Check out the following piece from Apprising Ministries on the pope throwing a monkey wrench into Rick Warren’s ecumenical machine:
Ok, here’s the latest scoop on the religious scene from Apprising Ministries. Well, it turns out that Rick Warren Is Saying Protestant Reformers Luther and Calvin Were Wrong because in opposition to what these Reformers taught Purpose Driven Pope Warren has now pontificated that the Roman Catholic Church is no longer apostate and is, in very fact, once again a part of the Body of Christ.
O but wait, it gets even better because meanwhile, back at the ol’ Vatican ranch Benedict XVI, the papal pretender to being the Vicar of Christ, has said instead that Rick Warren is the one who is actually wrong. I know, I could hardly believe it myself when I heard it! Just imagine the nerve; someone dares to criticize America’s favorite social worker and Megapastor. Zowie; good thing he’s a god on earth, huh.
So now here’s the deal; you see, Rick Warren is not a Roman Catholic but is instead a decidedly—er, non-protesting *ahem* “Protestant” in the SBC—which might actually stand for Slowly Becoming Catholic. Ok, because of that fact, according to the RCC Pope it now seems that the PD Pope can’t even be “America’s pastor” anymore because he doesn’t actually pastor a real church:
Pope Benedict XVI has reasserted the universal primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, approving a document released Tuesday [July 10, 2007] that says Orthodox churches were defective and that other Christian denominations were not true churches…
It restates key sections of a 2000 document the pope wrote when he was prefect of the congregation, “Dominus Iesus,” which set off a firestorm of criticism among Protestant and other Christian denominations because it said they were not true churches but merely ecclesial communities and therefore did not have the “means of salvation.”
In the new document and an accompanying commentary, which were released as the pope vacations here in Italy’s Dolomite mountains, the Vatican repeated that position. (Online source)
If only this was as silly as a Hollywood gossip column. But with people’s eternal souls in the balance I’m afraid there’s nothing funny about men such as these, who for now, are peas in a very corrupt spiritual pod and speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them (1 John 4:5).
Thanks to Pastor Ken Silva for this piece. I’d like to add that I find it ironic when the very apostate Roman Catholic Church that the very apostate Saddleback Church is trying so hard to merge with refuses to consider them a legitimate Church at best and anathema at worst. What Rick Warren fails to realize is that if the world’s religions are going to merge into one anti-Chirst led conglomerate, it’s going to be under the RCC and it’s going to be on their terms, not his.
See also: All roads may not lead to Rome, but according to the pope, only Rome leads to Heaven.
Christ Alone Wyoming 
Insofar as his statements are applied to Rick Warren’s monument to the flesh commonly known as Saddleback Church from what I can tell in this instance Pope Benedict actually spoke the truth (for once).
Based upon what I can tell The Church of Rick Warren of Laodicean Saints is defective, is not a true church, and is at best a community of like-minded people, not entirely dissimilar from a country club or perhaps a brothel.
In Christ,
CD
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Pesky me, but I am curious, would you have any interest in linking to the actual encyclical spoken of rather than just people writing their opinions on it?
I know it would make little differenc to the likely core audience here… I am sure no one here would be interested in actually reading Dominus Iesus… But on the off chance they were interested in reading Dominus Iesus for themselvers rather than reading about Dominus Iesus from others… Hey, isn’t that what we are accused of doing with the Scriptures as Catholics?
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why is it that, lately hundreds of EX anti catholic pastors from baptist,pentecostals,non denom faith, are converting themselves to the church they used to label, as the whore of babylon.many of these pastors were responsible for converting,brainwashing,programming ex catholics to despise catholicism.but now,they have converted or in the process of conversion.remember these are not just members,but Leaders of their former faith.could you please tell me why???
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Jeff, thanks for stopping by. I do not know where you are getting your statistics, but would be very interested to know where such a statement is even true to begin with. Secondly, the Bible does declare that many will apostasize in the last days and turn from the faith. We know that when one begins the slippery slopes of ecumenicalism, it is not that hard to make the jump to the other side of the tracks.
It is not our intention to brainwash anybody on this site, but to merely show whether the doctrines held by various groups actually line up with Scripture. Sadly, ALL man-made religions such as Roman Catholicism and even much in mainline denominations is man-made traditions and not based on the Word of God.
The Desert Pastor
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The observations and comments here are very interesting. Here’s my take on this.
Jesus is true God and true Man. He fulfilled the prophesies of the Old Testament as told in the New Testament and did start the Church which became known as Catholic in the 4th Century.
In the 16th Century Luther and others protested about many belief’s and practices of MEMBERS of the Catholic Church and made valid complaints and suggested much need of reformation.
Originally Luther did not want to leave the Church but after that many split and started man-made churches that increased and still increase as time goes by.
As humans, Catholics made and still make mistakes like everyone but they are members of the One, True, Catholic and Apostolic Church started by Jesus in approximately 33AD.
From the early days of of the Reformation through the present, Protestants multiply by division.
Please keep me in your prayers and I will keep you in mine.
Pax Christi,
Cathy Deo Gratias
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Cathy, where is your biblical proof that Christ started the Catholic Church? Please, refrain from using tradition or church doctrine; I am asking for passages from Scripture that CLEARLY state the Catholic church is the ‘one true church’. Exegete from God’s word your ‘opinion’.
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Dear Lyn:
We all know the legend of the RC tradition: Christ established the RC organization with the Apostle Peter and commissioned Peter as the first pope (repeat a lie often enough people believe it’s truth).
Just like I did with the worship of Mary in the post It’s All About Mary?, I also published a post (over a year ago) soundly disproving the whole “Peter the Pope” myth. The post Was the Apostle Peter the First Pope? contains 17 evidences that Peter was not the first pope or any pope for that matter. And to this day no Romish adherent has offered a defense.
– The Pilgrim
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Pilgrim,
I find it amazing how they come here spewing out their ‘traditions of men’, yet NEVER provide clear, concise biblical evidence to back their claim. They exalt church tradition over the Word of God and continue to believe they are the ‘church’ Christ spoke of to Peter. There are none so blind…
The sad and tragic part is that they will die and step into a Christless eternity. It will be much too late by then. In all honesty, it is much to late for some of them NOW, for they refuse to believe the truth found solely in His Word. The judgment of God is upon them even now, He has turned them over to the strong delusion to believe the lie. They embrace the teachings of men as opposed to the Word of God, the ONLY source of truth man has. This is indeed very very tragic.
It is aggravating when they fail to listen, but then we must remember, they cannot recieve the truth unless it is granted from on High.
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It is hard to say that the Catholic Church is man-made when it in fact instituted by Christ himself when he put Peter in charge of the keys toHeaven. Of course at the time it was not called the Catholic Church but was the ONLY game in town. It would later get named when schisms began. So in the end, all men are flawed thus making all Churches flawed where men come into play. That detracts nothing from the perfection of the institution began by Christ’s offering of his body and blood. The Universal Church continues the apostalic succession from Peter and thus can be only considered the original. In the end why would anyone choose not to consume the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ when it is such a blessed Sacrament. People can argue theology all day long but we will never know for sure until we meet our end time. So until them I am attending Mass, worshipping the one triune God and participating in the holy Sacraments. Don’t sweat the man -made stuff.
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Jim – The “Catholic” church spoken about in the early first centuries was not the “Roman” church; rather it was the universal church. A brief survey of the history of the church will confirm this.
Secondly, the “all Churches [are] flawed” argument holds no water for if this is your premise than you must welcome into your communion the Mormons, JWs and Universalists. More importantly, you will not find Jesus nor the apostles using your argumentation. Simply study the book of Galatians as a starter and read Matthew 7 to learn about the folks who did not “…sweat the man-made stuff.”
Finally, the cannibalistic doctrine of Roman Catholicism is an absolute blasphemous disgrace to the Son of God who sits on the right hand of God and will come back to earth as the sun shinneth from the east unto the west. He is not some alter boy beckon to some priest who believes he has the power to COMMAND Jesus to leave heaven and allow himself to be immolated on the Roman alter.
As far as eating flesh and drinking blood, you are terribly deceived. All you are eating is flour and water which every cell in your body will testify to regardless of what you have been taught to unquestionably accept from youth. The cup – well; the vast majority of Catholics do not drink from it as I know well from my many years in Rome. Is this not true? Hence, a direct command is being broken. And for those who do partake, all they are drinking is wine mixed with water.
The command to you is to repent, believe the TRUE gospel and accept Jesus Christ as your sole means of being made the righteousness of God in him and not your sacramental fidelity.
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Of course at the time it was not called the Catholic Church but was the ONLY game in town. It would later get named when schisms began.
Brother Michael is correct in his assertion that The “Catholic” church spoken about in the early first centuries was not the “Roman” church; rather it was the universal church. A brief survey of the history of the church will confirm this.
You can read more about it here.
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There may be a good argument that the first pope was not Peter but Nimrod. It was he that was the driving force (humanly speaking ) behind Babel…this is where man’s desire to settle down ,build a tower and make a name for themselves with a religious activity first manifested. The history of the roman church demonstrates this political power in the name of religion well .Unfortunately the spirit of Babel is alive and well in many protestant/evangelical churches as well
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Interesting parallel, Glenn.
The tower of Babel certainly served at least two functions:
1) represent man’s attempt to ‘reach’ (read: ‘usurp’) God, and
2) serve as the ultimate symbol of man’s ‘potential’.
With the tower of Babel, man was – again – in rebellion to God’s command, attempting to throw His yoke off:
“1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.'” (Genesis 9:1)
I notice, though, that God’s response seems directed at man’s desire to dominate both politically and spiritually:
“5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 6 And the LORD said, ‘Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.'” (Genesis 11:5-6)
As a political leader (and yes religious too), I think that Nimrod was more of a foreshadow of ‘Anti-Christ’, trying to usurp God’s authority…
That being said, world domination (whether political or ‘religious’) has always been the goal of fallen man. And in that regard Nimrod and the pope certainly fall in lock-step.
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The post Was The Apostle Peter the First Pope? gives 17 reason (that have yet to be challenged by a Roman Catholic) why Peter was NOT the first pope.
I trust it will help answer some misconceptions.
– The Pilgrim
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Bro. Michael, Glenn:
Have you ever read the book “Two Babylons” by Alexander Hislop? It is an exhaustive examination of the parallels between Roman Catholic paganism and the Babylonian worship of Nimrod/Bel/Baal and his mother Semiramis. The parallels between Babylonian worship of son and mother are strikingly similar to the Romish system.
I read it a few years ago. It only took me about a year and half to get through. Seriously. If you ever do read it, take your time because it was written back in the 1800’s by a British scholar who wrote a level many can only aspire to.
I can’t say as I necessarily agree with all of his assertions, but overall, very comprehensive and exhaustive work.
You can read it online here.
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Hi Fourpointer – I have read parts of it and actually recently made a mental note that I have to read it all the way through. I am in total agreement w/ the basic premise (i.e. Romanism = Mystery Babylon) as I have come to the same conclusion per my studies.
Thanks for the suggestion and I’ll need to get to reading it soon.
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Thanks Fourpointer for the link. I will be inerested to read this info. Just some other observations concerning tower of Babel etc. A few chapters after the Babel incident, Jacob has a dream of a ladder reaching to Heaven Gen 28. Some noticeable similarities and distinctions between the two events
The tower apparently was a stepped pyramid. A stone “ladder”
The tower was an attempt to link earth and heaven. The ladder was a link between earth and heaven.
The tower was mans attempt to reach Heaven from the earth up.
The ladder was Gods provision from Heaven down.
The tower is human / demonically empowered religion
The ladder is Divinely empowered reconciliation. Jesus is of course the fulfillment of Jacobs ladder.
Man called Babel the gate of God, God declared it confusion.
Jacob called the place of the dream the gate of heaven v17 and named it Bethel the house of God a place of divine revelation.
Just some thoughts.
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