Tried With Fire

This statement (among many) really bothered me in Robert Schuller's interview: "And I'll tell you what God thinks of you: if you were the only person that didn't have this wonderful relationship with him, why he would take his son and crucify him as your saviour." I was thinking about Schuller's statement because we've all heard, "If you were the only person on earth, Jesus would die for you because He loves you that much." On first hearing, it doesn't sound all that wrong to our 21st century self-esteem indoctrinated ears. Maybe what bugs me is that it is only half of the truth. Maybe the whole truth is "If you were the only person on earth, your sin would still need to be atoned before a holy God. Yes, God loves you but He is still just and holy. Yes, the cross is a demonstration of the love of God , but it is also a demonstration of His holiness and how much He hates sin." Just thinking out loud. In writing.

or lack thereof. The White Horse Inn has posted highlights from Michael Horton's 1992 interview with Robert Schuller. (ht: Cal.vini.st ) Dr. Horton included a brief excerpt from this interview in Christless Christianity which was very eye opening. It was hard to read the entire transcript. I think I was cringing with every statement by Dr. Schuller. I was torn between anger (hopefully righteous anger) and sadness at the disregard for what is clearly taught in the Word of God - our sin and depravity before a loving and righteous and holy God. It is grievous to think of all the people who have swallowed the self-esteem "gospel" hook, line, and sinker which is no gospel at all. But my guess is this view is not just confined to Dr. Schuller's self-esteem-ology. I wonder if the belief that there is something in us that is worthy apart from Christ and enables us to stand before God apart from Christ is as old as the fall. After all, the lie from the beginning was ...