On February 6, 2019 in the nation of Finland an ecumenical event brought together all of the top interfaith organizations together to host a religious freedom event. The chief architect and driving force behind the ecumenical movement in Finland is Mari-Anna Auvinen pictured above. She is the General Secretary of the Finnish Ecumenical Council. [1]
As General Secretary of the Finnish Ecumenical Council, Mari-Anna Auvinen is at the head of every ecumenical effort in Finland. She coordinates seminars promoting Pope Francis’ message [2], she gives awards to those who promote the work of ecumenism in Finland [3] and as the Finnish branch of the World Council of Churches [WCC] she coordinates her efforts with Olav Fykse Tveit, the General Secretary of the WCC. [4]
Roman Catholic Archbishop Teemu Sipon is pictured here with Mari-Anna Auvinen, General Secretary of the Finnish Ecumenical Council. Rome actually has a very strong presence and a leadership role in the Finish Ecumenical Council. The Roman Catholic Church is actually listed as an official member of their governing board. [5] [6] You can see a copy of the complete list of members. [7]
Left to right: Secretary General Mari-Anna Auvinen, Orthodox Pastor Olavi Matsi, Ortodox Archbishop Leo, Evangelist Juhani Happonen, Lutheran Bishop Jari Jolkkonen, Roman Catholic Archbishop Teemu Sippo and Eija Honkaselkä from the Orthodox Church are pictured here together.
Here we see Mari-Anna Auvinen bringing the churches together in the spirit of ecumenism. They are pushing for interfaith cooperation, unity, love and respect by eliminating old controversies, misconceptions and distrusts.
There is nothing wrong with trying to live in peace and harmony with others, but these interfaith gatherings are creating a counterfeit unity by stripping away all of the unique truths of the faith. True Christians will always seek to live in peace with people, but never at the expense of Biblical truth.
Here we see Seventh-day Adventist leader Ganoune Diop greeting the General Secretary of the Finish Ecumenical Council, Mari-Anna Auvinen. Let’s read the goals of this ecumenical organization taken directly from their website:
“Finish Ecumenical Council – The goal of ecumenical work is to bring Christians into mutual fellowship towards the visible unity of the Church. According to the Bible Christian unity is both a gift and a calling.” [7]
Seventh-day Adventist Ganoune Diop is surrounded by leaders of the ecumenical movement. The Finnish Ecumenical Council has a purpose and a definite aim. Let’s continue reading what these goals are:
“The Council serves as a meeting point where a rich diversity of Christians can gather together for example for consultation and for common prayer.” [7]
What is the “rich diversity” which they are talking about? Could these be the long-standing traditions and conflicting doctrines held by all these churches that are contrary to God’s word?
Diop shakes hands with Mari-Anna Auvinen.
Ganoune Diop is here with another leader from the ecumenical movement. Look at all the colorful banners that list the different ecumenical organizations who are sponsoring this event. The dark blue one is promoting Rome’s message. The cross in the boat is the official logo of the World Council of Churches. The symbolism reflects the goal of uniting all the Christian world together into one. They allow their sisters organizations to use this logo on condition that they share the same “values” of the World Council of Churches. [8]
Again, we read from the Finnish Ecumenical Council’s website what they are hoping to accomplish among the churches:
“The activities of the Council focus on ecumenical theology and dialogue, social-ethical issues, spirituality and common witness.” [9]
“The aim of these activities is for the Churches and the Christians to grow stronger and deepen the unity which Jesus Christ himself prayed for.” [9]
Could one of the “social-ethical issues” being used by the ecumenical movement to unite the churches include “religious liberty?” This is what we are seeing on full display.
Rome’s agents know exactly what they are doing.
A tsunami of ecumenical organizations.
Here are the first 4 sponsors to this event from left to right:
1. The Finish Ecumenical Council, a fellowship of Catholics and Evangelicals who work to unite the churches.
2. The second group is a Swedish organization called Frikyrklig Samverkan or Free Church Cooperation. They work towards the “full visible unity of the Christian churches.” [10]
3. USKOT RESA is the Finnish acronym for The Association of Religious Collaboration in Finland. They work to bring about “peace” among the different religions. [11]
4. FOCUS RY is the Focus Association of Finland. This is a cultural and religious forum that promotes “building bridges” between the different religious faiths. [12]
The 5th and final group that took part in this event:
5. The Finnish Free Christian Council (SVKN) is identified in the light blue banner. This is where the Seventh-day Adventists Church comes into play yet again. The Finish Free Christian Council has the following six member churches: The Finnish Adventist Church, the Finnish Baptist Church, the Pentecostal Church of Finland, the Finnish Methodist Church, the Finnish Salvation Army and the Finnish Free Church. [13]
The purpose of this multi-faith council is to “to promote the activities and consensus of the member communities and to act as lobbyists.” [14] In other words, they are fostering a spirit of ecumenical unity and cooperation among the member churches. They also work together to lobby the state on issues that are important to their mission.
The Adventist Church is at the top of the list on this ecumenical banner.
Some of the names of the sponsoring churches are written in Finnish behind the speaker: Adventist Church (Adventtikirkko), Baptist Church (Baptistikirkko), Pentecostal Church (Helluntaikirkko) and the Methodist Church Metodistikirkko).
What does inspiration say about a “common witness” or of a “shared faith tradition” with the other churches?
“There is as great a difference in our faith and that of nominal professors, as the heavens are higher than the earth” (Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 2, p. 300).
Inspiration tells us that we don’t have much in common with the other faiths. Our differences are vast and we are not all part of one big happy family. But popular message of the ecumenical movement is being paraded that we do share a common faith tradition with every other church.
“Let’s put away all of our differences,” some would have us do, “and accept that we really have so much in common.”
The ecumenical audience.
The greatest messages ever entrusted to mortal man were not given so that we might seek common ground with all the other faiths around the world. They were given to us so that they could be proclaimed.
“Satan has devised a state of things whereby the proclamation of the third angel’s message shall be bound about. We must beware of his plans and methods. There must be no toning down of the truth, no muffling of the message for this time. The third angel’s message must be strengthened and confirmed. The eighteenth chapter of Revelation reveals the importance of presenting the truth in no measured terms but with boldness and power … There has been too much beating about the bush in the proclamation of the third angel’s message. The message has not been given as clearly and distinctly as it should have been” (Manuscript 16, 1900).
Sources
[1] http://www.ekumenia.fi/yhteystiedot/
[2] https://www.katolinen.net/kuulumisia/paavi-franciscus-ja-kutsu-uudistukseen
[3] https://www.kotimaa24.fi/artikkeli/vuoden-ekumeeninen-teko-tunnustus-katoliselle-kulttuurikeskukselle/
[4] http://www.ekumenia.fi/etusivu/ajankohtaista_-_aktuellt/ekumenian_aika_-_juuri_nyt_olav_fykse_tveit_vieraili_senssa/
[5] http://www.ekumenia.fi/sen_toimii/paikallinen_ekumenia/piispa_teemu_sippo_scj_70_vuotta_ja_40_vuotta_pappinanbsp/
[6] https://www.anglican.fi/nomination-to-the-finnish-ecumenical-council/
[7] http://www.ekumenia.fi/briefly_in_english/
[8] https://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/logo
[9] http://www.ekumenia.fi/briefly_in_english/
[10] http://www.frikyrkligsamverkan.fi/wp1303/ekumenik
[11] http://www.uskot-resa.fi/
[12] https://www.kulttuurifoorumi.fi/
[13] http://www.svkn.fi/?sid=1
[14] http://www.svkn.fi/?sid=9
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