Despite obstacles, Vatican pushing inter-faith and ecumenical agendas

Ecumenical Service

The Vatican is pushing forward with its inter-faith and ecumenical plans, while it acknowledges that there are obstacles:

December 19, 2014

Vatican City – The president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue believes the Pope’s actions promoting interreligious dialogue in Turkey were both simple and clear. …

When asked for his reaction to the Pope’s visit to Turkey, he noted it was “very significant” for him personally, especially being responsible for interreligious dialogue.

“I think the Pope has been very clear. Simple and clear,” he said.

“What is important to make people understand,” he said, “is that we cannot be happy the one without the others. And never the one against the others.”

Responding to how dialogue with Muslims was promoted during the visit, the French cardinal stressed, “There was dialogue, but it’s very discreet, I should say.”

“Because there’s a tiny Christian community,” he noted, the dialogue is not as obvious, but it still exists. “It’s just not as elaborated like in Europe or the Middle East.”

He said Pope Francis having met with the Chief Rabbi in Turkey could be seen as increased interreligious dialogue with Jews. However, he added that even with the Pope’s efforts, “It’s not easy to make the three monotheistic religions be in dialogue.” http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/cardinal-tauran-we-cannot-be-happy-one-without-against-the-others

December 18, 2014
Pope Francis says that despite open questions in ecumenical dialogue, Christians should not resign themselves to a lack of unity and should instead “concentrate on the next step possible.”

The Pope said this today in an address to representatives of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Germany and the Ecumenical Commission of the German Bishops’ Conference during their ecumenical visit to Rome.

The Pope reminded them that the common goal is unity and we shouldn’t let theological differences halt the “common ecumenical journey” taking place.

“Let us not forget that, together, we are following a path of friendship, of mutual esteem and of theological research, a path that makes us look to the future full of hope,” the Pope underscored.

The official dialogue between Lutherans and Catholics, after almost 50 years of intensive work, Francis noted, has achieved remarkable progress. …

The Pope acknowledged that “the common objective of the full and visible unity of Christians sometimes seems to be distant due to the different interpretations, within the dialogue, on what the Church is and her unity.” …

“Ecumenical dialogue can no longer be separated from the reality and the life of our Churches.,” he said, noting both religions should be encouraged to, with God and the Spirit’s help, “further steps towards unity and not to limit ourselves simply to what we have already achieved.” http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-on-ecumenism-despite-what-s-unresolved-let-s-focus-on-next-steps

The type of ecumenical and inter-faith plans that the Vatican is working on WILL NOT RESULT THE TYPE OF UNITY THAT THE BIBLE ENDORSES. The reality is that TRUTH is being discarded when it is not considered to be politically-expedient.

The Lutherans and Catholic have resolved many of their differences, ignored some of their own histories, and are poised for greater unity. Such unity will happen, but it is not endorsed by the Bible. Those who do not have the ‘love of the truth’ are prophesied to accept it when certain events occur:

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

When the events predicted above come to pass, some will erroneously claim that it is because of God’s Spirit that certain signs are occurring and that God blesses that type of unity. Some may fall for apparitions claimed to be Mary or other such lying wonders (see Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions).

But those who fall for this movement will be in error.

The Bible is clear that a group of churches, led by one from the city of seven hills, is to be avoided and will end in disaster (Revelation 17:1-10,18).

The Bible does not teach that Christians will have the type of unity that the Vatican claim to want UNTIL AFTER THE FALL OF BABYLON (Zechariah 2:12-16).

The Bible tells that the ecumenical/inter-faith movement will also end in destruction (Revelation 18 & 19). This is not something that Catholics or the Eastern Orthodox should want (see also Why Should American Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox?).

Only the return of Jesus Christ and the millennial kingdom will bring the true type of unity that the world needs. The Vatican is pushing for a type of unity that will end in disaster according to the Bible.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Why Should American Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster? Is doctrinal compromise good? Here is a link to a related video Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement?
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions.
Beware: Protestants Going Towards Ecumenical Destruction! What is going on in the Protestant world? Are Protestants turning back to their ‘mother church’ in Rome? Does the Bible warn about this? What are Catholic plans and prophecies related to this? Is Protestantism doomed? watch the video Charismatic Kenneth Copeland and Anglican Tony Palmer: Protestants Beware! and World Council of Churches Peace Plan.
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics Unity between these groups will put them in position to be part of the final end time Babylon that the Bible warns against as well as require improper compromise.
United Nations: Humankind’s Last Hope or New World Order? Is the UN the last hope for humanity? Or might its goals end up with sinister results? A related video would be United Nations and Vatican Are Planning the New World Order.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions Do you know much about Mary? Are the apparitions real? What happened at Fatima? What might they mean for the rise of the ecumenical religion of Antichrist? Are Protestants moving towards Mary? How do the Eastern/Greek Orthodox view Mary? How might Mary view her adorers? Here is a link to a YouTube video Marian Apparitions May Fulfill Prophecy. Here is a link to a sermon video: Why Learn About Fatima?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2015, 2016, or 2017? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2014 o 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
Could Pope Francis be the Last Pope and Antichrist? Former Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio is now Pope Francis. According to some interpretations of the prophecies of the popes by the Catholic saint and Bishop Malachy, Pope Francis is in the position of “Peter the Roman,” the pontiff who reigns during tribulations until around the time of the destruction of Rome. Do biblical prophecies warn of someone that sounds like Peter the Roman? Could Francis be the heretical antipope of Catholic private prophecies and the final Antichrist of Bible prophecy? Could a Jesuit be “the black pope”?
Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy? Pope Francis has taken many steps to turn people more towards his version of ‘Mary.’ Could this be consistent with biblical and Catholic prophecies? This article documents what has been happening. There is also a video version titled Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy?
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from c. 31 A.D. to 2014. A related sermon link would be Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. Marque aquí para ver el pdf folleto: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios.