“We are all united in the name of the Lord,” said Pope Francis at a recent multi-denominational gathering. But what does that mean? While everyone would like more unity in our world, is there a line over which Christians should not walk?
Pope Francis continues to reach out to both Christian denominations and non-Christian groups. On January 17, 2016, he spoke at the Great Synagogue in Rome to Jewish leaders where he emphasized an interfaith friendship with his “elder brothers.” He says, “Violence of man against man is in contradiction to every religion that merits the name, in particular the three monotheistic religions,” referring to Christianity, Judaism and Islam. “Every human being, as a creature of God, is our brother regardless of his origins or religious belief."
Then at an ecumenical gathering on January 25, 2016, the pope apologized for Catholic mistreatment of other Christian traditions. “As Bishop of Rome and Shepherd of the Catholic Church, I plead for mercy and forgiveness for non-evangelical behaviors by Catholics against Christians of other churches,” Francis said, referring to conduct not in keeping with the gospel of Christ. “We cannot undo what was done in the past, but we don’t want to allow the weight of past sins to pollute our relationships,” he said. “The mercy of God will renew our relations.” [2]
However, what relations does the Catholic Church have in mind? What type of “deeper unity” is the pope calling for? Is “full visible communion” possible? The pope called for the denominations to ask “above all the forgiveness for the sin of our division, an open wound in the Body of Christ.”
The Bible tells us that the true ecumenical movement in the last days will “come out” of a fallen church and hold to pure doctrine. Such a body of believers will not join hands with other denominations for the sake of surface-type unity. This church calls people to “come in” to a movement that “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).
The apostle John speaks of a “wound” to a beast-power that will seek to lead the whole world. “And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast” (Revelation 13:3). We see evidence that this wound is in fact healing and is drawing many toward a fatal “unity.”
Formal religious organizations and statements can never take the place of a personal walk with God based upon the Bible. Christian believers should cooperate, in so far as possible, to relieve suffering humanity, but we should never cooperate with doctrines that deter us from keeping the commandments of Christ.
Click here to watch Revelation: The Bride, the Beast & Babylon to learn more!