Look who is attending this thing!

‘Together 2016’ Organizer Meets With ‘Pope Francis’ to Unite Christians, Catholics on National Mall

An ecumenical event featuring Hillsong United, Lecrae, Michael W. Smith, Josh McDowell, Ravi Zacharias, Francis Chan and other renown evangelical and Catholic speakers and musicians that is set to take place in Washington, D.C. is raising concerns as it seeks to draw a million attendees to "link arms” in unity, including with the Vatican.
"Together 2016” is an event to be held on July 16 at the National Mall in Washington, and seeks to unite those of various backgrounds to "stand together for Jesus.” Both Christians and Catholics alike will be featured at the prayer and worship event.

"Together 2016 is about laying aside what divides us to lift up Jesus who unites us,” organizer Nick Hall of PULSE told Christian News Network. "We are coming together in historic unity to pray for a reset for our nation.”

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A little further down in the article:

However, not everyone believes that Christians should link arms with Roman Catholics and set aside major differences that go to the heart of the gospel.

"Nick Hall either does not know the exclusivity of the gospel of God or he does not know the Roman Catholic plan of salvation because they are diametrically opposed,” Mike Gendron of Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries told Christian News Network. Gendron is a former Roman Catholic who now teaches evangelicals how to share the gospel with Catholics.
"We’re divided on how one is born again: Rome says water baptism, the Bible says the work of the Spirit. We’re divided on how one is justified: Rome says faith plus works, the Bible says faith. We’re divided on how one is purified of sin: Rome says purgatory, the Bible says the blood of Jesus. We’re divided on the essentials of the gospel: Rome has other mediators, the Bible says it’s Christ alone,” he explained.

Gendron said that Jesus himself came to divide with truth, and prayed that His Church would be sanctified with that truth.

"It was the Lord Jesus Christ who came to divide: He divides with His word and His gospel. He divides mother against daughter, father against son””and we must remain sanctified and not united with any who are not born again,” he explained. "More than ever, we must maintain the exclusivity of the gospel of Christ. What hope does an unbelieving world have unless we maintain the purity of the gospel?”

Gendron also stated that he is concerned about the message that it will send when Christians see evangelical leaders involved with an event that validates Roman Catholicism, and therefore does not view those in the religion as a mission field.

http://christiannews.net/2016/06/10/together-2016-organizer-meets-with-pope-francis-to-unite-christians-catholics-on-national-mall/

Julius,
This is very disturbing as the list contains so many who have ministered to the Body of Christ for so many years and whom God has used:

The Billy Graham evangelical association
CRU-formerly Campus Crusade for Christ
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship
National Day of Prayer
YWAM
American Bible Society
Musicians we know and love: Jeremy Camp, Michael W. Smith
Casting Crowns, Kirk Franklin and others

Particularly disturbing is Ravi Zachariahs and Josh McDowell who brought The gospel of Christ to millions across the planet.

This just shows us that even the very elect can be deceived!!!
Lord keep your servants from this ecumenical unity event on July 16.

Julias, this breaks my heart that such darkness has descended upon the hearts of men. They are truly blinded as to where this is leading. Of course the beginning of the end was back in the 90s when they signed a pact with the like of Pat Robertson and Chuck Colsen not to proselytize Catholics. As an ex Catholic, this was a slippery slope at the time and their discernment has continued to slide down that slope. The bottom of that slope is the pit of hell.........bro Frank

There actually is alot of organisations behind this event but I did not read of an overt desire to meld with catholics, but of course large meetings like this cater to false unity as real truth is usually not spoken but a very palatable easy message that all can agree on is expoused.

ministries joining with this event:

Abide Prayer
ASLPN
Awakening / Campus Harvest
Blue Water House of Prayer
Center for Student Missions
Clayton King Ministries
Christ Connection
Defining Destinies
Evangelism International
EFCA Reach Students
Fellowship of John 17:21
Full Life Gospel Ministries
Go Ministries International
Heart Fire Ministries
Incirlik Air Force Base
International Ministerial Fellowship
Jacobs Well Ministries
King of Glory Ministries
Leaders Cast
Love Collide
Luminous Few
Millenium Revival Center
Missionary and Servant of Yahweh
National Network of Youth Ministries
No One Underground
One JAM Nation
Project Patch
Planet Fitness
Race to Victory Ministries
Ride Nature
Sacred by Design
Speak to the World Ministries
Stand and Pray Georgia
The Boiler Room
The Salvation Army
Transformation
U.S. Prayer Center
Uprise
White Ribbon Day
Women’s Prayer International
Word Revolution
Alexander Christian Academy
Association Gospel Rescue Mission
Awakening Movement
Bryan College
Change Society
Compassion Connect
Christ Kingdom Church
Destiny of Faith Minitries
Encounter With Love Home Group
Experience Mission
First Priority Global
Gen Live ”“ Untamed
Hope & Healing Minisries Int’l
Independant Missionary Evangelist
International Prayer Council
Johnny Wilson Evangelistic Association
Kingdom Bound Festival
Liberty University
Luis Palau Association Next Generation Alliance
Macklenburg
Ministry Gifts in Action, Inc.
Luis Palau Association Next Generation Alliance
National Day of Prayer Task Force
ND Department of Evangelism-UHCA
Omega Center International
Operation Worship Tour
Prayer Network
Psalm 25 Ministries
realTalk
RISE Student Ministries
Second Chance
Spread Your Ministry
Steve Wingfield Evangelistic Association
The House Slidell
The Salvation Army ”“ Jonesboro
Transformation MI
United Body of Christ Ministry
US Navy-USS Gerald Ford
Wisdom & Life Ministries
Wounded No More
Word of Faith Global Ministries
All Angels
Atlas Rhoads
BASIC ministry inc
Catalyst
Courageous Christian Father
Circuit Riders
ChiAlpha Campus Ministry
Dream Center-Houston, TX
Ephesians 6
Faith Church Ministries
Fredericksburg Prayer Furnace
Global United Missions
God Belongs In My City
Ignite
International House of Prayer Missions Base of Kansas City
InterVarsity ”“ Indianapolis
K-Life Columbia
Kingdom Bound Ministries
Light the Fire Ministries
Luke18 Project
Men for Nations
Mission Connexion
National Network of Youth Ministries
New Life Praise Center
On the Go ”“ Keith Cook Team
One Heart DC
Primrose Hill Teen Challenge
Pulse
Refuge Ministry
Rush Conference
Seek Ye First Ministries

"Adding his name to the lineup of pomenant guest speakers and musicians is Pope Francis, who will deliver a video message addressing the crowd."

That obviously is a problem! And really shows how far this type of unity is from the Biblical unity of John 17 of God's true people.

Bro Greg writes.........

"That obviously is a problem! And really shows how far this type of unity is from the Biblical unity of John 17 of God's true people."

Its the counterfeit unity, the pieces of the puzzle coming together in the formation of the great whore church that will sweep and engulf the whole world............bro Frank

In John Rogers farewell address to his children before being burned to death under Queen Mary he warned:

Abhor that arrant whore of Rome,
And all her blasphemies,
And drink not of her cursed cup;
Obey not her decrees.

I read this for the first time in the New England Primer.

The NAR embrace of Catholicism manifested at the AzuzaNow meeting. In 2014 Ken Copeland embraced the Popes call to unity at his pastors conference. I believe the abortion issue has brought a false unity among catholics and evangelicals.

I think I can safely say that our persecuted brother and sisters will not be at this event. They are too busy living out authetic Christianity by laying down their lives for the Lord Jesus Christ and shedding their blood for Him.

Simply my thoughts.

--- Post re-edited for Less controversy---

HI David,

The problem with Catholicism, and that article does not change the problem in any way, is what does it mean to be born again. Catholic theologians are not opposed to that phrase, in fact I have it on my first holy communion card.( This is the card you receive when you take communion for the first time)

The wafer or the bread is actually Jesus Himself according to Catholicism. When you digest this bread, when you swallow it, you are taking "Jesus." into yourself, this is receiving Jesus and can only happen after you have been baptized into the faith. Between the two, infant baptism and first holy communion, this is what they see as entrance into the Body of Christ. Of course one has to first receive the sacrament of confession.

Now even then your not saved, because your works at the end of your life have to be weighed in the balance. If you are found wanting, then you must enter into purgatory and atone for your sins. If at any time you claim to have assurance of salvation, then an anathema is pronounced over you, you are cursed by the Catholic church. For, according to them, one must be sanctified before one can be justified.

Now that is only me scratching at the surface of this satanic counterfiet masterpiece of religion. Smoke and mirrors that leads all the way to hell. The idea of Mike Bickle questioning the Pope and being given the answers he was given would be comical if it were not so serious. Little men trying to elevate there positions by talking to a man they actually call " your holiness." How dare a saint call such a man " your holiness." Madness and blindness.............bro Frank

Hi docs,

Are you saying the millions of Catholics being saved, baptised in the Holy Ghost and reading their Bibles are remain in the Roman Catholic religious structure?

Interestingly, after I got saved (former Catholic), it was the reading of the Word and the work of the Spirit in my life that delivered me from the bondage of Catholicism, and then there was no reason to stay in their organization. I was no longer held captive to the communion, confessional and catechism. There was absolutely no reason for it and if I stayed, could no longer participate in them or the mass which is just a huge insult to the once for all sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Any Catholic who is reading their Bible will be set free from Catholic doctrine and once you are set free from their doctrine you won't see any need to stay in their organization or attend the hellish mass.

I was saved, baptized in the Holy Ghost outside of the Romish church. Are you also saying that millions are getting saved and baptized in the Holy Ghost INSIDE the RCC?

David writes.........

". It appears that many have been saved inside the RCC in recent decades. What they do after salvation and what they are taught is another matter. One cannot afford to downplay doctrine at all but yet it's not correct doctrine that saves but a encounter with the risen Christ as He personally saves."

I think many is a far cry from millions David. An encounter with the risen Christ leads to freedom, it does not mean that one stays with the realms of bondage and death. If a Mormon gets saved he leaves Mormonism, if a Jehovah gets saved they leave the Jehovah's witnesses. If an Amish gets saved they leave the Amish. If a Catholic gets saved they leave the Catholic church. And why? Who could bow down to false gods after being set free and delivered. Why was there a reformation and countless millions leave the Catholic church. Is all of that turned on its heads because of the claims of " Catholic Charismatics?" No brother, when the dead arise they leave the graveyard behind and seek to dwell among the living..............bro Frank

Good post Todd. Rings very true...............bro Frank

HI David,

Let me be blunt. I consider the " charismatic renewal," to be, for the most part, an abomination. Now let me clarify. For lack of a better phrase, I am a Pentecostal or someone who believes in what I would call the full Gospel with all the corresponding sign gifts of the Spirit.

It is my opinion that the Charismatic movement in general is and was a Trojan horse to bring about a nullification of the the tremendous outpouring of pentecostal power that flowed from the Welsh revival and Azuza street. Within this Trojan horse was the abominations of the Word of Faith movement, the prosperity gospel and the health and wealth folks. Then of course we had the so called outpourings at Toronto.

So for me to hear that there are many Charismatics within the Catholic church who never left the apostate church behind is no surprise nor does it validate anything, quite the opposite...................bro Frank

I am glad you said it was subjective, David.

It APPEARS that many have been saved inside the RCC in recent decades.

Really, anyone that genuinely gets saved and filled with the Holy Spirit WILL end up leaving the idolatrous RCC. Idolatry is rampant everywhere you turn and a lover of Jesus could not stay. The Holy Spirit who leads us daily to Christ and to put to death the deeds of the flesh, will lead any saint AWAY from idolatry. It did not take me but a few weeks after reading the Word to just know in my Spirit, I would never be going back to the RCC.

By the way, I was in Oakland, CA in 1978 and invited to a Catholic Charismatic Church. They had what they called a "folk mass" and afterwards, everyone went downstairs to the basement to eat and drink. And they weren't drinking ice tea. I was aghast at how much the Priest was guzzling. They had the joy of fine wine and spirits.

Good posts Frank and TMK.

David writes.......

"I agree with these sentiments. My only observation was that it is a historical fact that in recent decades many have chosen to stay in the Catholic Church after salvation and the baptism in the Spirit."

Brother, I am not trying to be argumentative but that is not fact at all. And you may agree that it is a little different from your previous statement.............

"Are you saying the millions of Catholics being saved, baptised in the Holy Ghost and reading their Bibles are remain in the Roman Catholic religious structure?"

I think it would be more accurate to say that some/a few misguided folks have decided to stay within the Catholic church where, at every turn, is dripping with idolatry. As we both know, you cannot even enter into a Catholic church without first bowing to a statue. Brother, if the Holy Spirit of the living God is burning within an individual he could never, in good conscience, take part in the Roman mass. The millions of children around the world who were violated by this foul religion would cry out if genuine saints continued to give this false religion some kind of legitimacy. I know my words are strong brother, but there is a great delusion coming and we must not be fooled by the religionists of the world.............bro Frank

PS many tens of thousands of saints in the early church were killed because they refused to dip their fingers in oil and give homage to the Roman gods once a year in the public square. If these saints so burned with the truth that they would rather their whole families be killed ruthlessly than by participating in idol worship, how do they compare to so called Christians who every week bow down to statues and partake in a ceremony that directly violates the very essence of what it means to be a saint.

David, I wasn't trying to be argumentative, either. Sorry if it came across that way. I appreciate your contributions.

To docs, I understand. Textual conversation by the way is not always easy. :-)

That is why we should give each other more grace. I need to improve in this area. Have a good day, David.

I appreciate your concerns Mike and I understand where your coming from and also that many people were saved through the Charismatic movement. It is the bigger picture I see. Look at the massive damage of the prosperity gospel, look at how it has invaded Africa and other places with its poisonous message. Look and see how many pentecostal churches were invaded by so called holy laughing and being " drunk," in the Holy Spirit. Look at how the Charismatic movement has embraced the Pope and Catholicism. There is a strategy behind all of that Mike and just because people were saved through this does not change anything. People have been saved by the preaching of cheap grace in the last few generations but it does not legitimize cheap grace. And so while I celebrate the salvation of anyone, especially coming out of Catholicism, the credit for any salvation always belongs to Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

And so in summary, when you think of " holy laughter," or being " drunk," in the Spirit or the teaching of prosperity or the teaching of health and wealth and the word of faith and so on, you can then see the massive damage that this movement has caused to the Body of Christ. In the west, Christendom has never been in such a low state, never been so anemic, never been so Biblically illiterate and so on, this is the result of dead religion on the orthodox side and massive error that has swamped the church on the other side. These are my opinions Mike and I would be glad to agree to disagree with you. God bless you brother.........bro Frank

My sense is that Frank was talking about the large part of the Catholic charismatic renewal which was counterfeit and just another tool in the RCC's counter reformation battle which they wage by blurring the lines. Sure, some people here and there were genuinely touched by God.

Hi Lisa,

Any ex-Catholic knows well the battle that occurs when they leave this organisation. It is them that are ganged up on and ostracized and cruelly treated by their Catholic families. And yet, their lives and their testimonies are a tremendous witness to their friends and family members.

My advice to people who dont know much about Catholicism and want to witness to Catholics, ask an ex-Catholic. When I witness to Catholics my favorite thing to do is talk about my personal relationship with Jesus. Then I take them to the Gospel of John and zero in on " Unless a man is born again he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." I tell that that there eternal soul depends upon a right understanding of what Jesus means here. No regular Catholic is gong to easily dismiss the words of Jesus, now most of them know nothing about the Bible but even the ones that do will be forced to think about this unambiguous warning from Jesus. I tell that that if they really believe that Jesus is talking about infant baptism here or making your first holy communion then that is fine, but just know your eternal soul depends upon you being right............bro Frank

Julias writes..........

"My sense is that Frank was talking about the large part of the Catholic charismatic renewal which was counterfeit and just another tool in the RCC's counter reformation battle which they wage by blurring the lines."

Yes Julias, I would agree with that. What most Americans have no idea about is that the Charismatic movement in Britain was almost exclusively Catholic and that very few every left the Catholic church. Those of us who have had any dealings with Catholic Charismatics in Britain ( and I would imagine that would be almost none on the this particular forum) well know just how vehemently the Catholic Charismatics defend the Catholic church. In Britain it has been the genuine saints who have been fooled by the Catholic Charismatics to the point where it is now perfectly acceptable to be a Catholic, it is just another branch of Christianity.

Also in America the Evangelical community has also been fooled into this same error, consider the pact made by the Evangelicals with the Catholics back in the 90s where the Evangelicals agreed not to proselytize Catholics. Imagine that, agreeing not to share the Gospel with people who are hopelessly lost. The mind boggles at the progress the Catholic church has made in breaking down their "protesting erring children," and bringing them back " into the fold."...........bro Frank

I have through through most so maybe I missed any posts that actually offered any ways to help the Catholics out instead of ganging up on them.

If we know it's a false religion, what can we do for any friends or family members that are in it?

That is an excellent post dear sister and a valid concern. May God stir our hearts in evangelism, in love, towards people lost in the Catholic system or religion.

by AbideinHim on 2016/6/16 11:27:53

How can we best help Catholics?

By not bashing the Catholic religion, but
by sharing Jesus with them. They already
believe in Jesus, but the teaching of the
Catholic Church is that salvation is by
way of observing the sacraments.
It is salvation through baptism.

I worked with a woman that was a strong
Catholic, but was seeking the truth. After
many conversations over a long period
of time she was saved, and this resulted
in all of her 5 children being saved. They
all left the Catholic Church.

First, the Catholic hierarchy narrative is to say that anyone who is taking a theologically critical look at their doctrine should be characterized as "bashing Catholics" or "bashing their religion". This is a very old narrative they continue to keep alive.

Bashing seems to be a word only used when taking a critical look at Catholicism and showing the subterfuge used by the Vatican.

Let's not fall into agreement with them.

Testimonies are always good, but on this site, critical analysis is common for false religions or doctrines purporting to be Christian.

Lisa wrote:
"I have through through most so maybe I missed any posts that actually offered any ways to help the Catholics out instead of ganging up on them."

Again, that is a false mis-characterization. The Catholic Church would like to regulate speech against it and by misrepresenting people's comments as "ganging up on them" or "bashing them", it feeds their agenda to characterize valid criticism of the Church as hate speech, but they will say we are directing it towards their people when in fact we are using critical thinking and analysis about how they operate to deceive Protestants and all people. Of course, bashing people is not happening. No one is bashing people. They are good at their "shell game". They have been doing it for hundreds of years.

Just the fact that some here are mouthing the same thing that professional Catholic apologists say, tell me the RCC is transmitting their narrative to unsuspecting Protestants, successfully.

Julias writes..........

"Again, that is a false mis-characterization. The Catholic Church would like to regulate speech against it and by misrepresenting people's comments as "ganging up on them" or "bashing them", it feeds their agenda to characterize valid criticism of the Church as hate speech, but they will say we are directing it towards their people when in fact we are using critical thinking and analysis about how they operate to deceive Protestants and all people."

I totally agree. When people use the word bash or the phrase ganging up, it is very rarely if ever an ex-Catholic saying that so there is certainly a lack of discernment as to the true nature of Catholicism. When someone like myself speaks to a Catholic, people should assume that I would never speak in terms of abomination and so on to them. But when I am speaking to other Christians as I am on this forum, I should be able to speak the truth about the greatest false relgion in the world without having to deal with the words " bash," and phrase " ganging up."

Yet the discernment when it comes to Catholicism has been sliding for years and people have been hushed into silence about it, so I am used to that. There will come a time soon when any truth spoken boldly will be considered bashing and hate speech.

Julias writes........

'Just the fact that some here are mouthing the same thing that professional Catholic apologists say, tell me the RCC is transmitting their narrative to unsuspecting Protestants, successfully." I would fully agree with that, it is part of a wider stategy of the devil to shut the mouths of the saints when it comes to truth.

And Todd, I so appreciate your words of wisdom as someone who has had to deal directly with this issue. I am so glad that you loved your wife enough to be blunt with the truth and compel her to come to the truth. We will all find out soon enough the true power of Rome and her ability to go after and destroy the saints either by destroying them or by fooling them and swallowing them up.........bro Frank

Frank,

I am in total agreement with you and I might add, when I speak with Catholics, I never appeal to their "theological understanding" as many do not even understand the why's and wherefore's of their own religion and their eyes would just glaze over. I am kind and loving and lift up Jesus and the Word and have by the grace of God had success in leading Catholics to the Lord. Many of the ones I have talked to are already disillusioned with their church for various reasons which are not difficult to understand. When you talk about the grace of God and freedom from guilt and performance for Him on the basis of works, they understand these things.

On the other hand, it is much more difficult to speak with Catholic apologists. They have an answer for everything but it is not a good answer, it is just a good answer in their own mind.

Julias writes......

"when I speak with Catholics, I never appeal to their "theological understanding" as many do not even understand the why's and wherefore's of their own religion and their eyes would just glaze over. I am kind and loving and lift up Jesus and the Word and have by the grace of God had success in leading Catholics to the Lord. Many of the ones I have talked to are already disillusioned with their church for various reasons which are not difficult to understand. When you talk about the grace of God and freedom from guilt and performance for Him on the basis of works, they understand these things. On the other hand, it is much more difficult to speak with Catholic apologists. They have an answer for everything but it is not a good answer, it is just a good answer in their own mind."

This has been my experience exactly. When speaking to the average Catholic one has to break it right down to the words of Jesus and my own favorite is John 3. The trouble arises when " Christian leaders," and other Christians totally lacking in discernment when it comes to Catholicism, actually hamper the sharing of the Gospel by giving your average Catholic a false sense of security..... bro Frank

Quote: "it is much more difficult to speak with Catholic apologists. They have an answer for everything but it is not a good answer, it is just a good answer in their own mind"

When this thread came up I started to do a bit of reading about the topic.Recently Pope Francis made the following comments:
"and his (Jesus' )life, humanly speaking, ended in failure, in the failure of the cross."
The Catholics confirm that on their own website and then try and give us an answer what he really meant.

Paul preached Christ and Him crucified. We should always keep this in mind when witnessing to any unsaved person

My concern about this event is not so much the Catholics, I'm more concerned about the over 100 organisations that attend this "ecumenical event". This does not sound like a "narrow path" it could however lead many onto the "broad way"

We all know that we have difficult times ahead of us. Many seem to believe that the more we (Christians ) are in number the stronger we are. I don't think that is very scriptural. We might come to "Kadesh Barnea " again when those who want to follow the Lord might be "stoned " again by their own congregations, (like Joshua was stoned )

We can also study Gideon. His army was outnumbered against the enemy. The Lord did not provide more fighters, he reduced them down to 300 ! What matters is what THE LORD will do in those last days , in us and through us, all Glory to Him !