A Biblical Look at the Promise Keepers Movement

by Mark Roberts

Who hasn't heard of Promise Keepers? In the last seven years PK has grown from a small blip on the religious radar scope to a multi-million dollar enterprise that hosts national events, produces numerous workbooks and booklets, and influences millions of men across the country. Some in churches of Christ have gladly allied themselves with Promise Keepers, even promoting their meetings and urging men to join the group. Others have been less certain they should endorse PK. What does the Bible say about this? Let's examine PK from a biblical standpoint.

What is Promise Keepers? Promise Keepers is an interdenominational para-church group that began in March 1990 with the goal of urging men to be what the Bible directs them to be. It was begun by the coach (at that time) of the University of Colorado, Bill McCartney. In 1993 they held their first really big rally, with 50,000 men filling Colorado's Folsom Stadium to capacity. In 1994 PK held seven conferences, with more than a quarter of a million men in attendance (278,600). In 1995 there were 13 conferences with 727,342 in attendance. In 1996 more than 1 million men attended 22 conferences over 14 weekends. Plans for 1997 include 22 conferences and a huge rally/march on Washington D.C., with attendance certain to be greater than last year's. PK has grown from a small operation of only 22 staffers in 1993 to now having over 400 staff and a budget of $107 million.1 Clearly Promise Keepers is offering something that a lot of people want.

What do they teach? Primarily, Promise Keepers teaches men to be what the Bible would have them to be in their roles as fathers and husbands. We need to be very clear here: much of what PK teaches is good, solid Bible-based instruction that men need to hear. Calling men to biblical leadership, to being faithful to home and family is a wonderful goal. There is little to criticize in Promise Keepers regarding their teaching of men to be what God wants them to be.

Is there anything wrong with PK? Yes, there are areas of grave concern. For example, PK teaches a false plan of salvation. There is no doubt about it: PK teaches the "faith only" doctrine so common in denominational churches. The PK Statement of Faith says: "(5) We believe that man was created in the image of God, but because of sin, was alienated from God. That alienation can be removed only by accepting through faith alone God's gift of salvation which was made possible by Christ's death."2 That is simply not true. Faith is vital to salvation but must be made complete by faithful obedience (see James 2:24; Acts 2:38). Yet PK contradicts the Bible by teaching people they can be saved by simply believing in Jesus. They take away from the Gospel thus destroying it (Gal. 1:8-9).

Note the following from an informational tract that explains their mission: "How Can the Relationship [with God] Be Restored? . . . If you would like to accept this gift -- eternal life in relationship with God -- Jesus Christ has secured it for you. You can simply tell God. It's not these exact words, but the attitude of your heart that matters. Pray this prayer to accept or reaffirm your acceptance of Christ ."3 That is nothing more than the famous "Sinner's Prayer" that has been used to teach faith-only salvation for years. Think carefully. Can you conscientiously recommend PK material and meetings to someone, knowing they will be taught error about the most vital matter of salvation? Can a Christian work with or join a group that teaches false doctrine on the critical matter of salvation? Should a congregation endorse a group that teaches this terrible error?

Unfortunately, this is exactly what many churches of Christ are doing. PK meetings are advertised in church bulletins, telling people it is a "Christian organization" and that "God gave Bill McCartney a vision . . . ." Is a group that does not teach the truth on salvation really a Christian group? Did God give McCartney a vision to teach error and lead souls astray?

Incredibly, some have gone beyond participating and advertising PK, to actually hosting PK events in the church's meeting house! In central Arkansas a church of Christ hosted a PK meeting, with the result that the church ended up fellowshipping and condoning error. More will be said about PK worship later, but note that at the Arkansas meeting the PK speaker invited men to receive Jesus by faith and three men came forward to do so. They were told they were saved without being baptized and no attempt to rebuke this error or help these men really be saved was made. Those men left the church of Christ's facility thinking they were saved and ready to meet God, yet they are not. Did this church of Christ stand up for truth, or did it wilt under the world's pressure? Were people really brought to Jesus and genuinely helped to do what is right, or did this church allow men to be deceived and tricked by the devil? The answer is all too plain. Clearly, some are so enamored of PK that they have forgotten the distinctive nature of true New Testament Christianity, and the warnings Jesus issues to churches that compromise with the world (see Revelation 2:14, 20).

Further, PK promotes a false plan for religious unity. Promise 6 says "A Promise Keeper is committed to reaching beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity." This is, of course, very politically correct. Tolerance is in, while standing up for convictions and truth is out. In light of Promise 6 PK has accepted men of every religious stripe, including Mormons (who do not believe in Jesus' deity) and Catholics (who do not agree with PK's plan of salvation). However, all these differences are overlooked so that men can join together in "unity." But that is not biblical unity. Biblical unity does not overlook error, or pretend that doctrinal differences do not exist. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church to straighten matters out, not to tell them their differences didn't matter and they should fake unity.

Biblical unity is found and maintained by studying the truth and adhering to it -- because the basis of biblical unity is not the quest for unity with men but unity with God. Once that is achieved, by grace and obedience, then we naturally and automatically have unity with others who are similarly obedient. Any declaration of unity with those who are not united with God is sham unity, and simply an illusion. It may feel great to pretend we are all one in Christ, and have a giant gathering of so-called "Christians." But how much joy can I have when I realize that most of these men are not really saved? And how hypocritical is it for me to go right on like all is well, and never tell these lost men the truth that would save their souls?

Interestingly, I have material written by Baptists that is concerned about this very point. Even these denominational people are concerned with the ecumenical, go along with everybody spirit that PK shows. "When a major group like PK urges the Christian public to drop their 'biases' and 'prejudices' and rally together with all who call themselves Christians, many with even fundamental churches are going to respond positively . . . If men of a fundamental church associate on a regular basis in worship with Roman Catholics and charismatics, their spiritual character is going to be corrupted, their discernment will be impaired, and their stand for the faith will be weakened . . . As men participate in PK, THEY WILL BE ATTRACTED TO LEADERS WHO ARE NOT SOUND IN THEIR THEOLOGY AND PRACTICE."4 If denominational people can see this why can't New Testament Christians?

There are other areas of concern for Christians as well. PK teaches the direct operation of the Holy Spirit. Their literature and meetings brim with talk of how the Spirit "led" one to do this, or "empowered" another to do that, or even how the Spirit "inspired" one to preach. The Pentecostal-charismatic flavor of PK meetings must be an issue for the Christian who knows the Spirit operates through God's word (Col. 3:16) and that faith does not come by the direct operation of the Spirit, but by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

Note as well that PK worship is not in accordance with NT instruction. Instrumental music (not acapella singing, Eph. 5:19) is regularly practiced, and the whole event is usually described as a spiritual "pep rally" that is not in accord with the apostle's instruction that all things be done decently and in order (1 Cor. 14:40).

Other matters could be discussed, but this is more than enough. Ephesians 5:11 tells Christians "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." While we admire some of what PK does we cannot join with them because their work leads people away from Christ, not to Him. For the Christian to join hands with a group teaching and practicing error on so many vital matters is simply impossible. PK's "good" teachings on the home and family do not make them any less a work of darkness than the Pope's (correct) teachings on abortion make him an ally of Christ. It is essential that we refuse fellowship with this unfruitful work of darkness!

Proper teaching on biblical leadership and manhood is vital, and important. However, the Lord's church has the answers that PK claims, because it stands on the Word of God. Rather than compromising with error, becoming excited about a slick presentation and a bunch of "hype" let us continue to build spiritually minded men and women through the local church by teaching and following the Word of God. May the Lord bless us in that most noble of endeavors.

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