By Chris Lawson
Spiritual Research Network
The term “ecumenism” comes from the Greek word ο?κουμ?νη (oikoumene), meaning “the inhabited earth,” “the whole inhabited world” or “the inhabited or habitable earth or world” “A particular inhabited country (Luke 2:1; Acts 11:28).” [1] The word occurs in the New Testament in Luke 2:1, where it is translated as “all the world.” In Scripture the word was historically used in reference to the then known world of the Roman Empire. Luke the physician (and historian) who penned the book of Acts and also the book of Luke uses the word this way in Luke chapter two: “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world [oikoumene, meaning “the inhabited earth”] should be taxed [registered]. (And this taxing [census] was first made when Cyrenius [Quirinius] was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed [registered], every one into his own city” (Luke 2:1-3 KJV).
Today this word is used in a way that is much different than the biblical text was referring to when the consensus in Israel took place in the first century. Drawing in “all the world[s]” streams of Christianity at the cost of biblical truth, Global Ecumenism is an unbiblical movement based upon and centered around “unity.” But just what type of unity is this? Global ecumenism is a compromised unity that feverishly utilizes Christian nomenclature (words, terms, expressions), but at its very core rejects biblical unity. It embraces Roman Catholic unity and encourages Evangelicals (Protestants) and Roman Catholics to march arm-in-arm, all the while avoiding a primary principle that is found from Genesis chapter one thru Revelation chapter twenty-two – the principle of biblical separation (Genesis 1, 2, 3; Deuteronomy 28-30; Romans 16:17-19; Revelation 22).
To note, God used various forms of “separation” throughout the Genesis account and throughout His continued dealings with Israel as a nation, tongue and people. To this day, God continues to command, through His Word, the implementation of “separation” from false teaching, false teachers, and all who would corrupt and destroy God’s Church and God’s Gospel message for humanity. The idea of “separation” is at the very root of God’s plans, from beginning to end. Completely blind to this fact, global ecumenists and much of modern Evangelicalism are working hard to see all of Christendom and Christianity meld into One global Christian movement (i.e., Evangelicals and Catholics Together).
However, as we shall see, this is the high road to trampling truth underfoot.
As we embark upon a closer look at what global ecumenism is and does, we will see clearly that what God warned about 2000 years ago is clearly happening before our eyes across the globe – false teaching and apostasy is being overlooked for the sake of unifying the ever growing, ever coalescing, Global Ecumenical Movement! [2] Click here to read this entire article and for footnote citations.
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