As I see more and more professing Christians being drawn back to the Catholic Church and unity with them and all world religions, I think a lot about my maternal grandparents, who were Catholic for their entire lives. I was too young and unaware of what official Catholic doctrine claims regarding Jesus and the Gospel/salvation to really have concerns before my grandparents passed away, and I so wish they were still alive so I could talk with them now and ask them some very important questions concerning their faith, and most importantly, the Gospel.
Before I proceed with this post further, I want to make where I’m coming from in regard to Catholicism clear:
*When I refer to the Catholic Church, I am not referring to all who consider themselves Catholic. I am referring the the Official doctrines and practices of the Catholic Church, as laid out in the Catholic Catechism the Catholic Encyclopedia and other official Catholic publications, documents and declarations, as well as the Papal hierarchy. I do believe there are true, born again believers in the Catholic Church, and that God will continue to call them out, as He has already been doing.
In regard to the Catholic Church specifically, this “Ecumenical Movement” and call for unity with “Protestant” and “Evangelical” Christians has been going on in significant ways since Vatican II, (1962-1965). This movement toward “unity” was, however, pushed forward in major ways by Pope John Paul II, (Karol Józef Wojtyła), during his pontificate. John Paul II didn’t just call for unity within Christianity, however, but with all world religions. Sadly, from the “Protestant”/”Evangelical” side, Billy Graham did much to promote and further this false unity as well. He praised John Paul II and met with him on multiple occasions in a spirit of unity. Upon the death of John Paul II on April 2, 2005, Billy Graham released the following statement, (emphasis mine):
“Pope John Paul II was unquestionably the most influential voice for morality and peace in the world during the last 100 years. His extraordinary gifts, his strong Catholic faith, and his experience of human tyranny and suffering in his native Poland all shaped him, and yet he was respected by men and women from every conceivable background across the world. He was truly one of those rare individuals whose legacy will endure long after he has gone.
“It was my privilege to meet with him at the Vatican on various occasions, and I will always remember his personal warmth to me and his deep interest in our ministry. In his own way, he saw himself as an evangelist, traveling far more than any other Pope to rally the faithful and call non-believers to commitment. He was convinced that the complex problems of our world are ultimately moral and spiritual in nature, and only Christ can set us free from the shackles of sin and greed and violence. His courage and perseverance in the face of advancing age and illness were an inspiration to millions — including me.
“I have been invited to attend the funeral service for Pope John Paul II, but I will not be able to go for health reasons. I have asked a member of my family and one of my long-time associates to represent me at that service.
“May his death remind each of us that some day we too must die and enter into God’s presence — and may we each commit ourselves afresh to Jesus Christ, who died and rose again for our salvation.” – Billy Graham.org
*The newspaper clipping above clearly describes how many were turned over to the Catholic Church (and therefore, “another Gospel”) through Billy Graham crusades.
Graham also openly welcomed Catholics to a Polish Marian shrine in 1979. Consider the quote below, (emphasis mine):
No one did more in this generation than Billy Graham to make the Roman Catholic Church acceptable to “evangelicals” and to build the one-world apostate church. The apex was when he stood outside of the shrine of the Black Madonna of Jasna Gora in Częstochowa, Poland, in 1979, with a Catholic bishop and greeted the pilgrims who were venerating Mary as the sinless Queen of Heaven and interceder for sinners. What could be more confusing than for a Baptist preacher to do such a thing rather than lift his voice against this cursed false gospel? A photo of the event was published in Graham’s own Decision magazine in February 1979, but the caption under the photo merely said, “Mr. Graham greets people outside a national shrine at the monastery in Częstochowa.” Graham was in Poland at the invitation of the late Pope John Paul II, who was a great Mary worshiper. The Black Madonna was one of his favorite pilgrimage sites. – Source
This matter can, and most definitely should, be carefully researched by any Christian who truly desires to know the dangers of this growing false unity, along with Billy Graham’s involvement and many more recent events. Here is a well researched document that records Graham’s compromise with Rome through the years: Billy Graham and Rome
Since his election as Pope on March 13, 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, (who took as his papal name, “Francis”), has built on and expanded the “unity” that Pope John Paul II worked towards during his long pontificate of approximately 26 1/2 years. It was also Pope Francis who finalized the decision to canonize John Paul II, who was officially made a “saint” by the Vatican on April 27, 2014.
One of the major steps in this move toward uniting Catholics and Evangelics, was the signing of a document/agreement titled: “Evangelicals & Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the Third Millennium.” I mentioned this, along with more on Ecumenism in a previous post: “Is the Protest Really Over?”
In more recent years we have seen many other prominent “Protestant” and “Evangelical” Christian leaders journey to the Vatican in order to join with Pope Francis and the Catholic Church in the “spirit of ecumenism.” Some of these leaders include:
- Kenneth Copeland
- James Robison
- John & Carol Arnott (Catch the Fire)
- Rick Warren (Saddleback Church) [This link is no longer active and appears to have been removed.]
- Mike & Diane Bickle (IHOP-KC)
- Che Ahn
- Loren & Darlene Cunningham (YWAM)
- Nick Hall (PULSE Movement) [This video is no longer viewable and appears to have been removed.]
- Kris Vallotton (Bethel, Redding)
(Click on the names above to learn more about their meetings with the Pope. All sources shared for research purposes only.)
The collection of photos above show Pope Francis meeting with various well-known and influential Evangelical and Charismatic church leaders, including: Kenneth Copeland, Loren and Darlene Cunningham, Kris Vallotton, John and Carol Arnott, Mike and Diane Bickle, Rick Warren and Che Ahn.
It’s also worth noting that both Kenneth Copeland and James Robison are among those on President Trump’s “Evangelical Advisory Board.”
Why is this important? It is important because the Catholic Church teaches “another Gospel” and “another Jesus.” (Study their Catechism for yourself, compare what they teach with Scripture, and pray for discernment).
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. – Galatians 1:6-12 (emphasis mine)
All who are interested in learning what the official Catholic teachings are concerning Jesus, grace the Gospel and salvation, can research such things on the official Vatican website and by looking at other official Catholic sources, such as The Catholic Encyclopedia. I encourage all Christians to do so, especially as this false unity continues to grow. We cannot simply brush this aside and ignore it. As it is, too few warnings are going out regarding this very real, spiritual deception. Most professing “Protestant” and “Evangelical” Christians today simply assume that the Catholic Church has changed and that they are indeed fundamentally Christian in their doctrines and traditions; this is simply not so and carefully research will support such a conclusion as unpopular as it may be.
Early in 2016, Pope Francis openly called for unity and “dialogue” with all world religions in his January prayer request. See the video below:
Unfortunately, this isn’t about simply talking to people who believe in a different god/gods, this is about joining together with them and agreeing that “we are all God’s children” and “we all believe in love.” The message of this video is that the only thing we can know for certain is “we are all children of God.” This is absolutely false according to Scripture, and it is a meaningless and empty message when we understand that we do not all worship the same God, nor are we all His children. Consider these Bible verses (all emphasis mine):
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. – Romans 5:1-11
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. – Romans 8:9-17
The above verses are just two examples of the transformative work of the Holy Spirit upon all those who believe the true Gospel. When a person believes, they have done “the will of the Father”(John 6:40 & Matthew 7:21) they have passed from life to death (John 5:24), been born again (John 3:1-8), made a “new creation in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18), and are “sealed” with the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). Apart from faith in the Gospel, we are “enemies” of God and His wrath remains upon us. Biblically speaking, it is false to say that everyone on earth is a child of God and therefore our brother or sister, as according to Scripture, unless they are born again through faith in the Gospel, they are not. We are indeed all God’s creation, but we are not all God’s children.
This “Ecumenical Movement” has only been spreading and growing over the years. It sounds so good and positive on the surface, but how can a Christian who is to love the truth agree when called to unite with error? Those who promote and endorse this movement and its agenda, claim that the unity they are calling for is the same unity Christ prayed for in John 17. We need to ask ourselves, is this true?
Jesus said:
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:19-23)
Given the above verses, (emphasis mine), do we see Christ praying to the Father for unity with “another Gospel”? Was Jesus asking the Father that we all be united with those who teach a false, works-based, sacramental “gospel”? Absolutely not! Yet, that is precisely what the official doctrines and traditions of the Catholic Church teach. We can see in the verses above that the way in which we are “one” is through believing on Jesus Christ. This means believing that He alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life. This also means dividing and remaining separate from all doctrines that claim any other “way” of salvation. It is not possible to be truly united in Christ while accepting doctrines, traditions and practices that deny Him and the true Gospel. Yet, more and more professing Christians today are being led to believe that “the protest is over.” The reformation is portrayed as nothing more than a frivolous misunderstanding or a silly and unfortunate mistake. This is false and the fundamental doctrines and traditions of the Catholic Church remain unchanged some 500 years after Luther nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenberg Castle door. (Note: I am not saying I agree with everything Luther wrote or taught, or with the entirety of Lutheran theology). And so, the march “home to Rome” continues.
Other than Nick Hall’s “Together 2016″/”Reset Movement” gathering, there have been and continue to be many other gatherings and conferences in the Canada, the United States and around the world, calling for this same “unity” between Catholics and “Protestants”/”Evangelicals”. These gatherings are often called “revivals” and use Biblical sounding terminology. They especially target the youth with an overall message that they are going to “change the world” or start “a new Jesus Movement.” These are some of the past gatherings that have been held, some of which are repeated each year:
- Awaken the Dawn
- Azuza Now/The Call (Lou Engle)
- The Send (Lou Engle)
- Onething (IHOP- KC)
- YWAM Together
*Many of the organizers and leaders of these events, (the “prophets” and “apostles” of the “New Apostolic Reformation”), attend one another’s events and promote each other’s “ministries.” They continue to endorse partnership and joint efforts with Catholics, without discerning whether those Catholics truly know and believe the Gospel. In so doing, they promote the Catholic Church, its papal hierarchy and unbiblical doctrines and traditions.
In contrast to this call for world changing “ecumenical unity”, Scripture says absolutely nothing about believers changing the world or taking over the world, (research “Dominionism”, “Kingdom Now” & the “7 Mountains/Spheres Mandate” for more insight), rather, we are warned in Scripture of a “great falling away”, (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3). Jesus is the One Who ushers in the Kingdom; it is not something we are building on this earth for Him. He has gone to prepare a place for us, (John 14:2), we are not preparing a place here for Him. Jesus said plainly that His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). The sad thing is that too many professing Christians are being distracted from the Gospel of salvation, which calls us out of the world (John 15:18-21), to the “Gospel of the Kingdom”, by which they are told Christians are to change this world for Christ and take it back from Satan. Scripture is clear, this earth will pass away (Matthew 24:35), and there will be “a new heavens and a new earth”, (Revelation 21). Now, I don’t claim to know what that looks like, or when it will happen, but I do hold faithfully to the promise of Scripture that it will, in God’s perfect timing.
I pray that all of my brothers and sisters in Christ, all those who claim to love the truth of the Gospel as laid out clearly in Scripture, will indeed “earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3) We are not to be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14), nor are we to have “fellowship with darkness” (Ephesians 5:11). Rather, we are to “mark and avoid” those who cause divisions contrary to the doctrine of Scripture (Romans 16:17-18).
Remember, if it is in God’s inspired word, we do well to believe it.
If you would like to do further reading on the “Ecumenical Movement”, please check out Lighthouse Trails Research. They have many excellent, well researched and well documented materials on this and other topics that are very relevant to the Church today.
Believe Not Every Spirit 