Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Hell Yawns Even Wider

HELL YAWNS EVEN WIDER

Is.5: 14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
 
In the 16th century men like Martin Luther and John Calvin actively led a revolt against the heretical teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. That movement is called the Reformation. Recently the Roman Catholic Church has been quite successful in recruiting Protestants from all denominations to convert back to the Roman Catholic Church. It is quite astounding to see not only Baptists and Pentecostals become Roman Catholic, but preachers as well. And men like Scott Hahn and Marcus Grodi, both former Presbyterians, converted to Catholicism and now are instrumental in alluring protestants into the Roman Catholic Church.

In actuality the core of their argument is not Biblical but a suggestion that the Roman Catholic Church was the first church ordained by the Lord and headed initially by the Apostle Peter. They argue that God set up His church and that His church, the Roman Catholic Church, is the only church that can be traced unbroken back to Pentecost. Of course some Baptists and Church of Christ and others claim the very same thing. That is the foundation for their argument.

And with that supposed evidence, combined with the growing discontent within the evangelical community, many Protestants and non-Catholics are converting. There is a program on the Catholic network entitled “Coming Home” which interviews recent converts weekly. And the core elements in most of the testimonies are a searching heart and an acknowledgement that the Roman Catholic Church was the original church that continues today. Many have read the early “church fathers” and take their teachings as truth since they lived closest to the time of Jesus. Now that presents some real problems since it makes men the arbiter of church truth.

While some of these people claim the close proximity to the life of Jesus raises their spiritual insight above and beyond all others, there is another way to look at it which is equally as valid. Some of those early church fathers did not have the completed New Testament and they did not have a time tested perspective which could discard many traditions and Old Testament carry overs. But when sifted Biblically, the Roman Catholic Church has many bizarre teachings. But the most grievous teaching of all is that salvation is through a system of works. But all men including the so called "church fathers" must bow to Sacred Scripture for truth.

Having said all that I now must address something else. Although there are evangelical ministers who have not converted to the Roman Catholic faith, there are some who are diabolical bridges of spiritual treachery and who are leading masses to confusion and even destruction. Some say nothing but others endorse error and falsehoods and by their words they lead even millions astray. Rick Warren is one of the worst and is a false teacher to some extreme. The Roman Catholic Church has begun a movement called “Coming Home” which seeks to bring all people back to the “Mother Church”. And Rick Warren has openly expressed support for that effort and that movement.

HERE is the article.

Can you even believe such a thing? Here in these last days men are suggesting a reverse Reformation. And so called protestant ministers endorse such a thing? It is almost beyond belief except that we know how diabolical the evil one is. Men and women throughout church history suffered and even died at the hands of the Roman Catholic Church and yet today Rick Warren opens the door for souls to enter. This is a spiritual paradox which takes deception to a whole new level. This is deception evangelism at the hands of those who claim to know Jesus. Truth lies massacred in the streets and lost souls scurry to pick it up.
 
Hell hath enlarged itself and men are holding open the doors.

10 comments:

michael said...

Rick,

I can believe it that such a thing is happening. Why just consider all that was going on in both the old and New Testament eras as well as the inter testimonial period.

These things hopefully should not come as a shock or surprise if one is like the noble Bereans who searched the scriptures. And we hopefully remember that when that was written about the Bereans the only scriptures to search were those from Genesis to Malachi and in no particular order.

It is blogs like yours today that will help us from falling prey or becoming fodder to the sly nefarious movements encroaching into the public discourse around the world and ever increasing in the local Church.

Anonymous said...

How come it's so hard for a church body to accept the New Testament for what it is, and not add to it. It is simple and understandable, YET, men try to fluff it up, incorporate idols to worship from it, turn the apostles and saints into little saviors.

I think deceitful shepherds feel threatened by the gospel's simplicity. It's simplicity prevents them from ruling the saints. But they must rule, therefore they embellish the Word with weird doctrines. It keeps people ignorant and dependent on them.

They have to present the gospel as complex and mysterious so that no one will figure out how simple it really is. If the sheep figure out the simplicity, then the leader can't dominate. The unaltered Word of God is anti "Dominion". But power-hungry men must dominate.


Anonymous said...

The Roman Catholic Church continues to arrogantly boast of being the “Mother Church”, but the truth is that only people God has saved belong to His true church.

Christians must continue to warn the world that this corrupt institution not only has a long-standing history of deceiving its flock but also of persecuting true believers. In my opinion they are the harlot of harlots!

Cherie c. said...

Notice the difference, Mother Church, not the Body of Christ.

1Peter 2:9

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

By the way, Peter was never in Rome, he was sent to Babylon. Paul went to Rome.

According to the Word of God, they have a seared mind, so it is easy for them to lie because they believe it. Praise God, and fall on your knees in Thanksgiving that it is not you, I know I give thanks that it is not me. Then pray for them because they are led astray.

your sister in Christ Jesus,
Cherie C.

Least Brother said...

Dear Brother – Your addressing the taking of spiritual deception to another level is very important. As I look back at the astounding types of deception that have occurred in just the last 20 years, I’m not sure I can put into words, what I have seen and experienced. I surely cannot boast in myself (for I was also seduced at one time). Having said that however, I am drawn again to the scriptures, where the apostle Paul warns us about the days preceding our Lord’s return. In particular II Thessalonians 2:9-11 “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie”. I understand that some might argue this isn’t speaking to Christians and I am not smart or clever enough to provide a proper biblical exegesis. But I will leave everyone with this to ponder. First, if God sends the delusion, how could anyone ever realize they were deceived? This personally keeps me in a humble and prayerful position all the time. And secondly in Revelation chapters 3:17-19 we read “Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. For me this message of repentance is to be proclaimed loudly and often to everyone (saint or sinner) we come in contact with however the Lord leads. We can’t be lackadaisical or lukewarm. Jesus please help all of us to read, heed and speak.
Blessings

Anonymous said...

My parents are Catholic and it has been extremely difficult witnessing to them. They remain in bondage to this cult - in fact, they are no longer speaking to me. They are so hostile towards the Gospel that they cannot see the need to be born-again, and have made that very clear. I must say, their hostility is also towards "born-again Christians in general. We are the enemy! I have found that witnessing to Catholics, in general, is quite difficult. The church does not encourage their followers to read the Bible. That was certainly my experience growing up in Catholcism. Keep the people ignorant of truth!!! And now that the Ecumenical Movement is growing at a fast rate, I fear that that is what will solidify their error. So many people today have been given over to a spirit of blindness. Hmmm...isn't that what God did to Israel when they rejected their Messiah and He then turned His attention to the Gentiles? (Isaiah 29:10 and Romans 11:8-11). I continue to pray for them, and all who are in this bondage. Rick, thank you for your obedience to our Lord and Savior - you are sounding the alarm (as well as encouraging us) for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. We must continually be reminded of the lies and deception that are coming our way. Satan is a formidable foe - there is NO ceasefire! Often I am reminded of Pilgrams Progress . The road is narrow and is full of pot holes and danger, that is why we must make sure we are suited up daily with the whole armor of God.

Anonymous said...

Ps.90:11- Who knows the power of Your anger? For Your
wrath is as great as the fear due You! /May we stand in the
Council of The Lord when the great apostasy comes
Rev3:10 Because you kept my command to endure, I will
Keep you from the hour( an appointed time) of temptation that is coming upon the earth and all earth dwellers. For I
Am coming quickly , hold on to what you have so that know one will take your Crown, and the overcomer I will make him. A pillar in the sanctuary of My God and never go out again, amen, let us encourage one another In the faith
In love in the fear of God in the comfort of His Holy Spirit
In Jesus .

Anonymous said...

I agree. Amen.

After my conversion, I had befriended an elderly woman, the mother of our small church pastor, who had been indoctrinated from Catholocism all her life. She had just been recently born-again at her son's small church and wanted to know as much as she could about her new exciting life in Jesus; she told me she felt a need to remove all idols and religious icons from her walls and home. No doubt too her son was suggesting this.

One morning at coffee, she asked me what she should do with her 2-foot Mary statue in her backyard garden. I didn't want to tell her what to do, but we did discuss about idols and the necessity of one mediator between us and Christ. A few days later, she invited me to her house, brought me in the back yard, pointed to her garden, and the Mary statue was gone - she told me she had buried it. After reading her bible and convicted by a verse, late at night, she got up and got a shovel and dug a hole late at night and buried it.

Veils can be taken off the eyes of those who heartily seek. That's the key. It's all up to the seeker. Whoever loves the Lord so much that they want to please Him in every way and are willing to lay down their 'traditions' happens in a variety of odd and funny ways.

Powerful men might think they can scheme to bring about a compromising ecumenical world institution, but they fail to realize that the Holy Spirit is still at work and will work until the Lord allows. I've read about the "restrainer" in the end times and it's unclear if bible teachers recognize yet who that restrained is, but if the Holy Spirit is that restrainer, and leaves, we will know it. I pray that He doesn't leave us alone down here.

"Even so, Come quickly, Lord Jesus".

Chris Baumgart said...

De-constructing Catholicism, Calvinism, the emergent movement, the existing orthodoxies and fringe faiths is exhausting. But it is necessary and who is listening(?). What are we looking for? Why the restlessness? Who holds the key to unlocking it all? That would be God, our father. What is tangible is the simplicity of the saving faith and grace our Gospel speaks of. One name only, Jesus Christ. One anointing of our great Teacher, the Holy Spirit. And very important a humble, contrite, prayerful heart to receive it. The spirit is strong here In this position to be taught. Many want a "drive-thru" experience to complete their search but I am sorry to tell them it is impossible to please the flesh, and it is a sinners way to the Top. The Holy Spirit teaches us to get to the Top, one must go low. The example of our King is to wash the feet of others, to see their happiness served before ours...Then say, follow me... Nothing "cool" here, nothing "comfortable" here either... But Jesus wasn't cringing as he unloosed his brothers sandles... He was comfortable here, His heart filled with The Fathers Love, with doing the impossible, to going low...

dave1543 said...

Many people who claim to be Christian aren't born again spiritually, as Jesus explained to Nicodemus. As an example, I have a friend who was raised in a Baptist family, his father being the pastor of the church he attended. They would say they were Christian because of a head knowledge of the Bible but there was no true conversion in the soul. Eventually my friend got saved at a different church. He was truly born again, spiritually.

These are the type of people who will latch onto the ecumenucal movement. No one who really knows the Lord could be involved with the Catholic church or any ecumenical movement involving it. Paul was in peril from false brethren and we will be also, especially in this time of apostasy.