Let me start off by saying that I am definitely not a member of the theological police. I am not smart enough nor inclined enough to try and straighten out the wrong beliefs of others. Theology is the study about God and the very word is not that appealing to me – I would much rather relate to God then just study about Him. A couple years back we had a fire which took care of the many “theological” books that I had accumulated over the years. Thank God! I had stopped referring to most of them years before but I just didn’t have the heart to get rid of them. But less I digress any further let me talk about the real idea about which I am thinking. There are two people who have affected my life in what I consider a positive way and they have not been very popular with these theological police – I am talking about Oral Roberts who has gone on to be with the Lord, and Robert Schuller who probably wishes he had at times.
Let me talk about Oral Roberts first. Why do I speak fondly of the man who seems to have courted controversy most of his life? Recently I took the time to listen to an excellent interview recorded with Oral shortly before he died in 2009. You can listen to it here. The most controversial thing Oral Roberts probably ever did was to claim that God spoke to him – not once but many times – and he maintained this stance up to the end of his earthly life as evidenced in this interview. Now let me get this on the record, God has spoken to me too, and yes it was more than once.
I use to like to tune into Oral Roberts on TV and he would say, “Something good is going to happen to you today”. I did this mostly before I got “saved” and I even remember my Dad tuning into some of Oral’s crusades when I was a little kid. “He’s going to break that person’s neck I would think as he forcefully laid those big hands on the heads of seekers, and I think he said something like “heeeeeal”. I did a Google for the phrase “Something good is going to happen to you today” and one of the results went to a Christianity Today article. I have no problem with the article but when I read some of the comments made by the readers I was shocked, some of them were just mean. I have to admit I thought, “What did he ever do to you”.
We all know what the problem was – it was the fact that many disagreed with how he handled donations, many disagreed with his fundraising methods, and many just did not like the man; But my question for many who presume to judge the man, “Who died and made you king?” Certainly not Jesus who warned about the very attitudes being displayed in these comments I just referenced. Here is the original article. It was actually about the Green family choosing to make a substantial donation to help out Oral Roberts University. What’s wrong with that?
Sometime I will share my testimony on this site but let me state that I turned on the TV in 1975 and prayed a prayer with Oral Roberts that transformed my life. This happened while I was living with a woman who was not my wife and engaging in illegal activities. Yes I speak somewhat fondly of this man.
The other person I want to talk about is Robert Schuller. No less a controversial figure and in the news for the bankruptcy proceedings at the ministry he once headed which included the sale of the Crystal Cathedral to the Catholic Church. Schuller came out in favor of the deal and some of his comments stirred up the theological riot squad. My question is why?
Could it be his comment about the Catholic Church being the “Mother Church”. Obviously many Catholics probably feel this way but how could a so-called Protestant minister make such a statement. And why would Robert Schuller come out in favor of the Catholic Church as purchasers of the extensive complex of buildings? I am sure he had his reasons, some revealed, and some we may never know, but I do not see a problem with his course of actions. This whole thing was a real estate transaction mandated by a bankruptcy court.
I remember times of struggle as a young father and husband to maintain hope and a good attitude when I would come across a Schuller book promising that I could overcome the difficulty. I actually appreciated the fact that coupled to the liberal doses of motivational and possibility ideas there were references to a good and loving God. There is too many who present a God who is mean and vindictive so Schuller with his possibility message is a welcomed relief.
Could it be that Robert Schuller and Oral Roberts both fulfilled something in the purposes of God? Are you prepared to say that they didn’t and what about the thousands of people helped through their ministries? Yes, I am not a member of the theological police and I hope you left their ranks too.
