POPE FRANCIS: THE EVANGELICAL'S ADULATION OF A FALSE RELIGION'S LEADER
BY MANNY SILVA
Pope Francis has finally left, after a week long visit to the United States. He is the so-called “vicar of Christ”, a title which gives him the same power and authority over the church that Christ has. This doctrine is clearly blasphemy. But there is so much more about this man, and the false religion he represents. Those of us who know the real Gospel know better, but to those who are not walking in the light of God’s truth, his visit was a great blessing! The praise of this man in all the media outlets, and from
many evangelical leaders, was all consuming. And also how sad to have noted some of my own Christian friends, who once knew better, expressing their admiration for a man and a religion that daily promotes a lie to many around the world.
We are told in Scripture that we are not to judge the world, but to judge those in the church. And we are to judge righteously as well. It is to those in the church who I wish to speak of, as we are commanded to do in Scripture. The amazing display of adulation and respect shown this past week for the man most responsible for promoting the world’s most false, most wicked imitation of Christianity, is astonishing. Yet, it ought to be no surprise to us, because it this spirit of ecumenicalism that has been unfolding for decades now in the evangelical church, amongst Protestants whose very founding was based on Martin Luther’s rejection of the false teachings of the church.
For years, the Church of the Nazarene and other evangelical denominations have been gradually embracing the Roman Catholic Church as an equal partner in faith. The predominant refrain seems to be is that as long we all proclaim Christ as the Savior, all other differences can be overlooked. (Should we accept Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses as authentic Christianity?)
But is this broad ecumenical view (as long as anyone proclaims Jesus as Savior) based on Scripture, or based on man’s desire for “unity?” Does Roman Catholicism preach the same Gospel as we do in the Protestant tradition, or do they preach another gospel? Why did the Reformation occur in the first place? It was because Martin Luther saw that there were serious errors- heresies actually- that were being promulgated by the Roman church, and he tried as hard as he could to reform the church. His nailing of the 95 Theses set the stage for a great change in the church, with a clean break being made from the Roman Catholic Church and the pope’s authority. Have we forgotten history?
It seems many have now.
Here are the words of false evangelical pastor, Rick Warren:
“There’s still real differences—no doubt about that. But the most important thing is, if you love Jesus, we’re on the same team.”
And here is what TD Jakes, prosperity gospel preacher loved by many, said:
“A special thanks to President Obama for his VIP invitation to attend such a historical event.”
TD Jakes is on the record as believing that we have too much in common with Roman Catholicism to not work together.
And Joel Osteen, a motivational speaker who makes millions pretending to be a pastor, said the following:
“I like the pope. I like that he’s making the Catholic Church more open to bring people in and not exclude them. He’s a man of the people. I like what he stands for: humility, reaching out to others and he’s not so formal that people can’t relate to him.”
Read some of the words of the general superintendent of the Wesleyan Church, Jo Anne Lyon, who received an invitation from President Obama to see the pope this week.
“The Wesleyan Church and the Roman Catholic Church differ in our doctrine but we worship the same Jesus Christ, our Lord.”
You can read the rest of her comments here: https://www.wesleyan.org/4164/
I find it astounding that a leader of a Protestant denomination that emphasizes holiness would say such a thing. This is a reflection of either complete and utter ignorance, or Dr. Lyon has sold out to the devil along with the others who have chosen to compromise biblical doctrine. Does she not realize that we do not worship the same Jesus as the pope does, as she claims? Does she not know that this “Jesus” of the Roman Catholic Church is a false jesus? Does she also believe that we can go to heaven through our good works? Or that the real body and blood of Jesus appears in every communion wafer and wine? Are these doctrines, and more, just minor differences?
Have these evangelicals ignored this command?
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Corinthians 6:14).
We have university presidents and ordained pastors talking about Roman Catholics as “our sisters and brothers in Christ.” They promote retreats to Roman Catholic monasteries where they enthusiastically support contemplative mysticism. There is even a Nazarene pastor prominently showing off a picture of himself taking confessional at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. We have theology professors like Mark Maddix of Northwest Nazarene University ignorantly promoting Roman Catholicism as being theologically sound. Pastors have been routinely quoting Mother Teresa and Roman Catholic mystics now for years in their sermons. And over at the NazNet website and Sacramental Nazarenes FaceBook page, as you read over and over the thoughts of pastors on these sites, you see a flippant and casual attitude towards all this. You will not see a bit of condemnation of the heresies promoted by the false prophet known as pope Francis.
They are all buying into ecumenicalism. The great compromise in the church will continue on and on, and will get worse. The only faithful Christians remaining standing will be in small home churches, or independent churches who will stand firm and uphold the truth of God’s word, at any cost.
There are a few who are willing to speak out. Jordan Standridge, pastoral associate at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, Virginia, wrote an article entitled “Why Evangelicals and Catholics Cannot Be Together.” He noted many problems coming from the 1995 “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” document.
“Well-known evangelical pastors .. joined themselves with Catholic priests and philosophers in an ecumenical fashion in order to promote the agreements over the disagreements that have plagued Protestants and Catholics for centuries. Now, he said, “The vast majority of Christians in America do not evangelize Catholics. Someone like me who has shed many tears over the deception of the Roman Catholic Church is seen as hateful.”
“I totally understand the desire to believe people are saved. I also desperately want Roman Catholics to go to heaven, but we can’t let our desire for people to be saved or our desire to please men lead us to cheer them on as they run towards Hell. We must love them.”
For my friends who have been impressed with the pope, and believe his visit was a good thing, please consider my words. Why do you believe that? Can you give a solid biblical reason that Protestant Christians should unite with Rome?
Here is one good reason that we should not only have nothing to do with the pope and Rome’s teachings, but we should do our best to rescue as many as possible form the bondage of this false religion. In Galatians 1:6-9, Paul gives us a very serious warning:
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (Gal. 1:6-9)
The Roman Catholic Church preaches a false gospel. That is reason enough to reject it, to refute it, and to lovingly witness to those are lost in bondage from this false religion. My father was freed from that bondage as a young man in the Cape Verde Islands, and went on to become a holiness preacher and pastor. My father in law also was freed from Romanism as a young man, and also became a holiness preacher. It would break their hearts today to know that the pastors that are being sent out from the seminaries to shepherd new churches, are ignoring Paul’s admonition and holding hands with the purveyors of a false gospel. Truly the last days are upon us.
FOR REFERENCE:
Manny Silva
Stand For Truth Ministries
"The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever." Psalm 119:160
Blogging at www.reformednazarene.
Podcasting at: http://
FaceBook group: Concerned Nazarenes
FaceBook group: Concerned Christians
Portuguese: http://nazarenoportugues.
Spanish: http://nazarenoespanol.
"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
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[Stand For Truth Ministries is a self-supporting ministry dedicated to fighting emergent church ideology and other false teachings. Your prayers are asked for more than anything else.]
To donate to our ministry, send a check to:
Stand For Truth
P.O. Box 532
Somerset, MA 02726
(Donations are not tax-deductible; we are NOT a non-profit)
Stand For Truth Ministries
"The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever." Psalm 119:160
Blogging at www.reformednazarene.
Podcasting at: http://
FaceBook group: Concerned Nazarenes
FaceBook group: Concerned Christians
Portuguese: http://nazarenoportugues.
Spanish: http://nazarenoespanol.
"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
------------------------------
[Stand For Truth Ministries is a self-supporting ministry dedicated to fighting emergent church ideology and other false teachings. Your prayers are asked for more than anything else.]
To donate to our ministry, send a check to:
Stand For Truth
P.O. Box 532
Somerset, MA 02726
(Donations are not tax-deductible; we are NOT a non-profit)
