10. Has modern psychology influenced the religious views of Robert Schuller?
Modern psychology has influenced the religious views of Robert Schuller. He
states that (1) "Christian theology has failed to accommodate" modern
psychology; and (2) he says that Christian theology has failed to "apply [the]
proven insights" of psychology to human behavior. Therefore, he believes what is
needed is a "reformation of theology" along psychological lines. Consider a few
examples from his book, Self-Esteem: The New Reformation:
SIN IS REDEFINED
Robert Schuller teaches "sin is any act or thought
that robs myself or another human being of his or her self-esteem." Thus, "the
core of sin is a lack of self-esteem." The Bible teaches something altogether
different. Sin is transgression against God and His law, not against oneself (1
John 3:4). David said, "Against thee, and thee only have I sinned" (Psalm 51:4).
Robert Schuller teaches: "Do not fear pride. The easiest job God has is to
humble us. God's almost impossible task is to keep us believing every hour of
every day how great we are as His sons and daughters on Planet Earth." The Bible
teaches "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" and "pride goes
before destruction" (James 4:6; Proverbs 16:18).
SALVATION IS REDEFINED
Robert Schuller teaches "to be born again means
that we must be changed from a negative to a positive self-image." He teaches
"pursuing possibility thinking is the way of the cross. Make no mistake about
that...The cross sanctifies the ego trip." He means that the hardships we
experience will keep our self-esteem in check just like the cross Jesus died
upon was God's method to keep Jesus' self-esteem in check. Does Schuller mean to
say that Jesus didn't have a perfect humanity and required the humility of the
cross to keep His self-esteem in check? The proper answer to that question is
no. Jesus was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. In contrast to
Schuller's definition of the new birth given above, the Bible teaches that
salvation is repentance from sin (and self) and faith in Christ for forgiveness
of sins (Acts 26:18). As a result of being "born again," a true Christian will
surrender his life to God and deny his own way. Thus, the Bible teaches that the
way of the cross is self-denial, not Possibility Thinking (Matthew 16:24, 25).
Unbelief is redefined
Robert Schuller teaches unbelief "is really a
profoundly deep sense of unworthiness." Here, unbelief about man's value is one
thing. But let's be clear. Unbelief in the Bible is mainly referring to man's
rejection of God's gift of salvation, that is, belief in His Son Jesus Christ
(John 3:36). This is what Schuller does not mention. In fact, where in the Bible
does God ever mention that unbelief is man not thinking he has value? Where does
the Bible say unbelief is a profoundly deep sense of unworthiness?
HELL IS REDEFINED
Robert Schuller teaches, "And what is 'hell'? It is the loss of pride that
naturally follows separation from God...The person is in hell when he has lost
his self-esteem. The Bible, however, teaches that hell is a real place of
eternal torment, black darkness, and weeping and gnashing of teeth, not a state
of mind (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:10-15; Matthew 13:42).
EVANGELISM IS REDEFINED
Robert Schuller teaches, "I do not think anything has been done in the name
of Christ and under the banner of Christianity that has proven more destructive
to human personality, and hence counter-productive to the evangelism enterprise,
than the often crude, uncouth and unchristian strategy of attempting to make
people aware of their lost and sinful condition." He also teaches "for the
church to address the unchurched with a theocentric [God-centered] attitude is
to invite failure in mission." The Bible, however, teaches that unless people
are aware of their "lost and sinful condition" before a holy God (a "theocentric"
attitude), they will never be saved (Romans 10:13-15).Schuller is wrong. Jesus
said, "And repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to
all nations" (Luke 24:47).
SANCTIFICATION IS REDEFINED
Robert Schuller states, "God's ultimate objective is to turn you and me into
self-confident persons. The Bible teaches God's ultimate purpose is to conform
us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29; Ephesians 3:10, 11). In conclusion, the
above views of Robert Schuller are not biblical and should not be accepted by
the Christian church.