Standing in the gap in Washington - The Promise Keepers

Hundreds were streaming into the Capitol. They call themselves 'Promise Keepers' and by Saturday October 4 1997, approximately half a million participated in the largest evangelical Christian gathering in American history.

For six sunny hours, men (and a fair number of women) from the Empire State of New York to the Golden State of California were planted on Washington DC's 'Mall' (a strip of grass between the United States Capitol and the Washington Monument).

Prior to this event, entitled 'Stand in the Gap - A Sacred Assembly of Men', the Promise Keepers men's movement had organised over 60 smaller gatherings in sports stadiums throughout the US since 1991, but nothing like this. 'Stand in the Gap' was of unprecedented scale. 12 jumbo television screens were placed throughout the Mall. The white dome of the US Capitol loomed large over the gathering.

Purpose

Perhaps Promise Keeper president, Randy Phillips, explained the purpose best in the opening hour. 'We have come to display our spiritual poverty that Almighty God might influence us.' Such displays of humility were clearly visible over the next six hours. At one point, as well-known California pastor, Jack Hayford, began to read a Psalm in introduction to prayer, thousands of men, without solicitation (perhaps having attended a Promise Keeper event before), lowered themselves to one knee and bowed their heads.

Prior to the event, Promise Keepers' leadership was questioned almost daily by the media. Randy Phillips cautioned visitors who were using this event as an opportunity to push a political gospel: 'When it comes to politics and faith, we confess that we have had too high a view of the ability of man and too low a trust in the sovereignty of God.' On the women's issue, he said: 'No woman, no woman should feel threatened by this gathering, because the ground is level at the foot of the cross.'

The agenda of the Promise Keepers movement, while constantly questioned, has been clear since they published the book Seven promises of a Promise Keeper in 1994:

'First, honour Jesus Christ;
second, pursue vital relationships with other men;
third, practise spiritual, moral, ethical and sexual purity;
fourth, be committed to building strong families;
fifth, support the mission of a local church;
sixth, reach beyond racial and denominational barriers; and
seventh, influence the world through obedience to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.'

Repentant fathers and husbands

The day's agenda focused around three groupings of talks. The first grouping was a reminder to men that there has been a forsaking of God, a disregard for his Word, a chronic lack of prayer and, very specifically, sexual sin, with all its ill effects on family and culture. 'Stand in the Gap' speakers did not just call for open ears, they asked half a million men to bow in confession of sin.

How much unity?

After a brief time of worship, the next main grouping of talks focused on disunity in the body of Christ and the pride that keeps denominations from working together. Popular author, Max Lucado, was the main speaker here. In a men's movement the size of Promise Keepers, one might argue that sectarianism simply has to be addressed.

How much unity is the Promise Keeper movement calling for? That is hard to say. As an evangelical movement, we trust there is no desire to compromise the gospel of Jesus Christ for the sake of unity. On October 4, the call for denominational walls to tumble was both voiced loudly and heard clearly by Promise Keepers. In Britain, some evangelicals have questioned the Promise Keepers, feeling that their stress and unity and lack of doctrinal clarity in the seven promises has opened the door to New Ageism, Catholicism and pluralism in their ranks. Lucado went as far as to call for the 'miracle of the millennium', a united church.

Racial harmony

The third grouping of talks focused on racial reconciliation within the body of Christ. The claim has been heard before and it was repeated at 'Stand in the Gap': 11.00 am on Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in America. This statement was agreed with by the Promise Keeper crowd, a crowd that the Washington Post estimated to be 80% white, 14% black and 2% Asia. The 1995 US census statistics report that nationwide (men and women) the US is approximately 83% white, 13% black and 4% Asian. Sundays at 11.00am may be the most segregated time in America, but the 'Stand in the Gap' crowd seemed to be generally reflective of the population as a whole.

The hour spent considering racial reconciliation was an intense one. Along the same Mall that Martin Luther King Jr. gave his 'I have a dream' speech just over 30 years earlier, men gave testimony to the betrayal that King felt when white churches ignored his non-violent fight for justice.

Church and mission

While these three groupings of talks proved to be the skeleton of 'Stand in the Gap', there were other concentrated moments as well. There was a time of prayer for overseas missions. There was a strong call for men to be godly leaders in local churches. Last year, the Promise Keeper organisation ended the practice of passing out 'commitment cards' for Promise Keepers to sign, so as not to cloud the importance of membership in a local church. And, of course, there was great encouragement and vociferous exhortation to be men who show love for their Father in heaven and their family on earth through serving both sacrificially. Washington DC, like most metropolitan centres, is not considered a 'family-friendly' culture; long and late workdays abound. Such exhausting schedules too often leave God and family distant priorities.

The founder of Promise Keepers, former college football coach Bill McCartney, concluded the six-hour summit with a Promise Keeper's vision statement which had basically two distinct parts: the first part, evangelism on the home front; the second part, international growth of the men's movement. For the next two years, Promise Keepers intends to organise several events similar to past events (though smaller). One difference: there will be no admission charge. This is significant considering most events in the past have cost roughly US $60 per person.

Future?

Turning Promise Keepers into an engine primarily for the purpose of evangelism does run some risks. First, Promise Keepers has become synonymous with striving to be a better husband and a better father. Being a Christian is first about knowing who God is, second about knowing who we are, and third about trusting that those who truly repent of their sin and believe in Jesus as Lord and Saviour will be saved.

No Christian man in history has ever been given eternal life on the basis of racial reconciliation, denominational reconciliation, how much he loved his wife or family or even how much he served his church. As the apostle Paul said in Romans 4 of all who truly believe: '. . . all sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.' This is a powerful and life-giving message. It must be kept clear.

When asked about 'Stand in the Gap', Washington pastor and former staff member at Eden Baptist Church, Cambridge, Dr. Mark Dever, said: 'Like all revivals in the history of the church, even the most powerful movings of God's Spirit are mixed with our faults. The flaws shouldn't steal our gratitude to God for the movement of his Spirit.' The Promise Keepers movement is full of flaws - important flaws that, Lord willing, will be addressed.

And now, it is claimed that God's Spirit is moving the Promise Keepers overseas. It's a large vision, but so is bringing half a million men to the Washington Mall.

Aaron Menikoff joined Capitol Hill Baptist Church in November 1996 to assist the pastor with the demands and opportunities of a growing, urban church. He and his wife, Deana Menikoff, both live in the Capitol Hill community. Aaron has a degree in economics from the University of Oregon and, prior to beginning full-time service at CHBC, was a legislative assistant and speechwriter for United States Senator, Mark O. Hatfield. He is currently pursuing a Masters in Divinity degree.