The RADEN Report                  November 10, 2000

Rome And Daughters Ecumenical News

SBC Extra! Ecumenical Vehicles...

Brethren, I have altered the format of my usual RADEN Report for this correspondence. This is for your prayerful consideration:

I was recently asked what I thought about possible involvement in a "prayer movement" that has been initiated by a few charismatic groups in our local area. I don't personally know those leading in this effort, so my comments are necessarily general in application. I certainly do not want to call into question the sincerity of those involved in this particular effort. I have done a considerable amount of study regarding the issue of interdenominational activities, and for a time I was involved in the "charismatic movement" myself. Thus, I do have some experience from which to speak. Apart from this particular local "prayer movement" there are some overall considerations about which I want to share my thoughts with you.

One of Satan's strategies to compromise the witness of true followers of Christ is to use an issue of common social, moral, or political concern to convince us that we must cooperate with other religious groups. I call these efforts "ecumenical vehicles." The idea put forward as a basis for such interdenominational cooperation is "What unites us is greater than what divides us."(1) Various vehicles may be employed, including evangelism and spiritual renewal (Mission America Coalition, Lausanne), morality tied to some common theological beliefs (ECT Alliance, Promise Keepers), prayer (National Pastors Prayer Network, Lighthouses of Prayer), common opposition to abortion, city-reaching efforts, etc. [One very good illustration of how Satan employs this ecumenical vehicle strategy is seen in the ECT-I document. http://www.azi.com/ect/ect/]

The "prayer movement" concept has recently come center stage in our area, but has actually been in the works nationally for some time. Several of us, including various agency trustees and leaders within the SBC, have been working to investigate and expose ecumenical affiliations as improper ecumenical entanglements for our agencies. This includes ecumenical prayer movements.

For instance, one of our SBC agencies employs a man who is also on staff with the Mission America Coalition. Utilizing the network of the Mission America organization, he sends email information to thousands of professing Christians, including many Southern Baptists. This information regularly promotes involvement with charismatic groups, provides doctrinal instruction, and advertises ecumenical events. As a pastor, I am very concerned when a non-SBC ecumenical organization, given credibility by one of our own SBC agencies, is bypassing the leadership of the local church to indoctrinate church members. The "ecumenical prayer movement" vehicle has been used to promote all sorts of perversions, including the "Brownsville/Toronto Revival," inclusion of those who ascribe to sacramental faith, extra-biblical revelation, etc.(2)

Of course, we can work together with some groups without compromise, but when groups involved in a cooperative spiritual effort hold to different fundamental doctrines, then such interdenominational cooperation can become a dangerous form of popular ecumenism. The theme of ecumenism is drawn forcefully from John 17:21. You will find this verse trumpeted by ecumenists at practically every opportunity, making an appeal for broad "unity" among Christians.(3) The problem is that often the definition being used for the word "Christian" is not the biblical definition. This is to wrongly divide the Word of Truth, to distort the Scriptures.(4)

As unpopular as it is to point this out, it is important to remember that Jesus said "not everyone who says to Me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven." Even so, many today ignore the truth that some who claim to be Christian leaders are not genuine Christians at all. Many Christian leaders today do not take seriously the warnings in God's Word that Satan has an ongoing effort to plant false Christians in churches (and denominations), especially among leadership.(5) This ignoring of God's clear warning and instructions simply opens the door for ecumenists to be welcomed with open arms, thus allowing them to bring doctrinal error into the congregations God has entrusted to our pastoral care (I’m speaking from a pastor’s standpoint here).

Ecumenists know that our culture is anti-Christian. They are fully aware that anyone who insists on the narrow, biblical interpretation of the term "Christian" will be viewed as intolerant, ignorant, mean-spirited, narrow-minded, and bigoted. The truth itself separates men who wish to faithfully obey God from those who compromise the truth. If we stand up for the truth regarding the biblical definition of a true "Christian," the first to criticize us are not those outside the "Church" but those that Satan has deceived and influenced inside the Church.

Most have not realized that ecumenism is very much pictured in Scripture and we are clearly warned to resist both false doctrine and those responsible.(6) One problem is that many people do not know what the term "ecumenism" means. As the word is broadly used today, religious ecumenism is the inclusion within the umbrella of "Christianity" of those who actively promote different doctrinal interpretations. This can be particularly dangerous when such inclusion involves conflicting fundamental doctrines.

Many people consider that broadly inclusive interdenominational activities are efforts inspired by very kind and well-meaning Christian people. Although this is certainly true in many cases, we need to carefully consider that a man may have good motives and preach a good message, and yet still be dangerously wrong in what he is teaching. The promotion of a high level of credibility for "evangelical" ecumenists(7) has caused many Christians to drop their guard and accept these men's teachings without question. Church leaders who do not consider or who do not understand the danger posed by ecumenical activists have unknowingly placed the fox in charge of the hen house.

Tragically, this is even now being demonstrated by our own SBC LifeWay agency which is promoting the teaching of Charles Colson, selling and publishing materials that contain Mr. Colson's clear promotion of ecumenical inclusivism.(8) At this moment tens of thousands of trusting and unwary Southern Baptists are being taught through a LifeWay discipleship curriculum to consider as credible Christian leaders some who openly promote an ecumenical agenda and, in some cases, a false gospel.(9) Regardless of the good intentions of those responsible, the facts remain the same. This problem is currently being addressed but is yet to be resolved.

At a superficial look, interdenominational efforts sound harmless enough. But there are influences behind some ecumenical vehicles about which many Christians are completely unaware. The ecumenical movement, previously centered in the World Council of Churches, took on new life in the 1960's through the ecumenical emphasis of Vatican II. That official council called for asserted efforts to be made to draw all churches and ecclesial groups into "full visible unity" with the Roman Catholic Church. The strategy embraced and promoted was to gain influence with leaders among the "separated brethren" through ecumenical prayer and dialogue efforts centered around common social and moral concerns. [Imagine Roman Catholicism, which teaches a false gospel, calling Baptists "separated brethren" and "Christians who are not yet in full communion with the Catholic Church."(10)!]

The rise of today's charismatic movement, some interdenominational prayer movements, ecumenical evangelization (rather than true evangelism), ecumenical dialogue, and the ecumenical movement in general, all closely parallel Vatican II's commitment to ecumenism. This is not at all a coincidence. The Vatican has been pursuing and encouraging this strategy, overtly and covertly, for the past 35 years.(11)

"Ut Unum Sint" is an encyclical issued by pope John Paul II in 1995. (Note that "Ut Unum Sint" is a Latin phrase taken from John 17:21 meaning "that they may be one.") This 50 page official encyclical is an overview of Roman Catholicism's ecumenical agenda to gradually, incrementally gather all churches under the authority of the Roman pontiff through acceptance of Catholicism's system of sacramental faith. It is meant to define strategies and encourage Vatican II's ecumenical mandate to be employed by Roman Catholics. The first chapter is entitled "The Catholic Church's Commitment to Ecumenism" with one section devoted to "The primacy of prayer." Here are some quotes from that section:

1. "If Christians, despite their divisions, can grow ever more united in common prayer around Christ, they will grow in the awareness of how little divides them in comparison to what unites them." [Remember, this is a Catholic document, thus, the definition of "Christian" includes those who trust in the sacramental false gospel of Roman Catholicism. That which "divides" biblical faith and sacramental faith is no "little" matter; it is a matter of eternal significance.]
2. "Finally, fellowship in prayer leads people to look at the Church and Christianity in a new way." [Remember, the words "Church" and "Christianity" as used here do not mean the same things that they mean to evangelicals.(12)]
3. "Ecumenical prayer... must thus be especially present in the life of the Church and in every activity aimed at fostering Christian unity." ["Christian unity" as defined in Roman Catholic terms, and elsewhere in Ut Unum Sint, is "full visible unity;" in other words, recognition of the Roman Catholic Pope as the head of Christ's Church on the earth.(13)]
4. "The change of heart which is the essential condition for every authentic search for unity flows from prayer and its realization is guided by prayer." [A "change of heart" here would mean coming to an acceptance of sacramental faith as a form of genuine Christian discipleship.(14)]

So, how does all this relate to interdenominational "prayer movements"? Many of these are certainly not directly initiated by practicing Roman Catholics. But if you will examine most groups involved in ecumenical/charismatic prayer movements, you will find many, if not all, of these elements:

1. The inclusion of practicing Roman Catholics as Christians.
2. The inclusion of other practicing sacramentalists as Christians.
3. The exclusion of the doctrine of the eternal security of the believer as fundamental.
4. The idea of a "city church" or "area-wide church."
5. The promotion of women as pastors and public teachers of doctrine.
6. The necessity of suppressing doctrine for the sake of "unity" in prayer for common concerns.
7. The mandate for such "unity" drawn from a misinterpretation of John 17:21.

All of these elements contradict Scripture and the historic beliefs of Southern Baptists as defined in the Baptist Faith and Message. There is more that could be said about this, but I think this is enough to indicate we ought to be cautious about the claims of those initiating ecumenical prayer movements and other interdenominational efforts.

Normally, within these efforts there are strong appeals to such common concerns as abortion, moral decline, social decay, "the culture war," etc. Working together as "the body of Christ" to address these valid common concerns is said to take precedence over our doctrinal differences, so that we must pray together and show a united front to the lost culture.(15)

But the context states to a lost world that we are praying together as Christians. Can we really have such a united front with those who promote another gospel? Should Christians give the impression that we all are truly "the body of Christ" by praying together in public with those who promote false doctrines or another gospel? Would it be proper for us to pray together in public with Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses? Why not? What's the difference then in praying with those who promote false doctrines, especially with those who promote another gospel altogether? If we participate in this are we not "unequally yoked together with unbelievers" giving a confusing message to a watching world?

Across the country SBC churches are asked to consider involvement in interdenominational "prayer movements." Of course, every Baptist church is autonomous in government and may do as they like. But as brethren we ought to consider how the things we do and what we approve affects the witness of other Baptist churches and individuals.

In the past there have been some very negative experiences with ecumenical associations here in the area where I live. For several years an area-wide ministers' fellowship included Baptists, Catholics, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Pentecostals, and charismatics. Articles in local newspapers pictured some of our Baptist pastors conducting spiritual activities together with officials of Roman Catholic and other churches. One Baptist pastor included a Roman Catholic priest in the marriage ceremony of his daughter. Such activities gave the false impression that there is a common faith between Baptists and Catholics, something that has had adverse affects upon SBC mission work in our area.

[I realize that there are those who always argue that some Catholics are saved in spite of the beliefs of Roman Catholicism. This is not the issue here. Obviously, any Roman Catholic who comes to faith in Christ alone will have rejected the sacramental grace-plus-works system of Roman Catholicism. They will then have become a Christian in spite of official Roman Catholic teaching. But it must be noted here that historically Baptists have made it very clear that they consider Roman Catholicism to be a false church preaching a false gospel. Those who think differently are simply out of step with the historic stance of Baptists and other true historic evangelicals.(16)]

You might be wondering from what vantage point I speak in this way. Our church is located in Catholic dominated South Louisiana. We are one of the oldest Southern Baptist churches in our area, being planted here sixty-four years ago by SBC missionaries with the specific purpose of reaching lost Roman Catholics with the one Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our mission remains the same to this day. Accordingly, we have had many experiences related to this issue of ecumenism. I am now in my eighteenth year as pastor of this church. As true historic Baptists, I/we claim no authority over any other church or individual. My intent is to humbly and respectfully implore SBC pastors to carefully consider these matters and to resist the temptation of ecumenical inclusivism.

Yes, of course we need to pray together... but without compromising the truth of God's Word. Brethren, as the president of our SBC convention recently noted, "It means something to be a Southern Baptist." For one thing, it means we trust God's Word as the sole source of authority for our faith and practice. This is not to say that we are perfect or that we always live in perfect obedience to our Lord; but it is to say that we believe in a perfect Word from God through which His Holy Spirit is able to authoritatively guide, teach, correct, rebuke, and train us in His kingdom work. This is not "spiritual isolationism" as some have charged. This is upholding the high standard of God's Word. If others wish to claim the same, then let them acknowledge any unbiblical doctrines they may hold and obey the truth of Scripture. If they believe we do not obey the Scriptures, we are open to discuss this. Then, with a unity based upon agreement with God’s Word, we may rightly rejoice in cooperating together in our Lord's kingdom work.

Brethren in Christ, by God's grace we have the truth of salvation in Christ Jesus. Also, through our rich heritage as biblical Christians, as true evangelicals, we stand on the high ground of personal and corporate accountability to a perfect and authoritative Word from God. Therefore we can not afford to compromise God’s truth in any way. If we have drifted away, let us return to our first love, and God will wash us in His Word and give the increase. We can once again become fruitful as He desires. We do not need to risk the compromise of sound doctrine to do so.

Fraternally,

Jerry Moser, pastor

Bayou DuLarge Baptist Church

(1) Ut Unum Sint, p.11, Vatican, May 1995 Back

(2) Documented in RADEN, 4/6/00. Copy available. Back

(3) Vatican II, Ut Unum Sint, ECT, How Now Shall We Live? p.303 Back

(4) ECT, "Those converted -- whether understood as having received the new birth for the first time or as having experienced the reawakening of the new birth originally bestowed in the sacrament of baptism -- must be given full freedom and respect as they discern and decide the community in which they will live their new life in Christ." Back

(5) Acts 20: 28-30; 2Corinthians 11; Jude Back

(6) Galatians 2:4-5; Titus 1:9-16 Back

(7) For instance, Charles Colson and Pat Robertson are given great credibility by several SBC agency leaders even though they continue to promote the heretical ECT-I document. Back

(8) How Now Shall We Live? Charles Colson, Tyndale, 1999, pp.302-305 Back

(9) Ibid. "The most hopeful words from any Christian leader today have come from John Paul II, who urges believers everywhere to make the new millennium a ‘new springtime’ for the gospel." [Which gospel might JPII be referring to?... obviously, the false Roman Catholic gospel of sacramental faith.] Such promotion is found throughout How Now Shall We Live?  I did receive a letter from Dr. Jimmy Draper just this week regarding this situation. I will report on this in an upcoming RADEN Report. Back

(10) The Vatican has been very successful in gradually moving other groups toward acceptance of her ecumenical goals; official documents recently signed by the Lutheran World Federation and the Anglican Communion represent major international gains attained toward re-uniting those religions with Roman Catholicism. For an amazing list of many of the Vatican’s efforts here in the United States, see Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. Note the "official dialoge" (that’s how the SEIA has listed it for years) with the Southern Baptist Convention. Back

(11) As interpreted in "Dominus Iesus," a Vatican document issued in August 2000 explaining the official teaching of Vatican II regarding the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church. Back

(12) Ibid. "Dominus Iesus" says "Therefore there exists a single Church of Christ, which subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the Successors of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him." (quoted in "Dominus Iesus" from Vatican document "Mysterium Ecclesiae," 1973. Back

(13) Ibid. Vatican II Back

(14) Ibid. par. 22; "...adherence to the Church through Baptism and the other sacraments, [is necessary] in order to participate fully in communion with God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit." Back

(15) ECT; How Now Shall We Live? p. 304, "Protestants and Catholics who join together in pro-life demonstrations find that they do indeed share the deepest worldview convictions. They discover what one scholar [Timothy George] calls ‘an ecumenism of the trenches.’ It was in recognition of this common worldview that in 1992 Father Richard Neuhaus and I organized Evangelicals and Catholics Together..." Back

(16) Dr. R. Albert Mohler, "The Southern Baptist Convention and the issue of Interdenominational Relationships," February 2000. Back

The RADEN Report is a news and commentary service purposed to inform and educate the body of Christ regarding the dangers of ecumenism. For our purposes, ecumenism is defined as cooperative ventures of an evangelistic nature with individuals and/or groups which promote errant doctrine. Much of the New Testament was written to oppose the false doctrines of men who claimed to be Christian teachers, yet were bringing in "destructive heresies." According to Jude we are to "earnestly contend for the Faith that was once for all delivered unto the saints." This we aim to do and to encourage others in this part of God's work. If we can be of assistance to you in this way, please let us know. Additional copies (hard-copy) of RADEN are available, as well as other resources. Why not pass RADEN on to a friend? If you would like to read the ECT document, click here.  We also have the ECT put together into booklets, if you would like for us to send you one or more, request it by email.   Please include your home address and how many you would like.

Why not give a copy of RADEN to a friend?