Ecumenicalism
Paul Wilson
Table of Contents
Ecumenicalism
We propose to take a look at the religious climate and religious trends in the world about us; that is, in the Western world. We have "the sure word of prophecy" concerning the events to take place shortly after the Church receives its home call; but the question we ask ourselves is, What are the portents of that which is to be seen on almost every side in Christendom? What do they suggest to us?
What was once only a trickle of opinion, later became a rising river, and has now almost reached the proportions of a tidal wave. We refer to the preachment of the urgent necessity for religious union-ecumenicalism. At first only a handful of theological liberals espoused the proposal; but today large, and enlarging, segments of the professing church have been caught in the great swell. Protestants of nearly every persuasion, and of no persuasion, and even Catholics are much interested in promoting a great world church that they suggest would greatly increase the "Christian" world testimony.
The National and World Councils of Churches are in the forefront of this great effort of man, and it may be assumed that there is some connection between them and some branches of the United Nations. There are those who propose a super world government, and those who propose a super-world religion. In some ways their propositions overlap. It is to be feared that the spirit that animated the builders of the tower of Babel and the spirit moving the builders of the world colossi today are the same and from the same source. Although today the advocates of super-government probably fear being swept away by overwhelming power in the hands of ruthless dictators, while the proponents of a world-wide, all-embracing Christian church fear the overwhelming force of communistic materialism and scientific naturalism, although both of these elements are in the forefront of the ecumenical drive.
But from whatever source, here are some facts: As the National Council of Churches'-an organization composed of 33 denominations-representatives were gathering in an Francisco early in December for their fifth triennial general assembly, Dr. Eugene Carson Blake preached in the pulpit of Grace Cathedral at the request of Bishop James A. Pike of the Episcopalian diocese. This was on the Sunday before the general assembly meetings were to open. Dr. Blake, who was formerly a president of the National Council, is the executive head of the newly combined United Presbyterian Church; and his well-planned and well-timed bomb went off with utmost precision and produced the desired effect. He made a concrete proposal that the Episcopal Church, together with his United Presbyterians, the Methodists, and the recently forged United Church of Christ come together and form one great denomination of 17.8 million communicants. (The United Church of Christ was formed in 1957 by merging the Evangelical and Reformed Churches with the Congregational Christian Churches.)
Editor Harold Fey of the independent, liberal Christian Century was in attendance at this historic service and said that one might go to church for a decade, or maybe for this century, and not see such an unusual and important service. Needless to say, Dr. Blake's suggestion was heartily endorsed by Bishop Pike who knew in advance of his "sermon." Some reactions from other leaders included a remark by the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Rt. Rev. Arthur Lichtenberger, that the proposal was of tremendous importance to the whole church. Also, Dr. John Wesley Lord, the Methodist bishop of the Washington Area, said, "that such a re-united church would make a tremendous appeal to... a growing number of people who stand aghast at the sin of denominational overlapping."
The heads of the United Church of Christ also expressed interest and a willingness to examine Dr. Blake's proposal. And so the swell increases as more and more churchmen talk mergers and consolidations.
Here are some comments from Eternity magazine:
"It was plain that San Francisco set a new watermark in the flood of feeling for church union in the United States-at least as far as the leaders of American Protestantism are concerned. The flood waters virtually swept away the lingering concept that somehow the denominations could work together in a loose sort of federation.
"Dr. Blake and others following his lead seem to feel that in the merger of churches, such as he proposed, spiritual forces of renewal will be released and the church will again possess the sort of witness that once turned the world upside down."
Eternity further says:
"But there is a greater impetus for church union. Bible students can point to the words of our Lord Himself: 'that they all may be one... that the world may believe that thou hast sent me' (John 17:21). These words have been neglected far too long even by those who swear their loyalty to God's Holy Word."
Again we quote from Eternity:
"It is plain that today Christians must search their Bibles and study more diligently the revealed truth of God about the nature of the church. Many Christians have been more concerned to study the prophecy of the future than they have been to study what the church of Jesus Christ is to be right now."-Feb. 1961, pp. 27, 28.
It is easy to see the present attitude of Eternity and its editorial staff. Its late editor-in-chief, Dr. Donald G. Barnhouse, led the way. At one time he departed from the National Council of Churches and its conglomerate of modernism and often apostasy, but in late years he went back to it, expressing his regrets for having ever left it. He then spoke over the air under its aegis, and in his magazine wrote disparagingly of those who depart from iniquity. Shortly before his decease, he spoke out against what is called dispensationalism; and in combating a servant of the Lord who taught it said,
"I do not believe that the church is in ruins."
And yet on every hand the evidence is overwhelming of the diseased and ruined condition of the outward testimony of the Church of God on earth. Now his successors say,
"Conservative Christians who have been preoccupied with the doctrine of the Scriptures must now concentrate on the doctrine of the church."-p. 28.
Is not the doctrine of the Church a part of the great body of scriptural doctrine? How can it be separated? Is not the truth of the Church of God on earth simple, and easy to be understood by those who are willing to practice it? The difficulty lies in the preconceived ideas of professing Christians to have it (the Holy Scriptures) the way they prefer it to be!
But what dissonant sounds would come from the diverse elements which Dr. Blake would put together in one house with all the various forms and machinery, liturgy and ceremonies. Dr. Blake, however, seems to have the answer even for this; that is, to find the lowest common denominator which will allow all so-called Christians to blend in a uniformity without too much strain on conscience or predilection. Here is his suggestion of a compromise formula:
A "visible and historical continuity with the church of all ages before and after the Reformation."
Here is something to blend the Catholic position (first, as it is held in the Anglican communion; second, in the orthodox bodies of the East; third, perhaps as held in Romanism) with the churches that came out of the Reformation whose position and doctrinal truths were bought at the price of the blood of the martyrs.
Acceptance of "the historic Trinitarian faith received from the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds."
3) Belief in the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion) as the "true means of grace and not merely a symbolic memorial," no matter what the precise operation of the sacrament may be (e.g., whether the Communion wine is believed to turn into the actual blood of Christ or not).
This is to appeal to the Lutherans and Catholics at a later date, and others now.
Then Dr. Blake suggests these:
Agreement that "God, speaking through the Scriptures, must be able to reform the church from age to age."
This sets the basis for complete change in existing church arrangements to suit the new super-church to the accommodation of all participants. A democratic form of church government.
This will assure present leaders and lay activists that they will not be brushed aside by some new top-heavy organization. A greater sense of brotherhood among and between members and ministers.
This must be done to get the needed financial support from wealthy members and the active cooperation of the laity to superimpose this great church on their local organizations.
A broad theology and a flexible pattern of church service.
The new great step toward "Babylon the Great" will suit the local church whether it maintains some semblance of orthodoxy or rejects all the revealed and supernatural truths of Scripture; whether it wishes an ornate building with greatest liturgical arrangements, or a modest building such as John Wesley might have decreed.
So here is the great blueprint which will allow much filling in to be done on the local level. Church members will be able to do or to hold anything they please, or nothing, just so long as it is not disruptive of outward union. Fidelity to Christ and to God's Holy, unchangeable Word would sow discord and would not be tolerated. We live in a day when non-conformity to the view of the masses will not be tolerated, and yet the word "toleration" is often used. Those who would be faithful may yet suffer real persecution by the high and mighty, pretentious, so-called Church of Christ. Great changes are in the making. And how soon will they fructify? Let us note the following:
"Noting that it would take ten years to shape and approve the details of the Blake plan, the Rev. Dr. Theodore Gill told a panel of the council that church union cannot wait that long. Because of the 'silliness' of church competition at the local level, 'the gun is at the church's head,' said the Presbyterian president of San Francisco Theological Seminary."-Newsweek, Dec. 19, 1960, p. 50.
It must be done with all dispatch; urgency is in the air. Things are moving, and delays will not be allowed. Here is what Eternity has to say on this point:
"The interdenominational organizations of evangelicalism have little time left to decide whether they are going to align themselves with the separatists [a word of disdain for any who do not go along with the trends] who believe hopefully that the 'church' can be made 'pure,' or with the majority of Christendom moving in the growing ecumenical tide." p. 28.
We probably should mention a few things concerning the actual meeting of the National Council of Churches of Christ which was held in San Francisco, California following Dr. Blake's Christendom-shaking proposal of church union. The proposal from Dr. Blake had not been en the agenda of the general assembly, but proceeded it and set the stage for increased activity by all the ecumenical-minded delegates. It gave a sense of urgency to union. When the business meeting got under way, they received a report that American churches "have never been healthier" than they are now. The secretary of the council, Dr. Roy G. Ross, gave a "state of the churches" report to the delegates for their 33 Protestant and Orthodox bodies. The report said that "a rising tide of religious interest in the United States" is evident by the statistics which show church membership at an all-time high. Church building reached a one billion dollar a year rate, and a very high level of members' participation in church activities was noted. Not a word was said about how many people repented of their sins and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Only externals were mentioned and boasted in.
One may well ask, Were there any real Christians present? If there were, Where was there any evidence of their loyalty to Christ and the truth of God? Would not the words of Isaiah reprove any true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of all the carnal boasting? "His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.... They are shepherds that cannot understand." Isa. 56:10, 11.
Could any description of worldly success by the profession of Christianity more aptly fit the Holy Spirit's last description of the professing church on earth as found in Rev. 3:15-17? "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth. Because thou sayest, I AM RICH, AND INCREASED WITH GOODS, AND HAVE NEED OF NOTHING; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Proud, boastful Christendom has indeed reached the last stage of her testimony on earth. She is to be spewed out of Christ's mouth as something nauseous to Him. Her plight today is like that of the Israelites who had forsaken their God, but could boast of their religiosity and long background when they saw the ark of God come into the camp in the days of the apostasy of Eli's sons. At that time they boasted and shouted until "the earth rang again" (1 Sam. 4:5). Their shout was but empty pretension (the ark was taken and they were despoiled), and the Lord gives the same verdict to Laodicea's boasting.
If this article should fall into the hands of any true believer who took part in the sickening lukewarmness of the San Francisco convention, we say to him in true Christian charity: "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light," or "shine upon thee." Eph. 5:1•.
The ecumenical builders work on a wrong premise; that is, that all professors of Christianity are truly Christ's sheep, when by and large the majority today will not stand up to such a test. The wheat field has become a "tare" field, where mere professors abound; they are not Christ's sheep, and are destined to hear Him say to them, "I never knew you." There is an article in Eternity for January, 1961, by Walter R. Martin. (This is the man who sought to persuade the orthodox believers of today to welcome into their midst the Seventh-day Adventist fellowship.) In his article Mr. Martin sees only "scandalous" sheep and good sheep-or "obedient and disobedient" sheep. He rejects entirely the word of the Lord to come out from among unbelievers "and be separate" (2 Cor. 6); he says it does not apply to separation from professing Christians in churches. But the verse does apply to unbelievers inside or outside of the professing church involving any unequal yoke. How can a believer and a modernist infidel worship God together? It is impossible according to truth.
The promoters of an ecumenical church cite the success that has been achieved in Canada since 1925 when the Methodists, Presbyterians, and Congregationalists came together to form the United Church of Canada (and later, the Polish National Catholic Church-not Roman-was admitted). According to the glowing reports it must have been one continual love feast, with such a testimony to the unchurched that the example is well worth emulating. But external union, so often achieved at the sacrifice of the principles of the truth and of loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word, is not always what it seems to be. Skeletons are often hidden away in great houses, and family loyalty forbids that they should be mentioned to outsiders. One thing we do know is, that much modernism and even apostasy has been housed in this church union experiment. But what does the Lord Himself, who stands amidst the seven golden candlesticks of church profession, think -thou it? He is judging of the profession, and perhaps He has written over it, "I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." Rev. 3:1. One thing is sure, the Word of God does not countenance the mingling of the holy and the unholy, of the saved and the unsaved, in one great testimony, no matter what the aim may be of the promoters or of the doers of this strange work.
We might add that as of 1950 the United Church of Canada had 2,500,000 communicants, almost 6,500 houses of worship, and $100,000,000 worth of property. It played a large part in forming the Canadian Council of Churches, and is a member of the World Council of Churches. Dr. Willard Brewing of this organization said,
"It was the first large-scale translation of ecumenical theory into practice."-Newsweek, June 26, 1950, p. 12.
At that time they started a program which is still in the making to unite the United Church with the Church of England in Canada, and it is said that the "rank-and-file" members favor it. And today's primate of the Anglican Church of Canada says,
"Nothing less than the reunion of all Christendom should be our goal." And, "Anything that limits the completeness of the fellowship men find in their common allegiance to Christ is sinful."-Weekend, vol. 10, no. 47, 1960.
Remember that he says "men"—-saved or unsaved-must be joined together in a great profession; but to achieve these supposed notable ends, loyalty and faithfulness to Christ must be cast aside. Well did the last hook of the Old Testament speak of a similar time when Israel had turned from God in heart and ways, but were boastful: "And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered." Mal. 3:15.
But how beautiful is the next verse: "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine... when I make up My jewels." What an encouragement to faithful children of God in this age to walk in separation from the unholy and the unclean, although it may be acclaimed by all the world as the will of God and the work of Christ. Do we "fear the Lord"? then let us speak of Him to them who are like-minded. We can leave our cause in His hands, who is "the faithful judge," and let men call us what they will. "Unto you therefore which believe He is precious"-the greatness of the professing church which accommodates itself to the world has no attraction to the heart that finds Him precious.
Ecumenicalism
In the parable of the sower sowing the seed of the Word, some seed was lost to the fowls of the air, who devoured it, which the Lord explained was "the wicked one" catching away the seed sown in the hearts of the hearers. Then in the parable of the mustard seed, that which had a very small beginning (which the tiny mustard seed portrays) later became a tree, and the fowls (wicked spirits) lodged in its branches. (See Matt. 13:31, 32, 3-19.) This prefigures the growth of Christian profession into a thing of such size that wicked spirits can find a lodging within it. Then the last stage of the great profession is found in Rev. 18, where it is not merely that wicked spirits find lodging in profession, but "Babylon the great is fallen, and is become... a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." This will precede God's final overthrow of that which He hates-false, empty profession which dares to attach the name of Christ to all forms of evil, coupled with a rejection of the truth. It will be a cage full of iniquity. Can it be that that which began so brightly, with only 120 persons on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), would as to its outward profession have this ultimate end? Yes, and God has forewarned us; but ere it reaches that final state of apostasy the Lord will come and take all true believers to Himself (Matt. 25:1-10; 1 Thess. 4:15-17).
God bore long and patiently with Israel, but finally He gave them up. Then He gathers in from among the Gentiles a people for heaven. And has He not been most gracious and patient with Gentile profession? But although judgment is His strange work, it will surely come.
While the Christian profession today is boasting as never before, and is marching faster and faster to the great ecumenical (world-wide) church, the evident characteristics of its final apostasy are apparent and are gnawing away at its vitals. Ecumenicalism is on its way; in fact, we say it is here. It is in the atmosphere which today surrounds most of Protestantism as well as Roman Catholicism. No young man seeking a place in most Protestant circles today can expect to make much, if any, headway unless he falls in with this trend. Here are the words of Dr. Ivan Lee Holt, retired Methodist bishop of the St. Louis and Dallas area: "as the missionary movement was the great religious program of the 19th century, so in this 20th century no minister can expect any leadership in the church of today who is not ecumenically minded." -Christian Beacon, Oct. 15, 1959.
We have previously spoken of the church union experiment as seen in the United Church of Canada, which is now engaged in making plans for further union. Now let us see something of the apostasy that is interwoven with this step toward the cage of Babylon. Not long ago a 126-page book was published by this amalgamated church's Committee on Christian Faith and Order. It is entitled, "Life and Death-A Study of the Christian Hope." This book denies the damnation of the lost. It says:
"It is not God's will to save individuals apart from the rest of creation, hut along with it.... We must acknowledge the strain of universalism in the New Testament-the note of hope that at last all men shall be saved."
This is plainly a denial of the eternal punishment of the lost; it is the false doctrine of Universalism. And what does the book have to say about the Romish doctrine of purgatory? Here it is:
"The Bible gives no support to the Roman Catholic doctrine of purgatory." But also, "We threw away too much when we threw purgatory clean out the doors. We threw out the baby with the dirty water of its bath."
Then in another place, Life and Death states:
"It can be doubted that the dead were so suddenly and completely transformed at death as to put them beyond all need of grace or of our prayers. We believe that serious and sympathetic consideration should be given to the point of view of those who believe in prayer for the dead." p. 60
Here is plainly the doctrine of purgatory, call it what they like. This modern apostasy also teaches the abominable lie that there is salvation for the lost after death; just a little more religious tranquilizer to keep men and women happy and unconcerned on their way to doom. Here is a bald denial of the Christian's being with Christ at death, and of the sealed doom for those who die in their sins:
"And if the Christian's ultimate destiny is not determined at death, why should we think the possibility of salvation for the non-Christian ends at death?"
We could go on and on, but we add only some comments from the moderator, The Rt. Rev. Angus J. McQueen:
"I have never believed that hell is a place of everlasting fire, and I have never preached it.... I think it is also logical to assume that if we could believe in intercessory prayer for people in this world, then we should believe in it for those in the next. We are as close to God in both."
Shocking indeed is the daring of man, to cast God's Word behind his back and regard as "logical" to "assume" that God did not speak the truth! This man has placed himself in the category of those who take away from the words of God, who will have their part taken "out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." Rev. 22:19.
But ecumenicalists have other standards by which to judge. The Primate of the Church of England in Canada speaks in glowing terms of the other great ecumenical experiment in the consolidated Church of South India. He says that
"they have adopted a new liturgy (form of service) which is better than they had in any of their former churches. I attended a celebration of it while at the Anglican conference at Lambeth, England. It is a beautiful liturgy and it was a moving experience to be present."-Weekend, Vol. 10, No. 47, 1960.
No doubt some would have deemed Cain's sacrifice beautiful and moving and much to be preferred over Abel's offering. These "moving experiences" are not to please Christ, but men. He gave no such instruction to His Church, but mere worship "in the Spirit" would not please the taste of the unsaved who rank equally with the believers in modernistic ecumenicalism. But what says the Spirit to real believers who are caught in the meshes of the advancing Babylon the great?- -"COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE, THAT YE BE NOT PARTAKERS OF HER SINS, AND THAT YE RECEIVE NOT OF HER PLAGUES." Rev. 18:4.
Nor is rank unbelief found only in the Canadian experiment, but it is found throughout Christendom. Dr. Eugene Carson Blake, who made the startling proposition for union of four great denominations at the San Francisco assembly of the National Council of Churches, says,
"Today I don't step on a fundamentalist's toes unwittingly. I know."-Newsweek, March 28, 1955.
The story of his rise to prominence tells of his listening to the voice of "neo-orthodoxy" (which is neither new, for it is as old as Eve's twisting the word of God, nor is it orthodox, except in using the old phraseology of orthodoxy, while extracting the vitals) in Reinhold Niebuhr, now of Union Theological Seminary.
And Dr. Blake made his famous plea for union in the cathedral of the Episcopalian archbishop (Rt. Rev. James A. Pike) of the Californian diocese. And what of this colleague?
"He spoke of 'the myth of the Garden of Eden' and of its value in explaining the nature of man. This was, he said, the use of a myth to explain a 'complicated truth.'
"Yet I do not know a single member of the Anglican communion -Bishop, presbyter, deacon or layman-who believes this story literally."-New York Times, Feb. 13, 1961.
The net result of this viewpoint is to place our Lord Jesus Christ in the position of having spoken untruth; for He referred to the creation at the beginning as fact-not fancy or myth. "He which made them at the beginning made them male and female." Matt. 19:4. If you throw away the divine records of the creation, every other part of the Word of God that makes reference to it as fact is false. But, "Let God be true, but every man a liar." Rom. 3:4. Dr. Pike goes on:
"Another myth, set forth in the creed, is the idea that Christ `ascended into heaven.' Pike asks, Where? We no longer believe in a three-level universe.... The virgin birth is a myth, Pike feels, designed to communicate the simultaneous humanity and divinity of Christ; so is the thorny theological concept of the Trinity."-Time, Feb. 24, 1961.
Bishop Pike tries to relegate the blessed and precious truths of Christianity to 4th century church leaders who were imbued with Greek philosophy. When he speaks of God as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, he uses the words
" 'Evolver,’ ‘Healer,' and 'Community Builder'."-Time, Feb. 24,1961.
If Judas sold his Lord for thirty pieces of silver, for what are these modern ecclesiastics selling Him? They are truly "blind leaders of the blind," who will all fall into the pit together. How solemn to think of the thousands upon thousands who are being duped by the enemy of souls until it is forever too late. And this is true, regardless of the book published by the Board of Evangelism and Social Service of Canada's largest church, from which we have before quoted.
And who came to Dr. Pike's defense? Not surprisingly, it was Walter Donald Kring of the All Souls Unitarian Church in New York. Certain southern Episcopalians had brought charges of heresy against Bishop Pike, but Mr. Kring said that the southerners may have been using the charges as a "smokescreen" to cover their strong antipathy toward Bishop Pike's views favoring integration. But the Unitarian minister said that churchmen in New York feel that the charges of heresy will never be aired. He added:
"Bishop Pike did not 'deny the possibility of the miracle of the virgin birth,' and neither would I, but he believes in assuming that Joseph was the human father of Jesus. This is the specific ground on which the heresy charge is based-that he denies the virgin birth. He then goes on to say that he does not believe that Christianity has an exclusive corner on salvation.
"He also says that his idea of God has changed. He first believed in a God who would limit salvation to a 'select group of people who happen to have heard the news and heard it well.' He feels that this is an impossible God. 'As to this God, I am now an atheist,' he says.
"He says specifically," Mr. Kring said, "that he doesn't believe that Christ `sitteth on the right hand of the Father,' that 'Christ ascended into heaven,' or that Jesus was 'conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary'."-New York Times, Feb. 13, 1961.
If Christ did not ascend into heaven, and if He is not now at God's right hand, then the Bible is false and every Christian's trust and hope is vain. If the Lord Jesus was not who and what the Scripture said He was, Christianity is a delusion. The Old and New Testaments are inseparably bound together by indissoluble ties. The whole Bible stands or falls together. The. Old Testament told of His virgin birth, of His death as a martyr and as the sinless victim, of His resurrection, and of His being seated now at God's right hand. If He is not there, we Christians have no Great High Priest, or Advocate. And if these who apostatize feel as they say they do, why keep up the mockery any longer? Russian atheism is to be preferred; at least you cannot accuse them of being hypocrites-whatever their doom.
Another defender of Bishop Pike in his denial of the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus was Dr. Martin Rist, New Testament professor at the Iliff School of Theology at Denver, Colorado. Dr. Rist quoted from a book, "The Life and Teachings of Jesus," by Charles A. Laymon, thus:
"Regardless of the means by which Jesus entered the world, the luminous impact of his mind and spirit upon history remains to this hour.... I advise a new minister never to preach a sermon on the virgin birth."-Denver Post, Feb. 4, 1961.
And after all this, he was nevertheless honored at a banquet during the 18th annual Ministers' Lectures at Iliff School the week of the Denver Post report. Is it again as it was in the days of wicked Ahab when there were 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the groves, while Elijah stood alone for God? Elijah learned later that God had reserved 7,000 men who had not bowed down to Baal, but theirs was a rather negative testimony. So today, the prophets that speak falsely are in the ascendency, and faithful men have become rare. Oh, if only the mass in Christendom could see their awful doom which is soon to come, both here and hereafter!
Christian reader, can blasphemy reach higher? We feel like crying out with some whose words are recorded by God, "How long, O Lord?" If the Lord's coming for His own is not at hand, what is? Of course apostasy will reach deeper depths when we are gone to be with Christ, but then destruction will be at hand. A time is coming when all the profession of Christianity will be rooted out of the earth and completely destroyed by man himself when he wearies of its hypocrisy and mockery. Then cynicism, atheism, communism, and humanism will (with Satan's aid) throw off even the name of God; and then all will go down to judgment under the victorious armies that will come forth with the Son of man when He executes the just vengeance of God. God in love gave His beloved Son for the purpose of saving sinners from their sins; but when He is rejected, judgment must ensue; for God will be no party to His Son's dishonor.
Let us also examine some of the other prominent ecumenicalists at the San Francisco rally. There was Dr. Theodore Gill, former managing editor of the liberal Christian Century. He is now the president of the large Presbyterian Seminary at San Francisco. There was a storm raised when he was appointed to that post, for he had boldly stated that he would not subscribe to the "virgin birth." Is this the voice of the Shepherd or of the wolf? Yet he was at the convention and said that church union could not wait another ten years.
This man, Theodore A. Gill, was also the platform coordinator of a Methodist Youth Convention at Purdue University, attended by 6000 in August, 1959, where "scenes from Broadway plays, jazz, interpretive dancing and singing" were all a part of the program. The Pagan world gave up God, and then God gave them up to all uncleanness (read Rom. 1); and Christendom is fast giving up God and His goodness. The Gentile profession is NOT continuing in His goodness and shall be cut off (Rom. 11:22).
Another top man in the National Council of Churches was there, Dr. Edwin T. Dahlberg. He was pastor of the Delmar Baptist Church in St. Louis, hut has been filling assignments for the World Council of Churches for more than ten years. Then he was elected president of the National Council. He made a trip of investigation into the Middle East and came, away with a novel proposal for settling all the problems between Israel and their Moslem neighbors. Here is what he said:
"We would do well to consider the possibility of a series of major religious conferences in Jerusalem including the best leadership of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, with a view to discussing the whole question of the Middle East in terms of the will of God." In another paragraph he says, "Such a daring act of faith, in the name of God." Again, "Shall we conclude that the resources of monotheism have been exhausted, and that the Christ of Nazareth, the prophets of Israel, and Mohammed, the prophet of Allah, have lived in vain? If we, their followers," etc.
What daring! to put God and Allah on the same level, yes, and Christ and Mohammed on another level together! This is treason against the Most High. Dr. Dahlberg's Christ is not the Christ of God, nor is his God the God who has been revealed in the Son. Like Judas, some so-called ministers of the gospel would kiss while they betray Him. The noted doctor went on further:
"One beautiful morning in Midnapore, on India's national Independence Day, I was present at a prayer meeting of three faiths- Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam. It was attended by some three hundred people. As I listened to the readings from the sacred writings of all these religions, and to the prayers of the leaders of the three cooperating faiths, I was overpowered by a sense of the Eternal."-Christian Beacon, Jan. 8, 1959.
It must not take much to overpower some people! Paul was not overpowered by all the religious displays in Athens, but took a bold stand against them. Peter was rebuked for seeking to put the Lord on a level with "Moses the man of God," and the great
prophet Elijah; but what shall we say of a man who would put Him on a level with the false prophet Mohammed? And all this was reported in Presbyterian Life on January 1, 1959, without a protest.
This overpowering emotion evidently came from the combined readings from the Vedas, the Koran, and the Bible. If a Christian has even glanced at the writings of the Vedas and the Koran, he would inwardly revolt at placing them on the same platform with the Word of the living God.
Some years ago this same Dr. Dahlberg said:
"What Baptists and other Christians need most is an up-to-date language.... The modern mind no longer gets any meaning out of such phrases as 'the precious name of Jesus,' `coming under the blood,' and 'saved by grace'."-Time, Aug. 7,1950.
Need we comment? Is there a single child of God who reads his statements that does not instantly recoil? Such effrontery needs only to be read to be hated by every lover of the name of Jesus. "Unto you therefore which believe He is precious." 1 Pet. 2:7. That is the answer-"Unto you... which believe."
Now just another quotation, from Eternity magazine, which indicates where their sympathies lie:
"When the highly efficient and devoted officials of the National Council of Churches planned the program for the recent General Assembly... they counted on presenting a well-ordered corporate image of 33 denominations working cooperatively in the closest unity and Christian brotherhood....
"Some of the ablest and most respected men in the religious world were included on the program: Billy Graham, Judge Luther W. Youngdahl, Bishop James A. Pike, Dr. Edwin T. Dahlberg, Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam, Bishop Leslie Newbigin of the Church of South India... and many more."
We have already shown conclusively what the respected Bishop Pike is as to the Christian faith, also Dr. Dahlberg; and we could say much more regarding Bishop Oxnam, for he has uttered some of the most shocking statements to come from a Protestant minister. Let the reader judge for himself where Eternity stands. And for others who may have been there who are true believers, we have this to say, "A man is known by the company he keeps."
Although our voice may be insignificant, we echo the cry with clarion distinctness, "Come out of her, My people."
Ecumenicalism
The Lord Jesus said to the Jews at the close of His earthly ministry, "How is it that ye do not discern this time?" Luke 12:56. And today there are many Christians who do not discern the character of these days-the last days-the days just before He will take all true believers to be with Himself in the Father's house. The grand moment is almost here. Wherever we look: the state of the nations, East and West, North and South; military preparedness; economic alliances; conflicts within men's minds over opposing ideologies; breakdown of morals; lawlessness; everything tells the same story-the end is at hand.
And nowhere is it more in evidence than in that which professes to he the Church of God. Laodiceanism-indifferentism to the claims of Christ and His glory, while boasting of riches and grandeur-is well advanced. Ecumenicalism continues to swell, while neo-orthodoxy (formerly called "modernism"), and new evangelicalism (a watered-down, popular perversion of the gospel of God) help to promote the World Council of Churches. The latest ecumenical achievement is the fruit of fifteen years of negotiations to bring the Russian Orthodox Church into the great fold. When the invitation to the Russians to unite with the W.C.C. was first made, it was rejected; but clandestine and cautious negotiations have been continued. Now at length an application for membership in the W.C.C. has been received, signed by none other than Moscow's Patriarch Alexis.
Dr. Franklin Clark Fry, president of the United Lutheran Church, and president of the World Council's central committee, who is one of the most ardent and active promoters of the world church, has announced the receipt of the request, which, according to all reports, will almost certainly be approved by the world body. This will add stature to the W.C.C., although there will be some objections, because it is well known that anything of religion which is tolerated in Russia is subservient to the dictatorial aims of Russian (international) Communism. It will open the door for further penetration of world religion by the leaven of the communist ideology.
Estimates of the number of communicants which would be added to the World Council by accepting the Russian Church vary from 25 to 50 million. Their request for membership will be voted on by the World Council assembly meeting in New Delhi, India, next November. Dr. Fry says that their reception will be "a major event in the life of the council."-Time, May 5, 1961.
No one should suppose that the end aim of many of the great non-Roman church leaders is only the uniting under a single roof of all the Protestant and orthodox bodies. It is evident that in much of the present thinking, reunion with Rome is included. The National and World Councils are not opposed to allowing part of their membership's going over to Rome in a body. Progress in this direction is perhaps further along than most suppose. Here is a recent report:
"A vice president of the National Council of Churches said... that union between Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christians was very close."
He further said that "there was no real difference between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholics and expressed the hope that a joint invitation to unity will come from Orthodox Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople and the Bishop of Rome, Pope John, 'who has been sent by God to accomplish a holy mission of unity'."
These remarks came from Archbishop Antony Bashir, who is the archbishop of New York and of all North America for the Syrian Antiochian Orthodox Church. He further remarked that Roman Catholic dogma of the infallibility of the Pope poses no real problem to Eastern. Orthodox and Roman Catholic communions.
Archbishop Bashir, when in Detroit to officiate at a celebration in the St. George Syrian Orthodox Church, remarked that on the previous Sunday in his own church in New York, Roman Catholic Cardinal Cushing had been a banquet guest in his church, and "after the Divine Liturgy came into the sanctuary, knelt before the altar, prayed and blessed the committee that invited him."-Detroit Free Press, May 1, 1961.
Cardinal Cushing's action is not to be wondered at, since Pope John XXIII recently ordered and attended a Byzantine-Slavic rite mass in St. Peter's Basilica, and spoke some words in ancient Slavic, to show Rome's solicitude toward Eastern Orthodox churches.
Not many years ago some Christians thought that the Roman Church was at the end of her tether; but today her outreach has lengthened, and the gloved hand is being extended to those whom she formerly opposed. And it would seem still stranger (if we were not acquainted with the Holy Scriptures) to find that hand is being accepted, and in places even sought.
It is not six months since the highest ecclesiastic of the Church 'Of England went to visit the Pope, and exclaimed,
"Your Holiness, we are making history:'-America (R. C. Weekly), Jan. 14, 1961.
After the Archbishop's visit with the Pope, he had another visit with Augustin Cardinal Bea, head of the Vatican Committee for Promoting Christian Unity. At this meeting there was discussion of participation by the Church of England in the Roman Catholic ecumenical conference to be held later, probably next year.
Now in such a short time, the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has been received by the Pope. One may well ask, Where is England going? It is traveling the same roads as most of the Western world, down divergent paths toward infidelity, humanism, and atheism on the one hand, and to Rome on the other. Two diverse and opposing attitudes are at work, and in the end Romanism will at first prevail, only to be destroyed later by these divergent forces, most of which are growing up in a moribund religiosity which clings more and more tenaciously to liturgy and outward form and name.
When the noted English cleric, John Henry Newman, sought to turn the English Church over to Rome during the Oxford Movement (1833-41), there was enough resistance to save the day. Newman then left the Church of England and became a Roman priest; later he was given the cardinal's red hat. This remembrance suggests that perhaps some of the prominent ecumenicalists of today may yet wear the red hat. There is so little vitality left to Protestantism in England that there can be no powerful force to stay the trend.
The same is true of the Anglican Communion in most other parts of the world. It has gone into the ecumenical conglomerate in South India. The Primate of Canada, as we have before seen, is ready for it, even to expressing the wish that "Nothing less than the reunion of all Christendom should be our goal."-Weekend, Vol. 10, no. 47, 1960.
The head of the Anglican branch in the United States is the presiding bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, Arthur Carl Lichtenberger, who said that he "would include the Roman Catholic Church in any moves toward unity," and "The search for a way toward reunion should embrace all churches, including the Roman Catholic."
And the Bishop of Chelmsford, England, wants the Anglican Communion to act as a bridge between the Catholic churches of the East and the non-Catholics of the West, and then to disappear when its function is completed, and merge its identity in the unity of one church.
Fellow-Christians, consider how easily and how quickly the last stage of Christendom can come about in the formation of "Babylon the Great"! And remember that liberalism-Laodicean lethargy-has been and is paving the way for the great apostasy of Christendom. Without profession's having first lost its respect for God and subjection of spirit to His revelation, ecumenical union could not come about. As we have before shown, all religions are treated as of some real value, if not of equal value in most ecumenical circles. Then when the authority of God's Holy Word is supplanted, the dogmas of men, the traditions of the elders, the foibles of so-called church fathers, the decrees of the church which make the Word of God void by the words of mere men-all that is spurious comes in to fill the empty space. At that point, the sacred Scriptures are quoted out of context to prove that "white is black, and black is white."
O Christians who still desire to please God! Come out of the unclean mixture while there is yet time! Ask not directions from those who like Lot sit in the gate of Sodom. "Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins." Rev. 18:4. Waste not your time in trying to turn back the clock or reverse the trend. "Come out"! "Come out"!
Where is the Church of Rome in all the ecumenical urge? She is holding out an olive leaf; she is offering a little encouragement here and a little there; but after all she is playing it coyly, and biding her time. She has but to wait, and the ripe apples will fall into her hands. Her aim at present seems to be to first get the Orthodox Greek Church with its 130,000,000 members into the fold. Pope John XXIII wants to show the world the Roman Church in its full splendor and then to say to the others,
"You can see, brothers, this is the church of Christ. Come, come!"
One mark of Rome's interest in seeing all Christendom gathered under one roof-her own-is the increased activity of the Graymoor Friars who each year indicate to the Roman parishes how to pray for church unity. They set aside eight days for the observance of the Chair of Unity Octave (Jan. 18-25). With Pope John's approval, the language of the prayers is altered to eliminate any phrases that might seem offensive; for instance, instead of praying for the submission of the Anglicans to the Vicar of Christ, they now merely pray for the reconciliation of the Anglicans with the Holy See. But there is plenty of evidence that their aims and principles have not changed. We need not name other changes of prayer phraseology of a similar nature, even concerning Moslems and Jews.
The major portion of the Catholic weekly, America, for January 14, 1961, was devoted to discussion of ecumenicalism which will bring all "Christians" into "one fold," and under "one shepherd. ' America's editorial also comments on the opposition that was raised in 1948 when President Truman sent Myron Taylor to the Vatican as his representative:
"But new winds blow.... Thus, over the same weekend in which the Archbishop of Canterbury visited the Vatican, American Catholic and Protestant religious leaders engaged in the first formal theological colloquy of an official character, at St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minn. Their interfaith discussions, organized with the approval of the Holy Office, lasted for three days." p. 454.
Eleven pages of this issue of America are devoted to discussion of the approaches to Catholic and Protestant unity. And there are twelve short articles on the subject of the ecumenical "dialog" by prominent theologians from both sides of the ever lowering fence.
Robert McAfee Brown, Professor, Union Theological Seminary, commented in part:
"Protestant theology can learn a great deal from Catholicism in such areas as the meaning of tradition, the life of the early Church and the relationship of the Church to the world." p. 459.
One Catholic writer does mention a point which in the past has been a very real barrier to unity; namely, "Holy Writ or Holy Church." p. 460.
Avery Dulles, Professor, Woodstock College (he is the son of the former Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, who was himself an active Protestant layman and interested in the W.C.C.), says:
"The goal of our corning dialog should he neither to refute adversaries nor to reach agreements on a basis of compromise. We should aim rather at mutual enrichment through theological give and-take. If all participants are chiefly intent on getting closer to Christ, they will find that they can accept many of each other's best insights without surrendering any convictions of their own." p. 461.
There is also a rather long article on Interchurch, Relations, by Bernard Leeming, S.J., professor of theology at Heythrop College in England, from which we will quote a few excerpts:
"In March, 1959, the Herder-Korrespondenz quote the Holy Father as having said, `We do not intend to conduct a trial of the past; we do not want to prove who was right or who was wrong. All we want to say is: "Let us come together. let us make an end of our divisions" '." p. 465.
"In August, 1960 Cardinal Bea [head of the Secretariat for Unity of Christians], evidently referring to the fear expressed by the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches that unofficial `dialog' might be restricted, declared that it was most important to continue the unofficial conversations, for such meetings between theologians had already led to a certain amount of agreement. He mentioned the work of the German Una Sancta group under the direction of Archbishop Lorenz Jager of Paderborn. He also noted that a two-way conversation could be established between his secretariat and the World Council of Churches on some questions connected with the Catholic faith." p. 466.
"The cordiality with which separated brethren are received at Rome, especially by the secretariat, shows the desire to have at first hand the fullest knowledge and understanding of different outlooks." p. 466.
"The initiative of the present Holy Father is merely a normal development of a movement which was proceeding in the Church. Catholic groups and individuals in different countries have for long been studying questions about 'reunion' and have been publishing books and periodicals commending the sympathetic approach." p. 466.
Now lest any readers think that Rome is about to change her stand on all that she holds dear, let us hear from another Catholic paper, The Lamp. Under the title of What is Catholic Ecumenism,
we find this:
"The term 'Ecumenism' is often heard these days: both Catholics and non-Catholics use it but with very different ideas in mind. Yet they converge, in a general way, on the reunion of Christendom as a certain combination of projects, plans and theories looking to unity. From that point on, they differ widely. The term itself, as used in this connection, is a product of this century deriving from the 'Ecumenical Movement,' i.e., the Protestant enterprise which is now embodied in the World Council of Churches. They desire to find a way towards unity and they meet periodically to discuss ways and means of achieving it. The Catholic Church has the answer to their quest and the way it explains this answer is what is called Catholic Ecumenism." p. 8.
"The mystery of redemption... involves... incorporation into one visible society variously called the Family of God, the Kingdom of God, the Mystical Body of Christ, the Catholic Church (different titles for one and the same reality)." p. 8.
"There is no other way to true religious unity than by way of return to the Catholic Church.... It means also the acceptance of those duties which go with being a Catholic, including visible union with the Holy See of Peter. This, then, is Catholic Ecumenism.... She will not corn promise, because she cannot. She is the dispenser, the guardian of the divine deposit, not its owner." p. 30.
In another article it is said that the cause of unity is "close to the heart of Christ and the Immaculate Heart of our Lady."
This is the story of much of today's movement for ecumenicalism; it is not merely that all Christendom is heading for a melting pot, but for Rome's crucible.
But for true Christians who believe God's Word and look for the Lord from heaven, they will have neither part nor lot in the downward course of Protestant profession on the one hand, nor be disturbed by it on the other. They will neither aid nor abet its progress, nor will they try to stem the onrushing tide. Our Lord will soon call us home to be with Himself. May our one concern be to walk in separation from all that defiles, especially religiously, always remembering that He "gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Titus 2:14.
If the Lord leaves us here a little longer, we may yet suffer persecution for being faithful to Christ. Protestant ecumenicalism could be very intolerant of all nonconformists. This is a day when non-conformity is scarcely allowed in any quarter.
We might say something of the way the ecumenical leaders in Protestantism threw themselves into the political arena to help elect the first Roman Catholic president in this country. Two of the National Council of Churches headquarters men left the Council to work for the Democratic Party in the religious affairs department in order that the climate might be right for the ecumenical dream of uniting all with Rome. One of the two men who aided this, Mr. James W. Wine, said after the election:
"The climate is right for cooperation and the friendly exchange of ideas; now it is up to individuals-and I think they are ready for it."-Newsweek, Nov. 28, 1960.
He has now been rewarded by the president by being nominated as Ambassador to Luxembourg. Many Protestant leaders came out boldly for the election of a Catholic president as a means of showing broadmindedness. But we are sure that the Lord overruled all and that His will was done. Our only comment concerns the great change in the Protestant attitude toward Rome, and each thing concerning it only points to the nearness of the Lord's coming.
We have notes and clippings from many quarters which show the alarming departure from the truth. Some underline the giving up of the Protestant heritage, and a going back to Rome in regalia, ostentation, veneration of Mary, confessionals, masses, monasticism, acceptance by certain German Lutherans of "miracles" at Fatima and Lourdes, and of a group working within the denomination there resembling the Oxford Movement of 1833-41.
Skepticism, unbelief, and apostasy are not the sole possession of the great Protestant bodies; they are characteristic of these days-the last days. The Roman Church is being honey-combed with men who call the Bible in question. Here is an unbiased, secular report:
"The idea that some Christian Scripture is mythological rather than historical, though held by many Protestant theologians, has kicked up a flurry of controversy around San Francisco's outspoken Episcopal Bishop James A. Pike" (Time, Feb. 24). The issue has its counterpart in Roman Catholicism. Cautious by comparison with Bishop Pike... Catholic proponents of the idea avoid the word myth. But the new idea of the Gospels is highly unsettling to Catholic conservatives, and so widespread among college students, laymen's discussion groups and seminarians that it has provoked a well-modulated blast by a leading theologian.
"Subject of the blast is the theory that the first two chapters of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke are not to be considered as historical, but as what the Jews call a midrash. A midrash is a passage
of explanatory commentary on the Scripture-either in analytical, legal terms (Halachal or dramatic, legendary terms (Haggada). Into the latter category the so-called Midrash Theory puts the Gospel narrative of the birth of Jesus."-Time, Mar. 17, 1961.
We will not quote more of this Roman infidelity, but here is sufficient to demonstrate the character of these days. This Midrash Theory is a little less brutal and frank than some statements by some apostate Protestant clergymen. The denial of the very basic facts of Christianity—without which Christianity is a farce-has made inroads into Protestant and Catholic bodies. Catholics will naturally hold to these key doctrines more tenaciously than Protestants, from the standpoint of their traditions and dogmas; for instance, if the Lord's virgin birth can be disallowed in their system, then the Rosary and all that goes with the veneration of Mary becomes meaningless. But infidelity is infidelity wherever it is, and the more prevalent it is on both sides, the easier it will be to bring about the ecumenical world church.
Very soon the small minority of true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ will be taken out of this world-wherever they are -and then lifeless, boastful, arrogant, commercialized Babylon the Great will be as empty and as desolate as the temple was when the Lord Jesus left it-"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." Matt. 23:38.
"Keep us, Lord, O keep us cleaving
To Thyself and still believing,
Till the hour of our receiving
Promised joys with Thee."
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