What is your opinion of the Promise Keepers movement?

There's no denying that the Promise Keepers (PK) movement has been instrumental in turning unbelievers to Christ and stirring Christian men out of spiritual lethargy. Many men who have participated testify that they have found a new excitement about their responsibilities in the family. Wives have given equally enthusiastic testimony of the change in their husbands and their homes. We are grateful to God for whatever eternal fruit has resulted from Promise Keepers and the rallies the movement has sponsored.  No doubt these good men who attend PK Rallies are very sincere and their motives are sincere, and I don't doubt many who attend are saved, born-gain people.  I do not doubt their love for the Lord Jesus Christ.

We also believe there is a legitimate place for men's gatherings. Men need to be challenged spiritually as men, to be faithful in the headship of home and church. This is particularly crucial in a culture such as ours, which is overtly hostile to biblical standards of masculinity.

Nonetheless, some aspects of Promise Keepers are troubling. Chief among our concerns would be the overt ecumenicism of the movement. Promise number 6 in "The Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper" is this: "A Promise Keeper is committed to reaching beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity."

And the phrase "any . . . denominational boundaries" clearly is being used to obliterate any difference between the gospel of Roman Catholicism and the biblical message. In the PK manifesto, Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper, founder Bill McCartney states:

Writing in the same volume, Jack Hayford added, "Redeeming worship centers on the Lord's Table. Whether your tradition celebrates it as Communion, Eucharist, the Mass, or the Lord's Supper, we are all called to this centerpiece of Christian worship" [19]. At the 1994 Promise Keepers "Seize The Moment" conference in Portland, McCartney announced, "Promise Keepers doesn't care if you're Pentecostal. Do you love Jesus; are you born of the Spirit of God? Hear me: Promise Keepers doesn't care if you're Catholic. Do you love Jesus; are you born of the Spirit of God?"

All of this has the effect of virtually nullifying the importance of doctrine altogether. Promise Keepers doesn't care what you believe: "Do you love Jesus?" is the sole test of faith.

But remember that Scripture is filled with warnings against those who come in Jesus' name and claim to "love Jesus"--but who preach a different gospel.

Roman Catholicism errs from Scripture at precisely the point of the gospel. Scripture teaches that we are justified by the grace of God through faith alone: "To the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness" (Romans 4:5). Roman Catholicism, however, insists that divine grace is dispensed though various rituals, including baptism, the Mass, and penance.

And adding ritual requirements to faith as instruments of justification is the very essence of the Galatian heresy. The strongest words of condemnation in all the New Testament are directed at such teaching:

But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:8-9).

This is poles apart from the notion that we should receive all who say they love Jesus.

Roman Catholic Priest Speaks at Promise Keepers Rally

"Men from across the area gathered in Plainview [Texas] to take part in the national Christian men's movement.

"From pre-teens to senior citizens, several hundred white, black and Hispanic men gathered to sing hymns and hear a pointedly spiritual message that they should be accountable to their wives, children and, most importantly, to God.

"Father John Salazar, who leads Catholic churches in Kress and Tulia, implored listeners to value themselves because they were made in the image of God. He said men should not be afraid to show emotion and even to cry, as Jesus did.

"'That is the Jesus Christ we need to bring, especially to other men and to young men,' Salazar said to an audience that encompassed everyone from quietly reverent Episcopalians to openly enthusiastic Pentecostals" (Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Lubbock, Texas, December 3, 1995).  

Inherent in Promise Keepers' ecumenical thrust is a tendency to downplay the importance of sound doctrine. If the goal is to unite all who say they love Jesus, then doctrinal distinctives must be downplayed. The doctrines that divide us cannot be mentioned. This means, for example, that the doctrine of justification by faith alone--the chief point of contention between Catholicism and Protestantism--cannot be plainly declared in Promise Keepers rallies.

Roman Catholicism teaches a different plan of Salvation than does Protestantism!  Listen to what the Council of Trent says about Salvation by Grace....

"If anyone saith that justifying faith is nothing else but confidence in the divine mercy which remits sin for Christ's sake alone; or, that this confidence alone is that whereby we are justified, let him be anathema"  (Sess. VI, Can. 12)  

Deny Trinity?  Water Baptism and Tongues speaking necessary for salvation?

John Maxwell speaks frequently at Promise Keepers meetings. His  attitude toward Doctrinal truth is evident in his participation at a Successful Church Leadership conference at Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral in March 1995, January 1996, and again in spring 1997. At these forums he joined hands with the modernist Robert Schuller (who redefines salvation to mean psychological self-esteem and sin to mean loss of self-esteem) and with a hodgepodge of other biblically unsound men, including Jack Hayford, John Wimber, Bill Hybels, and Tony Campolo. More than 80 gay and lesbian pastors with the Metropolitan Community Churches participated in that conference this year (Evangelicals Concerned Record, Spring 1997).

Maxwell's ecumenical attitude is also evident in remarks he made after speaking before some 1,500 United Pentecostal Church (UPC) ministers in February 1997. The United Pentecostal Church (UPC), part of the heretical movement called "Jesus Only" which dates back to 1914, denies the doctrine of the Trinity and teaches that baptism and tongues speaking are a necessary part of salvation. Following is the UPC statement on salvation:

My friends, "full salvation" is to believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). In this passage of Scripture Paul distinctly described the Gospel that he preached, and he said absolutely nothing about baptism or tongues. If baptism were a part of the Gospel, the Apostle Paul would not have said, "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect" (1 Cor. 1:17). That statement is meaningless if baptism is a part of the Gospel. No, baptism is a picture of the Gospel and it follows the Gospel as the first step of obedience in the Christian life. The United Pentecostal Church preaches a false gospel.

When questioned about his involvement with the UPC, Maxwell is quoted as saying that rather than trying to "fix" the UPC theologically, he simply embraces them as Christians and offers his seminars to help them grow in Christ. "I DON'T DRAW LINES. I have a great appreciation for the hearts of these people" (Ibid.).

How can these good UPC people be 'Christians' if they deny the Trinity and teach that salvation must come through water baptism and speaking in tongues?  This is not the Biblical Salvation, but a salvation by works!  How can he imply to others that these folks are 'Christians' and born-again when they hold these heretical doctrines?

This unscriptural philosophy is shared by of much of the "Evangelical" Christian world today, and it is why the Promise Keepers movement has had such success in spite of the fact that its philosophy and practice is so clearly contrary to the Word of God.

God's Word instructs us to draw lines between sound doctrine and false doctrine.

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences CONTRARY TO THE DOCTRINE WHICH YE HAVE LEARNED; and avoid them" (Romans 16:17).

"As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, THAT THOU MIGHTEST CHARGE SOME THAT THEY TEACH NO OTHER DOCTRINE" (1 Timothy 1:3).

Promise Keeper Speakers like John Maxwell refuse to obey these commands and join hands with other leaders and speakers on stage who teach different plans of salvation.

CHURCH OF CHRIST PREACHER REGULAR SPEAKER AT PROMISE KEEPERS MEETINGS

Max Lucado is a popular author and a regular speaker at PK Meetings.  He is a member of the Oak Hills Church of Christ in San Antonio,Texas.  This Church, like other old line Churches of Christ, does not have or believe in musical instruments in its church services, and Churches of Christ have historically believed and taught Baptismal Regeneration (one must be baptized to be saved) and that salvation can be lost, and that the Holy Spirit only comes to indwell as we study the Bible.  While Lucado claims he does not believe what the old line Churches of Christ teach on these matters, what confusion does it teach to all the young men who hear him speak at the PK rallies and buy and read his books while he maintains of member of the Oak Hills Church of Christ?  After hearing his testimony, I believe Max Lucado when he says he does not believe in baptismal regeneration and he does not believe that salvation can be lost as Churches of Christ believe.  I believe is a saved man.  But why does he continue in membership with a Church of Christ and confuse other young men who will conclude Churches of Christ are okay?  Are we helping young Christians by having men with such background speak at the PK rallies to our young men? 

It is no surprise that Promise Keepers views doctrine in this light since PK leadership has always had strong ties to the Vineyard movement. Weak doctrine and the "unity at all costs" mentality have long been characteristics of the Vineyard. Any continued involvement with the Vineyard will certainly mean a further eroding of sound doctrine for PK.  The founder and main spokesman of Promise Keepers, Bill McCartney, is a former Catholic who converted to Charismatic "Vineyard Movement".  Charismatic Churches and those of the Vineyard Movement hold that miraculous signs of Apostolic Era are for today.  They, too, believe that God is giving new revelation today and that the miraculous signs of the early church should be the norm for today.  These beliefs have led to much confusion and error.  Consistent with Vineyard doctrine, McCartney, when addressing Promise Keepers rallies, often gives what he claims are direct revelations from God.  Thousands of men subject themselves to the teachings of a man claiming to speak on the behalf of God, when Scripture is clear God is not giving new revelation in this age. But since the emphasis of Promise Keepers is on unity and not doctrine, McCartney is not held accountable for what he says. 

McCartney's pastor, James Ryle, is on the Board of Directors of Promise Keepers and has close connections with the self-proclaimed prophet, and co-founder of the Vineyard Movement, John Wimber.  Ryle, like Wimber, also claims to be a modern day prophet, receiving revelations from God.  In November of 1990 at a Vineyard Harvest Conference in Denver, Ryle made the following statement: 

"The Lord has appointed me as a lookout and shown me some things I want to show you....The Lord spoke to me and said, "What you saw in the Beatles---the gifting and sound they had----was from me---It was my purpose to bring forth through music a worldwide revival that would usher in the move of my Spirit in bringing men and women to Christ..."   (Promise Keepers - Biblical Discernment Series, Vol 3 #2, March - April 94)

Here is a leader of Promise Keepers who claims God told him the Beatles were originally God's instrument for bringing 'Worldwide Revival".  Christians need to be concerned about a man with such considerable influence and who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Promise Keepers.

In light of these and other concerns, we must ask ourselves whether it is spiritually profitable to be involved with Promise Keepers.  We share PK's commitment to teach and train men as disciples of Jesus Christ, and to build into the fabric of their lives the qualities of godly leadership. And to the degree that PK accomplishes these goals, we are grateful to God. If, however, the movement continues in its present course, the long-range impact on Bible-based Christianity will be far more detrimental than positive.

(Most of the Previous article was from John MacArthur and Grace to You Ministries at www.gty.org on their ISSUES AND ANSWERS page.  We added material regarding the individual speakers at PK rallies)

For further study:
David Hagopian and Douglas Wilson, Beyond Promises: A Biblical Challenge to Promise Keepers (Moscow, ID: Canon Press, 1996).