He Made Lots Of “sounds good, feels good” Statements

I see Pope Francis recently sent a You Tube message to one of America’s prominent Charismatic leaders via an Anglican bishop saying that Charismatics and Catholics must unite. It is not the message of the Pope that concerns me here; it is the message of the bishop. He spoke to hundreds of Charismatics attending a conference and if what can be seen and heard of them on the video is any indication, the church is fast-tracking itself to Rome and will get there perhaps before this decade is out. The bishop, in his zeal to convince those people, made lots of “sounds good, feels good” statements. Matthew 24:11 truly is alive and well in our day.

He said he believed God had brought him to the conference in the spirit of Elijah like John the Baptist, “to turn the hearts of the sons to the fathers and the hearts of the fathers to the sons, to prepare the way for the Lord.” Sounds good, feels good, but Malachi 4:6 says Elijah will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children before he will turn the hearts of the children to their fathers. Did the bishop deliberately twist Malachi’s words so as to manipulate the Charismatics into turning their hearts to his friend the Catholic leader, who also calls himself the Holy Father? Maybe not. Nevertheless, that’s what came out of his mouth with much passion so that’s what the Charismatics heard.

The friendship between the bishop and the Pope is strong; they have made a covenant to work for unity for the church. And going by the star-struck responses demonstrated by the Charismatics after the Pope’s appeal, there’s going to be no difficulty persuading them to get in on the act! So star-struck were they, one can be forgiven for thinking they were at a rock concert! I was reminded of the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred and fifty prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table ! 1 Kings 18:1-40. Good job the real Elijah was not in attendance! How’s this for a “sounds good, feels good” statement made by the bishop, “I’ve come to understand that diversity is divine. It’s division that’s diabolic.” (Much clapping).

More: In referring to Jesus’ prayer in John 17:6-26 for His disciples and believers the bishop quoted verse 22 and then said, “It’s the glory that glues us together, not the doctrine……..If you accept the presence of God is in me and the presence of God is in you, that’s all we need because God will sort out all our doctrines when we get upstairs.” How naive and gullible! The Vatican won’t accept that. It’s already got its doctrines sorted out; it’ll never change them. Rome never changes … that’s her boast. That’s why she claims she’s the one true church and all the others are illegitimate. “Separated brethren” is what Protestants are in her eyes. God will not sort out all our doctrines “when we get upstairs.” His expectation is we get them sorted out here on earth.

To say division is diabolic is to say Jesus is diabolic. Do you suppose that I came to give peace on the earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division (disunion). For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three……. Luke 12:51-53. It is to say the same of the apostle Paul, For there must be factions (heresy, disunion) among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you 1 Corinthians 11:19. That’s the purpose of factions; God permits them so we can discern who’s righteous and who’s not. The test of such is always the Scriptures, never the emotional, misguided opinions of a religious man regardless of whether he’s a bishop, a Pope, or anyone else.

Bible committed Protestant Christians knowing and living according to the Scriptures should never fall for “sounds good, feels good” statements such as this one from the bishop, “Christian unity is the basis of our credibility…….division destroys our credibility.” But most of those Charismatics fell for it hook, line and sinker. They fell for it too when he told them, “it is fear that keeps us separated – false, evidence, appearing, real.” Sounds good, feels good too, but he’s wide of the mark. It is false doctrine that keeps us separated, especially the false doctrines of the Catholic church! Committed Bible Christians fear (reverence) no one but God alone. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding Proverbs 9:10.

Just before he showed the Pope’s message to the Charismatics, the bishop said he’d like to pray a prayer. “This is a dying man’s prayer.” he said, “And when you know you’re about to die, you certainly pray the most important prayers.” Sounds good, feels good. The only problem was the dying Man was Jesus and instead of sharing the context of Jesus’ prayer (John 17) he shared some verses out of context, namely, John 17:20-23. Had he shared the immediate three verses above those, his argument for unity with the Catholics becomes less convincing. Being THE TRUTH is the reason Jesus asked the Father to, Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth……And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth John 17:17-19.

‘Sanctify’ means: consecrate, be holy. We are none of that when we embrace diversity over doctrine. Praise God for the wise man who said, “A text without a context is a pretext for a proof text.” When Christians fail to examine the Scriptures in their context there can be only one outcome: misappropriation, misuse, misapplication and misrepresentation of same. If doctrine wasn’t important to the Lord Jesus He would have had nothing to say to the compromising church of Pergomos Revelation 2:14-15. The same applies to the apostles. The word ‘doctrine’ is not mentioned in the Bible 51 times for no good reason. Each apostolic writer foresaw this day now upon us; that’s why they have so much to say about false doctrine and deceivers.

If doctrine was not important to the Lord Jesus Christ He would not have sent, the (Holy) Spirit of truth to guide us into all truth John 16:13. That is, all truth confined to Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. That is, Sola Scriptura – Scripture alone. The Catholics reject this doctrine. They have to; otherwise they don’t have a place for their non-biblical traditions, most of which over-rule the Bible. What they believe is one issue, what we Protestants believe is quite another. Example:  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work 2 Timothy 3:16. It’s profitable spending time meditating on that one!

If doctrine was not important to the Lord Jesus Christ He would not have had the Holy Spirit write through the apostle Paul, For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables 2 Timothy 4:3-4. Catholic doctrine is unsound doctrine for no other reason that it conflicts with and clashes with Christ’s doctrine. Another word from the apostle: Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth 2 Timothy 2:15. Charismatics not rightly dividing the word of truth don’t love truth.

This goal of unity will be achieved. Many Anglicans and Charismatics will come under the umbrella of Rome, as will others from groups, fellowships or denominations willing to disregard the confines of Scripture. New Testament Revelation of Jesus Christ declares there’s a One-World Church that will take its followers into the Great Tribulation. It’s a false church called, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Whatever else that may mean, it does mean Jesus Christ is not LORD of that church. One Bible teacher said of this Babylon, “It is any seductions that capture the heart ahead of Jesus.” That’s what’s happening to these people. They are being seduced!

What to do then? First: Separate yourself to God and Scripture daily. Second: Desire to love truth. Third: Separate yourself from all who won’t confine themselves to Scripture. The Holy Spirit has nothing to say to us outside of Scripture. Fourth: When leaders quote Scripture, make sure they’re doing so in context, not out of context. Fifth: Ask God to show you which leaders can be trusted versus those who cannot be trusted. Sixth: Pray for divine strength to endure the hour of persecution and ostracism that’s almost upon us. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths Proverbs 3:5-7. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever Hebrews 13:8.