Megachurch pastor stuns congregation by announcing he’s converting to Catholicism

The Deacon's Bench ^ | March 10, 2014 | Deacon Greg Kandra

[NYer]

Details:

During his Sunday morning service, Ulf Ekman announced the he and his wife, Birgitta, are converting to Roman Catholicism.

Ekman is the founder of Word of Life, a megachurch in Uppsala, Sweden. News reports and blogs coming out of the nation reveal congregation was “partially stunned” after hearing what was packaged as a “special announcement.” The theme was “follow the Lamb wherever He goes.”

“For Birgitta and me, this has been a slow process where we have gone from discovering new things, to appreciating what we have discovered, to approach and even learn from our fellow Christians,” Ekman says on his ministry website.

“We have seen a great love for Jesus and a sound theology, founded on the Bible and classic dogma. We have experienced the richness of sacramental life. We have seen the logic in having a solid structure for priesthood, that keeps the faith of the church and passes it on from one generation to the next. We have met an ethical and moral strength and consistency that dare to face up to the general opinion, and a kindness towards the poor and the weak. And, last but not least, we have come in contact with representatives for millions of charismatic Catholics and we have seen their living faith.”

According to the Alethia blog and think tank, Ekman’s conversion is a news story that affects a relatively large part of Swedish Christianity. Word of Life has about 3,000 members and a staff of 12 pastors. The church’s school has about 1,000 students. Ekman also launched Scandinavia’s largest Bible school, constructed Scandinavia’s largest free church building, and rolled out a media program with TV on all continents, recorded teaching that has been spread around the world, books in 60 languages, and a strong engagement for Israel.

“We have as many know, followed Ekman’s steps towards Roman Catholicism since 2007, at times under a lot of ridicule from both members and leadership of the congregation, but also from others within the Christian Community in Sweden,” writes Andreas Glandberger, who operates the think tank. “Based on Ulf Ekman’s various articles, sermons, statements, and even type of organizations he decided to support financially, a painstaking puzzle has been laid in which the last piece of the puzzle now is in place.”

Glandberger went on to say that “shock, anger, sadness, despair and confusion” among the reactions to the news. Others, he writes, were relieved that Ekman’s long love affair with the Catholic Church finally was consummated openly, which is also a help in theological discussions.

Continue reading.

[Elsie]

Salt Lake City: Headquarters of the largest group of those Book of MORMON believers that were generated by the life (and death) of Joseph Smith, Jumior.

[Arthur McGowan]

It may not have been you.

I have been told, in no uncertain terms, that if I “pray to” anyone but Jesus, I am idolater.

Pointing out that the word “pray” is used analogically has proven fruitless. These people insist that there’s only one, univocal meaning to the word “pray”—adoration, worship. In the next breath, of course, they will ask for “prayers” for a sick relative. “I have a sick brother. Everybody please worship Jesus.”

[Elsie]

Still pushing, Feel free to have the last word, the spiritually immature need it.

Backing away: shedding it's tail.

---

1. Thank you for proving that you are not a Christian.
2. I simply called you on your un Christian, uncharitable comments.
3. Still pushing, Feel free to have the last word, the spiritually immature need it.

(Why do I have this feeling; if Verga continues; he'll sponsor me for Sainthood?)

[Elsie]

I have been told, in no uncertain terms, that if I “pray to” anyone but Jesus, I am idolater.

Worry not thy soul about it...

I have been told, in no uncertain terms, that if I ____________; then ____________.

Feel free to put anything in the blanks you want.

[ctdonath2]

Just a reminder: Protestantism was founded by a Catholic priest.

[Elsie]

Ha! Thanks, that made me smile.

Then this’ll make you laugh out loud!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3132526/posts

[Zuriel]

**Is it possible for you to go an week, a day, or maybe just a single thread with out making your usual inane, uncharitable, and un Christian comments? Seriously can you make comments that actually add to the conversation?**

Maybe she learned such sarcastic humor from this example:

Nathanael: “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?”
Philip: “Come and see.”
Jesus saw Nathanael and said: “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile!”

[Elsie]

[strider44]

You know what Freerepublic needs? More arguments between Catholics and Protestants. It’s obviously the best way to promote Conservatism and defeat Democrats.

[NYer]

You know what Freerepublic needs? More arguments between Catholics and Protestants. It’s obviously the best way to promote Conservatism and defeat Democrats.

This is Freerepublic. There are new freepers who are interested in these topics. You have the option of ignoring those threads you deem as being argumentative. Freeregards.

[strider44]

Yes. You emphasized FREE. So I am free to comment on each one of these pointless threads where otherwise intelligent people bicker about how to worship Jesus.

[Kackikat]

Not sure how Mormons relate to what I said, Do they claim Jesus as Savior and the Son of God?

[Elsie]

Do they claim Jesus as Savior and the Son of God?

yes...

What Joseph Smith Means to Us  (From: various sources )

 

 

 

"He (Joseph Smith) is the man through whom God has spoken... yet I would not like to call him a savior, though in a certain capacity he was a god to us, and is to the nations of the earth, and will continue to be."

- Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 8:321

 

 

 

 

"You call us fools; but the day will be, gentlemen and ladies, whether you belong to this Church or not, when you will prize brother Joseph Smith as the Prophet of the Living God, and look upon him as a god..."

- Herber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses 5:88

 

 

 

 

"If we get our salvation, we shall have to pass by him [Joseph Smith]; if we enter our glory, it will be through the authority he has received. We cannot get around him [Joseph Smith]"

- (as quoted in 1988 Melchizedek Priesthood Study Guide, p. 142)

There is "no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith. If Joseph Smith was verily a prophet, and if he told the truth...no man can reject that testimony without incurring the most dreadful consequences, for he cannot enter the kingdom of God"

- Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p.190

 

 

 

 

"I tell you, Joseph holds the keys, and none of us can get into the celestial kingdom without passing by him. We have not got rid of him, but he stands there as the sentinel, holding the keys of the kingdom of God; and there are many of them beside him. I tell you, if we get past those who have mingled with us, and know us best, and have a right to know us best, probably we can pass all other sentinels as far as it is necessary, or as far as we may desire. But I tell you, the pinch will be with those that have mingled with us, stood next to us, weighed our spirits, tried us, and proven us: there will be a pinch, in my view, to get past them. The others, perhaps, will say, If brother Joseph is satisfied with you, you may pass. If it is all right with him, it is all right with me. Then if Joseph shall say to a man, or if brother Brigham say to a man, I forgive you your sins, "Whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them;" if you who have suffered and felt the weight of transgression—if you have generosity enough to forgive the sinner, I will forgive him: you cannot have more generosity than I have. I have given you power to forgive sins, and when the Lord gives a gift, he does not take it back again."

- Orson Hyde, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p.154-155

 

 

 

 

"It is because the Lord called Joseph Smith that salvation is again available to mortal men.... If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the restoration, there would be no salvation,"

- Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 396, 670

---

---

They succeeded in killing Joseph, but he had finished his work.

He was a servant of God, and gave us the Book of Mormon.

He said the Bible was right in the main, but, through the translators and others, many precious portions were suppressed, and several other portions were wrongly translated; and now his testimony is in force, for he has sealed it with his blood.

As I have frequently told them, no man in this dispensation will enter the courts of heaven, without the approbation of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jun.

Who has made this so?

Have I?

Have this people?

Have the world?

No; but the Lord Jehovah has decreed it.

If I ever pass into the heavenly courts, it will be by the consent of the Prophet Joseph.

If you ever pass through the gates into the Holy City, you will do so upon his certificate that you are worthy to pass.

Can you pass without his inspection?

No; neither can any person in this dispensation, which is the dispensation of the fulness of times.

In this generation, and in all the generations that are to come, everyone will have to undergo the scrutiny of this Prophet.

They say that they killed Joseph, and they will yet come with their hats under their arms and bend to him; but what good will it do them, unless they repent?

They can come in a certain way and find favor, but will they?

Brigham Young,

--JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES, vol. 8, p. 224

[Kackikat]

Oh Boy John Smith, that’s original...and the Catholics have to get forgiveness through a Priest? Amazing what people think they must do to get into heaven. So glad Jesus is my friend and I can talk to him directly, it simplifies things a lot. I’m not into crowds or collective salvations.

[Kackikat]

Sorry...Joseph Smith...I am unfamiliar with their doctrine, so thanks.

[Elsie]

Sorry...Joseph Smith...I am unfamiliar with their doctrine, so thanks.

Don't feel bad; most of them are too!

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Mormonism claims three levels of 'heaven' and only 15% or so of ALL Mormons are going to make it to Level One!