PROMISE KEEPERS LETTERS #3

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August 8, 1996 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - Following are some more excerpts from letters I have received from Promise Keepers supporters. They all tell me not to be judgmental, but they don't mind judging me! (I have received three or four letters which were kind, from the hundreds I have received overall.) I can hear the sound of the hiss behind these communications - the sound of the old Devil calling together his end-time religious Harlot. Be sober and vigilant, Brethren. The hour is very late and the days are very evil. Men and women who once stood for the Truth are heeding the call of the ecumenical siren. It is so easy to be ecumenical. It is popular. It saves one from a lot of trouble. It allows one to avoid being labeled a Pharisee and a legalist and a hatemonger. It opens many opportunities for "church growth" because you don't have to worry so much about faithfulness to every detail of the Word of God and you are free to give the people what they want instead of what God wants them to have and you can tell them what they want to hear instead of what God wants them to hear and you can give them freedom to do what they want instead of demanding that they do what God wants. The ecumenical route is so easy.

The last-days ecumenical spirit is like a broad river running swiftly toward Rome. If one does not aggressively and continually paddle upstream, he will be swept along with the flow. This is happening to men before our very eyes. Consider Billy Graham, who once preached the Word of God boldly, and stood against Romanism and Communism and Modernism and other isms which are leading men to eternal Hell, but today he is an ecumenical pacifist who seeks the Pope's counsel and turns converts over to the Roman Catholic Church. Consider Jack Van Impe, who once preached boldly against sin and error and apostasy, but today he publishes videos praising the Pope and describing him as a hero of the faith. Consider Jerry Falwell, who once was a bold preacher of the Word of God, a separatist, a Fundamental Bible-believing Baptist, but today he yokes together with the most radical charismatics and with Romanists and with others who disobey the Word of God and who lead souls astray with their false teaching.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8).

Now to the letters from the loving, non-judgmental, kind and gracious Promise Keepers supporters. It is the pastors of ecumenical churches who have the greatest responsibility for allowing people to be as biblically ignorant as the following people are --

"You are just like every other Pharisee I have met."

"It's people like you that give Christianity a bad name. How dare you and your pious mentions even begin to infiltrate this mainstream. You are nothing but a bug on a hare's ass my little one. You sitting back in your chair criticizing because YOU are not there to participate and enjoy the freedom. Keep your comments to your bible-believing baptist church pal."

"Have you ever read in scripture the quotation, 'The letter of the law kills, the Spirit gives life'? Strict 'orthodoxy' is doctrinaire and pharasaistic, and simply does not adequately address the complex personal lifestyle and social problems encountered by men in this culture. If it did, there would be no need for movements such as Promise Keepers. The intent of this movement's leaders and members is to find answers to personal issues in the life of the Holy Spirit, who is moving, and not static as doctrine is static. God also gives men intelligence enough to figure out a great deal, and to learn from life experiences. Men stuck in doctrine are not exercising that gift, neither are they allowing the life and love of God to teach them."

"It would seem to me that it is your personality that is driving you not your love of Christ."

"Keep up your judgmental, prideful ways. You are more interested in proving yourself right than in actually being correct. It's a big pride trip. All I hear from you is the sound of a clanging cymbal. I hate to be you come judgment day. IF ONLY YOU COULD SEE YOUR OWN HYPOCRISY. ... The Word of God is infallible, however you are worshipping it, not God. ... You are so caught up in making sure that everyone is a clone of you and your beliefs that you are completely missing God."

"Be careful it is not your own pride that blinds you. I've visited Baptist churches before. Not all of them hate charismatics, but what I heard from the 'leaders' there shocked me. ... I just want all Christians to put their petty differences aside and worship the Lord together. There is nothing wrong with this."

"Out of all the stuff I have read all you have done is split theological hairs. ... GET A GRIP. Tell some one about JESUS and stop wasting precious time."

"Jesus never got into doctrine and 'religious stuff.' It all distracts us from the purpose He gave us. ... Be careful. Don't get caught up in analyzing things too much."

"Are you looking for a pat on the back??? Pat pat. Wondering how many times you said 'I' in your article I am a promise keepers. I believe the Lord also mentions something about 'I' trouble, or was that EYE trouble. Just a little to think about before we get way out there knocking others down. Who knows when we might live in a glass house?"

"If we keep focusing on the differences and picking each other apart, we will never be a whole body. Can't you just put the prejudice down and get with the program? ... Does it matter what church someone goes to if they are doing good in God's name? Doctrinal differences aside, people pulling together to become one in love and understanding has to be a good thing."

"Do you see what is going on? Independent Baptists ... Fundamental Baptists ... Catholics ... all you want to do is label and JUDGE. ... It is time for Christians to come together."

"I pray for you and for all who are so deceived. Satan is working hard to keep Christians separated. ... Let's reach the lost TOGETHER. Let's praise Jesus Christ TOGETHER. I pray for you and all of those who think Promise Keepers is not of the Lord."

"I ... find your opinions to be, at best, legalistic, at worst, pharasaical (if there is such a word). ... To the issue of Roman Catholicism ... I don't entirely agree with their doctrine ... However, your church or movement or whatever it is you have likely has non-believers in it as well. In short, I think you have applied the label of Satanic deception to the wrong group, and should perhaps look into the mirror. As a conservative, born again Christian, Southern Baptist, I can't accept much of your dissertation or conclusions. ... My prayer is that God will open your spiritual eyes to the real truth."

"I really enjoy seeing guys like you operate - professional sectarians. ... Keep up your message to Roman Catholics. I'm sure they will be happy to leave the Church to enter the sectarian morass you do such a good job of promoting."

"How sad Jesus must be in men trying to destroy his outreach programs and rip on men, such as James Dobson, because they don't see eye to eye on some issues."

"I am praying for you and people like you that you may someday find the true meaning of Christ and His Church. Many people like you are lost and confused and look to find faults in others without ever seeing their own dark soul. May God bless you and deliver you from these evil ways for you know not what you do."

"I am a Free Methodist and associated with Promise Keepers. I couldn't disagree more with your analysis of the movement. ... I view Catholics as Christian brothers with a different view. ... If you spent time looking closer at the work being done by PK, you would find that each denomination, yes including Catholics, has an opportunity to strengthen the faith of their flock in the Lord Jesus Christ through the PK promises. Is this so bad?"

"... you must either not have attended these events or you just don't get it (meaning you don't understand the positive impact of Promise Keepers). ... I am not sure if you are a Christian or not, but if not I pray that God will open your heart to the truth."

"I think, sadly, that you have no idea what Promise Keepers is about. I think that you are a Traditionalist in your thinking and not open to the move of God in both Canada and the USA. ... Look into the mirror."

"To 'come out from among them and be separate' seems to be one of your major themes. ... You guys seem to be up on your theology. I think that you would be more service to the Master as salt and light than hiding your light under the bushel basket of doctrinal purity."

"Your views are very narrow and give no room for God to work with all people who believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins and lives today. ... We all serve the same Father whether Black, yellow, Baptist, Methodist or Catholic. ... Please write so that I can pray with you."

"I am a born-again, evangelical, fundamentalist Roman Catholic. After reading your poisonous diatribe against Roman Catholics, I am very pleased that you don't desire fellowship with me, as I would dread the idea of having any type of connection with someone of your ilk. ... I suggest that you take a good, long look, Mr. Cloud, at how God judges the froward. I also suggest that you take a look at what He thinks of pride. You, and others like you, are so blinded by spiritual pride, that you recklessly inflict great damage to the body of Christ."

"Put away your legalist points of view and enjoy the freedom to worship Christ ... come to the next conference and praise the Lord with men of all faiths."

"I will pray for you that the eyes of your understanding will be opened so you can see as Jesus Christ wants you to see and not of your own understanding."

"You have the nerve to say Promise Keepers are wrong because they do not see the scriptures as YOU see it. ... I think it is time for Christians of the world to throw down their differences and concentrate on what scripture stands for, and that is Love for Jesus Christ, and Love for all people."

"I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. Are you sure you haven't eaten some sour grapes some where?"

"I can't believe you would take the time to warn people about promise keepers. ... How many articles have you written to men about how they need to be men of God? Are you doing anything about it? NO? ... Didn't your mother ever teach you if you can't say something nice then don't say anything at all?"

"You're the best example I think I've ever seen of the Pharisee who sits at the front of the synagogue giving thanks for not being a sinner like everyone else."

"Jesus prayed that we would be one-unity, Baptists, Charismatic, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc. ... even Catholics with all their trappings - all who have been born-again, united as one body, not united denominations but united individuals out of every denomination and independent church. That is the unity the Holy Spirit is sweeping the earth with."

"Lighten up guys!"

"Sometimes we fundamentalists seem far more like the White Washed tombs Jesus called the Pharasees..."

"What I gathered from this document [Beware of Promise Keepers] was that you have placed yourself in the seat of judge of all of God's kingdom ... unless your middle name is Jesus Christ, I fear you are in grave danger of some sort of judgment since you are carrying out such harsh condemnation on others."