Promise Keepers – the slide into Laodicea
When
Promise Keepers (PK) burst onto the national scene, in 1994, they sought to
stir up a movement among church going men who were not true disciples of Christ
– encouraging and exhorting men to be the godly spiritual leader of the family,
according to the Bible. Many were
skeptical from the start and, to be sure, PK made some miss-steps along the
way: selling and strongly endorsing Robert Hicks’ book, The Masculine
Journey, being one of the most tangible ones (1993). Many also argued that PK ignored or fought
against denominational distinctives and disliked the fact that lost men
(including Mormons, Roman Catholics and others) were welcomed to the
conferences. And many of the men on
PK’s board were – and still are – connected with an extremely charismatic arm
of the Vineyard movement. But PK kept
spurious teaching away from their conferences and their in-house
publications. Their slogan for 1994 was
“Seize the moment”, based on 2 Corinthians 6:2b (behold, now is the accepted
time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) - encouraging men to realize
our days are short. I recall the Denton
conference and the Dallas conference a few months later as bold, Biblical, and
convicting – resulting in a personal reformation and revival in my personal
walk with Christ and my life as a husband and father. I began to serve the Lord in ministry to men.
In
1995, PK continued to pick up steam and used the slogan “Raise the Standard”,
based on 1 Corinthians 6:14 (And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will
also raise up us by his own power.) - exhorting men to exalt Christ Jesus
above all else. Christian pastors,
speakers and authors – many that were new to me – were featured. Some (James Ryle, Jack Hayford, John
Maxwell) have proven themselves to be very suspect over the years, but I did
not discern anything in the conference that was anti-Biblical or clearly
erroneous. In early 1996 I actually
applied for a job with PK.
In
1996 the conference theme was “Break Down the Walls”, based on 2 Corinthians
5:18 – 19 (And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by
Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that
God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their
trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation)
and Ephesians 2:14 (For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath
broken down the middle wall of partition between us). While some viewed this as a plan to bring
Roman Catholics and Mormons into the evangelical church, I did not see any
evidence of such. PK did rightly, in my
opinion, point out divisions within the brotherhood of Christ that keep us
apart – racism, denominational pride – and advocated reaching beyond our
comfort zone to embrace a brother different from ourselves. I think this is good guidance, still. ’96 also saw a pastor’s conference, with the
theme “Fan into Flame”, based on 2 Timothy 1:6 – 7 (Wherefore I put thee in
remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting
on of my hands. For God hath not given
us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind). This conference focused on humility before
God in the pulpit and drew my church staff together and sought to break through
the same racial and denominational barriers mentioned. Ecumenicalism frightens many and can lead to
much compromise. I did not see any of
that encouraged nor realized.
1997
saw the historic “Stand in the Gap” (from Ezekiel 22:30 - And I sought for a
man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me
for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.) sacred
assembly of men as more than 1 million men gathered to confess personal and
corporate sins to God and seek His favor on our lives, our churches and our
country. Once more, many people cast
aspersions, seeing threats to their view of Scripture or the rise of new
right-wing religious political group. I
questioned the honor given to native Americans until their representative made
clear his view of Christ was Biblical and not a pagan spiritualist view. There were no political motives or
appeals. The regular regional
conferences were also held, with the theme “The Making of a Godly Man”, based
on 1 Timothy 4:7b – 8 (exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but
godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now
is, and of that which is to come).
This conference focused on the hard road of discipleship, with
encouragement and exhortation from scripture to “not grow weary”. I later heard on the radio one of the
speakers, Joseph Garlington, mock folks who didn’t share his view of spiritual
gifts – a hyper charismatic use of what he considered the gift of tongues.
The
theme for 1998 was “Live a Legacy”, based on Matthew 5:16 (Let your light so
shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father
which is in heaven). This
conference made a big impression on me, as the messages focused on the need for
a godly man to be authentic in his spiritual life. The spotlight on true integrity and the consequences of living a
careless life compared to the blessings and joy of living a godly life was
penetrating and illuminating – from and on the Word of God.
1999
brought “Choose This Day’, based on Joshua 24:15 (And if it seem evil unto
you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods
which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods
of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will
serve the LORD) and was highlighted by Crawford Loritts’ sober look at
Christian men today and the call for repentance. Coach McCartney caused me some concern - while we were praying
for the pastors and other men, he asked us to hold up our hands toward the men
so the power of the Spirit of God could pour out towards those we were praying
for. I wrote him about this and was
told in reply that he meant no endorsement of spiritual magic; but I thought I
saw a moment in which he let his guard down and his Vineyard background was
showing through.
With
Y2K, PK encouraged men to “Go the Distance”, based on Hebrews 12:1 (Wherefore
seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us
lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us
run with patience the race that is set before us). This was still focused on the call from and
equipping by God to and of men for His purposes. Brokenness, repentance, restoration; trusting in the Lamb of God,
the reigning King of kings for strength, wisdom, and direction. Solid.
In
2001 I detected a change in the orientation of the conference, from the theme
to the songs, to the messages, and ancillary matters. The theme was “Turn the Tide – living out an extreme faith”,
based on Romans 12:2 (And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good,
and acceptable, and perfect, will of God).
Each topic in the conference was worded to emphasize the “extreme”
nature of the call of Christ on a man’s life.
Everything was “extreme”, as though there was need to dramatize God’s
Word. Messages were still solid for the
most part – but the marketing was new and strange. We were introduced to John Ortberg – who was one of the
speakers. (Ortberg has embraced many
mystics in his books, including Brother Lawrence, Thomas Merton, Dallas
Willard, Henri Nouwen, and others.)
“Storm
the Gates”, based on Matthew 16:17 – 19 (And Jesus answered and said unto
him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it
unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That
thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it. And
I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou
shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose
on earth shall be loosed in heaven), was the theme for 2002, bringing a
militaristic view to being a godly man.
I think PK misapplied the scripture, as there’s nothing in the Bible
about Christians storming the gates of hell or heaven. Marcos Witt – Joel Osteen’s pastor for
Hispanics – was one of the speakers. PK
touted Erwin McManus’ book, an unstoppable force, as the basis for the
conference season, and his book was featured at the conference. McManus is and has been an advocate of
redeeming the culture (dominionism or “kingdom now”), and spiritual mysticism;
I knew nothing about him then. The
messages were solid, but the campaign was misguided and left a bad aftertaste.
PK
2003 heralded “the Challenge”, based on Romans 15:5 – 6 (Now the God of
patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another
according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God,
even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ).
This was tied into Erin McManus’ new book, Seizing your divine moment,
and featured him at the Dallas conference we attended. Still mostly solid messages. PK was by this time fully engaged with many
other ministries, to help funding.
Might be my perception, but there seemed to be more emotional
manipulation in the marketing, some messages, and especially the call for
salvation. Joe White was sincere but
very strong in this emotional appeal for decisions.
2004
brought “the Uprising – the revolution of a man’s soul”, based on Erwin
McManus’ book The Uprising, and no apparent scriptural foundation. There were some good speakers and some that
were forgettable. Each page for note
taking had a quote from McManus’ book and a call that was more in context with
medieval knights than with disciples of Christ. PK had a drama team that made lots of men laugh, but reminded me
more of a seeker sensitive church (I had recently re-read The Purpose Driven
Life) than a conference of and for Christian men. PK brought us as after lunch wake-up using a pagan war chant from
the south Pacific – haka – about which you can read more here - http://tinyurl.com/pxe73. PK defended the use of this chant by telling
me how popular it had been with the men, with no particular regard for its
blatant paganism. They could have used
the solid hymn, Rise Up O Men of God! for this and it would have even
fit into their marketing!
In
2005, PK brought Ted Haggard on a featured speaker. I wrote to and talked with PK executives (including Gordon
England) about Haggard’s heretical teaching and many abuses of his position as
pastor (located here - http://www.menofhonorministry.org/Discipleship/PK.htm). Mr. England felt his long-standing
friendship with Haggard gave him better insight to the man than Haggard’s own
public record. Although I had already
bought a ticket for the 2005 conference, I determined not to go.
The
speakers for 2006 Dallas do not look encouraging. Rick Rigsby is a corporate speaker, with lightweight appeal to
Christian men. But their continued
engagement with Erwin McManus is most disturbing. His most recent book, The Barbarian Way, upon which the 2006 conference season appears to be
based, calls men to the mystical, medieval, half-understood ways of old –
claiming they are superior to traditional Christianity. PK’s home page makes no mention of a
scripture upon which the “Unleashed” theme is based; but the conference page
lists Ephesians 1:18 – 19 (The eyes of your understanding being
enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the
riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding
greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his
mighty power), along with this
application:
“PROMISE
KEEPERS 2006
It is not about learning how to be a nicer guy. It's about becoming
the powerful man God designed you to be.
There is courage bound up in you. Unleash it.
There is passion and fire tied up in you. Unleash
it.
There is a warrior held captive in you. Unleash it.
There is an untamed spirit held down in you. Unleash it.
And
when the power of God in you is unleashed...
...the adventure truly begins.”
All
this attention focused on me and what’s in me, and sounds more like John
Eldridge’s Wild at Heart or Mel Gibson’s Braveheart than the
Bible. Contrasted with the Apostle
Paul, who said, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no
good thing”.
I
do not think God’s Word tells us to make disciples of Christ by recalling them
to their lost, wild, self-centered attitudes and ways. Denial of self, rather than celebration of
self, is what God calls us to. McManus’
Braveheart approach with this book, using words such as “raw”,
“untamed”, and “primal” will doubtless resonate with some, but that is not the
determination of whether it is good. (A
review of this book can be found here - http://tinyurl.com/e7f62
and you can read what McManus says about it here - http://erwinmcmanus.com/barbarianway)
Other
speakers at PK this year, around the country, include others of questionable or
outright objectionable doctrinal positions. With the exception of Crawford
Loritts and Stu Webber, none are serious contenders for the faith, as far as I
can tell. Several are Fuller Seminary
(which produced C. Peter Wagner and is heavily influenced by Robert Schuller)
graduates, and Erwin McManus is the last man standing at the end of it all.
It
is a valid observation to say that many good and godly things have come from
God working through PK over the years.
It is a true observation that all men have error, so we can’t avoid
error in what we hear or recommend. And
yet we know that a certain level of error – either one issue on something
essential or a consistent pattern of error on several lesser issues – is “too
much”. While it’s been said, “we should
chew up the meat and spit out the bones”, this trite phrase a.) Has no apparent warrant in Scripture and
b.) Does not recognize the state of men
in the church – most of whom test nothing and swallow whatever is recommended
to them without a thought. So while
it’s true that God uses many “bent tools”, only He is competent to get good
works from them. As sinful men, we
ought to strive for Truth in all the tools we use, trusting in God for the
criteria of what’s True. That’s the
example we have from Paul in 2 Timothy 1:13, wherein there is no admonition for
Timothy to “be careful for the bones!”
(An interesting article on this issue can be found here - http://www.seekgod.ca/soundoctrine.htm.) I personally think the “spit out the bones”
advice correlates somewhat with 1 Thessalonians 5:21, with the caveat that we
should strive to put no stumbling block before our brothers in Christ and,
therefore, ought to refrain from encouraging the use of or participation in
that which we know to contain lots of bones.
The cultural material has enough small bones that can get stuck in the
throat – those warrant a warning; the church should strive for a clean filet
with no bones – simply the Word of God.
It
appears to me that PK is in the same boat as Willow Creek and Saddleback – more
concerned about generating numbers than being on solid rock. Pragmatic marketing rather than Biblical
teaching is the hallmark of these ministries.
They are not without any redeeming merit, but the unbiblical doctrines
reflected in their methods ought to give every Christian serious concern; too
many bones that can cause a man to choke.
Marketing is not evil, but Christians must be careful not to let the
cultural process of marketing redefine the message.
Bottom
line for me – I cannot recommend or support Promise Keepers at this time.
Stuart
L. Brogden
1 Thessalonians 5:21