As a result of his contributions, and so as not to be capricious, I regret that I have had to draft a preliminary comment policy.

Please cite in Scriptures where Jesus makes this statement.

Gnostics believe that the body is not important – heretics. Jesus purposely vistied his disciples in a resurrected body because the body is as the soul.

The reminder for us to pray is just that, a reminder–a much needed reminder because quite truthfully, it seems impossible to embark upon such a needful quest and to note that vengeance is not ours but God’s. But lets come back to the cross and there ask for forgiveness for our frail and darkened human hearts; and there clad ourselves in Christs’ righteousness, that we might enter the throne room on behalf of others while there’s still breath in us. Oh, let us bring glory to God in utmost gratitude for His grace upon sinners like us!

You wrote ‘it is also unsettling for you to choose to leave comments from other readers on various otherd posts giving you glory and praise for the advice and council you offer them’

I’m just curious as to how you regard the words of Paul to various churches, words that are publicly on view in God’s Word such as

“I also after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” [Ephesians 1:15-16]

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, Being confident of this very thing that he who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” [Philippians 1:3-6]

“We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which ye have to all the saints” [Colossians 1:3-4].

Is the example of Paul publicly encouraging fellow believers not an example to be followed?

God’s Word warns believers to beware of a situation “when ALL men shall speak well of you” [Luke 6:26] – As someone who has sought for 20 years to faithfully defend God’s truth and gospel and who has witnessed the treatment meted out not only to myself but to fellow faithful contenders, like Daniel, I can assure you that if we are faithful we will not receive universal ‘praise’ but that does not preclude us publicly receiving encouragement such as that recorded by Paul to the various churches and such as that seen in some of the postings on Daniel’s blog.

As someone who has publicly criticised and challenged the teachings of Rick Warren as you can hear by going to http://www.gbc-peel.org.uk/audiosermons.htm and listening to the message of 17th March 2010 I can assure you that I pray both for his physical recovery but especially for his spiritual recovery/enlightenment so that he might in future preach a faithful gospel that would be to the true saving of those for whom Christ died.

I must confess that I was grieved by the harshness of your comments directed towards Daniel ,and I believe that the words of Matthew 7:1-5, words so often misused by critics of ministries like that of Daniel and myself, do have a measure of application in relation to your own comments.

May you graciously reflect upon these matters.

Your servant for Christ
Cecil Andrews
‘Take Heed’ Ministries
http://www.takeheed.net

Why should you listen to what I have to say? No reason. I am just Some Random Guy on the Internet. Be like the Bereans – they even compared everything that St. Paul taught with Scripture. You should therefore most certainly test everything that I say:

These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. (Act 17:11 NKJ)

And if I get something wrong? Leave a comment and let me know! If it’s a point of doctrine, remember to make your critique from Scripture. Or feel free to ask a question. I’m usually quite civilized!

Peace and grace.

I totally agree with you. I thank God for your compassionate heart. And thank God for his mercy and compassion towards us!

2. Recall St. Paul’s words to the Ephesians:

‘For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.’ (Eph. 6:12, NKJV)

Rick Warren himself is not the enemy, no matter how much some of us might disagree with his teaching.

3. To answer your question directly, if Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens were to fall ill (as indeed Christopher Hitchens has), yes I should pray for their physical healing. And also, that the Lord might grant them repentance and the forgiveness of sins in Christ. Once again, the alternatives are not mutually exclusive.

4. What of the potential leading of ‘thousands more people astray by his false teachings’? Simply this: our God is sovereign. My petition to Him to restore Rick Warren’s sight, or Christopher Hitchen’s health, will in no way thwart our Creator’s eternal purposes. Our great, glorious and gracious God shall surely save all those whom He wishes to save.

I find it desperately sad that anyone could look upon a fellow sinner in distress with anything other than a heart of compassion – one that longed for both physical and spiritual healing. So very much love and grace has been poured out upon us from the Father through Christ Jesus by the Spirit – how could we wish for anything less to be bestowed upon others who are no worse than we ourselves?