ECUMENISM: PATH TO SUPREME WORLD POWER FOR ROME
They hoped for 1 million Christians to gather on the Mall. The event fell far short of the mark, turning out only an estimated 350,000. Nevertheless, it was important enough to the ecumenical movement to be addressed by the Pope and receive a message from President Obama:-
Thousands of Christians gather to worship in Washington DC
About 350,000 people of all faiths gathered together on the National Mall in Washington DC on July 16 for Together 2016 to declare that Jesus changes everything and asking him to “reset the generation.”. . .
“We want people to know today that Jesus welcomes anyone who comes to the table of grace. There, you can experience forgiveness,” organiser Nick Hall, 34, told the crowd. “Jesus does not have a big fence over his house saying you come in you don’t. God will you heal our nation and gather leaders around the world so that they too can turn their attention toward this gathering.”. . .
Former NFL player Tim Tebow made an appearance, and a letter from President Barack Obama was read to those present.
“I send greetings to all those gathered at Together 2016 in times of joy and uncertainty alike Christians have turned to Jesus,” Obama said. “As you come together today to pray, to learn, to share, to love and reset you have my best wishes for a memorable event.”
Pope addresses thousands gathered at National Mall in video message
Francis tells youth Christ is the answer to their restlessness during ecumenical rally in Washington:
On July 16, Pope Francis, in a pre-recorded video message, spoke to thousands of Christians from across denominations who were gathered on the National Mall in Washington, in an attempt to push the reset button on ecumenical relations.
Together 2016, organized by a coalition of evangelical leaders led by Nick Hall of PULSE Ministries, was designed, according to its website, “to bring people from all backgrounds together for a unified day of worship and prayer, asking Jesus to reset the nation.”. . .
There was scattered criticism of the event in its lead-up; some wrote to event organizers scoffing at the notion of being able to “plan” a revival; others expressed mistrust at the invitation of Catholics to the discussion, fearing that their inclusion would make the event no longer a Christian gathering. Grammy winner David Crowder, however, was thrilled about that aspect of it: “To me, I’m excited that Catholics and Protestants can share the stage together at an event like this.”
There was no denominational agenda in the presentations, but the speakers and performers certainly reflected an evangelical, and even charismatic bent. As the event concluded, a montage on the projection screen featured a vintage reel of Billy Graham at one of his signature crusades — an indication of the kind of movement that Hall and PULSE were aiming to emulate.*
It is interesting to note that there is residual recognition in the Evangelical world that the Roman Catholic Church is not a Christian Church. There is still some work to be done; but the Pope and the Democratic President of the United States have declared their common interest in advancing the ecumenical movement. There is no doubt that what is determined will come to pass. Rome has already made great strides towards ecumenical union through interfaith dialogue. Now there is evidence that she is ready to administer the coup de grace by pretending to accept the principles of the Protestant Reformation, having already undermined Protestantism by fostering erosion of faith in the Bible:
Roman Catholics seek unity with Protestants 499 years after the Reformation
With the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation in 2017, Catholic Bishops in Germany have reached out to Protestants.
They've released a new report, which speaks warmly about Martin Luther – the founder of the German Reformation – while also addressing some of the key theological disputes between Catholics and Lutherans.
Bishop Gerhard Feige said the "Catholic Church may recognize today what was important in the Reformation – namely, that Sacred Scripture is the center and standard for all Christian life." Given that this was one of the main disputes at stake during the schism, this is a major olive branch from the Catholic Bishops.
He also said, "Connected with this is Martin Luther's fundamental insight that God's self-revelation in Jesus Christ for the salvation of the people is proclaimed in the Gospel – that Jesus Christ is the center of Scripture and the only mediator."
The role of Scripture and the perception that Catholics thought there were others who mediated between humans and God (than Jesus) were two of the major dividing lines between Protestants and Catholics for centuries.
With the 500th anniversary of the Reformation approaching, ecumenical efforts are stepping up. There have already been theological and doctrinal agreements between the Lutheran Church and the Roman Catholic Church over the last 40 years. Now though, it seems both churches (who between them claim more than half of all Germans as members) are preparing to put on a show of unity.
The role of Martin Luther is important. Having been a Catholic Priest, he was denounced as a heretic when he nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg (the event from 499 years ago which will be commemorated in 2017). Now, though, the document describes him as, "a religious pathfinder, Gospel witness and teacher of the faith."
One will look in vain for unequivocal condemnation of the ecumenical movement in the publications of the contemporary Seventh-day Adventist Church. To the contrary, strange commendations of the Pope and the Church of Rome appear in official publications. (Cf. PROGRESSIVE ADVENTISM - THE ENEMY WITHIN; THE GREAT APOSTASY.) The following article by a Presbyterian exposes the deception being perpetrated by the German Catholic Bishops in the report above, and condemns the ecumenical movement in the clearest terms:
The ecumenical movement – What it REALLY is
A brief outline of the nature of the Ecumenical movement and what the Christian’s response to it should be.
The term ecumenical is derived from a Greek word that means “earth” or “world”. The term simply indicates that the intention of those who are engaged in ecumenical activity is to build one world-wide Church. The ecumenical movement is a movement that has Church unity as its goal.
The twentieth century has seen great advances in this direction. The establishment of the World Council of Churches in 1948 was a quantum leap toward church unity. Since then there has been a steady increase in ecumenical activity both in a national and international sense. In recent times the evidence of the progressive strides that ecumenism has made is alarming. For example, the sixty four Lutheran denominations around the world are on the verge of accepting a joint statement with the Roman Catholic Church on the doctrine of Justification. When we think that Luther, the man from who this Church derives its name, broke from Roman Catholicism over this very issue, we see that the ecumenical movement is perilously close to success. The production of joint statements in 1994 and again in 1997 by Evangelicals and Catholics Together further shows how successful this movement has been. This group includes high ranking ‘evangelicals’ from the North American religious scene led by Charles Colson. The joint statement was then endorsed by other evangelicals including J. I. Packer and Bill Bright. Evangelical leaders like Dr Billy Graham are in the forefront of this ecumenical drive for religious unity and promote numerous inter-church activities. These are men that vast numbers of Christians listen to, support and follow. Many are carried along on this tide of ecumenism without understanding what it is and where it will take them. Ignorance has always been the Devil’s chief weapon in his destructive attacks on the cause of Jesus Christ [Cf. Hosea 4:6.] It is necessary that every one who is truly born of God examine the ecumenical movement in the light of Scripture, not in the light of popular opinion and obey what God has to say about it.
Roman Catholicism and the Ecumenical Movement.
It has long been the goal of the Roman Catholic Church to bring the “separated brethren” in the Protestant denominations back into fellowship with itself and so undo the work of the great Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century. As part of the Second Vatican Council a Decree on Ecumenism was issued by Pope Paul VI on November 21, 1964. This decree is the authoritative statement of the Roman Catholic Church on ecumenical activity and on her involvement in it. . .
Ecumenism requires the help of numerous participants. One key participant in the march back to Rome is the Charismatic movement. This movement has an important role to play since it is very largely non-denominational and so very easily becomes inter-denominational. The charismatic movement has always emphasized personal feeling and experience above the written doctrines of Scripture. This has made it a very useful tool in the hand of the Devil. When the written doctrines of God’s Word are departed from or weakened error creeps in undetected — indeed error is welcomed by those ignorant of truth! The cardinal Scriptural doctrines of sin, justification and the once for all redeeming work of Christ became less important than the “charismatic experience” and so they were largely set aside and ignored. When the charismatic movement began to make inroads into the Roman Catholic Church the door was opened wide for a return to Rome. . .
The Neo-evangelical factor.
There are many involved in the ecumenical movement who claim to be “evangelical”. The term “evangelical” is derived from the Greek word translated “Gospel” in the New Testament. An evangelical therefore is someone who preaches and believes the gospel of the Bible. Those in the ecumenical movement who claim to be evangelical are deceivers because they no longer believe or preach the gospel as it is recorded in Scripture. They have departed from the faith and although they may still use Biblical terminology in reality they preach another gospel. Many of the populist preachers of our day fall into this category. Dr Billy Graham is a case in point and there are many following in his wake who have abandoned the truths of God’s Word for a popular message that has no sin, no guilt, no Hell and no salvation in it. These modernists have openly embraced Roman Catholicism and are leading their followers back to union with Rome. Dr Graham is on record eulogizing the Pope as the greatest Christian on earth. His crusades have for many years involved Roman Catholic priests as counselors and he has encouraged his Roman Catholic “converts” to return to their Church. Such cooperation with Roman Catholicism by those who profess to be evangelical has done much to advance the ecumenical march back to Roman darkness. . .
God calls His people to separate and to resist the wicked trends of today. It is always easier to go with the crowd and therefore resistance to popular ecumenical activity carries a price. It will mean unpopularity; it will mean shame and the scorn of the crowd. Faithfulness to God, however, always means, the well done of God. Which will it be for you? The reward of popularity here on earth or the well done of God? John 12:42-43 records that among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Let us not follow this cowardly and shameful example in our day when an uncompromising stand for God is unquestionably called for! (Underscored emphasis added.)
This last paragraph speaks to all "Protestant" Christians, not least of all Seventh-day Adventists.