Ecclesiastes 1:9
What has been will be again, what has
been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the
sun.
Many people struggle with what the
ecumenical movement is, what is meant by the one world religion
and many other ideas. Some end up believing the phrases belong
to conspiracy theorists or those who are so narrow or legalistic, they
are to be ignored. The reality is that the ecumenical movement
is the attempted joining together of groups based on the common
or shared or similar beliefs while ignoring the differences. For
some Christians that means unifying with beliefs that cannot
stand the test of Scripture. For others, there is no problem
with the desired goals, because many are of the belief that the
desired unification is merely the Biblical union of Christians.
The ecumenical movement is not make believe. For example, ENI
or the Ecumenical News International, which is based at the
Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, reports on ecumenical
happenings worldwide. As stated on their website, the joint
sponsors of ENI are the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran
World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and
the Conference of European Churches, which also have their
headquarters at the Ecumenical Centre. The Catholic Church also
has it's ecumenical plans for joining with those outside the
'church' in order to bring all under their umbrella. And so it
goes.
The one world religion is merely an
expansion of the ecumenical concept, except, for many it means that all
roads lead to God or enlightenment, there is no one truth, and
the end result will be the acceptance of a messiah known to
Christians as the antichrist. Many think it means everyone
believing the exact same thing. It does not. It is 'unity in
diversity' and spiritual 'oneness' because of it. Each might
have varied beliefs, but that's alright, as all unite in that.
In order for many to arrive at accepting
these things, there must be a change in beliefs held dear to
many. When Christ and the apostles warned of deceivers and
deceptions, false teachers and false prophets, the warnings were
to the believers. It is a concept many are not taught or
ignore, and instead believe if they are under the label of
Christian, all is well.
Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after
my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not
sparing the flock 30 .Also of your own selves shall men arise,
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Many get caught up in what the 'world'
is doing and claim the need to battle a culture war, instead of understanding the
spiritual battle we actually are in [Ephesians 6:12]. The end result is
that, because of acceptance of many deceptions by those claiming
to be of Christ, to many it gives the appearance of the falling away
prophesied of in 2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for
that day shall not come, except there come a falling away
first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
The phrase a falling away is from
the Greek word apostasia. From Strong's Concordance,
646. apostasia apostasia,
ap-os-tas-ee'-ah feminine of the same as 647; defection
from truth (properly, the state) ("apostasy"):--falling away,
forsake.
647. apostasion apostasion,
ap-os-tas'-ee-on neuter of a (presumed) adjective from a
derivative of 868; properly, something separative, i.e.
(specially) divorce:--(writing of) divorcement.
868 afisthmi aphistemi,
af-is'-tay-mee from 575 and 2476; to remove, i.e. (actively)
instigate to revolt; usually (reflexively) to desist, desert,
etc.:--depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self.
In other words, turning away from Jesus
Christ and the Word of God. The Apostle John wrote:
1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the
last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come,
even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it
is the last time.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they
had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us:
but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they
were not all of us.
Other warnings are found in:
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit
speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines
of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience
seared with a hot iron;
Jude 1:4 For there are
certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained
to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God
into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord
Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 2:1 But there were
false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be
false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable
heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon
themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their
pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be
evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with
feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a
long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
There are many more verses warning us to
beware, admonishing us to prove all things to the Word of God.
It must be our standard. This writer has found it more than a
little interesting when one reader who claimed to be a devout
Christian complained that articles on this website have too much
of the Word of God in them, and that is 'beating people over the
head' with it. I was told that I should just use a phrase from a
verse instead of quoting the whole verse (or several) or merely
show the reference and allow people to look it up themselves.
Most don't look up verse references in articles. It's either
part of the article or not likely pursued. That view is of
course contrary to those who love the Word of God and find it's
use refreshing and of help.
When Christians do not thirst after the
Word of God or know it is the Word of God that convicts hearts
and teaches, not our own thoughts or ideas, there is a shift
from Christ to other things. If the use of the Word of God is an
offense to those who claim to love Christ, there is a serious
spiritual conflict at work. Because that denies many Scriptures.
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God:
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be
instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with
all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when
they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts
shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall
be turned unto fables.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is
quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and
of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts
and intents of the heart.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Our spiritual battle is really coming from
'within' under the guise of Christianity, or labeled with the
name of Jesus. It seems to this writer that in these last few
years there has been an unleashing of heresy and assault against
the Word of God greater than can be remembered. As noted, the
assault is coming not so much from the world at this
time, that is, those who seek after things other than Jesus
Christ and the Word of God, but rather from within the ranks of
what has come to be labeled Christian.
The inculcating of mysticism, gnostic
doctrine, the contemplative spirituality which includes
contemplative prayer, the emergent church, seeker sensitive
ideology and other
concepts and doctrines permeating Christianity will be
discussed. Some will be cross referencing information and research already presented and will be expanded upon.
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when
they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts
shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been
taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort
and to convince the gainsayers. ... 2:1 But speak thou
the things which become sound doctrine:
The many and varied unbiblical doctrines
are leading many away from Christ, away from the Word of God as
the standard, and many are denying the faith. Gone is the
knowledge of 'sound doctrine' for many. Instead, new ideas,
being purpose driven instead of obedient to Christ,
direct revelation, seeking signs and wonders, new age and experiential
mysticism is the way of many. Many appear godly, but their
teachings cannot and do not stand the test of Scripture.
Isaiah 29:13
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as
this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips
do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and
their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Jesus also stated in Matthew 15:8:
This people draweth nigh unto me with
their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart
is far from me.
There is a hunger and thirst for knowledge
which leads to gnosticism. Many are going after every wind of
doctrine, which we are warned against.
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth
be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with
every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Many believe if you have the 'head
knowledge' or gnosis, you have attained knowledge of God
or revelation with God. That is viewed as superior to those who
look for simply a spiritual relationship with Christ and one
based on the Scriptures. That is why the DaVinci Codes, the
gnostic gospels and the search for new knowledge and new beliefs
is permeating many lives including those under the label of
Christian.
Many are no longer 'lovers of truth' but
lovers of doctrines of men. Many have elevated leadership to a
position that replaces Christ. It is a choice allowed both by
the said leadership and those who follow them. Instead of
leaders being there to guide believers to following Christ and
looking to the Scriptures as the source of Truth, and pointing
to the way of Truth, these would be leaders like the following,
the control and influence they have over their followers. They
prefer the followers remain dependent rather that becoming
mature in the faith as should be in Christ. The end result is
not growth in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, but dependent and immature people, weak in the faith,
who are not able to be soldiers of the cross for Christ, (who is
the only one we are to follow), and ready to do what He would
have us do.
1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must be
also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be
made manifest among you.
Instead of the Scriptures being the source
of sound doctrine, books, videos, audio tapes and study books
take the place of time spent 'studying to show ourselves
approved.' People are being told what the Scriptures mean,
without ever having to open the Word of God to find out if what
is said is actually there, and means what they are told it
means. This writer personally knows of people who have invested
many dollars in purchasing books and other media and who spend
many hours reading them, but spend little to no time with the
actual Word of God. We have one Shepherd that we're to hear. Not
a multitude. We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit when we
belong to Christ, and the promise of Him teaching us. After many
warnings and encouragements, the Apostle John wrote:
1 John 2:26 These things have I written
unto you concerning them that seduce you.
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in
you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same
anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no
lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
While many are presenting another gospel
and another Jesus, we are called to obedience to Jesus Christ
and the Word of God. In this section, in-depth research
is going to be presented discussing the various avenues through
which the spiritual assault is coming. We are reminded and
warned:
2Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by
any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty,
so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is
in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have
not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have
not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted,
ye might well bear with him.
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so
soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ
unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some
that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other
gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let
him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If
any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have
received, let him be accursed.
All Scriptures from the KJB
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sole property of SeekGod.ca and Vicky Dillen
