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WHY UNITY AT THE EXPENSE OF DOCTRINE?
by Alan Yusko

2 Cor 6
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

Today we have a great ecumenical movement. That movement is away from sound Biblical doctrine and toward Roman Catholicism. All the liberal and lost religions are slowly migrating toward the Pope in these last days. Unity is proclaimed as a good thing. However, unity at the expense of Biblical truth is deadly. The Bible clearly teaches separation from the saved and the lost. Yes, we want to preach the Gospel and see the lost become saved! But this does not include throwing away Biblical sound doctrine and uniting with the lost in some kind of doctrine rejecting unity.

LOOKING AT SOME DOCTRINES

Since the trend for ecumenicism is toward uniting with Roman Catholicism, we will have a look at some of their doctrines. We are living in days when heavy dialogue is open between liberal and apostate churches and Romanism.

Romanism claims to be a Christian church so lets see what they teach in their own Catechism and how that compares with what the Bible teaches.

THE MASS

The mass is not just another ceremony done by Christians. Instead, it is a bloodless re-sacrifice of the Lord according to Catholicism.

We will be using the following Catechism book: Introduction from John Paul II Given October 11, 1992, the thirtieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, in the fourteenth year of my Pontificate.

The Mass Is A Re-Sacrifice Of Christ (1414) As sacrifice, the Eucharist is also offered in reparation for the sins of the living and the dead and to obtain spiritual or temporal benefits from God. (Page 395)

(1365) Because it is the memorial of Christ's Passover, the Eucharist is also a sacrifice. The sacrificial character of the Eucharist is manifested in the very words of institution: "This is my body which is given for you" and "This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my blood." In the Eucharist Christ gives us the VERY body which he gave up for us on the cross, the VERY blood which he "poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Page 380)

(1367) The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice: "The victim is one and the SAME: the SAME now offers through the ministry of priest, who then offered himself on the cross; only the manner of offering is different." "In this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the SAME Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross IS CONTAINED and offered in an unbloody manner." (Page 381)

The above is very interesting. According to Catholicism the mass is a time when Jesus comes down from heaven and dies again on a Roman altar for the sins of the people. The teaching is very clear from the Catechism book. Next, lets ask the question, does this line up with what the Bible teaches? Here are several Bible verses which answer that question:

Heb 10
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Notice verse 12. 'one sacrifice for sins for ever'. Now, does that sound like Jesus is being sacrificed again and again and again in a Roman mass?

Heb 7
27: Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

In verse 27 we read '...for this he did once...'. There is that 'once' word again. That means one-time does it.

Heb 9
24: For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26: For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Verse 25 says 'Nor yet that he should offer himself often....' which indicates that one-time will be sufficient. Next in verse 26 and 28 is that 'once' word again. I think it is pretty clear in the Bible that the ONE sacrifice was sufficient. There is no need for Jesus to die again and again and again on a Roman altar in every mass.

Contrary to Catholicism, the Bible says the sacrifice the Lord Jesus made on the cross was sufficient. His ONE sacrifice forever settled payment for sin. No works, priests, popery, sacraments, or purgatory is needed. The blood of Jesus cleanses from ALL sin....period!

1 John 1
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

DOCTRINE OF PURGATORY (purging ones own sins after death)

Romanism teaches when a person dies all his un-paid for sins must be paid for. To do this the person must go to a place they made up called purgatory. In purgatory the person suffers in fire in payment for his own sins. Once purified, the person can then enter heaven. Here is this heretical teaching right out of their Catechism book:

(1030) All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation, but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. (Page 291)

Along with the heresy of purgatory comes the Roman doctrine of indulgences. What is an indulgence? Well it is money paid or some service designed to get 'time off' out of purgatory. The idea is that if a person gets enough indulgences he will greatly shorten his time suffering in purgatory. So, for example, a person would spend 400 years suffering in purgatory. With an indulgence he would believe that 50 or so years could be removed from his 'stay' in purgatory. Indulgences is sort-of-a get out of jail quicker type of thing. We will look at the heresy of indulgences in the next section.

According to the Bible there is no such thing a purgatory. A person is either saved or a person is forever lost. For the saved the blood of Jesus cleanses from ALL sins. After death there is no further cleansing needed as what the Lord Jesus did on the cross was sufficient to pay the complete penalty for sin.

John 3
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

1 John 5
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

INDULGENCES (time off from purgatory)

(1471) The doctrine and practice of indulgences in the Church are closely linked to the effects of the sacrament of Penance.

What is an indulgence? "An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints."

"An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin." Indulgences may be applied to the living or the dead. (Page 411)

(1478) An indulgence is obtained through the Church who, by virtue of the power of binding and loosing granted her by Christ Jesus, intervenes in favor of individual Christians and opens for them the treasury of the merits of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of mercies the remission of the punishments due for their sins. Thus the Church does not want simply to come to the aid of these Christians, but also to spur them to works of devotion, penance, and charity. (Page 413)

(1479) Since the faithful departed now being purified are also members of the same communion of saints, one way we can help them is to obtain indulgences for them, so that the temporal punishments due for their sins may be remitted. (Page 413)

Note... As previously covered, an indulgence is used to reduce the time suffering and paying for ones own sins in purgatory. An indulgence is a big money earner for the church. You see the more indulgences a person buys, the shorter time spent in purgatory. An indulgence can also be bought for dead loved ones with the same purgatory shortening goal.

1 Timothy 4
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

SALVATION COMES THROUGH BAPTISM

Romanism is very big on baptizing babies. They teach that the act of baptism causes all sins to be forgiven. See the quote:

(1263) By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin. In those who have been reborn nothing remains that would impede their entry into the Kingdom of God, neither Adam's sin, nor personal sin, nor the consequences of sin, the gravest of which is separation from God. (Page 353)

However, of course after baptism a person still sins. For that the Roman church has confession to a priest, sacraments to merit favor with God, and after death there is purgatory.

The Bible shows another way for a person to be saved.... quote Jn 14:6 acts 4:12

PENANCE NECESSARY FOR SALVATION

(980) It is through the sacrament of Penance that the baptized can be reconciled with God and with the Church:

"Penance has rightly been called by the holy Fathers 'a laborious kind of baptism.' This sacrament of Penance is necessary for salvation for those who have fallen after Baptism, just as Baptism is necessary for salvation for those who have not yet been reborn" (Page 278)

What is penance? Well after a good Catholic goes into the confession booth and confesses his sins to a priest, he is given some kind of penance. This penance can be simply saying 5 hail Mary's and 5 Our Father's, or it may be something more. The priest dishes out penance tasks at his disgression. A person after confession then goes and does his penance and that somehow causes all his sins to be forgiven.

Again this is a direct denial of the finished work of the Lord Jesus on the cross and the cleansing power of the Blood.

MARY-IDOLTRY (A SINLESS CO-REDEEMER WITH CHRIST)

The following is what the Roman church teaches about Mary:

(491) Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854.

(494) At the announcement that she would give birth to "the Son of the Most High" without knowing man, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary responded with the obedience of faith, certain that "with God nothing will be impossible": "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word." Thus, giving her consent to God's word, Mary becomes the mother of Jesus, Espousing the divine will for salvation wholeheartedly, without a SINGLE SIN to restrain her, she gave herself entirely to the person and to the work of her Son; she did so in order to save the mystery of redemption with him and dependent on him, by God's grace:

(966) "Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death." The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son's Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians.

(508) From among the descendants of Eve, God chose the Virgin Mary to be the mother of his Son. "Full of grace," Mary is "the most excellent fruit of redemption" (SC 103): from the first instant of her conception, she was totally preserved from the stain of original sin and she remained pure from all personal sin throughout her life. (Page 142)

(964) Mary's role in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it. "This union of the mother with the Son in the work of salvation is made manifest from the time of Christ's virginal conception up to his death"; it is made manifest above all at the hour of his Passion:

(969) "This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this SAVING OFFICE but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us gifts of eternal salvation. . . . Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix." (Page 275)

Above is what Romanism teaches and it paints quite a non-Biblical picture! The following demonic and heretical claims are made:
- Mary is sinless from conception and remained sinless throughout her life
- Mary is co-redeemer with Jesus
- Mary was taken bodily up to heaven and made Queen of all things
- Mary assists in the work of salvation. She brings people gifts of salvation
- Mary can be prayed to
- Mary is our advocate before God

Mary is literally another path to God and another way to be saved apart from Jesus. However, the Bible presents another picture. Jesus is the only way to be saved and He is the only Saviour:

John 14
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Acts 4
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Next, Mary is a sinner just like everyone else. She was not born free from sin and she did not remain sinless throughout her life.

Rom 3
23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Luke 1
46: And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47: And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Romans clearly says that ALL have sinned. All includes Mary! Also notice that Mary calls God... her Saviour in Luke 1:47. Only sinners call God their Saviour!

The Bible is very clear that all are sinners. There are no exceptions. We have all sinned before God and this includes Mary.

Finally we have a mediator between God and man. It is NOT Mary.. it is the Lord Jesus Christ!

1 Tim 2
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

I personally do not see Mary in the above verse. The Bible is very clear that Jesus is our mediator.

Heb 9
24: For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

1 John 2
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Jesus is the advocate with the Father, not Mary. What more can be said? According to the Bible Mary is a sinner who needs the Lord Jesus as her Saviour just like everyone else. She is not a mediator before God, she is not an object of worship or prayer. She is just a lady in the correct family line who God used when He became a man (Jesus). She certainly is not the 'mother of God' or the 'queen of heaven'.

This is very sad. I have seen people so obsessed with Mary and Mary-worship that they do not want anything to do with the Lord Jesus. Mary is everything to them. She is their Saviour, their object of prayer, and their mediator to God. I remember witnessing to a elderly person terribly devoted to Mary. She even wore Mary jewelry on her underwear and clothes. The hope is if a person dies with this jewelry on then it greatly reduces time in purgatory as Mary will intercede on the person's behalf. What a sad deception. At any rate this person was told that she needed Jesus as her Saviour as He is the only one who can save and forgive sins. Her reaction was anger. She said that she didn't want anything to do with Jesus and that she will stick with Mary.... period.... end of story... end of discussion! It is also interesting to note that about one month later she had a fall in her tub. She was taken to the hospital with a broken hip. In the hospital she developed respiratory problems and died quite suddenly. Well, she is now in eternity with her 'Mary' and now she now knows that the Mary she worshipped was nothing but a demon and a satanic deception to keep her away from the only Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Quite an eternal price to pay for Mary worship!

People who whore-ship (worship) Mary are lost and on their way to hell. Jesus is the only Saviour and Mary is nothing more than one of the many pathways to hell. This is the devil's goal. His plan is to get as many people into hell as possible. This is done by getting them to reject Jesus as their only Saviour and Lord. Some follow Mohammed or Buddah. The devil likes to see that as they will perish in their sins. Others follow the deception called Mary worship. Instead of Jesus they trust in Mary for their salvation. They too will perish in their sins as Mary has nothing to do with salvation and eternal life. The Lord Jesus is the only Saviour and the only way a person may be saved! Don't let the devil deceive YOU with his counterfeit plan of salvation. The end result is the lake of fire and separation from God for all eternity.

Proverbs 14
12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

CONCLUSION

Roman Catholicism presents another gospel and another way to be saved than is found in the Bible. It is a works-based, sacramental form of salvation that denies the finished work of the Lord Jesus on the Cross. The Bible gives severe warnings for those who teach and embrace another gospel:

Gal 1
6: I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8: But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9: As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

So why would any 'Christian' church want to unite with Romanism as fellow Christians? It really does not make any sense. When you see men reject foundational doctrines to unite with a works based sacramental religion then warning bells should be going off. It may be time to move elsewhere in search of a church and a pastor who still loves the Lord and who is committed to sound doctrine. People who embrace Romanism need to be given the Gospel. They are lost following a works based, man-made gospel. Rather than uniting with them as 'brothers' we should be giving them the saving Gospel of the Lord Jesus and His free gift of salvation and eternal life.

Remember uniting at the expense of sound doctrine is a rejection of Gods truth. If a person or church is committed to the truth then they will not seek to unite with a false gospel. In reality this is very dishonoring to God and it would show the lack of love for the Lord by an individual or a church. People have to make a choice in these last days. Are they on Gods side or the devils?

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