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“From the goods which they distributed to others and so placed in greater safety, they derived more happiness than they incurred sorrow from the goods which they anxiously hoarded and so lost more easily. Nothing could be really lost on earth save what one would be ashamed to take to heaven.”
-Augustine
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“From the goods which they distributed to others and so placed in greater safety, they derived more happiness than they incurred sorrow from the goods which they anxiously hoarded and so lost more easily. Nothing could be really lost on earth save what one would be ashamed to take to heaven.”
-Augustine
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Why do Christians walk through life feeling a humble sense that we owe service to people, rather than them owing us? The answer is that Christ loved us and died for us and forgave us and accepted us and justified us and gave us eternal life and made us heirs of the world when he [...]
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I do have to admit I was more than a little surprised to see the below from Emergent Church pastor Doug Pagitt at his blog today. Over at Apprising Ministries you’ll see that although he doesn’t mention Way of the Master Radio or Todd Friel by name Pagitt tells us that last year he “was on a radio show” that “turned into this weird interaction about hell.” Why he’d want to draw attention yet againto his unbiblical views of universalism is beyond me.
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Being that I used to perform music on street corners in Compton and L.A. I’m really not an easy one to shock. But I do have to admit I was more than a little surprised to see the below from Emergent Church pastor Doug Pagitt over at his blog today.
Although he doesn’t mention Way of the Master Radio or Todd Friel by name Pagitt tells us that last year he “was on a radio show to promote a book I had just co-edited called An Emergent Manifesto of Hope.” He then tells us Friel referred to himself as “a fundamentalist” and talks about how the program “turned into this weird interaction about hell.”
Pagitt then informs us:
The folks at the show made a youtube of the interview and I have people ask me about it all the time. I had never listened to but today I found a transcript that a guy made of the show… I found it posted on a site where the blogger said “this kind of theology masquerading as true doctrine is scary.”
I think he was referring to my theology, but I, obviously don’t find my perspective on this scary, I find the perspective of the interviewer disconcerting. In so many ways this dialog is the reason I wrote A Christianity Worth Believing. Read it and conclude for yourself, but to me the way he talks about the Bible, strings together verses to make his own conclusions ought to cause pause.
Try not to get too distracted by the guy cutting me off – I can’t imagine how bad this all sounds on the recording. (Online source)
Above Pagitt wonders, “I think he was referring to my theology”; ya think? Pagitt claims to be a pastor-teacher sent by the Lord to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ yet when Todd Friel asks him rather pedestrian questions concerning basic doctrine of the historic orthodox Christian Church his answers are so far out there that we can’t even get a radar fix on them.
What amazes me is that Doug Pagitt wants to draw attention to all of this all over again. But hey, who am I to argue, so if you want to see what Apprising Ministries has said about this pathetic display by a leading spokesman for the Emerging Church I refer you to Doug Pagitt: After Death No Difference Between Believer And Unbeliever.
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Several months ago I got into a comment and email exchange with a fellow who insisted that God will not condemn anyone to an eternity in hell. He said that it is only a temporary place that will be emptied when all things are reconciled to God in eternity. It did no good to use clear scripture references to show him that he was ignoring a great deal God’s truth. One thing that struck me was his stance that Romans 5 was blasphemous in reference to the doctrine of Original Sin and condemnation for all men by it, but there is justification and life for ‘the many’ (Romans 5:12-17). Was this a case of ‘blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?’
(click here to read this post)
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Below our friends and brothers in arms at A Little Leaven: The Museum of Idolatry presents a clip of Brian McLaren, a leading theologian in the Emergent Church the cult of the postliberal theology, from an appearance on a podcast hosted by one of his disciples named Leif Hanson.
Apprising Ministries encourages you to listen carefully to the words of McLaren for yourself as he deconstructs [read: attacks] the vicarious penal substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ and the Cross as well as the doctrine of hell. How sad is the spiritual blindness that they cannot see that God, in His glorious Gospel of the incredible sacrifice of Christ Jesus on the Cross, demonstrated precisely what I highlighted below:
Brian McLaren: This is, one of the huge problems is the traditional understanding of hell. Because if the cross is in line with Jesus’ teaching then—I won’t say, the only, and I certainly won’t say even the primary—but a primary meaning of the cross is that the kingdom of God doesn’t come like the kingdoms of the this world, by inflicting violence and coercing people. But that the kingdom of God comes through suffering and willing, voluntary sacrifice, right? But in an ironic way, the doctrine of hell basically says, no, that that’s not really true. That in the end, God gets His way through coercion and violence and intimidation and domination, just like every other kingdom does. The cross isn’t the center then. The cross is almost a distraction and false advertising for God.
Leif Hansen: Oh, Brian, that was just so beautifully said. I was tempted to get on my soap box there and you know—Because as you and I know there are so many illustrations and examples you could give that show why the traditional view of hell completely falls in the face of—it’s just antithetical to the cross. But the way you put it there; I love that. It’s false advertising. And here, Jesus is saying, turn the other cheek. Love your enemy. Forgive seven times seventy. Return violence with self-sacrificial love. But if we believe the traditional view of hell, it’s like, well, do that for a short amount of time. Because eventually, God’s gonna get’em.
Brian McLaren: Yeah. And I heard one well-known Christian leader, who—I won’t mention his name, just to protect his reputation. Cause some people would use this against him. But I heard him say it like this: The traditional understanding says that God asks of us something that God is incapable of Himself. God asks us to forgive people. But God is incapable of forgiving. God can’t forgive unless He punishes somebody in place of the person He was going to forgive. God doesn’t say things to you—Forgive your wife, and then go kick the dog to vent your anger. God asks you to actually forgive…. And there’s a certain sense that, a common understanding of the atonement presents a God who is incapable of forgiving. Unless He kicks somebody else.
Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. (Philippians 3:17-19, NASB)
See also:
BRIAN MCLAREN: CULT LEADER OF THE EMERGENT CHURCH
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A reader writes to ask if we’re familiar with the New Perspective on Paul. Apprising Ministries supplies some helpful links concerning NPP of which The Master’s Seminary says, “It’s an insidious heresy that on the surface might look like it has some sense of scholastic splendor but, once you poke through the veneer, it’s nothing more and nothing less than theological poison.”
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A reader writes to ask if we’re familiar with the New Perspective on Paul. Apprising Ministries supplies some helpful links concerning NPP of which The Master’s Seminary says, “It’s an insidious heresy that on the surface might look like it has some sense of scholastic splendor but, once you poke through the veneer, it’s nothing more and nothing less than theological poison.”
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
A reader writes to ask if we’re familiar with the New Perspective on Paul. Apprising Ministries supplies some helpful links concerning NPP of which The Master’s Seminary says, “It’s an insidious heresy that on the surface might look like it has some sense of scholastic splendor but, once you poke through the veneer, it’s nothing more and nothing less than theological poison.”
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In an email published with permission a reader of Apprising Ministries writes in to ask:
Are you familiar with the New Perspective on Paul? In Richard Foster and Contemplative Mysticism: A Powerful Ecumenical Bond you referenced the website Bible Study Notes which had an article under the “Categories” section titled Pauline Gospel. When reading articles on a new site, it is hard to tell if they support NPP or are just using it as a reference to aberrant teaching. This “heresy” scares me because they use terms that seem right and many people sit under this type of teaching for years before they discover that it is a “different gospel”.
Gary Gilley is at our church as a visiting pastor 11-1-08 and to be honest I have a hard time with addressing this issue on a lay level to people that are under this teaching and unaware because it sounds SO much like the “solas”. It isn’t always what they are saying, but rather, what they neglect to tell about their teaching. A huge teacher of this is Les Feldick. Many homes are doing his bible studies on video and SO much of what he teaches is right on.
After attending one of these for over one year AND enjoying them, we finally heard him say that the NT believers do not have to repent. That was something for Israel. His “mantra” is Grace+Nothing. He also adheres to the Gap Theory. I get confused with the 2 different gospels and the 2 different kingdoms. Any updates and forthright information would be a blessing to me!!!
Thank you,
AM Reader
You’re welcome, the Lord be praised I’m here to offer what I can. I’m not really all that familiar with Les Feldick but what I have seen has not impressed me as one who could be considered a solid teacher of the Bible. So adding what you say he teaches I would recommend we steer clear of him in favor of someone like Dr. John MacArthur. I quite agree it’s always best to be very careful.
AM and its sister outreach Christian Research Netdoesn’t necessarily endorse everything we may link to for informational purposes so that’s all the more reason to be careful. The site youy mention appears to be connected with David Cloud of Way of Life so it would likely be fundamentalist and therefore against NPP; but these crazy days you just never know.
And as far as the New Perspective on Paul (NPP) itself I’ll begin by quoting The Master’s Seminary: “It’s an insidious heresy that on the surface might look like it has some sense of scholastic splendor but, once you poke through the veneer, it’s nothing more and nothing less than theological poison” (Online source). Much has been said and written about NPP as we see from The Paul Page: Dedicated to the New Perspective of Paul, which you’ll has pieces both for and against so be aware.
However, there really hasn’t been a lot written at what refer to as “a lay level.” Dr. Gary Gilley has done a series which is pretty accessible for the average Christian and I’ll place the link below. I did mention the heresy of NPP briefly in “Reclaiming Paul?” Sorry; More Like Reimagining Paul. NPP is truly a rottern root which gives the postliberal cult of the Emergent Church more food for their reimagined inclusive “gospel” of social reform.
Of course we’re not surprised as all that N.T. Wright, before whom they bow as one of their most revered Golden Buddhas, is also one of the main teachers of this heresy. And wouldn’t you know, NPP is yet another attack on the vicarious penal substitutionary atonement. As funding allows I hope to be writing more on this because NPP’s been in seminaries for years, which means many pastors today adhere to it and/or are even teaching this fantasy of works-righteousness to unsuspecting churches.
And you are quite correct, as with all cultic teachings, they are changing the meanings of words. Following are a few good sources which you will find helpful in addressing the revisionist history and heresy of NPP:
WILLIAM BARRICK: BIBLICAL TESTIMONY MORE AUTHORITATIVE THAN NEW PERSPECTIVE ON PAUL
F. DAVID FARNELL: BASIC DEFINITION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PERSPECTIVE ON PAUL
Dr. Gary Gilley, The New Perspective on Paul
Phil Johnson, A Defense of the Old Perspective on Paul
Chris Arnzen, Iron Sharpens Iron radio program, J. Ligon Duncan III: “The New Perspective on Paul”
Monergism.com, New Perspective on Paul
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I found this hymn a great blessing and encouragement today. Read all of the wonderful lyrics below–most hymnals contain only an abbreviated version. Our God is truly worthy of praise, his mercies are new every morning. Also included below is a wonderful rendition of this hymn by the St. Olaf Choir. I hope this can lift your heart in praise on this Lord’s day.
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.
Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?
Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;
Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.
What need or grief ever hath failed of relief?
Wings of His mercy did shade thee.
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.
Praise to the Lord, who, when tempests their warfare are waging,
Who, when the elements madly around thee are raging,
Biddeth them cease, turneth their fury to peace,
Whirlwinds and waters assuaging.
Praise to the Lord, who, when darkness of sin is abounding,
Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,
Sheddeth His light, chaseth the horrors of night,
Saints with His mercy surrounding.
Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
I found this hymn a great blessing and encouragement today. Read all of the wonderful lyrics below–most hymnals contain only an abbreviated version. Our God is truly worthy of praise, his mercies are new every morning. Also included below is a wonderful rendition of this hymn by the St. Olaf Choir. I hope this can lift your heart in praise on this Lord’s day.
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.
Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?
Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;
Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.
What need or grief ever hath failed of relief?
Wings of His mercy did shade thee.
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.
Praise to the Lord, who, when tempests their warfare are waging,
Who, when the elements madly around thee are raging,
Biddeth them cease, turneth their fury to peace,
Whirlwinds and waters assuaging.
Praise to the Lord, who, when darkness of sin is abounding,
Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,
Sheddeth His light, chaseth the horrors of night,
Saints with His mercy surrounding.
Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.
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Here’s a video I put together of a Crosstalk episode. This is a very informative program on the new spirituality that’s invading certain parts of “evangelicalism”.
To continue listening to this program, go here.
To subscribe to Crosstalk’s official Youtube channel and/or see more videos from Crosstalk, go here.
(From CrosstalkAmerica.com):
Ray Yungen is an author, speaker and research analyst. He’s the author of A Time of Departing and For Many Shall Come in My Name.
From labyrinths to yoga to Tantric sexuality, there is literally a flood of New Age/New Spirituality practices and techniques entering the American societal landscape. Ray believes that meditation is the key practice that underlies all of this. He noted that according to Time magazine, in 1994, 5 million Americans were meditating. In 2004 that number had doubled to 10 million and now, 4 years later, 17 million people are practicing meditation. Keep in mind that this is not meditation in the biblical sense. Instead, this refers to the practice of entering into altered states of consciousness.
As the first quarter hour moves along, Ray proves how it’s more than just meditation that’s become enormously popular. As an example, Ray mentions Reiki. This is the generic word for the occult in Japan and is said to open up psychic communication channels and communication with the spirit world. Reiki is a type of energy healing, a genre that includes Therapeautic Touch, Healing Touch, Quantum Touch and more.
The second quarter hour looks at the history and current Christian interest in contemplative spirituality, focusing on names in the movement such as Brian McClaren, Marcus Borg and Richard Foster.
Callers add their views in the second half of the hour, helping to round out an informative program on this dangerous trend that is challenging the Church.
More Information
Lighthouse Trails Publishing
1-866-876-3910http://www.lighthousetrails.com
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Fox News is reporting today that Robert Schuller has:
removed his son as preacher on the church’s weekly “Hour of Power” syndicated TV broadcast. Schuller said in a statement read to some 450 congregants Saturday by church president Jim Coleman that he and his son, Robert A. Schuller, “have different ideas as to the direction and the vision for this ministry.” …
Could it be Schuller’s son Robert A. has been rethinking the false gospel preached for years by his dad:
If only we could love ourselves enough to dare to approach God, what constructive dreams he would give us! What noble possibilities God wants to reveal to us–possibilities that would offer stimulation plus real security in service. 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. 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. 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. I am humanly unable to correct my negative self-image until I encounter a life-changing experience with nonjudgmental love bestowed upon me by a Person whom I admire so much that to be unconditionally accepted by him is to be born again. (Self Esteem: The New Reformation, 66, 67, emphasis mine)
See also: Robert Schuller: Father of the New Reformation
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Fox News is reporting today that Robert Schuller has:
removed his son as preacher on the church’s weekly “Hour of Power” syndicated TV broadcast. Schuller said in a statement read to some 450 congregants Saturday by church president Jim Coleman that he and his son, Robert A. Schuller, “have different ideas as to the direction and the vision for this ministry.” …
Could it be Schuller’s son Robert A. has been rethinking the false gospel preached for years by his dad:
If only we could love ourselves enough to dare to approach God, what constructive dreams he would give us! What noble possibilities God wants to reveal to us–possibilities that would offer stimulation plus real security in service. 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. 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. 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. I am humanly unable to correct my negative self-image until I encounter a life-changing experience with nonjudgmental love bestowed upon me by a Person whom I admire so much that to be unconditionally accepted by him is to be born again. (Self Esteem: The New Reformation, 66, 67, emphasis mine)
See also: Robert Schuller: Father of the New Reformation
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
Fox News is reporting today that Robert Schuller has:
removed his son as preacher on the church’s weekly “Hour of Power” syndicated TV broadcast. Schuller said in a statement read to some 450 congregants Saturday by church president Jim Coleman that he and his son, Robert A. Schuller, “have different ideas as to the direction and the vision for this ministry.” …
Could it be Schuller’s son Robert A. has been rethinking the false gospel preached for years by his dad:
If only we could love ourselves enough to dare to approach God, what constructive dreams he would give us! What noble possibilities God wants to reveal to us–possibilities that would offer stimulation plus real security in service. 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. 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. 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. I am humanly unable to correct my negative self-image until I encounter a life-changing experience with nonjudgmental love bestowed upon me by a Person whom I admire so much that to be unconditionally accepted by him is to be born again. (Self Esteem: The New Reformation, 66, 67, emphasis mine)
See also: Robert Schuller: Father of the New Reformation
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Here’s a sermon on this Lord’s Day by George Whitfield (1714-1770) where you can see all the discussion today concerning the substitutionary atonement and the exclusivity of the genuine Gospel of Jesus Christ is really nothing new at all. Whitefield begins:
It has been objected by some, who dissent from, nay, I may add, by others also, who actually are friends to the present ecclesiastical establishment, that the ministers of the Church of England preach themselves, and not Christ Jesus the Lord; that they entertain their people with lectures of mere morality, without declaring to them the glad tidings of salvation by Jesus Christ. How well grounded such an objection may be, is not my business to inquire: All I shall say at present to the point is, that whenever such a grand objection is urged against the whole body of the clergy in general, every honest minister of Jesus Christ should do his utmost to cut off all manner of occasion, from those who desire an occasion to take offense at us; that so by hearing us continually sounding forth the word of truth, and declaring with all boldness and assurance of faith, “that there is no other name given under heaven, whereby they can be saved, but that of Jesus Christ,” they may be ashamed of this their same confident boasting against us.
It was an eye to this objection, joined with the agreeableness and delightfulness of the subject (for who can but delight to talk of that which the blessed angels desire to look into?) that induces me to discourse a little on that great and fundamental article of our faith; namely, our being freely justified by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. “But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God.” …
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Is baptism an ordinance or a sacrament? Please read the article below and then leave a comment letting us know what you believe.
“In many conservative Reformed and Presbyterian circles, it is as if the prescribed forms for Baptism and the Supper were too high in their sacramental theology, so the minister feels compelled to counter its strong “means of grace” emphasis. In this way, the Sacraments die the death of a thousand qualifications. The same is true when we read the biblical passages referring to Baptism as “the washing of regeneration” or to the Supper as “the communion of the body and blood of Christ.” Why must we apologize for these passages and attempt to explain them away? Our confessions do not do this. Our liturgical forms (if we still use them) do not do this, but we feel compelled to diminish them these days.
We hear quasi-gnostic sentiments even in Reformed circles these days, such as the “real baptism” that is spiritual, as opposed to “merely being sprinkled with water,” or the “real communion” with Christ in moments of private devotion. How can we truly affirm the union of earthly and heavenly realities in the Incarnation? Or how can we regard the Word of God as a means of salvation if it is but ink and paper or human speech? A subtle Docetism (the ancient gnostic heresy that denied Christ’s true humanity) lurks behind our reticence to see these common earthly elements as signs that are linked to the things they signify. Surely the Sacraments can remind us of grace, help us to appreciate grace, and exhort us to walk in grace, but do they actually give us the grace promised in the Gospel? The Reformed and Presbyterian confessions answer “yes” without hesitation: A Sacrament not only consists of the signs (water, bread and wine), but of the things signified (new birth, forgiveness, life everlasting). And yet, the experience of Reformed and Presbyterian churches in the odd world of American revivalism has challenged the confessional perspective. In The Presbyterian Doctrine of Children in the Covenant (Yale, 1940), L. B. Schenck noted, “The disproportionate reliance upon revivals as the only hope of the church…amounted to a practical subversion of Presbyterian doctrine, an overshadowing of God’s covenantal promise.” As Richard Muller has carefully shown in his Calvin Theological Journal article, “How Many Points?”, our system has been reduced to a pale reflection of its former self…”
…But does Scripture teach this? The best way to answer that is to simply read the passages, where Baptism is called “remission of sins” (Acts 2:38), and those who believe and are baptized will be saved (Mk. 16:16). Paul announced, “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). The Sacrament and faith were not separated in Paul’s mind, for apart from the latter the benefits of the former were not received although the Sacrament was performed. In Baptism we were buried and raised with Christ (Rom. 6:3-5). Far from viewing Baptism as a human work, Paul said “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by his grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Tit. 3:5-7).
A. A. Hodge writes, “Men were exhorted to be baptized in order to wash away their sins. It is declared that men must be born of water and of the Spirit, and that baptism as well as faith is an essential condition of salvation. The effect of Baptism is declared to be purification (2 Kings 5:13, 14; Judith 12:7; Lk. 11:37-39).” As Hodge observes, in infant Baptism, there are four parties: God, the Church, the parents, and the child, and the only party wholly passive in the affair is the very person being baptized!
We simply cannot say that we take a literal approach to the text while interpreting these clear passages as allegorical of a spiritual reality detached from the obvious reference to physical sacraments.”
You can read the entire article by clicking HERE.
End of post.
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Fox News is reporting today that Robert Schuller has:
removed his son as preacher on the church’s weekly “Hour of Power” syndicated TV broadcast. Schuller said in a statement read to some 450 congregants Saturday by church president Jim Coleman that he and his son, Robert A. Schuller, “have different ideas as to the direction and the vision for this ministry.” …
Could it be Schuller’s son Robert A. has been rethinking the false gospel preached for years by his dad:
If only we could love ourselves enough to dare to approach God, what constructive dreams he would give us! What noble possibilities God wants to reveal to us–possibilities that would offer stimulation plus real security in service. 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. 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. 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. I am humanly unable to correct my negative self-image until I encounter a life-changing experience with nonjudgmental love bestowed upon me by a Person whom I admire so much that to be unconditionally accepted by him is to be born again. (Self Esteem: The New Reformation, 66, 67, emphasis mine)
See also: Robert Schuller: Father of the New Reformation
