These thoughts are not meant to promote
animosity or cause hateful feelings toward believers from other denominations.
It is simply an outline of what we believe the Bible teaches on joint spiritual
ventures, or what is sometimes called “ecumenical efforts”. We as Anabaptists
believe the Bible doctrine of separation, but may have not always understood
well what our relationship to other denominations should be.
1.
Ecumenical programs constitute a type of unequal yoke. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath
light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).
The
Bible also says, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other
gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed”
(Galatians 1:8). And again, “As we said before, so say I now again, If any man
preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be
accursed” (Galatians 1:9).
Is
it right to join hands in spiritual ministry with believers who condone murder
by abortion, divorce and remarriage, female leadership over men,
non-resistance, and other things clearly stated in Scripture?.
2.
Joining hands as a matter of course with Christians from other denominations or
religions in religious ministry is a sign of ecumenicalism and a slide towards apostasy.
We don’t condemn them to hell, neither do we deny that many of them are
sincere. God will be the final judge at the end of time, but we are not allowed
to join hands with them now. Many Anabaptist Christians are losing or have
completely lost this concept. Will we stand up and be an example to them?
3. We are told to not have company with them, and to
admonish them. “If
any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may
be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” (2
Thessalonians 3:14-15).
“If
any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of
our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness….from such withdraw thyself” (1 Timothy
6:3, 5).
4.
Take a look at Jehoshaphat’s ecumenical compromise with Ahab. “Now Jehoshaphat
had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab…..And Ahab
king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to
Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I am
as thou art, and my people as thy
people; and we will be with thee in the war” (2 Chronicles 18:1, 3).
Do
we need to “enquire at the word of Lord” (verse 4) to know this is wrong?
Jehoshaphat did it anyway, and this is what God told him: “These have no
master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace” (verse 16).
God has always been displeased when His children made alliances with Gentiles,
whether Jews or New Testament Christians.
5.
We are commanded to come out from among the system of the world and of false
religion, and be separate from them. “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my
people, that ye be not partakers of her
sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4; 2 Corinthians 6:17).
Do
we want to be implicated?
6.
When we join hands with people of other beliefs in an affiliated way, we
compromise and stain our testimony and our message. When
we join in religious ministry with Christians of other faiths and
denominations, we begin to compromise our own faith and ministry.
For
example, at our programs we warn about eternal judgment, but if our friends
from other denominations teach there is no eternal lake of fire, how can we
give a clear effective message from the stage? We teach that we live under
Christ’s New Testament Law, but if they teach we are also under a portion of
the Old Testament Law, how can we freely teach what the Bible says in Galatians
5:4, that “Christ is
become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the [Old
Testament] law; ye are fallen from grace.” We teach the Bible is the final and
complete revelation from God, but if they teach that it is not, and that we can
fully trust the writings of other “inspired” men or women, how can we begin to
put our ministries together on the same level, on the same stage?
Compromise
is a crucial underlying principle in all ecumenical efforts. The common
denominator is sought, and sharing any disagreeing view is severely looked down
on. Is it possible to be a pure and bright light when it must be hid under a
bushel?
Note: This is a shorter version of an article meant to accompany a statement made by New Heights Quartet on their blog in regards to an ecumenical event organized by a group of Anabaptist believers in Goshen, Indiana. The organizing committee of this Acappella Gospel Sing invited a Seventh-Day Adventist quartet to present a program this year's (2016) event.
Note: This is a shorter version of an article meant to accompany a statement made by New Heights Quartet on their blog in regards to an ecumenical event organized by a group of Anabaptist believers in Goshen, Indiana. The organizing committee of this Acappella Gospel Sing invited a Seventh-Day Adventist quartet to present a program this year's (2016) event.
