The World Council of Churches, an ecumenical organization that represents many of the mainstream "Christian" sects, is seeking to approve a "code of conduct" by which member churches will adhere to when seeking converts. For the first time, Evangelical and Pentecostal churches will be involved in helping to draft the agreement. Members of the WCC held a consultation with representatives of the Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish and Yoruba religions, during which they issued a joint statement, that "freedom of religion was a non-negotiable right of every human being". 

Quote: "WCC officials say the code should help ease relations with other faiths, especially with Islamic leaders who regard individual Muslims who convert as apostates. In some countries, these face the death penalty if they do not recant. Individual Muslim groups regard missionaries -- or even suspected missionaries -- of other religions as "enemies of the true faith" and sometimes take extreme measures against them. The Taliban in Afghanistan have accused the 23 South Koreans they captured last month, two of whom they have since killed, of coming to the country to spread Christianity in a devoutly Muslim land. 

But when it comes to Muslims, Jews and Hindus, freedom to "choose one's religion" and freedom to "make disciples of all nations" are two completely different things. Israel still has strict anti-proselytising laws, Christian missionaries that proclaim the Gospel are persecuted by anti-missionaries, and Jewish families often disown relatives that become Christians. Christians are very much persecuted by Hindus in India, and as we have seen before, a Muslim that becomes a Christian faces extreme persecution and quite often death at the hands of their tormentors. But the WCC is seeking to "ease relations" with other religions, by adhering to some code that will likely hinder the preaching of the Gospel. And it's easy to see how big denominations wrapped up in the ecumenical movement will comply. Already a "bloodless Gospel" is being preached from many pulpits across the world. In the name of good relations with the people, some pastors are prepared to tickle the ears of their congregation so as not to cause offence - even so far as publicly denying Acts 4:12, "neither is there salvation in any other". I'm not a preacher, and how I wish I was bold in my God to be able to witness better for Him. I'm a complete failure, and I hope and pray that God would somehow be able to use me for His glory. But I pray that God would save us from this generation of vipers, and that we would get back to preaching the true Gospel, and stop being ashamed of our Saviour. The disciples were warned by the religious leaders of the day to stop preaching in this Name, and even though they were beaten and thrown into prison, the next day they were back in the Temple preaching Yeshua.

Acts 5:27-31 
And when they had brought them, they set [them] before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

It's the same today. The Name of Jesus Christ is being blotted out of the Congress, the military, and many other public spheres of life. You can pray in Buddha's name, Allah or any other name, except the name of Jesus. God help us to be zealous for the Name of Jesus.

Source Reuters

The United Methodist Committee on Relief, or UMCOR, recently announced a partnership with Muslim Aid, a British-based relief organization. The Muslim group is very clear about its Islamic mission -- and on its website there are numerous references to the Koran and to Allah, says Mark Tooley with the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD).

Just days after Pope Ratzinger revived the use of the Latin in mass liturgy, the Vatican has once again stunned Christendom by reasserting the dogma that the Catholic Church is the "one true Church", and that all other "denominations" are not.

Quote: "A 16-page document by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which Pope Benedict once headed, described Christian Orthodox churches as true churches, but suffering from a "wound" since they do not recognise the primacy of Pope. But the document said the "wound is still more profound" in Protestant denominations. "Despite the fact that this teaching has created no little distress... it is nevertheless difficult to see how the title of 'Church' could possibly be attributed to them," it said.

The Catholic Church claims apostolic succession from Peter, who was supposedly the first Pope, and that it is the Church Christ spoke of in Matthew 16:18. But the Catholic Church misinterprets Christ's words to Peter when He said "upon this Rock I will build my Church", assuming that Christ meant "upon Peter". The Lord Himself surnamed Simon "Peter", which means a "stone". The Lord was using wordplay when He said "upon this Rock" He would build His Church. Throughout the Scriptures Christ is spoken of as the Rock, and I don't think His Church could ever be founded on anything else.

Deuteronomy 32:3-4
Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

There is no Scriptural evidence that Peter was ever Bishop of Rome. In fact, Galatians 2:8 states that his ministry was to the Jews, not to the Gentiles. The Bible teaches that there is one true Church, who's Head is Jesus Christ. 

Colossians 1:17-18
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence.

And members of all denominations, religions and races belong to this Church when they accept by faith Christ's sacrifice on the cross for our sins. I say "religions", not that I advocate people should remain in idolatry, but that there are many people who believe in Christ who have not the privilege of showing it openly. Many Muslims believe in Christ but may not be able to gather with other Christians in a public way. Likewise I know of Catholics that are truly born again by God's Spirit, but have not come out of the Catholic Church. They feel they need to remain there in order to be witnesses to others of God's salvation. 

Sadly what the Catholic Church teaches is unscriptural and blasphemous, and as we have seen recently, even in our own "Protestant" congregations things are not any better. As the Bible states, during the last days there shall come a great falling away from the truth (2nd Thessalonians 2:3), and men shall heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears (2nd Timothy 4:3-4). We don't need to look very far to see that. Though it may be the unpopular thing to do, it is up to us true believers in Jesus Christ to stand up for God's truth in these dark days.

Philippians 2:15-16
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Source Reuters

Americans’ confidence in organized religion and other institutions is down across the board compared to last year, a recent Gallup poll found.

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”
— 2Thessalonians 2:3