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FALWELL INVITES PROMISE KEEPERS TO LIBERTY

Over 10,000 men will overflow Liberty University's Vines Center for a Promise Keepers rally March 25 (3/95 National Liberty Journal). Dr. Adrian Rogers (SBC) is a speaker. The ecumenical Promise Keepers expects 500,000 to 600,000 to attend its 13 coast-to-coast conferences scheduled for 1995. Liberty University's Board of Trustees include at least six Southern Baptists and Dr. Tim Lee (Calvary Contender, March 15, 1995).

O Timothy Editor: Promise Keepers has seven pledges that it encourages men to follow. Number six is a pledge to promote unity between all denominations. Promise Keepers leadership has stated plainly that the unity they seek includes Roman Catholicism. Speaking at one of the early rallies, Founder Bill McCartney said, “Hear me: Promise Keepers doesn’t care if you’re Catholic.” In an interview with the Catholic publication Our Sunday Visitor, McCartney said that full Catholic participation was his intention from the start. “Back in 1992, at our first stadium event, we very clearly stated from the podium that we eagerly welcomed the participation of Roman Catholics, and we’ve had scores of Roman Catholics attend and go back to their churches excited” (Our Sunday Visitor, July 20, 1997, p. 10). A Roman Catholic paper The Tidings (March 31, 1995) stated that Promise Keepers is “being expanded to include Catholic congregations.” That publication said Catholics are encouraged to participate in Promise Keepers because “there is no doctrinal issue which should cause concern to the Catholic Church” and “there is no attempt at proselytizing or drawing men away from their [Catholic] faith to another church.” Catholic priest John Salazar spoke at a Promise Keepers meeting in Plainview, Texas, in December 1995. In 1997 Promise Keepers appointed a Roman Catholic, Mike Timmis, to its Board of Directors (1997 Summer Conference brochure for the Franciscan University of Steubenville). One of the speakers at several of 1997 PK rallies was Roman Catholic “evangelist” Jim Berlucchi (“Making New Catholic Men?” Our Sunday Visitor, July 20, 1997, p. 10). A writer for the liberal Christian Century magazine gave this analysis of Promise Keepers: “There is little if any political labeling. ‘Liberals,’ either political or theological, are not paraded for ridicule. There is scant evidence of the Fundamentalists’ nonnegotiable principles of faith. Descriptions of Christian belief are framed in broad rather than narrow terms” (cited by David Halbrook, Ministries Today, March-April 1995). It is obvious that Promise Keepers cares nothing about biblical truth and sound doctrine. Neither Romanism nor Modernism are exposed. This is radical, unscriptural ecumenism. Men from Fundamental Baptist churches who become associated with Promise Keepers will partake of the spirit of compromise and apostasy promoted by this rebellious movement. The ecumenical, interdenominational church has nothing to lose from such involvement, but the Fundamental Bible believer has a great deal to lose. Samson gave up his power when he gave up his separation.

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple" (Romans 16:17,18).