The Challenge Of Ecumenism

by R. Armstrong, Toronto | Category: Contending For The Faith | Dec 1971

"Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch no unclean thing" (2 Cor. 6:17).

In an age of rapid change, a significant development is taking place in the world of organized religion. A course is being set by the leaders of the world's largest churches that even the strongest voice of protest within that framework, if indeed there is any effective protest, will not alter the course of destiny to which it moves.

We refer to what is known as the "Ecumenical Movement". In its simplest definition we quote what one writer has stated recently.

"(1) Ecumenical: Universal, general, world-wide.

(2) Ecumenical Movement: An agitation to bring about a world-wide union of churches and religions of all kinds on the least common denominator."

Many people throughout the world, unaware of the real issues involved, welcome the prospect of "one world church" as a great "break through" to remove the age-long differences and prejudices that have kept great world church organizations apart for centuries. To these, and also those who work towards the goals of Ecumenism, it does not matter if the fundamental truths of the Bible are set aside in the interests of this objective. What really matters to them is union, and in the process, doctrinal differences must become subordinate to this great cause.

The hall-mark is no longer "what is truth?" - if it works, it is a success. Contending for cardinal truths such as the Virgin Birth of the Lord Jesus Christ is now considered doctrinal bias. The translators of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible (released to the public in the early 1950's), have deliberately taken the word "virgin" out of the text of Isaiah 7:14. A critical evaluation of the RSV states, "The new RSV takes the word 'virgin' out of Isaiah 7:14 and translates as follows: 'Behold a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel'. The word virgin is then relegated to a footnote as a secondary alternate translation. Thus the revisers raised a serious question at least about any reference in the prophecy to our Lord's virgin birth" (quoted from "Which Version"?).

Those who hold the verbal and plenary inspiration of Holy Scripture and its divine and absolute authority, recognize the Ecumenical Movement for what it really is. In the light of Scripture, to which we will refer, this wolf in sheep's clothing is exposed in its true character. Its aim is union without true unity, and serious as this is, it is not the whole story.

Back of all this is a vast plan of deception, masterminded by Satan, "the god of this age" (2 Cor. 4:4), to produce a spurious "world church", into which will be gathered millions of devotees, who will hail this great movement as a religious "utopia".

Having said this we will consider,

The Goals of Ecumenism

Among the originators of the Ecumenical Council were "Archbishop Soderblom (1866-1931), who is called the father of the Ecumenical Movement; Bishop Charles Henry Brent (18621929), Episcopalian; William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury (1881-1941); Dr John MacKay, Presbyterian, former President of Princeton Theological Seminary. Contemporary leaders (including Dr MacKay), Mr T.C. Chao, Professor and Dean, School of Religion, Yenchang University, Peiping (proCommunist)". There are many others, too numerous to mention.

Dr C. M. Nicholson, a Protestant leader and Principal of Pine Hill Divinity Hall, Halifax, Canada, said at a meeting in October 1970, that he saw two important events which helped bring about the present "Ecumenical Century". "One was the formation of the World Council of Churches in 1948, and the second moment of history was when Pope John XXIII ascended the throne of Peter, and called together the Vatican Council, and the winds of the Spirit blew" (Scripture says nothing about the throne of Peter: our comment). "Protestants," he said, "are thankful for the ecumenical spirit initiated by that good man." (From the "Gospel Standard", November 1970).

What blasphemy to associate the Holy Spirit of God with this monstrous satanic project which God Himself will ultimately destroy, whose character and destiny are clearly defined by the message of the same Holy Spirit in the book of Revelation:

"I will shew thee the judgement of the great harlot ... with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication,... And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication, and upon her forehead a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of the harlots and of the abominations of the earth" (Rev. 17:1-5).

In the light of this prophecy we recognize the Ecumenical Movement as a precursor to "Babylon the Great", a worldwide religious movement under the figure of a wealthy adulterous woman. Leaders of some Protestant churches are today calling for union with the Roman Catholic church and recognition of the Pope as the chief pastor of the Christian family.

In June 1967, Episcopal Bishop C. Kilmer Myers, leader of the Episcopal Diocese of California, urged Christians to discard centuries-old differences, "to foster the unity of the Christian family. Christians should joyfully acclaim the Pope as the holy father in God of the universal church".

The ideals and elements of this modern confederacy now rising in both religious and political spheres had their origin in the tower of Babel project recorded in Genesis 11: "They said ... let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven". God intervened by confounding their language so they could not understand each other. "So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city." From these came the nations of the world. The Ecumenical Movement is a modern tower of Babel, part of a world system now reaching its climax. While this religious movement is taking shape there are significant political developments in the world. One of these is the European Economic Community. A treaty was signed in Rome in March 1957 by six nations of Western Europe for trade agreements and atomic energy development and control. This treaty was ratified in January 1958, and at the time of writing Britain's entry is under consideration.

That ancient Babylon and Rome are linked is clear from history; we quote: "When Babylon fell, the Chaldean mysteries with all their. religious paraphernalia were transferred to Pergamos, which on that account was called by the Holy Spirit 'Satan's throne' (Rev. 2:13) When Caesar finally subdued Asia Minor, he received from the Chaldean high priest in Pergam6s, the office and regalia pertaining, and, in the Latin tongue, took the title Pontifex Maximus, claiming divine honours. Long afterwards, the last Emperor of Rome bequeathed the whole to the then bishop of Rome, who for the first time assumed the title Pontifex Maximus. Thus the succession was from Babylon to Rome, and the baneful results have been known wherever her influence has reached. The Roman church became what the Roman Empire had been: one of the greatest persecutors of Christians" (Bible and Prophetic Witness, April 1965).

By what Authority?

Surely the earnest seeker after truth will ask the sponsors of the Ecumenical Movement, By what authority;? Is this of God or of Satan? Questions so vital and far-reaching demand an answer, and this can only be found in the Scriptures, the sole and absolute guide in all matters of Christian doctrine. We look in vain in them for any evidence giving divine authority to the Ecumenical Movement.

What is seen in New Testament teaching for the present day emerges as fundamental to the establishing of the kingdom of God on earth amongst His people, expressed in churches of God. This is the only basis for collective gathering found in the Scriptures for those who belong to Christ. We commend to our readers Ephesians chapter 2, where the Spirit takes us in one grand sweep from, "dead through your trespasses and sins", to "a habitation of God in the Spirit". Surely a work of divine unity'! Satan, well aware of God's plan of unity and oneness amongst His people in every age, has sowed discord where divine unity existed. Now at the end of the age when he knows his time is short he is attempting to promote a spurious unity for his own ends.

The Divine Plan

The divine plan for unity is based on the fundamental facts of "the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints" (Jude, verse 3). The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are fundamental in God's message to man; and the new birth through faith in His atoning sacrifice on the Cross, baptism by immersion, and addition to churches of God are necessary before there can be a unity which is of God. God began at Pentecost to call out a people for His Name (Acts 2:41,42,47), and the establishing of churches of God in Judea, Samaria, Asia Minor and Europe is both a historical and fundamental basis for re-establishing churches of God in these latter times (see 1 Peter 2:1-10).

We believe that such churches of God, forming the house God and the Fellowship of His Son (1 Cor. 1:9) exist today by divine authority as a result of the recovery of these truths almost 100 years ago. In the churches of God we seek to give expression to the "whole counsel of God" and "the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints". As we await the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, two matters are of vital importance:

(1)Those who are found in churches of God as a result of their commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ in salvation and baptism, according to Acts 2:41,42, should continue stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.

(2)Children of God everywhere, who have known the experience of the new birth through faith in Christ, and who are found in many religious organizations and systems which are now moving towards Rome as a result of the Ecumenical Movement, should hear the call of God to separate from such systems.

R. Armstrong, Toronto | Dec 1971
Contending For The Faith