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Book Review: Purpose Driven Life
Rick Warren, the Pastor of Saddleback Church in California, published this book in 2002. Twenty million copies have been sold. It is printed in 58 languages. It spent over 100 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Twenty thousand churches have used the book in study groups.The book is proposed to be read as a daily devotion, with each of the forty chapters read on successive days. Each chapter contains a personal application section at the end with a “point to ponder,” a verse to remember, and a question to consider. Warren described his book as an “anti-self-help book.” The first sentence of the book reads, "It's not about you," and the remainder of the chapter goes on to explain how the quest for personal fulfillment, satisfaction, and meaning can only be found in understanding and doing what God placed you on Earth to do. The book's 40 chapters are divided into five major themes: You Were Planned for God's Pleasure (Worship), You Were Formed for God's Family (Fellowship), You Were Created to Become Like Christ (Discipleship), You Were Shaped for Serving God (Ministry), and, You Were Made for a Mission (Mission).
This book is very theologically sound. Warren addresses some very difficult issues with sound results, something seldom found in books intended for mass consumption. However, while I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to a new believer I did have three critiques. 1) When citing Scripture, Warren uses dozens of Bible versions, using whichever translation supports his point best. 2) Warren promotes his other products excessively in the book. 3) The book spends a good amount of time telling us that all worship, as long as it is not contrary to the Bible, is acceptable. But, then criticizes tradition music, liturgy, and worship styles, as if to say, “All worship is good, except the old kind.”
Posted on April 4, 2008