CHARISMATIC-

[These articles cannot be stored on BBS or Internet sites without permission from the author. Any articles which are redistributed by e-mail or print must be left intact and nothing must be removed or changed, including these informational headers. This is a listing for Fundamental Baptists and other fundamentalist, Bible-believing Christians. Our primary purpose is to provide information to assist preachers in the protection of the churches in this apostate hour. If you desire to receive this type of material on a regular basis, e-mail us, tell us who you are and where you are located, and request to be placed on the list. Also include your postal address and the name of the church of which you are a member. Some of these articles are from the "Digging in the Walls" section of O Timothy magazine. David W. Cloud, Editor. O Timothy is a monthly magazine in its 14th year of publication. Subscription is $20/yr. Way of Life Literature, 1701 Harns Rd., Oak Harbor, WA 98277. The Way of Life web site is http://www.wayoflife.org/. (360) 675-8311 (voice), 240-8347 (fax). dcloud@wayoflife.org (e-mail)]

Promise Keepers is a men's movement started in 1990 by members of John Wimber's Vineyard Fellowship. University of Colorado football coach Bill McCartney, a member of the Boulder Valley Vineyard, founded Promise Keepers in association with his pastor James Ryle. The first president, Randy Phillips, also is a member of the Boulder Vineyard.

The book Seven Promises of A Promise Keeper is a workbook being used by the Promise Keeper movement. Contributing authors include Bill Bright, James Dobson, Bill McCartney, Luis Palau, and psychologist Gary Smalley. It is published by Focus on the Family Publishing. Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, the New American Standard Bible, The Amplified Bible, and The Living Bible.

Under Promise #6 is a chapter entitled "A Call to Unity" by Bill McCartney. The following excerpts from this chapter and the workbook notes which follow it reveal the unscriptural confusion pertaining to the nature of the church and the dangerous ecumenical goals of Promise Keepers:

"The Body of Christ comprises a wide diversity of members. There are many denominations, various styles of worship, and representatives from all walks of life. ... the Bible says there is only one Body. Jesus prayed that we all might be one. As men who are Promise Keepers, we must determine to break beyond the barriers and our comfort zones and get to know other members of that Body. ... We're going to break down the walls that separate us so that we might demonstrate the power of biblical unity based on what we have in common ... be a bridge builder ... Pray daily for unity among Christians in your community."

The prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ in John 17 is abused and twisted out of all sense of context when it is said to be a prayer for ecumenical unity. The unity Christ prayed for is one based on truth and the Word of God (Jn. 17:6,8,14,17,19); whereas the ecumenical movement downplays the importance of doctrine. True unity is a product of the Holy Spirit's regenerative and enlightening power, not of man's puny, imperfect efforts. The Bible knows absolutely nothing of a proper unity apart from mutual commitment to God's Truth. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3). The answer is no, they cannot, unless they aim to disobey the Word of God.

That Promise Keeper leaders care nothing for a pure Gospel and for Bible truth is plain by their attitude toward Roman Catholicism. In his report on Promise Keepers, Al Dager relates, "It's significant to note, by the way, that when McCartney made his statements about Promise Keepers not caring what color or denomination one is, there was no applause until he said, `Hear me: Promise Keepers doesn't care if you're Catholic.' At this, many applauded vigoriously--a reflection of the degree to which the ecumenists have succeeded in convincing a significant number of Christians to accept a `hands off' policy toward leading Roman Catholics into great truth."

PROMISE KEEPERS INFORMATION

WAY OF LIFE LITERATURE ONLINE CATALOG

BACK TO THE PROMISE KEEPERS ARTICLES LIST

BACK TO THE MAIN FUNDAMENTAL BAPTIST NEWS SERVICE TOPICAL LIST