Reform versus Ecumenism

In every generation we must have a reformation, a need for Ad Fontes, “back to the sources”. As the church got buried in superstitions like Purgatory in the Medieval age, now in Post Modern Age the Church is bogged down in the superstition of the Prosperity doctrine. In every generation there are men who deviate from the Scriptures leading people into Prima Scriptura, where people value Scripture and the traditions of men as equal, much as the Pharisees did, “Jesus replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“‘These people honor me with their lips,

    but their hearts are far from me.

They worship me in vain;

    their teachings are merely human rules.’

You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”” (Mark 7:6-13), and the apostle Paul fought, “These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh // Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in superstition and humility, and not sparing the body; not in any honour to the filling of the flesh. ” (Colossians 2:23). 

We are on precipice as the Church, we either shall dig ourselves deeper into darkness of manmade religion or breath the fresh air of reform and return to a “pure and undivided devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3). I have watched as the church denominations have made love with the Harlot (Roman Catholicism) and allowed Ecumenicalism (Unity) to drown out truth that faith alone in Jesus saves (Philippians 3:9, John 6:40, John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10). The Moravians held the best model of unity beliefs, “in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty,and in all things love.” Essentials are that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone (Acts 15:4-11, Philippians 3:9),  that God is The Holy Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that Scripture is God breathed (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Peter 1:21-22) and is all that is necessary for “teaching and training in righteousness,”; only in these essentials can there be unity at all! On non essentials like what form of worship do you prefer such as hymns or modern worship, what eschatological view you hold from Premillennial to Post-Trib, there is room for liberty. But ecumenicalism is not based on essentials, Protestants are getting beguiled by Roman Catholics and swept into the dangerous teachings of the Romanite Church and Eastern Orthodox fathers who teach contrary to the Apostle’s Teaching! Ecumenism/ Ecumenicalism is really a Couter-Reformation for the 21 Century, with Catholics and Eastern Orthodox trying to convert Sola Scriptura Born Again Christians to their polluted and perverted doctrines. 

Make no mistake, the light of our unspoiled faith dating back to Christ and His apostles is being besieged again. Our spiritual enemies are trying to snuff out our our Reformation and seduce people away from the sources (Scriptures). The Catholics failed in the 16th Century, now with Pope Francis’s sweet talk, honoring The Reformation, and unity meetings the Harlot of Rome seeks to seduce the gullible back into the fold by inserting its serpent tentacles and webs around Born Again Bible Believers! Be alarmed! I spent two years studying in Rome’s halls and the poisons and venom of that devilish cult posing as a church are formidable! Do not be fooled!  The Harlot seeks to wrap those who are free in Christ in her tangled hair strands, she will spy your liberty and joy, and seduce you into slavery and terror! Have nothing to do with the Roman Catholic Church and its Byzantine Sister, Eastern Orthodoxy! Both have beauty and dresses of gold, but lips painted with poison and words that will try to choke out the Word of God if you listen! I know two people I respect who have been lulled to sleep bu her potions. 

I fear for our Reformation as many denominations lay down Sola Scriptura for Prima Scriptura, add confessing to a pastor or priest for absolution, when we need only confess to Christ, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” (1 John 1:7-9),  and “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:5). I feel the lamp of our pure devotion to Christ is getting being placed in bushels of Popery and Byzantinry. If we do not stand up for the true faith spelled out in Scripture, then we shall enter into another dark age of superstition, doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1), and bad theology. 

As for ecumenicalism, unity can only be between churches who confess the essentials that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, Trinitarianism, and Sola Scriptura. There can be no compromise on the essentials, and the psuedo-unitas of the Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox is simply cloaked conversion tactics; for there is ni way we  Bible Born Again Christians can agree on essentials with the Roman Catholics who believe the merits of Christ arn’t enough and need the merits of Mary and the Saints (see Hebrews 8 and 9), nor can we align with Eastern Orthodox who arn’t Trinitarian because they object to the Holy Spirit proceeding from both Father and Son, even though Scripture declare this, “Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ” (John 20:21-22).  There are pseudo-Protestants even like the Calvinists who reject essentials that you can know you are saved, “if you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is LORD," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved” (Roman 10:9-10) and the Great Commision, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19).  So while Rome and Byzantium are threats, there are wolves in Reformed clothing who do not hold to the essentials laid out in Scripture and that I listed earlier. 

We must gird ourselves against this great falling away from the faith that is happening. Our aim must be to stay in Christ (John 15:7), and not be seduced by the lies of false churches who use their art and writings to seduce people with the poison of Prima Scriptura, usually through erroneous Apostolic Fathers (called Desert Fathers) who came after The Apostles, as well as St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Francis of Assisi, and Thomas Aquinas. The only Ecumenism that will work is among churches which believe the essentials of The New Testament. Amen.