Promise Keepers Beliefs A Tonic For Sick Society
There is an old story from India about a man traveling on a long journey on a train with another man whom he soon discovers to be a thief.
The hero decides to protect his treasures by hiding them under the pillow of the thief every time he is going to leave their sleeping quarters. The thief, of course, searches everywhere for the money and jewels but fails to look under his own pillow.
America is decaying. The breakdown of the family, the growing racial tension, the failure of our justice system, school system and government, and the explosion of violent crime in our cities, are all evidence of a country in desperate need of solutions. In our search for answers, could it be that the treasure has really been there all the time?
Promise Keepers is a call for men to return to biblical values. Some fear that it is a step backwards to the hatred and racism of the ‘50s. Some fear it is an attempt to attack and dominate women. Nothing could be further from the truth.
When tens of thousands of men stand up to repent over past racial attitudes and decisions; when men are challenged to out-serve and honor their wives; when men commit themselves to hold each other accountable for maintaining integrity in their relationships and on the job, it doesn’t look like the ‘50s.
What it does look like is the birthing of a cultural revolution. It is reminiscent of Christianity in the first centuries. The early church was the welfare system. It was Christians who took in abandoned children. It was Christians who cared for the lepers and fed the hungry. It was Christians who started the orphanages, hospitals, and schools that built a more humane society.
Promise Keepers also looks like Christianity following times of reformation and revival. It was the Reformation that brought Europe out of the Dark Ages and produced an explosion of scientific discovery. It was the first great awakening that laid the foundation for America’s revolution and constitution. It was reformed Christianity that led the fight against slavery and inspired the civil rights movement.
We live in a cynical age. We have no faith in our institutions, and little trust in our leaders. We have been hurt, let down and neglected by those we trusted for the answers. The church itself has been guilty of horrible injustices and crimes against humanity. This I am sure is behind the fear of those who are threatened by Promise Keepers.
However, the wrongs caused by the church are due to its hypocrisy and unfaithfulness to God and his holy word. The scriptures themselves, when adhered to, bring life, hope and love to a world that is cold, dark and confused. Jesus said: “By their fruit you will recognize them. …. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.”
Promise Keepers is a good tree.
Imagine for a moment a scenario in which every man in America not only goes to a Promise Keepers convention, but adopts its promises and is faithful to keep them. What would happen in America? What would it look like? Could we be on the verge of another great awakening?
Watch for this movement’s fruits and you may see a society being healed. Biblical beliefs may seem antiquated. But they may be the only thing that can deliver us from our self-destruction.
It may seem too simple, but if you haven’t already done so, try looking under that old pillow. You may be surprised by the treasure that you will find.
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