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During a special ecumenical worship service in Sudbury, Cardinal Sean O'Malley asked the Rev. Anne Robertson of Plymouth to administer a baptism reaffirmation ritual to him. (George Martell/Pilot New Media)
Ulf Ekman
Posted on 03/11/2014 6:42:12 AM PDT by NYer
Ulf Ekman
The pastor of Sweden’s largest non-denominational megachurch shocked Christians in his own community and around the world this weekend, by announcing that he is entering the Roman Catholic Church.
* * * * *
Several times in the last month, I wrote about bold initiatives in ecumenism, most notably the exchange of greetings and blessings between Pope Francis and evangelical pastor Kenneth Copeland, brokered by Anglican Bishop Tony Palmer.
Perhaps I spoke too soon, though—for this latest surprise is just as remarkable in the Christian world, once again pointing toward a quest for unity which would have seemed impossible just a few years ago.
* * * * *
Ulf Ekman, founder of the Word of Life Church in Uppsala, Sweden, in a long sermon on Sunday explained to his followers how he and his wife Birgitta had experienced the gentle yet firm tug from Jesus to join the Roman Catholic Church. There are two ways to get into the water, he said: first, like Peter, hearing the call of Christ and jumping in to answer; and second, like Jonah, hearing God’s call to go to Nineveh but fearful, taking off in a boat headed in the other direction. Only when he was thrown overboard by sailors on the ship did he end up in the water.
Elkman spoke candidly about his fear at embarking on his new journey. “Fears,” he said, “are the open mountains overshadowing the beautiful landscape our Lord wants to show us.”
Watch the testimony to his congregation, describing the 10 year journey HERE
Not an impulsive decision but one that took 10 years. Ping!
The Lord looked at Peter and said “you are the rock upon which I will build my Church.”
We as Catholics need to be taking that mission far more seriously.
Hence the frenzied work to try and bring all Christians together. For soon, the night is coming when no man can work.
That's not what the scripture says.
My guess is that he and his wife are lefties and right now the new Pope’s speeches are leaning in that direction, so they are going with, what they think, is a bigger audience for their views.
I am thrilled when I read stories about Muslims joining the Roman church. Stories about lateral moves - eh.
Read the previous verses
“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
—1 John 2:19
When John said that “they were not of us” he meant that, although they had been a part of the visible Christian community, they were never truly regenerate believers and therefore were never part of the invisible, true church.
This is a sad story all around, but much better to find out your Protestant pastor isn’t a true Protestant Believer in this life than in the next. Let him go for he has no business behind the sacred desk teaching a congregation. I suspect there have been many signs along the way, just as there have been big bright flashing signs of Kenneth Copeland’s apostasy that everyone with spiritual eyes could see.
Isn’t Copeland a “name it and claim it” guy.
Seems to be at odds with Roman Catholicism.
Then CRCs had this to explain:
("standing with the poor: http://nation.time.com/2013/11/15/the-real-reason-pope-francis-posed-with-anti-fracking-activists/)
During a special ecumenical worship service in Sudbury, Cardinal Sean O'Malley asked the Rev. Anne Robertson of Plymouth to administer a baptism reaffirmation ritual to him. (George Martell/Pilot New Media)
Plus also Easter, ALL the Christian are doing both Lent and Easter this year.
That's not what the scripture says.
Likewise, even some so-called church "fathers" did not see Mt. 16:18 as saying that.
For in contrast to Peter, that the LORD Jesus is the Rock (“petra”) or "stone" (“lithos,” and which denotes a large rock in Mk. 16:4) upon which the church is built is one of the most abundantly confirmed doctrines in the Bible (petra: Rm. 9:33; 1Cor. 10:4; 1Pet. 2:8; cf. Lk. 6:48; 1Cor. 3:11; lithos: Mat. 21:42; Mk.12:10-11; Lk. 20:17-18; Act. 4:11; Rm. 9:33; Eph. 2:20; cf. Dt. 32:4, Is. 28:16) including by Peter himself. (1Pt. 2:4-8) Rome's current catechism attempts to have Peter himself as the rock as well, but also affirms: “On the rock of this faith confessed by St Peter, Christ build his Church,” (pt. 1, sec. 2, cp. 2, para. 424)
From http://www.charismanews.com/world/43058-ulf-ekman-converts-to-roman-catholicis:
We have seen the logic in having a solid structure for priesthood,
This fool supposes the general priesthood of the Bible sanctions pastors being distinctively titled "priests."
And, last but not least, we have come in contact with representatives for millions of charismatic Catholics and we have seen their living faith.”
Yet Rome marginalizes charismatics and which her cousins who are in closest communion with her reject.
Word of Life has about 3,000 members and a staff of 12 pastors. The church’s school has about 1,000 students.
Rome looks for and needs such to enliven her dead pews.
Ekman calls his conversion a “personal journey” and says it was not his agenda to lead Word of Life toward Roman Catholicism or to collectively unite the church with the Catholic Church. “That would be unreasonable,” he says.
At least he has that much sense.
In 2006 the archbishop of the Catholic Church in Sweden Anders Arborelius was invited to World of Life church in Uppsala for a public discussion.
So this was not sudden.
Ekman retired as the church’s senior pastor in March 2013.
He "retired" in more ways than that.
Were you to treat a fellow Christian with a little Christian love, instead of lashing out in anger, you might be doing the Lord’s work.
Just because a Bishop or Cardinal gives scandal, it does not mean the office is invalid.
It only means that the Bishop committed an improper action.
Note in that case you listed: Your above example is not a second baptism. Baptism can occur only once. It is therefore not a sacrament or sacramental that is being performed.
What this might do would be to give scandal to those who have very sensitive conceptions of ritual and prayer.
In that sense it is wrong. But note above, if it is scandal, it does not invalidate the office. It only means the Cardinal made an imprudent act.
None of your postings directly imply a change in doctrine either, or that of the attitude of the Church towards social and political and moral issues.
If you look at them slanted, with a bad will, they might...to you.
Oh not it does not say “you are the rock upon which I will build my Church,” but you are exhibiting the Roman tendency to make Scripture, history, etc, say whatever you want it it.
See #14 above.
Just putting out a list of the different Bible versions presentations of that passage.
At the most fundamental level all Christians already are together. Romans would do better focusing their energies converting non-Christians.
This is really the reddest of red herrings. There's nothing at all in the text of Mt 16 to suggest Jesus is referring to himself when he says "upon this rock I will build my church".
You're not arguing that Jesus the Rock isn't competent or authoritative enough to apply that descriptive to someone else, are you?
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