ECUMENICAL CREEDS DENIED BY THE FALSE ECUMENICAL CHURCH

For many of our readers the word Ecumenical is little understood, although it is the subject of our every day discussion. But the average catechism pupil should be able to give a satisfactory answer to the question: what is the meaning of Ecumenical. The meaning is, that it is the universal Confession of the Christian Church. That in it is comprehended the universal Christian faith, also called the Athanasian creed, that contains the essential information for the scriptural teaching of our Reformed doctrine in brief form.”

It is well that the children, also, of our denomination be well instructed in this creed, and that they acquaint themselves with it. And that T.V. programs which are under the control of unbelievers, novels, and other publications of vanity were done away with in those homes in which they are presently tolerated.”

Athanasius was a Greek church father living in the years 293–373 A.D. He was a patriarch, of Alexandria who maintained the doctrine of the Trinity This doctrine was opposed by Arius, who taught that Jesus was not of the same substance as God, but only the best of created beings. Athanasius upheld that Christian doctrine which is found in the inspired Word of God. Words cannot express the great values we have received from our forefathers, to which we at all times, through all ages should give our utmost attention, especially in our days of great apostacy, wherein the teaching of Arius is so prevalent. The Ecumenical Creeds should be loved and adored, for in them is found the teaching that God the Father is the author of salvation of His church, that Christ is the sacrifice for the redeemed, and that the Holy Ghost applies the work of salvation to the heart of His bride. In a word, that the ONE only true God, three in persons, one in essence, has elected the members of His church from all eternity, which Christ affirms in His priestly prayer saying: “Father I pray not for the world, but for those whom Thou has given Me.””

The Ecumenical oneness of the church is found in the teaching of Christ John 17:11 “Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, That they may be one as We are.” This oneness is found in the heart of all those who have learned through sovereign grace, the answer to the first question of our Compendium, and is confessed in the articles of our universal Christian faith. Scripture clearly shows that Christ never prayed for the oneness of infidels whose heart is set to destroy His kingdom. Many scriptural proofs can be given to warn the church to separate itself from the works of darkness. 1 Kin 18:21 “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal then follow him.” 2 Cor. 6:15 “And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with the infidel?” The days of great apostacy are literally being fulfilled, the cry whereof Christ has forewarned His church is being heard Mark 13:21 “Lo, here is Christ; or lo, He is there, believe him not.” And whereof the Apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:17 “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God.””

Satan has but a short time, and shall do all that is in his power to destroy, if possible, the Kingdom of Christ. The decline of the church starts within the church. This can be traced to the first family after its deep fall, as Cain living under the covenant blessings, killed his brother Abel. And, in the family of Isaac and Rebekah, as Esau sold his birthright for a cup of red pottage, wherein he manifested that he had greater desire to satisfy his stomach, than he had for the covenant blessings of God. The serpent beguiled Eve with a lie. “ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” This lives within the heart of all, and was greatly manifested within the church of the New Dispensation, where Catholicism defiled the church of Christ, and, as the Antichrist, took such a prominent place within the church.”

The present day revelation of a ONE WORLD CHURCH, or the church of mankind is not something which appeared overnight. Traces of it we find in Gen. 11:15 “And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” The apostle Paul admonished the church to be always on the alert, when he wrote to Timothy his son in the bonds of grace 2 Tim. 4:3, 4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.””

That time is evidently here. Never has it been known since the Apostolic days, that such a decline in the teaching of the sound principles of the word of God has taken place, and is eating the Church as does the canker. Fear should fill our hearts, that we and our children will be swallowed up in this stream of unrighteousness. A co-operative religion, including Communism, Socialism, Catholicism, Judaism, Buddhism, Protestantism, Modernism, and many other “isms” has joined to form this false Ecumenical Church, this Great Babel, having a form of Christianity but denying the doctrine of Christ. It is a religion of free thinkers, called “The New Theology.” In this new Theology man is on an equal basis with God, thus having the confidence of God in oneself. It knows of no dependence upon the authority of God’s Word, but places confidence of the voice of God within you. The natural result is, that man is not responsible for his sin and his wickedness. In this New Theology the infallibility of God’s Holy Word, and Christ as the only Potentate of the church are rejected. This is the false Ecumenical Church, which is a forerunner of the beast of which we read in Rev. 13:18 “And his number is six hundred three score and six.””

How totally blind we have become, that the discriminating truths cannot be distinguished from the false. Is it not an alarming fact that many Protestant churches have changed their confessions to collaborate with the false church, and others still holding to the letter regret that they cannot see their way clear to join this forerunner of the Antichrist. Regrettable? It should be our privilege and joy in these days of great apostacy to remain faithful to the faith once delivered to the saints.”

Should not our prayers be with the Psalmist of Psalm 140 “Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves.””

It should be of grave concern to us that the Lord has so justly withdrawn His favor from us all, because we have filled the cup of His wrath. Do not our personal, family, City, State, and National sins testify against us? The Lord grant that we may ever remain faithful to the Ecumenical creeds, and may personally know the power of them applied to our hearts.”

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