Robert H. Schuller
Robert H. ( Harold ) Schuller ( born September 16, 1926 in Alton, Iowa) is an American televangelist, founder of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, which is part of the Reformed Church in America (Reformed Church in America).
Life
Robert Schuller, not to be confused with the Californian evangelist Robert Pierce Shuler, grew up in a family of Dutch immigrants. The decision to become a pastor, Schuller summed up as a small child.
After visiting the Hope College in Michigan, the Schuller graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, he began theological studies. This he graduated also in Michigan in the Western Theological Seminary and finished in 1950. Upon his marriage he moved with Arvella DeHaan, freshly ordained with her to Chicago, where he was pastor of a Reformed Church. Under his leadership, the membership of the church increased significantly.
Mission
In 1955, the Reformed Church of the United States Schuller called to plant a new church in Garden Grove, California. $ 500 starting capital to Schuller got to work. At the end came the idea to him, in the morning hold services Sunday in a drive-in theater. Schuller built there a large cross on the roof of a snack and built his lectern. His wife played on a small organ, which brought the Schuller every Sunday itself. For the first church appeared to 100 people in their cars. " My church shunned me when she learned that I was preaching in a drive-in theater ," said Schuller decades later.
Schuller's unorthodox style of preaching, the council had to grow steadily. Six years after the first service in the drive-in a real church building was erected, the Crystal Cathedral ( Crystal Cathedral ). Over the years it has been constantly expanding. At the same time there services held are recorded and broadcast under the title Hour of Power in many nations of the world.
Behind the architectural concept is intention: Schuller left the church so designed that it acts like a garden. In the middle of the church extends a long-drawn wells. Plants surround the sanctuary and the stained glass windows give a view of the sky.
Concept
Schuller's theological concept is heavily focused on the people. He sees man as a being whose capabilities can be greatly increased. The Christian faith serves as a channel to achieve this goal. Positive messages are at the center of his sermons. An often Applied agent in his sermons is to talk about people who are terrible tragedies have gone through and have preserved nevertheless a positive attitude towards life. Schuller calls this positive thinking " Possibility Thinking ". In this theological concept Schuller was heavily influenced by Norman Vincent Peale, with whom he was a close friend.
Robert H. Schuller is allegedly succeeded as the first foreigner to hold onto a Soviet television stations a sermon. First, however, be the beginning was less encouraging in Russia. Schuller tried to smuggle Bibles into the Communist country and was getting caught at the airport, but was allowed to enter. On a visit to a church that had been converted into a " museum of atheism ", the museum guide recognized him on a collage of " enemies of the state ". Shortly afterwards, Schuller was expelled from the Soviet Union, but soon returned again. Under the government Gorbachev began a rethink on religious issues. Schuller was appointed to Russia to negotiate with the leaders of the television station about a 20 minute sermon. Despite strong resistance, he prevailed and got his airtime. A second sermon soon followed.
Euro7
Schuller participated in the Dutch television euro7, which started on 19 October 1994. At that time it was the first commercial television station in the Netherlands and sent on weekdays and three hours on the weekend 10 hours. In January 1997, the station has been halted due to economic losses.
- He preached " Believe in yourself " instead of " faith in Jesus ".
- Schuller say that there is no sin. The biblical concept of forgiveness mean - Schuller - after the realization that there is no sin.
- Schuller accept the contents and methods of the New Age movement.
- Schuller it go rather to fill the church to proclaim the biblical truth.
From its proponents, this criticism is firmly rejected. Schuller confess to the creed of the Hour of Power / Crystal Cathedral ( " Statement of Faith "). Therein the sinfulness of humanity will stresses as well as the redemptive power of God through the substitutionary sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.
Deselection
After his son Robert A. Schuller already retired from the church council of the Crystal Cathedral Ministries in 2008, founder Robert H. Schuller in June 2011, was voted out. However, this was reversed on 22 July 2011 and Dr. Schuller is still on the board as honorary chairman active. To have been a dispute with his daughters and sons- about the enlargement of the Executive Board based on the first decision. Schuller was entered in recent years, with critical remarks about the development of the community to the public. Thus he criticized the decision of the current head of Crystal Cathedral Ministries, his daughter Sheila Schuller Coleman, to be signed by members of the choir a contract in which Jesus Christ referred to as " Lord and Savior " and the marriage was defined as an institution between a man and woman. Schuller said in this connection that everyone in his church would be welcome.