by Wilson Ewin
© FOUNDATION MAGAZINE May-June 1994
Fundamental Evangelistic Association
Pastor Wilson Ewin's latest 76 page book thoroughly documents
the fact that Roman Catholicism is indeed the world's deadliest
cult. It further documents the way in which Charismatic error
and New-evangelical compromise have given Romanism an unwarranted
and unscriptural opportunity to deceive millions of uninformed
believers. In an effort to give this important documentation
the earliest and widest possible readership, brother Ewin has
given us permission to reproduce the major portion of his book.
Additional copies of this special edition of FOUNDATION can be
obtained from the Fundamental Evangelisitic Association, PO Box
6278, Los Osos, CA 93412, 805-528-3534. However, the full text
of Pastor Ewin's original publication which includes important
graphics and photographs with helpful captions can be obtained
from:
Wilson Ewin
P.O. Box 180
Norton, VT05907-0180
Introduction
During this period of ecumenism when churches are coming closer
together is it right to be critical of Roman Catholicism? Should
we not accept and respect each other's positions and work together
in love for church unity? Little do some Evangelicals understand
that Romanism is the same as in the 16th century-ever worse than
in the days of Luther, Calvin, Farel and Zwingli. On the essential
matter of the gospel, Rome has not changed nor does she claim
to have changed. Vatican II (1962-1965) clearly affirmed every
Roman Catholic doctrine contested by the Reformers. Evangelicalism
must understand once and for all that the root error back in
1517 was Rome's official doctrine that we could and must earn
righteousness with God by our own good works. A man's righteousness
with God consists partly of the work of Jesus Christ and partly
of his own work. Justification was by faith plus works.
It is no different in our time. When a religious system is
in error concerning fundamental truths such as the atonement
and justification by faith, etc., thereby propagating a Philistine
gospel, we can neither cooperate with such a church nor support
it. Our supreme guideline is not sentimentality nor mere opinion,
but the Bible.
Entire denominations are now closer to Rome than Jerusalem.
They are moving Rome-ward. There is a trend whereby certain Protestant
ministers falsely so called are converting to the Roman religion.
Thrilled with Vatican II changes, they fail to see that Roman
Catholicism changes in order not to change; that there has been
a change of image but not substance. Since the time of Luther
the papacy has been reformed so that recent popes have led exemplary
lives. There are no Tetzels hawking indulgences. Simony and nepotism
are not a serious problem and red hats are not handed to teenagers
or to those of royal blood. While there is still persecution
of Evangelicals in some parts of the world, the Inquisition is
no longer in practice. Nevertheless, Rome is still the harlot.
She is still the false church proclaiming another gospel.
Now, more than any other time since the 16th century Reformation,
God is looking for Christians to stand in the gap; to be watchmen,
courageous enough to pay, as Huss did, the flaming price of martyrdom-that
awful fate of untold millions who suffered similar agonizing
deaths at the hands of the papal Inquisition. Remember: there
is a battle to be fought (Ephesians 6:16-20). There is an enemy
to be overcome (1 Peter 5:8, 9). There is a watch to maintain
(Jude 3, 4, 17-23).
[Dr. Bartholomew F. Brewer, Director, Mission to Catholics
International, Inc.; P.O. Box 19280, San Diego, California
92159 - Dr. Brewer spent twelve years training for the Roman
Catholic priesthood with the Discalced Carmelites. He was ordained
in Washington, D.C., and served the Church of Rome in the Philippines,
Arizona, California and finally, with the United States Navy
Chaplain Corps. The story of his life was recorded twelve years
ago in a book entitled Pilgrimage from Rome. It can be
obtained from his above address.]
Eternal Vigilance-The Price Of Freedom
"I hope it will be made clear to the (papal) Nuncio
that we do not desire to make any inquiries as to terms of peace
with Hitler, and are strictly forbidden to entertain any such
that all our agents suggestions."British reply made
on June 28, 1940, following a Vatican request that Great 1 Such
was the Britain and the surrender to Nazi Germany, Pope Pius
XII's friend and ally. Then Prime Commonwealth forces Minister
Churchill assured his beaches, we shall fight on the landing
"We shall people, fight on the grounds... we shall
never surrender....2 Forward, unflinching, unswerving, indomitable,
till the whole task is done and clean. "3 and the
whole world is safe
Such determination produced active and whole-hearted participation-
devotion to a cause that allowed for no thoughts of compromise,
retreat or neutrality until the mission was successfully completed.
Likewise, the message of God from both the Old and New Testaments
of His inspired Word, calls for the same "ANSCHAUUNG"
(mental outlook). Only a similar ongoing resolution and attitude
can awaken today's evangelicals from their stupor and liberate
them from the deadly course that is presently leading them to
spiritual ruin and chaos.
The words of the Lord Jesus Christ resounded with much greater
intensity than those of Churchill when the Saviour said to His
disciples, "All power is given unto me in heaven and
in earth. Go ye therefore and. . . lo, I am with you alway, even
unto the end of the world "4 And indeed, for many years
the disciples "spoke the Word of God with boldness"
5 and rejoiced "that they were counted worthy to suffer
shame for his name."6
By the close of the first century, however, a definite weakening
in their obedience, attitude and zeal had taken place. So pronounced
were the effects of the growing apathy that even the Christian
faith was being threatened. Jude wrote: "It was needful
for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly
contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
For there are certain men crept in unawares...." 7
The Emerging Deadly Cult
The fatal trend continued and apostasy developed throughout
the following centuries. Countless books have been written to
describe the evolution of faith and practice that finally caused
the Roman Catholic Church to emerge as such in 1054. Her own
Catholic Encyclopedia in sixteen volumes admits to virtually
all of this. Surprisingly to some perhaps, even "The
title pope (papa) was at one time employed with far more latitude.
In the East it has always been used to designate simple priests....
After the eleventh century it appears to be only used of the
popes (of Rome)" 8
Then came the era of absolute papacy with its nightmare of
social wretchedness, political chaos and spiritual despair. This
became known as the Dark Ages. But God moved in mercy and grace
by calling Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli and many
others to initiate a Reformation and a return to God's Word throughout
much of Europe. The Roman Church responded with a papal counter-Reformation
resulting in the deaths of millions. She also assembled the Council
of Trent to standardize Vatican teaching into a single document.
The council worked from 1545 to 1563 and its articles are
still binding on every Roman Catholic. A century ago, Anthony
Froude, Regius Professor of History in the University of Oxford,
lectured his students in these words:
"It met no longer with a pretense of desiring peace,
but to equip and renovate the Roman communion for the reconquest
of its lost dominions. It met to split nations into factions;
to set subjects against their sovereigns and sovereigns against
subjects. The history of Europe for a hundred years was the history
of the efforts of the church, with open force or secret conspiracy,
with all the energy, base or noble, which passion or passionate
enthusiasm could inspire, to crush and annihilate its foes. No
means came amiss to it, sword or stake, torture chamber or assassin's
dagger. The effects of the Church's working were seen in ruined
nations and smoking cities, in human beings tearing one another
to pieces like raging maniacs, and the honor of the Creator of
the world befouled by the hideous crimes committed in His NAME"
9
It was not until the year 787 A.D. and the Seventh Ecumenical
Council that an already apostate church became engulfed in idolatry.
God then punished Europe with the Dark Ages. He still deals with
those nations under Vatican control. Multiple social problems
of poverty, degradation, ignorance and backwardness stalk throughout
the lands to haunt their citizens.
Nevertheless, faithful men preached the truth of God's word
and His Spirit prevailed. Nations were transformed and societies
emerged from the stifling darkness which Romanism had created
and imposed upon them.
The New Strategy
Time passed and the relentless enemy of men's souls renewed
his attack against the restored apostolic faith and practice.
It had become known as Protestantism, and Satan attacked its
very heart with a new tactic. No longer using armies, violence
and the torture of the Inquisition, he now applied "The
new intellectualism which Rationalism ushered in during the eighteenth
century. . . (and it) became the measure of all things."
10 The resultant Liberalism produced liberal theology with its
lethal "higher criticism. " Soon the deadly effects
began to appear throughout the Protestant denominations. Faith
and zeal diminished while church attendance plummeted.
Once again the Spirit of God moved in grace and mercy. A call
was given to men and women around the globe, servants who would
resist the evils of Modernism and boldly proclaim the Word of
God. In England, the enemy was challenged by Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Before his death in 1892, Spurgeon saw over a thousand preachers
enter the Lord's army.
The story of spiritual ruin was repeated in America with denominations
and schools being permeated by the rot of Modernism. Harvard,
Yale, Princeton, King 's College (Columbia), Rhode Island (Brown
University) and Dartmouth Universities were lost. So complete
was the attack upon the Bible that men still true to the gospel
felt compelled to rally for Bible Conferences. The first of those
was at Swampscott, Massachusetts in 1876. It was followed two
years later by one in New York City. The most outstanding, however,
was the Chicago Prophetic Conference held there in 1886.
The 1886 Gathering In Chicago
"How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge
and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?"
These words from the martyrs in heaven were quoted in 1886
by Dr. Adoniram Judson Gordon, pastor of Clarendon Street Baptist
Church in Boston, Massachusetts. The occasion was the Chicago
Prophetic Conference of that year. It was a historic gathering
of outstanding men of God. Pastors from Baptist, Congregational,
Methodist, Lutheran and Presbyterian churches served on the committees
and conference program.
Historian George Dollar wrote, "More solid prophetic
truth was presented at that conference than has been taught in
most Bible schools and seminaries established at that time or
since. . . the exposure of prevailing conditions and defections
was unusually outspoken and unrestrained. These men were so bent
on telling the prophetic truth and exposing the savage enemies
of the Word that they were refreshingly bold" 2
Dr. A. J. Gordon served as secretary for the Conference. He
could be called the Charles Haddon Spurgeon of America for both
men were spiritual giants- anchors whom God used during those
earlier years of stormy attacks upon His Word and doctrinal truth.
They both spoke fearlessly of the Church of Rome as the
enemy of God and mankind. In fact, Gordon led the Conference
of 1886 in adopting the following statements:
"A continuing exposure of Romanism as the great enemy
of the Truth and the true church, setting the stage for the coming
of Babylon the Great." 3
"Rome is so drunk with the blood of martyrs that she
does not even know that she has been drinking." 4
Roman apostasy has been "...that career of blood and
blasphemy unmatched by anything in human history." 5
My brethren, let us search the Scriptures anew and be sure
that they (martyrs) do not require it (God's judging and avenging)
of us before we silence our testimony against the Man of Rome
as Antichrist." 6
The Church Of Laodicea
Pastor A. J. Frost of Sacramento, California spoke at the
Conference of the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3. He stated
that they "represent sever successive pages of church
history, and that the Laodicean accurately portray the condition
of nominal Christendom at the end of this dispensation. "
This will end in the "most fearful apostasy this world has
ever known," 8 and with "two thirds of Christendom
under one vast overshadowing hierarchy." 9
Writing his History of Fundamentalism in America in
1973, George Dollar] stated: "The Protestant churches, by
and large, have yielded to the influence o Rome, accompanied
by invitations to return to this ancient church. The modern ecumenical
movement is proof of the success of this strategy of Rome."
10
Twenty years of ecumenism have now passed, but none of its
progress can be compared with that seen in 1993. That was the
year when evangelicals seemed to succumb to the wishes of Roman
Catholicism. They embraced it as a valid member of the Christian
family. A virtual host of writers, publications and groups appeared
with stories of approval.
What a contrast this continues to be when compared with the
1886 Chicago Prophetic Conference! The strong conviction of those
present on that occasion was unanimously in harmony with the
Reformation heroes. To them all, Roman Catholicism with its pontiff
as head was Babylon, the woman of John's Revelation "arrayed
in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious
stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand. . . "
11
She was Babylon, either emerging as such at that time or already
seated or the beast of political might as "that great
city, which reigneth over the kings of this earth."
12 She was also Babylon of whom the God of heaven spoke in warning
"Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers
of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. "
13
The Most Fearful Apostasy
But now, more than 100 years have passed and we are far beyond
the year 1886. The "most fearful apostasy" so
vividly described by speaker A. J. Frost at that Prophetic Conference
is in full motion today. Tragically, most of those once considered
to be among the Lord's faithful soldiers have retreated to the
land of neutrality. Many collaborate with the enemy and some
even echo the praises of Babylon.
The Saviour did say, "Woe unto the world because of
offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to
that man by whom the offense cometh!'' l4 An offense was
"skandalon" meaning a "trap or snare."
Guilt for the successful coming of an offense could arise from
two sources. First, there could be a failure to warn others,
and God explicitly warned His watchman, the prophet, that if
he blew "not the trumpet and the people be not warned
. . his blood will l require at the watchman's hand "
15
At that 1886 Prophetic Conference, Dr. A.J. Gordon certainly
blew the trumpet. He concluded that the return of any Protestant
nation to Rome would put that nation under the sway of demons.
Gordon warned the Conference "that Romanism was no theological
theory but a great and brash satanic conspiracy which ought to
be unmasked and carefully described ." 16
Clusters of local churches separated from the denominations
lost to Modernism. They formed new groups, associations, fellowships,
denominations, seminaries, colleges and universities. These continued
for more than half a century following the Chicago Conference.
Among the notable warriors involved were: J. Frank Norris of
Fort Worth, Texas; William Riley of Minneapolis, Minnesota; John
R. Straton of New York City; Bob Jones of Greenville, South Carolina;
Carl McIntire of Collingswood, New Jersey; and Thomas T. Shields
of Toronto, Canada.
A complete account of the struggle to preserve and expand
the Lord's work against Modernism from 1850 to 1970 is given
in the classic by George W. Dollar, "A History of Fundamentalism
in America." It is available at P. O. Box 1234, Sarasota,
FL, 33578 USA.
Roman Catholicism-The Unrecognized Cult
To describe and unmask the papal system is to unveil and characterize
the most powerful and wicked cult to have appeared and functioned
within the past ten centuries. Probably the most widely received
book over written to describe the cults is Dr. Walter Martin's
The Kingdom of the Cults.
As he opened the twenty-fourth printing (Revised Edition)
of his book, Dr. Walter Martin wrote:
"A cult, as I define it, is any religious group which
differs significantly in some one or more respects as to belief
or practice from those religious groups which are regarded as
the normative expressions of religion in our total culture. ..
"1
"But since most, if not all the cult systems vigorously
oppose the Christian church, particularly in the realm of Christology
and Soteriology, perhaps it is not at all out of order to suggest
that force is the same as that which opposed our Lord and the
apostles, and has consistently opposed the efforts of the Christian
church, the force described by our Lord as 'the god of this world.'"2
The Evangelical Dictionary of the Bible states: "The
classic work on this subject, which probably pave the word its
modern usage, is Jan Van Baalen 's 'The Chaos of Cults"'(pg.
189).
"The writer has been asked repeatedly why Roman Catholicism
has not been included as one of the major cults. The answer is
that the Roman Catholic Church is a stone with many facets. It
is a corrupt and exceedingly dangerous political machine, and
it is a religious body full of doctrinal error and superstition.
But it is a church that stands upon the solid foundation of the
Apostles' Creed. It holds and defends such cardinal Christian
doctrines as. . .His resurrection, . . . and the atonement by
His substitutionary blood." 3
The Tragic Omission
For some undetermined reason, Walter Martin did not apply
his definition of a cult to the Church of Rome. On the other
side, Van Baalen refused to classify the papal system as a cult
for the same reason that a majority of today's evangelicals consider
it to be a valid component of the Body of Christ. Truly, this
is a major spiritual disaster and it has come from a failure
to know the teachings of Roman Catholicism as they concern the
work of Christ at the cross and His present ministry as the resurrected
Saviour.
Little excuse can be made for this ignorance. Abundant evidence
has existed for centuries to show that Rome's pontiff is the
leader of a deceptive and repressive cult with outstanding features
of apostasy. In fact, for nine centuries, Romanism has flourished
as a religious autocracy of startling proportions. Its constant
goal has been and still is the absorption or elimination of all
other contestants who may claim to be truly Christian.
By the eleventh century, the Church of Rome had completely
rejected the atonement accomplished by Christ at Calvary. The
previous statement by Var Baalen that Catholicism "holds
and defends such cardinal Christian doctrines as. . . the atonement
by His substitutionary blood" is totally false. Untold
damage is done to the cause of Christ when irresponsible claims
of this magnitude appear in print.
Huss Burned But Not Truth
The apostles taught that Christ was once offered for sin.
There could be no further offering for sin. Blatantly opposed
to this God-given truth, Roman Catholicism has decreed and teaches
that Christ shall continue to be offered for sin. This purportedly
takes place on countless papal altars throughout the globe, and
the ceremony is known as the mass.
Such teaching developed slowly as the early Christian church
gradually departed from Bible truth. By God's grace, leaders
John Wycliffe, John Huss, Girolamo Savonarola, and later, Ulrich
Zwingli, John Calvin and Martin Luther generated a back-to-the-Bible
reform movement that began in 1375. In spite of the Inquisition
and papal armies, the Reformation swept over Europe. Accused
of heresy, Luther went to his own trial in Worms, Germany on
April 16,1520. On the way there he said: "Huss has been
burned, but not the truth with him. I will go on." 4
Vatican alarm called for the Council of Trent to define and
codify the doctrine of the papal Church. The documents drawn
up from 1545 to 1563 were binding upon every individual Roman
Catholic. They still are. Every ecclesiastic within Roman Catholicism
must surrender his mind and soul to the Canons and Decrees of
the Council of Trent. Pope Pius IV who terminated the Council
on January 26, 1564, published a Bull of confirmation of all
the Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent. This was done
with horrifying threats of punishment "upon each and
all of our venerable brethren patriarchs, archbishops, bishops
and all other prelates...who fail to observe diligently the said
decrees and ordinances..." 5
Pope John XXIII confirmed this in 1962 during his opening
speech to the Vatican II Ecumenical Council: "The salient
point of this Council is not, therefore, a discussion of one
article or another of the fundamental doctrine of the Church
which has repeatedly been taught by the Fathers and by ancient
and modern theologians and which. . . still shines forth in the
Acts of the Council of Trent. " 6
The present pope, John Paul II, is no exception to the rule.
He stated this several times in his Encyclical of December 2,1984.
The document is entitled, "On Reconciliation and Penance
in the Mission of the Church Today. "
Many Offerings And Many Forms
Throughout the 1984 Encyclical, Pope John Paul II calls the
faithful back to the Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent.
He renews the traditional structuring of Catholic teaching on
reconciliation or atonement for personal sir through expiation
by the individual. These include:
Mortifications stations of the cross prayers to saints fasting
attendance at mass acts of contrition penance imposed in the
confessional works of mercy sufferings indulgences flagellations
processions ad infinitum and finally, after death, the completion
of this atonement in the flames of a supposed purgatory. Above
all these, there stands the sacrifice of the mass, the alleged
continuation of Christ's offering made on the cross-countless
offerings of Christ for sin in an unbloody manner under the form
of bread and wine at the sacrament of the mass.
The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent continue to
be a binding authority upon each and every present-day Roman
Catholic. It places curses upon those who reject the Apostolic
See's teaching on indulgences, the countless forms of personal
penance, mortifications, a purgatory, and the function of the
papacy's seven sacraments in the atonement of man's sin. They
are:
Canon 12. If anyone says that God always pardons the
whole penalty together with the guilt and that the satisfaction
of penitents is nothing else than the faith by which they perceive
that Christ has satisfied for them, let him be anathema.
Canon 13. If anyone says that satisfaction for sins,
as to their temporal punishment, is in no way made to God through
the merits of Christ by the punishments inflicted by Him and
patiently borne, or by those imposed by the priest, or even those
voluntarily undertaken, as by the fasts, prayers, almsgiving
or other works of piety, and that therefore the best penance
is merely a new life, let him be anathema.
Canon 14. If anyone says that the satisfactions by
which penitents atone for their sins through Christ are not a
worship of God but traditions of men, which obscure the doctrine
of grace and the true worship of God and the beneficence itself
of the death of Christ, let him be anathema. 7
Curses Still Standing
As curses were pronounced upon those who might reject the
Church's teaching on penance, even so the Vatican equally applied
(and still does!) the curses of Trent also upon those who might
question the sacrifice of the mass. This ceremony which is one
of the seven sacraments of Romanism, is defined as follows in
Chapter II:
And inasmuch as in this divine sacrifice which is celebrated
in the mass is contained and immolated in an unbloody manner,
the same Christ who once offered Himself in a bloody manner on
the altar of the cross, the holy council teaches that this is
truly propitiatory. . . For the victim is one and the same, the
same now offering by the ministry of priests who then offered
Himself on the cross, the manner alone of offering being different.
The fruits of that bloody sacrifice, it is well understood, are
received most abundantly through this unbloody one, so far is
the latter from derogating in any way from the former. Wherefore,
according to the tradition of the Apostles, it is rightly offered
not only for the sins, punishments, satisfactions and other necessities
of the faithful who are living, but also for those not yet fully
purified. 8
At this late hour in history, Roman Catholicism still believes
it must place anathemas or curses on those who reject the Canons
of the Council of Trent. Millions of martyrs during the present
millennium chose to suffer these curses and die in the hands
of papal tormentors rather than believe the Vatican's false atonement.
They chose the fear of God rather than Vatican ecclesiastics
with their Holy Inquisition.
A second feature distinguishes Roman Catholicism as an absolute
cult. This is papal teaching concerning the application of Christ'
s salvation to mankind.
Papal Grace-A Counterfeit Grace
Believers in Christ rejoice in His salvation by free grace
through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Much of this
is outlined in the Epistle to the Romans, and particularly so
in chapter five. Many have received God's salvation by free grace
through these verses: "For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not
of works lest any man should boast. " 9
The Roman Catholic Church teaches a form of grace that is
totally opposed to Biblical free grace. Grace, says Catholicism,
is a "supernatural life which alone enables us to attain
the supernatural happiness of heaven." 10 The Baltimore
Catechism states that "Sanctifying grace is that grace
which confers on our souls a new life, that is, a sharing in
the life of God Himself. "11
This grace, the Catholic is taught, was obtained by Christ
at the cross. It is called "sanctifying grace"
and is stored in heaven. This "supernatural life"
is available to the papal church which now offers it to the faithful
by means of seven sacraments. These are: Baptism, Confirmation,
Penance, Mass or the Eucharist, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Anointing
of the Sick.
With the exception of Baptism, only a priest can perform these
sacraments. Sanctifying grace or salvation itself, therefore,
can be received only through the ministry of a priest. He is
the acting mediator between God and man.
Grace On Condition
After being received, this grace is not permanent. It can
be lost through the committing of a "mortal sin."
The person then falls into a "state of mortal sin"
and his sanctifying grace becomes non-existent. The Catholic
Church teaches that a person who dies in this state loses his
soul in Hell, and that forever.
Pope John Paul II reaffirmed his Church's teaching of sacramental
grace. Or December 2, 1984, he published the encyclical "Reconciliation
and Penance." It warns that in Roman Catholicism there
is no "forgiveness directly from God." The Pope
stated:
"The sacrament of Confession is indeed being undermined,
on the one hand by. . .the lack of effort to live an authentically
Christian life. And on the other hand it is being undermined
by the sometimes widespread idea that one can obtain forgiveness
directly from God, even in an habitual way, without approaching
the sacrament of Reconciliation." 12
The story has only been partially told. Only as one stands
with former Roman Catholic priests, nuns and laity can one begin
to understand the elaborate tangle of falsehood that has combined
to produce the cult of Roman Catholicism. Former priest L. H.
Lehmann, author of The Soul of a Priest, and former editor
of The Converted Catholic Magazine as well as director of Christ's
Mission in New York stated it in these words:
"It is Satan who has made a labyrinth of the Christian
religion, with himself as the false guide through the inextricable
maze. On man's nose he thrusts the spectacles of falsehood, through
which they see everything entirely opposite to what God has ordained
and accomplished for our salvation.... May it [his book] serve,
above all, to uphold Christ against everything that is not of
Christ." 13
Dr. Lehmann is now with his Saviour, and his book is out of
print. However, his exposure of the Church of Rome as Satan's
master cult is still being carried on by that continual stream
of men and women whom God calls out of papal darkness and into
the light of His truth.
Glancing At The Enemy's Armory
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able
to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places." 1
In the early 1940s, a new attack began upon the survivors
of Modernism. These soldiers had obeyed the Scripture which said,
"Mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary
to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."
2
Now the enemy applied a new strategy which called for compromise
and neutrality towards Liberalism and Roman Catholicism. First
would come accommodation, conciliation, appeasement and pacification
towards the enemy. This moderation would soon give place to unconcern,
nonpartisanism, and finally, indifference in the warfare God
ordained against evil. If not recognized and reversed, this trend
would lead to shameful cooperation and unity with the enemy forces.
The apostle wrote to his son Timothy, "Thou therefore
endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."
3 In military circles, the progressive symptoms as listed above
could be lumped together as bald cowardice, and during wartime
this was often punished with execution. Whatever the motive,
the number of evangelicals who are now accepting Roman Catholicism
as a valid member of the Christian family is alarming.
The history, error and absolute bankruptcy of the new evangelical
attitude is traced step by step in two volumes. The first is
Evangelicalism: The New Neutralism by William Ashbrook
and its sequel, New Neutralism II by John Ashbrook. They
are available from Here I Stand Books, 8686 Hilltop Drive, Mentor,
Ohio, 44060 USA. Price for each is $4.00 postpaid.
Ecumenism-The One-Way Road
The sections that follow speak of persons or groups involved
in various stages of ecumenism. A definition of this is therefore
necessary and it should be kept in mind. This enables one to
grasp what ecumenism implies, both for those involved and also
for those faithful soldiers who separate and remain aloof.
Pope John XXIII opened the 1963-1965 Ecumenical Council in
Rome. In doing so, he reviewed the efforts of his Church across
the centuries as it attempted to crush those opposed to papal
teaching and authority. Then the Pontiff said:
"The Church has always opposed these errors. Frequently
she has condemned them with the greatest severity. Nowadays,
however, the Spouse of Christ prefers to make use of the medicine
of mercy rather than that of severity.... That being so, the
Catholic Church, raising the torch of religious truth by means
of this Ecumenical Council, desires to show herself to be the
loving mother of all, benign, patient, full of mercy and goodness
towards the Brethren who are separated from her." 4
Ecumenism is therefore a strategy to achieve dominion over
all religions. These include not only those professing to be
Christian, but extends to all others as well. No change of Vatican
doctrine will be tolerated as the Pope stated:
"The salient point of this Council is not, therefore,
a discussion of one article or another of the fundamental doctrine
of the Church. ..but from the renewed serene, and tranquil adherence
to all the teaching of the Church in its entirety and preciseness,
as it still shines forth in the Acts of the Council of Trent
and First Vatican Council, the Christian, Catholic and apostolic
spirit of the whole world expects a step forward toward a doctrinal
penetration and a formation of consciousness in faithful and
perfect conformity to the authentic doctrine." 5
The process of ecumenism was spelled out by Pope John's successor
at the Council, Pope Paul VI. He called for the elimination of
"words, judgments and actions" which hinder
"mutual relations." Then comes "dialogue"
through which "Christians should work together in the
use of every possible means to relieve the afflictions of our
times, such as famine and natural disasters, illiteracy and poverty,
lack of housing and the unequal distribution of wealth. Through
such cooperation all believers in Christ are able to learn easily
how they can understandeth other better and esteem each other
more, and how the road to the unity of Christians may be made
smooth." 6
Indeed, ecumenism is a strategy whose very success is assured
when the true believer, like Eve, ignores the subtlety of the
enemy and looks with favor upon that which he offers. Such is
the tragic story of what now follows.
The Vatican's "Evangelization 2000 " Program
"While this Celestial City, then, pursues its path as
a pilgrim on earth, it calls citizens from all peoples and collects
an alien society. . .they aim at one and the same end; earthly
peace, as long as that religion which teaches the obligation
to worship one most high and true God is not impeded." 7
The Church of Rome adheres to her interpretation of the above
eschatology of Augustine. She is to evangelize and convert others
to the papal religion until the end of time. Thus, Pope Paul
VI decreed in December, 1965 at the Vatican II Council:
"Since the whole Church is missionary, and the work of
evangelization is a basic duty of the People of God, this sacred
Synod summons all to a deep interior renewal. Thus from a vivid
awareness of their own responsibility for spreading the gospel,
they will do their share in missionary work among the nations."
8
Having begun in 1963, the current Vatican plan for global
evangelization is now intensifying. It operates under the title
Evangelization 2000. The 1993 annual gathering of the
National Council for Catholic Evangelization took place in Phoenix,
Arizona. For a listing of Conference audio tapes, send a stamped,
self addressed envelope to NCCE, 7494 Devon Lane, Manassas, VA,
22111 USA. The 1994 Conference of Catholic evangelization leaders
from several nations will beheld June 8-11 in Providence, Rhode
Island.
There is an outstanding feature about Catholicism's Evangelization
2000. Its purpose of making converts and processing them into
the Church of Rome is expressly stated. This is seen at training
institutes, planning sessions, conferences and workshops. A report
of the 1993 Paulist Evangelization program states, "Participants
were able to embrace the Catholic vision of evangelization outlined
by the bishops and to strategize for its effective implementation
in their local settings." 9
The Ecumenical "A. D. 2000 Evangelism" Branch
Evangelicals involved in the ecumenical exercise of evangelism
come from many denominations. Participating in the program of
the Indianapolis, 1990 Congress of Evangelism were the following:
Presbyterian Christy Wilson, Ph.D., Professor of World Evangelization
at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Boston; Messianic Jews'
Zola Levitt, T.V. host, together with Rabbi David Chernoff, United
Methodists with the Tulsa, Oklahoma, Cathedral Choir, and Dr.
Robert Coleman with "The Master Plan of Evangelism";
Association of International Missions Services; Southern Baptists;
Disciples of Christ, and many others.
Predominant at the event were the Roman Catholics. They were
outstanding as speakers, those in charge of workshops, as teachers
in Schools of Evangelism and in crowd attendance. Known as skilled
in ecumenism were speakers Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago
and Bishops Sam Jacobs of Louisiana and Joseph McKinney of Michigan.
Equally so were priests Mike Scanlan as President of the Franciscan
University of Steubenville and Tom Forrest as papal coordinator
for the 1990 to 2000 "Decade of Evangelism. "Other
priests, nuns and Catholic lay workers known for their leadership
in ecumenism, performed various duties throughout the Congress.
Such Congresses first appeared in 1977. More than 50,000 persons
from many denominations gathered in Kansas City for the July
20-23 event. Chairman Kevin Ranaghan was serving on the Vatican's
National Service Committee at the time. He classified the gathering
in his opening address as, "the largest grass-roots ecumenical
movement in 800 years. " Claiming that division among
the churches has been a serious scandal to the world, Ranaghan
said, "For the world to believe, depends on our becoming
one." 10
Then came the 1987 general congress in New Orleans. It was
heralded by Chairman Vinson Synan as "one of the most
unified Christian gatherings ever held " Others followed
with the same distinctive features. The pace increases and two
Congresses are scheduled for 1995.
A puzzling question remains unanswered. For some unexplained
reason in A. D. 2000 Evangelism, no definition of the
gospel is made nor explanation given of the exclusive means by
which salvation is obtained. That answer will come when the pontifical
Synod of Bishops, established for that purpose by the Second
Vatican Ecumenical Council on September 15, 1965, proclaims the
hour has come.
"Christianity Today"-An Ecumenical Device
The idea of a "strong, hard-hitting, intellectual
magazine" came to the mind of Billy Graham in 1953.
Then came Christmas 1954. During a conversation with Dr. Nelson
Bell, his father-in-law, Graham made a decision to proceed....
A Board of Directors was formed in New York in September 1955,
and Graham remains as its Chairman to this day. The first issue
appeared in October 1956.
The 1957 New York Crusade saw Graham making radical changes
in his beliefs and policy. He states, "I have no quarrel
with the Catholic Church. . . [and] we'll send them [inquirers]
to their churches - Roman Catholic, Protestant or Jewish. "11
A report states "The Fundamentalists' rage increased as
plans for the New York Crusade moved forward. As the committees
took shape, it became clear that Graham did indeed plan to hold
an ecumenical crusade." 12
From that time on, Christianity Today has followed
the ecumenical course. Though an independent paper, "it
owed much to Graham's judgment in its early days," and
that mold continues to shape the attitude of multitudes. "In
the next three years (1963-1966) the magazine leaped ahead; paid
circulation is now about 145,000 out of a total distribution
of 160,000." 13 Its influence has continued to grow
across the years.
Christianity Today is a tool of ecumenism. A three-page
editorial in October 1981 made this crystal clear. Entitled "What
Separates Evangelicals and Catholics?" the article shamefully
halts between two opinions, as Elijah accused Israel. It makes
an uncertain sound and leaves the untaught reader in a state
of confusion.
The opening paragraph starts with, "Nothing separated
us from our Roman Catholic Charismatic brothers as we sat together.
. . Rarely had we sensed such a oneness in Christ, even with
other evangelicals. " Then came this untruth, "As
we discussed the meaning of the gospel and what Christ meant
to us, it became abundantly evident that we shared a common faith.
The same Lord and Savior was the object of our faith, the source
of our mutual hope, and the single focus of our love that bound
us together as one in the fellowship of Christ. "
The three pages contain a series of half-truths and absolute
falsehoods such as, "Nothing separates evangelicals from
Roman Catholics in their common loyalty to the great ecumenical
creeds of the ancient church. . . their [Catholic] faithful commitment
to an orthodox doctrine of the person of Christ and his objective
atonement for human sin.... Traditional Roman Catholics accept
the doctrine of grace alone because they believe that it is only
by God's grace that anyone can meet this condition [infused righteousness]....
The gospel brings Roman Catholics and Protestants together. They
share the promise of the Father that they have been accepted
by Him, and so they, His children, had better accept each other."
Nor has the message concerning Roman Catholicism changed in
Christianity Today across the succeeding years. It has
never issued a whisper of warning regarding Vatican intrigue
and intent. The magazine remains the subtle voice of ecumenism
in the hands of those evangelicals whose ship is sailing on a
course directed by that same deadly voice.