A TIME TO UNITE

The Pope just signed a document that says “ non-Catholic Christian communities are either defective or not true churches”. The Pope goes on to say 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 bishops back to the original apostles of Jesus’” WORLDNETDAILY. This statement needs to be addressed but not the way most in other Christian communities will. They will bluster and harrumph but they won’t get to the truth of the matter. Well, that’s where I guess I come in.


A TIME TO UNITE
The Pope just signed a document that says “ non-Catholic Christian communities are either defective or not true churches”. The Pope goes on to say 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 bishops back to the original apostles of Jesus’” WORLDNETDAILY. This statement needs to be addressed but not the way most in other Christian communities will. They will bluster and harrumph but they won’t get to the truth of the matter. Well, that’s where I guess I come in.
To begin with, why, in a time like this where all Christendom needs to put their differences aside and unite to face the Muslim onslaught that has started and will continue to get worse, has he done this. The Pope has the ability and power to stop the swelling tide against all Christendom and Jewry and yet he drives a wedge between the very people that are being destroyed.
Does the Pope not remember that the Sudan is a killing ground with Muslims killing millions of Christians? Does he not remember that the war in Yugoslavia was Muslims against Christians? Does he not remember that Christians throughout the world are being persecuted and killed by Muslims? Does he not remember that 9/11 was an act of terror against Western Civilization by Muslims? Does he not remember the murders of nuns and priests by Muslims in various countries when he, the Pope, quoted a Pope that said something a little disparaging about Mohamed?
This is a time for Christians to come together and get back to their roots and their roots are in the revealed Word and will of God, the Bible. Oh sure, I could lecture on how Peter, to whom the Roman Catholics claim apostolic succession, was never in Rome. Or I could go into the “Catholic” closet and bring out tons of dirty laundry but this is not the time to air our differences about who’s religion is better! If you read my last article Born Again part one) you would know that it is not which “Christian community” that you are with or belong to it is when you “confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead” Rom. 10:9 that you become a child of God. Honestly, there are both “born again” ones and unsaved ones in most every “Christian” church in the world.
A study of the word church in the Bible would have saved the Pope a lot of problems. In the New Testament the Greek word for church is Ekklesia. Ekklessia is used in the Bible for anyone called out for a specific purpose. As a matter of fact a mob is called an ekklesia or a church. Look at Acts 19:23-41
23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
31 And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly (ekklesia, the same word used for the English word “church”) was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
35 And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
38 Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
39 But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly (ekklesia).
40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly (ekklesia).
My point in showing you this is to clear up how the Bible (the Word of GOD) uses the word ekklesia. This word is used for group that is called out for a specific purpose. It is used for both the called out in Jesus Christ, for a mob and for a lawful assembly. So, any Christian group or community is called for a specific purpose and can be called an ekklesia a church according to biblical usage.
It is time for all Christians to come back to the integrity and accuracy of God’s Word, the Bible, put away our petty differences and unite to face down those who want to destroy our Christian communities, our families and us.