Love is not Enough!!

"And the world will be as one." -- "Love is all you need." -- John Lennon 

That seemed to be the theme of an ecumenical gathering of clergy I attended as an observer this week in Virginia Beach, Virginia. This small group of Catholics and Protestants grabbed onto their misunderstanding of the high priestly prayer of Jesus:

"And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." - John 17:22-23 

Back up a few verses to see how the world would recognize true believers as they speak with one voice:

“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." John 17:16-17

"Truth divides; love unites," these churchmen would retort.

The false unity these churchmen seek is a merger of institutional religion who seek power in numbers in order to participate with and change this world. Their feet are firmly established in the world and they use worldly means to accomplish their goal of establishing the kingdom without the King.

But the truth of the matter is that we born-again believers are already one. We speak with one voice the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the world hates us for doing so. We proclaim the soon return of the LORD Jesus Christ who will establish His visible Kingdom on earth after He pours out His wrath upon those who hate Him. We warn the world of the judgment to come and tell them to turn and repent before it's too late. For that - - these ecumenical churchmen scoff at us.

When the true church, made up of all born-again believers no matter what church they attend, is taken up in the rapture of the saints, the ecumenical movement will be successful and have their unification and influence in this world. But she will not be the Bride of Christ, but the Great Whore.

Even so LORD, come!

"For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you." - 1 Cor 11:19

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish... I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live." Dt. 30:15-19