Purpose Of The Person's Life In The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren - Book Report/Review Example

The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren Summary With over 20 million copies sold, The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren is one of the leading books about religion and spirituality in the modern times. This book is actually a 40-day spiritual journey that aims to transform the reader's perception about his purpose in this world and how his religion plays a vital part in this process. The author intends for this journey to last up to 40 days due to the religious significance of this figure. He also highlights that the points presented in this book is founded on the Scriptures across various translations. Moreover, he provides discussion guides to facilitate group discussion. It should also be highlighted that this book is not only aimed at a particular Christian denomination, say Protestant or Catholic, rather the author tackles a universal theme that most, if not all, churches can relate to. The book is divided into six major portions. The first part provides an overview on how one should perceive his purpose in life. In this chapter, Warren asserts that what is of utmost importance to human beings as God's creation is to know God's purpose in our lives. In this regard, our greatest achievement is to live for God's glory and purpose. With this, it should be realized that it is important to focus on God and in know His purpose for us. Focusing on ourselves, as what other instructional books suggest, would never reveal this purpose. In the five remaining chapters, Warren discusses the five basic purposes of our lives. The first purpose pertains to our glorifying God by worshipping Him. The type of worship that Warren refers is the one which is motivated by our love, gratitude and delight in God. We are able to glorify God by worshipping Him not only out of duty or obligation but wholeheartedly. The second purpose is to glorify God by loving other believers. With this purpose, the author recognizes that a purpose-driven life requires our affiliation with a community that reflects our belief in God. Warren further elaborates that, aside from belonging in such a community, one should also learn to love God's family. As God's children, this is one of our principal responsibilities. The third purpose is that we ought to glorify God by imitating His steps and emulating His ways. This means that by becoming like Jesus, believers are able to reach spiritual maturity. Warren points out that in order or us to be like Jesus in our thought, emotion and action, change in character is needed. This may be very difficult considering human nature. Nevertheless, we are called to develop our character for the main purpose of glorifying God. The fourth purpose is related to our responsibility towards our fellowmen. According to Warren, we glorify God by utilizing God-given gifts to serve others. He asserts that God has granted us talents, skills and abilities which should be used not only for personal gain but more so for the benefit of others. The author explains that we are able to serve God by serving others. Such is the pathway to real significance and fulfilling one's purpose here on earth. The book ends with the fifth purpose that sends off readers with a mission. This mission entails glorifying God by telling others about Him. In this regard, we have a mission to evangelize others. Such requires the sharing of the Good News and helping others discover their purpose. Warren puts forth that living with a purpose is the only way to truly live. As such, we should be mindful not only of knowing our purpose but aiding others in discovering theirs as well. Personal Reflection Despite the advent of a culture that focuses on man as an independent entity, the substantial sales of Warren's The Purpose-Driven Life indicates how religion continues to play an important role in our lives. In this book, Warren tackles the main concerns in the aspect of religion, i.e. finding the purpose and meaning of life (Macionis). This may be the root of the worldwide commercial success of this book as almost all people come to the point of contemplating one's purpose in life. As Warren illustrates through an example, even brilliant people are at a lost when asked about the meaning of life. Warren cites a survey conducted by Dr Hugh Moorhead, a philosophy professor at Northeastern Illinois University, wherein he wrote about 250 leading thinkers including philosophers, scientists and intellectuals in the world and asked them the fundamental philosophical question, "What is the meaning of life" With this, Professor Moorhead summarized the responses as some offered their best guesses or admitted that they were clueless about the answer to this question. This exhibits that until now, people are still seeking a meaningful answer to this ancient-old question. This book becomes a basic guideline to those in search for the purpose and meaning of life. The author approaches the question using a spiritual or religious perspective. At this age when profane ordinary elements of daily life seem to overwhelm everyone (Macionis), many lose sight of their ultimate purpose. To address this, Warren goes back to the basics such that he turns to spiritual aspect of a person's life in order to derive the purpose and meaning life. The discussion in this paper focuses on the social consequences of religion is the context of searching for the purpose of life as asserted by Warren in his book. To have a systematic analysis, this paper presents a personal reflection based on the division of topics as arranged in the book. What on Earth Am I Here For In answering this question, Warren relies on our dependence in God as our creator. With this, the author notes that knowing our purpose necessitates knowing God and having a personal relationship with Him. In this process, one undergoes character development through the myriad tests God subjects us to. Given this, I believe that the role of religion as an element that hones a person's image of the world becomes apparent. This is in line with Max Weber's assertion that religion shapes one's perception of the world, thus, affecting his view of his interests and how he can act upon them (Christiano). For instance, the struggles a person is confronted can be viewed positively or negatively depending on an individual's beliefs. For a Christian, these would be perceived as tests that develop a person's character. In this regard, Christians generally have an optimistic view of troubles and difficulties that come our way. Such perception substantially affects the Christian attitude towards facing problems and resolving them. In this chapter, Warren also mentions, "Life is a temporary assignmentEarth is not our final home," (49-50). This somehow reminds me of the Marxian concept of religion as an "opiate of the people" (Christiano). Although Warren intends for readers to understand the importance of detachment from worldly life, I think that this Christian view of life on earth, in a way, teaches people to settle and mitigates their desire for major social improvement. For example, a person who looks forward to the next life may imbibe an attitude that allows him to easily accept the injustices that he and his fellowmen experience. Albeit this may be deemed as a positive attitude that facilitates adapting through accepting of what is happening to him, such may also be considered as a factor that condones the denomination of one social class (Christiano). Instead of acting to bring about changes in an unjust society, one may become passive and contented with the notion that sufferings experienced in this life is only temporary and that a better life can be expected in heaven. Purpose #1 You Were Planned for God's Pleasure In line with the first chapters, this portion tackles our personal relationship with God. This section highlights worship as a primary component of religion. According to Warren, pleasing worship to God is that which is accurate and authentic. This means that Christians ought to worship God based on Scriptures and should be willingly done. With this, it is seen that religion entails ritualistic formal ceremonial behavior founded on the Bible (Macionis). Apart from this, this section also takes into account man's question of theodicy or how the extraordinary power of a divine God may be reconciled with His imperfect creations (Christiano). After reading this book, I can opine that Warren has handled this basic contention about religion well. The author posits that God seeks us despite our imperfections. For me, this means that people should remain steadfast in God's love. As such, we should continue to trust Him at all times. This helps us resolve our disconcerting questions about our fortunes and sufferings which we often feel we do not deserve. As we continue to wonder and even doubt, we should have faith by trusting in God's plan for us. Similarly, these points help shape our character, views and attitude about the world. Purpose #2 You Were Formed for God's Family This chapter reflects another function of religion as posited by Emile Durkheim (Macionis). As Warren discusses the significance of a spiritual family in a believer's life, he exhibits how religion enhances social cohesion. This means that remaining committed to a church or religion means valuing the religious group one belongs to by cooperating and participating in group endeavors. Although this group may be plagued with gossips, intrigues and scandals, Warren emphasizes, "We must passionately love the church in spite of its imperfections," (162). As we have a preconceived notion of the perfection of church emanating from God's nature, we are sometimes tempted to detach ourselves from the group. However, as believers, we are urged to be united. In this regard, religion is deemed as an important element in uniting societies. Purpose #3 You Were Created to Become like Christ Similar to the first purpose, this chapter helps readers make sense of things happening to them. Despite the rapid advancements in science, it still could not provide answers to questions relative to the spiritual dimension of human existence and condition (Macionis). Warren, through religion, answers the fundamental questions we often ask ourselves in analyzing the events in our lives. He asserts, "Everything that happens to you has spiritual significance," (195). With this, I think that we are encouraged to perceive that all unexplainable events and challenges are meant by God to develop and strengthen our character through a slow and tedious process. This gives us an optimistic viewpoint and hope that there is an eternal reward for not giving up. Purpose #4 You Were Shaped for Serving God Religion may also be seen as a powerful force that can promote dramatic social change (Macionis). In this section, Warren recognizes this as he puts forward that the way to real significance and change in this world is through service. I believe that what he is trying to say is that a lot can be achieved if believers adopt a different Christ-like attitude in dealing with others. By having an attitude that allows us to be of service to God our fellowmen, then substantial improvement in the society's state of affairs may be expected. This entails minimizing our self-centeredness and becoming more concern about other just like Jesus. Purpose #5 You Were Made for a Mission The book ends with the chapter dealing with soteriological answers in religion (Christiano). In pursuit of our salvation, Warren cites that we are called by Jesus to fulfill our mission to be the living testimony of God for the future generations. To me, what becomes clear is how religion provided a meaning and purpose to our lives. I reckon that our purpose is to fulfill God's purpose. To do this, we must wholeheartedly share His words with others to make believers out of them. Our ultimate purpose in this world is to spread God's words and help others discover and live God's purpose. Conclusion In view of the above, Warren's masterpiece illustrates how potent religion is even in today's society. Religion influences our personal view of the world as individuals. This leads us to act upon things in line with what our religion has taught us. It also helps us live meaningfully by providing answers to life's questions, such as "What on Earth am I here for" on a spiritual realm. Furthermore, this book exhibits how religion becomes an expression of our collective consciousness (Christiano). This means that for religion to be truly significant, it should be practiced as a group. In this regard, religion functions to promote social cohesion and control among members. As such, it is considered as a powerful tool in effecting social change as members or community of believers act towards a particular objective which is congruent with the religious teachings they adhere to. Works Cited Primary Source Warren, Rick. The Purpose-Driven Life. Purpose-Driven Ministries, 2002. Secondary Sources Christiano, Kevin J. et al. Sociology of Religion: Contemporary Developments. Alta Mira Press, 2001. Macionis, John J. Sociology. Prentice-Hall Inc., 1995. Read More