MAY 22

2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Memorise Ecclesiastes 1:15
“That which is crooked cannot be made straight…”

WHAT IS WRONG WITH ECUMENISM?

On the surface, Ecumenism or the Ecumenical Movement appears to be a positive move towards achieving world peace and mutual love and respect among people from different cultural and religious backgrounds. After a more careful consideration, however, Ecumenism is merely a perceived or transient sense of peace and unity at the expense of truth. In Ecumenism, differences in beliefs and doctrine thought to be confrontational or divisive are set aside while similarities and common ground are emphasized in order to bring about unity.

Indeed, the Charismatic phenomenon had spread from Pentecostal churches to the Roman Catholic Church and even churches which were previously protestant, fundamental and reformed. Charismatism is now a common denominator in many of these compromised and apostate churches and serves as a unifying force among them. This, together with the document known as the “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” (ECT) whereby some Protestant leaders opened channels for dialogue and discussion with the Roman Catholic Church (instead of practicing biblical separation from them) who no longer consider the Evangelicals as adversaries but merely “separated brethren”, work towards the objective of Satan and the Antichrist of establishing a one world order with a one world religion. This is as unholy a unity as that of the temple of God (believers) with those idols that God absolutely hates (2 Corinthians 6:16).

There is nothing wrong with world peace and unity. However, this must not be achieved through compromising the truth. If the fundamentals of the Christian faith are made negotiable in order that everyone could be on talking terms, the consequence is that people would all be blissfully on their way to hell hand in hand while believing in a different Gospel. God has foretold that there can be no lasting peace without Him. It is vanity indeed to pursue a lasting peace and happiness that is neither within God’s will nor in accordance with God’s teachings (Ecclesiastes 1:15).

Thought: The only acceptable peace is one in which unbelievers and apostates truly repent, fully accept Jesus and His teachings and unite in truth.
Prayer: Lord, help me change what I can, accept what I can’t, and grant me the wisdom to tell the difference according to Your Word.