforce God's purpose for us) and a "Question to Ask" (so that we can apply the message to our own life). All in all, it is a very practical and useful book that, whether you read with a friend or on your own, will provide daily encouragement that will enrich your life. It is the type of book that you'll be able to pick up many times in your life to help guide you in your Christian walk.

I understand that this book has taken America by storm, but I would give a strong word of caution to any who are considering reading it. There is some useful stuff in there, but Scripture is tossed around rather loosely, and ends up being taken out of context on numerous occasions.

I would strongly encourage anyone who is, has, or is planning to read this book to do a search for "purpose driven life critism". You will undoubtedly find links such as http://www.biblebb.com/files/purpose.htm and http://www.biblebb.com/files/pdl.htm which aren't unfair, but honest. They report honestly and give good, solid examples of why the book isn't on their top must-read lists.

I truly believe Rick Warren's heart is in the right place, but being a Christian isn't about being happy with your life; it's about being satisfied in God. Too many evangelists try to sell Christianity on "do this and you'll be better, happier, etc." That is NOT what the bible teaches; rather, it teaches that you can be content in every situation when you have the strength of faith to know that He will protect your eternal soul, regardless of what happens to you on this earth. Ask any Christian martyr if being happy is what following God is about!

Think twice before you buy, and PLEASE read with both eyes open: there's lots of smoke out there! Seek, rather, a "Spirit-lead life" and you will find TRUE happiness--in God!

I have read this book completely through from cover to cover. I even spent several hours trying to compare Mr. Warren's beliefs to God's Word.

Because of the abundance of versions and paraphrases used, and the fact that the references were listed in the back of the book, instead of with the quotations within the body of the book, it took a considerable amount of time to look them up and compare them to what God says in His Word. It was very confusing for me. However, what I was able to compare of Mr. Warren's opinions and God's Word showed discrepancies between the two.

Mr. Warren bases a lot of what he says on what has worked in his congregation to draw large numbers of unregenerate people, not necessarily what has worked to build strong, mature believers, who are grounded in God's Word.

One comment he made alerted me to his true beliefs about God and His Word. He said that the Bible alone was not sufficient for our spiritual growth. If that is so, how does he account for so many believers who have been imprisoned around the world and have stood strong for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ just by being able to remember the verses of God's Word hidden in their hearts? Christ, Himself, said that man was not to live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).

One does not need to read Mr. Warren's book to find his purpose in life. God tells us in Ephesians 1:4-12 what our purpose in life is to be: "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love...That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ." He is the one who created us, and He knows better than anyone else His purpose for each life on planet Earth.

Spend your money on a solid version of God's Word, read it, study it and you will be able with much less effort to find your purpose for life.

Books like this happen when supposed Bible "teachers" don't do their homework. I even wonder if Warren has ever truly understood the Scriptures in lieu of his obvious ignorance of the Author's intent and Hebrew heritage spattered on every page of the Old Testament. The purpose of our life is to glorify the one who created us. Period. That's all. Buy my book and pay ME money. That's never been a popular truth with the majority of the world, so you can't make much cash with it. That may be why Rick didn't go with that line of thought. Here's an example to show how foolish Mr. Warren's "Christian" premise is. You want somebody who was blessed by God? Who God gave tremendous gifts and power too? Who spoke with God like know one else has in 2000 years? The apostle Paul is arguably the most "purpose driven" man in the last two centuries, and did God grant him happiness or financial stability, or lots of friends? At the end of Paul's life he was abandoned by his friends (with the exception of one or two), he had no money, no miraculous power, and he was suffering daily both physically and mentally under the burden of the knowledge that there were people who were still rejecting the Savior and would be ultimately condemned to eternal suffering. You see, Paul was blessed with the gifts of God, but those gifts are not ones that the secular world cares for. They are the ability to love those who hate you, patience, longsuffering, gentleness, kindness to those who are unkind to you, knowledge of God's word (which back then was only the Old Testament). Paul glorified God daily by proclaiming the truth that Jesus was not just a prophet, or a good man, but that He was Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent God. That He alone could raise Himself from the dead thereby conquering death for those who only so much as submit to the fact that He is their Creator and Master. That is the purpose that all people are called to, but only few respond. True Christianity will always be hated by the world because it professes the selfishness inherent in us all. Paul was stripped of his money, friends, and health by this world. That is the evidence that he led a purpose driven life.