- Luis Palau (pronounced pahl-OW), is an Argentinean-born (1934,
to Roman
Catholic parents) international evangelistic preacher with immense
popularity in South and Central America. He claims to have been born-again at
age 12, and immigrated to the U.S. in 1960. Palau is the author of 44 books and booklets, and has
written more than 100 articles published in Charisma, Christian Herald,
Christian Parenting Today, Christian Reader, Christianity Today,
Decision, Discipleship Journal, Focus on the Family, Moody,
The Plain
Truth, Pursuit, World, World Vision, Worldwide
Challenge, and many other periodicals. He has been pegged by some to
replace the ecumenical Billy
Graham as the United States' pre-eminent evangelist; "the Billy Graham
of everywhere" says The Wall Street Journal. (This, of course, was
prior to the 11/95 appointment of Graham's son, Franklin, to replace the
retiring Billy.) Palau models his ministry and organization after Graham, being
influenced by Graham since 1962, when he served as a translator at a Graham
crusade in California. Graham gave Palau money to start his own organization in
1978, the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association (LPEA). Palau raises money for his
stadium crusades like Graham also -- the responsibility falls upon sponsoring
local churches.
- Palau is a graduate and member of the Trustee Board at the neo-evangelical/psychologically-oriented
Multnomah School of the Bible in Portland, Oregon (now Multnomah Biblical
Seminary). He is commonly called "the Billy Graham of South America."
The title is fitting, for he has followed Graham's new evangelical policies in
his crusades and has been willing to join hands with liberals, charismatics,
and Roman Catholics. His ministry has not been confined to South America,
however. He has had crusades in such diverse places as Aberdeen, Scotland; New
Zealand; Managua, Nicaragua; and Peoria, Illinois (New Neutralism II,
p. 67).
- Since Palau's first crusade in 1966, an estimated 14 million people in
69 nations have attended 414 of Palau's cross-denominational crusades and
rallies (now termed "Festivals") -- he has preached on every continent
except Antarctica, and was the first evangelist to hold stadium evangelistic
meetings in the Soviet Union (1989). In addition, tens of millions more have
been exposed to the Palau message through radio and TV broadcasts in 104
nations. His radio programs are broadcast each weekday on more than 500 stations
in North, South, and Central America (200 in the U.S.). Palau often purchases
television time in cities where he plans stadium crusades, airing a live call-in
program called Night Talk with Luis Palau (carried by two national
cable networks -- the National Empowerment Television Network and the
Inspirational Network). Viewers call to discuss their spiritual, family, and
other concerns. Palau claims to explain the basic Gospel and prays with those
who want to trust Jesus Christ. The national program also features taped
segments of live TV programs from Palau's U.S. crusades. [Palau now airs two
distinct radio programs -- Luis
Palau Responde and Cruzada,
Spanish radio programs broadcast on more than 500 stations throughout Latin
America and the United States; and Reaching Your World with Luis Palau, a
two-minute daily radio program, which went on the air 1/31/00, broadcast on more
than 530 stations in the English-speaking world.] (Source: LPEA
Internet web site, 8/27/01.)
The Luis Palau Evangelistic Association (LPEA), his Portland, Oregon based
non-profit organization, cites more than 757,000 "known public decisions
for Jesus Christ" as a result of the crusades, while tens of thousands more
have supposedly made life-changing decisions for Christ as a result of LPEA's
broad range of ministries. The LPEA has an annual budget of more than $4 million
and 80 full- and part-time employees. In 1995, the operation moved into a $1.3
million complex in Beaverton, Oregon, a Portland suburb. The new building
includes a television studio in addition to radio rooms. Palau has dreams of
becoming a "Christian-based alternative to 'Geraldo' and 'Oprah.' I want to
go nose to nose with the talk shows" (Martha Irvine: 10/13/95, Associated
Press story).
- What kind of gospel is preached at a typical Palau' crusade? Palau
conducted a "festival" in Waterbury, Connecticut on 4/29/01. In an
interview with Ed Flynn of "Talk of the Town" on radio station 1320
AM, on April 24, promoters of the Palau festival said that the evangelist is
"a uniter, not a divider," that he is nondenominational and sends his
converts "right back to the churches they come from."
On 10/1/93, WGN-TV superstation out of Chicago aired a tape of Palau's
message from his Phoenix Crusade held at the America West Arena the end of
October of 1992. [Jerry Colangelo, the president and CEO of the Phoenix Suns
professional basketball team, was the Crusade Chairman.] Palau's message was
titled, "Hope for the Stressed-Out."
Palau's message was peppered with "the Bible says" this/"the
Bible says" that, but Palau never quoted a Bible passage. For example:
"The Bible says the Lord saves us from the pit -- the pit of despair, the
pit of low self-esteem
... the Bible says He redeems your life from the pit." Palau, of course,
didn't give the passage from the Bible to document that the Bible actually says
God saves us from low self-esteem -- probably because there is no such passage.
(Chuck Swindoll,
Josh McDowell,
R.C. Sproul,
Clyde Narramore, and other
"Christian" psychologizers say the Lord saves us from low
self-esteem, but the Bible certainly doesn't say that. The salvation of sinners
depends upon the convicting power of the Holy Spirit to show sinners that they
are lost and guilty before God, so that they might repent
and place their trust in Christ for salvation. What does this have to do with
helping the sinner enjoy feelings of greater self-esteem?)
The serious error in Palau's so-called gospel message was further illustrated in
the Phoenix crusade video. The Phoenix message was interrupted with cut-outs to
a call-in television show Palau had done earlier in 1992. One caller, a
homosexual with AIDS from San Antonio, was "led to the Lord" by Palau
via the repetition of an easy-believism,
decisional regeneration type of prayer so common in today's crusade evangelism.
Nowhere in the prayer was there the acknowledgement that the man's homosexuality
was sin (although Palau told the caller that he had "failed" the God
who "loved and died for him").
- Scholars have observed that although evangelists traditionally preached
about hell-fire and brimstone, they began avoiding the topic entirely in the
1960s and '70s, concentrating instead on the love of God rather than risk of
offending the populace. Adhering to this trend, Palau says he will emphasize
God's forgiveness: "I think that's where I'm gearing my message," he
said. "I think there's a great sense of guilt in America. People want to
know if they're going to heaven, an implicit acknowledgment that there's a less
desirable alternative than paradise. There is no need to call Americans
sinners. They know it already." (Emphasis added.) (4/17/96, Chicago
Tribune). [In a 6/6/01 interview with Religion Today, Palau
confirms his position: "While he does not emphasize hell in his preaching
'to excess,' says Palau, 'I do bring it in as a warning -- not as a major but as
a minor emphasis.'"]
So not to offend with the gospel, Palau is, in effect, saying that he preaches a
watered-down gospel that is no gospel at all. For example, in 1995, Palau
preached to an estimated 26,000 in four meetings in Kathmandu, Nepal. Since
proselytization is illegal in Nepal, Palau encouraged Nepalis to "fall in
love with Jesus," instead of urging them to renounce Hinduism. This, of
course, is not the Gospel of Christ. And what about the other gods the Hindus
worship? They would gladly add Jesus to their thousands of other gods. They
might even make Him their chief god, but not the only God (10/95, O
Timothy). [Responding to BDM's criticism of Palau’s "watered-down
gospel," Palau responds in a 6/6/01 interview with Religion Today,
"Almost 80 percent of my preaching comes from the Bible. The other 20
percent is cultural, historic and psychological. I try to position and
think, 'Where is my audience coming from?'"]
- Many times the best indicator of the "Biblical quality" of a
ministry is the "quality" of those endorsing it. A Palau brochure
received by BDM in 12/93 had a section entitled "What Others Are
Saying." It included glowing endorsements from the ecumenical Billy Graham;
charismatic demon-deliverer
Evelyn Christenson; liberal charismatic preacher E.V. Hill; hyper-charismatic Jack
Hayford; and Catholic sympathizer and New
Age religionist Chuck
Colson. [In a separate piece of literature, Joseph Stowell, president of
Moody Bible Institute, endorsed Palau's 8-week Chicago Crusade scheduled for
April-May, 1996 (see below).]
BDM also received a book from the LPEA titled Say Yes!: How To Renew Your
Spiritual Passion (Multnomah Press, 1991, 168 ppgs.). In addition to
Graham, Hayford, and Colson endorsing the book, other endorsers were modernist
John Stott; Campus
Crusade's ecumenical leader Bill
Bright; Dallas Seminary's neo-evangelical psychologizer Howard
Hendricks; ecumenical social activist D.
James Kennedy; the then director of the neo-evangelical National Religious
Broadcasters, E. Brandt Gustavson; and financial psychobabbler Ron
Blue. [Additionally, on 12/2/93, TBN aired a tape of a Palau' message from
his 10/16/93-10/24/93 Greater Ft. Worth Crusade held at the Tarrant County
Convention Center. Giving testimonial endorsements prior to Palau's message were
ex-Dallas Cowboy football coach, Tom Landry, and self-love psychologizer and
motivational speaker Zig
Ziglar.]
Also, Palau's web site lists endorsers of his
ministry: Billy Graham, Chuck Colson, Jack Hayford, Joni Eareckson Tada, Joseph
Stowell, and the Archbishop of Canterbury (Angelican).
Of all the endorsers of Palau and his ministry, we could not find a single
endorsement by anyone even remotely considered to be an evangelical, Biblical
fundamentalist!
- Palau says the fight against violence and hopelessness in America must
be fought with more contemporary weapons. So he incorporates some modern devices
into his crusades. Christian
rap music replaces the traditional hymns at many events, and big-screen
video shots of sporting events are used to attract younger audiences. Palau
says, "I think we need to adapt rather than fight it. I'm sure somebody is
called to fight it, but my attitude is rather than fight it, exploit it."
Palau also quietly accepts the MTV cartoon characters, Beavis and Butt-head --
"Those two guys ... you can scream all you like, but they're here to stay,
those two," showing a sort of respect for the cartoon delinquents on MTV
(10/93 Associated Press report, printed in the Bloomington, Indiana, 10/23/93, The
Herald-Times).
An example of Palau's contemporary techniques would be his 1992 Phoenix Crusade
(which drew about 72,000 total over the five days of meetings). On the last day
of the crusade, the "Christian" rap group DC Talk
performed to about 16,000 of all ages amid roving colored lights and man-made
fog. (See the 6/96, Christian Conscience for a review
of a DC Talk concert -- article by John Beardsley, pp. 54-58.)
Palau sandwiched himself in the middle of the afternoon's festivities with a
short message and an invitation. About 700 came forward before the rapping
resumed. In his messages throughout the week, Palau frequently used humor and
made references to such popular figures as Madonna and Elizabeth Taylor. He said
he wants to present the Christian message "positively" and to show
people he's not a "ranting, raving preacher." In one message he talked
of heaven, but noted that many preachers dwell too much on hell (11/2/92, The
Arizona Republic).
- Palau's 8-week "Say Yes, Chicago" Crusade was held over a
57-day period in April-May, 1996, and featured more than 70 events in a variety
of metropolitan-area venues, including the Rosemont Horizon, the UIC Pavilion,
and Soldier Field. Palau staffers and a 150-member executive committee of local
clergy and laity raised $2.3 million and enlisted 1,700 churches from Kenosha to
Kankakee and DeKalb, as well as from the city and suburbs. The official Palau
Chicago campaign brochure lists churches of many denominations: Presbyterian, Lutheran,
Assemblies of God, Evangelical
Free, Nazarene, Episcopal, and Christian. Rock musicians performed.
Individual Catholic priests were involved in leadership roles. One of the
sponsoring churches was church
growth guru Bill
Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church. Ecumenical speakers included Tony
Evans, E.V. Hill, Raleigh Washington, Joseph Stowell, Erwin
Lutzer, and Rabi Maharaj. The attendance goal was set at 500,000; 15,000
people were given a two-hour training course on how to share their faith with
friends and neighbors. The schedule included a nightly call-in TV show, special
breakfasts and luncheons, and women's, children's, and youth events.
Palau claims to have preached the gospel to 129,000 people at 75 events
throughout greater Chicago, and to have bagged 9,460 new Christians during the
two-month campaign (of which 44% were "first-time commitments"). Palau
also presented his version of the gospel through 27 one-hour television programs
on four Chicago stations, originating in the studios of WCFC-TV38, and as a
result, claimed more than 650 callers "indicated they prayed with Luis or
with counselors, committing their lives to Christ." (Source: LPEA Internet
web site, 8/27/01.)
- From 1/1/80-1/4/80, a "Methodist Congress on Evangelism" was
held at Oral Roberts University. Palau appeared with Billy Graham, Oral Roberts,
Dr. Charles Allen of the First United Methodist Church of Houston, and several
Methodist bishops. This is just an example to show that Palau is not adverse to
cooperation with those still in the fellowship of apostate Methodism or those on
the radical fringe of charismaticism. In addition, Palau's 5/92 Peoria Crusade
included cooperation with over 150 churches, many of them liberal, charismatic,
and even some from John
Wimber's radical Vineyard
Christian Fellowship.
Palau's evangelistic association is also affiliated with the National
Association of Evangelicals (NAE). Along with (apostate) comedian Steve
Allen, Palau was a speaker at the 1987 convention of the National Religious
Broadcasters, an arm of the NAE at the time. Despite these dubious connections,
he has also been a speaker at Moody Bible Institute, Dallas Seminary's
"School of Evangelism," and the 25th anniversary celebration of Talbot
Seminary (New Neutralism II, pp. 67-68).
- Promise
Keepers is the gigantic new (1991) "men's movement" among
professing evangelical Christians. Its roots are Catholic and charismatic to the
core. PK's contradictory stand on homosexuality; its promotion of secular
psychology; its unscriptural feminizing of men; its depiction of Jesus as a
"phallic messiah" tempted to perform homosexual acts; and its
ecumenical and unbiblical teachings should dissuade any true Christian from
participating. Promise Keepers is proving to be one of the most ungodly and
misleading movements in the annals of Christian history. Nevertheless, Palau
is a promoter of this ecumenical, charismatic, psychologized men's movement, as
evidenced by his speaking at PK's 1992 National Men's Conference and at regional
stadium rallies in 1995, 1996, and 2000, and by his authoring a chapter in two
PK books (Go the Distance and Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper).
[Palau's wife, Pat, also authored a chapter in two PK books (Promises!
Promises! and The Joy of a Promise Kept) designed for the wives
of Promise Keepers. Others authoring chapters in Promises! Promises! are
the wives of Howard Hendricks, Gary
Smalley, and John Trent.)]
- Dr. Bill Jackson, president of the Association of
Fundamentalists Evangelizing Catholics (AFEC), prepared a 6/18/99 statement on
"The Gospel of Jesus Christ—An Evangelical Celebration" (EC) (see
the 6/14/99 Christianity Today for the
full text of the EC). This document has been endorsed by Charles Colson, Bill
Bright, and J.I. Packer, all of whom also signed the controversial ECT documents
of 1994 and 1997; as well as endorsed by R.C. Sproul, John
MacArthur and D. James Kennedy, all of whom publicly [albeit weakly]
challenged and criticized them for signing the ECT documents (see above). There
are a number of helpful statements in this latest document which deal with areas
which were not fully dealt with in the ECT documents (e.g., imputation is now
dealt with favorably, but has been consistently opposed by Roman Catholic
Councils and Catechisms). EC says, "We cannot embrace any form of doctrinal
indifferentism by which God's truth is sacrificed for a false peace." But
there is certainly no better example of "doctrinal indifferentism"
than the ECT documents themselves (James 1:8)! Because ECT I stated that
"Evangelicals and Catholics are brothers and sisters in Christ," in
order to be relevant the new EC document should be submitted to the Roman
Catholics who signed ECT I and II. It is difficult to see how a person could
subscribe to both ECT and EC. The only logical conclusion is for all who signed
EC to remove their names from ECT. It also appears that the so-called
"evangelical" ECT endorsers have been "let off the hook" by
former critics such as R.C. Sproul. We believe EC will be used to rehabilitate
those who erred in 1994 and 1997, without their having to admit or ask
forgiveness for their error. (Source: 7/15/99, Calvary Contender.) [Other "evangelical" endorsers of EC
among the 15 members of the Drafting Committee and 114 members of the Endorsing
Committee include John Ankerberg, Kay
Arthur, Tony Evans, Jerry
Falwell, Bill Hybels, David
Jeremiah, D. James Kennedy, Max
Lucado, Woodrow
Kroll, Tim
& Beverly LaHaye, Erwin
Lutzer, Bill
McCartney, Luis Palau, Pat
Robertson, Ronald Sider, Charles
Stanley, John Stott, Joseph Stowell, Chuck Swindoll, Bruce
Wilkinson, and Ravi Zacharias; also endorsing EC were hyper-charismatics
Jack Hayford and Steven Strang.]
However
ignorant Palau and fellow endorsers may be of all this, his participation in EC
makes him a party to its consequences. It is also important to note that the EC
document (which is supposed to be a definitive and comprehensive statement of
the true saving Gospel of Christ), never mentions repentance
for salvation, and never mentions the total depravity of man (thereby
leaning towards a decisional regeneration). Moreover, the EC promotes an
ecumenical unity (via "trans-denominational cooperative enterprises")
with all professing believers who attest to the EC's "essentials" of
the faith. But this is not the unity of the faith taught in Ephesians. While we
are instructed by Scripture to be of one mind, the evangelical today scoffs at
the idea of true Biblical unity based on complete agreement with, and submission
to, God's holy Word. The only use of the word "unity" in the New
Testament is found in Ephesians chapter four. It is a "unity of the
Spirit" (v. 3), not of men. It is a "unity of faith" (v. 13)
based on sound doctrine for which believers are to contend, not water down nor
reclassify into essentials and non-essentials (Jude 3). No real spiritual unity
can exist apart from doctrinal unity, and we are to "mark them which cause
divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid
them" (Rom. 16:17).
- Luis Palau was named as one of four Honorary Co-Chairmen of the
A.D. 2000 Evangelism organization. (The other three were Billy Graham, Campus
Crusade's Bill Bright, and Kyun Chik Han of Korea. Paul Cedar of the Evangelical
Free Church chaired the A.D. 2000 International Coalition of Christian Leaders,
which is composed of 200 key leaders from various denominations, national, and
local churches.) A.D. 2000 Evangelism is ecumenical, compromising to the core,
and even has some New Agers in its ranks (e.g., Jay Gary and Robert Muller), yet
many undiscerning or uninformed believers are supporting, praising, and
participating in it. This unscriptural evangelism movement includes Roman
Catholics, Orthodox, Charismatics, Pentecostals,
and Protestants of all kinds. It is evident that many have not yet realized the
impossibility of evangelizing the world when millions of those participating in
that effort preach a false gospel. This makes the A.D. 2000 Evangelism program a
curse, not a blessing.
According to the July-August 1993, Mission Frontiers Bulletin,
"These International Coalition leaders share the vision of the A.D. 2000
and Beyond Movement. ["A church for every people and the Gospel for every
person by A.D. 2000," is their slogan.] They are 'front line' leaders,
implementers, activists, equippers, and/or mobilizers in the ministry of world
evangelization. Coalition members give leadership to the involvement of their
own constituencies and share spiritual counsel with the various A.D. 2000
boards, committees and resource network leaders. They will seek to rally
support and resources of all kinds to see the objectives of the movement
fulfilled." (Emphasis added.) Seeking "all kinds" of support
simply means that they will utilize whatever group claims to be in agreement
with their "objectives" of global evangelization. The problem with
such an inclusivist policy, however, is that some of the groups whose support
they are trying to enlist embrace many unbiblical beliefs and strange gospels
(September-October 1993, Foundation magazine).
-
The "Alpha
Course" was devised by Holy Trinity Brompton, London, a large
charismatic Anglican church. Anglican priest Nicky Gumbel began teaching it in
1990. It is now the largest evangelistic effort in Britain and has been taken up
by the main denominations and spread to the U.S. and elsewhere. Luis Palau
has endorsed it. Its philosophy is New Age, leading to experiences rooted in the
occult. The Alpha Course, originally intended for new Christians, is now aimed
at the unchurched. But at its core is a "watered-down" gospel. It is
geared less to conversion than to seeking the spurious Toronto
Blessing experience. (Source: 12/15/98, Calvary Contender).
- Palau is a member of COR
(Coalition on Revival), a Reconstructionist/Dominionist
organization dedicated to a social
gospel/activism agenda that proposes to impose Biblical standards (e.g., Old
Testament law) on unbelieving peoples and institutions. Since Palau has signed
COR's Manifesto, it is interesting to read what the people affiliated with COR
believe. The following is from a brochure announcing the 12th Annual Northwest
Conference for Christian Reconstruction. Does this not sound like a different
gospel? (emphases added):
"The Christian Reconstruction movement believes that the Bible contains not only a message of personal salvation through the blood of Christ shed on the cross, but also a comprehensive law structure which is alone able to provide a just basis for society. It is committed to the view that sovereignty and thus government belong to God, and that all delegated government, whether to family, church or state (civil government), is to be exercised in obedience to the law of God's covenant. Furthermore, salvation involves every aspect of man's life and thus also the relationships he sustains to the world around him. The exercise of dominion in accordance with the terms of God's covenant is therefore basic and vital to the Christian faith. To neglect this is to deprecate the extent of Christ's victory at Calvary."
That Palau has no problem identifying with this movement is a bit
disconcerting to say the least. (For details of COR's unbiblical
strategy for "taking the world for Christ," see COR' documents titled A
Manifesto for the Christian Church, Forty-two
Articles of the Essentials of a Christian World View, and Twenty-five
Articles of Affirmation and Denial on the Kingdom of God. These three
documents, along with COR's 17
Sphere/World View Documents, make up what COR calls its "20 COR World
View Documents.")
- Campus
Crusade founder Bill Bright fasted 40 days during the summer of 1994, during
which he claims to have received a "prophecy from God" that a mighty
revival is coming. He then issued a call for hundreds of liberals, charismatics,
and new-evangelicals to gather in Orlando 12/5/94-12/7/94 to fast and pray for
revival. An Invitation Committee made up of a hodgepodge of 72 liberals, new
evangelicals, and charismatics was formed. Included
were: Robert Schuller, Charles Colson, E.V. Hill, Jack Hayford, James Dobson,
W.A. Criswell, Charles Stanley, Paul Crouch, Luis Palau, Bill Gothard,
Pat Robertson, Kay Arthur, and Larry Burkett. CCC's Bill Bright cites "a
great sense of urgency to link arms and unitedly call upon God for help in the
spirit of King Jehoshaphat (2 Chr. 20)." This ecumenical
"linking" is in the "spirit of Jehoshaphat" indeed, but the
Jehoshaphat of 2 Chr. 18 (instead of 2 Chr. 20) where he "linked" with
wicked King Ahab and incurred the wrath of God. (Reported in the 11/15/94,
Calvary Contender.)
[Another three-day "Fasting & Prayer" conference was held in 11/95
in Los Angeles; it attracted 3,500 "evangelicals" and charismatics.
The Invitation/Host Committee for this event included most of those listed
above, plus Dick Eastman, Chuck Smith, Bill McCartney (Promise Keepers), Tim and
Beverly LaHaye, Shirley Dobson, Paul Cedar (E-Free), Ted Engstrom (World
Vision), Joseph Stowell (Moody), and Joseph Aldrich (Multnomah). A third
conference was held 11/14/96-11/16/96 in St. Louis. New additions to the Host
Committee included Max Lucado, Henry Blackaby, Loren Cunningham (YWAM), Greg
Laurie, Dennis Rainey, Randy Phillips (Promise Keepers), Josh McDowell, D. James
Kennedy, Howard Hendricks, and Neil Anderson. (Conferences have been held every
year now, but there is an uncertain future with Bill Bright's August
2001retirement from Campus Crusade, and his 2003 death.)]
- While reporting on Amsterdam '86, Fundamental Evangelistic Association reporter Dennis Costella asked Palau if he would cooperate with Roman Catholics. Palau replied that he certainly would and admitted that it was being done. He went on to mention specific plans for more extensive Catholic involvement in his future crusades (Jul/Aug 1986, Foundation magazine). Some of the details of past Palau's involvement with Catholics follows:
(a) In 1974, in a meeting in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Catholic charismatics were among the counselors (8/16/92, Pastor James E. Singleton sermon, Tri-City Baptist Church, Tempe, Arizona).
(b) In Managua, Nicaragua in 12/75, a conservative tabloid Novedodes carried this headline: "Archbishop sees no problem with the Palau campaign." The 12/19/75 Christianity Today reported: "It enjoyed the support of most of Managua's 125 Protestant churches and many Catholics. Catholic charismatic groups attended."
(c) The Canadian Paper Faith Today (5/78) gave a glowing report of Palau's crusade in Montevideo, Uruguay. It said, "On the final night of the crusade, the secretary of the Catholic Bishop of Montevideo attended the meeting. He conveyed the Bishop's regrets that he could not attend personally, but he assured Palau that on some future occasion, he hoped to be present."
(d) The 1987 Palau Crusade in New Zealand was reportedly "the first time the Catholic Church has ever backed a major evangelical Christian mission" in that area. Catholic Bishop Dennis Browne of Auckland accepted an invitation to join the mission's advisory board along with leaders of many other denominations (4/18/86, College Weekly).
(e) The 1993 Palau Crusade in Jamaica featured this note in a 1/31 newspaper ad: "The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston gives wholehearted support in mobilizing its members to participate in the National Crusade 1993. This venture is seen by us as an important event in the spreading of the Gospel in an ecumenical manner" (3/15/93, Calvary Contender).
(f) A Palau Londonderry (Ireland) crusade campaign organizing committee member (a Baptist pastor) was interviewed on BBC radio in company with a Roman Catholic priest -- he did not dispute claims that Palau sends Catholics back to Rome. At Palau's 5/16/95-5/21/95 crusade, Roman Catholics and Protestants worshipped together in a tent-pavilion on the bank of the Foyle River, which divides Protestant and Catholic communities (6/12/95, NIIR; and 9/15/95, Calvary Contender).(g) Palau admits that his 2001 Mission Connecticut audience has been, in some spots, 60 to 70 percent Roman Catholic: "The good thing about that," according to Palau, "is that they bring a high respect for God, a high sense of sinfulness, and a sense of the holiness and the awesomeness of God" (6/6/01, Religion Today). [What a perverted view of the true spiritual state of Roman Catholics!]
- More evidence Palau has made a determined effort to appeal to Catholics: A 10/31/92 article in The Arizona Republic ("One In Christ: Luis Palau Emphasizes Similarities in Making Interdenominational Appeal," p. B8) detailed Palau's philosophy for reaching the lost in false religious systems:
"... Palau's form of worship presents such a broad Christian message that it appeals to Protestants and Catholics alike. ... But unlike other evangelicals who have actively tried to lure ... Catholics away from their churches, Palau aims to keep people in their own Christian churches -- regardless of denomination. ... 'on the core of Christianity, we are one,' Palau said in a recent interview. ... Palau represents a growing trend among religious groups ... that do not want to alienate Catholics. ... [Palau] carefully avoids the controversial differences between Catholics and Protestants. ... Protestants of Palau's type have a message that does not require abandoning church membership ... Bible studies are deliberately held at times that would not conflict with Masses and controversial subjects like the Virgin Mary are avoided. Instead there's an attempt to find a common ground in the Bible."
In other words, Palau's plan is to give them (Catholics, in the above
example) a watered-down, non-offensive gospel, and then leave them in the same
blasphemous religious system they were in before being "saved." [LEPA
and Palau have also taken part in the annual
ecumenical/charismatic/Catholic-accommodating March For Jesus
campaigns.]
- Some think that the ecumenical evangelism techniques used by Palau are
not that serious a matter, and that those opposing him are over-reacting. The
following excerpts are from a letter from the pastor of the First Romanian
Fundamentalist Baptist Church in Chicago:
"Louis Palau has organized evangelistic meetings in some cities in Romania. The Baptist believers in Romania were not informed about who he is, and therefore helped in these meetings. The association of Mr. Palau spread word that 40,000 have been converted through these meetings. I had the occasion of talking with some Romanian pastors after the meetings, and this is their evaluation:
(a) There were no additions to the churches with people "converted" in these evangelistic meetings;
(b) One pastor mentioned that the only result he could point to in his church was the one drunk person came to him and said he wanted to be baptized, for he heard Mr. Palau saying people need to be baptized. This was the evidence of people responding after the meetings;
(c) Some pastors observed that now they have a hard time organizing evangelistic meetings, because people have participated in those organized by Mr. Palau and their interest in these events is gone. By such actions, people are being immunized against the Word of God!If Mr. Palau has succeeded in anything in Romania, he has succeeded in conditioning people against the Gospel."
