Warren challenges BGCT to promote PEACE globally

Posted: 11/02/07

Warren challenges BGCT
to promote PEACE globally

By Teresa Young

Wayland Baptist University

MARILLO—Developing a heart for missions can be simple, best-selling author and California pastor Rick Warren told Texas Baptists.

“If you want the blessing of God in your life, the power of God in your life, the anointing of God in your life and ministry, you must care about what God cares about most and get on God’s agenda,” Warren said to the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting. “God’s agenda is the kingdom of God. It was the most pre-eminent thing on Jesus’ mind.”

In his 70-minute address to Texas Baptists, Warren described the need for churches to “release the pent-up power and talent sitting in our pews.”

Doing so requires people to recognize their strengths and skills and turn them over to God, much as Moses did when he threw down his staff and it became a snake.

“The staff of Moses represents three things—his identity, his income and his influence,” Warren said.

“God told Moses: ‘If you lay it down, I will make a miracle of it. When you give it to me, surrender it to me, I will do miraculous things.’ And that is the turning point of history.

“My friends of the BGCT, what is in your hand? One day God will ask you the two most important questions: ‘What did you do with my Son, Jesus Christ? And what did you do with what you were given—the talent, ability, opportunities, education, health, freedom—all that I gave you.’”

Like Moses, Warren said, church members must learn to use their own “staffs” for the work of the kingdom. His PEACE plan presents an opportunity for Christians, he said, as his church has made evident during the past three years.

The PEACE plan reflects Jesus’ example of how to combat the five major problems facing the planet, Warren said. Warren identified the issues after working in many countries training ministers and helping his wife in her work with orphans—spiritual emptiness, self-centered leadership, poverty, disease and illiteracy.

“In reading the word of God, I found that the things Jesus did while on the earth are the exact antidote to these five problems facing the planet,” Warren said. His plan calls for Christians in churches—everyday, ordinary people with common talents and skills—to practice these five steps around the world.

• Promote reconciliation. “Jesus said be right with God and be right with each other; he called it the great commandment,” Warren said.

• Equip servant leaders. Warren noted Jesus trained 12 disciples but only mentored three, investing time with those who would bear the most responsibility.

• Assist the poor. In his first public sermon, Jesus announced his purpose was to preach good news to the poor, and he emphasized the need to care for the poor.

• Care for the sick. “Jesus didn’t just care about people’s spiritual health but also their physical health,” Warren said. “Jesus was a healer, unlike any other religious leader.”

• Educate the next generation. Jesus was a teacher, and he focused on teaching the next generation. “Every generation is one generation away from Christianity’s extinction,” Warren said.

Putting that into practice, Warren admitted, is harder to do, but Jesus gives instructions in Matthew 10 about working the plan. He instructs to avoid throwing money at the problems, leave any symbols of power at home, adapt to the local customs as much as possible, and find the “man of peace” in any village and start the ministry with one who is open and influential.

Business and government entities can make an impact, but Warren noted that a lasting difference requires church involvement—the third essential leg of the stool, as he called it.

“The church has the mandate of the gospel, the longevity of history and the promises of God, so what are we cowering about?” he asked. “Let’s take Texas and the world and tell them that this is the kingdom of God.”