POPE STARTS HOLY WAR

Holy Wars

By Jan Markell

www.olivetreeviews.org

Pope Benedict XVI has ignited controversy around the world by approving a document saying non-Catholic Christian communities are either defective or not true churches.  Only the Roman Catholic Church provides the true path to salvation.  The document states, "Christ established here on earth only one church," reasserting the primacy of Catholicism.

The document said that other Christian communities such as Protestants "cannot be called 'churches' in the proper sense" since they don't have what's known as apostolic succession; that is, the ability to trace their bishops back to the original 12 apostles of Jesus.

Perhaps this action is only of significance to Bible prophecy watchers, but one has to ask, "Is the ecumenical agenda of the Vatican over?" When one faith as powerful and global as Catholicism says they are the only faith that is legit, I cannot help but wonder if we are heading pell-mell to the gates of the "one world religion" outlined in Revelation. To get right to the point, there are many Bible teachers who feel that the Vatican will provide the religious infrastructure of that one world religion.

Evangelicals react to such proclamations made by any faith by saying that the true church is not a building but a relationship with the living God. 

Moving on to another "holy war," a Hindu chaplain by the name of Rajan Zed is scheduled to deliver the opening prayer at the U.S. Senate July 17. Zed tells the "Las Vegas Sun" that in his prayer he will likely include references to ancient Hindu scriptures.  He will also be calling out to over 300 million Hindu gods. To better understand the seriousness of this, view Caryl Matrisciana's newest film, "Yoga Uncoiled from East to West: A Look at the Practice of Yoga in the Church." It is available here http://www.olivetreeviews.org/catalog.shtml#others  We will mail one product--a DVD only--to an out-of-the-U.S. address.  We offer unlimited products to U.S. addresses.  Foreign orders have postage and shipping issues which is why at this time we will only ship one light weight product out of the U.S.

David Barton, President of WallBuilders, is questioning why our leaders are seeking the invocation of a non-monotheistic god. He points out that this is outside of the American paradigm, flying in the face of the American motto, "One Nation Under God." He continues, "This is not a religion that has produced great things in the world." He reminds people of the persecution in Hindu countries.

It is, indeed, strange that our highest leaders think diversity and multi-culturalism are more important than honoring the one true God. America is at a turning point in many ways from the war on terror to one of the most important presidential elections around the corner. America is being ravaged by natural disasters from coast to coast causing unprecedented death and destruction, yet pure paganism is invited into one of our highest establishments in the land. How is this honoring a God who has kept us safe from terror since 9/11?  The beltway guys and gals need to realize the serious implications of this.

Protestants are not without criticism. Deception is an equal opportunity issue. I often report on what is called the "Emergent Church."  This is the latest "new way of doing church" and "connecting to the culture today." It is aimed at people under age 35 and tends to be, well, confusing. That's because it holds to very little doctrine yet calls itself evangelical. I have talked about it regularly on my radio program, "Understanding the Times," and even played a clip on their view of communion. To sum it up, they call communion a "party."

Now a short video clip of "Emergent baptism" can be viewed at this link: http://www.olivetreeviews.org/topics/spiritual_deception.shtml 

Participants in the "Emergent baptism" are reducing things meaningful to many to a pool party with expletives bleeped out.  There is the suggestion that one about to be baptized is running around nude as he doesn't know what to wear.

Here's the good news: We can have a personal relationship with the living God through Jesus who died for our sins. The "true church" is a body of blood-bought believers. Those who belong to Him have their sins buried in the deepest ocean and as Corrie ten Boom says, "God has planted a sign there that says 'no fishing.' " The King of Kings is coming back some day, likely sooner rather than later, and those who have repented of their sins and turned their lives over to Jesus will spend all eternity praising Him.

By Jan Markell Click here for bio and archived articles

Re: Not the end of Ecumenicalism; that's what this is. . . Posted On: 10/11/07 05:03:34 PM Age 48, PARAGUAY WELL SAID!!! these documents from Vatican (incl. Dominus Iesus which is behind this latest one) do lend to confusion... but clearly have their agenda - to return to the "true fold" which I can't agree with, as Rome preaches (I believe) a different gospel with so much additions that the original is very blurred. True sheep and goats, wheat and tares, will be separated on the Last Day; make sure you are with the sheep of the Lord Jesus! I believe the ecumenical movement was hijacked a long time ago and it's now more universalist than ever! Re: Re: Re: Re: Baptists? Posted On: 09/12/07 09:14:43 AM Age 64, SC The church is not a denomination: Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran etc. It is believers who are the church. Believers who believe God's Word for salvation in Jesus and have received HIM into their hearts as Saviour and Lord. We are the church. The early church was not a denomination - they were people who believed Jesus was the Messiah, saviour and Lord and received HIM in their hearts to follow Him. Who were born again by receiving HIM into their lives. Stop looking for denominations and start looking to JESUS. Re: Re: Pope Starts Holy War Posted On: 09/12/07 09:11:16 AM Age 64, SC The truth is in the WORD OF GOD. All other beliefs are man's addition. I came out of the Catholic Church 42 years ago and no now more fully that God led me out. Catholics have no assurance of salvation when they die. The Word says you can know you have eternal life. If you have the Son, you have life, if you do not have the Son, you do not have life. Jesus Christ is eternal life - there is no other. It is not a formula or anything else, IT is JESUS. As many as received HIM to them He gave the power to become Sons of God. All false religions and cults say you are saved by works. God's Word says: For by grace are ye saved and not of yourself, it is the GIFT of GOD, NOT OF WORKS, lest any man boast. JESUS is all we need. Re: Re: Pope Starts Holy War Posted On: 09/12/07 09:03:34 AM Age 64, SC Well, I was the other way around. I was brought up Catholic and found Jesus Christ through the preaching of the TRUE gospel by Billy Graham. Then I got in the Word for myself. Having now fully realized what Jesus did for me. Sorry to hear that many who have never been in the Catholic Church are falling for the false doctrine which does not coincide with the Word of God. Salvation is through JESUS alone. Don't look to man - pope, peter, mary, other saints, go to JESUS. The Catholic church is the most disguised CULT of them all - many are being deceived. Re: Re: Re: Pope Starts Holy War Posted On: 09/12/07 08:57:42 AM Age 64, SC Man always wants to look to man and not God. Instead of looking to JESUS and faith in HIM and what He did and Who He is, they want to look to Peter (a Man) or to the pope (also a man) and also to Mary (a woman). Jesus said: "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto ME." We need to lift up Jesus not the pope, Peter or any other of the believers. Re: Re: Re: Pope Starts Holy War Posted On: 09/12/07 08:54:33 AM Age 64, SC Peter was also married. So much for the Cathlic Church telling priests they cannot marry. Peter was only a man who God filled with the Holy Spirit. It is faith is his belief that Jesus Christ is God and the Saviour that Jesus would build the church. Faith in that belief. The Catholic Church does not preach a true doctrine and Paul said if someone preaches another gospel let him be anathema. Thank God that God brought me out of the Catholic church 42 years ago into the truth of the Word. Re: Re: Pope Starts Holy War Posted On: 09/12/07 08:49:56 AM Age 64, SC You said: You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. Well, Jesus said: Your Word is Truth. The Bible is the only truth beware of man for he is not infallible. I left the Catholic Church 42 years ago when I receive Jesus as my Saviour and beganto read the Bible for myself. The Catholic church unbenown to many is the biggest CULT there is. Thank God He brought me out. Re: Re: Re: Re: Pope Starts Holy War Posted On: 08/29/07 03:35:07 PM Age 48, MN Christian relaitivism is what your post is. Relativism is wrong no matter what form it comes under. Denominations didn't start sprouting up all over until Martin Luther, with no biblical support declared "SOLA SCRIPTURA". By the end of his life there were over 240 denominations when in the beginning there was only a few. Today, some say there are 30,000. One only need look in a phone book to know there is alot. These divisions are not of God. 1 Cor tells us that many times. A house divided cannot stand we are also told. Christ said "on this rock I will build my Church" not Churches. He built a church that is "the pillar and support of the truth (1 Tim 3:15)". That is the one, holy, catholic and Apostolic Church. The only one that has stood the test of time for 2000 years, not changing it's doctrines to fit the whims of man. Re: Re: Pope Starts Holy War Posted On: 08/29/07 01:04:01 PM Age 48, MN First of all there isn't A scripture that we use to show that Peter had primacy over the apostles. There are many. Matt 16:18 is the one you refer to. If I was a coach and said "you are my quarterback and on this quarterback I will build my team and the lions will not prevail" would anyone in their wildest dreams think I was talking about myself as the quarterback. Nope. But there are many other passages as well. Peter is always mentioned first. He is mentioned far more than any other Apostle (190 to John at 30), he always speaks for the group, he walks on water like Christ, Christ pays his task, he takes the leadership of appointing a successor for Judas, etc. etc. It is quite clear that he was the leader of the twelve. Keys indicate succession. A study of Is 22:22-24 also points to succession. Study your bible and open you mind to what it has to say. There is much more about Peter. I've just scratched the surface. Re: Pope Starts Holy War Posted On: 08/29/07 11:38:40 AM Age 48, MN "Evangelicals react to such proclamations made by any faith by saying that the true church is not a building but a relationship with the living God. " Where does Catholicism say that the Church is a building? This is simply rhetoric. The Catholic Church does say that the Church has a spiritual and physical component. We don't need to deny the physical realm to create our Church. The church has to be seen. A light on a hill you know. Jan wants the Pope to say one Christian denomination is as good as another. That's not happening and is obviously not true. There are upteen thousand denominations all teaching contradictory things. Yet God tells us "you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free" and "those who worship God must worship in sprit and in truth". No protestant denomination can claim to contain all truth. Yet we know this fullness of truth exists. Don't tell me it's the Bible because the bible is subject to individual interpretation. That's the reason that Sola Scriptura has caused upteen thousand denominations. It's the most divisive doctrine in the history of Christianity. The docuements words are truth and if the Vatican holds to its guns they will bring everyone to the highest of all mountains. By the way I get a kick out of this claim about a one world religion. Somehow this docuement is suppposed to make Catholics, hindu's, and Muslems sing Kumbayah and form a Church that allows all their different beliefs. With all due respect that is nutty. Only the fullness of truth has the power to unite all in to the unity of faith in the Christian Church.