Al Mohler’s Embrace of Heretic Rick Warren

Al Mohler (Albert Mohler) has long been touted as a bastion of truth and conservatism within the evangelical community. As longtime member of the SBC and president of the respected Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, his reputation precedes him. Given his generally incisive assertions on purity and sound doctrine, it is with all the more confusion and agitation that I expose his heretical endorsements.

The church at large is in a perilous state; heresy being embraced and promoted at an unprecedented rate. False teachers have always been, and will always be; a relevant factor to contend with, and as the days wax worse, discernment becomes more and more necessary and, sadly, more sparse. To the true follower of Christ, and biblical student, certain teachers are in obvious opposition to all things orthodox. The long line of charlatans, from Kenneth Hagin, Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Paula White and T.D. Jakes in addition to their charlatanism, have rightly been assessed by many as twisting scripture and promoting erroneous doctrines of demons. From being “drunk in the spirit”, to denying the trinity, to asserting that Jesus was tortured in hell, to embracing Mormonism, even denying that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God; the multiplied heresies of this ilk know no bounds. The challenge comes when those outside of the “Word/Faith” camp (purported born-again evangelicals), begin to embrace these same doctrines or support those who do. This is precisely the case with Al Mohler. Discernment is generally jettisoned if there is any track record of sound doctrine behind a certain teacher. This is a grievous error, and one that Satan is keen to exploit. Past soundness does not engender present soundness, nor does it justify current error.

Al Mohler’s Ecumenical Embrace

Back in 2009, Al Mohler signed the ecumenical Manhattan Declaration, which included several signatories from the Catholic and Orthodox “churches”, as well as Rick Warren and Ravi Zacharias and other so-called evangelical leaders. The aim of this document was to unite for the sake of social reformation with respect to marriage, abortion, and religious liberty. It Sounds like a good cause, right? Well, Jesus never called the church to “social reform” and He certainly did not instruct us to partner with those who preach a false gospel. If I recall correctly, Paul said, “let them be damned (anathema)[Galatians1:8].” That’s not to say that we condone abortion, or gay marriage; we obviously do not. But, to partner with an organization that was unanimously regarded as the breeding ground for antichrists (The Catholic church for those just tuning in to church history) by all of the reformers, is beyond me. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I read that somewhere.

Biblical Grounds for Separation

The Bible is replete with calls for separation from evil not unity with it; separation from everything that even hints at evil, and only unity with that which is holy and righteous. Recall Paul’s admonition, “For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
(1Corinthians 5:12-13).” Absolute separation is directed only at professed believers. If we are to expel someone who is an extortioner then doubtless we are to, more emphatically, expel someone who is promoting heresy.

We must understand that to “greet” (endorse/encourage) someone who is promoting heresy is to become a partaker in their evil:

“⁹ Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; ¹¹ for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” (2 John 9-11 NKJV)

Let’s read the same verses in the amplified bible

^“9 Anyone who runs on ahead [of God] and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ [who is not content with what He taught] does not have God; but he who continues to live in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ [does have God], he has both the Father and the Son.¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine [is disloyal to what Jesus Christ taught], do not receive him [do not accept him, do not welcome or admit him] into [your] house or bid him Godspeed or give him any encouragement.¹¹ For he who wishes him success [who encourages him, wishing him Godspeed] is a partaker in his evil doings.” (2 John 9-11 AMP)

This was precisely the understanding of (to name three) Matthew Henry, Charles Spurgeon, and Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

Matthew Henry: “There are many ways of sharing the guilt of other people’s transgressions; it may be done by culpable silence, indolence, unconcernedness, private contribution, public countenance and assistance, inward approbation, open apology and defence[sic].” (Commentary on 2 John)

Charles Spurgeon: “Yet professedly sound believers are in full accord with these outspokenly heterodox men, and are linked with them in set and formal union. Is this according to the mind of the God of truth?…It is our solemn conviction that where there can be no real spiritual communion there should be no pretense of fellowship. Fellowship with known and vital error is participation in sin. Those who know and love the truth of God cannot have fellowship with that which is diametrically opposed thereto, and there can be no reason why they should pretend that they have such fellowship.” (Sword and Trowel, November 1887)

Martyn Lloyd Jones refused to work with Billy Graham because he shared the platform with Catholics and liberals, in addition to using the “invitation” evangelism.

Al Mohler’s Embrace of Rick Warren

Rick Warren, for the true Christian, is an obvious apostate. Warren overtly lauds Pope Francis and all things Catholic,  and is the progenitor of the unbiblical “Purpose-Driven” and “P.E.A.C.E. Plan” ecumenical agendas. So much has been written about Rick Warren that I don’t feel the need to unpack it all here, and quite frankly, if you can’t see past him you are in bad shape already.

Well, in 2013 Al Mohler and his SBTS executive team visited Rick Warren at Saddleback church. Lest you think this was for the purpose of corrective rebuke I’ll remind you of the photo featured in this article of the two hugging. They then proceeded to tweet each other about their visit in quite the amicable fashion.

Not only did Al Mohler “greet ” Rick Warren amicably. He side-hugged him in a picture, and then retweeted Warren’s tweet about their friendly meeting. Until or unless this endorsement is repudiated, and yes, despite Mohler’s critique of the Purpose Driven Life years ago, this was an endorsement; Mohler is partaking in Warren’s evil per 2 John 11. Mohler’s mutiny continued in February of 2016 when he publicly joined Rick Warren at the NRB convention titled “Proclaim 2016”. The links and photos have all but disappeared from the web; fortunately I snagged a shot of it.

The people in this photo are in solidarity by virtue of their participation in a unified event (this goes for Anne Graham Lotz as well). Unless one makes the qualification that they are there, but in no way endorse the others, and in fact detest their teachings, then they have extended the right hand of fellowship. Unless one were to use the platform for the express purpose of rebuking the heresies touted by the others, they have given their tacit endorsement. This is billed and understood to be a “christian” event. The very clear assumption from everyone looking in is that they are “on the same team”. At the very least this would be the “appearance of evil”. Al Mohler apparently has no problem sharing the stage with a man who says, “if you love Pope Francis, you’ll love Jesus.”; a man who has been personally invited to speak at the Vatican by the Pope. Let me be very clear: POPE FRANCIS IS A DEVIL! Catholicsim is a demonstrably false and inherently demonic organization. Their “gospel” is a false one that at every turn usurps the authority and atoning work of Jesus. Anyone who reads the Scripture and cannot see this suffers from such severe mypoia, that whatever spirit is guiding them, it isn’t The Holy Spirit.

Let’s engage with a basic syllogism (deductive reasoning). If the premises are true, the conclusion necessarily follows.

Premise 1: The Papacy is the seat of an antichrist. (This was unanimously held by Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, Wesley, Henry, Knoxx, Wycliffe, Huss, Tyndale, Zwingli, Edwards, ad infinitum)

Premise 2: The Bible is inerrant; infallible; God breathed. (if this one is difficult for you, might I suggest CNN to satiate your appetite for delusion)

Premise 3: 2 John says that to greet (encourage/endorse) someone bringing false doctrine is to partake or “share” in their evil. (Recall the quotes from Spurgeon, Henry, and Lloyd-Jones)

Premise 4: Rick Warren has not only greeted the Pope, but is a friend and supporter of his. (Ask Rick for yourself if you doubt it)

Premise 5: Given premises 1-4, Rick Warren is a partaker in the deeds of an antichrist, and shares in his evil.

Premise 6: To greet (encourage/endorse) Rick Warren would be to incur his guilt per the already established premises 2-3.

Premise 7: Al Mohler has greeted (encouraged/endorsed) Rick Warren by virtue of his pictures with him and partnering with him at the NRB convention.

Conclusion: Therefore; Al Mohler shares in the evil deeds of Rick Warren.

What I find particularly baffling is that even secular courts recognize that “aiding and abetting” is worthy of prosecution. Godless heathens can see the folly of endorsing evil. If you saw a woman being raped, and a man walked by and “simply” gave the man a hi-five; what would you say about that man? Well, he didn’t do the raping, did he? No! He condoned it by his inaction and became as disgusting as the rapist and just as guilty.

Those esteemed in the “church” as “discerning” are so bereft of discernment, and concerned with PR that they dare not judge objectively. Celebrity Christianity has produced a generation of sycophants that are loyal to their theological crew. Though this lack of discernment seems to be quite pervasive, I see a high degree of “personal favoritism” within reformed circles especially. Joel Osteen is easy; Creflo Dollar is easy. Why is Al Mohler still getting a pass?? Where is Todd Friel on this one? Where is Phil Johnson on this one?  If you see where this logically leads, John Macarthur has some explaining to do as well. We’ll save that for another post. Until or unless Al Mohler repudiates his actions with Rick Warren and openly rebukes him, making clear that he does not endorse him and suffered from a sever lapse in judgment, he stands guilty of embracing an apostate and should therefore be separated from. “Not even to eat with such a person” (1 Corinthians 5:11).