Since it’s first publishing, two things have been true of Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life. First, it became a best-seller, one of the top selling books of all time, selling over 30 million copies. Second, it became a lighting rod for critics who wanted to shoot it down either because it was theologically shallow, didn’t have a clear explanation of the Gospel, or was too “seeker-friendly.” Since we are beginning a campaign around this book and encouraging all of our people to read it, I wanted to address these quickly in a blog. If you are unaware of the attacks, this is no big deal. But some have either read or heard people publishing blogs and other material against the book, so I wanted to post a couple responses, directly from Rick Warren himself.
The first is a blog of an interview with Rick Warren, posted by Reformed blogger Justin Taylor. Warren explains his theological positions and the purpose behind the book. The second is a 98-minute video of an interview between John Piper from Desiring God and Warren. This is very helpful as Piper pushes Warren a bit, but in a loving way, and Warren explains his theology and practice. If you have questions about the book, take time to listen.