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Robert Schuller?

Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by Carolyn Dee, Nov 12, 2003.

  1. Carolyn Dee

    Carolyn Dee New Member

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    I see there is a current discussion on Charles Stanley. Well, I'll start one on Robert Schuller (of Crystal Cathedral, Orange Grove, California...yeah, that's the one). To start, here's my thought on him: even if he was the last minister left in the world, I wouldn't send anyone to him!!! (I like Stanley, by the way) [​IMG]
     
  2. Mike McK

    Mike McK New Member

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    I wouldn't go that far but I would tell people to be very careful with his teachings.
     
  3. massdak

    massdak Active Member
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    robert schuller does not teach or preach the Gospel of Christ. schuller preaches a liberal gospel that only sends people to hell.
     
  4. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    My cousin (whose name is also John) and his wife attend the Crystal Cathedral, and I've attended with him on occaision, as have they my church. It's a Dutch Reformed Church that's governed by the RCA (www.rca.org). I've never seen or heard anything from the pulpit that is contrary to the Gospel. If I did, I'd probably be the first to say so. The RCA is more Presbyterian, so if you don't favor the Presbyterian biblical views, you won't favor Robert Schuller. If you don't have a problem with Presbyterianism, then you likely won't have a problem with Robert Schuller.

    Interestingly, what you see on a broadcast is not exactly what you see on Sunday mornings (edited for time & content, etc). I'd imagine the same goes with any of the televised church service format brodcasts: Charles Stanley, D James Kennedy, Adrian Rogers, etc.
     
  5. Pennsylvania Jim

    Pennsylvania Jim New Member

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    Is Schuller constructed of plastic?
     
  6. Carolyn Dee

    Carolyn Dee New Member

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    As a Baptist, I obey Christ's command to witness for him and that mean's doing "door to door" to witness to the lost. Listen to this quote by Schuller about such activities: "I don't think anything has been done in the name of Christ that 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." :eek:
    Here's another goodie by him: "What is 'hell'? It is the loss of pride that naturally follows separation from God." :eek:
    Yet another one "What do I [Schuller] mean by sin?...Sin is any act or thought that robs myself or another human being of his or her self esteem." :eek: :confused:
    I met the man twice here in Massachusetts and he is quite the charmer. I am only writing these things to warn fellow Christians to always be careful to whom you give ear to.
     
  7. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    TeaTime, I've seen those same quotes on preacher-criticism websites a few times. I think it was from a book he wrote in the 70's. I've only read one of the man's books (the Be Happy Attitudes), and nothing I've ever run across sounds like what the quotes you listed imply. It's likely that the quotes are taken out of context (not that that woudl ever happen ;) ). But since I've seen similar qypes of stuff on Adrian Rogers D James Kennedy, and Jerry Falwell, I usually don't pay those types of sites any more attention than I would a Jack Chick tract.

    Interesting that you mentioned a door-to-door experience. You may not be aware of it, but when Sculler arrived here in the mid 50's he speant much of his time going door to door.

    An interesting piece of trivia. The first church building that Schuller's new church (Garden Grove Community Church) built is now the home of Chapman Ave Baptist Church (unfortunately, it's in a bit of disrepair). The GGCC board sold the property in the early 60's to acquire a larger parcel near what is now Edison Field (then, it was a walnut grove, and Edison Field was an Orange Grove).

    Since I live only a few miles from the Crystal Cathedral, I can onyl attest to the Christ-centered influence that the church has had in the local community: poor and homeless outreaches, suicide prevention programs, a prison ministry outreach that brings former inmates to Christ AND works to keep them in an honest and productive lifestyle, I could go one and on. Years ago, when I became unemployed, the church delivered food to me so my children wouldn't starve. Not even my own at the time could help in that matter.

    Of course, these aren't things you'll see on a one hour broadcast, or read about in a paper or web page.
     
  8. USN2Pulpit

    USN2Pulpit New Member

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    It only took me one time to see he and his son share his pulpit with a cleric of differing religion to realize that his was a gospel of "feeling good." Their collective point in this particular sermon was that we're all worshipping the same God, just approaching Him in different ways. This was actually telecast, and I saw it. I don't need any more evidence than that. His brand of "I'm okay, you're okay" feel good about yourself gospel is leading people away from their need for God.
     
  9. Pennsylvania Jim

    Pennsylvania Jim New Member

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    Is his son constructed of plastic?
     
  10. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    I was there that morning, with my cousin and his wife. I remember the message that morning being quite Christ centered, and never at all implied that all religions are the same.

    You misconstrue the theme of all people having worth to God as being "feel good". In all the years I've been a visitor there, I've never heard what you're implying. In fact, just the opposite: that people need God, and that we can't be the people He wants us to be unless we embrace Him by accepting Christ's sacrifice for us.
     
  11. Carolyn Dee

    Carolyn Dee New Member

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    Hello Johnv - you are correct to caution me to be careful in accepting certain website quotes and criticisms at face value but Schuller's quote of "I don't think anything has been done in the name of Christ...than the often crude, uncouth, and unchristian strategy of attempting to make people aware of their lost and sinful condition" is directly from a book of his. I know because I personally read it. I was rather shocked!
    Schuller is not being misquoted or unfairly criticized here. While he does have good music and good social programs, I still cannot in all good conscience recommend him as a spiritual guidance at all. [​IMG]
     
  12. Lorelei

    Lorelei <img src ="http://www.amacominc.com/~lorelei/mgsm.

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    Does it matter when he wrote the quotes? Has he ever recanted the statements made within the book? If not, then it doesn't matter when he wrote them, it matters what he said and what he believes.


    Did he share his pulpit with a Muslim? Did he preach in a mosque? What comes out of his mouth on Sunday morning is meaningless when he does things contradictory to them.

    I would not recommend Schuller to anyone.

    ~Lorelei
     
  13. Pennsylvania Jim

    Pennsylvania Jim New Member

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    I agree that neither of the Schullers preach the true gospel and are leading people astray. But still nobody answered my other question. ;)
     
  14. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Prolly most of you are too young to remember the "great" preachers of the "power of Positive Thinking". Schuller is a student of that era, no more and no less. They tend to preach on the positive side, and sometimes even when there is no positive side. Their sermons, in and of themselves, never do any harm, but they always fail to preach the "whole" gospel as we know it.

    Schuller talks about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as the focal point of his life, and this puts him in favour with the evangelicals. He seldom mentions judgment, hell or other "negative" aspects of the word, and this is where he comes short, in my estimation. He merely follows in the footsteps of Henry Ward Beecher and his mentor, Norman Vincent Peele.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
  15. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    I have no use for the man or his (lack of) teachings/ preaching. He reminds me of the snake in 'Jungle Book'. He's mesmerizing people right into hell with his 'feel good' religion.

    Diane
     
  16. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    Abiyah sent me these comments and gave me permission to share her thougths with you about Robert Schuller:

     
  17. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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  18. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    My view of the man is similar to Jim1999. The man's a product of the positive Christianity movements of the early 50's, a time when communism and the cold war was at a peak. This era has pretty much gone, and Schuller is one of the few folks left alive from that era. His focus has always been on ministering to the unchurched, so if you're looking for intense Bible studies on Sunday mornings, find something else. But just because it's not our cup o'tea, that doesn't mean that doesn't serve a purpose to some.

    I would disagree with Jim somewhat about him seldom mentioning judgement. I've heard the man discuss it on occaision. But it is probably not done enought for us hardcore Baptists. Put the positive Christianity is great. Some will say that the man doesn't discuss judgement enough, and I can understand that view. OTOH, positive Christianity is often lacking from our own pulpits, and I think we need it as much as we need the rest of the Gospel.

    Just my $.02
     
  19. JGrayhound

    JGrayhound New Member

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    Schuller teaches "another gospel". A gospel of self-esteem that is contrary to Scripture.
     
  20. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    Excellent Reply!

    Diane
     
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