The Purpose-Driven Middle-East Peace Plan
Tuesday, November 14, 2006 at 03:26PM 
Here's the lastest from Orange County's own Rick Warren. You won't believe it--well, maybe you will.
According to the Syrian News Agency (notice the headline--Click here: American Priest Says no Peace without Syria SANA , Syria) . . .
"American Protestant Pastor Rick Warren on Monday said there was no peace in the region without Syria, noting that 80 percent of the American people rejected what the US Administration is doing in Iraq and considered the US policy in the Mideast as wrong.
Syria’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Badr al-Din Hassoun received the American Pastor in Damascus in which he referred to the importance of spreading culture of amity, peace and coexistence instead of the 'clash of civilizations'.
The Mufti called for conveying the real image of Syria, national unity and its call to spread peace, amity and justice to the American people which the US administration has distorted their image before the world.
Pastor Warren expressed admiration of Syria and the coexistence he saw between Muslims and Christians, stressing that he will convey this image to his church and country."
Lets assume that Warren is quoted correctly (he may not have been in an Islamic state-run newspaper). 80% of Americans oppose the war in Iraq? American foreign policy in the Middle East is wrong? Syria is a model for Islamic-Christian co-existence?
Aside from the legitimate differences that American Christians have over the war in Iraq, my question is simply "when did Rick Warren become Secretary of State?" Or is he acting as Billy Graham's replacement--the "official" evangelical spokesman? Or (allowing for the obvious confusion of the two kingdoms) is he attempting to be both?
Your thoughts?
Kim Riddlebarger
Here's an update from Rick Warren and Saddleback on the trip to Syria. As I suspected, Warren feels that he was misrepresented by SANA. But I wonder how different this update would have been had the publicity been positive instead of negative.
"ABOUT SYRIA
Dear Saddleback Family
Tomorrow our team heads home from a three-nation P . E . A . C . E . plan tour of Germany, Syria, and Rwanda. Our trip began with a P . E . A . C . E . Plan briefing for 44 Christian missions organizations we'd gathered in Atlanta.
In hindsight, I wish we'd been better prepared for our visit to Syria . We would have handled some meetings differently, watched our words more closely, and been more aware of the agenda of their state press. We wanted to just slip in and out, but that's nearly impossible for me to do anymore. It's been a learning experience. Be sure to read the press release at the end of this note that gives you all the details.
Why did we go to Syria? The simple truth is that I was invited by my neighbor, Yassar. When we arrived, our first event was a home cooked meal with 20 of Yassar's family. Then , we were shown many of the historical Christian sites in Syria: the road to Damascus where Paul was converted, Straight street where the Holy Spirit led Paul, the house where Ananias prayed for his healing, the wall where Paul was let down in a basket to escape the Romans, the tomb of John the Baptist and the oldest Christian church building in existence.
Next, my neighbor arranged for us to meet some key Christian leaders, Muslim leaders, and government leaders - including the president of Syria. Franklin Graham has had years of experience with Lebanon and Syria, so I asked him what to say to the Syrian President. Franklin told me, `Thank him for protecting the freedom of Christians and Jews to worship there.'
As we left, the official state-controlled Syrian news agency issued some press release s that sounded like I was a politician negotiating the Iraq war by praising the Syrian President and everything else in Syria! Of course, that's ridiculous, but it created a stir among bloggers who t end to editorialize before verifying the truth. Does it seem ironic to you that people who distrust Syria are now believing Syrian press releases?
In our meeting with the president, I explained (as usual) the Saddleback P.E.A.C.E. P lan , and he gave us permission to send teams to Syria.
Friends, I am aware that inaccuracies, misquotes, and misperceived motivations get reported about me in the press daily. Most of the time, I just ignore them. Jesus said, `If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.' ( John 15:18 - NCV)
I love the paraphrase of Matthew 5:11-12 (Msg) : `Count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens-for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.'
Just don't believe everything you read on the Internet or hear in the media."
Fair enough . . . Does that go for these updates Saddleback sends out?
Reader Comments (24)
on Kim's blog and even more surprised to
find one of his letters to the membership
there as well. I want to thank you all for
your prayers for our pastor and what he
believes God is calling him to accomplish.
Christian Freedom International
http://www.christianfreedom.org/Countries/Syria.html
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Syrian Arab Republic
Population:
18,881,361
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Ethnic groups:
Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Area:
Slightly larger than North Dakota
Overview:
The Government imposes restrictions on religious freedom in Syria.
There is no official state religion; however, the Constitution requires that the president be a Muslim and specifies that Islamic jurisprudence is a principal source of legislation.
Proselytizing is heavily discouraged. Those who proselytize have been prosecuted in the past for "posing a threat to the relations among religious groups." Most charges of this kind have carried sentences of five years to life imprisonment.
Foreign missionary groups must operate underground and very discreetly.
Muslims who convert to Christianity face much societal pressure and are often forced to relocate or leave the country.
please listen to the broadcasts below and get your pastor to listen to them as well:
Based on Bob DeWaay's book, Redefining Christianity - Understanding the Purpose Driven Movement
http://cicministry.org/radio.php
I pray that God opens Rick Warren's eyes to the deep deception he is in. He is deceiving millions of people around the world with his Purpose Driven Methods.
Maybe you should consider reaching outside of your door in Anaheim, a HUGE Arab-American hub of whom are 70% Christian. Yes, 70% of Arab-Americans have been baptized in Christ.