Evangelicals are joining with the Vatican to create a code of conduct for conve

[Soldier4Christ]

 Evangelicals are joining with the Vatican to create a code of conduct for conversions


Evangelical groups have recently joined efforts spearheaded by the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church and mainstream Protestant churches to create a common code of conduct for religious conversions that would, so they say, reserve the right of Christians to spread their religion while avoiding conflict among different faiths.

The World Council of Churches, the Vatican and now the World Evangelical Alliance have joined together to create this code that aims to ease tensions with Muslims, Hindus and other religious groups that fear losing adhearance. Muslims, Hindus and some religious groups often will resort to punishments as extreme as imprisonment and even death for converts from their faith and foreign missionaries who endeavor to convert these peoples.

The creation of a code of conduct for conversions put together by the Vatican, the Orthodox and Evangelicals is a precursor to an End Times scenario that can be found in Bible prophecy.

In recent meetings between the Vatican, the Orthodox Church leaders and so-called Evangelical leaders, the creation of a code of conduct on conversion is being prepared so that tensions with Muslims, Hindus and other religious groups will be removed. Evangelization has caused concern among the branches of the church because of the vigor with which Evangelical congregations have led the drive for conversions at home and around the world. Some conservative Christian leaders say that the blurring of the command to evangelize the world with the message that Jesus is the only way and must be preached in all of the world is not only dangerous, but it is a sign that Bible prophecy for the Last Days is coming into focus.

John the Revelator, who wrote Revelation 17 about a coming false church, warned that this type of scenario would come to pass. Paul, the Apostle, wrote of a time when there would be a turning away from the power of the Word of God to false teaching about the true doctrines of the Bible, II Timothy 3:1-7.

A so-called code of conduct on conversions that hinders the spread of the true Gospel is indeed setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

[Shammu]

Pope invites senior Muslims to Vatican meeting
Nov 29 11:54 AM US/Eastern

Pope Benedict XVI invited a delegation of senior Muslim personalities, who signed an appeal for greater dialogue between religions, to a meeting at the Vatican, according to a letter released Thursday.

The pope praised the "positive spirit" behind the October 11 message signed by 138 top Muslims from around the world and sent to Christian leaders, said Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone in the letter sent in Pope Benedict's name.

The pope wanted to meet a representative group of the signatories at the Vatican, he added in the letter sent to Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal, head of the Institute for Islamic Thought in Amman.

"The Pope has asked me to convey his gratitude to Your Royal Highness and to all who signed the letter," Bertone wrote.

"He also wishes to express his deep appreciation for this gesture, for the positive spirit which inspired the text and for the call for a common commitment to promoting peace in the world.

"Without ignoring or downplaying our differences as Christians and Muslims, we can and therefore should look to what unites us, namely, belief in the one God, the provident Creator and universal Judge who at the end of time will deal with each person according to his or her actions. We are all called to commit ourselves totally to him and to obey his sacred will."

The letter said the pope "was particularly impressed by the attention given in the letter to the twofold commandment to love God and one's neighbour."

It recalled Pope Benedict's statement in August 2005 soon after he took office that "we must not yield to the negative pressures in our midst, but must affirm the values of mutual respect, solidarity and peace.

"The life of every human being is sacred, both for Christians and for Muslims. There is plenty of scope for us to act together in the service of fundamental moral values."

"Such common ground allows us to base dialogue on effective respect for the dignity of every human person, on objective knowledge of the religion of the other, on the sharing of religious experience and, finally, on common commitment to promoting mutual respect and acceptance among the younger generation," the letter went on.

"The Pope is confident that, once this is achieved, it will be possible to cooperate in a productive way in the areas of culture and society, and for the promotion of justice and peace in society and throughout the world."

Bertone said that with a view to encouraging the "praiseworthy initiative" from the Muslim leaders, "His Holiness would be most willing to receive Your Royal Highness and a restricted group of signatories of the open letter, chosen by you.

"At the same time, a working meeting could be organized between your delegation and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, with the cooperation of some specialized Pontifical Institutes (such as the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies and the Pontifical Gregorian University)."

The precise details of these meetings could be decided later, should this proposal prove acceptable, the letter said.

Pope invites senior Muslims to Vatican meeting