Renowned pastor and bestselling author Rick Warren was the target of a cyberattack when his X account was briefly hacked by individuals promoting a cryptocurrency scam. The hackers attempted to leverage Warren’s platform to push a meme coin, even mocking his past theological shifts on women in church leadership.
The fraudulent post, which appeared on Warren’s account, claimed that he was launching a cryptocurrency called the “$LORD coin” on the Solana blockchain.
“This is exactly why I decided to launch the $LORD coin,” the post falsely stated. “I didn’t want to watch traditions and cultural interpretations override the truth any longer. The $LORD coin on Solana, just like this journey, is a symbol of seeking truth, questioning assumptions, and embracing transformation.”
To add a veneer of credibility, the hackers referenced Warren’s well-documented shift on women in church leadership, a stance that ultimately led to Saddleback Church’s ouster from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in 2023. They even quoted a portion of Warren’s June 2023 statement, in which he expressed regret for not re-examining biblical passages on the topic sooner.
“My biggest regret in 53 years of ministry is that I didn’t do my own personal exegesis sooner on the four passages used to restrict women. Shame on me,” read the excerpt lifted from Warren’s past statements.
However, the deceptive post was removed within an hour, and Warren quickly reassured his followers on other social media platforms that he had been hacked.
Warren, who boasts over 2 million followers on X, took to Instagram to warn against the scam and clarify that he had no involvement with promoting any cryptocurrency.
View this post on Instagram
“Dear Friends, my X account has been hacked by a cryptocurrency SCAM claiming that I am supporting some get-rich-quick scheme. I am concerned since I have over 2 million followers on Twitter, and I don’t want any of them to get ripped off,” he wrote.
“I have never promoted a business and never asked for money on any of my social media accounts. Please help me get the word out that my Twitter has been hacked by unscrupulous criminals.”
Expressing gratitude for his followers, he concluded, “Thank you. I love you, and may God bless you!”
Warren did not provide details on who might have been responsible for the hack, how they gained access or their specific motivations. However, his swift action helped mitigate potential damage to his followers.
This latest incident is not the first time Warren has made headlines in recent months. In February 2023, the SBC Executive Committee officially ruled that Saddleback Church was not in “friendly cooperation” with the convention due to its ordination of female pastors. The decision came after Andy Wood, who succeeded Warren as lead pastor of the megachurch, publicly recognized his wife, Stacie Wood, as a teaching pastor.
Warren also recently faced criticism for a tweet suggesting that Jesus would have been a political moderate, as He was crucified between two thieves. Following backlash, he deleted the post and issued an apology, stating: “I apologize. I wrote poorly. I don’t believe Jesus was a centrist. He stands far above it all. ‘My kingdom is not of this world…’ (John 18:36). Jesus demands our total allegiance as the center of our lives.”
Warren’s experience serves as a cautionary tale about the vulnerabilities of online platforms, especially for faith leaders with significant followings. Hackers frequently target prominent figures, aiming to exploit their influence for financial gain or to sow discord within their communities.
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