An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
|
Posted: 11/08/07
|
|
An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Dear Mr. London,
I am aware of the faxed statement you are sending out to concerned listeners of Focus on the Family regarding your participation in Robert Schuller's ReThink Conference. Completely missing from your statement was any biblical foundation whatsoever for what you are doing. Robert Schuller has actively been hawking a book from his ministry by Jerry Jampolsky that is forwarded by one of the world's leading New Age leaders and teachers, Neale Donald Walsch! (See link.) Jampolsky, a huge promoter of the occult A Course in Miracles, has been featured several times on the Hour of Power. A Course in Miracles is a demonic channeling by the authors that is a complete warping of the Scriptures. It has led countless followers straight into the occult. A Course in Miracles tells readers this:
Do not make the pathetic error of "clinging to the old rugged cross. The only message of the crucifixion is that you can overcome the cross. Until then you are free to cruficy yourself as often as you choose. This is not the Gospel I intended to offer you." (Text, p. 52)
Is this what you believe, Mr. London? That's what Jerry Jampolsky believes and Robert Schuller called his books, "Marvelous!" on the Hour of Power. and cites his work with enthusiasm in his sermons. See this link here.
Schuller himself has been promoting heretical views of the cross and salvation for years in his book, Self-Esteem: The New Reformation. How do these quotes from Schuller's book square with the Bible?:
"Classical theology has erred in its insistence that theology be 'God-centered,' not 'man-centered'" (p. 64).
"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).
"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" (pp. 153-154).
"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" (p. 154).
"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).
Here is what Schuller believes about sin. How, Mr. London, do you Scripturally justify these definitions?
"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).
"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).
"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" (p. 67).
"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" (p. 68).
Does Focus on the Family believe that Jesus died to give us a better self-image? Is this what you believe, Mr. London? How do you defend this? Schuller has never repented of nor disclaimed any of what he wrote in that book and continues to promote New Spirituality teachers like Jampolsky on his TV show. If you are a blood-bought servant of Jesus Christ, you have no business going to the Crystal Cathedral as a speaker to legitimize and endorse what Schuller has done all these years. You are leading others into spiritual error.
The speaker line-up and purpose of the ReThink conference should have been warning enough to you. Scripture tells us that Christ has made foolish the wisdom of this world. Yet Schuller and the ReThink organizers are bringing in the world and its wisdom to instruct Christian leaders. This is in direct violation of God's Word.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
--I Corinthians 3:19
As one who leads many evangelical Christians, I am warning you that you are leading them off a spiritual cliff by your participation with Robert Schuller. It is biblically indefensible.
Scripture warns clearly:
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
--II Corinthians 6:14-16
Yoking yourself with unbelievers like Larry King and Rupert Murdoch who is one of the world's biggest porn producers is gross disobedience to God's word. Believing that these worldlings have anything to teach those who are redeemed by Christ is to ignore what God has already told us in the Bible. Mr. London, you have no business going to this conference as a speaker if you truly belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. You cannot follow Christ and disobey His clear commands. It's really that simple.
There is a remarkable lack of moral courage today in America. The evangelical church suffers from the same cowardice. Everyone is afraid of being labeled "divisive" or "judgmental." Most evangelicals fear the label "unloving" more than they fear the label "unfaithful to Christ." When I consider the price paid by men and women throughout church history because they believed that the Bible was our authority and our only standard, I am ashamed today at what I see in evangelicalism. Leaders today are more interested in pushing their own organizational agendas and getting their mug shots on big, important conference websites than in being faithful to the Son of God who gave His life on a rugged cross. Are you one of those, Dr. London? Or do you stand for the Biblical truth that Robert Schuller turned his back on long ago?
Ingrid Schlueter
Crosstalk Radio Talk Show
VCY America Radio Network
SliceofLaodicea.com
Click Here to Read and Post Feedback
Send this page to a friend
Distributed by www.ChristianWorldviewNetwork.com
Disclaimer: Worldview Weekend, Christian Worldview Network and its columnists do not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article posted on this site. We do however, encourage a healthy and friendly debate on the issues of our day. Whether you agree or disagree, we encourage you to post your feedback by using the feedback button.
3207 Views
Printer Friendly Version |
Return to home
|
