Evangelicals and Modernist Robert Schuller
- By David W. Cloud
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[The following material is from O Timothy magazine, Volume 10, Issue 7, 1993. David W. Cloud, Editor. All rights Reserved. O Timothy is a monthly magazine. Annual subscription is US$20 FOR THE UNITED STATES. Way of Life Literature, PO Box 510368, Port Huron, MI 48061. (866) 295-4143 email: fbns@wayoflife.orgThe Way of Life web site is http://www.wayoflife.org. The End Times Apostasy Online Database is located at this web site. http://www.wayoflife.org Send to Way of Life Literature, Bible Baptist Church, 1219 N. Harns Road, Oak Harbor, Washington 98277. FOR CANADA the subscription is $20 Bethel Baptist Church, 4212 Campbell ST. N., London, Ontario N6E 1V6.]
According to Robert Schuller's magazine, Possibilities, May-June 1993, Minirth-Meier Clinic psychologist Dr. Henry Cloud is scheduled to appear on the Hour of Power television program this year. This is only the latest in a long line of evangelical flirtations with Modernist Schuller.
Some will query, "Is Schuller really a Modernist?" Consider some excerpts from Schuller's book Self-Esteem: The New Reformation, published by Word Books in 1982:
"The core of original sin, then is LOT--Lack of Trust. Or, it could be considered an innate inability to adequately value ourselves. Label it a `negative self-image,' but do not say that the central core of the human soul is wickedness. ... positive Christianity does not hold to human depravity, but to human inability. I am humanly unable to correct my negative self-image until I encounter a life-changing experience with non- judgmental love bestowed upon me by a Person whom I admire so much that to be unconditionally accepted by him is to be born again" (p. 67).
"Classical theology defines sin as `rebellion against God.' The answer is not incorrect as much as it is shallow and insulting to the human being. Every person deserves to be treated with dignity even if he or she is a `rebellious sinner'" (p. 65).
"Any analysis of `sin' or `evil' or `demonic influence' or `negative thinking' or `systemic evil' or `antisocial behavior' that fails to see the lack of self-dignity as the core of the problem will prove to be too shallow."
"To be born again means that we must be changed from a negative to a positive self-image--from inferiority to self-esteem, from fear to love, from doubt to trust" (p. 68).
"The classical error of historical Christianity is that we have never started with the value of the person. Rather, we have started from the `unworthiness of the sinner,' and that starting point has set the stage for the glorification of human shame in Christian theology" (p. 162).
"Many sincere students within the larger body of believers are turned off by a theology that offers nothing more than a classical heaven and hell proposition. The alternative theology of mission focuses on peace, brotherhood, and economic equality. And the tension between these two theologies of mission is strong in the church today. Somehow a strong fresh theology of mission must be articulated that will allow sincere followers of both points of view to merge mind, motive, method, and message."
"We are born to soar. We are children of God. ... The Fatherhood of God offers a deep spiritual cure for the inferiority complex and lays the firm foundation for a solid spiritual self-esteem" (p. 60).
"Historical theology has too often failed to interpret repentance as a positive creative force. ... Essentially, if Christianity is to succeed in the next millennium, it must cease to be a negative religion and must become positive" (p. 104).
"What do I mean by sin? Answer: Any human condition or act that robs God of glory by stripping one of his children of their right to divine dignity. ... I can offer still another answer: `Sin is any act or thought that robs myself or another human being of his or her self-esteem'" (p. 14).
"And what is `hell'? It is the loss of pride that naturally follows separation from God--the ultimate and unfailing source of our soul's sense of self-respect. `My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' was Christ's encounter with hell. In that `hellish' death our Lord experienced the ultimate horror--humiliation, shame, and loss of pride as a human being. A person is in hell when he has lost his self-esteem. Can you imagine any condition more tragic than to live life and eternity in shame?" (pp. 14- 15,93).
"The Cross sanctifies the ego trip. For the Cross protected our Lord's perfect self-esteem from turning into sinful pride" (p. 75).
"Christ is the Ideal One, for he was Self-Esteem Incarnate" (p. 135).
"Jesus never called a person a sinner. ... Rather he reserved his righteous rebuke for those who used their religious authority to generate guilt and caused people to lose their ability to taste and enjoy their right to dignity..." (pp. 100,126).
"Labels such as, `evangelical,' `fundamental,' `charismatic,' `liberal' contribute to polarization and produce a climate of implied or outspoken distrust. Respectful dialogue becomes virtually impossible. What we desperately need to offset this disunity and distrust is a new and cleansing theology of communication" (p. 27).
"I found myself immediately attracted to Pope John Paul II when, upon his election to the Papacy, his published speeches invariably called attention to the need for recognizing the dignity of the human being as a child of God" (p. 17)."Roman Catholics utter their Papal edicts, Protestants quote their Bible, Fundamentalists declare their orthodox theological dogmas, and we are all expected to renounce private reflection and peacefully acquiesce to these pronouncements. And the result is that the dignity of the person is violated by such oppressive, intelligence- smothering forms of communication."
"One classical role of the pulpit in Protestantism has been to `preach sermons' which imply indoctrination more than education. Within this form of communication, there is an inherent, intrinsic inclination to intimidate, manipulate and, hence, offend the person's most prized quality of humanness--his dignity."
"In a theology that starts with an uncompromising respect for each person's pride and dignity, I have no right to ever preach a sermon or write an article that would offend the self-respect and violate the self-dignity of a listener or reader. Any minister, religious leader, writer, or reporter who stoops to a style, a strategy, a substance, or a spirit that fails to show respect for his or her audience is committing an insulting sin. Every human being must be treated with respect; self-esteem is his sacred right."
"The tragedy of Christendom today is the existence of entire congregations of church members who are dominated by emotionally deprived or emotionally under-developed persons. These congregations have been accurately labeled `God's Frozen People.' ... And they do this by exercising narrow authoritarianism in doctrines and practices and by sowing seeds of suspicion and dissension in the religious community. ... By contrast, strong persons--self-assured personalities, whose egos find their nourishment in a self-esteem-generating personal relationship with Jesus Christ--dare to face contrary opinions, diverse interpretations, and deviations of theology without becoming disrespectful, judgmental, or accusatory" (pp. 153-154).
Schuller contends that the most destructive thing that can be done to a person is to call him a sinner. In an article in Christianity Today, October 5, 1984, Schuller said, "I don't think anything has been done in the name of Christ and under the banner of Christianity that has proven more destructive to human personality and, hence, counterproductive to the evangelism enterprise than the often crude, uncouth, and unchristian strategy of attempting to make people aware of their lost and sinful condition."
In 1992 Schuller founded Churches Uniting in Global Missions, which seeks "a spirit of unity that is truly Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Evangelical, and Charismatic."
In light of Schuller's blatant denial of the Word of God, his false gospel, and his radical ecumenism, it is amazing to see evangelical leaders fellowshiping with him, but the record is clear. Schuller's book Self-Esteem was endorsed by such evangelical leaders as Clark Pinnock of McMaster Divinity College, David Hubbard of Fuller Theological Seminary, and Kenneth Chafin of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Christianity Today says Schuller not a heretic
In 1984 Christianity Today editors examined Schuller's theology, and, amazingly, concluded that he is not a heretic. Consider an excerpt from an August 10, 1984, Christianity Today article by Kenneth Kantzer and Paul Fromer:
"He believes all the `fundamental' doctrines of traditional fundamentalism. He adheres to every line of the Apostles' Creed with a tenacity born of deep conviction. ... he avowed belief in a literal hell. He was not sure about its location, and the fire is to be understood figuratively..."
This is remarkable. Sure, when Robert Schuller is questioned about his theology, he says he believes the fundamental doctrines of the Faith. Most Modernists do. What he will not admit is that he redefines the terminology of the Faith so as to produce an entirely different, and false, theology. We have seen this from his own pen. We do not need a personal interview to clarify the man's blatant apostasy!
Schuller says he believes in salvation by grace, but what he actually believes is that salvation is being rescued from poor self- esteem. He says he believes in Hell; but his hell is the loss of self-esteem, not a place of fiery eternal torment. He says he believes in sin; but sin is not willful rebellion against God and His law, but the loss of self-esteem. He says he believes in Jesus Christ; but his positive-only, "Self-Esteem Incarnate" Jesus is not the Jesus of the Bible.
Schuller says he believes everything in the Bible; he also redefines everything in the Bible! His repentance is not Bible repentance; his new birth is not Bible regeneration; his Hell, his Heaven, his Jesus, cross, his salvation is not that of the Bible. The man is an arch-heretic, a blasphemer.
The watchdogs at Christianity Today are blind and dumb.
Evangelical leaders flirt with modernist Schuller Consider a brief survey of other evangelical leaders who accept Schuller as a genuine brother in Christ:
Billy Graham has frequently appeared with and praised Schuller. In 1983, Schuller sat in the front row of distinguished guests invited to honor Graham's 65th birthday. In 1986 Schuller was invited by Graham to speak at the International Conference for Itinerant Evangelists in Amsterdam. Other featured speakers included many of today's most prominent evangelical leaders, including Bill Bright, Leighton Ford, and Luis Palau.
Southern Baptist leader W.A. Criswell endorsed Schuller's ministry in 1981 in an ad in Christianity Today. He said, "I know Dr. Schuller personally. He's my good friend. I've spoken on his platform. I'm well acquainted with his ministry. If you want to develop fruitful evangelism in your church; if you want your laity to experience positive motivation and ministry fulfilling training, then I know, without a doubt, that you will greatly benefit from the Robert Schuller Film Workshop."
In April 1980 Schuller appeared with charismatic leaders James Robison, Jim Bakker, Rex Humbard, Pat Robertson, Pat Boone, Nicky Cruz, David du Plessis, Demos Shakarian, and Thomas Zimmerman at the Washington for Jesus Rally.
In October 1986 Schuller was on the council to host the Fourth Triennial Convention of the Asia Missions Association. Other men involved in this were evangelical leaders Donald McGavran, Ralph Winter, David Howard, Dale Kietzman of the World Literature Crusade, Edward Dayton of World Vision, Peter Deyneka of the Slavic Gospel Mission, Jack Frizen of the IFMA, and Wade Coggins of the EFMA.
In 1987 a survey was conducted by the National Association of Christian Psychotherapists and Counselors as to which television ministry is "the most effective in applying biblical principles to people's problems." Robert Schuller's Hour of Power came out on top. James Dobson, president of the organization, commented: "He's not dogmatic. His message is clear and deals mainly with cognitive reconditioning. Yet he uses the Bible as his source. He comes across more as a therapist then a minister, yet his message is still very Christian in nature." Dobson has used Schuller's endorsements in his ads (Calvary Contender, August 15, 1987).
The fact that so many evangelical leaders treat Schuller as a brother in Christ is evidence of their blindness. Christ warns us not to follow blind leaders. "And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch" (Matthew 15:14).
BACK
Tell your friends about us and thank you for visiting Cephas Ministry Inc. (www.cephasministry.com)