"I don't think anything has been done in the name of Christ and under the banner of Christianity that has proven more destructive to human personality and, hence, counterproductive to the evangelism enterprise than the often crude, uncouth, and unchristian strategy of attempting to make people aware of their lost and sinful condition." Robert H. Schueller

Fulton Sheen:
"Keep your eyes on the crucifix,
for Jesus without the cross is a man
without a mission, and the cross without Jesus is a burden without a
reliever." The Cross does not play a major part in Schuller's theology. Maybe the work of Christ in taking the sins of the world upon Himself isn't that big a deal?

CP: Do you also bring in any of the suffering and sacrifice messages of Jesus and the cross?

Schuller: It depends on how that’s defined. The suffering of Jesus Christ is a true thing that took place historically and I think the suffering of Jesus Christ is very real and I think we need to recognize that as individuals. I think what’s more important, however, is for us to understand what that means. And for us as individuals it means that grace of Jesus Christ abounds. So I communicate not so much the suffering of Jesus Christ like The Passion of the Christ movie. When I think of that movie, I think ‘Wow, man, that’s tough.’ And we need to be aware of it. But what’s more important than that is what it means for us. And what it means for us is that we can live victorious lives if we confess Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord – that the direction that God has for our lives can be discovered, realized, lived and we can be people God’s designed us to be. And I that’s what I think the Christian life is all about – living the life that God wants us to live. So I don’t think God wants us to focus on the suffering of Jesus Christ as much as He wants us to focus on serving Jesus Christ.

CP: Do you also feel that the culture today is more receptive of the positive messages and people are maybe turned off by messages of suffering and the cross?

Schuller: There’s nothing wrong with talking about the cross because the cross is the symbol of hope and talking about the suffering of Jesus Christ is just one small piece of the whole Gospel message. And to focus too much on the suffering of Jesus Christ is to put emphasis on a small area which is insignificant compared to the larger area of serving Jesus Christ.

The Word of God: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Galatians 6:14)

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” (Philippians 3:10, 11)

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12)

“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake…” (Philippians 1:29)

“And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:46, 47)

CP: I actually have yet to hear you preach, but how would you describe the messages you deliver each week. What do you try to convey to listeners?

Schuller: First and foremost, I want to encourage, uplift and inspire people. That’s really my calling – to inspire people. I define the word ‘inspire’ from my Greek studies which means to breathe the breath of life. So I want to inspire people. And for me, that is communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a positive way. I always start with a text that I think is inspiring and uplifting and motivating and communicate that message in a contemporary way that people can appreciate and try to bring in the history and education to the process, communicate an awareness and understanding of the Bible that people can hold onto.

The Word of God: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4:2-4)