Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Rick Warren and Synagogue 3000

Pastor Rick Warren is scheduled to speak at a June 16th event sponsored by a group called Synagogue 3000 (S3K). The group's press release says that they exist "to revitalize synagogue life across the country." Warren spoke to the group in 2005, but this time he will be speaking for the first time in a Jewish synagogue at an event called Friday Night Live. Here's the group's description of the Shabbat service:

Friday Night Live (http://www.sinaitemple.org/religious/FNL.php) is a unique monthly Shabbat service designed for ages 25-40 that combines live music with spirituality and insightful commentary, with the spiritual leadership of Rabbi David Wolpe and the music of Craig Taubman. FNL attracts over 1500 Jews from the Los Angeles area and beyond. Following services, Sinai Temple is transformed into a Friday night hot spot with opportunities to meet new people, engage in stimulating discussion with a featured speaker, dance, groove to a live band or just schmooze with other young professionals.

I wonder if Warren's talk in the synagogue will earn him the same treatment Jesus received for his talks in synagogues? Or will only produce some good ol' purpose-driven schmoozing?

I wonder if Warren will tell his audience that the key to revitalizing synagogue life across the country is to repent and trust in the Messiah, Yeshua?

What do you think?

5 comments:

pastor justin said...

Unbelievable! Red flags ought to go up in his supporters' minds when they hear of this.
He will probably even say they are worshiping the same God, even though Jesus said that to reject Him is to reject His Father.

J to the F - EEE - door! said...

Good points! I look forward to seeing the outcome!

FellowElder said...

Stephen & Julie,
Apparently this is an annual event. Warren spoke in 2005 as well. This year's event is being promoted as the first time he has spoken in a synagogue. Perhaps venue will make his message clearer... or not. We'll see. It would be a great testimony to his faithfulness were he to make the gospel and the exclusivity of Christ so clear as to see coversions on the one hand, and to be reviled for his message on the other. Pray that it would be so.

Anonymous said...

There is no way that this synagogue is comprised of orthodox Jews. They must be secularized reformed Jews. Orthodox Jews would have no part with Rick Warren.

If Rick Warren does not present Jesus as Messiah in this meeting then I think it is a sad commentary on him.

Anonymous said...

I am posting anonymously only because I can't remember my login.

That being said, my name is John and I have been a member of Saddleback Church for 20 years. I often post on some of these boards as I was raisen in Independent Baptist churches and thus the bleed over from one to the other.

Temple Sinai is from the Conservative Jewish tradition. For "justin" to write:

"He will probably even say they are worshiping the same God, even though Jesus said that to reject Him is to reject His Father." is in my view unconscienable. Better that he actually finds out what Rick Warren said. BTW, he was not there to preach but rather to be interviewed. If that opens the doors for any of these people to read his book, essentially a primer on basic Christianity, than praise God. I know Rick weel enough to know he will not soft-pedal Christianity. Outside of some of our "fighting fundamentalist" brethern, it is possible to disagree without being disagreeable.