The Danger of Last Days Ecumenism

In this final period before the apocalypse, we must recognize insidious schemes at work in the religious and secular realms.  If we do not recognize these very clever schemes and wiles of Satan during this great deception, we could be lured into apostasy.  It will be difficult to discern them because they mimic a work of God and appeal to our common sense.  One of those diabolical schemes, ecumenism, is being promoted by influential leaders in Christianity.  We need to know exactly why they are involved in it and what they hope to achieve.

Notorious pastor of Saddleback Church, Rick Warren, has been pushing for ecumenism with Islam, Roman Catholicism, and Mormonism.  Although he will deny it with doublespeak, ecumenism is the correct description of his efforts and goal.  It appears that many leaders in Christianity have taken seriously the title “America’s Pastor” that the secular world has ascribed to him.  Dr. George Wood, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, appears to be working closely with Warren on his Ecumenical efforts.  There are reports that the AoG leadership is intimidating pastors and entire churches within their denomination that oppose Warren’s heresy and ecumenism.  Wood recently spoke at a Mormon event.  Other leading evangelicals speaking at Mormon events include, R. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Richard Land, president of the Southern Evangelical Seminary, and Ravi Zacharias.

What’s wrong with ecumenism?  Primarily, it is an attempt to establish friendship or partnership with the unfruitful works of darkness.  We are told by the Apostle Paul to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather to expose them (Ephesians 5:11)  Rick Warren declares that he is just doing what Jesus would do, and that it is all about loving people.  Maybe the question is not to ask “what Jesus would do”, but to ask, “Would Jesus do what I am doing?”  No one had more love than Christ Jesus, and He did not do what Rick Warren is doing.  Christ was called a “friend of sinners”, but it was a pejorative statement that the Pharisees made about Him.

“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’” (Matthew 11:19 NKJV)

It is obvious that He did not consider Himself to be a friend of sinners, but instead their Savior.

“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” (John 15:14 NKJV)

Were the sinners to whom Christ preached obedient to God or Christ?  The truth is that Christ Jesus called the disciples who followed Him, friends.

“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15 NKJV)

Further, Christ never established friendly relations with the Pharisees in order to “engender world peace and preserve religious freedom.”  Additionally, He did not fraternize with any of the pagan cults within Romanism, go about the land eating at their religious feasts, or playing games with them.  Rick Warren has done these deeds and wishes to use the example of Christ as his excuse.  There is no such example in the Scriptures.  Throughout His ministry on earth Christ Jesus remained Master, Lord, miracle worker, teacher, preacher of righteousness and repentance, dispenser of truth, and the Savior.  We should also remember that those very sinners (that Christ was declared to be a friend to) cried, “Crucify Him!”  They did not appear to be His friends. They and the religious leaders made certain that He was humiliated, tortured, and nailed to the cross.  History will repeat itself when persecution of true Christianity comes to America.  The world hates true Christians because they have what no other religion has, and that is light.

“For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” (John 3:20 NJKV)

There are some factors that we should consider before accepting this last days ecumenism.  First, we have to recognize some of the main organizers and promoters of ecumenism are also promoting contemplative spirituality and other dangerous heresies.  If this ecumenism were of God, then He would send upright and godly people to bring it about.  He would not send people who have been actively involved in polluting Christianity with pagan mysticism and other harmful practices and false doctrines.  Some of the ones drawn into the Mormon controversy appear to be upright, but then why are they involved in a diabolical scheme?  I have read their reasons for involvement and they are woefully lacking in discernment.  For example, Mohler stated, “The conflict of liberties we’re now experiencing is unprecedented and it’s ominous,” he said. “Forced to choose between erotic liberty and religious liberty, ‘many’ Americans would clearly sacrifice freedom of religion. How long before the ‘many’ becomes ‘most?’”

Mohler does not appear to realize that when he focused on the battle between erotic and religious liberty, he has ignored the battle between satanic bondage and spiritual liberty.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  (Ephesians 6:12 NKJV)

Uniting with the works of darkness to oppose the works of darkness is like jumping in the ocean to stop a tsunami.  The church has never needed satanic groups to help them win any battle.

“If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?”  (Matthew 12:26 NKJV)

Second, we have to consider the true purpose of ecumenism.  Warren and his associates declare that it is about world peace and preservation of religious freedom.  Obviously, there can be no communion of light with darkness unless the light is turned down low enough not to significantly affect the darkness.  It is impossible to “brighten” the darkness.  Light always overcomes darkness and it is never the opposite.  Warren’s ecumenism attempts to blend light with darkness will result in a compromise that will destroy the faith of many nominal Christians.  Someone recently informed me that the reason nominal Christians fall into apostasy is not the fault of the deceiver, but their own fault for being weak.  All I will say about that remark is I am glad that he is not my shepherd.

Third, we must realize that just as all the nations will merge into a global government, all religions (including apostate Christianity) will merge into a global religion.  The Antichrist will become the head of the global government and the False Prophet will lead the global religion.  We are witnessing the world racing toward a global union at the present.  If we are in the last days, then we must consider that ecumenism is a major step in forming a global religion.  An apathetic attitude toward end time’s events will result in many professing Christians being captured under the spell of the False Prophet and Antichrist.  Some of these apathetic ones have declared that it doesn’t matter; that they are going to heaven no matter what.  My response is that eternity is final, and there are no second chances.  It is a dangerous gamble to leave this earth as a subject of Satan and expect God to overlook the fact that your earthly king murdered and tortured millions of Christians.

“Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16 NKJV)

We must also consider eschatology (the doctrine of last things) in God’s word. One of the most troubling patterns I see developing in modern Christianity is ignoring or outright rejecting eschatology.  In my opinion, this diminishing of eschatology is preventing people from recognizing the work of Satan involved in this final deception and apostasy.  It cannot be a decree from God since we are warned to pay close attention to the signs of the end.  In Matthew 24:33-34, Christ said, “So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.”  I have read and heard misinterpretations of this passage.  The correct interpretation is that the generation that witnesses all the things that Christ taught in Matthew 24 will be the last generation.  When we see the things that Christ taught occurring, we must consider that we are that last generation.

All the end times prophesies have either been fulfilled, or are being fulfilled, or have the potential to be fulfilled very quickly.  In the secular realm, a gregarious and charismatic individual has ascended to the presidency and is leading our nation toward the global government.  In the religious realm, a gregarious and charismatic individual has ascended to the head of Christianity and is leading Christianity into a global religion.  Avoid ecumenism at all costs, even if it means separating from a denomination that supports it.  I am a witness of what it might cost one to separate from a denomination heading the wrong direction, but one priceless benefit is the preservation of one’s spiritual liberty, the liberty by which Christ has made us free (Galatians 5:1).  These are not normal times.  It is an extremely deceptive period.  Nominal Christians may not survive it.  Heed the warnings, guard your hearts and minds, pray, and focus on eternity.

“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” (Proverbs 24:10 NKJV)