JACK GRAHAM'S ECUMENISM
Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, has written a book entitled, “Angels: Who They Are, What They Do, and Why It Matters.” An assessment of this book in terms of its veracity and helpfulness is not the purpose of this blog. I would, rather, like to point out several examples of Jack Graham’s ecumenical bent, specifics concerning this book providing the first. Upon examination of this book we discover that after the acknowledgment page there appears a page with the following quote by the Catholic poet, Dante:
Ah, souls beguiled, creatures without reverence, who wrench your hearts away from so much good and set your minds on emptiness!
Dante’s Paradiso,
Book IX, lines 10-12
True Bible believers must consider it inappropriate that an evangelical pastor would choose to promote a Catholic poet in this manner, but promotion of Catholics continues since the foreword to this book was written by new age Catholic Roma Downey.
Excerpt from the foreword: “You hold in your hands an exploration of fifteen of the most practical and personal ways in which God supports his beloved sons and daughters through his angelic host. My hope is that you will allow Dr. Graham’s words to wash over you, reminding you that you are never abandoned to this world alone. You have a loving heavenly Father who is for you every step of the way and whose angels are with you as you go. This book will bless you.” Roma Downey May 2015
Graham has at least one previous connection to Downey in that he invited her to his church to promote her “AD: The Bible Continues” series. (https://twitter.com/jackngraham/status/574624571707420673) This site (http://www.outreach.com/the-bible/about.aspx#endorsements) gives many details concerning the “AD: The Bible Continues” miniseries, produced by Downey and her husband, Mark Burnett. Of particular interest is the list of those endorsing the production, being such a statement of false unity in itself.
As mentioned above, Roma Downey is a Catholic. In this video (https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/actress-roma-downey-on-religion-faith-219/2012/02/09/gIQATJNT1Q_video.html) Downey is asked by the interviewer: “So you continue to be a Catholic and I would say a devout Catholic?” She answers, “I see such beauty in my faith. I have such a love and belief in the Lord. I see God in everyone and in everything. The language of God is in the silence.” Just as a side note, Downey is divulging the fact that she is a pantheist and a contemplative by her last two statements here.
Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, has written a book entitled, “Angels: Who They Are, What They Do, and Why It Matters.” An assessment of this book in terms of its veracity and helpfulness is not the purpose of this blog. I would, rather, like to point out several examples of Jack Graham’s ecumenical bent, specifics concerning this book providing the first. Upon examination of this book we discover that after the acknowledgment page there appears a page with the following quote by the Catholic poet, Dante:
Ah, souls beguiled, creatures without reverence, who wrench your hearts away from so much good and set your minds on emptiness!
Dante’s Paradiso,
Book IX, lines 10-12
True Bible believers must consider it inappropriate that an evangelical pastor would choose to promote a Catholic poet in this manner, but promotion of Catholics continues since the foreword to this book was written by new age Catholic Roma Downey.
Excerpt from the foreword: “You hold in your hands an exploration of fifteen of the most practical and personal ways in which God supports his beloved sons and daughters through his angelic host. My hope is that you will allow Dr. Graham’s words to wash over you, reminding you that you are never abandoned to this world alone. You have a loving heavenly Father who is for you every step of the way and whose angels are with you as you go. This book will bless you.” Roma Downey May 2015
Graham has at least one previous connection to Downey in that he invited her to his church to promote her “AD: The Bible Continues” series. (https://twitter.com/jackngraham/status/574624571707420673) This site (http://www.outreach.com/the-bible/about.aspx#endorsements) gives many details concerning the “AD: The Bible Continues” miniseries, produced by Downey and her husband, Mark Burnett. Of particular interest is the list of those endorsing the production, being such a statement of false unity in itself.
As mentioned above, Roma Downey is a Catholic. In this video (https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/actress-roma-downey-on-religion-faith-219/2012/02/09/gIQATJNT1Q_video.html) Downey is asked by the interviewer: “So you continue to be a Catholic and I would say a devout Catholic?” She answers, “I see such beauty in my faith. I have such a love and belief in the Lord. I see God in everyone and in everything. The language of God is in the silence.” Just as a side note, Downey is divulging the fact that she is a pantheist and a contemplative by her last two statements here.
At the 1:22 mark of this video, Downey states she’s had great devotion to the Blessed Mother her whole life; she had developed a daily relationship at her father’s encouragement after her mother died. Well, true believers know we don’t pray to Mary because she doesn’t hear our prayers. Also, at the 2:15 mark she said she’d never looked at a crucifix and imagined what a mother must have felt to look at her son being murdered in such a way. But, we know Jesus wasn’t murdered. In John 10:18 Jesus says, “No man takes it (His life) from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it again.”
The fact that Graham is promoting anyone who is a Catholic is a matter of great concern. Now people may not like this statement, but it is true to say that Catholics are not Christians. Catholicism is a religion based on the traditions of men. Here is a list of several beliefs and practices of the Catholic church which are not biblical: the papacy; the Mass; the worship and adoration of Mary; the immaculate conception of Mary; the perpetual virginity of Mary; the assumption of Mary; Mary as co-Redeemer; petitioning saints in heaven for their prayers; apostolic succession; infant baptism; confession of sin to a priest; purgatory; indulgences; or the equal authority of church tradition and Scripture. The bottom line is Catholics do not believe what Jesus accomplished on the Cross is a Finished Work, meaning they do not believe in justification by faith alone, as evidenced by their participation in the mass, belief in purgatory, and the practice of indulgences.
Some may not be aware of it, but there has been a major effort by the Catholic church to have people categorize Catholicism as just another denomination of Christianity. We can also recognize a concerted effort by the Catholic church to reach out to what they call “separated brethren” and bring them back “home.” According to the Britannica Encyclopedia, the Second Vatican Council, which was the 21st council of the Roman Catholic Church (1962–65), announced by Pope John XXIII, as a means of spiritual renewal for the church and as an occasion for Christians separated from Rome to join in search for reunion. There were sixteen documents written at this council and the second one is entitled “Decree on Ecumenism.” For those unfamiliar with this term, ecumenism can either be defined as a movement promoting unity among Christian churches or denominations, or as a movement promoting worldwide unity among religions through greater cooperation and improved understanding. (That definition is from the Free online dictionary) Continuing, this decree on ecumenism states in the introduction that “The restoration of unity among all Christians is one of the principal concerns of the Second Vatican Council. In recent times more than ever before, the Lord has been rousing divided Christians to remorse over their divisions and to a longing for unity.” This decree goes on to state: “The results will be that, little by little, as the obstacles to perfect ecclesiastical communion are overcome, ALL CHRISTIANS WILL BE GATHERED IN A COMMON CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST, INTO THE UNITY OF THE ONE AND ONLY CHURCH, which Christ bestowed on his Church from the beginning. THE UNITY, WE BELIEVE, SUBSISTS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AS SOMETHING SHE CAN NEVER LOSE.” (http://www.ewtn.com/library/COUNCILS/v2ecum.htm)
In the evangelical church, according to this article, (http://www.psalm12outreach.com/2015/06/the-evangelical-counter-reformation.html) ecumenism is the drug of choice today. It can be rolled up neatly, with a little Scripture twisted around it, and passed on to the next person to intoxicate themselves with. There are many change agents working against the Gospel in the Church. They creep in unawares–they’re very sly and deceitful with their tactics. One-hundred years ago, it would have been unthinkable to have a Protestant leader travel to the Vatican to work with the Church of Rome on cultural issues. Protestants knew that the Church of Rome was their enemy, and any of whom sought common ground with this apostate system would have been seen as a traitor. But, through the endless efforts and sly disposition of these change agents, so many have changed their minds. People have been conditioned to believe that joining hands with Rome is a great stride towards unification of the Church.
We see another example of Graham’s ecumenism in that he signed the Manhattan Declaration which is an ecumenical accord as described in this article: (https://www.firstthings.com/web -exclusives/2009/11/manhattan-declaration-a-call-of-christian-conscience) Those who signed were agreeing with the following statement: “We, as Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christians, have gathered, beginning in New York on September 28, 2009, to make the following declaration, which we sign as individuals, not on behalf of our organizations, but speaking to and from our communities. We act together in obedience to the one true God, the triune God of holiness and love, who has laid total claim on our lives and by that claim calls us with believers in all ages and all nations to seek and defend the good of all who bear his image. We set forth this declaration in light of the truth that is grounded in Holy Scripture, in natural human reason (which is itself, in our view, the gift of a beneficent God), and in the very nature of the human person. We call upon all people of goodwill, believers and non-believers alike, to consider carefully and reflect critically on the issues we here address as we, with St. Paul, commend this appeal to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. (We) will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family.” Many will think this is a wonderful statement and so beneficial to our culture. However, we do not join up with those of other religions, but rather we remain separate as instructed in 2 Cor. 6:14-17. In addition, we never promote evil thinking we can accomplish good (Rom. 3:8).
Interestingly, among others, Graham’s book received endorsements from Christine Caine and Franklin Graham. Christine Caine appeared at the ecumenical “Together 2016” event in July where she told the crowd “we are the revival we are praying for.” Franklin Graham has continued his father’s habit of engaging in ecumenical activities even going so far as to have a Catholic bishop pray at one of his festivals in 2012.
Considering this evidence, it is fair to say that Jack Graham is a change agent in the modern church world, promoting ecumenism and causing extensive damage along the way. I encourage the reader to pray for him, and all those influenced by him, to see the error of these ways which only lead to destruction.
For information concerning the ecumenism of Jack Graham, please see this link: (https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=648694772301165&id=100014819433180)
For information concerning the ecumenism of Jack Graham, please see this link: (https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=648694772301165&id=100014819433180)