Last week I reported on Southern Baptist president, Ronnie Floyd, participating in the Onething Conference put on by the apostate IHOP (International House Of Prayer) Church, founded by New Apostolic Reformation “prophet” Mike Bickle. I even went out on a limb and speculated that he may be attempting to unite the Southern Baptist Convention with the organization, since he has a similar religious worldview with them. Just when I thought this rabbit hole couldn’t go any deeper, it has been brought to my attention that this event will be strongly pro-Roman Catholic.
It’s as though we Southern Baptists are in a twilight zone of sorts. Martin Luther, John Calvin–all the men who put their lives on the line, or martyred themselves to separate from Rome–these great Protestant men would be turning over in their graves. It’s bad enough that prominent SBC pastor Rick Warren, and ERLC leader Russell Moore took to the Vatican last year to participate in a largely political event backed by co-belligerence. I, along with most Protestants, strongly opposed that too, but that is small potatoes compared to this.
This large ecumenical conference taking place at the end of December, 2015, is largely geared toward young adults, and is touted as a gathering of worship and prayer–a “revival” of sorts to “encounter” Jesus. According to their website, this is their primary agenda:
Our primary aim is to encounter Jesus, so that we might go forth to do His works and change the world, until the fame of Jesus fills the earth.
Now, we already knew that Roman Catholic worship leader, Matt Maher, was going to be leading the music at the event. But what I didn’t know, until recently, is that the event will be holding a Catholic Track every afternoon at the event. According to their website, here’s what will happen during this time:
The Catholic Track will take place during the afternoon sessions for four days (Dec. 28-31) and it will include praise and worship, teaching and sharing plus ministry time, chanting Vespers and other forms of prayer. Daily Mass is available at 12:15pm across the street (one-minute walk) at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Mornings and evenings will be spent together with the other 20,000 young adults attending the conference through extended times of worship, teaching, and ministry.
Further, they say this about the Catholic Track, and it’s purpose:
We are excited to bring the teaching and experience of the Charismatic and Mystical aspects of Catholic spirituality so profoundly carried throughout centuries, as well as broad infusion of creative aspect of Holy Spirit’s inspiration in various free expressions of His charisms.
In this video put on by Major Change, the same group sponsoring the Catholic Track at the Onething Conference, they say “it’s not just in hearing the Gospel–that’s important–but it’s in the sacraments that we encounter Jesus.” Now notice in the tag-line of the Onething Conference that Ronnie Floyd is participating in, the primary aim is to “encounter Jesus.”
Now, I’m not exactly sure what is meant by “encountering” Jesus, and they never really say exactly what that means. However, we can infer based on the nature of both Roman Catholicism, as well as the apostate IHOP organization (as reported before) that this is purported to be some mystical, emotional high you get from motivational speaking, light shows and hyper-sensory worship music.
So what exactly is it going to take to wake up Southern Baptists and put a stop to this? There is something very odd about Reformed Christians supporting this guy, yet both Al Mohler and JD Greear have nominated him, and many others stand by him. Are Protestants still protesting or what? What fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14). The Scriptures exhorts us to take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, rather expose them (Eph 5:11), and for those who are, the Lord admonishes his people to come out, lest you be partakers in the sins of that harlot church (Revelation 18:4). The end draweth nigh (Luke 21:28), and the gate is wide that leads to destruction folks (Matthew 7:13). Which gate do you want to enter by?
[Contributed by Pulpit & Pen]
