New Leader Same Religion

The Wake-up Herald

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans 13:11-14

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Robert McCurry, Editor & Publisher
March 18, 2013
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New Leader Same Religion

by Robert McCurry

With excerpts from March 14, 2013 Christiannews.net

On July 10, 2007 Pope Benedict XVI reasserted the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, approving a document that says other Christian communities either are defective, or not true churches, and that Catholicism provides the only true path to salvation.

The document reasserted that the Roman Catholic Church is the only true church of Jesus Christ. It describes Orthodox Churches as wounded because they do not recognize the primacy of the Pope and says "it is difficult to see how the title of 'Church' could be possibly be attributed" to Protestant denominations.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said it was issuing the new document because some contemporary theological interpretations of the 1962-65 Second Vatican Council's ecumenical intent had been "erroneous or ambiguous" and had prompted confusion and doubt.

"Christ established here on earth only one church," the document states. The other communities "cannot be called 'churches' in the proper sense" because “they do not have apostolic succession - the ability to trace their bishops back to Christ's original apostles.”

On March 13, 2013 the conclave in Rome elected the first Jesuit Pope to power, the move has turned the spotlight on the order of the Jesuits, and how the new Pope may usher in the “new evangelization” of Christians and the world at large.

The History of the Jesuits

The Society of Jesus, which later became known simply as the Jesuits, was founded in 1534 by Ignatius Loyola, a Spaniard like Pope Francis. The mission of the organization was to spread Roman Catholicism throughout the world, and to protect the power of the Pope and the practices of Roman Catholicism from the Protestant Reformation, so that the Pope may remain God’s authority on the earth.

“That we may be altogether of the same mind and in conformity, …. if [the Church] shall have defined anything to be black which to our eyes appears to be white, we ought in like manner to pronounce it to be black,” Loyola wrote in Rules for Thinking with the Church.

The Protestant Reformation, which resulted in the counter-Reformation by the Jesuits, was sparked by a monk and scholar named Martin Luther, who served the Roman Catholic Church in Wittenburg, Germany. As Luther began studying the Scriptures after he was appointed to a Chair of Biblical Theology, he became consumed with a passion to discover what it meant to be a Christian. In the Catholic Church, he had seen men trying to earn their way to Heaven, but as he read the Bible, he realized that salvation was through faith in Christ alone.

“I think I’ve found the truth at last,” the classic film Martin Luther depicts Luther as stating to a Church official. “By faith man lives and is righteous, not by what he does for himself, be it adoration of relics, singing of masses, pilgrimages to Rome, purchase of pardon for his sins, but by faith in what God has done for him already through His Son.”

Following the revelation, Luther began to challenge the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, compiling a list of 95 thesis where he asserted that Catholic doctrine contradicted the Scriptures. He was later summoned to appear before a meeting of the Church, and was declared a heretic and excommunicated.

As Luther began to spread the Gospel throughout Germany, and others joined in to take the Scriptures to the uttermost parts of the earth, decrying Catholic doctrine, the order of the Jesuits was also formed to spread Roman Catholicism. It soon became an effort to stop Protestantism and to take the world by storm for the Catholic Church.

“As the object of the society was the propagation and strengthening of the Catholic faith everywhere, the Jesuits naturally endeavored to counteract the spread of Protestantism,” the Catholic Encyclopedia outlines. “They became the main instruments of the Counter-Reformation; the re-conquest of southern and western Germany and Austria for the Church, and the preservation of the Catholic faith in France and other countries were due chiefly to their exertions.”

Loyola later composed the Jesuit constitution, outlining the laws, mindsets and behaviors that Jesuits are to follow, namely putting the pope first in all things. The nations that Jesuits converted were required to likewise submit to the authority of the Roman Catholic Church.

Jesuits in Modern Times

While the Jesuits are [allegedly] no longer seen as the army that they once were, their influence remains throughout the world, including through the educational system, which trains devout Catholics to infiltrate all of society by giving them the skills to work in a variety of fields.

The Jesuits also continue to be a highly evangelistic and missional sect that some believe are secretly pervasive in their spread of Catholicism. Many Catholic missionaries are sent throughout the world to convert the masses to the religion, and there remains contention with Protestantism as the Roman Catholic Church is referred to by some as the “only true Church.”

Barack Obama regarding Bergoglio’s appointment

On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I offer our warm wishes to His Holiness Pope Francis as he ascends to the Chair of Saint Peter and begins his papacy,” he wrote. “Just as I appreciated our work with Pope Benedict XVI, I look forward to working with His Holiness to advance peace, security and dignity for our fellow human beings, regardless of their faith. We join with people around the world in offering our prayers for the Holy Father as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church in our modern world.”

While it is unknown as to exactly how Bergoglio’s identification as a Jesuit will play out in his role as Pope, his first speech to the people subtly referenced his Jesuit leanings.

“First and foremost, I would like to pray for our emeritus Pope Benedict XVI that Christ and the Madonna watch over him,” he stated, and again remarking, “Tomorrow, I want to go pray to the Madonna that she may protect Rome.”

According to reports, Jesuits refer to the virgin Mary as Madonna Della Strada.

Because of Bergoglio’s emphasis on Mary in his first speech, and making prayer to the Madonna one of his first acts as pope, some state that it is possible that he may seek to make Mary co-redemptrix as Pope John Paul II once did. The move would thus recognize Mary as a part of the redemption of mankind.

“The revered Mother of God, … joined … with Jesus Christ in one and the same decree of predestination … as the noble associate of the divine Redeemer,” Pope Pius XII once stated.

“He may resurface that attempt,” Mike Gendron of Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries told Christian News Network. “If he goes this route and makes her co-redemptrix, it would be unprecedented.”

Dr. Terrence Tilley of Fordham University’s Department of Theology states that Bergoglio’s selection of the name “Pope Francis” might be telling.

“We don’t know what it means, but it certainly is the name of St. Francis of Assisi and Francis Xavier (the co-founder of the order of the Jesuits), both of whom were missionaries,” he said. “I think that makes a big difference and suggests that he is going to be strong for the new evangelization.”

Gendron agreed.

“The goal of every Pope has been to make the entire world Catholic,” he stated. “They’re into world dominion. … Their eschatology is that Jesus won’t return until the world is Roman Catholic.”

Already, some Protestants are embracing the Roman Catholic Church and the appointment of the new Pope. As previously reported, Rick Warren, author of the best-selling book The Purpose-Driven Life and globally influential megachurch leader, was enthusiastic about the election of the new Pope. Warren called for fasting and prayer this week for the cardinals that would be voting on the matter. After Bergoglio was appointed as successor, Warren Tweeted to his over 900,000 followers, “Welcome Pope Francis, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. You have our prayers.” He included the hashtag “habemus papum,” meaning “We have a pope!”

“No, Mr. Warren. Christians don’t have a Pope,” remarked one reader. “YOU might have a Pope, Mr. Warren, but followers of Jesus Christ do not!”

John Piper: “O Lord of truth and mercy put in place a Pope willing to reform the Catholic Church in accord with your most holy word.”

Sara Palin: “God bless Pope Francis – a good humble servant of God from the New World.”

Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals: "Around the world, there are millions of people who don't grasp the differences between Protestants and Catholics," he said. "To them, Christians are Christians and the Pope speaks for Christians."

Many evangelicals have also been joining together with Roman Catholics in efforts such as 40 Days for Life, The Manhattan Declaration and the March for Life. Vatican-instituted holidays such as Lent are also increasingly being observed by Protestant churches nationwide, as well as other days marked on the liturgical calendar.

Wake-up, Pastors! Wake-up, Christians!

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The Wake-Up Herald is published by Robert McCurry. The publication is designed to exalt the true God of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ, and inform, inspire, and challenge its readers regarding biblical truth and real-life issues. The contents are the sole responsibility of Robert McCurry and do not represent or speak for or on behalf of any other person or group. There is no subscription charge. The publication is a ministry of faith dependent on the contributions of its readers. Contributions are not tax-deductible. Send all correspondence to: Robert McCurry, 605 Moore Rd, Newnan, GA 30263 or herbap@aol.com Remove? Send reply with “remove” in Subject line