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‘Catholicism is not proselytism,’ stated Pope Francis in a new interview, repeating his now-familiar comments on the subject of evangelization.VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) — Pope Francis has once again condemned Catholic efforts of evangelization, stating that “Catholicism is not proselytism,” while adding he has “no explanation” for the drop in vocations in recent decades. The Pontiff made the comments in an interview he gave to Spanish language news outlet Mundo Negro back in mid-December, which was published on January 13. He made the statement while fielding a question about the Second Vatican Council, having been asked whether the Church’s “mission” had...

Bergoglio: "It is not licit to convince them of your faith" The Bergoglian nightmare continues without episcopal resistance. "It is not licit to convince them of your faith," said Bergoglio just last week in Rome. "Proselytism is the strongest venom against the ecumenical path," as he pounds his fist to ensure we get it. Wearing his Bandera Fascist Ukrainian virtual signal as a stole, Bergoglio has revealed once again the liar he is. Once again, a complete and utter denial of the actual words of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ from the Gospel according to St. Matthew beginning...

‘Numbers give no indication of how fruitful a [Catholic] presence is,’ said the newly appointed archbishop.ALGIERS, Algeria (LifeSiteNews) — The new archbishop of Algiers has said Catholics must “abandon the idea that we have to evangelize and bring people to our truth.” “At the same time, we have to accept that there might be in Islam some truth that escapes us,” Jean-Paul Vesco said during an interview with Swiss Catholic news website cath.ch on Sunday. The North African country is 98.2 percent Muslim. When asked about the relationship between Catholics and Muslims in Algeria, the archbishop quoted pope Francis who...

ROME — Pope Francis urged the Christians of Cyprus Friday to bear witness to Jesus Christ but never to proselytize.Proselytism — or the attempt to convert others to one’s faith — is different from evangelization, the pope suggested, which is the joyful witness of one’s experience of Christ.Speaking at Mass in Nicosia, the pontiff reflected on the day’s gospel reading that recounts the healing of two blind men, who, despite being “sternly” warned by Jesus not to talk about their cure, spread the news throughout the region.“There is a bit of irony in this fact: Jesus had told them not...

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."Matthew 28:19-20These were the last words Jesus spoke to His disciples before He ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. Yet it would take the stoning of Stephen to force His followers to obey His last commandment. Soon, the early Christians would leave friends, family,...

Join FReepers around the nation and world to pray for President Trump, Vice President Pence, and AMERICA—churches, congregations, families, military, first responders, schools, businesses, health care, and media. Religion Forum threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to debate of any kind. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.1 JOHN 5:14 Native American Heritage Month Nez Perce, The Lord's Prayer: Chief Shatka Bear Step offers the prayer in Indian sign language For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. Titus 2:11 (NIV)

Pope Francis tells teens they’re not a ‘disciple of Jesus’ if they try to convert non-believers ROME, December 23, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) — In an apparent repudiation of the Great Commission to baptize and teach all nations (Matthew 28:16-20), Pope Francis has recently told a group of high school students in Rome that speech should never be used in order to convince a non-believer of the truths of the Catholic Faith. Citing a fictional 11th century account of an episode of forced conversion, attributed to the eighth century emperor Charlemagne, Pope Francis implied that the belief that positive efforts should be made to...

A “flop.” That’s how Australian web site TheMusic.com.au disparaged “Let Hope Rise,” the concert documentary featuring Hillsong United, which debuted three weeks ago here in the United States. As of this past Friday, the film has earned $2.3 million. That’s little more than a tenth the sum earned over the same span by, say, “Blair Witch,” as Hillsong’s detractors would no doubt point out. But the success of “Let Hope Rise” cannot be measured by the standards of Mammon, the god worshiped by the secular world, but by the Great Commission the risen Christ issued to his followers: “Go into...

I admire the many faith-based organizations in this country that provide services to those who are homeless or hungry or substance abusers or unwed moms or domestic violence victims or ex-convicts or others who need loving-kindness. But I especially appreciate the work of Christian missionaries. Those who have accepted the Great Commission set forth by Christ before he ascended to the Father: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” Jack...

In a previous partial review of Michael Horton’s The Gospel Commission: Recovering God’s Strategy for Making Disciples, I began documenting some of his duplicities in regard to the Lordship of Christ and the meaning of the subject matter of that book. I mentioned how clearly he writes of Christ’s all-encompassing power early in the book, but then spends the rest of the book qualifying it to death. … In order to escape the meaning of Jesus’ claim to “All power in heaven and on earth,” Horton simply relegates the application of this power to a future dispensation. Much like dispensationalists,...

I have to say I am greatly impressed by at least one part of a paragraph in Dr. Michael Horton’s new book The Gospel Commission: Recovering God’s Strategy for Making Disciples. He begins his chapters with the important recognition that Jesus’ great commission to the disciples (Matt. 28:18–20) begins with an equally great announcement—an announcement we here at American Vision have emphasized many times: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (28:18). ... As initially enthused, however, it was with equally deep disappointment that I read on as Dr. Horton spent the rest of his...

Hello and welcome to another edition of the White Horse Inn. Every mission statement needs a good strategic plan. If your mission is to make cars, then you need to figure out how you are going to design, assemble, distribute, and sell them. The one to who was given all authority in heaven and on earth entrusted his apostles with the message and the mission. He gave us the method to go along with the Gospel. There are a lot of details given to us in the New Testament concerning the proper organization and execution of the church's ministry. However,...

...Grant Desme spoke with great candor in an interview in November of 2009. His response was telling - and instructive for what it revealed. It reflected the thinking of a young Catholic Christian who lived his life reflectively, open to hearing the Lord call. He spoke with Sports writer Bill Mitchell of “Baseball America” concerning the effect that a separated shoulder injury had upon him in 2008. Of course, that injury was painful and constituted a possible career setback. However, Desme, with the eyes of faith and the insight which only faith can provide, said this: "I think it needed...

Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these? " "Yes, Lord," he said, "you knoyv that I love you," Jesus said, "Feed my lambs. "Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me? " He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. " Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep. " (John 21:15-16) The silver morning mist arises from Galilee, as we see Jesus speaking to His disciples after His resurrection. Jesus looks at Peter and three times asks, "Do you love Me more than these?"...

Yesterday, 29 April 2008, at 3:32 PM, the United Methodist Church formally and explicitely rejected it's long held and Biblically-based mission to make disciples of Christ by saving souls, and declared officially that its mission is to transform the world. This codifies in the Book of Discipline of the UMC, its book of law, what was already the de facto case in practice. Here's the new text: The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.Here's the previous text: The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ....

Some weeks ago I spoke to a gathering of pastors about engaging the cultural battles of the day. Afterward, the pastors had a lot of questions—but they were also a bit confused. One asked: “But won’t engaging the culture this way interfere with fulfilling the Great Commission? Isn’t this our job—to win people to Christ?” That people still think this way left me momentarily speechless. “Of course we’re called to fulfill the Great Commission,” I replied. “But we’re also called to fulfill the cultural commission.” Christians are agents of God’s saving grace—bringing others to Christ, I explained. But we are...

William R. "Bill" Bright, Founder of World's Largest Christian Organization Dies ORLANDO, Fla., July 19, 2003 —William R. “Bill” Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, the world’s largest Christian ministry, died today from complications related to pulmonary fibrosis. He was 81. Fueled by his passion to present the love and claims of Jesus Christ to "every living person on earth," Dr. Bright spent more than five decades building and leading the Orlando, Florida-based Campus Crusade for Christ. As the world’s largest Christian ministry, Campus Crusade for Christ serves people in 191 countries through a staff of 26,000 full-time employees...

Growing numbers of Evangelicals are trying to spread Christianity in Muslim lands. But is this what the world needs now? By David Van Biema Posted Sunday, June 22, 2003; 12:31 p.m. EST She wasn't a Muslim, but she would do for now. Last March, at just about the time American troops were massing outside Baghdad, she shuffled, dressed in a dark burqa, into a cramped schoolroom in the New York City borough of Queens. The class she was addressing was organized by the U.S. Center for World Mission and packed with eager evangelical Christian students wanting to learn how to...

A new flock of missionaries has launched a campaign to take the Gospel to Islamic countries. But will they inspire more backlash than belief? She wasn't a Muslim, but she would do for now. Last March, at just about the time American troops were massing outside Baghdad, she shuffled, dressed in a dark burqa, into a cramped schoolroom in the New York City borough of Queens. The class she was addressing was organized by the U.S. Center for World Mission and packed with eager evangelical Christian students wanting to learn how to be missionaries in a foreign country. The black-clad...