Pope Francis says to the faith Communities: “Either we go Together, all the Fraternal Denominations, or we do not go Ahead at All”

On May 6, 2022, Pope Francis spoke to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. This is the Vatican-led organization tasked with uniting the different churches in accordance with the Second Vatican Council. The Pope invoked the COVID epidemic to justify changing our views on unity and the necessity to create a global fraternity among the different faiths.

Not only is the Covid crisis being used to change our politics and economics, but also our faith. The coronavirus is being used by Pope Francis to reinforce his false notions on religious unity, stating that the different denominations, Roman Catholics and Protestants, are one. However, Pope Francis’ universal fraternity extends beyond the Christian faith. He aspires to bring all religious beliefs, including Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, atheists, agnostics, and Mother Earth worshippers into one family. In his remarks, the Pope said:

“A first significant ecumenical result of the pandemic has been a renewed awareness of belonging to one Christian family, an awareness rooted in the experience of sharing the same fragility and of being able to trust only in the help that comes from God. Paradoxically, the pandemic, which forced us to keep a distance from each other, has made us understand how close to each other we are in reality, and how we are responsible for each other. It is fundamental to continue to cultivate this awareness, and to give rise to initiatives that make explicit and nurture this spirit of fraternity.” [1]

Then Pope Francis said that you can’t stay with your own denomination. You must connect with other faiths:

“And on this issue, I would like to emphasize that today, for a Christian, it is not possible or practicable to go alone with one’s own denomination. Either we go together, all the fraternal denominations, or we do not go ahead at all. Today the awareness of ecumenism is such that one cannot think of journeying on the path of faith without the company of brothers and sisters from other Churches of ecclesial communities. And this is a great thing. Alone, never. We cannot do it. Indeed, it is easy to forget this profound truth. When it happens to Christian communities, it exposes us to the serious risk of the presumption of self-sufficiency and self-referentiality, which are grave obstacles to ecumenism. And we see this. In some countries there are certain egocentric revivals – so to speak – of certain Christian communities that either go backwards, or cannot advance. Today, either we all walk together or we do not walk. This awareness is a truth and a grace from God.”

In this statement, Pope Francis elevates all churches to the same level. According to the Pope, all Christian faiths are members of the same family. He went on to say that embracing this awareness is a “truth and grace from God.” Truth? This sounds like heresy rather than truth. There’s nothing wrong with attempting to live in peace and harmony with others, but the Pope’s global fraternity is dedicated to stripping Christianity of its distinctiveness and biblical truth.

Both truth and error exist. We should have the grace to acknowledge the reality of truth just as much as we should acknowledge the existence of error. This allows us to accept truth while rejecting error. However, error has taken the place of God’s truth in our modern ecumenical culture. Truth from God’s word is being disregarded, while gross errors are being publicly celebrated. We do want to live in harmony with others, but not at the price of the truth. Consider what the faithful people of God went through in biblical times.

In 2 Kings Chapter 10, we read about how the worshippers of Baal and promoters of error were dealt with according to the “word of the Lord, which the Lord spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the Lord hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah.” (2 Kings 10:10)

• The 70 sons of Ahab were cut off (2 Kings 10:7).
• The leading men of the King of Judah were cut off (2 Kings 10:13, 14).
• All the worshippers of Baal were cut off (2 Kings 10:19-25).
• All the idols of Baal were destroyed (2 Kings 10:26).
• The house of Baal was turned into a “draught house” or a public toilet (2 Kings 10:27).
• Baal was eradicated from Israel (2 Kings 10:28).

This was not very inclusive. By today’s standards, this wasn’t very tolerant. Where was the solidarity? Why wasn’t there ecumenical dialog? Where was the “awareness” that we are all part of one universal family? Where was the love? Regardless of how current ecumenists feel about these measures, God was pleased and rewarded their resolve to rid His people of error (2 Kings 10:30).

The Apostle Paul felt the same way about idolatry, false doctrines, and grave errors. Paul was not impressed by the diverse religious community, ancient poetry, intellectual philosophers, Olympic Games, artistry, or beautiful architectural buildings when he visited the ancient city of Athens, Greece’s capital and magnificent metropolis. Pay close attention to what the Bible says:

“Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.” Acts 17:16, 17.

When he was confronted with idolatry, the Holy Spirit “stirred” him to action. How much better would our position be today if our church leaders had this same burden and conviction? Paul did not consider, as many do today, how he might pray or worship with the idolaters in an ecumenical setting. The Bible declares:

“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things …. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” Acts 17:22-31.

Paul preached repentance and spoke to them about their idolatry. He introduced them to the true God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. He talked about the impending judgment on everyone and how Jesus’ resurrection ensures our salvation. Paul did not leave the Athenians in their errors. He preached the true gospel of Jesus Christ and urged everyone to repent and turn to the true God.

This is the biblical and godly response to apostasy and idolatry. We cannot become enamored with all the false religions as many church leaders are doing today. We cannot be duped by an ecumenical agenda, as so many have been. And, as Pope Francis is attempting, we should not try to unite all of the world’s religions into one universal family. No. God’s ancient people rebuked falsehoods and superstitions by offering the truth of God in their place. I pray to God for many more leaders like this today.

Sources

[1] https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2022/may/documents/20220506-promozione-unita-cristiani.html