On August 1, 2016, Matt Redman led a “worship service” for thousands in Times Square, New York City.
According to an article at the Christian Post, “the Dove Award winner united young and old of various races in all manner of garb to openly praise God in one of the most recognized places in the world.” The author of an article at the Church Leaders website made the following statement concerning the event: “The video gives a beautiful glimpse into what it looks like when we worship God in the midst of a secular culture.” However, true believers will recognize a red flag here and notice there is no way to ascertain the beliefs of those in attendance. We cannot assume that the thousands of people who sang, and raised their hands even, were true believers.
If the reader is unfamiliar with the ecumenical nature of Contemporary Christian Music, or with Matt Redman himself, please read the blog found at this link: https://www.thenarrowpath.co.uk/ccm--contemporary-christian-music.html Additionally, if the reader has never learned that Catholicism is not Biblical Christianity, please visit this link: https://www.thenarrowpath.co.uk/catholicism-vs-christianity.html And, this link
https://www.thenarrowpath.co.uk/ecumenism.html will explain why true believers should have nothing to do with ecumenical activities.
To gain an understanding of Redman’s outlook on Christianity we need to consider the fact that in August of 2010 the Redman family moved to Brighton, UK, where they joined St Peter's Church. From this article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Peter%27s_Church,_Brighton) we learn that on May 8, 2009, Holy Trinity Brompton Church in London, an influential Church of England parish church which created the Alpha course, agreed to take over St. Peter’s ownership and running. The vicar is Archie Coates and the associate vicar is Jonny Gumbel, the son of Nicky Gumbel who developed the Alpha Course. If the reader is unfamiliar with the ecumenical nature of the Alpha Course, please read this blog: https://www.thenarrowpath.co.uk/the-alpha-course.html Suffice it to say, Redman would definitely have been influenced to believe that Catholics are fellow brethren in Christ due to this association as described.
We see an example of this belief in the following article (https://the-end-time.blogspot.com/2015/02/matt-redman-to-headline-catholic-youth.html) from which we learn that on March 7, 2015, Redman led worship at “Flame 2,” at the Wembley Arena in London. The occasion was billed as the largest event in the United Kingdom for young Roman Catholics. It was organized by the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation and throughout the day Roman Catholics speakers brought messages, and at the conclusion of the day, Cardinal Vincent Nichols led everyone in a time of Adoration i.e. the Mass. The Catholic Youth Ministry Federation described it as a wonderful blessing for “Flame 2” that Redman was able to lead the music and that they were certain this encounter would enrich school and parish Masses and liturgies in the months afterwards. However, it cannot be said strongly enough that no true believer would ever participate in such an event!
At this point someone might be thinking that since Matt Redman is not a Catholic himself, he probably doesn’t have many Catholic fans in the world of Contemporary Christian Music, thus meaning that few Catholics would have been in attendance in Times Square. However, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, and Matt Maher (Catholic CCM artist) frequently appear together at events and they write songs together. So, it stands to reason that many Catholics enjoy the music of Matt Redman and were just as likely as evangelicals to have attended the “worship” event that day. Here is one example of a song written by Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Matt Maher, and Jesse Reeves. Chris Tomlin performs the song:
If the reader is unfamiliar with the ecumenical nature of Contemporary Christian Music, or with Matt Redman himself, please read the blog found at this link: https://www.thenarrowpath.co.uk/ccm--contemporary-christian-music.html Additionally, if the reader has never learned that Catholicism is not Biblical Christianity, please visit this link: https://www.thenarrowpath.co.uk/catholicism-vs-christianity.html And, this link
https://www.thenarrowpath.co.uk/ecumenism.html will explain why true believers should have nothing to do with ecumenical activities.
To gain an understanding of Redman’s outlook on Christianity we need to consider the fact that in August of 2010 the Redman family moved to Brighton, UK, where they joined St Peter's Church. From this article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Peter%27s_Church,_Brighton) we learn that on May 8, 2009, Holy Trinity Brompton Church in London, an influential Church of England parish church which created the Alpha course, agreed to take over St. Peter’s ownership and running. The vicar is Archie Coates and the associate vicar is Jonny Gumbel, the son of Nicky Gumbel who developed the Alpha Course. If the reader is unfamiliar with the ecumenical nature of the Alpha Course, please read this blog: https://www.thenarrowpath.co.uk/the-alpha-course.html Suffice it to say, Redman would definitely have been influenced to believe that Catholics are fellow brethren in Christ due to this association as described.
We see an example of this belief in the following article (https://the-end-time.blogspot.com/2015/02/matt-redman-to-headline-catholic-youth.html) from which we learn that on March 7, 2015, Redman led worship at “Flame 2,” at the Wembley Arena in London. The occasion was billed as the largest event in the United Kingdom for young Roman Catholics. It was organized by the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation and throughout the day Roman Catholics speakers brought messages, and at the conclusion of the day, Cardinal Vincent Nichols led everyone in a time of Adoration i.e. the Mass. The Catholic Youth Ministry Federation described it as a wonderful blessing for “Flame 2” that Redman was able to lead the music and that they were certain this encounter would enrich school and parish Masses and liturgies in the months afterwards. However, it cannot be said strongly enough that no true believer would ever participate in such an event!
At this point someone might be thinking that since Matt Redman is not a Catholic himself, he probably doesn’t have many Catholic fans in the world of Contemporary Christian Music, thus meaning that few Catholics would have been in attendance in Times Square. However, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, and Matt Maher (Catholic CCM artist) frequently appear together at events and they write songs together. So, it stands to reason that many Catholics enjoy the music of Matt Redman and were just as likely as evangelicals to have attended the “worship” event that day. Here is one example of a song written by Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Matt Maher, and Jesse Reeves. Chris Tomlin performs the song:
Here is one verse:
Only Son of God sent from Heaven
Hope and mercy at the cross
You are everything, You’re the Promise
Jesus, You are all to us
While these lyrics, for example, are Biblical, this is just one way Satan deceives believers into accepting those of other faiths as being true believers.
Here is an example of an event at which all three appeared together:
https://www.thenarrowpath.co.uk/chris-tomlin-presents-worship-night-in-america.html
The “Worship Night in America” event was ecumenical and dominionist in nature and it is dangerous for believers to listen to Matt Redman’s music because by judging his fruit (a way to recognize true believers given in Matt. 7:16-20) it appears Redman does not have a true understanding of Biblically-commanded separation and possibly not even of true Christianity. Joining up with Catholics and considering them to be fellow Christians means one does not understand and truly believe in the finished work of the cross; one is participating in ecumenism. When one participates in corporate “worship” without knowing the beliefs of the participants, one has very likely joined in an ecumenical enterprise. “Worship” conducted in a huge ecumenical gathering is not heard by our Heavenly Father. At Mt. Carmel, Elijah didn't tell the children of Israel to join up with the prophets of Baal to worship God, but rather to separate! 1 Kings 18:21 "And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word."
I pray that true believers would remember the admonitions to remain separate (2 Cor. 6:14-17, Rev. 18:4, among many others). We must not allow ourselves to fall prey to the clarion calls all around us to join together in false unity with unbelievers or false converts.
Only Son of God sent from Heaven
Hope and mercy at the cross
You are everything, You’re the Promise
Jesus, You are all to us
While these lyrics, for example, are Biblical, this is just one way Satan deceives believers into accepting those of other faiths as being true believers.
Here is an example of an event at which all three appeared together:
https://www.thenarrowpath.co.uk/chris-tomlin-presents-worship-night-in-america.html
The “Worship Night in America” event was ecumenical and dominionist in nature and it is dangerous for believers to listen to Matt Redman’s music because by judging his fruit (a way to recognize true believers given in Matt. 7:16-20) it appears Redman does not have a true understanding of Biblically-commanded separation and possibly not even of true Christianity. Joining up with Catholics and considering them to be fellow Christians means one does not understand and truly believe in the finished work of the cross; one is participating in ecumenism. When one participates in corporate “worship” without knowing the beliefs of the participants, one has very likely joined in an ecumenical enterprise. “Worship” conducted in a huge ecumenical gathering is not heard by our Heavenly Father. At Mt. Carmel, Elijah didn't tell the children of Israel to join up with the prophets of Baal to worship God, but rather to separate! 1 Kings 18:21 "And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word."
I pray that true believers would remember the admonitions to remain separate (2 Cor. 6:14-17, Rev. 18:4, among many others). We must not allow ourselves to fall prey to the clarion calls all around us to join together in false unity with unbelievers or false converts.