Rev. Robert Schuller is the pastor of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California
and the founder and speaker on the Hour Of Power television program broadcast
throughout the world. He is a member of the Reformed Church of America.
Rev. Robert Schuller has devised his own gospel of Christianity and defines his own set of terms
in relation to Biblical doctrines that are not orthodox. His gospel is a blend of psychology,
positive thinking and New Age mysticism.
MAJOR ISSUES
Robert Schuller justifies his teachings on the basis that he wishes to attract people to the gospel
and not repel them with negative theological doctrine. He claims that the reformers, and all of
orthodox Christianity, have gotten the message wrong. He is the standard by which the message
of the gospel should be judged. He claims to teach only what Jesus Christ taught and not deal
with the negative message taught by the Apostle Paul. By attempting to equate his message with
what Jesus taught and rejecting the Apostle Paul, Robert Schuller reveals his true belief regarding
the inspiration of the Bible. If the words are not from Jesus Christ, then he believes that he has
the
right to ignore those words or judge the effectiveness in the use of those words. Since he believes
that the Apostle Paul has a negative message, as apposed to his positive message, then he states
that he does not teach the message of the Apostle Paul. The Scripture speaks for itself when it
says:
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for
training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good
work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NAS)
Robert Schuller measures Scripture against his own pre-conceived ideas, based on what the
non-Christian person has told him that they need or want, and so he disregards those Scriptures
that do not meet those particular criteria, assuming that some Scriptures are more inspired than
others. In other words, he does not believe in the trustworthiness of God's revelation in relation to
what God believes and says that man needs, and he does not believe in the sufficiency of
Scripture
to meet those needs.
By preaching a gospel based on what the non-Christian tells him they need or want, that gospel is
of necessity different than what is revealed in the Bible. God has been very specific in noting that
what men say they need and want is not what He has declared as their basic need.
Robert Schuller claims that people do not come to God because they are afraid, lack self-esteem
and believe that they are not good enough to approach God. So, he preaches a message about
possibility thinking and the ability of people to achieve anything they wish. It is through this
message, that Robert Schuller claims that he can attract men to God.
However, Robert Schuller ignores the greatest single fact in the religious world. It is the message
of every other religion in the world, except Christianity, that man can and does approach God
because of the inherent goodness and self-righteous works of man. Therefore, all other religions
teach that man has an innate goodness that gives status before God, and that good works of any
type, such as, charity, helpfulness, kindness, religious duties, prayers and many other self-
determined acts of goodness verify the acceptability of men before God.
It is the Christian belief that turns the world upside down and declares that all the good works
and
all the religious beliefs do not justify man before God. It is this message that Robert Schuller
cannot preach, will not preach and frightens him deeply. Robert Schuller believes that he is good
enough, within himself, to approach God and be accepted by God, and that is the main reason he
will not preach a Biblical gospel message. Robert Schuller preaches a gospel of salvation by
works.
BIBLICAL DEFINITIONS compared to ROBERT SCHULLER DEFINITIONS
BIBLE
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ROBERT SCHULLER
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SIN
FAILURE TO MEET ONE'S OBLIGATION TO GOD
Coming Short
"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."
Romans 3:23 (NAS)
Omission of Duty
"Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin."
James 4:17 (NAS)
Backsliding
"Although our iniquities testify against us, O Lord, act for Your name's sake! Truly our
apostasies
have been many, we have sinned against You."
Jeremiah 14:7 (NAS)
WRONG ATTITUDE TOWARD THE PERSON OF GOD
Thoughts of Foolishness
"The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to men."
Proverbs 24:9 (NAS)
Pride and Arrogance
"Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin."
Proverbs 21:4 (NAS)
Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit
"Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against
the Spirit shall not be forgiven."
Matthew 12:31 (NAS)
WRONG ACTION IN RELATION TO THE WILL OF GOD
Rebellion and Stubborness
"For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because
you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king."
1 Samuel 15:23
Disobedience - Defiance of the Sovereignty of God
"Let us lie down in our shame, and let our humiliation cover us; for we have sinned against the
Lord our god, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day. And we have not obeyed the
voice of the Lord our god."
Jeremiah 3:25 (NAS)
Lawlessness
"Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness and sin is lawlessness."
1 John 3:4 (NAS)
WRONG ATTITUDE IN RELATION TO MAN
Favoritism
"But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as
transgressors."
James 2:9 (NAS)
All Unrighteousness
"All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death."
1 John 5:17 (NAS)
Despising One's Neighbor
"He who despises his neighbor sins, but happy is he who is gracious to the poor."
Proverbs 14:21 (NAS)
WRONG ATTITUDE TOWARD JESUS CHRIST
Unbelief
"'And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and
judgment;
concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to
the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world
has been judged."
John 16:8-11 (NAS)
WRONG TENDENCY OF NATURE
Evil Principle Within Man
"For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. for what I am
doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the
very thing I hate, but if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing
that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me."
Romans 7:14-17 (NAS)
ON DOCTRINE COMMENT: The Bible says that SIN is a moral violation against the person,
character, nature and commands of God.
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SIN
SCHULLER: They (people) are in the state of condition called sin which means they
don't trust. They are lacking faith.
HORTON: I guess the difference would be our definition of sin, because what I see in
scripture is that we're dead in sin and cannot respond to God even if we were trusting.
SCHULLER: Oh no, you're wrong, you're wrong. And very seldom do I use this
language. People who know me say, "Schuller never comes across as if he knows the
answers and others don't. It is not my style. But I intuitively say to you, you're wrong! The
ultimate, deepest, most sinful problem that you can imagine is lack of trust. Hebrews 11:6,
"For without faith it is impossible to please God." I can show you people, they
believe
the Bible is the Word of God from cover to cover, they believe that Jesus was born of the Virgin
Mary...but, they really don't have a relationship with Jesus. They have that head knowledge, that
head information and unless you have a wonderful warm relationship, which means you are
mutually friends, then you really don't have the faith. And there are people who live wonderful
lives today. They don't commit adultery and they don't steal and they don't kill...if you go by what
is sinful behavior they seem to be leading very fine lives. But they don't have faith....
**
ON DOCTRINE NOTE:
Directly contradicting the Scripture (Ephesians 2:1-3), Robert Schuller reveals a crushing
description of his own spiritual condition by "intuitively" knowing that all men are not dead in
sin
and not unable to respond to God. In his "intuition" he aligns himself with those who have not
been delivered from error to truth through salvation. For Robert Schuller, sin is a lack of faith.
But, a lack of faith in what?
HORTON: Dr. Schuller, "The real problem," you have written, "is
that deep down we feel we're not good enough to approach a holy God." But isn't that the
truth about us. Isn't that precisely why we need the cross because we cannot approach a holy God
in our own righteousness. In other words, isn't that fear legitimate; the distance between a holy
God and a sinful people, isn't that meant to drive us to despair of our own righteousness and flee
to Christ.
SCHULLER: Maybe so, I wouldn't quarrel with that. I have no argument with that.
HORTON: Well on what texts would you base your definition of sin as "any act or
thought that robs myself or another human being of his or her self-esteem."
SCHULLER: Try some other questions because I think your question isn't uh, isn't...I
don't understand it.
HORTON: Okay. If the definition of sin is "any act or thought that robs myself or
another human being of his or her self-esteem," then, first of all....
SCHULLER: Okay, okay, I can handle that. That's a little piece. Any sinful act that
arises out of the sinful condition, and I have to repeat, sin is a condition before it is an
action.
HORTON: Absolutely. We would agree a hundred percent on that. But what is that
condition?
SCHULLER: That condition is, you are separated from God, totally and completely.
And therefore you don't have the emotional and spiritual affirmation that only comes out of a
relationship. And when you have a hostility between two persons instead of a trusting
relationship, the normal inclination naturally is to become rebellious or "defensive;"
we speak of this a defensive behavior (I come from a psychological background so I use probably
different terminology, but there's no problem). So any behavior that is "sinful
behavior" is obviously going to space you farther from the possibility of a closeness with
the
God that alone could affirm you through grace of your value as persons. And I keep saying, the
single most important thing for people to know is what God thinks of them. And I'll tell you what
God thinks of you: if you were the only person that didn't have this wonderful relationship with
him, why he would take his son and crucify him as your savior.
HORTON: But why would He have to do that Dr. Schuller if in fact the only problem
that I have with God is that I am non trusting and lack self confidence?
SCHULLER: Wait, wait, wait, wait! The "only thing!" That's everything!
That's Hell!...To be non-trusting is the ultimate sinful condition. **
ON DOCTRINE NOTE: Robert Schuller finally admits to his definition
of sin. Sin is a lack of self-confidence, resulting in non-trust in one's ability to approach God. Sin
is not a moral violation against God or of His commands, it is a violation of one's own self-
esteem!
**
A Discussion With Robert Schuller" with Mike Horton -
November
1992, The White Horse Inn Radio Program (The Alliance of Confessing
Evangelicals)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ARTICLE ON
THE ON DOCTRINE WEBSITE
|
SALVATION
Salvation is the rescue and deliverance from the judgment pronounced on humanity, by God, as
a
result of the moral consequences of the violation of the commands of God. Salvation is provided
by God, initiated by God and completed by God based on His sovereign Will and action. God
provides salvation based on His terms only, which are not negotiable. There are several
components:
REPENTANCE
Indeed, failure on the part of man to heed god's Call to repentance means that he shall utterly
perish (Luke 13:3). (Evans)
Importance:
Christ preached - Matthew 4:17, God commands - Acts 17:30, Apostles preached - Acts
2:38
Nature:
Touching the intellect - Matthew 21:29, Touching the emotions - 2 Corinthians 7:9, Touching the
will and disposition - Luke 18:13, Isaiah 55:7, 1 Thessalonians 1:9, Acts 26:18
FAITH
Meaning:
Knowledge - Romans 10:17. Assent - Mark 12:32, Appropriation - John 1:12; 2:24
Object:
Jesus Christ - Hebrews 12:2
Source:
God - Romans 12:3, Jesus Christ - Hebrews 12:2, Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:22
REGENERATION - Being Born Again
Nature
Not baptism - John 3:5, Titus 3:5, Not reformation - Matthew 12:43-45, New Birth - 2
Corinthians 5:17, John 3, New Nature - 1 John 3:9, New Impulse - Romans 9:19-25, Romans
8:1-39
Necessity:
Stated by Jesus Christ - John 3:5-7, Sinful condition of man requires it - Romans 8:8, Romans
7:18, Romans 12:2, God's Holiness demands it - Hebrews 12:14, Ezra 9:15
Method:
Of God - John 1:13, John 3:5, Through man - John 1:12, 13
JUSTIFICATION
Meaning
It is a change in man's relation or standing before god. It has to do with relations that have been
disturbed by sin, and these relations are personal. It is a change from guilt and condemnation to
acquittal and acceptance. Regeneration has to do with the change of the believer's nature;
justification, with the change of his standing before God. Regeneration is subjective; justification
is objective. The former has to do with man's state; the latter, with his standing.
(Evans)
(a) Forgiveness of sin and removal of guilt - Micah 7:18, 19, Romans 8:33-34, (b) Imputation of
Christ's righteousness and restoration to God's favor - Romans 3:22
Method
(a) Not by moral law - Romans 3:20, 1 Corinthians 4:4, Galatians 3:24, Romans bar>
"The only thing law can do is stop the mouth of every man, and declare him guilty before God. It
is a question of Moses or Christ, works or faith, law or promise, doing or believing, wages or free
gift." (Evans)
(b) Not by moral character - 1 Corinthians bar>
(c) By God's justice - Romans 8:33, Ephesians bar>
(d) By God's grace - Romans bar>
(e) By Christ's blood and merit - Romans 5:9, Romans bar>
(f)By our faith - Romans 5:1, Galatians bar>
ADOPTION
Meaning:
"It means the taking of the son of another to be you own son, so that son has the same
position and all the advantages of a son by birth." (Evans)
:
Eternally determined - Ephesians 1:4-5. Possessed at point of belief - 1 John 3:2, Completed at
the resurrection - Romans 8:23, 2 Corinthians bar>
Blessing Of:
Objects of God's love - John 17:23, Objects of God's fatherly care - Luke 12:27-33
SANCTIFICATION
Meaning:
"If regeneration has to do with our nature, justification with our standing, and adoption with our
position, then sanctification has to do with our character and conduct. In justification we are
declared righteous, in order that, in sanctification, we may become righteous. Justification is what
God does for us, while sanctification is what God does in us." (Evans)
Separation from evil - 2 Corinthians 29:5, 15-18, 2 Thessalonians 4:3, Separation unto god -
Leviticus 27:14-16, Numbers 8:17, John 10:36
Time of Sanctification:
Method:
Divine work of triune God:
(a) Father - 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
(b)Jesus Christ - Hebrews 10:10
(c) Holy Spirit - 1 Peter 1:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Galatians 5:17-22
Human response:
(a) Faith in Christ's work - 1 Corinthians 1:30
(b) Knowledge of God's Word - John 17:17
(c) Dedication of life - Romans 12:1-2
Submission to divine discipline - Hebrews 12:10-11
Pursuit of holiness - Romans 6:18-19
Source:
The Great Doctrines Of The Bible, William Evans, D.D., Moody Press
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SALVATION
What is Robert Schuller's goal in relation to himself and to others?
"If only we could love ourselves enough to dare approach God .... But we feel too unworthy. So
one layer of negative behavior is laid upon another until we emerge as rebellious sinners. But our
rebellion is a reaction, not our nature. By nature we are fearful, not bad. Original sin is not a
mean
streak; it is a nontrusting inclination ....do not say that the central core of the human soul is
wickedness. If this were so, then truly, the human being is totally depraved. But positive
Christianity does not hold to human depravity, but to human inability." (1)
Positive Christianity means that people must be brought to the point where they can love
themselves and then they can approach God, because they have a positive view of themselves; a
self-esteem that says they are good enough for the economy of God.
Robert Schuller holds to a belief in the imputation of original sin on humanity, but he gives it a
new meaning of his own creation. Man is not depraved, lost in the depths of sin in which he
cannot reach out to God. Instead, it is applied to simple human inability - inability to trust
because
human beings are crippled by a lack of a positive approach, and a lack of understanding about
their value and ability to develop higher levels of self-esteem.
"Self-esteem then, or "pride in being a human being," is the single greatest need facing the
human
race today. (8)
I strongly suggest that self-love is the ultimate will of man that what you really want more than
anything else in the world is the awareness that you are a worthy person.
(9)
Do not fear pride: the easiest job God has is to humble us. God's almost impossible task is to
keep
us believing every hour of every day how great we are as his sons and daughters on planet earth.
(10)
So, Robert Schuller says their is no real difficulty in the separation of humanity from God that
cannot be corrected by a higher level of self-esteem in humanity. The higher humanity looks at
itself, the closer it will become to God. How can that be? Because God created humanity to be
little "princesses" and "princes", God is glorified when humanity approaches closer to the level of
his original creation. How is this accomplished? It is accomplished by man himself; realizing his
potential and striving for higher levels of accomplishment through greater sense of his self-worth
and expressed by a greater emphasis on self-esteem. As a result, Robert Schuller teaches that
humanity sets the standards by which it will approach God, rather than God setting the standards
by which man is allowed to approach God. Just like the other religions of the world, Robert
Schuller's religion is man-centered rather than God centered.
Human pride is the downfall of Robert Schuller and his message. His own pride and sense of
self-determined self-worth is apparent in everything he says and writes. Where does this false
pride and self-esteem take Robert Schuller? The following statement speaks for itself:
Perhaps the most incredible aspect of the incident was Schuller's declaration of moral innocence
--
"I'm very proud of who I am. I am innocent. I have not broken a single one of the Ten
Commandments. I have not broken any of the teachings of Jesus Christ, and so I'm proud of my
faith and message," Schuller said at a July 1 news conference after the incident. (Source: 4Q
1997, PFO The Quarterly Journal.)
"What does it mean to be saved? It means to be permanently lifted from sin (psychological self-
abuse with all of its consequences as seen above) and shame to self-esteem and its God glorifying
human need-meeting, constructive, and creative consequences."
(2)
"Salvation is defined as rescue from shame to glory." (3)
"To be born again means that we must be changed from a negative to a positive self-image - from
inferiority to self-esteem, from fear to love. from doubt to trust.
(4)
...Dr. Schuller believes that salvation is being rescued "from shame to glory."
(5) For him being "born again" means to "be
changed from a negative to a positive self-image - from inferiority to self-esteem, from fear to
love, from doubt to trust." (6) Dr. Schuller's problem is
that he has (as he often does) confused an effect with its cause. Salvation, or being "born
again," gives us a basis for a high self-esteem and to have a greater love and trust.
However, salvation is not a synonym for self-esteem. According to the Bible the new birth is a
spiritual phenomenon, not a psychological one John 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3-5).
(7)
(1) Schuller, Self-Esteem: The New Reformation, pp. 66,
67.
(2) Ibid., p. 99.
(3) Ibid., p. 151.
(4) Ibid., p. 68.
(5) Ibid., p. 151
(6) Ibid., p. 68.
(7) The Faulty Gospel Of Robert Schuller, Joseph P.
Gudel
(8) Schuller, Self-Esteem: The New Reformation, p.
19.
(9) Robert H. Schuller, Self-Love: The Dynamic Force of
Success (New York: Hawthorn
Books, Inc., 1969). p. 21.
(10). Schuller, Self-Esteem: The New Reformation, p.
57.
Most of the above information from: A New Reformation? The Faulty Gospel Of Robert
Schuller, by Joseph P. Gudel
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE ARTICLE OFF SITE
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REPENTANCE
"I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."
Jesus Christ - Luke 5:32 (NAS)
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REPENTANCE
"I preach repentance so positively, most people don't recognize it" TBN 12/8/87
GOSPEL
"Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, 'Thus it is
written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that
repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning
from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending forth the promise
of
My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on
high."
Jesus Christ - Luke 24:45-49 (NAS)
"So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. for I am not
ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the
Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith;
as it is written, 'But the righteous man shall live by faith'"
Romans 1:15-17 (NAS)
"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you
received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I
preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what i
also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried,
and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to
Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one
time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep, then He appeared to James,
then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also."
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 (NAS)
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GOSPEL
HORTON: Dr. Schuller, what do we tell someone who says, "I'm already happy and
fulfilled, so why do I need the gospel?"
SCHULLER: I don't know ... I can't relate to that.
***
Robert Schuller is incapable of responding to that person, because they already express the
gospel
that he preaches. He has nothing more to say to them. His claim that he preaches a positive
message, so that people will come and accept Christ, is revealed to be blatantly false, because he
is unwilling to give them the message that transcends what a person believes they need or do not
need. He refuses to preach the gospel that God and Jesus Christ say that humanity
needs.
Robert Schuller's gospel is one of his own creation; a gospel of positive self-affirmation and
personal goodness. It is a gospel of positive thinking, admonishing people that they can be and do
anything that they wish. It is a gospel that affirms the positive and ignores the negative, even in
the face or reality.
To a person who already has those beliefs, obtained outside of Robert Schuller's teaching, he has
nothing to say, because he cannot relate to a person who has already achieved what he teaches.
Self-affirmation is the goal, and for those who attain that degree of self-esteem, there is nothing
more to say.
Robert Schuller teaches a different gospel from that in the Scripture.
***
A Discussion With Robert Schuller" with Mike Horton -
November
1992, The White Horse Inn Radio Program (The Alliance of Confessing
Evangelicals)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ARTICLE ON
THE ON DOCTRINE WEBSITE
|
HELL
"'But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and
whoever says to his brother, ""You good-for-nothing,"" shall be guilty before the supreme court;
and whoever says, ""You fool,"" shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.'"
Jesus Christ - Matthew 5:22 (NAS)
"'If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to
lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.'"
Jesus Christ - Matthew 5:29 (NAS)
"'If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to
lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.'"
Jesus Christ - Matthew 5:30 (NAS)
"'Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is
able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Jesus Christ - Matthew 10:28 (NAS)
"'And you Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if
the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this
day.'"
Jesus Christ - Matthew 11:23 (NAS)
"'You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?'"
Jesus Christ - Matthew 23:33 (NAS)
"'But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast
into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him.'"
Jesus Christ - Luke 12:5 (NAS)
"When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying,
'Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am
alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.'"
Jesus Christ - Revelation 1:17-18
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HELL
SCHULLER: Listen, I believe in heaven. I believe in hell. But I don't know what
happens
there. I don't take it literally that it's a fire that never stops burning.
HORTON: As Jesus said it was?
SCHULLER: Jesus was not literal. See, now this is where you have differences of
interpretation. I went to a different theological school than you did. And there are different
denominations, like about four hundred in the United States of America, and we don't belong to
the same denomination. In my denomination, Jesus stood outside Gehenna, the city dump, and
said that's outside the walls, that's hell. And in the dump there were always worms, and there
were
fires....****
****
A Discussion With Robert Schuller" with Mike Horton -
November
1992, The White Horse Inn Radio Program (The Alliance of Confessing
Evangelicals)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ARTICLE ON
THE ON DOCTRINE WEBSITE
ON DOCTRINE COMMENT: Robert Schuller shows his dishonesty in his approach to the
Scripture and in relation to what Jesus Christ said. He is perfectly willing to say that Jesus Christ
taught that there is a literal heaven, in Matthew 11:23, but in the same verse only seven words
after heaven, the word Hades, or hell, occurs and he claims that is figurative. He is perfectly
willing to say that Jesus Christ taught that there is a literal heaven, in Matthew 5:20, but only 2
verses later, in Matthew 5:22, when Jesus talks about hell, Robert Schuller says He is not
speaking literally, but figuratively. He blames his training and association with a different school
of theology as the reason for his belief, rather than taking responsibility for imposing beliefs that
he created himself. He again denies that Jesus spoke about a literal hell in Matthew 5:29, 30.
Robert Schuller simply chooses the verses that say the things with which he agrees and then
"reinterprets" as being figurative, the verses that deny what he believes. By twisting the words of
Jesus Christ, Robert Schuller reveals his true opinion about his accountability under the authority
of Jesus Christ. He does not feel any apprehension when changing the words of Jesus Christ, and
at the same time has no trouble changing the gospel of Jesus Christ, to fit his own belief.
JESUS CHRIST
"Then He said again to them, 'I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in you sin; where I
am going, you cannot come. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you
believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.'"
Jesus Christ - John 8:21, 24 (NAS)
"When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors,
they said to His disciples, 'Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?' And
hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those
who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'"
Mark 2:16-17 (NAS)
"'But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites...you will receive greater condemnation...you
make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves...blind guides...you fools and blind
men...have
neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness...but inside are
full of robbery and self-indulgence...like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear
beautiful, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness...outwardly righteous to
men,
but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness...sons of those who murdered the
prophets...you serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?
Therefore,
behold I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and
crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city,
so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of
righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the
temple and the altar.'"
Jesus Christ - Matthew 23:13-35
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JESUS CHRIST
"He (Jesus Christ) never did call them 'sinners.' He saw great possibilities in each of these men.
How He tried to give them the sense of self-worth and dignity that they deserved! After all, they
were human beings, descendants of God."
Move Ahead With Possibility Thinking, Robert Schuller, 1967, p.
209
"Christ always tried to give man's self-image a boost. When he met immoral people He never
called them sinners. Never!"
Self-Love: The Dynamic Force Of Success, 1969, pp. 87,
88
"He believed in the dignity of the individual. So He never called a person a sinner. He always
saw
the individual as a saint."
Daily Power Thoughts, Robert Schuller, March 23, n.d.
ON DOCTRINE COMMENT: Just a cursory examination of the
Scriptures reveals that Robert Schuller speaks an absolute untruth in relation to what he claims
Jesus Christ said. To claim that Jesus Christ never called a person a sinner and saw every
individual as a saint, is a blatant and deliberate deception in which Robert Schuller writes the
words to his own Bible and ignores the words of the true Scripture. He deliberately ignores the
reality of the words and message of Jesus Christ, and claims that Jesus Christ spoke what He did
not and did not speak what He did. In order to promote his own agenda, Robert Schuller changes
the words that Christ spoke and he claims that Christ did not speak words that are recorded in the
Scripture, confirming by his own words that he speaks the words of a Bible that exists only
within
his own mind.
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Questions for Robert Schuller
By John MacArthur, Jr.
Normally, a book that is not truly biblical would have no place in this
reviewer's efforts, nor in a periodical like MOODY MONTHLY. However, Self-Esteem-The New Reformation by Robert
Schuller appears to be more than just a book. It is more an effort to propagandize the Christian
community.
Tens of thousands of copies were mailed to people in ministry all over the country. Such wide
distribution and the popular impact of the author demand a response.
Some may have judged the book as contributory to the field of psychological humanism if its
author had eliminated altogether any mention of God and Christ and simply presented his ideal as
secular, humanist philosophy. To put God and Scripture in it did not sanctify the psychology; it
corrupted the theology.
Self-Esteem is quasi-Christian, positive humanism. Martin Marty, whom Schuller quotes
in the opening, was right in suggesting, "Is not this a philosophy which makes room for God
more
than a theology that incorporates psychology?"
Schuller agreed, thereby admitting that he has attempted to fit God into his philosophy.
He tries just that in the book. In an effort to be biblical, he attempts to link the chapters with the
principles given in the Lord's Prayer. But he demonstrates no real connection and no sound
biblical hermeneutics to support it. Rather, he perverts the Godward intent of the prayer, making
it manward (p. 48).
In a personal conversation I had with Schuller about this review, he wanted me to say that he
could sign the reformed statement including the doctrine of salvation through faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ, who died and rose again.
It is difficult, however, to understand such a claim because he gives only token service to that
position (chapter 7), while repeatedly denying it by affirming several mystical, psychological
views of salvation. He presents another gospel.
The great error of the book centers clearly around this matter of the doctrine of salvation.
Schuller is calling for a "new reformation" that brings people to God and to Christ through
self-esteem and then to self-esteem. He preaches a salvation — but not the one familiar to
the reader of Scripture.
Schuller asked me to say that while he does not believe in a verbally inspired or inerrant
Scripture,
he does affirm it as the rule of and basis for conduct. He also asked that in the review I not make
final judgments, but rather ask questions.
I am willing to do that. And Schuller's affirmation of some scriptural authority makes the
following questions a fair approach to his teachings. They are representative of issues he must
answer if we are to believe he speaks truth.
How can we believe Schuller when he says, "'Pride in being a human being' is the single greatest
need facing the human race today" (p. 19)? God says, "I hate pride" (Prov. 8:13), and Peter tells
us, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5; cf. James 4:6,
10).
Schuller has said, "Do not fear pride" (p. 57). Scripture says, "Pride goes before destruction"
(Prov. 16:18).
Schuller has said, "What we need is a theology of salvation that begins and ends with a
recognition of every person's hunger for glory" (pp. 26, 27). God says, "I will not give My glory
to
another" (Isa. 42:8; cf. Herod Agrippa, Acts 12:21-23).
How can we believe that the truth about man can be known only in a cooperation between
Scripture and psychology (p. 27), as Schuller claims, when Scripture affirms its sufficiency
without dependence on man's wisdom (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18-25)?
The Bible says, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for
every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16, 17).
Are we to believe Schuller's claim that all the saints of the past had a "basic flaw" in their
theology
(p. 31)? And are we to believe that "Christian liturgies, hymns, prayers, and Scriptural
interpretations have often insensitively and destructively offended the dignity of the person" (p.
31)? Though the faith was already once-for-all delivered to the saints (Jude 3), Schuller claims
that the truth is only now revealed by him.
Is the "dignity of the person" to be the new theological benchmark (p. 37) when the glory of god
has always been (1 Cor. 10:31)?
Schuller says: "What would Jesus say if he could speak to us today? Would he tell us what
miserable sinners we are? I thing not.
"Deep down in our hearts I believe we know that Jesus would say something like this to us: 'You
are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. You are a child of the Eternal. Follow me
and I will make you fishers of men.
"'Receive and enjoy the fruit of salvation: Self-esteem, self-worth. Hear God's call to you. he
would save you for high and holy service-to be proud of who you are. The, stop putting yourself
down. Start enjoying the dignity that is your God-intended destiny" (p. 47).
Is this the message Jesus gave in the Gospels? Does it not reflect only a quasi-Christian, proud
humanism without transactional redemption?
Are we to believe that "Christ never puts down a human being" (p. 48), when the biblical record
is
filled with such "put downs" of sinners? Romans 1 and 2 seems a complete enough "put down,"
for example, as does Romans 7:7-13.
Are we to believe that the "conversion" that occurred by looking at the tower of the Garden
Grove church from Anaheim (pp. 53, 54) was genuine salvation, as the book does?
Should all men in the world have a high sense of self-worth based on the fact that they are all
under the fatherhood of god, since "the Fatherhood of God is built into our subconscious" (p.
54)? But Christ said unsaved men were children of the devil (John 8:44). John adds, "By this the
children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice
righteousness is not of God" (1 John 3:10).
Do we really believe that the purpose of the good news is that "God wants all of us to feel good
about ourselves" (p. 58), when Jesus said we should be begging in our poverty of spirit, meek,
hungry and thirsty from the recognition of our unworthiness (Matt. 5:1 ff)?
Can we really be convinced that "classic theology has erred in its insistence that theology be
'God-
centered,' not 'man-centered'" (p. 64), when Scripture says of god, "For from Him and through
Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen" (Rom. 11:36)?
From what Scripture do we learn that the core of original sin is negative self-image or lack of
self-
esteem, but not wickedness (pp. 67, 98)? Certainly we would have to ask what God meant in
Jeremiah 17:9 when He said the heart of man is "deceitful above all things and desperately
wicked," or in 1 John 3:4 and 5:17, "sin is lawlessness" and "all unrighteousness is
sin."
Schuller has said, "To be born again means that we must be changed from a negative to a positive
self-image" (p. 68). God says, "You purify your soul in obeying the truth, being born again by the
Word of God" (1 Peter 1:22, 23).
And if negative self-image produces our sins (Schuller denies total depravity), where does
negative self-image come from? Is it a mistake God made in making us "in His image"?
Why does Schuller say, "To be born again means that we must be changed from a negative to a
positive self-image-from inferiority to self-esteem" (p. 68), when Scripture clearly described the
new birth as spiritual, not psychological (cf. John 3:5, 1 Peter 1:3-5)?
What is meant by the statement, "Pursuing possibility thinking is the way of the cross" (p. 75)?
What is meant by the inspiration of the cross indicated on page 74, where Schuller notes: "If
'Christ died for me,' I must be of infinite value in God's sight. [If] Jesus, victim of his personal
holocaust, can plead for mercy for his executioners, then God can forgive me too! I can be saved
from the self-esteem-polluting guilt of my sin!
"Christ's cross makes my salvation possible. It sets a self-esteem-setting standard for his sacred
society. I am now inspired to forgive those who would crucify me too!"
Can the cross be considered only example and inspiration when Scripture says the act of Christ
on
the cross was far more than that: "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross" (1 Peter
2:24; cf. Col. 1:20-22).
How can he say, "The cross sanctifies the ego trip" (p. 75), when Scripture presents it as the
event most reflective of man's vile, evil nature (Rom. 3:1-20)?
When Schuller says, "The cross protected out Lord's perfect self-esteem from turning into sinful
pride" (p. 75), what psychological implications is he relating to the Son of God and what is he
saying about Christ's impeccability (p. 75)?
Why does Schuller rank Jesus with Freud, Adler and Frankl, as if He were a psychiatrist (p. 79),
when Scripture affirms His utter pre-eminence (Col. 1:15-19)?
Can we believe Schuller who says, "Gods ultimate objective is to turn you and me into self-
confident persons" (p. 80), when Philippians 3:3 says, "for we are the true circumcision, who
worship in the Spirit of god and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the
flesh"?
Schuller writes: "My friend Fred Smith of Dallas expressed it like this: 'You know what hell
would be for me? If, when I stand before God, he would tell me all the things I could have done
in my life if I had only had more faith.'
"I agree, it would be hell if God ever told me all of the 'diamond ideas' that I have allowed to
flow
wastefully through my brain. It would be hell if God ever told me of the beautiful relationships I
could have had if only I'd had more courage, or more patience.
"It would be hell if God told me all of the accomplishments I could have achieved in life if I had
been willing to pay the price. It would be hell if God should tell me all of the possibilities I
wasted.
"It would be hell if God showed me how I could have succeeded if I'd only tried, if I had not quit,
and if I'd just hung on a little longer" (p. 93).
Can this be hell when Jesus calls hell and eternal "furnace of fire" (Matt. 13:42, 50)?
Schuller says, "The most serious sin is the one that causes me to say, 'I am unworthy....'For once
a
person believes he is an 'unworthy sinner,' it is doubtful if he can really honestly accept the
saving
grace God offers in Jesus Christ" (p. 98).
Is not this opposite the message of the Lord Jesus which confronts a person's sin and calls him to
repent and be converted (Matt. 4:17)?
Schuller says: "Salvation. What does it mean to be saved? It means to be permanently lifted from
sin (psychological self-abuse with all of its consequences as seen above) and shame to
self-esteem
and its God-glorifying, human need-meeting, constructive, and creative consequences" (p.
99).
Is this consistent with Scripture's presentation of salvation?
How does the Lord's call for a contrite, broken spirit, a meek and humble repentance permit the
idea that "too many prayers of confession of sin and repentance have been destructive to the
emotional health of Christians by feeding their sense of nonworth" (p. 104)?
Page 136 offers a summation of this "other gospel." Schuller writes: "Christ must be, at all times,
Lord over the Scriptures. I cannot comprehend Christ ever treating any person, lost or saved,
sinner or saint, in an insulting manner.
"God is trying to build his kingdom by appealing to our unsatisfied huger for self-esteem. He
offers to save us from guilt and shame and insecurity and fear and boredom to a life of security,
serenity, stimulation, and self-esteem!
"Here then is a theology of salvation that glorifies God, for it glorifies his children by lifting them
from hostility and rebellion-generating doubt and fear to self-confidence-building, creativity-
inspiring, human-potential-releasing, human-brotherhood-motivating, self-esteem.
"Here, too is a theology of salvation that inspires the quality of individual life and social behavior
which meets the biblical label, 'Good works.' As such, this is a theology that, by its nature,
sustains faith, for 'faith without works is dead.'"
Since when do "good works" sustain faith? Are they not the result of faith (Eph. 2:8-10; James
2:18)?
Resolving the contradictions between Schuller and Scripture will be difficult because of his
escape
hatch from biblical authority (pp. 135, 136).
Schuller reflects the "red-letter Bible view" of inspiration when he suggests that Luther and
Calvin
fell short of telling the truth because they "were possessed more by the spirit of St. Paul than by
the Spirit of Jesus Christ" (p. 39).
Then he asks, "Are we not on safer ground if we look to our Lord's words?" (p. 39)
He says he believes Jesus is more trustworthy than Paul. Is this consistent with the Bible, which
says, "All Scripture is inspired by god" (2 Tim. 3:16)?
Are we to accept Schuller's idea that Christ is above Scriptures, Lord over the Scriptures, while
they are not lord over Christ (p. 45)? Does this mean the Scripture is inferior or not a trustworthy
source of knowledge about Christ?
Are we to hold to a neo-orthodox inspirational "Spirit of Jesus" hermeneutic as Schuller admits
to
when he writes, "The bible must not compete with the Lord for the seat of glory...We believe in
the holy Trinity, not a holy Quadrangle" (p. 45)?
His idea that Christ is above the Scriptures, Lord over them while they are lord over Him, is a
convenient escape from those texts that contradict his philosophy. He wants us to believe that
when Scripture is inconsistent with his concept of Christ, it is unacceptable.
At this point, we are faced with the reality that there can be no meaningful debate between
biblical
authority and experiential intuition.
Neo-orthodoxy, existentialism, liberalism and humanism weave their way through the book and
reveal Schuller's lack of total commitment to an authoritative Scripture which is able to perfect
the believer.
His whole approach brings to mind an article written by Charles Finney 108 years ago. Published
in the Advent Review and Herald of the Sabbath (July 29, 1875), it was titled "Mastering
the Art of Preaching so as to Convert Nobody." Here, paraphrased, are some of the 42 ways he
gave to accomplish this:
1. Let your supreme motive be to secure your own popularity.
2. Aim at pleasing rather than correcting.
3. Let your sermons be literary, flowery, ornate, flowing beautifully so your hearers never
remember the lack of content.
4. Be sparing of thought, lest you sermon contain enough truth to convert a soul.
5. Avoid preaching doctrines that are offensive to the carnal mind.
6. Deal with sin in the abstract and make no allusions to the sins of your audience.
7. Preach salvation by grace; but ignore the condemned and lost condition of the sinner, lest he
should understand what you mean by grace and sense his need of it.
8. Make no appeals to the fears of sinner; give them the impression that they have no reason to
fear.
9. Preach the love of God, but ignore the holiness of His love.
10. Do not rebuke the worldly tendencies of the church, lest you should hut people's
feelings.
11. Select your themes and present them to attract and flatter the wealthy, aristocratic,
self-indulgent, extravagant, pleasure-seeking classes, and you will not convert any of them to the
cross-bearing religion of Christ.
12. Ridicule solemn earnestness in pulling sinners out of the fire and recommend by precept or
example a jovial, fun-loving religion.
13. Cultivate fastidious tastes in your people by avoiding all disagreeable allusions to the last
judgment and final retribution. Treat, old and uncomfortable doctrines as obsolete and out of
place in these days of Christian refinement.
14. exhibit religion to encourage the selfish pursuit of it. Make the impression upon sinners that
their own safety and happiness is the supreme motive of being religious.
15. See to it that you say nothing to any hearer that applies to him or her, unless is be something
flattering.
Schuller's book falls into this formula of converting nobody. In his attempt to bring a new
reformation, he has merely proposed an unbiblical solution to man's need for repentance from
sin.
"Moody Monthly"
May, 1983
Copyright © 1983 "Moody Monthly"
All Rights Reserved
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"The Bible is the Book of Possibility Thinking. You see, "possibility thinking" is really another
name for "faith." It is a way of living by faith, leaping by faith and leading your own life and your
destiny by faith. It is not letting other pressures and forces and persons and powers make your
decisions and shape your tomorrows."
ROBERT SCHULLER, October 24, 2001 Positive Thought
e-mail
On September 11, 2001, thousands of people were killed in the terrorist incidents at the World
Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon and the plane that crashed which was headed for
the White House. Are we to assume that there were no "Positive Thinkers" on those airplanes and
in those buildings? Their "Positive Thinking" did not prevent their death and the end of their
dreams and aspirations. Everything is not possible and people are prevented from attaining what
they wish because of limitations and barriers that are beyond their control. It would be safe to say
that all of those people who died had positive aspirations for the rest of their life, never expecting
that their life would end that very day. But their lives did end as they came under the control of
powers over which they did not have control, over persons that they did not even know and by
decisions that were made by forces long before their day began. Robert Schuller speaks a false
gospel and makes claims that are foolishness when examined under the light of the real world.
Like the song says, "No man is an island. No man stands alone." All persons are subject to the
world in which they live. Even the super rich and powerful are not independent individuals,
determining their own destiny, who are not affected by forces outside of their control. Stock
markets plunge, wars break out, disease suddenly appears, automobile accidents happen and
earthquakes occur. All of these things are beyond the control of any individual.
Positive Thinking is a fine thing, but for the quadriplegic, the dream of being a world-class long
distance runner is only a dream. It is an impossibility, regardless of what Robert Schuller claims.
For the person dying, in the last hours of cancer, dreams and "positive thinking" about being
cured will not prevent their death. For the parents, who have suddenly lost their child to a tragic
death, "positive thinking" about resurrection will not bring the child back to life.
Robert Schuller preaches a great and grave error, because all things are not possible. Many things
are impossible, and to say that nothing is impossible is to speak an untruth which Robert Schuller
knows very well.
Robert Schuller imitates all the trappings and appearance of Christianity. He speaks all the
Christian words, but he does not apply the Christian meanings to those words. He wears his robes
of religiosity and presides over the thousands in the congregation of his church, and the millions
in the congregation of his television program. He claims to speak with all humility, disdaining the
idea that he would presume to present himself as being authoritative or telling others that he has
the answers. That would be believable if he were presenting the gospel written in the Bible and
he was preaching the authority of Scripture instead of himself. However, Robert Schuller
preaches a gospel of his own creation, and if he did not expect people to believe it as
authoritative, then why does he preach to the millions, proclaiming the principles of his belief,
not only in his messages but also in his many books as well?
Robert Schuller has an agenda that attempts to minimize sin by saying it is only lack of trust, and
teaching that salvation is only a modification of attitude. He has a forum from which to promote
that agenda. He has position and power and glory that suits him very well, because he speaks a
message that his adherents wish to hear. It is the message that they have told him that they wish
to hear, and he does not dare to change that message, for fear that the crowds, accolades and
prestige will leave him to face the reality of his false teachings. Would that Robert Schuller be
willing to please God rather than men, but he wishes to do the opposite, to please men rather than
God and there is the root of the false doctrine.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their
ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and
will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths."
2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NAS)
END OF ARTICLE
by Gary A. Hand
On Doctrine
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