
Are You Really a Promise Keeper?
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)
(An open letter from Mitchell V. Casler)
Dear
Promise Keeper,
Greetings from a man who has walked in your shoes. I attended the Boulder
'93 PK Conference. I was a counselor at the conference in Denton, Texas
and then attended the conference at Texas Stadium. I have been to several
Leadership Seminars and rallies. I will not hesitate to say that I had
a blast. There were many things that troubled me about the whole movement,
but I was on such an emotional high that I refused to investigate those
stirrings. I did not want to believe that there could be anything wrong.
These conferences were like a football game, a motivational seminar, and
a great sermon all rolled into one. I did not care to hear anything that
would put a damper on that. It finally became so obvious to me and those
I knew that there were some real contradictions to God's Word, that I
just couldn't ignore it any longer.
Let me explain to you before I go any further that I desire nothing from
you. I do not want you to believe anything I say, just because I said
it. I will not even attempt to answer every question I ask. My heart's
desire is that you question and prove everything I say and that you question
and prove everything anyone ever has or ever will say to you. Please do
not let the title Preacher, Pastor, Minister, etc. numb your senses. Please
do not let the fact that scriptures are quoted, keep you from proving
everything for yourself. Remember that the Devil quoted scriptures to
the Savior. The Word of God was given to us for a reason. The answers
are all there.
1
Thessalonians 5:21 says, "Test all things; hold fast what
is good." I started doing that as I took a good hard look at
this rapidly growing ministry. The first thing I did was to consider the
things that troubled me from the start. Why were men, who ten years ago
would have called each others' doctrine and theology either dead or heresy,
so willing to share the stage with one another? Why all the promises of
a better life and rewards on this earth by keeping 7 promises? What is
all this talk of a great revival that can turn this country around then
turn this world around?
I could list many more questions, but my intention is not to write a book.
My intention is to inspire you to "Be diligent to present yourself
approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth." as 2 Timothy 2:15 states.
Who are the preachers who speak at Promise Keeper events? Do you really
know who you are listening to and following? What motivates them? Do they
agree with and support each other and if not why are they so willing to
link arms in this movement?
I think many of you would be amazed just how different the beliefs of
many of these preachers are from your own beliefs. There are Baptist,
Charismatic, Bible Church, the Inter-Denominational and the Non Denominational
denomination, etc. Let me first say that there is only one Faith and one
Church whose membership is added to, by and through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Read chapters 4 & 5 of Ephesians and the prayer of the Lord
in John 17:20-26 and try to defend denominations or sectarian
churches. Unity is not common these days among those who profess to be
Christians. Even the counselors who work at PK conferences can give different
advice. If a man came to the front because he was struggling in his relationship
with God, he might be given one of several answers.
One
counselor might say, "You need to pray more and read your Bible more."
And another might tell him, "Hey buddy, you need to get the Holy
Ghost!"
Why
do the preachers of PK package themselves in a way that is acceptable
to all who attend? Why do some not speak the same things at conferences
that they speak from their own pulpit? I cannot judge the hearts of these
men but I can sure see many things that concern me.
Write
down the names of every preacher you know who have spoken at a PK conference
and then take a trip to the local religious book store. How many of them
have books for sale? How many have calendars, videos, tapes, etc. for
sale? How much of this merchandise do you think they sell per year? What
kind of money are they making?
If
you knew something from the scriptures or from your personal life that
would help me as a Christian brother or lead me to the Savior and Salvation
if was not a Christian, would you charge me for it? You may say, "They
have to make a living." We all have to make a living. What kind
of living are we making?
All
the answers we need are in the Bible, not in libraries of books these
men are marketing. What would Christ think of these "Merchants of
the Gospel"? Just as Christ cleared out the temple in Mark
11:15-17 of those who were there for personal profit should we
not clean out the temple of the Holy Spirit which is our body as 1
Corinthians 6:19 & 20 explain. Will you walk as the disobedient
Israelites did in Jeremiah 2:25 and follow strangers? These
speakers are entertaining and they motivate just like all the great salesmen
in the world. But, what is their life out the spotlight about? How much
do you know about them besides the person they display on stage, radio,
or TV? Titillating entertainment and self-motivation are of this world.
I shudder to think that just a few years ago I fell head first into the
hype and screamed at the top of my lungs along with the speaker in Boulder,
"COME ON DEVIL! HIT EM! HIT EM! HIT EM!"
Do we dare to contend with the Devil? Do we dare to compromise with him?
Did God promise us success or riches in our life on this earth? Did he
promise that friends, family and those we work with and for would all
love us because we are such good men if we keep 7 promises or even 777
promises?
The Lord states in John 15:19, "If you were of the
world, the world would love it's own. Yet because you are not of the world,
but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."
and in Matthew 10:34 & 35. "do not think I came
bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-n-law against her mother-in-law;"
Please
read 1 Peter 4:12-19 also. There are many other verses that
show us the same thing and they easy to find. Did Peter, Paul or any other
Christian in the Bible have an easy life? Did the world love them? Did
they profit materially with a big house, promotions and worldly riches?
What
about Stephen in Chapter 7 of Acts? No worldly acclaim,
but you would agree that he got the ultimate promotion? Were these Christians'
lives better because they become Christians? I guess that depends on how
you judge success.
Read
1 John 2:15-17 and examine your own life. Do Christians
have to live in poverty? The Bible does not say that at all. What are
your priorities though? How do you judge success in your life? There are
many who approach everything they do including worship of the Almighty
with overriding thought always in their mind, "What's in it for
me?" There are many who prey on that selfish philosophy. When
anyone calling himself a "minister of God" tells you that you
are guaranteed anything on this earth, you might better check up on him
and get a good quick grip on your wallet.
Does the Bible tell us there will be an improving situation in this world
between the time Christ came and left the first time and his second coming?
Will there be a Great Revival? See if you can find in the scriptures where
this is promised before Christ returns and establishes His Kingdom on
earth. See how many verses call for a continued degeneration of man.
Why do these preachers preach that somehow through this PK movement or
any other ministry that the words that Jesus spoke in Matthew 7:13
& 14 will change and the way which leads to life will become
broad? I believe I can tell you. Possible persecution, trials and infirmities
do not sell. Cleanse anything that does not honor and glorify God out
of your life completely by adhering to the Scriptures and changing anything
that does not fit. That doesn't sell.
I
could go on and on. Please read Colossians 2:8.
Consider a few things. In 1994 there were 10 PK conferences across the
country with 50,000 plus attendance at each conference, where $50.00 plus
was charged per person at each. 10 times 50,000 times $50.00 = $25,000,000.00.
There were many more than 500,000 that attended and I do not know of any
conference that only cost $50.00. I am sure that there were many expenses
involved. I also know that they sell millions of dollars in merchandise
at the conferences, at book stores, and through the mail. They consistently
mail requests for pledges and money.
There
are frequent Leadership Seminars being conducted across the country. They
are not free. I have never witnessed anything involved with PK that was
free, even for the lost and dying. I am sure there are financial statements
from Boulder, but if have ever looked at a "Nonprofit Organization's"
financial statement, you know that it is impossible to decipher exactly
where all the money went. Salaries, expense accounts, and travel are profitable
to those who receive them.
I
do not believe that everyone who is on the payroll of PK is a crook by
any means. I do believe that there is an amazing amount of money being
poured into this organization though. It is not a peculiar situation with
PK though. Take a good hard look at all the Mega-Ministries in this country.
They are truly money making machines, just like any large corporation.
There
are several of my kin who are involved in PK. There are many of my brothers
in Christ that I have never met who are involved in PK. I do not wish
to hurt the feelings of anyone. I desire that they wake up and turn to
the Lord.
We
will never be perfect in this body. Psalms 103:14 &15
says, "As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those
who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust."
However, we can live a life that honors God by giving him our life. 2
Corinthians 6:17 &18 says,
"Come
out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what
is unclean, And I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, And you
shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."
Do
you want the Lord to be a father to you? Look very closely at those you
allow to lead you. Do not judge them by your own wisdom. Know them by
their fruit. We are given scripture to judge those who would be over us
in 1 Timothy 3:1-16 and Titus 1:5-9.
If
any leader calling himself a minister, elder, bishop, deacon, etc. is
not willing to answer your questions and go to the Word of God to prove
everything he believes, it is time to WAKE UP!
Ask
yourself: "Am I following a man-made religion or am I following
Christ?" Do not let anyone quote out of context and deceive you
because you did not check up on them. If anyone gives you a verse or two
to prove a point, even as I have in this letter, please check the context.
Throw away the commentaries. Do you know the men who wrote them?
Please
read 2 Timothy 3:16 & 17.
Read
the whole Bible with an open mind for yourself. Be willing to investigate
anything that challenges the things you have always believed through the
direction of man. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you read
The Word. I suggest you read Ephesians, Phillipians, Colossians,
1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon to get an accurate picture
of where you should be in relation to your family, The Church, and especially
The Lord. These were the last letters Paul wrote and the most applicable
to our lives in these times.
Remember the story of Cain and Abel? Both offered sacrifices to the Lord.
Only one was acceptable. Abel offered what was pleasing to the Lord. Cain
offered what was pleasing to Cain. Please read John 15:9-17 and
1 John 1:5 thru 2:11.
Christian men can lead a successful joy-filled Christ honoring life. They
can keep their promises. The Lord has spelled out very clearly in His
Word how we can do that. If you want to scream and yell, hear jamming
music and knock around a beach ball, go to a football game or a rock concert.
If you want to live your life to honor the Lord, obey his commandments.
Jesus doesn't need or want cheering. He's already won the victory on the
cross. He wants obedience.
In closing, I exhort you to come down out of the stands and run the race
as if to obtain the prize and please, be careful who you follow.
In His hand,
Mitchell V. Casler
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