For several years now a men’s religious movement called “Promise Keepers” has been sweeping across North America. The movement began in Colorado in 1990, when University of Colorado football coach Bill McCartney and his friend David Wardell conceived the idea of getting Christian men together. Later that same year more men began to fast and pray about the concept of having thousands of men come together to seek to improve their Christian lives and to help one another. In 1991 several thousand men met at the University of Colorado Events Center, and from this beginning the movement has expanded into multiple conferences held across North America, with hundreds of thousands of men involved. Many major evangelical leaders are in full support of the movement. Well-known Christian leaders such as Chuck Swindoll, James Dobson, Chuck Colson, John Trent and Gary Smalley, as well as many others, are involved.
The movement focuses on Christian men, calling them to make certain promises relative to their own lives and their interaction with others. In particular, seven promises are put forward, which I will outline here. They are taken from a book titled Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper, published in 1994.
Promise One. A man and his God: A Promise Keeper is committed to honoring Jesus Christ through worship, prayer and obedience to God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Promise Two. A man and his mentors: A Promise Keeper is committed to pursuing vital relationships with a few other men, understanding that he needs brothers to help him keep his promises.
Promise Three. A man and his integrity: A Promise Keeper is committed to practicing spiritual, moral, ethical and sexual purity.
Promise Four. A man and his family: A Promise Keeper is committed to building strong marriages and families through love, protection and biblical values.
Promise Five. A man and his church: A Promise Keeper is committed to supporting the mission of the church by honoring and praying for his pastor and by actively giving of his time and resources.
Promise Six. A man and his brothers: A Promise Keeper is committed to reaching beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity.
Promise Seven. A man and his world: A Promise Keeper is committed to influencing his world, being obedient to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.
It sounds good, doesn’t it? In perusing the book from which these seven promises are taken, I cannot help but be impressed by the pointed exhortations made relative to these promises and the scriptures quoted to support the exhortations. It is not hard to see why the movement has made such remarkable progress in such a short time. For too long too many Christians have not lived lives consistent with what they profess. Christian men have not assumed the role of headship that God has given them, thus neglecting their responsibilities towards God. Ultimately this has translated into abdication of spiritual responsibility in the family, among other believers and towards the world. While the truths of Christianity may have been at least partially acknowledged, often the important exhortations based on those truths have been forgotten. Worldliness and sin have been the sad result among those who name the name of Christ (2 Tim. 2:1919Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)).
It is a sad commentary on Christianity today that such a need exists. If Christ were before our souls and the instruction in God’s Word carried weight with us, there would be no need for such a movement. We should be humbled by this condition of things, for we are all part of it. May we have the attitude of Daniel, who, when he considered the solemn judgment of God on his people, could confess their sin before God, identifying himself with it and casting himself on the mercy of God. Furthermore, may we each one search our own heart before the Lord, lest we be found condemning something which has begun, perhaps wrongfully, but as a response to our own failure. We have often heard that “two wrongs do not make a right,” and it is never of God to respond to one wrong by doing another. But if we are guilty of the first wrong, let us correct our own ways before seeking to set another straight. “Every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:1212So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12)).
With these thoughts in mind, I would like to point out why Promise Keepers is not a scriptural remedy for the wrongs it seeks to address. In doing this, I acknowledge that attending a Promise Keepers meeting may result in some improvement in a man’s life, and no doubt souls have been saved through this contact. But though all of the promises have some basic good in them, they are diluted with scriptural inaccuracies. (The reference to a pastor of a local church has no scriptural support, and while the reaching out beyond denominational barriers is certainly in keeping with the truth of the one body, this remark certainly requires some qualification.) There is no doubt that some, in being recalled to their responsibilities, will lead better lives (at least for a time). However, we must remember that we are never wiser than Scripture and that everything in the moral and spiritual sphere must be tested against the Word of God. While many objections could be made, they all can be summarized under three basic headings.
The major objection to Promise Keepers that I would suggest is that it is ultimately a product of modern humanistic thinking. The promoters of the movement would probably vigorously deny this, but it is true nevertheless. Such humanistic thinking has pervaded so much of our world today that sometimes it is hard to recognize it for what it is. Promise Keepers focuses man back on himself, as do many of the “Self-Help” philosophies of today.
In the Old Testament, man voluntarily placed himself under law, under a promise to God. When the law was given to the nation of Israel, their response was, “All that the Lord hath spoken we will do” (Ex. 19:88And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord. (Exodus 19:8)). The record of Israel subsequent to this promise is ample evidence of man’s lack of ability to keep his promises. Not only did Israel fail in keeping the law, but they showed clearly that man in the flesh did not even have the desire to please God. Israel’s history ended not only with a broken law, but also in idolatry, so that God had to allow them to be carried away into captivity.
In the New Testament, there is no record of man’s making a promise, either to God or to his fellowman. No, the only promises recorded in the New Testament are those made by God. Our God is the only One who makes and keeps promises unfailingly. We read in 2 Corinthians 1:2020For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. (2 Corinthians 1:20) that “all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” In 2 Peter 1:44Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:4) we read of “great and precious promises,” that by these we might be “partakers of the divine nature.” To be sure, the substance of what is taught by Promise Keepers should surely be carried out by believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, but not by making promises. One could affirm his resolve to keep the promises mentioned without dealing with the root of an evil tendency, without really having his heart drawn out to Christ as an object before him and even without really knowing why he should be keeping the promise. It is good to be “ethically pure” (referring to Promise Three) even if we do not fully understand why though understanding “why” would be better but are we being propped up as “ethically pure” without dealing with the root before the Lord?
Of course we must remember that there is a tendency for many of us who do not go to Promise Keepers to live (at least to some extent) according to what others will think, not judging before the Lord and perhaps not knowing why we act as we do. If we are truly saved, God has given us a new life. Let us remember that our new life in Christ cannot sin; it is our old sinful self that sins. It is not enough to abhor my sins; the Spirit of God seeks to bring me to the point where I abhor myself. God has given us His Spirit as the power of that new life and the Lord Jesus Christ as the object for our souls. Scripture teaches dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ, and in walking in the Spirit we will let the new life, the life of Christ, be displayed in us.
We read in Philippians 3:33For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3), “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” We “walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:44That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:4)), and we are told to “walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:1616This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)). As another has said, “The proper attitude of a man under grace is to refuse to make resolutions and vows, for that is to trust in the flesh.” To place man under promises is to go back under law and in principle to be “in flesh.” As such, it gives some glory to man in the flesh, and this is why it has such wide appeal. But “they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:88So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8)).
The second objection to the Promise Keepers movement is that unity is promoted at the expense of truth and ecumenicalism instead of faithfulness to God and His Word. Again, many remarks could be made, but one quotation will serve to show the direction the movement is taking. In the book referred to earlier, Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper, one leader writes: “Redeeming worship centers on the Lord’s Table. Whether your tradition celebrates it as Communion, Eucharist, the Mass or the Lord’s Supper, we are all called to this centerpiece of Christian worship.” Coupled with this blatantly unscriptural approach to Christian unity are charismatic teachings and other bad doctrine, as well as humanistic psychological teachings, which supplant the Word of God. It is a unity based on compromise rather than on a return to God and the truth of His Word.
Surely the unity of all true believers is clearly taught in Scripture, for we read in Ephesians 4:44There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:4), “There is one body.” It should be a matter of continual sorrow and humility for every Christian that this unity is so poorly expressed before the world. We are not told to keep the unity of the body (that is God’s prerogative) but rather to endeavor “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:33Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)). This involves separating from that which is not according to God’s Word, for the Spirit will never lead contrary to the Word. We are all in the “great house” of Christian profession referred to in 2 Timothy 2:2020But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. (2 Timothy 2:20), but we are to “purge ourselves” from vessels to dishonor (2 Tim. 2:2121If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:21)). Surely God’s desire is for unity, but it must be the unity of the Spirit, not a unity made by agreeing to disagree.
Coupled with all of this is a third objection. Promise Keepers does not emphasize the heavenly calling of the church, but rather focuses on improving this world. Repeated references are made to the sad condition of things in our families, schools, cities and governments, with recommendations as to how a revival can be started and the nation (in this case the United States) saved from ruin. The Word of God is even used to support political movements as is evidenced by the following quotation from the same book mentioned previously: “In every generation revival has come as the result of prayer. For example, powerful prayer preceded America’s First Great Awakening, which gave the colonists a unified biblical view of the principles of freedom and helped pave the way for the American Revolution.”
We agree that the condition of the world today is very serious. Scripture tells us that “righteousness exalteth a nation” (Prov. 14:3434Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. (Proverbs 14:34)), and the spread of the gospel through the Word of God has always been accompanied by a general moral elevation.
Those of us who live in countries where there is freedom to preach the gospel and to read God’s Word can be thankful for whatever measure of moral integrity remains. But God is not dealing directly with nations today; rather, He is dealing with individuals, calling them out of a world that is under judgment. The church’s hopes are heavenly, not earthly. Philippians 3:2020For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Philippians 3:20) says, “For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
God may in His grace give a revival, and the indirect result of that revival may well be a tremendous improvement in the moral tone of a nation, for which we can be thankful. But to have such an improvement as our aim is to fail to understand the mystery of Christ and the church. It is to fail to have the Lord’s coming as a present hope, living as if I were going to be called home by the shout at any moment. It is to fail to understand that this world is under judgment and that we are called out of it for heaven. Believers are sent into it as living witnesses of the grace that has saved us but to be in the world, not of it. To live a morally upright life as a Christian, seeking to improve the world, will bring its praise. To live as those who are “partakers of the heavenly calling” (Heb. 3:11Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; (Hebrews 3:1)) and thus to refuse to be part of the world system around us will bring its reproach. I would submit that Promise Keepers’ frequent references to such things as political involvement, professional sports, concerts and Hollywood actors tend to bring Christianity down to the level of this world, instead of emphasizing our heavenly calling.
May we refuse to be part of that which, though well-intentioned, is not according to God’s Word and which undermines some of the foundation truths of Christianity. Let us be found “in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves,” realizing that only God can “give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:2525In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (2 Timothy 2:25)). And may we seek grace from the Lord to judge unsparingly our own ways so that a godly walk may commend to others the truth that we seek to maintain and that the world may take knowledge of us that we have “been with Jesus.”
W. J. Prost