Growing Ecumenical Deception Taking Hold, Pt 3

Friday, November 3, 2017 8:58

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Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

Prior to his untimely death from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in 2014, Anglican Bishop Tony Palmer acted as a bit of a liaison between the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) and Protestant denominations to bring about a unity he felt was absent within Christendom. He stated and believed that “diversity is divine, but division is diabolical.” Pope Francis considered Palmer a good friend. In the video below, Palmer begins speaking at the 4:30 mark after being introduced by Word of Faith leader, Kenneth Copeland, at his church. Palmer speaks on behalf of Pope Francis in regards to “unity.”

Taking the time to listen to Palmer’s words, there are clearly some interesting things he said in an attempt to point to the fact that the Roman Catholic Church is the “church,” God’s Church, that He is building. Apparently, he even wanted to convert to Catholicism from Anglicanism but never did so.

Though the word “catholic” means “universal,” the Roman Catholic Church, by its name, is limited in scope. However, adding the word “Roman” to “catholic” implies that the true Church – Christ’s Bride – is actually the branch history defines as the Roman Catholic Church. Therefore anyone who is not part of the Roman Catholic Church (or RCC), is not really part of Christ’s Church.

Since its inception, the Roman Catholic Church has done everything it could to be the only game in town. This was effectively done by squelching people’s ability to gain personal access to the Bible. Since it had not been written in common languages early on, this was not that difficult to do. Of course, when men came along who wanted to translate the Bible into common languages, the Catholic Church did everything they could to keep this from happening, including executing some of the men.

For roughly 1,100 years, the Catholic hierarchy kept God’s Word from laypeople ostensibly to keep them from misunderstanding Scripture and believing the wrong thing. When Martin Luther, Calvin, Tyndale, Wycliffe, and others had had enough and attempted to break from what was believed to be Catholic doctrine that did not square with Scriptures, they were met with great resistance from that hierarchy. This attempt to reform what was seen as abject error within Catholicism led to severe persecution and even death by those who deigned to speak against Catholic teachings. The Reformation made one thing very clear – salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ’s work on our behalf alone – just as the Bible teaches.

It would appear that elements within the Charismatic Movement, along with the Roman Catholic Church are moving to embrace as fully as possible a coming great unification. Many evangelical leaders are now adopting aspects of Catholicism and introducing them to crowds as they speak before them.

With Catholicism doing its part with help from others (like the late Tony Palmer), we are seeing more and more people reaching across the aisle and embracing aspects of Roman Catholicism. Yet, Catholic doctrine has not changed dramatically. They still believe that salvation – while given by God through Jesus – must be at least maintained by the penitent or risk losing it. Some form of “indulgences” also come up at every Catholic funeral we’ve ever attended.

We’ve written numerous books and articles on the end times/last days highlighting what the Bible teaches we should expect. As stated repeatedly, we take the Bible literally – in its most plain and ordinary sense – (not literalistically). We do not interpret the Bible allegorically. Most people who read and study the Bible also take the Bible literally until they arrive to passages of Scripture that deal with prophetic discourse (eschatology, the study of future things). Too many people will then switch to an allegorical interpretation at that point for no reason other than that’s what they’ve been taught to do.

What does this do to the text of Scripture? Obviously, it changes the intended meaning of God’s Word and often does so dramatically. Because the Roman Catholic Church adopted Augustine’s views on eschatology, this is what is taught in Catholicism and passed down to each new generation of Catholics. The average Catholic sitting in the pew is simply told what the prophetic Scriptures mean from the Augustinian perspective. Augustine was intent on moving Christianity away from Judaism and because of that, he tended to throw out the baby with the bath water. He also became fairly anti-Semitic in his views as well, as did Martin Luther toward the end of his life.

Because of this, passages of Scripture that refer to God’s reinstatement of Israel in the last days are instead, normally applied to the Church by these folks. Of course, in that context, the Church equals the Roman Catholic Church.

Non-Catholics understand the Church as the Body of Christ, a spiritual “building” that God is putting together each time a person becomes saved. However, for the Catholic, there is no salvation outside of the Catholic Church. If you become a member of Catholicism, you are saved. It works the same way in Islam as well. That’s not what the Bible teaches unfortunately.

This is also the large difference between Catholicism and Protestantism. Catholics are taught to believe that Catholicism is the Church and to remain outside of it is to remain unsaved. It is interesting that this belief within Catholicism is not seen as judgmental or divisive.

For Protestants, because the mainline denominations are often very similar, a person can belong to a Baptist church or a Presbyterian church and be saved in either one. However, simply to become a member of a Protestant denomination does not equal salvation. For most, a person must be saved first and must provide testimony of that before they can become a member of a local body.

Watching the video with the remarks by Pope Francis simply confirms that there is no wiggle room on that particular point. Come back to the Catholic Church or lose out. Again, though this would be seen as divisive if someone from a Protestant denomination made that statement (or intimated it), it is not seen that way when the Pope says it. Why? Because Catholics believe the Pope is an apostle and when he speaks, he speaks the mind of God. Catholics don’t see the need to use discernment because this is what they’ve always known and it is simply accepted by them without question.

The same applies to many people within the Charismatic Movement and NAR. There is a great need for discernment yet it appears barely there, if at all. The things that pass as actual Christianity that occur within NAR churches and gatherings leave a great deal to be desired. We’ll likely highlight some videos in upcoming articles that provide examples (in another series).

In the above video, highlights Kairos 2017. Notice the headline – Unity + Revival Conference 2017. This conference just took place and it was designed to bring about unity between various denominations and Roman Catholicism. The goal was to set aside differences since the Reformation and simply embrace. But let me ask, what has changed within Catholicism? If Luther were alive today, would he no longer have difficulties with Catholic theology?

We believe all of this is moving religious global society toward one of the things that will grow into place as we approach the end of this age – a one-world religious system just as there will be a one-world government.

The Bible highlights the fact that there will be an Antichrist – the final man of sin as Paul refers to him in 2 Thessalonians 2. This Antichrist will oppose all that God is and will seek to raise himself up as being equal to God. His lying signs and wonders will capture the hearts and minds of people across the globe. There will also be a False Prophet who will direct attention and accolades to the Antichrist. We won’t know who these individuals are until they are revealed, but certainly many have offered their guesses. We’ve no interest in attempting to guess.

If Antichrist walked onto the religious scene right now, he would very likely be fully accepted and even worshiped by many with the New Age, the Charismatic Movement, NAR, and elsewhere. Why? Because of a complete lack of discernment on the part of many. Just consider the way Steven Furtick (Elevation Church), introduced Bishop T. D. Jakes to the platform at his church, who referred to Jakes as the greatest preacher of this generation, yet Jakes holds several heretical viewpoints regarding God’s nature that do not square with Scripture at all. Or listen to Mike Bickle (IHOP) talk about Bill Johnson (Bethel, Redding CA), as though he were God’s gift to the Church. This ought not to be but it exists.

On one hand, we are very concerned to see how much exponential growth has occurred toward “unity” (ecumenism) since the 1970’s with another huge push in the 1990’s. On the other hand, God has foretold of it and warned us of it in His Word for those who are willing to read it. Why is there no discernment today or a seriously lack of it? Because people do not read the Bible or study it on their own or even with others. If they open it at all, they do so once a week. People today prefer to chase after experiences. They want to feel good about themselves and others. For that to happen, doctrinal barriers must come down.

The reason this is all happening has to do with society’s growing reliance on feeling or emotional virtue. If it feels good, do it was a motto of the 1960’s counter-culture. It has made its way into aspects of the Church and how people feel about something is how they determine truth.

We’ll end this series with this article, but we’re starting another one that will focus on something similar. Brothers and sisters, we have an obligation to live in a way that brings God great glory. Too much of what is out there simply glorifies the flesh, not God.

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

Source: https://studygrowknowblog.com/2017/11/03/growing-ecumenical-deception-taking-hold-pt-3/