Deliverance From Demons Helps Transform Fiery Preacher
Referring to some of his controversial stands, Robison said that while he still regarded homosexuality as sin, he believed it was no worse than Christians’ failure to love one another.
Robison also said in the letter that he has experienced “the most wonderful personal revival in my life.” In his new revival, he finds himself not just speaking salvation, healing and deliverance in civic centers to Baptist audiences, but in a wide spectrum of churches to a variety of listeners. And there is a new exuberance about his ministry, an almost childlike sense of awe at what God is doing.
“We are seeing people changed by the power of God,” he says. “Within one three-week period, I prayed for over 16,000 people who publicly repented and sought deliverance. People are just so hungry for God. Most of those who come to our meetings are Baptists. They are hungry for something to set them free and they realize traditionalism won’t do it. People who want the life of God are coming to the Word of God.
“I’m not seeking to please men,” he says. “Nothing matters to me but pleasing Jesus and I know He’s pleased. He’s got a grin from ear to ear—He’s so happy at what’s being done and accomplished for His glory.”
Not everyone is so pleased, however. Some people believe that Robison has been led astray by Green. Baptists who have embraced the teachings of Green are being called “Greenies” by detractors, who charge that churches are being split by those who have accepted Green’s message of healing and deliverance—preached at seminars sponsored by Robison.
Contributions to Robison’s ministry dropped almost 50 percent and he lost 20 percent of his TV affiliates shortly after he went public with his transformation.
Recently, his staff was elated that he had been invited to speak at First Baptist Church of Dallas. But church officials later announced that his appearance had been “postponed.” When he conducted a series of meetings at a large Baptist church in San Antonio, Texas, the pastor came under considerable fire from other pastors. Yet, the church was packed and when visitors were asked to stand, they made up half the congregation.
The secular press—never among Robison’s biggest fans—has been quick to jump onto the controversy. The Ft. Worth Star-Telegram ran a series of articles claiming that a number of Robison’s friends, including Jimmy Draper, Bailey Smith and Dr. Paige Patterson, were critical of the new direction of his ministry. But Robison says that many of those remarks were taken out of context or totally fabricated.
In fact, Robison has remained on good terms with Southern Baptist leaders, he says. While some Baptist churches have shut their doors to him, he still has more invitations from Baptist churches than he can fulfill.
Recently Robison preached at Cottage Hill Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama, where Dr. Fred Wolfe, immediate past president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s pastors conference, is pastor. More than 3,000 attended the Sunday evening service with hundreds turned away. Wolfe was chairman of a citywide crusade conducted by Robison in November. Just before that, he spoke to standing-room-only crowds at Park Avenue Baptist Church in Titusville, Florida. Church members watched sessions by video in a nearby gymnasium so that more visitors could fit into the 1,500-seat auditorium.
Throughout the controversy, Robison has refused to join in “proof-text” battles with those who disagree with him. If he had any fears about the financial repercussions of his actions, an incident last year proved to him conclusively God’ s faithfulness.
