Updated September 6, 2006 (first published September 15, 1996) (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) -

The ecumenical movements of our day claim that all those who “love Jesus” and “believe the gospel” should be able to fellowship and work together, but there is a serious problem with this philosophy. It ignores the fact that there are many false christs and false gospels. Almost 2,000 years ago the apostle Paul warned of this problem:

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him” (2 Corinthians 11:3,4).

The Corinthian church was careless and carnal and tolerant of error, and Paul was afraid that if false teachers came to them with “another spirit” and preached “another Jesus” or “another gospel,” they would put up with them instead of separating from them.

This is a perfect description of those who are involved with the modern ecumenical movement. Instead of testing everything carefully by the Word of God and plainly exposing false christs and false gospels, they glory in their tolerance and “unity in diversity.”

A perfect example of this is the March for Jesus rallies which are held annually and which seek to draw together all professing Christians for a united “testimony for Jesus.” Marty Klein, the national coordinator for March for Jesus in Canada in 1996, testified that Mormons were welcome to participate.

Alan Sharpe of Ottawa wrote to Klein on May 2, 1996, and asked, “I am interested in the March for Jesus. Can a devout Mormon who loves Jesus march in the march?”

Klein replied: “ALL are welcome to join us. However, we make it clear that this is a march FOR Jesus. It is not a protest--we are not promoting anything, but a person (Jesus) and we will not allow Christians or otherwise to parade their various causes.”

Sharpe wrote again on May 11 and asked for confirmation about Mormons participating in March for Jesus. He said: “If I want to call myself a good Mormon then I must believe what the elders teach, that Lucifer is Jesus’ brother, and that Jesus was a polygamist, and that His wives included Mary and Martha (the sisters of Lazarus) and Mary Magdalene. This is all orthodox Mormonism. ... Can a devout Mormon who believes these things but loves Jesus and wants to praise him still march in the March for Jesus?”

Klein replied: “NO ONE KNOWS what is going on in one’s heart except God and that person. Jesus told us if we believe on him and keep his commandments--if we have a personal encounter with him and KNOW we are indwelt by his Spirit then we ARE his children. IN ANY EVENT, I STILL MAINTAIN ----- ALL are welcome to join us. However, we make it clear that this is a march FOR Jesus. It is not a protest--we are not promoting anything, but a person (Jesus) and we will not allow Christians or otherwise to parade their various causes.” (emphasis in the original)

This statement demonstrates an incredible ignorance of the Word of God. Consider some of the false christs that are in the world today:

1. The Wafer Jesus who is worshipped in the Roman Catholic mass.

2. The Mormon Jesus who was a polygamist.

3. The Modernist Jesus who was not born of a virgin.

4. The Unitarian Jesus who was not God.

5. The Universalist Jesus who will not send anyone to Hell.

6. The Prosperity Jesus who was wealthy.

7. The Laughing Jesus who “slays” people with his spirit and causes them to laugh uncontrollably and to stagger like drunk men.

8. The Self-esteem Jesus who never called man a sinner and who came merely to build up his self image.

9. The Revolutionary Jesus who was the founder of Liberation Theology.

These are just a few of the false christs in the world today. Beware of those who refuse to expose false christs and false gospels. It is impossible to love the true Jesus without hating the false ones. Those who claim that God has called them to preach only a positive message and not to enter into theological controversy are greatly deceived.

“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. WHOSOEVER TRANSGRESSETH, AND ABIDETH NOT IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, HATH NOT GOD. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son” (2 John 7-9).

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort YOU THAT YE SHOULD EARNESTLY CONTEND FOR THE FAITH which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).