Sixth of the seven promises of the Promise Keepers says,"A Promise Keeper is committed to reaching beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity." Again, it is the "same ol' story", mix enough truth with error and the error will be accepted along with any truth interspersed with it. In the context of "biblical" unity, two distinct subjects are treated in this "promise" = (1) racial barriers, and (2) denomnational barriers.
Race being an issue at all went out when the Old Law (Covenant), with Christ, was nailed to the cross (Ephesians 2:11-22; Colossians 1:19-23). The New Covenant (Testament) affirms the gospel (salvation) is for all - no race excepted! (Romans 1:16-17; Galatians 3:26-29; Romans 10:12). God's word is plain, very plain, on the subject - ethnicity is not an issue! Only those ignorant of God's Word attach negative meaning to race in matters of salvation and the church.
God is not a respecter of persons (Romans 2:11; I Peter 1:17; James 2:9; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:@5). Promise #6, saying that we ought to reach "beyond any racial" barrier to "demonstrate the power of biblical unity", asserts a biblical truth every Christian (women, as well as men) should believe and practice. Each time we find Christians not believing and practicing some biblical truth as it should be believed and practiced, do we have to create a man-made proposition or organization to shore up the church? If the love of God, respect for His authority, and "fear" of Him (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) cannot produce compliance with His will, it is extremely audacious of the Promise Keepers to believe they can do so. The fear of the Lord did not move Israel (southern kingom) to obediently respond to the Lord (Jeremiah 2:17-19). Could a Promise Keeper's movement of that day have saved them from their captivity in Babylon and the destruction of the temple? Why did God not think of creating, and instituting Promise Keepers a long time ago? Mmm-mm-m, maybe He did, calling it the CHURCH!
Again, in Promise #6, the Promise Keepers have done a marvelous job in mixing fact and fiction, knowing the propensity and willingness of the easily lead to accept fiction simply because it is adjoined with some fact. It is the implication of that protion of the "promise" which says we ought to reach "beyond any ... denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity" which is anti-scriptural.
The implication os that statement is that denominationalism is acceptable , but allowing it to be a barrior to unity is not. Nothing is further from the truth - DENOMINATIONALISM IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! Promise Keepers finds denominational difference (doctrinally, etc.) acceptable, but we should have unity, oneness, and brotherhood within the context of that diversity. Denominationalism (whihc is division) is not right in any way or at any time! Inspiration teaches that in plain, blunt language (John 17:20-23; I Corinthians 1:10-13; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:3-6; Philippians 1:27; etc.). Denominations were foreign to 1st century Christianity. The concept is contnrary to all New Testament teaching on the subject. There is, according to the New Testament, one church and Christians are to be unified doctrinally within that one church.
The concept of denominationalism is acceptable to so many because doctrinal difference is found to be so palatable and that is the only way we can accept/justify dissimilarity. Until we believe in doctrinal oneness, division is to be EXPECTED, but in light of the New Testament teaching it can never be ACCEPTED. Any group which believes and teaches acceptability of denominationalism (Promise Keepers included) cannot be right - the Lord says it is wrong!
No! Christians should not be a part of the Promise Keepers. We will consider Promise #7 in the next article.
--Charlie T. Garner |