In a television interview two years ago, Pastor Rick Warren was asked to identify our number one purpose in life. This was his answer: “Your number one purpose in life is to let God love you. Not to love God, but to let Him love you.” Oof.
If you wonder why I bring this quote up now, it’s because this kind of heretical teaching parades around Christian bookstores and social media all the time. And let’s be honest: it’s appealing to our flesh. Of course we want to be the center of God’s world! Of course we want it to be all about us! But the big beautiful truth is- it’s not.
So what should we do when we find ourselves drawn to “me-centered” teaching? First and foremost, we should evaluate what Scripture teaches. In the case of Mr. Warren’s answer, Scripture clearly demonstrates something entirely different. Let’s do a quick examination, shall we?
The very first commandment God gave Moses was, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). Nothing was to be more important to the Israelites than the God who brought them out of slavery. Later, God again commands His people to love Him with all their heart, soul, and might (Deuteronomy 6:5). God’s people were first and foremost to love Him with everything that was in them. The Son of God, Jesus, echoed this truth when asked by the Pharisees to name the most important commandment. He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).
At the end of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon (the wisest man to walk the earth apart from Christ) summarized our purpose in this way: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Interesting… no mention of “letting God love you” from Solomon, God the Father, or God the Son.
From cover to cover, Scripture repeatedly declares that we are here to love God and to serve Him and obey His commandments. I love how The Westminster Catechism addresses this truth. It asks and answers the question, “What is the chief end of man?“ in this way: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
Clearly, we were created to set our love on God and to glorify Him alone. When we turn that truth around- when we make it about us and our exaltation, our loveliness, and our glory- we go horribly awry, failing to see ourselves and God accurately. Make no mistake brothers and sisters, where truth is denied, sin abounds and peace dissipates.
So then, we rejoice in the truth of the word of God. That by loving and serving Him supremely, we find all the love, joy, peace, and freedom that our hearts desire. It’s not found in the glorification of self. It can’t be! But only in the glorification of a holy God.
One last consideration related to Mr. Warren’s answer: We don’t “let” God do anything! He is completely sovereign and does all that He pleases (Psalm 115:3). Furthermore, Scripture repeatedly declares that God has already set His love on His people (Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 1:20). We don’t need to “allow” Him to do this- He’s already done it! We have a God who sought us and bought us with the blood of His Son. Our love for Him is a response to His love and what He has done for us in Christ! Such love compels us to live a life wholly devoted to Him and His glory.
As I close, I want to emphasize the point of this post was not merely to call out the poor theology of one particular pastor, but to encourage us to faithfully read Scripture. Be assured, poor teaching and heresy abounds in this world! But friends, take heart! Knowing the truth of God’s word guards our hearts and minds from worldly philosophy and empty deceit (Colossians 2:8). Our Heavenly Father has given us all we need to not be led astray! Let’s hold fast to His word today, and always.
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