Jessica, the very young daughter of a friend of mine, asked her father: “Dad, why don’t we celebrate Christmas?” Her father answered: “Jesus was not born on Dec. 25. God wants us to celebrate only His holy days instead, like the Feast of Tabernacles.” The little girl replied: “But Christmas is everyone’s feast, would it not be nicer to celebrate both Christmas and the Feast of Tabernacles?” Her father smiled.

We too can smile to such a reply. But that little girl had unconsciously expressed an ecumenical desire. What’s wrong with ecumenical desires or approaches? Let’s face it, the ecumenical approach casts its attractive spell on many adults too; as a matter of fact an increasing number of people, even those with some biblical knowledge, are being attracted by it. Its spirit is spreading everywhere. Most ecumenical supporters are sincere in believing ecumenicalism is what God wants. But is that true? To be sincere and at the same time in error is certainly possible. Therefore, any true believer needs to be enriched by the knowledge of God’s Word—the Bible—otherwise his or her sincerity serves no good cause.

Unfortunately ecumenicalism boils down to people telling God, “We do believe you and pray to you, but don’t tell us how to live!” It speaks of unity and love, but it offends God by enslaving naïve people into idolatrous practices! 

Ecumenicalism: What Is it Exactly?

The word “ecumenicalism” derives from ancient latin ecumène, meaning “a place where different people lived together.” In modern times the word ecumène indicates “minimum conditions for living together.” That is, upholding a common belief in the immortality of the soul, the Trinitarian concept, Sunday as the day of the Lord, etc.

In practice ecumenicalism is an interreligious movement involving many different churches claiming to work together in order to overcome their organizational divisions and other doctrinal differences at the expense of the biblical truth. Their motto is “unity in diversity.” But the question is: Can there be real unity in diversities? At what cost?

Reciprocal cooperations and respect are imperative and transparent values in a civilized society. However, the ecumenical concept contradicts itself by attempting to achieve “unity in diversity” through the exercise of a kind of “love” that is not God’s love as found in the Bible. Let us examine ecumenicalism more closely.

Unity and Love That Are Not Approved by God

Adam and Eve were united in disobeying God. In Noah’s time people embraced corruption as a common way of life. Men were united in building the Tower of Babel. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were united in lust for sexual perversion, as well as a number of other sins (Ezekiel 16:49-50). The list of historical events, which have seen men united to build up their own social systems and their own empires (quite often at the expense of other peoples), is rather long. More recently even the Japanese, Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany were allied in their attempt to conquer other peoples and achieving the unification of Europe by military force.Unity is desirable, but Jesus clearly commanded His disciples to be united in the truth, not deception. God’s people are sanctified in the truth, not by unity at any cost (John 17:19). Since the beginning of biblical history human beings have united themselves through deception, not in the truth, only to pay bitter consequences!

Man’s nature has never changed since the Garden of Eden. What does this have to do with the current ecumenicalism? This is dark history repeating itself. Constantine’s old empire is trying to rise again greater than before, this time under the motto of “unity in diversity.” “In the last days, all nations will gather together [will be united] to make war against Jerusalem” and “against the Lord of Lords” (Zechariah 12:3, Psalm 2:1-4, Acts 4:25-26). In other words, against all those who believe in the Bible or in God’s law.

Why would they be openly against the true God “in the last days”? Although sincere they are already being deceived by Satan the devil (Revelation 12:9). They are being united simply to rebuild their old empire, a super organized church, instead of searching for the Kingdom of God and His justice.

They have already overturned the order of priority of the two most important commandments: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:36). Sadly, the “first” or “greatest” commandment—the one that summarizes the first four of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)—is no longer important to them.

“We do worship Christ,” they say. But does Christ bless those who have changed or abolished the law of His Father? Jesus said: “Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

Unfortunately ecumenicalism boils down to people telling God, “We do believe you and pray to you, but don’t tell us how to live!” It speaks of unity and love, but it offends God by enslaving naïve people into idolatrous practices!

“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16).

All those who try to achieve unity without obeying God’s law are part of the system called “Babylon the great,” the “prostitute on the beast,” as described in Revelation 17 and Revelation 13. God will make their system collapse in the last days. That is why the Bible admonishes us not to conform ourselves to this world but rather to seek God’s Kingdom and His justice (Romans 12:1-2 and 2 Corinthians 6:17).

Unity and Love That Are Approved by God

In John 17 Jesus Christ prays to the Father for His people to be united. But how? Lasting and harmonious unity can only be achieved through the love and Spirit of God (Romans 5:5), not by different spirits.

How can you discern the unity that is approved by God? “This is how we can be sure that we have come to know God: if we continually keep His commandments” (1 John 2:3). Therefore, “the person who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ but does not continually keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth has no place in that person…” (1 John 2:4-6, emphasis added).

As ecumenicalism gets more and more threatening and aggressive against those who love God’s law, let us put on “the whole armor of God, that we may continue to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).

Let us remain “steadfast in the faith” and let us humbly remember that “for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

Jesus clearly said: “If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in His love” (John 15:10). Only the love of God is truthful, pure, unselfish, faithful, producing a long-lasting unity, based on perfect faith, judgment and mercy.

Genuine love and real unity can only come from God’s Spirit, and this is given “only to those who obey Him” (Acts 5:31; 1 John 5:2-3). God’s people are kept united in one mind, one baptism, one Spirit, one doctrine, one voice, one attitude, and one purpose (1 Corinthians 1:10; 12:4,13; 1 Ephesians 4:14; Philippians 2:2). This is God’s way. This actually works and leads into God’s Kingdom. Blessed are those who walk in it.