Yes. In Warren Smith’s book titled, A Wonderful Deception, he points out how both Rick Warren and Brian McLaren take unbiblical liberty on interpreting Acts 1:6-8 by stating that Jesus told His disciples that the details of His return are “none of your business.” Warren actually states that the focus needs to be on “fulfilling” a person’s “mission” rather than “figuring out prophecy.”
Warren writes:
When the disciples wanted to talk about prophecy, Jesus quickly switched the subject to evangelism. He wanted them to concentrate on their mission in the world. He said in essence, “The details of my return are none of your business.” What is your business is the mission I’ve given you. Focus on that! If you want Jesus to come back sooner, focus on fulfilling your mission, not figuring out prophecy!”
In 2006, four years after The Purpose Driven Life was published, emerging church figure Brian McLaren also used the same interpretation of Acts 1:6-8 to similarly discourage his readers from studying Bible prophecy. McLaren states the following:
“Instead, He [Jesus] tells them it’s none of their business to speculate about how God plans to work out history, and then he gives them a mission to accomplish.”
These two world famous men are publically disparaging the Word of God. There are many others like them who twist the Scriptures to suit whatever it is they are promoting. On the Mt. of Olives, Jesus Christ went to great lengths (Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 10) to describe the details of His return with His disciples so they, and we, would not get deceived by a false Christ, like the New Age Christ Warren and McLaren seem to be promoting. The Jesus they speak of is not the Jesus of the Bible.
Notes
1. Smith, Warren, A Wonderful Deception, Lighthouse Trails Publishing, 2009.