After reading some of the comments on the other entry on Rick Warren going to North Korea I decided to see if there was any other news concerning his visit and I found a few interesting things.  I'm sharing this because North Korea oppresses and persecutes  Christians and I think some of what is being said about Warren's visit is interesting.  So I'm not posting this for controversy sake, but purely for more information on the subject.

In an article by Hannah Elliot from abpnews.com it is being reported that Warren will most likely visit North Korea the week of July 10th, which as you know, is next week.

In this article, Rick Warren acknowledges that his visit to North Korea may be used for propaganda purposes, but he insists it is worth the risks.

His visit is not without some criticism.  Case in point, one radio talkshow host said the following

"Ingrid Schlueter, producer and co-host of a Christian talk show on the VCY America Radio Network, called Warren’s visit a “massive propaganda event in promotion of the world's most brutal and oppressive regime." In a July 4 column for the right-wing Christian Worldview Network website, Schlueter said Warren won't "call the communist faithful to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" because he preaches a “man-centered, counterfeit gospel.”

“Not for a moment do these leaders worry that they will have a Christian revival on their hands by letting Mr. Warren speak," she said. "Rick Warren is loved and feted because his message is absent the cross and Christ's call to die. That's why he is popular and politically useful.”

Meanwhile members of Saddleback, Warren's church, are celebrating the opportunity for him to go to North Korea because they see it as a victory for religious freedom.

Which raises the question, "How much do the members of Saddleback actually understand and know about Christian persecution in North Korea or other parts of the world?"

I also have a question regarding how Pastor Warren will "use" North Korea if he knows they are using him for propaganda purposes.

Maybe we'll be lucky enough to get a report from him afterwards.

Comments

[Harry Miller]

This news just gives me more respect for Rick Warren. When I look at the model of Jesus: Jesus preached to his enemies: the ones that threatened to kill him everyday. Jesus would go out early in the morning on the mountian to pray and get the message from the Father and then come down and go right into the synogogue.

John 18

"20": Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

Jesus not only preached to His enemies, He died for His enemies, and rose from the dead for His enemies and poured out His Spirit upon His enemies to conform them into His image and Jesus asked us to do the same:

Mark 8

34: And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35: For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37: Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38: Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

A classic example is Stephen and Paul.

[Lin]

Harry, Do you honestly think they will let Warren speak without first vetting his message? And, Warren has had the ear of Larry King, PBS, Fox News and a column in Ladies Home JOurnal and not once did he proclaim Christ as the only way in those venues. What makes you think he will proclaim Christ in Korea where Kim Jong Il has proclaimed himself as a god to be worshipped by his own people?

[Marcel Wagner]

I have worked in humanitarian aid about 4 years in DPRK and received many delegation.
If one has studied and understud the mechanism of propaganda (communist and capitalist)the agenda of the stakeholders of such an event become more clear!
I wish and pray it becomes a real event!