Ecumenism
Warren's P.E.A.C.E. Plan and UN Goals – Part 2 of 4
Equipping Leaders to "Lead like Jesus"?
by Berit Kjos, September 2005
"Ken [Blanchard] has signed on to help with the
Peace Plan, and he's going to be helping train us in leadership and in how to
train others to be leaders all around the world. In fact, he was here this
week and I've asked him to just give a little video greeting."[1] Audio tape of Rick Warren
introducing the PEACE Plan and Ken Blanchard to
"Lead like Jesus.... Give
yourself a hug, for you deserve it."[1]
Ken Blanchard 's video response to the
above introduction.
"Dear Saddleback Family... don't miss this first
encouraging message in 40 DAYS OF PEACE which begins now!!! ...This week I
shared part of this message in
"Various churches and denominations claim to be
undergoing 'transformation.'
This word no longer refers to the humble sanctification of the individual
believer. Rather, it now refers to an orchestrated, systemic and revolutionary
overhaul of the global church, including the 'transformation' of cities,
societies, cultures, marketplaces, and more."[2]
Lynn and Sarah Leslie.
"American Christianity is going
through a second reformation," wrote Rick Warren back in February 2003.
Then he repeated his transformational theme, which sounds a lot like the "social
gospel" with its presumptuous disregard for God's unchanging Word:
"The first Reformation clarified
what we believe. This reformation is all about how we act and
operate
in the world. It involves the key components of purpose, decentralization,
lay mobilization, use of technology, and continuous learning.
Churches that
change are thriving and growing more
effective.
Churches that
refuse to change will miss the reformation, and
are dying."[3]
The first part of this series outlined the key
points of Rick Warren's P.E.A.C.E. Plan and the UN Millennial Goals. Remember,
Pastor Warren is subject to global guidelines as he functions within the structure of the UN
global management system. But that's no problem to "
So, instead of shunning him as a Christian,
globalist leaders court him as a useful asset. After all, they had already
planned to link the world's churches to their agenda. They needed a Pied Piper
who could draw the masses into the envisioned global solidarity. Small wonder
Warren was invited to
speak at the Council on Foreign Relations
(CFR) on
September 12 as well as to UN leaders at a
UN
interfaith prayer breakfast on September 13.[4]
His P.E.A.C.E. plan is a perfect vehicle for meeting UN goals:
1.
Plant
churches (the focus of
Part 1). The purpose-driven management
system, mentored by
Peter Drucker, serves UN goal #8:
"Develop a global partnership for development." The two systems use the same
technologies, techniques, psycho-social processes, and monitoring technology to
train and monitor the "human resources" needed for change and development.
2. Equip servant leaders (the focus of this article). Today's
leadership training – as you will see in this series – fits in the world as
well as in the church. Church volunteers are essential to the UN quest for global
solidarity.
3. Assist the poor. This matches UN Goal #1: "Eradicate
extreme poverty and hunger."
4.
Care for the sick. This matches UN Goals #4: Reduce child mortality, #5: Improve
maternal health, and #6. Combat
HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
5. Educate the next generation.
This matches #2. Achieve universal primary education
Equipping "servant leaders"
In Part 1, you
met Paul Kagame, President of
Rwanda, the target country for the PEACE
campaign. Apparently, Rick Warren had prepared him well for their joint
"ministry" in this small, embattled nation in
Peter
Drucker, Rick Warren's mentor and a key architect of his purpose-driven
management system, would fully agree with the three-fold alliance
affirmed by President Kagame. According to the Drucker Foundation (renamed
Leader to Leader Institute), the world is already divided into three sectors:
public (government), private (business) and social (civil society
including churches). Since the government sector lacks the resources
needed to establish the envisioned global welfare system, the work must largely
be handled by volunteers from the social sector. And, as Pastor Warren continues
to remind us, only churches (primarily purpose-driven churches) are organized
and equipped to meet the world's need for servers,
coaches and
trainers.
Ponder these three statements
from Drucker's Leader to Leader Institute. Notice the reference to the
Rockefellers, who have been funding and founding globalist, transformational
and socialist programs throughout the last century:
"The Leader to Leader Institute will chart the
future path for the social sector to become the equal partner of
business and government in developing responsible leaders, caring citizens,
and a healthy, inclusive society.
[This
is where the small groups and dialectic process enter in]
"The
Foundation will bring the best leadership and management voices
from
across the world to people of the world with a focus on providing social
sector organizations with the ideas and tools that enable them to better serve
their customers and communities.
"Packaging
knowledge and experience into tools for social sector leaders in critical
areas such as: fund development, marketing,
volunteer management,
collaboration, self-assessment, innovation, and
measuring results...."[6]
"A Symposium organized by The Peter F. Drucker
Foundation for Nonprofit Management, sponsored by The Rockefeller
Brothers Fund
[December 1996]....
"As
government cuts back social spending, many people expect the social sector to
absorb much of the anticipated need for services.... We are now talking about a
true partnership to build community and
produce people who are
needed by healthy businesses and a healthy society."[7]
Purpose-driven leaders fit right into this
system of community building and human resource development. By emphasizing
deeds rather than doctrine, they avoid conflict with their two partners – government and business. The fact that President Kagame,
According to UN treaties and
declarations,
humans everywhere must be trained to think
collectively (in facilitated
small Groups) and to follow the ground
rules. These include politically correct
tolerance, feeling-centered –
not fact-based dialogue, and the
all-important authenticity (openly "confessing" assumptions and feelings
so that the group can "correct" and realign them through dialogue and
consensus). Continual assessment will measure progress and compliance.
Bruce Wilkinson, author of
The Prayer of Jabez and
The Dream Giver,
shares Rick Warren's vision for
"Are you excited about your Dream Journey, but
aren’t sure where to start? DISC and the Dream Assessment will give you the
tools you need to pursue and achieve your Big Dream.
"To identify your unique personality type, DISC is a simple, effective tool that
has been tested and used by millions of people worldwide. The short,
online assessment helps you understand what motivates you, your personal
strengths and weaknesses, and how you relate to other people.... There is a fee
for the assessment..."[9]
Since Mr. Wilkinson depends on high-tech
management tools rather than the Holy Spirit to fulfill his "Big Dream," one
might wonder about the source of it. Of course, he is not the only celebrated
leader relying on these assessments, which happen to be based on "the proven
psychological principles found within the works of Carl Jung
and William
Marston."
[10]
Popular management guru and author,
Ken Blanchard,
who often provides speaking platforms for Christian leaders such as
John Maxwell and Rick Warren, describes
the same basic assessments on one of his
websites.
Notice that the work of the Holy Spirit is not
included as a factor in the DISC self-assessments. It's designed to honor man,
not God, for human strengths and accomplishments:
"The Online DISC Profiler is a powerful tool
that can help you significantly improve your work effectiveness. With the unique
Self-Assessment and Observer Assessment, it is designed to give you a
comprehensive view of how you interact with others in everyday situations. The
goal is to understand your personal chemistry in order to enhance your
relationships. Once you know your behavioral style characteristics, it is easy
to see what drives those around you...."[11]
Ken Blanchard
– P.E.A.C.E. Plan leadership trainer
Do you wonder who will actually train the
leaders for the vast purpose-driven transformation of
Pastor Warren has chosen
Ken Blanchard – "one of today's most sought-after authors, speakers, and
business consultants"
[12]
– to lead the "leaders all around the world." Co-author of
The One Minute
Manager and co-founder of the Center for Faithwalk Leadership, Blanchard
sounds like a Christian: “After studying both the theory and practice of
leadership for more than 35 years, I have found that Jesus is the greatest
leadership model of all times,” he tells us on a page promoting his
Lead Like Jesus Celebrations. He continues:
"Lead Like Jesus will equip you, your church,
and your community to experience Jesus in a powerfully different way
– to grow to trust Him as the perfect leader for all time."[13]
How will Ken Blanchard equip people to
"experience Jesus in a powerfully different way"? Will he present God's
truth so that people might be convicted of sin and regenerated through the Holy
Spirit?
Apparently not! Speaking "to about 2,000 leaders
during the annual Southeast Christian Church Leadership Conference" last year,
Mr. Blanchard echoed
"From my standpoint, at the end of Matthew when
[Jesus] says, ‘Go and make disciples,’ I think people emphasize the evangelism
part of that and … forget what discipling means. It’s a follower, somebody who
does what I say. As leaders you’re all influencing people’s thinking, beliefs
and all. He [Jesus] has a mandate for us to be servant leaders….
People ask
me if I’m interested in evangelism. I’m not. I think the next big
evangelism movement will be driven by behaving differently."[14]
Since Rebecca Barnes, editor of
ChurchCentral.com, had quoted Blanchard in the above report, "Serving
to lead like Jesus, she was asked by
Bud Press to verify what
she wrote. Ponder her response:
“I spoke with Ken Blanchard… and he said he is
not interested in evangelism. He quoted Ghandi, who said if everybody in
the world would act like Jesus everybody in the world would want to be a
Christian.”[15]
How then can Mr. Blanchard guide Rick Warren's
P.E.A.C.E. Plan goal #1: Plant churches? Without evangelism, might those
"churches" be filled with unregenerated members? Would the people even know
God's revealed truths about Jesus? What kind of spirits might they "experience"
if they have never heard the true gospel (including its "divisive" message of
sin, judgment, redemption and victory through the cross)?
This radical departure from Jesus'
Great Commission may not surprise those
who know that Mr. Blanchard serves on the Advisory Board of
The Hoffman Institute
(last
checked on
"Joan Borysenko... Former Director of the
Mind/Body Medical Institute at
"Margot Anand Larkspur... Founder of
Sky
Dancing Tantra International, and author of several internationally best
selling books, including The Art of Sexual Ecstasy, The Art of Sexual Magic....
She has also had extensive training in Gestalt therapy...."
"Rev. Hal Milton... a
Unity Minister...
trained extensively in body therapies, movement education and
Rolfing...."
"Claudio Naranjo... one of the early staff
members at Esalen Institute... is a leading international authority on
the enneagram and has authored numerous important books on consciousness
including his recent The End of Patriarchy."[16]
Occult Spirituality
This
Quadrinity Process
was conceived by "an American psychic"[17]
named
Bob Hoffman.
"Renowned for his intuitive capacities, Hoffman was dedicated to awakening
people to the awesome power of love that dwells within
each of us.
He believed that unconditional love was the birthright of
every human
being. He wrote that The SPIRITUAL SELF is the pure non-programmed,
non-mediated aspect of self that is...
resonating in harmony with the Universe."[18]
That sounds decidedly New Age rather than
Christian! Yet Mr. Blanchard himself claims to have benefited from this process.
In a promotional endorsement at
hoffmaninstitute.org, Blanchard gushes, "The Hoffman Process brings forth
spiritual leadership in a person. It made my spirituality come alive."
An interview with Raz Ingrasci, President of the
Hoffman Institute, sheds more light on his faith in this New Age force:
Ken
Blanchard
(KB): "People are looking for some higher power to help them.....
RI: There is also the sense that when one acts in alignment with a
higher power, the action is more likely to lead to both success and
satisfaction....
KB:
"Right....
RI: So, people bring
spiritual values into their businesses first by bringing spirituality into their
everyday lives.... How does the Hoffman Process help with this?
KB: "The Hoffman Process actually
brings forth spiritual leadership in a person. Since taking the Process, my
title at our company has become Chief Spiritual Officer. Now, I'm working on
creating a Center for Chief Spiritual Officers. ...
RI: "In the Process, people shed their false selves to reveal a
true
and loving, noble servant within, which we call your Spiritual Self....
KB: "Yes.... The essence is to
let
this spirit into your heart so you become a different person from the inside
out.... It gave me a way to have my spirituality be at the center of my life.
RI: "What importance do you find that tithing, service, or charitable
giving can have in a person's business life?
KB: "I think it is all important,
it
is about energy. If all you do is take energy, you're an energy drainer.
Tithing, giving back, being thankful, sends energy out and you get more energy
back.
John
Templeton tells people that the best money practice in the world is to give
10% of what they earn away."[19]
I can't help but wonder what "spirit" Mr.
Blanchard has "let into [his] heart." Is he totally blind to the unbiblical
nature of the "spirituality... at the center" of his life? The
Quadrinity Process
is incompatible with Biblical truth! In fact, Jesus died on the cross to free us
from the dark forces that drive the Hoffman Process. The two are as
contrary as night and day!
Yet the celebrated leadership trainer for
"Satan is not simply trying to draw people to
the dark side of a good versus evil conflict. Actually,he is trying to eradicate
the gap between himself and God, between good and evil, altogether."[20]
On the other hand, the Bible tells us, " Have no
fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."
Ephesians 5:11
Yet, the fellowship and connections between
Blanchard and New Age spirituality is twined together like a web. One of the
National Board Members of Blanchard's
Lead Like Jesus is Mark Victor Hansen, co-creator of the
Chicken Soup for
the Soul book series.[21] In an
Interview with The Hoffman Institute, he like Ken Blanchard, exuded
enthusiasm for the Hoffman
Quadrinity Process:
Hoffman Institute:
Your books have sold over 60,000,000 copies and you are one of the most popular
speakers in
Mark: "We've
got the most prosperous culture in human history and we've also got the biggest
spiritual hole in human history.... To fill that hole you
need something like
the Hoffman Process, where you clean up your act and go deep inside to find
out that your core essence really is important, that you do matter, and you can
make a difference.... One of the places I'm encouraging absolutely everyone to
go is The Hoffman Process...."
"...we were number one in the
New York Times
with Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan Soul. All of us have infinite potential but
most of us are self-sabotaging. You need the Hoffman Process to get out
of a lot of your self-sabotaging behaviour."
"I think the great livers,
the people who are fully self-actualizing and alive, are the great givers. I can
pick hundreds of role models, but I'll pick three - Nelson Mandela has just
given to a whole country. Mahatma Gandhi (and Mahatma of course means Great
Spirit) was riddled through to the end with lots of pain, and he strove to unify
and free a subcontinent...."
"As our mutual friend Dr Ken Blanchard...
said 'Feedback is the breakfast of champions.' Everyone needs feedback and most
of us don't like it.... You have to replenish yourself individually, and we have
to do it collectively, and then we have to replenish the planet."
Hoffman Institute: "So tell me, Mark, is
the Hoffman Quadrinity Process Chicken Soup for the Soul?"
Mark: "The
Hoffman Quadrinity Process is a Banquet for the Soul!"[22]
Lead Like Jesus' list of
Board Members also includes Rick Warren,
Bob Buford,
John Maxwell,
Steve Douglass [President of Campus Crusade for Christ], Bill Hybels [Willow
Creek], and
Laurie
Beth Jones, author of Jesus in Blue Jeans
and Jesus CEO: Using
Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership. In the latter book, she wrote:
"For me to refer to God as 'She' would
unfortunately put this work beyond the boundaries of acceptance and
understanding for too many people. We must search for an all-inclusive
terminology." (p. 305).
"Jesus regularly visualized the success of his
efforts ... Jesus was full of self-knowledge and self-love. His 'I am'
statements were what he became." (p. 7, 8)
In his endorsement of
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by New Ager
Deepak Chopra, Blanchard wrote, "The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
make wonderful guiding principles for anyone attempting to create a productive
and satisfying life or human organization." Do they? For a Christian?
"Something big is happening," wrote Dr.
Thomas Hohstadt, who also calls himself a
devoted Christian. "...the
way we think is changing. And – as a result – the way we believe is
changing. That belief, of course, is not a different 'Word,' it's a
different understanding of the Word. For spirituality is converting to new
sympathies. Faith is transmuting to new sensitivities. And this Spirit-birthed
age is birthing new spirit!"[23]
Dr. Hohstadt is right about the transformation – but tragically deceived about God and His Word. Yet, since his summary gives
us a glimpse of today's "new thinking" and global reformation, ponder his next
points:
"Even church leaders are 'thinking' differently.
What was once a 'subculture' is now mainstream. What was once embarrassing is
now respectable.... We are co-authors more than bystanders. Our world is more a
'Creating' than a 'Creation.'... The quantum world promises
we can make the
Holy Spirit offers He can't refuse.'... When our decisions and God's will
mutually move each other, the role of divine action takes on totally new
meaning.... Today, our imagination is being baptized, and our windows on God's
miraculous presence are reopening."[23]
Everything seems to be turning upside-down! Is
that what this global "transformation" is all about? Leaders can claim to be a
Christians and speak the Bible's assuring affirmations – even as they dismiss
the reality of absolute truth in order to follow the latest blend of
feel-good spirituality, self-exalting psychology, New Age affirmations, and
pragmatic psychological strategies.
Thank God for His wonderful Word! It brings us
back to reality! It also reminds us that Satan is more than willing to repeat
his tempting tactics age after age, for human nature doesn't change. But in the
midst of the spiritual battles, our Lord has armed us with His truth and Spirit
so that we may discern deception and walk in His triumph!
"Woe to those who call
evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness....
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!"
Isaiah 5:20-21
"...the time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires,
because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and
they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
But you be watchful in all things..." 2 Timothy 4:2-5
"Now thanks
be to God who always leads
us in triumph in Christ!" 2 Corinthians 2:14
Note:
At the UN
interfaith prayer breakfast on September
13, Rick Warren concluded with what seems to be his standard salvation prayer.
He had already told the presidents, ambassadors and other distinguished
attendees that God loved each one and had a purpose for them. But his message
excluded the gospel. He explained neither the obstacle of sin nor the victory of
the cross – the ultimate expression of our Savior's love. Then he prayed:
"Father... there are
some here today who have been living the good life, not realizing that there is
even a far better life – a life of purpose.... Forgive us for shallow living
thinking only about temporary things that are on this side of eternity. I pray
that today many will step across the line to a better life a life of purpose
and power and peace....
"You might want to pray
to God just in your own words. It doesn't matter what you say.... He knows your
thoughts.... I'll say something and if it represent the prayer of your heart,
you just say in your mind, 'Me, too, God.
"Dear God. Thank you
for making me, for creating me, and for loving me. I want to fulfill the
purposes that you made me for. Starting today I want get to know you and love
you and trust you. And I want my life to bring you pleasure. Thank you for
sending Jesus Christ. Help me to understand it more. As much as I know how I
want to open up my life to your love and your purpose. In your name I pray.
Amen." [See
Widening the
Gate to the Kingdom]
References:
1.
http://www.saddlebackfamily.com/peace/Services/110203_high.asx. (Last
accessed in July 2005. We have an audio
take of the sermon which is no long
accessible this link.
2. Lynn and Sarah Leslie, "What
Is Transformation?" at
www.crossroad.toarticles2�5sarah-leslietransformation.htm
3.
Ministry Toolbox Saddleback Sayings (
4.
http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/archives/2005/09/update_rick_war.php and
http://www.cfr.org/about/what_we_do/influential_forum.html
5.
"Remarks
by his Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, at
Saddleback Church"
(
6.
The
Leader to Leader Institute Vision 2010 at
http://drucker.org/about/vision.html
7.
Emerging Partnerships:
New Ways in a New World at
http://leadertoleader.org/forms/partners.pdf
8.
http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/home.nsf/pt_bio at
http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/home.nsf/pt_bio
9.
The Dream
Assessment
at
http://www.thedreamgiver.com/index.cfm?PAGE_ID=105
10.
The Strategic Assessment System
at
http://www.profilesglobal.com/pageloader.asp?pagename=sys_ben
11.
The Online DISC
Profiler at
http://www.kenblanchard.com/areas/onlinedisc.cfm
12.
Lead like Jesus at
http://www.ccn.tv/programming/event/evt_29apr04.htm
13.
Lead Like Jesus
Celebrations at
http://www.ccn.tv/programming/event/evt_29apr04.htm
14. Rebecca Barnes, “Ken Blanchard: Serving to
lead like Jesus,”
15. Rebecca Barnes, "No evangelism?” at
http://www.churchcentral.com/dcforum/DCForumID7/68.html
16.
The Hoffman Institute -
Advisory Board at
http://www.hoffmaninstitute.org/advisors.html
17.
A Psychological De-Tox
- with the Hoffman Quadrinity Process at
http://www.quadrinity.com/articles/article3a.htm
18.
The Negative Love
Syndrome and the Quadrinity Model at
http://www.hoffmaninstitute.org/nls_online3.html
19.
Spirituality in Business An interview with Ken
Blanchard at
http://www.hoffmaninstitute.org/nls_online3.html
20. Ray Yungen,
A Time of Departing (
21.
National Board Members at
www.leadlikejesus.com/templates/cusleadlikejesus/details.asp?id=21633&PID=88945&mast=
22. Hoffman Institute's
Interview with
Mark Victor Hansen
23. Dr. Thomas Hohstadt,
"Something Big Is Happening" (2005) at
http://www.futurechurch.net/archives_view.asp?articleid=51#N_1_
EndTime Issues..., December 2005 -
endtimeissues.com