Beginning of ecumenism – Church of Rome washes its hands in innocence

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Ecumenism was initially a concern of the Reformation churches, not the Roman Catholic Church, or so one claim. This may appear to be the case from the outside, but the preparatory work carried out up to this point was clearly due to Roman commitment. A hopeless mess between historical revision and New Protestantism. Therefore, there can only be one stop for maintaining the correct orientation.

“The Protestants have begun”

The Lutheran or Evangelical churches started ecumenism and not the Roman Catholic Church, according to the Catholic magazine “Tagespost” (Source). Although the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople had already called for a unification of all Christians in 1920, and an ecumenical movement was also founded in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1910, the decisive turning point was the first “world conference” that took place in Stockholm in 1925 for Practical Christianity”. The Church of Rome was not involved.

The initiator examined

The World Church Conference described by the “Tagespost” took place in Stockholm from August 19th to 1925. It was an event with around 600 delegates from the Lutheran and Evangelical churches from 37 countries. The main initiator of this event was the Swede Nathan Söderblom (1866-1931), Archbishop of Uppsala, and therefore also the head of the Protestant Church in Sweden. He was a Lutheran theologian and so-called religious scholar, temporarily holding a chair at the University of Leipzig in Germany.

Söderblom is considered one of the co-founders of “religious phenomenology” due to his studies on eschatology and belief in God. A (further) humanities branch in the field of religion. This subject does not consider the phenomena of religion as a product of human culture, but rather sees it as an encounter between people and a transcendent greatness, which is usually referred to as “the sacred”. This is taken into account without claiming to be a theology.

“New Protestantism” comes into play

You could also abbreviate Söderblom’s background and orientation. He may have been a Lutheran bishop in Sweden, as well as a professor of religious studies, but the organizer of the World Church Conference had nothing in common with faith in the Christian sense, according to the Gospel. This is particularly expressed, and it is also revealing, in his book entitled “Evangelical Catholicism”.

The horrors of the First World War had only been over for a few years. For Söderblom, the top priority was the lifting of the restrictions on churches that were still in effect due to the war and peace in the world. Because of his efforts to unite churches to “promote world peace,” Söderblom was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1930.

Although one can certainly agree that this ecumenical event in Stockholm in 1925 was not an initiative of the Roman Catholic Church, this conference of evangelical churches was in no way in the spirit of the Gospel. The religious scholar Söderblom was also politically active and campaigned against(!) the separation between church and state. This can be viewed without any restrictions in the spirit of the Roman Catholic Church.

The legacy can still be traced today

Today Nathan Söderblom is considered a pioneer of the ecumenical movement and the associated use of “Catholic” language within (formerly) Protestant institutions. The result can be read today in the declaration of intent of the “Charta Oecumenica“, which states, among other things:

“[…] the belief in ‘the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church’“

A formulation that is strongly reminiscent of the statement made by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger on June 30, 2000 in a letter to the Bishops’ Conference:

“In the true sense, sister churches are exclusively particular churches (or particular church associations, such as patriarchates or church provinces) among themselves. It must always remain clear, even when the expression sister churches is used in this correct sense, that the universal, one, holy, catholic and apostolic church is not the sister, but the mother of all the particular churches.“.

The “mother of all particular churches” “naturally” means the Roman Catholic Church. If this isn’t a strategic success for the Church of Rome, also thanks to committed comrades-in-arms like Nathan Söderblom. But even in this case, and this is symptomatic, the Church of Rome can present itself as completely surprised at this ecumenical endeavor with an innocent expression.

Söderblom’s approach is reminiscent of the former Archbishop of the English Church, John Henry Newman. As a “Protestant” he initiated the so-called Oxford movement and ensured that Catholic practices were reintroduced into his church. After pictures, figures and altars found their place again and the liturgy was subjected to appropriate adjustments, Newman converted to Catholicism “out of the blue” and it didn’t take long before the “defector” was already a cardinal. Söderblom remained in his ranks and therefore could not benefit from the title of cardinal. But a Nobel Prize and the memory on a German postage stamp in 1966 are not to be despised.

According to the descriptions of the Catholic magazine, the Church of Rome can also wash its hands in innocence when it comes to the initiation of ecumenism.

“Reason” instead of faith

The philosophy that led Söderblom to want to “catholicize the evangelical” had undergone some development by his time. The starting point is the beginning of the Enlightenment in the 18th century. Johann Salomon Semler (1721-1795) played an important role here. Born in Saalfeld, Thuringia and worked as a Protestant theologian during his lifetime. He is considered the main founder of “Enlightenment Theology”. The birth of “critical biblical scholarship.” He viewed the Bible not on the basis of faith, but on the basis of “human reason.”

His stated goal was to view “old Protestant” fundamentalism in a differentiated manner from the philosophies of the “Enlightenment thinkers” of this time, Voltaire and Paul Henri Thiry d’Holbach, but still to build bridges. Semler viewed the Bible as a collection of historical stories from different people in different eras. The Bible could contain the Word of God, but does not represent the Word of God. He rejected the orthodox view of Scripture, among other things because of the contradictions, textual errors and additions he claimed.

According to Semler, the New Testament was subjected to dynamic adaptation. The figure of Jesus corresponded to the ideas of the time and the texts were incompatible with the modern age. Christianity in general was passed down exclusively orally until the second century and only then were the first writings written.

New Protestantism also included Bible editions

The “critical viewing” of the Bible with the “mind” of the Enlightenment according to Voltaire, d’Holbach, Kant, Schiller, Goethe, and Co. was given the name “New Protestantism” and is nothing other than the decline of the Reformation. This new type of “Protestantism” was crucial for the intuitions of Nathan Sömblum, and also of the “biblical scholars” Eberhard Nestle (1851-1913) and Kurt Aland (1915-1994). In keeping with the new direction of Protestantism, Nestle published the “Novum Testamentum Graece”, a New Testament in Greek. Aland continually revised this work.

The original text on which the translations of the first reformers were based (Luther 1545, King James Version 1611), the “Textus Receptus”, was suppressed. The result can be seen today in modern editions of the Bible (Info). There are only a few editions of uncorrupted Bible texts available on the market today. These include the Schlachter 2000, Luther 1912 and the Elberfelder 1871 (German Bibles). In the English language, the King James Version (KJV) of 1611 uses the conventional text of the New Testament.

The Enlightenment period, particularly supported in France by Voltaire, ultimately led to the extremely bloody French Revolution. The French philosopher was extremely convinced of his philosophy. He claimed that one man (himself) could easily refute the twelve founders of a religion (12 apostles). But Voltaire either failed to do this or simply forgot it. He made no such refutation.

In return, Voltaire landed a rhetorical gut punch when he essentially tripped himself up after a spectacular discovery in China. This find showed that Christianity was already dominant in China in the early Middle Ages. Voltaire claimed that this marble slab he found was a clever forgery by the Jesuits. But another find showed that this marble slab had existed since almost 780, before Ignatius of Loyola founded the Jesuit order (Info).

The philosopher Voltaire received an extensive education from the Jesuits and thus also their standards of morals and ethics (Info). The Jesuits played an essential role in educating people in Europe for centuries. Specific areas were less “theology,” certainly not the written word of God, than “philosophy of religion.” The Munich University of Philosophy (HfPh), the only university where philosophy can only be studied, also has its origins with the Jesuits (Source). The headquarters for the Jesuit Order of Central Europe is also located in Munich.

If the Bible can no longer be suppressed due to its massive distribution through the Reformation and printing, as the Roman Catholic Church did for centuries, then the way of thinking, the thought pattern, about the philosophy introduced and taught must be changed. If the truth of the Bible cannot be destroyed, then people’s belief in this truth can be destroyed. The Jesuit order and consequently the Roman Catholic Church have completely succeeded in this. In this context, the order’s primary goal has now been achieved: the downfall of the Reformation and all of its achievements.

The Evangelical Church of Hesse and Nassau (EKHN) is a prime example of Protestantism that has fallen away from biblical truth. A member church of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). This institution explains the subject of the Bible (Source):
“Many Christians instead orientate themselves on the attitude of the Protestant theologian Johann Salomo Semler. In his opinion, the Bible contains the Word of God, but it cannot simply be equated with it. The following biblical story makes it clear how the “Word of God” can be understood“

EKHN comments on the biblical account of David’s victory over the Philistine Goliath as follows (bold font by EKHN):
“The story shows how people in biblical times recorded their experiences in stories when they felt God touching their lives. The ancient biblical accounts are witnesses to something that eludes human comprehension: the belief in a living God who walks with people and this world through their history.“

“Experience” and “feeling” describe today’s philosophy about the gospel. A “feeling faith” promoted by contemplative mediations and similar nonsense. “Feelings are as far from faith as the East is from the West,” were the apt words of Ellen G. White (1827-1915), a defender of the unadulterated gospel.

Nothing remains of intellectual belief in the written Word of God. No longer any trace of “childlike faith” in that which is written, as Jesus Christ strongly recommended, Matthew 18:3:
“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.“.

The EKHN describes another context of a biblical report and asks the question: “What would Jesus say about this Bible passage?”
This proves that even the understanding or belief in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, the living Word of God, is no longer given in any way. A “simple itinerant preacher” who spoke wise words, like a Buddha or a Mohammed, but who had the misfortune of having to lose his life on the cross. But this institution still describes itself as “Christian” and refers to Jesus Christ of the Bible. This is the real deception of people.

Es handelte sich nicht um ein Schisma

A “subtle error” has crept into the Catholic magazine’s article about the origins of ecumenism. Accordingly, thanks to ecumenism, “schismatics” became “separated brothers and sisters” again. But if one were to go by the definition of the Roman Church itself, a schism never occurred with the Reformation. This was already established at the Council of Trent (1545-1563). The Reformers proclaimed that only Scripture should be considered as the basis of faith (sola scriptura – Info). This was an own goal because of the practices of the “new” churches

The Reformation churches maintained some important traditions of the Church of Rome. These include the festivities of Christmas, Easter and – particularly spicy – the special observance of Sunday. However, since the festivities celebrated to this day are a church institution, just as the transfer of the biblical Sabbath to Sunday was initiated by Rome, the reformers refuted themselves. This means that the Lutherans and Evangelicals do not pay attention to the Bible , but recognize the authority of the papacy. Therefore, at the Council of Trent, the clergy decided that this was not a secession from the Church, but a rebellion.

Observing Sunday instead of returning to the biblical Sabbath during the Reformation and thus continuing to recognize the authority of the Roman churches was a conscious decision (Info).

The bottom line is that it is completely irrelevant today, because the former Protestantism has de facto ceased to exist – Info.

It became officially Catholic in the 1960s

The ecumenical accelerator par excellence was launched at the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). Initiated, and this time also officially Catholic, by Pope John XXIII. An important resulting tool for bringing the churches together was the “rediscovery” and revival of the “charismatic renewal,” or “charismatic movement.” Generally known and also practiced by the Pentecostal Church, but now also “socially acceptable” for all other Lutheran or Evangelical denominations and also for the Roman Catholic Church.

Charismatic associations sprouted like mushrooms. A link based on the common denominator. It was no longer the understanding and teaching of the gospel that counted, but rather the feeling. Heart open to receive emotions and brain on standby. The motto is that you can feel faith and especially the reception of the Holy Spirit. Anyone who has the “spirit” is also able to emit incomprehensible babble, i.e. what charismatics call “speaking in tongues.” (Info). The simple logic behind it: if everyone feels the same, then everyone is on the same page.

Appropriate to this is the “neo-Protestant” view that “teaching separates, but feelings unite“.

Huge chaos

No matter which story you look at from which side. Here historical revision, there “New Protestantism”. There seems to be complete chaos. In the Textus Receptus (Stephanus 1550) the term “Diabolos” (“διάβολος”) appears 39 times. Depending on the Bible edition translated as devil, Satan, slanderer and false accuser. In direct translation, Diabolos means “muddle thrower”. And that is exactly Satan’s strategy. Throw everything into disarray, create chaos so that people lose support and orientation.

This confusion is also symbolized by the name “Babylon” in the book of Revelation (Info). In ancient times, Babylon was also a synonym for incomprehensible babbling. Due to the confusion of languages ​​by God after the arrogant attempt to build the Tower of Babel by the “united human family”.

Disoriented people who don’t know where to find support and, above all, the distinction between good and evil, are easy prey. They can easily be caught and led in a desired direction. “Ordo ab chao” (order from chaos), is the motto of the “saving hands” that are just waiting until people’s pleas for support and safety have become loud enough. But from rain to rain, because the arms of these hands are stretched out from Rome (Info).

The church of Rome, as innocent and “holy” as it may seem, is exactly what Jesus Christ hurled at the Pharisees in His day, John 8:44:
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.“

Revealed typical character

The Roman Church has mastered the “art of lying” perfectly! You just shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking that the strategy of lying only affects a short to medium-term period. The adversary’s plan has been in place at least since he realized certain doom. This was at the time of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Satan has known the details of his end since the writing of John, which can be found as revelation in the Bible. At the lost position, the “Diabolos” roams around like a roaring lion, watching to see who he can devour, i.e. drag to destruction (1. Peter 5:8.

The adversary also reveals his character by bitterly revising the defeats he has suffered, avenging the loss and mocking the conquered. He kicks hard, even if the opponent is already dead on the ground. This was also the case with the Reformation. A disaster for the enemy’s plans. It largely came from Germany, Sweden even went to war as a defender of Protestantism, and Jan Hus emerged from Bohemia (Czech Republic) in the 15th century.

Today, Sweden and the Czech Republic are among the most atheist countries in the world. Germany made a significant contribution to the already complete decline of the Reformation. Nathan Söderblom, Swede and supporter of this downfall, rewarded with a Nobel Prize, gives a typical picture. The usual “anticipatory obedience” of German representatives of the former Protestantism is now reflected in a colorful, rainbow-colored creed.

In chaos there is only one stop

The elimination of the true Gospel, the Word of God as it is written, the support and orientation of people, has been the goal of the Roman Catholic Church since its beginnings. Conversely, the Word of God, as it is written, can only be the only anchor in the now impenetrable thicket that people can hold on to while the world around them moves in ever more chaotic circles. Paul pointed this out with a simple sentence and at the same time described the consequences if the gospel does not play a role in one’s life:

Bible verses from King James Version