An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Posted: 11/08/2007
An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Dear Mr. London,
I am aware of the faxed statement you are sending out to concerned listeners of Focus on the Family regarding your participation in Robert Schuller's ReThink Conference. Completely missing from your statement was any biblical foundation whatsoever for what you are doing. Robert Schuller has actively been hawking a book from his ministry by Jerry Jampolsky that is forwarded by one of the world's leading New Age leaders and teachers, Neale Donald Walsch! (See link.) Jampolsky, a huge promoter of the occult A Course in Miracles, has been featured several times on the Hour of Power. A Course in Miracles is a demonic channeling by the authors that is a complete warping of the Scriptures. It has led countless followers straight into the occult. A Course in Miracles tells readers this:
Do not make the pathetic error of "clinging to the old rugged cross. The only message of the crucifixion is that you can overcome the cross. Until then you are free to cruficy yourself as often as you choose. This is not the Gospel I intended to offer you." (Text, p. 52)
Is this what you believe, Mr. London? That's what Jerry Jampolsky believes and Robert Schuller called his books, "Marvelous!" on the Hour of Power. and cites his work with enthusiasm in his sermons. See this link here.
Schuller himself has been promoting heretical views of the cross and salvation for years in his book, Self-Esteem: The New Reformation. How do these quotes from Schuller's book square with the Bible?:
"Classical theology has erred in its insistence that theology be 'God-centered,' not 'man-centered'" (p. 64).
"Historical theology has too often failed to interpret repentance as a positive creative force. ... Essentially, if Christianity is to succeed in the next millennium, it must cease to be a negative religion and must become positive" (p. 104).
"In a theology that starts with an uncompromising respect for each person's pride and dignity, I have no right to ever preach a sermon or write an article that would offend the self-respect and violate the self-dignity of a listener or reader. Any minister, religious leader, writer, or reporter who stoops to a style, a strategy, a substance, or a spirit that fails to show respect for his or her audience is committing an insulting sin. Every human being must be treated with respect; self-esteem is his sacred right" (pp. 153-154).
"The tragedy of Christendom today is the existence of entire congregations of church members who are dominated by emotionally deprived or emotionally under-developed persons. These congregations have been accurately labeled 'God's Frozen People.' ... And they do this by exercising narrow authoritarianism in doctrines and practices and by sowing seeds of suspicion and dissension in the religious community. ... By contrast,strong persons -- self-assured personalities, whose egos find their nourishment in a self-esteem-generating personal relationship with Jesus Christ -- dare to face contrary opinions, diverse interpretations, and deviations of theology without becoming disrespectful, judgmental, or accusatory" (p. 154).
"The classical error of historical Christianity is that we have never started with the value of the person. Rather, we have started from the 'unworthiness of the sinner,' and that starting point has set the stage for the glorification of human shame in Christian theology" (p. 162).
Here is what Schuller believes about sin. How, Mr. London, do you Scripturally justify these definitions?
"What do I mean by sin ? Answer: Any human condition or act that robs God of glory by stripping one of His children of their right to divine dignity. ... I can offer still another answer: 'Sin is any act or thought that robs myself or another human being of his or her self-esteem'" (p. 14).
"Classical theology defines sin as 'rebellion against God.' The answer is not incorrect as much as it is shallow and insulting to the human being. Every person deserves to be treated with dignity even if he or she is a 'rebellious sinner" (p. 65).
"The core of original sin, then is LOT -- Lack of Trust. Or, it could be considered an innate inability to adequately value ourselves. Label it a 'negative self-image,' but do not say that the central core of the human soul is wickedness. ... positive Christianity does not hold to human depravity, but to human inability" (p. 67).
"Any analysis of 'sin' or 'evil' or 'demonic influence' or 'negative thinking' or 'systemic evil' or 'antisocial behavior' that fails to see the lack of self-dignity as the core of the problem will prove to be too shallow" (p. 68).
Does Focus on the Family believe that Jesus died to give us a better self-image? Is this what you believe, Mr. London? How do you defend this? Schuller has never repented of nor disclaimed any of what he wrote in that book and continues to promote New Spirituality teachers like Jampolsky on his TV show. If you are a blood-bought servant of Jesus Christ, you have no business going to the Crystal Cathedral as a speaker to legitimize and endorse what Schuller has done all these years. You are leading others into spiritual error.
The speaker line-up and purpose of the ReThink conference should have been warning enough to you. Scripture tells us that Christ has made foolish the wisdom of this world. Yet Schuller and the ReThink organizers are bringing in the world and its wisdom to instruct Christian leaders. This is in direct violation of God's Word.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
--I Corinthians 3:19
As one who leads many evangelical Christians, I am warning you that you are leading them off a spiritual cliff by your participation with Robert Schuller. It is biblically indefensible.
Scripture warns clearly:
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
--II Corinthians 6:14-16
Yoking yourself with unbelievers like Larry King and Rupert Murdoch who is one of the world's biggest porn producers is gross disobedience to God's word. Believing that these worldlings have anything to teach those who are redeemed by Christ is to ignore what God has already told us in the Bible. Mr. London, you have no business going to this conference as a speaker if you truly belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. You cannot follow Christ and disobey His clear commands. It's really that simple.
There is a remarkable lack of moral courage today in America. The evangelical church suffers from the same cowardice. Everyone is afraid of being labeled "divisive" or "judgmental." Most evangelicals fear the label "unloving" more than they fear the label "unfaithful to Christ." When I consider the price paid by men and women throughout church history because they believed that the Bible was our authority and our only standard, I am ashamed today at what I see in evangelicalism. Leaders today are more interested in pushing their own organizational agendas and getting their mug shots on big, important conference websites than in being faithful to the Son of God who gave His life on a rugged cross. Are you one of those, Dr. London? Or do you stand for the Biblical truth that Robert Schuller turned his back on long ago?
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Re: An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Posted On: 11/17/07 05:59:28 PM
Age 21, MO
Why was this letter not sent personally instead of put out in the public square? If you email/mailed/called London and talked to him about this first? Why use the soapbox to taint your message instead of doing things personally first? I am 100% O.K. with you doing this if you did it personally first but did you? Why the slandering of someone? Click here to reply to this post
Re: An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Posted On: 11/13/07 03:36:50 PM
Age 30, MN
Ingrid you should fear being unloving becauese you are in direct disobedience of Jesus whosaid love EVERYONE as I have loved you. Click here to reply to this post
Re: An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Posted On: 11/12/07 06:53:07 AM
Age 45, PA
Hey, Dobson is building a kingdom and he needs subjects and money, just like all the other(man)kingdom builders. If it's big it must be of God, reason would tell you. Click here to reply to this post
Re: An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Posted On: 11/09/07 07:55:39 PM
Age 49, IL
"Rupert Murdoch...one of the biggest porn producers..."
That said, then if it is wrong for a Christian pastor to mix with him, then it is wrong for any Christian to ever appear on or even watch FOX News (owned by Murdoch), buy a Bible printed by Zondervan (part of Harper/Collins, owned by Murdoch), or work in or shop at Family Christian Stores (also owned by Murdoch).
BTW, that means Ray Comfort, Alex McFarland, Josh McDowell and John Piper must all be dismissed as contributors to Christian Worldview Network; since all have been published by Murdoch's NewsCorp owned Zondervan. Working on the same forum as these tainted individuals makes you just as guilty of participating in Murdoch's sins as they are.
Starting to see the absurdity here?
Today's multi-corporation conglomerates can make things rather messy when it comes to separating ourselves from the world... Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Posted On: 11/11/07 12:56:21 PM
Age 27, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
There is a huge difference from conducting business with and unconverted sinner to get a book published and inviting a lost sinner to come speak at a church about the Christian faith! We are told to be in the world not of the world. There is nothing wrong with going on to Fox News and doing an interview. But there is everything wrong when we are bringing men who profit off of sin and who wish to distort the historical biblical Gospel message of Christ dieing for the sins of his enemies. All for the glory of God.
Thank you Ingrid for standing up and defending truth in a time where biblical truth and knowlegde is really lacking among the Church. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Posted On: 11/10/07 01:56:35 PM
Age 39, MO
The difference between Ray Comfort, John Piper, etc. having their books in these places, and Mr. London and others participating in Schuller's conference, is just that...They are participating, not warning against it. Comfort and others are condeming schuller's kind of gospel. They are standing against these folks when they speak or write their books. Will Mr. London be speaking out against schuller's man-made gospel? Will Erwin Mcmanus, Kay Warren and the others be warning you about the new age teachings and leanings of schuller? Ray Comfort would, at the same time he would be preaching the One and only Gospel. Click here to reply to this post
Re: An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Posted On: 11/09/07 05:32:20 PM
Age 64, TN
Ingrid - Thank you for responding to this issue as you have. I admire you for speaking out when you see reason for alarm. It is disheartening how frequently I am met with an "don't make such a big deal out of this" attitude when I see something happening that is theologically questionable. Someone else who wrote feedback said it well when he/she said that Christians seem more afraid of appearing to be "unloving" than they are of offending God. Too often the response is, "but look how much good so and so is doing for God" without an understanding that end results don't justify wrong means. Stay strong. Click here to reply to this post
Re: An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Re: An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Posted On: 11/09/07 08:28:04 AM
Age 48, IL
Ingrid:
Praise God for your firm stance, and your boldness to speak out. It is becoming quite clear the scriptures are being played out before our very eyes,- the falling away from saving faith, the astronomical rise in false teachings, no tolerance for sound doctrine,- is it any wonder our Lord said, "However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" {Luke 18:8} Click here to reply to this post
Re: An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Posted On: 11/09/07 07:17:40 AM
Age 38, CA
Ingrid...let's see what some of these speakers actually say at the event, and not jump the gun and begin condemning them too soon. I would speak there if asked, and this is exactly what I'd say:
"It’s time for the nation to turn back to absolute truth and away from relativism—back to Christ and away from the broad road that leads to destruction. We must repent, ask for forgiveness, and seek restoration. We should not apologize for preaching God’s Word, redefine what He meant, or back down from conflict. We are in the midst of a spiritual battle. We will be hated for following Christ, mocked for believing in truth, and challenged for promoting righteousness. We are called to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him. Clearly, the day of the passive church is over. We must lovingly preach righteousness in our pulpits again: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). Richard Owen Roberts said it well, “The Lord has been so deeply grieved by the refusal of the church to faithfully proclaim the whole counsel of His Word in the power of the Holy Spirit that He has largely withdrawn from the church and left her to her own devices.” Roberts continues, “The heart cry of God is most certainly, ‘Return to Me, and I will return to you’ (Malachi 3:7). ”
S. Idleman Click here to reply to this post
Re: An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Posted On: 11/08/07 06:45:17 PM
Age 50, MN
I haven't read Mr. London's statement. However what was Paul doing at Mars Hill and why did he go there? Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Posted On: 11/09/07 08:57:04 AM
Age 49, WI
Um, are you calling Robert Schuller and friends pagans? They may not appreciate that. I have read his statement that London is sending out and it is without Scriptural basis. As for those London refers to as having "different" views, that would include his ever-gracious host, Dr. Schuller, who has been spreading a false gospel for decades. There is no "different" gospel. The rest are the doctrines of anti-christ and H.B. London knows it.
Here's London's statement below. Interesting that he says talks about a recommitment to the "gospel of the cross" when his host says the gospel of the cross is about rescuing our self-esteem? First you have to agree on what the "gospel of the cross" actually is!
STATEMENT from H.B. London
Thank you for your concern about my participation in the Rethink conference taking place at the Crystal Cathedral in January.
Since coming to Focus on the Family over 16 years ago, my calling and my passion has been to minister to those who minister, and to encourage the spiritual renewal and restoration of pastors in any way I can. At times I have been asked to speak at events where every speaker may not present the same message or perspective. Such may be the case at the upcoming conference. But you can be assured that the message I deliver will not be compromised in any way. As always my goal will be to challenge pastors and Christian leaders to live a life of deeper and greater faith, while stressing the importance of building safeguards into our lives and marriages.
I do understand that not all Christian leaders agree that the opportunity to influence hundreds of pastors with the message of moral purity and a recommitment to the gospel of the cross justifies being part of an event where other voices that I may not fully agree with can also be heard. That is a decision that needs to be made with much prayer and Christian council. I view every invitation I receive as a possible calling form God to minister to those in need, so I try to the best of my ability, to discern which opportunities God would have me accept.
Also, I believe that the promotional materials for the Rethink Conference make it clear that the speakers will represent a variety of disciplines and viewpoints. The goal is not to "rethink" the message of the gospel, but to "rethink" the methods we use to communicate the gospel in a constantly changing world. The organizers also hope to challenge the way that pastors think about ministry as it relates to culture, social change and world events. It's my prayer that God will use my voice to encourage those in attendance to stay rooted in their first love, to never compromise their integrity, and to never stray from the message of going into all the world to preach the gospel. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: Re: An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Posted On: 11/09/07 03:02:56 PM
Age 61, MO
Here is part of London's message: "The goal is not to "rethink" the message of the gospel, but to "rethink" the methods we use to communicate the gospel in a constantly changing world. The organizers also hope to challenge the way that pastors think about ministry as it relates to culture, social change and world events." The whole idea that man has the audacity to think he can have a better way of drawing people to Christ is heresy in and of itself. The Holy Spirit does the drawing. He may use people with His "thoughts," but all the clever marketing techniques developed by man will be of no avail unless the Spirit comes first. It is almost like saying: "Let us gang up on the Holy Spirit and squeeze more people through the straight gate." "We are going to have a Holy Spirit Revival, whether the Holy Spirit shows up or not." George Cancilla Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Posted On: 11/08/07 09:49:24 PM
Age 34, TX
Okay, so what exactly do you mean by your question, why the Apostle Paul, a missionary, went to a pagan city filled with unbelievers? Am I wrong to assume that you are somehow equating Robert Schuller's conference, the speakers and all the attendees with the pagans at Mars Hill who need evangelizing (that may be true), or that you are saying that Paul's missionary journey is somehow comparable to this gentleman Mr. London speaking at the Rethink Conference? Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: Re: An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Posted On: 11/12/07 08:41:15 AM
Age 50, MN
The individuals Paul wished to engage and be a part of on Mars Hill were the intellectual thinkers of the day - men who were seeking god, albeit in a limited or you could even say a misguided way. So are there not similarities and shouldn't London use the same principle as Paul? //I think Ingrid can only be happy when she is tearing apart a Christian brother. Sorry to be so cynical, but show me any evidence to the contrary. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Posted On: 11/08/07 09:30:08 PM
Age 61, MO
Paul went to Mars Hill to inform the Athenians about the new doctrine of a crucified Christ: "And they took him (Paul), and brought him unto Areopagus (Mars Hill), saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?" (Acts 17:19). If you are trying to insinuate that Mr. London, or any of the other speakers at this conference could be like Paul, then you are really creating a stretch. But wouldn't it be wonderful if Mr. London were to set the rest of them straight? George Cancilla Click here to reply to this post
Re: An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Posted On: 11/08/07 04:53:08 PM
Age 61, MO
Approximately 10 years ago, my wife and I supported Focus on the Family. We were homeschooling our daughter, and found the Adventures in Odyssey stories to be something we could let our daughter hear. But we soon began to see that these stories were just morality plays were good triumphs over evil. They were not grounded in Christ. It would have seemed that Dobson would have promoted home schooling, but he was more interested in fixing the public schools. I am not sure exactly when we broke off from Focus on the Family, but it came soon after we read Dobson's book about teens and dating. It became clear that Dobson did not have a handle on Biblical precepts; but then He never promoted himself as a theologian. It also became clear that he was about big business with the word "family" being a powerful drawing card. I am not surprised that Focus would see this Schuller conference as a big promotional tool for the enhancement of the Focus enterprise. The only way that good will have any enduring triumph over evil is through Jesus Christ. This conference may produce small short term gains, but will result in long term disaster for those who fall for its rhetoric. George Cancilla Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: An Open Letter to Focus on the Family's H.B. London
Posted On: 11/09/07 08:23:33 AM
Age 53, OH
It saddens me to hear of your experience with Focus on the Family. Our experience has always been just the opposite. We sent our son to Christian schools after being encouraged by Dr. Dobson to consider that option. At the time, Dr Dobson also gave positive reasons for home-schooling but there were not as many curricula available back then. Dr Dobson has tried to improve the public schools because he has such a burden for the children of this country and for the country and he realizes how much damage secular humanism can do to both in the long run. He also recognizes that not all parents can afford Christian schools and not all parents are equipped to home school - they are stuck with public schools so of course he is going to try to improve the public schools. I STILL enjoy listening to Adventures in Odyssey. I thank God often for Dr Dobson's willingness to follow God's leading in the Focus ministry. I can not explain why H B London would go to that conference, but I am willing to wait and find out if there is an explanation. I am glad God does not squash me every time I make a mistake. Click here to reply to this post
