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Monday, February 22, 2016

Interfaith and Interdenominational Agreement and Disagreement



John R. Houk
© February 22, 2016


Yurki1000 left some comments to a post written by Shamim Masih on my NCCR blog. The Shamim submission was a celebration of an interfaith conference that took place in Pakistan. On a personal level I am not a fan of the concept of multiple faiths trying to seek harmonious agreement to celebrate the illusion different religious faiths can unify for world peace. In Shamim’s case he had joined with some Muslim leaders which undoubtedly produced hope at advancing the civil rights of Pakistani Christians that are treated as a subclass of human dhimmis (See HERE and HERE).


Pakistani Christians are treated as modern dhimmis even though Pakistan - as most Muslim nations - officially have abandoned the Pact of Umar (Mo’s first successor) rule of law demands of dhimmitude. Modern dhimmis in Muslim nations instead face a cultural discrimination in which the same ill-treatment comes the Christians’ way and the Muslim State unofficially ignores travesties of persecution including forced marriage, rapes, acts of torture, extra punishment for offending Islam-Allah-Mo, and so on.


Yurki1000 although expresses the same dislike for interfaith hypocrisy, he looks at the issue through the lens of denominational Christians - Numerous Protestant sects, Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and the various Eastern Rite Christians - that have similarities to Catholics and Eastern Orthodox faiths.


I believe I found something that I may disagree with Yurki1000 on a matter of faith. He sees inter-denominationational efforts as wrong as much as interfaith efforts are capable of defying their own tenets for world unity. His comments seem to me an indication of the belief Christians that disagree beyond the basics of dogma are heretical or false Christians.


The thing is all Christians that agree that Christ was Crucified and Resurrected that humankind can reconnect to God by the Blood of Jesus; that Jesus is the Son of God and and fully human in one nature as well as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three persons in ONE God are essentially in union even if aspects of dogma are at variance to a lesser or greater degree.


Yurki1000’s comments as such focus on the Word of Faith Christians as a false religion. On a personal level I gravitate toward believing the Word of God in the Bible are a lifestyle planned by God. Although there are many Word of Faith preachers and teachers that do disagree with each other on many minor issues, the legitimate ones practice the concept of “eat the hay and spit out the sticks” or “not throwing the baby out with the bathwater.”


Unfortunately due to the nature of trust involved with Word of Faith people there are charlatans that take advantage of those that trust and believe naively. Those poor Christians forget the Biblical axiom to compare the Word of God with the inward witness of the Holy Spirit that will lead a person to a verification or refutation of what is taught as Biblical. In particular Yurki’s comments on one of the Word of Faith leaders Kenneth Copeland as well as Pope Francis and an Episcopalian Bishop from South Africa.


The thing is there are truly good reasons to be critical of the Word of Faith movement at this present time. Too many Word of Faith leaders have strayed from its early message of faith to the excesses of materialism. I still believe God wants the Blood bought Body of Christ to prosper but the question is what is godly prosperity?


I believe there is a place in God’s plan for a person to have the blessings of ostentatious wealth; however I don’t believe every person in the family of God are a part of a plan to possess ostentatious wealth as a sign of God’s blessings of prosperity. The Word God makes that clear:


4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:


11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.


Unity and Diversity in One Body


12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into[a] one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.


15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?


20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.


27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. (1 Corinthians 12: 4-7, 11-27 NKJV)


I omitted the enumerated gifts of the Spirit that most Word of faith people like to examine to point out the analogy that not all point are anointed with Ministry gifts in the Body of Christ BUT all persons are gifted with a gift. And every person has a part in Christ’s Body whether rich or poor, slave or free, Greek (as in Gentile) or Jew. And that is the doctrinal problem of excess that many prosperity preachers have slid into. Yet it is my opinion this slide into error doesn’t make one a heretic unless they deny the nature and Redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Denying Christ and calling oneself a Christian is heresy. And this error by Prosperity Preachers does not make one a unsaved heretic but rather an error that needs prayer and forgiveness rather than condemnation. Ergo I won’t condemn the Copeland family or the Hagin family but rather spit out the sticks and keep the hay. For me that goes for the Protestant Denominations, the Papacy, the Eastern Orthodox the Eastern Rite Christians that do not deny Christ.


Nevertheless, Yurki does point out some sticks that need to be spit out and so read his comments with that in mind.


Links of Interest:






About Page; By Rich and Donna Vermillion; KennethCopelandBlog.com


JRH 2/22/16
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Interesting Comments on ‘World Interfaith Harmony Week – Feb 06, 2016
Thanks oneway2day :-)
I picked the video from the link you gave us.
Published on Dec 11, 2012
Get them filth out before they get us out…This is war wake up.
The link:
[Blog Editor: Here is an excerpt from SIOTW “About Islam” page:
Islam is NOT a religion of peace. By its nature Islam is radical, it has no shades.


Most people are simply unaware that Islam is NOT just another religion but a totalitarian political cult-like ideology, which compels its followers into blind obedience, teaches intolerance, brutality and locks all Muslims and non-Muslims in a struggle deriving directly from the 7th century nomadic, predatory, Bedouin culture.


Islam means “submission” to the will of Allah and the teachings as depicted in the Qur’an which include jihad – the genocidal slaughter of infidels by the sword, killing by beheading, intolerance of other religions, as well as forcing submission to Islam. The ultimate goal of jihad is the domination of Islam over the entire world.


In Islam, one is considered “moderate” if one supports the goals of jihad, if not the tactics. Those who totally reject the violent teachings of Islam are considered apostates of Islam and as such, are condemned to death. Moderate Muslims are peaceful “in spite of Islam,” not because of it. The “religion of peace” is a concept the West is eager to embrace – all in the name of political correctness – refusing to believe that a major world religion poses such a devastating threat to humanity.


This site is designed to show you the dark side of Islam, the REAL Islam that the West does not want you to see. The Islam that Western media refuse to show you. The Islam that is slowly but surely changing the West. You may feel uncomfortable looking at this site. You should. You will feel anger and disgust that our leaders do not understand Islam when it comes to the motives that drive our enemies to commit suicide for their ideology.


Look at the photos, watch the videos, most of which come right out of the Muslim world, a world that glorifies death and destruction of all that is not Islamic. Understand that elements of Sharia law are creeping into our daily lives under shelter of religious freedom. Listen and learn about the real Islam, then tell your family and friends.


Do not fear being labeled an ‘Islamophobe.’ Winston Churchill was once accused of being a ‘Naziphobe.’
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Posted by New Life Media
Published on Aug 13, 2015
TONY PALMER
– Anthony Joseph “Tony” Palmer (February 4, 1966 – July 20, 2014) was a British-born South African bishop with the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches, a communion of dioceses and ministries that are inspired by the “middle way” of classical Anglicanism and count themselves as part of the Convergence Movement. They were originally inspired by Bishop Lesslie Newbigin, a British theologian, missiologist, missionary and author. –
“HERESY PREACHER PRIEST TONY PALMER DEAD AFTER URGING CHRISTIANS TO UNITE WITH ROME”
– GOD APPEARS TO HAVE RELIEVED TONY PALMER OF HIS COMMAND
“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4 (KJV)
Just months after Anglican priest and personal friend to Pope Francis, Tony Palmer gave a rousing performance urging Christians to place themselves under the authority of the Roman Catholic system, he appears to have died suddenly in a motorcycle accident.
Tony Palmer had said that he was a “prophet in the spirit of Elijah”, and that his mission was to unite the Christian evangelical church with the Roman Catholic system. He declared “Martin Luther’s protest to be over”, and said that it was time for “Christians to come home to Rome”. Tony’s deluded vision of seeing Christians “coming home to Rome” will also die with him. –
– “Pope” Francis advised Tony Palmer NOT to Convert, ordered him buried as a Catholic Bishop!
The absurd circus that is the Jorge Bergoglio “Papacy” continues unabated. A very interesting article published by Austen Ivereigh in the Boston Globe on August 7, 2014, gives a lot of background information on the friendship between “Pope” Francis and the Anglican-Evangelical “Bishop” Tony Palmer, and casts the latter’s deadly motorcycle accident in an even more significant light: –
– On February 28 2014 (one year to the day of Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation) Bishop Tony Palmer released on the Ark Community website a video called ‘The Miracle of Unity Has Begun – Bishop Tony Palmer & Pope Francis’. We have decided to post the last seven minutes of the original thirty-two minute long monologue. Underneath the video we typed the actual transcript, followed by our reflections and Jesus Christ’s prophetic Words given to Maria Divine Mercy. –

– THE TRUTH ABOUT TONY PALMER! (Tony Palmer, seated beside Pope Francis, Joined together in efforts to bring Protestant[s] together with Catholics,)
LONDON – The English surgeons who fought to save the life of a badly mangled motorcyclist on the morning of July 20 might have guessed he was someone unusual, since the hospital was receiving calls from Rome, from the pope himself, asking for updates.
[BE SURE AND NOTE THIS SECTION BELOW FROM THE ARTICLE! – On June 24, Palmer took a group of evangelical leaders who jointly reach more than 700 million people to meet and lunch with Francis, which he reported to me a few days later, as he left for two weeks in South Africa. The delegates included Copeland, the televangelist James Robison, as well as Geoff Tunnicliffe, head of the Worldwide Evangelical Alliance. They told Francis they wanted to accept his invitation to seek visible unity with the Bishop of Rome.
Palmer handed the pope a proposed Declaration of Faith in Unity for Mission the evangelicals had drawn up, which they proposed would be signed by both the Vatican and leaders of the major Protestant churches in Rome in 2017, on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.] –
– KENNETH COPELAND – TONY PALMER IS IN HEAVEN
In the statement recently posted at his ministry’s website Kenneth Copeland honors Tony Palmer saying he became a bridge between Catholics and Protestants in the Body of Christ. Copeland says Palmer had “a major impact on the worldwide Catholic Renewal” and was responsible for facilitating a face-to-face meeting between the number of Protestant leaders and the Pope last month at the Vatican. A bridge based upon “The unity of the faith—not doctrines.” Copeland went on to say the devil was responsible for his death but they know he is in the presence of Jesus right now and the work of bridge building between Catholics and Protestants begun by Tony Palmer will go on. –

KENNETH COPELAND
– ECUMENISM: KENNETH COPELAND making a short video message with the late Tony Palmer to pope Francis in response to the pope’s message of (FALSE) unity. He’s handing over his unsuspecting and undiscerning congregation over to the high priest, and sending them back to BABYLON. –
Facebook VIDEO: ECUMENISM: KENNETH COPELAND Excerpt [This may show two of the same Facebook video. Somehow I messed up the embed and I am not good enough at html to fix it.]

ECUMENISM: Kenneth Copeland & The Pope
ECUMENISM: KENNETH COPELAND making a short video message with the late Tony Palmer to pope Francis in response to the pope's message of (FALSE) unity. He's handing over his unsuspecting and undiscerning congregation over to the high priest, and sending them back to BABYLON. And Jesus answered and said to them, TAKE HEED THAT NO MAN DECEIVE YOU. ~ Matthew 24:4 (AKJV)Watch the full video of Tony Palmer and Pope Francis ' message to Kenneth Copeland at https://youtu.be/uA4EPOfic5A
Posted by The Discerning Sheep Ministries on Thursday, April 30, 2015


[Blog Editor: Watch the full video of Tony Palmer and Pope Francis' message to Kenneth Copeland at https://youtu.be/uA4EPOfic5A]
GIOVANNI TRAETTINO


– Instead of writing a long commentary on the interfaith relationships of Francis we thought we would post a bunch photos and a few videos. Peruse through them and draw your own conclusions. Remember on Monday Francis is to visit his fallen away catholic friend who is now a Baptist minister, Giovanni Traettino. He is reportedly going there to apologize to Evangelicals for the mistreatment they have received from the Church. This idea originated at the recent lunch Francis had with evangelicals. As the pictures show this ‘friendship’ started a long time ago. An important name to remember is Matteo Calisi. –
Blessings
Jyrki
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Indeed we are in the End Times.
[Blog Editor:
Mission Statement
The Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY) works to overcome prejudice, violence, and misunderstanding by activating the power of the city’s grassroots religious and civic leaders and their communities.
Methodology
We define interfaith as the positive awareness of religious diversity, and the intention or actual practice of engaging people of different faiths for the betterment of society as a whole. For our purposes social change is defined as the integrated effect of changing attitudes and social patterns towards other religious communities while at the same time improving the social well-being of one’s own community and the community at large.
Terminology
Faith Leader – ICNY’s unique definition extends beyond clergy, to include religious teachers, lay leaders, social service providers, and anyone playing a leadership role to serve their faith communities.


Lived Religion – In ICNY’s Education Programs, we stress personal experiences of religious life – not just the views of canonical doctrines and texts – in order to give New Yorkers and others the subtle, empathic understanding of religion they need to be full participants in a plural­istic soc­iety.
History of The Interfaith Center of New York
The Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY) is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) affiliated to the United Nations Department of Public Information (UN/DPI), a nationally-recognized non-profit organization that catalyzes collaborations among hundreds of grassroots and immigrant religious leaders and civic officials (judges, teachers, and social workers) to address New York’s most pressing social problems. Founded in 1997 by the Very Rev. James Parks Morton, former Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, ICNY’s historic partners have included the New York State Unified Court System, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, UJA Federation, The Center for Court Innovation, the Harlem Community Justice Center, CONNECT and the city’s nine Social Work Schools. ICNY works with hundreds of grassroots and immigrant religious leaders from fifteen different faith and ethnic traditions including the Afro-Caribbean, Buddhist, Christian, Confucian, Jain, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Shinto, Sikh, Taoist and Zoroastrian communities of New York City.  Our long-term goal is to help New York City become a nationally and internationally-recognized model for mutual understanding and cooperation among faith traditions.
ICNY’s early initiatives included the Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer working retreats for religious leaders (1998–), a series of one-day educational seminars entitled “Religions of New York,” retreat programs for women religious leaders, and dialogues on religion and psychology. The International and UN Affairs department worked to forge partnerships with international leaders and communities to integrate the spiritual, ethical, and moral aspect of religion in international peacemaking. After September 11, 2001, ICNY’s work became increasingly centered on providing assistance to immigrant and disenfranchised communities whose religious leaders were often the only source of knowledge for new immigrants coping with a new life in an urban environment like New York City. Programs initiated at that time included Religious Communities and the Courts System (2003–), Teacher Education in American Religious Diversity (2003–),Mediation for Religious Leaders (2005-2008), and Religious Diversity Training for Social Workers (2005–).
Since 2007, ICNY’s work has included Training Religious Leaders in Domestic Violence Prevention with CONNECT Faith (2010–), Catholic-Muslim Community Development Initiative with Catholic Charities and the GHR Foundation (2009–), The 411 on Faith with the New York Public Library (2010), and a National Endowment for the Humanities Religious Diversity Training Institute for Educators upcoming in the summer of 2012. ICNY has hosted over 72 U.S. State Department-sponsored Visiting Leaders from 38 countries and has developed sister-city relationships with interfaith organizations in Glasgow, Scotland and Barcelona, Spain.  In lead-up to the 10th anniversary of 9/11 ICNY became a founding member of the interfaith coalition Prepare New York, taking part in the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs’s [sic] “One New York, One Nation” campaign and having direct responsibility for 250 coffee-hour conversations between religiously diverse neighbors in a season of grief and healing. This year ICNY and the Harlem Community Justice Center are launching an exciting new initiative matching Harlem congregations with fifty parolees in partnership with the JC Flowers Foundation, and Harlem-based churches, mosques, and other houses of worship.]
[Blog Editor:
The Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth
We believe spiritual growth — our deepening understanding of the presence of God in all beings — is the most important thing we do for the healing of the world. We bring peace to the world, one consciousness at a time.
We’re a dynamic community that affirms the universal truths underlying all spiritual paths. Together we explore and practice tools for cultivating lives of love, joy, and freedom. Whether your background is Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Native American Spirituality, another faith tradition, or no faith tradition, you will find a welcome home at Interfaith.
In a non-denominational setting, we offer weekly study groups and classes in A Course in Miracles, Interspiritual Meditation, Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth, and Science of Mind. We also host an Alcoholics Anonymous support group and other activities.  Enjoy monthly Drum and Dance circles, Cafe 704 coffeehouse concerts, and more.
Come as you are, find strength and wisdom, and discover the value of cultivating your Spirit in a positive, participatory community that is open and affirming of all lifestyles.]


[Blog Editor:
Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD)
About Page:
Uniting for a Sustainable Future

Humanity faces unprecedented challenges to sustainable life on the planet. The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD) is the largest interfaith environmental organization in the Middle East. ICSD works to catalyze a transition to a sustainable human society through the active leadership of faith communities. Based in Jerusalem, ICSD unites faith communities, teachers and leaders to promote co-existence, peace, and sustainability through advocacy, education and action-oriented projects. Read more about the Channels of Action here or see our Theory of Change diagram by clicking here. Working with numerous foundations, private donors, and clients, ICSD has successfully implemented a range of projects from hosting interfaith environmental conferences to facilitating ecotourism in the Holy Land to conducting faith and ecology workshops for students of religion.
… READ In Different  Languages &  Donations]




[Blog Editor:


Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR)




Our Mission: Through the lens of faith, ICCR builds a more just and sustainable world by integrating social values into corporate and investor actions. Learn more about our current work in our 2014 Annual Report.




The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility is a coalition of faith and values-driven organizations who view the management of their investments as a powerful catalyst for social change.  Our membership comprises nearly 300 organizations including faith-based institutions, socially responsible asset management companies, unions, pension funds and colleges and universities that collectively represent over $100 billion in invested capital.


ICCR members and staff engage hundreds of multinational corporations annually to promote more sustainable and just practices because we believe in doing so they will secure a better future for their employees, their customers and their shareholders.


A pioneer of the shareholder advocacy movement, ICCR members were the first religious investors to file proxy resolutions with social and environmental themes. ICCR's 40+ year legacy is living proof that positive corporate transformation is possible, and we have pledged to mentor others in this important work.
We invite you to learn more about the power of shareholder advocacy and ICCR’s current initiatives in the following pages.  We hope you will feel inspired to participate in our work.








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Interfaith and Interdenominational Agreement and Disagreement
John R. Houk
© February 22, 2016
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Interesting Comments on World Interfaith Harmony Week – Feb 06, 2016


Edited by John R. Houk
In most cases text enclosed by brackets are by the Editor.

© Yurki1000

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