In dW 05.17.10 I used a quote by Robert Schuller. The quote in isolation is not an issue. However, Schuller’s theology has major issues.
Therefore, having been made aware, I would like to make clear that I do not support his theology.
If you are interested in knowing more about Schuller’s theology, then look through the information below.
Blessings,
Kyle
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I do have a comment on using a quote from Robert Schuller. Although the quote itself is innocuous, the use of it could tend to lend legitimacy to his teaching, which contains significant un-Biblical elements.
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Here are several examples –
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In a 10/5/84 letter to Christianity Today, Schuller wrote, "I don't think anything has been done in the name of Christ and under the banner of Christianity that has proven more destructive to human personality and hence counterproductive to the evangelism enterprise than the often crude, uncouth, and unchristian strategy of attempting to make people aware of their lost and sinful condition" (cf. Romans 1:18-3:20).
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In response to a question from Paul Crouch on Crouch's TBN 12/8/87 television show, concerning critic's claims that Schuller doesn't preach repentance, Schuller responded, "I preach repentance so positively, most people don't recognize it" (cf. Ezekiel 18:30-32).
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In Self-Esteem: The New Reformation (Word Books, 1982), Schuller teaches that: (1) the church's problem is that it has had a God-centered theology for centuries, when it needs a man-centered one; (2) we're not bad, merely badly informed about how good we are; (3) it would be an insult to the integrity of any human being to call him a sinner; and (4) "Jesus knew His worth; His success fed His self-esteem. He suffered the cross to sanctify His self-esteem and He bore the cross to sanctify your self-esteem. The cross will sanctify the ego trip" (p. 115) (cf. Matt. 16:24). [Schuller further amplified this latter thought on the 8/12/80 Phil Donahue Show; Schuller said, "Jesus had an ego. He said, 'I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.' Wow, what an ego trip He was on!"]
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Excerpt from an 11/92 radio interview with Robert Schuller –
QUESTIONER: How could the cross, as you write, "sanctify the ego trip," and make us proud, in the light of passages that say, "I hate pride and arrogance (Prov. 8:13), "Pride goes before destruction" (Prov. 16:18),"The Lord detests all the proud" (Prov. 16:5), "Do not be proud" (Rom. 12:16), "Love does not boast, it is not proud" (1 Cor. 13:4). In fact Paul warns Timothy that in the last days men "will be lovers of themselves" (2 Tim. 3:2). ... Why should we do anything to encourage people to become "lovers of themselves" if Paul in fact warned others that that would be the state of godlessness in the last days?
SCHULLER: I hope you don't [preach this] because you could do a lot of damage to a lot of beautiful people. ... if you preach that text, oh man, I sure hope you give it the kind of interpretation that I do or, I'll tell you, you'll drive them farther away and they'll be madder than hell at you and they'll turn the Bible off, and they'll switch you off, and they'll turn on the rock music and Madonna. Just because it's in the Bible doesn't mean you should preach it. ... it is so difficult to preach some of those texts and not come across as lacking humility ...
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If you Google “Robert Schuller” you’ll come up with a lot of stuff, including transcripts of some of his appearances with Larry King.
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Here’s one fairly lengthy resource (you’ll be able to find many others) --
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/schuller/general.htm
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Schuller is a protégé of Norman Vincent Peale, who is considered the modern father of “possibility thinking”. You can find many resources on Peale’s aberrant teachings.
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Once someone starts to selectively use Scripture, and deny that all of Scripture is true and applicable today, they are on a very dangerous path.
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