Finding the Ecumenist Christ
How easy it is, without a proper True Orthodox understanding, to fall victim to the charismatic revival spirit – the spirit of Francis of Assisi. The following story caught our attention and we believe it is important to make a few remarks around it, because it is characteristic even to mainstream Orthodoxy nowadays. The shepherds that should be vigilant in defending their flocks from such influences, not only that do not recognize these dangerous trends but even encourage them.
http://www.wnd.com/2014/05/muslim-finds-jesus-during-pilgrimage-to-mecca/
The poor Muslim man at the center of the story is described of having an epiphany while visiting Mecca, in which he allegedly found Jesus and converted to Christianity without hesitation, and doing so without even ever questioning whether the vision he had was from Christ in the first place. How carefully our Holy Fathers have always warned us of the dangers of this kind of acceptance without questioning. But this should not be surprising at all as this is the very same trap laid for a long time before the heresies of the West.
He states: “I see it part of my mission to help re-unite the children of Isaac and Ishmael. We have a very important ministry – to reconcile the world” – the very same message as behind “The Bible” series:
http://orthodoxaustralia.org/2013/03/16/the-bible-in-hollywood-interpretation/
What is important to underline is that one of the main characteristics of this spirit is making someone wish to immediately start preaching to the world the knowledge of God that one thinks he/she acquired just as a result of this charismatic experience, and amongst other things, preach peace and unity amongst different confessions, or otherwise called ecumenism. In the instance of accepting this spirit without questioning, there is generally no period of repentance, which in Orthodoxy may take years, decades, or, as in most instances, a lifetime, once one truly starts to see his/her own real spiritual fallen state.
Orthodoxy teaches that a genuine spiritual awakening is unmistakeably accompanied by starting to see one’s true corrupt spiritual makeup and realizing the many spiritual shortcomings one may have, which in turn materializes by leading him/her to focusing almost exclusively on fixing them up first and foremost. What a different world we would have today if everyone would be preoccupied primarily with fixing their own ways up as a start.
What is important to say about the kind of “Christ” found as a result of such a charismatic experience is that he is seen as a Christ that would bring about universal peace and justice, in direct contrast with the real Christ of Orthodoxy. The Orthodox Christ made it clear that He did not come to unite, but rather call the righteous to the knowledge of Truth. We showed in other articles that the True Church was never meant to be a global Church, but rather one that preserves the Truth which is to be accomplished with many sacrifices, for our Lord Himself said “think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34).
On this subject, many Holy Fathers of Orthodoxy wrote, including St Macarius Of Optina, who’s writings we strongly recommend:
Let us therefore beware of this spirit that is not of Christ. If we can so easily accept any vision as being from Christ, how easy will it be to accept the final deception being readied for the mankind – the antichrist?
