dallas seminary & promise keepers

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Dallas Seminary & Promise Keepers

Fundamental Bible Church Website

Los Osos, California U.S.A

Fundamental Evangelistic Associationselected articles from:

FOUNDATIONA MAGAZINE OF BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALISM

Dennis W.Costella, Editor; Karel Beyer, Production Manager; Matt Costella, Copy EditorM.H. Reynolds, Jr. (1919-1997), Founding Editor

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[FOUNDATION is published by the Fundamental Evangelistic Association in Los Osos, California. It is free tothose who regularly support the FEA ministry. FOUNDATION will also be sent to those who would like to receive itfor a contribution of $10.00 per year in the U.S.A., and $15.00 per year in foreign countries. An order form isposted on this website.]

Dallas Seminary's Unscriptural PositionRegarding Promise Keepers

by Pastor M.H. Reynolds, Jr.

FOUNDATION Magazine, Jan - Feb 1997

DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY was founded in 1924. Throughout its long history it has hada tremendous influence upon those known as evangelicals. But it has never held nor taught the importanttruths of the Bible which command separation from false teachers and disobedient brethren. On severaloccasions in past years, a few faculty members have made an effort to rectify this theological andpositional deficiency but without success. As a result, the influence and teachings of the severalthousand men and women who are graduates of Dallas have indoctrinated millions of Christians into theprinciples of unbiblical compromise rather than biblical separation.

In the December 1985 issue of Connection Extra (Topics of Interest to Dallas Theological SeminaryAlumni), the question was asked: What about Dallas Theological Seminary and the Promise Keepers?The answer was given in three brief, but very revealing, sections. What follows is a full, unabridgedcopy of their answers, and after each section our scriptural analysis of those answers. Since the positionof Dallas Seminary regarding Promise Keepers is held by so many uninformed or misinformedbelievers, we trust this report will be a spiritual eye-opener to God's people everywhere. The followingintroduction to the Dallas Seminary statement is, in itself, very revealing and demonstrates the confusioncaused by mixing truth with error. We quote:

What About Dallas Theological Seminary and the Promise Keepers Ministry?

Page 1 of 4Dallas Theological Seminary's Unscriptural Position On Promise Keepers

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"For the past several years the ministry of Promise Keepers has experienced rapid numerical growthand broad public attention. Its outreach has spiritually impacted the lives of many men, causing some tocall it a "revival-like movement. " A few others however, are expressing concerns and voicing criticisms.Although Dallas Seminary has no official ties to .Promise Keepers, some of our faculty and alumni have

articipated in their public meetings. One of our distinguished professors, Dr. Howard Hendricks alsoserves on the Promise Keepers board. In light of the questions raised by a few of our alumni and friends,the Seminary wishes to respond as follows:"

The first two sentences are true. Promise Keepers is a rapidly growing movement and some do call it a"revival-like movement." And, it is good to know that some Dallas alumni have expressed concern, evenif only "a few" have done so. However, the next sentences reveal Dallas Seminary's sad duplicity. Whileit is true that they have "no official ties" to Promise Keepers, they seek to minimize their unofficialendorsement by saying, "Some of our faculty and alumni have participated in their public meetings." Inthe next sentence, they admit that one of their distinguished professors, Dr. Howard Hendricks serves onthe Promise Keepers board. Furthermore, they did not mention the fact that the new president of DallasSeminary, Dr. Charles Swindoll, is very prominent in the promotion of and participation in the PromiseKeepers movement and rallies. What better endorsement could they give to a movement which isecumenical in its goals and unscriptural in its fellowships? Dr. Swindoll and the denomination of which

he is a member repudiates the position of biblical separation and is therefore disobedient to the plainteachings of the Bible.

1. Dallas Seminary understands that Promise Keepers operates under broader theological umbrellathan most churches and parachurch

"There is a general misperception about Promise Keepers. Too often , judgments are made on limitedand fragmented information by people who are not directly involved with that ministry. Ministries thatare being used of God to encourage men to become believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, to live godly lives,to be devoted to their wives and families, and to be active in their local churches deserve thoughtfulconsideration. No one can deny the benefits of those goals. To assist each other in accomplishing suchwholesome objectives, groups that differ theologically can agree to stand together on crucial issues. For

example, Roman Catholics and evangelical Protestants can unite in opposition to such evils as abortionon demand and pornography.

"Furthermore, noncharismatics and charismatics can unite in support of the basic biblical values ofsexual morality, personal integrity, and family fidelity. Promise Keepers has made a commitment to

ocus on significant personal, social, and moral issues that are accepted by a broad spectrum ofindividuals, denominations, and other Christian groups. Since Promise Keepers is not an ecclesiasticalbody, participation does not imply support for ecumenical union. We can join with others in support ofbasic moral issues without violating our theological convictions."

In the first sentence, we see that Dallas Seminary is without excuse in cooperating with a movement

which "operates under a broader theological umbrella" than most churches and parachurch ministries.Just how far this theological umbrella will broaden remains to be seen, but already we know it includesliberal Protestant churches, the Roman Catholic Church and Mormons. In the middle portion of thisstatement, Dallas tries to justify cooperation Roman Catholics by claiming these can "unite in oppositionto such evils as abortion on demand and pornography." But Promise Keepers is not only advocatingunity in such matters but unity in worship, prayer and witness. In the second sentence, Dallas incorrectlyholds that noncharismatics and charismatics can unite in "support of basic biblical values of sexualmorality, personal integrity, and family fidelity." Charismatics are under God's curse by trying to addtheir supposed revelations to the written Word of God and by evangelism with Roman Catholics andothers who preach a false gospel. It should be noted that the founder of Promise Keepers and many of its




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key leaders are charismatics.

In the middle of this paragraph, note that Dallas Seminary is aware that Promise Keepers "has made acommitment to focus on significant personal, social, and mora1 issues that are accepted by a broadspectrum of individuals, denominations, and other Christian groups." Promise Keepers does indeedinclude a spectrum, but it is far broader than the Word of God allows and the closing sentence furtherreveals the spiritual blindness and inconsistent, contradictory position of Dallas Seminary.

2. Dallas Seminary's mission differs from that of Promise Keepers-but it is not in opposition to their

stated objectives.

"Although the Seminary supports the overall program of Promise Keepers this does not mean that weare in complete agreement theologically with some participants. We believe, however, we can supportthe objectives of Promise Keepers without compromising our theological position or biblicaldistinctives. For this reason some of our faculty and alumni continue to be involved with thisorganization in order to reach our world for Christ and add discernment to the agenda of PromiseKeepers, all the while providing theological stability. Mature Christian leaders with solid biblicaltraining can bring needed substance and guidance to this young and dynamic ministry."

One must ask, "Just what is Dallas Seminary's mission?" Historically, Dallas has claimed its mission isto train men and women to know the Scriptures so as to teach others the truths of God's Word effectivelyand correctly. If this is still its mission, how could it possibly state that it is not in opposition to thestated objectives of the Promise Keepers? Be sure to read our publication, "The Promise KeepersMovement is Dangerous - Watch Out For It," in which at least three of the Seven Promises of a PromiseKeeper are clearly found to be unscriptural. Yes the world needs more godly men, but the program ofPromise Keepers can never accomplish that goal since it is fatally flawed by giving its adherentsunbiblical counsel.

In the last portion of this section, note the following amazing, inconsistent, contradictory claim: "For thisreason some of our faculty and alumni continue to be involved with this organization in order to reachour world for Christ and add discernment to the agenda of Promise Keepers, all the while providingtheological stability." Can the world be reached for Christ by cooperating with Roman Catholics andothers who preach a false gospel? Of course not! How can Dallas Seminary possibly provide theologicalstability to Promise Keepers when Dallas has no stability itself?

3. Dallas Seminary applauds Promise Keepers' commitment to vital personal, moral, and socialissues.

The moral fabric of modern society is unraveling. At the core of the problem, among other causes, is thelack of godly masculine leadership both in the home and the workplace. Promise Keepers began, inmen, to assume the responsibility intended for them by God. Promise Keepers focuses on a man's

commitment to Jesus Christ, personal integrity, the family, the church, and racial harmony. We atDallas Seminary believe these are God-honoring objectives rarely acknowledged in the world and,therefore, worthy of our pursuit and support.

Neither Dallas Seminary nor Promise Keepers is scripturally dealing with the moral fabric of modernsociety that is indeed unraveling. While it is true that more godly men are needed, they will not beproduced by teaching men that they disobey the Word of God as to theological matters as long as theytry to give leadership in moral and social issues. Promise Keepers, led by charismatic deceivers,motivated by psychological experimenters, and applauded by deceived believers will no doubt continueto grow, but it cannot escape God's judgment. Both Promise Keepers and Dallas Seminary need to hear




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and heed the same warning God gave in the Old Testament to King Jehoshaphat who had disobeyed theLord by joining hands with wicked King Ahab in a battle against a common enemy, " . . . Shouldest thouhelp the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from before theLord" (2 Chron. 19:2).

Before concluding this analysis, the first sentence of Dallas Seminary's defense of Promise Keepersneeds further consideration. Obviously referring to those who had expressed concerns and voiced

criticisms, Dallas stated, "There is a general misperception about Promise Keepers. Too often judgmentsare made on limited and fragmented information by people who are not directly involved with thatministry." While this may be true of some, it certainly does not apply to others we know of who haveexpressed concerns about Promise Keepers. We have followed this movement from its beginning, haveread all of its books and regular publications and listened to hours of tapes from the rallies. By no stretchof the imagination could the information on which our conclusions and warnings are based be called"limited or fragmented." What we have repeatedly found is that many, many people who supportPromises Keepers do so only on the basis of "limited or fragmented" information. Many such believershave had questions in their minds about this rapidly growing movement but have heard or read only thepromotional materials with which Promises Keepers has flooded most churches. Pastors, churches andindividuals have requested and distributed thousands of our Promise Keepers warning leaflets. We have

had more requests for this item than anything else we have published in our sixty-eight year history.

We have followed and analyzed the compromises of most of the charismatic and evangelical leaderswho are speaking at Promises Keepers rallies through the years of our religious news-gathering ministry.Without question these men have proven their dedication to furthering the ecumenical movement. Mensuch as Bill Bright, Jack Hayford, Joseph Stowell, E.V. Hill, Gary Smalley, James Dobson, ChuckColson, Bill Hybels, Juan Carlos Ortiz, Luis Palau, Dave Bryant, Billy Kim, and James Ryle do not havea consistent record of fidelity to God's final Authority.

In these crisis times, the compromised positions of both Promise Keepers and Dallas Seminary posegrave problems to those who are following their unscriptural programs and positions, having becomeenamored with their apparent successes and acceptance by the majority of believers. The need for

spiritual discernment has never been greater (Heb. 5:12-14). The time for absolute fidelity to the Wordof God rather than the ideas of men is now (Acts 5:29). The need to practice biblical separation fromfalse teachers, disobedient brethren and worldliness is paramount. Let us always speak the truth in love(Eph. 4:15), but let us never remain silent when "truth is fallen in the street" (Isa. 59:14). Dallas believesPromise Keepers is worthy of their pursuit and support. The question is, "What does God say?" (2 Cor.6:14-18).

If you are not sure you are saved and on the way to heaven, please let us know how wecan help. See from the Bible how you can be sure! Please read "Have You Considered

This?"

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dallas seminary & promise keepers

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