Volume One, Issue Ten
8/98
Guess what? Found another amazing article. So here goes ...
FEATURE ARTICLE
The following article is by Mike Gendron, a born-again ex-Catholic. His web pages can be reached at:
http://www.pro-gospel.org/
The following article entitled “Let No One Deceive You With Ecumenical Evangelism” can also be accessed with your browser in its original format at:
http://www.pro-gospel.org/Newsl/news07-98.html
The article articulates what I have been trying to for quite some time, only much better ... the danger of unity for unity’s sake. True born again Christisn who are obedient to God are already united in Spirit under Christ. It’s not something we have to spend all our time striving for because it is already firmly established. What is more important is to obey God, to “do” and “be” what is pleasing to Him, preach the gospel, remain in sound doctrine, and take up our cross and follow Christ. This article illustrates where the current ecumenism is headed. Speaking for myself, my energies will no longer be put into fruitless displays of ecumenical “unity”. Christ will return soon. It’s time to reach out to the hopeless with the “living water” of the gospel message and food for the widows and orphans. It’s time to teach ourselves and Christians under our care how to have discernment and to search the Scriptures daily for the answers. It’s time to pray! Many are planning to join with the Roman Catholic Church and the pope in a celebration in 2000 while ignoring the very problems that will cause many to be damned to hell. This is serious business. May all saints stop dabbling in salvation by works, Christian sorcery, fruitless “manifestations” and false doctrines that tickle the ears. Let’s wake up and be on the alert, for wolves have crept into the fold and, I hate to say it ... WE LET THEM IN! I pray daily that those who are deceived and deceiving will be brought to utter despair and repentance ... or, if not, simply brought down by the hand of God, in His time, by His sovereign will. Whether you like it or not, or choose to believe it or not, the battle is upon us. Will you side with apostate churches just so you can say you are “loving” and “in unity” or will you side with Christ who calls us to obey what He has already commanded in Scripture?
I highly recommend the “Proclaiming The Gospel” newsletter from Gendron, to which I subscribe, and a few of his paper tracts, entitled “Are You Being Deceived? Which is worse - to be insulted, embarrassed or deceived?” and “Roman Catholicism - Scripture Vs. Tradition”. These are valuable tracts to use as guidelines for witnessing to Catholics. You will find ordering information on Mike’s web pages.
Now for the article ...
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Let No One Deceive You With Ecumenical Evangelism
by Mike Gendron
As we approach the new millennium, we are witnessing the greatest push toward ecumenical unity the world has ever seen. Under the banner of AD 2000 all professing Christians are urged to join hands to fulfill the Great Commission before the year 2000. This pronounced urgency for ecumenical evangelism is an attempt to provide Jesus a wonderful 2000th birthday present when He returns. The movement has easily captured the fancy of many Christians.
However, the proposal for all Christians to forget their differences and unite for the purpose of evangelizing the world, completely ignores the fact that Roman Catholic, Orthodox and many Protestant churches preach a false gospel that denies the sufficiency of Jesus Christ and His finished work of redemption. A key to the success of this effort to unite has been a commitment to “tolerate one another’s beliefs and just love Jesus.” Overlooked in their zeal is the fact that if they all loved the same “Jesus” they would not tolerate a compromised gospel.
This ecumenical evangelism has provided fertile ground to rebuild the religious tower of Babel. Multitudes are being influenced by perverted gospels, doctrines of demons and false teachers. Many more are being persuaded by highly visible evangelicals to join the crusade. It is no surprise the Roman Catholic Church has been the driving force behind this ecumenical movement since the close of Vatican Council II in 1965. No longer able to force people to submit to its popes under the threat of death and persecution, the Vatican has changed its strategy to win the world. Wearing a new face of love and concern for the “separated brethren,” she is now calling all Protestants back home to the “one true church.”
Tragically, many pulpits are incredibly silent regarding the numerous scriptural warnings against being yoked with unbelievers. As under shepherds of the flocks entrusted to them, pastors must warn their sheep of the dangers of ecumenical evangelism.
It is clear that ecumenical evangelism would have never been tolerated by Jesus and His disciples. Time after time zealous religious leaders, with their own agenda for saving the world, were strongly rebuked:
Jesus did not join hands with the religious leaders who shut off the kingdom of heaven from men (Matt. 23:13). Paul did not unite with the Judaizers who only wanted to add circumcision to the Gospel (Gal. 1). Jude refused to cooperate with those who crept in unaware to pervert the grace of God (Jude 4). John did not seek to establish unity with those “who went out from us because they were never really of us” (1 John 2:19). Peter never joined hands with the false teachers who had forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam (2 Pet. 2:15). The writer to the Hebrews never united with those who would ignore such a great salvation (Hebrews 2:3).
In light of the “cloud of witnesses set before us” one must wonder what evangelicals are doing when they join forces with Roman Catholics. Surely they are not ignorant of their 100+ anathemas that condemn born again Christians! Surely they are not ignorant of many additional requirements Rome has added to the gospel of salvation. Could they be so easily persuaded by the Catholic Church’s worldly influence, incredible wealth, one billion followers and a leader that is so loved by the world?
How are Christians to protect themselves in the midst of the religious deception so prevalent in the world today? The Bible exhorts us to test every teaching. We are warned not to believe every spirit because many false prophets have gone out into the world. They are not from God because they do not listen to apostolic teaching. It is only by God’s Word that we can know the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:1,6).
We are to be like the Bereans who examined the Scriptures daily to verify the truthfulness of the Apostle Paul’s teachings (Acts 17:11). If the one who wrote over half the new testament was tested, it stands to reason everyone’s teaching must be examined in the light of God’s Holy Word.
So what are we to do with the false teachers within Christendom? We are not to partake in their endeavors but to expose their false teachings (Eph.5:6,11). With gentleness, we are to correct those who are in error in hopes that God may grant them repentance leading to the truth (2 Tim. 2:25). Those who “profess to know God but by their deeds they deny Him” must be exposed and silenced so others will not be deceived. (Titus 1:9-16). We are commanded to separate from those who persist in false teaching (Rom.16:17; Titus 3:10). For some, this may mean finding another church; for others, it may mean withholding support from ministries that continue to compromise the Gospel.
As end time deception increases and more and more people are led into apostasy, we must contend fervently for the faith that was once delivered to the saints (Jude v.3). As more Christian leaders seek the approval of men rather than God, the way of truth will become more narrow and less traveled. Those who remain on it will face persecution for refusing to compromise (2 Tim. 2:12). They will be accused of being intolerant, unloving and narrow minded. The apostles warned us that if we do not separate from false teachers we could be disqualified for service (2 Tim. 2:20), become identified with them and their error (2 John 10-11), and risk being partakers of their fate. (Jude vv.11-13).
As the ecumenical movement grows in popularity within the church, maintaining doctrinal purity will be an unpopular position to pursue. Yet it is indeed what we are called to do! By pointing out false doctrine and practices, we will be good servants of Christ Jesus as we are nourished by His word and sound doctrine (1 Tim. 4:6). Upholding truth can, and will be divisive within the church, but division is not always bad. Sometimes it is necessary to show which ones are approved of God (1 Cor. 11:19).
Often times those who contend for the purity of the Gospel are criticized for quibbling over things that don’t appear to be that significant. However, contenders for the faith realize that the most dangerous lie is the lie which most closely resembles the truth. Conversely, ecumenists consider anything that appears close to the truth as an opportunity for unity. Thus they embrace the false gospel of Catholicism because it is the most clever of all counterfeits.
The church today is suffering from a lack of discernment because many of its leaders are teaching partial truths and tolerating doctrinal error. Paul rebuked those who put up with this is the first century church. He wrote: “I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough” (2 Cor. 11:3-4). In these days of apostasy, the body of Christ needs Christians who will boldly and courageously proclaim the whole counsel of God and expose as error everything that opposes it. May God give us the grace, power, discernment and courage to be contenders for the faith.
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In Christ,
DITC