I still find it a blatant disregard for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ that we should seek to be in a co-belligerency of any sort with anyone except in the first cause, and ultimacy of our responsibility as Christians, that being the spread of the gospel. Also, if this is done it ought to be with those who share our common faith. The gospel is always at stake when there is the unequally yoking of ourselves with unbelievers (II Corinthians 6:14).
We are not brothers and sister with unbelievers in Jesus Christ!! The kind of talk and those kind of statements such as: "we are brothers and sister" and “we must learn to live as brothers and sisters, or die together as fools” are not true or biblical. I just see the fact that the Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs, as well as any other followers of the religions of this world are going to in their system of belief – do what they will to reach or proselytize converts to their system. So we as Christians and followers of Jesus Christ are within the system He has handed down in Scripture, to share the gospel with unbelievers that they might come to know HIM as the one true Lord and Saviour of all. These other religions do not share that sentiment. More so in the fact that they exist apart from any desire to surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord.
Ecumenism is becoming more and more a deception that is leading to the destruction of the message the Church of Jesus Christ has. It is my conviction that we should in the system that Jesus Christ has laid down in His Word; reach the masses of humanity with the liberating truth of the Gospel. After all that is what the other religious groups are going to do anyway within their own system. They and their beliefs are diametrically opposed to Biblical Christianity either way. Let them do what they are going to do, and we should do what we are going to do to reach humanity. But I don’t see that there is any need to lay down our standards and think that they are going to do the same and we should just throw our arms around them and their system and think that it will all work out.
The Apostle Paul warns us of this kind of strategy in Romans 16:17-18, “(17) I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. (18) For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people (NIV).”
Again in II Corinthians 11:12-15 he says, “(12) And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. (13) For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. (14) And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (15) So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds (ESV).”
So for me to be a fellow worker with such things that are contrary to Scripture and conscience is a sin and I cannot go against either.
