MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

Rick Warren Makes Forbes Top 100 Celebrities List

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Tue, June 20, 2006
Viewed 33
(7) comments so far

Who did Rick beat out on the list? Here are a few: #62 Katie Couric; #65 Halle Berry; #67 Leonardo DiCaprio; #68 Kiefer Sutherland; #69 Jim Carey; #70 Cameron Diaz; #76 Bill O’Reilly; #79 Sean (Diddy) Combs; #88 Ryan Seacrest; #94 Emerill Lagasse; and #100 Ty Pennington. Number 1 on this year’s list: Tom Cruise.

According to Forbes, Warren’s best features are his intelligence and his trustworthyness.

They also estimate that Rick made around $25 million in the past year; that’s the same as DiCaprio and Sutherland; 9 million more than Halle Berry; and 23 million more than Nichole Richie.

As most of you know, I like Rick. I’ve never met him personally, been to his house, or been on his payroll. (Although I think It’d be cool to do any of those things!). But I have a great amount of respect for Rick and how he has handled his fame and fortune (outwardly, at least). Remember, the Bible says that “to whom much is given, much is required.” How many of us would want that type of responsibility? And can you imagine the amount of temptation and spiritual warefare that goes along with that type of success? Oh my.

Plus, quite honestly, I think Rick must be a pretty darn big man to deal with all the personal attacks and criticism of his ministry without lashing out. There are literally people and websites that have dedicated themselves to bringing Rick Warren down. I understand that not everyone will agree with everything that Rick says… as a matter of fact we had a family leave our church over Rick Warren some time ago (and some information they found on an internet website). I told him as he left that if Rick Warren was the biggest problem facing the church today, then we’re in pretty good shape.

There’s another blog this week (I won’t even name it here) that is running a series on people who have left the church for good because of Rick’s PDL campaigns. Yesterday, someone wrote that they couldn’t find a non-PDL church anywhere, so they now just sit at home and read their Bible and pray and feel closer to God than ever.

Good for them. But It seems like there are some biblical problems there too. They must need some strong prescription glasses to read the bible with that big log in their eye.

Give me a break.

Warren’s opponents will probably use his name being on this list (which he, by the way, had no control over) as another thing to complain about. “Evil, multi-millionaire, megachurch pastor Rick Warren.” I say… keep ‘er going Rick. And may God be with you.

Just my thoughts on a Tuesday. Yours are welcome as well.

Todd

Just released! The Forbes Magazine top 100 Celebrities list for this year. Rick Warren comes in at #60, right behind Jennifer Lopez and right in front of Scarlett Johansson. I'm sure that most of us would join in (along with Rick himself) in saying, "big whoop! Nonetheless, I find it interesting...

Comments

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JHPW on Tue, June 20, 2006

I find it refreshing to see ‘trustworthiness’ ascribed to a high-profile pastor by the media. Aside from Billy Graham, there aren’t may others that have earned that kind of respect. Whether you agree with his theology or not, at least he’s a positive image for Christianity in the public arena.
Jeff on Tue, June 20, 2006

I’ve grown so weary of attacks on Rick Warren. Quite frankly, I’ve grown weary of the endless “theological debates” that are more or less come across as one group or individual griping incessantly about another. I served recently as an interim Children’s Pastor. It came at a time when God was speaking to my heart about serving in full-time ministry. I learned more about the church as an institution than I had bargained for. I found that it was all I could do to shepherd the children’s ministry to worry much about whether or not Rick Warren was damaging the church. Whenever I read the eloquence of John 17, I always use that as a springboard to ignite my own passion for the ministry. I still feel called to the ministry. I love serving Christ and doing the work of the church. I think our passion gets so misplaced. There are far too many entities out there that are investing time on bringing down false prophets and hair-splitting theological points—time better spent actually showing Christ’s love for mankind. I’m a big supporter of Rick Warren. It seems to me that God has used Rick to change people’s lives with the message of Christ.

Sorry to turn this post into an essay http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif Forgive me. I’m a little weary today and reading one more rip on Rick Warren or what music to use in worship…yadda yadda….I just think we’ve got to do whatever it takes to reach people for Christ.

I do love coming to this site, though, and reading about what’s going on. There are important trends being reported here. Thanks Todd.

Jeff
Rich on Tue, June 20, 2006

I LOVE Rick Warren. I have actually met him and his co-horts years ago while helping in a church plant Saddleback and others supported. He is a gentleman and inspires so many-such humility and passion to reach people. I wish I had as thick of skin as this guy has. Wow. So, if I had a celebrity, he would be on my list.
Wendi on Tue, June 20, 2006

I think Todd makes a good point about the character shown by RW in the way he has handled the abundance of people who share his faith in Christ, and who have dedicated themselves into bringing him down.

If I believe that a particular methodology is more theologically sound, then I should teach this with gusto. But if the only way to effectively communicate the “correctness” of my thinking is by bringing down everyone who thinks differently - then I’m not a very effective communicator. This line of thinking would cause us to choose evangelism methods that are dedicated to wiping out all other faiths. Oh wait . . . I think Christians have tried that a few times in history.

In my book, RW stands head and shoulders above those dedicated to bringing him down, simply because to the character he’s shown by ignoring them and remaining true to what God has called him to.

Wendi
Peter Hamm on Wed, June 21, 2006

Rick is an inspiration to me! I hope he’s reading. Thanks, Rick!
mbindan on Wed, June 21, 2006

Congratulations to RW !

nice pastor, humble and a good teacher !

kudos!
Bob Lentz on Mon, June 26, 2006

I must admit that I’m a bit new to all the controversy concerning the PDL. Our church was one of the pilot churches that used the 40 Days program. That was over 4 years ago and Wow has it ever made a difference in our church and the way we “do” church. God used this “method” to open our eyes to a community in need of Christ. We will never be the same! I just want to say that God has used Rick Warren’s gentle message to change me and my enitre church.

I pray that God would continue to use him and protect him as he “fights the good fight”. In my opinion, he is indeed a true man of God. Keep it up, Rick.

Bob