Two evenings ago [3rd may] I watched the Late Show on Revelation tv. Usually it’s very interesting and I like the presenter Howard’s natural, unassuming style. Even his tendency to ramble a bit is quite endearing and sometimes humorous. However – this time was an entirely different thing.
To tell the truth – I really didn’t know what to make of it. On their web site the programme is described as a ‘Roundup of significant breaking news which is relevant to Church without Walls and sharing teaching to edify the Body of Christ’. Putting it mildly, it just didn’t live up to the brief.
All we had was poor Howard complaining about bullies and various things that had happened in his life – plus a few near-expletives – none of which were very edifying. In fact it came across as almost incoherent at times and it was hard to grasp what he was trying to say, partly because he kept ‘hinting’ rather than being specific about what exactly had happened to bring on his sad mood. He came across as someone depressed and in need of ‘counselling’ - there was absolutely no sense of any overcoming in Christ whatsoever !
I must say at times his descriptions were hilarious [ whether this was his sense of humour kicking in or not I don't know], but really I question the wisdom of letting Howard loose on us all when he’s in such a mood and suffering goodness knows what ! I know he’s just trying to be himself and honest but there are times when it seems completely inappropriate , in my humble opinion, but then what do I know ??
I don’t mean this as a personal attack as I like Howard and I know that anyone in the front line as he is, is bound to attract stuff that is hard to bear – but what an opportunity missed to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in it all …… it left me perplexed. That old adage ‘ if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen’ comes to mind ! I hope I’m not being too harsh on the poor chap ….
PART 2
My next gripe is about Howard’s [ yes - Howard again I'm afraid] apparent accommodation of Roman Catholicism. On one recent programme he stated that he didn’t think it right that people should equate the Pope with the Antichrist because he’s a good man and for Christ not against Him and he stands for the moral good [ or that was the gist].
I was very surprised that Howard made such a basic error in his understanding of the word ‘anti’ as I thought the accepted Christian understanding of the word was it meant ‘in place of’ and not ‘against’ [ in this context]. We all know that one of the Pope’s titles is ‘Vicar of Christ’ or the Voice of Christ. When the Pope speaks – Christ speaks ! This is the deception of the Last Days apostate Church - it’s ok to be ecumenical because the Pope is one of us - he speaks out about abortion etc so that makes it legitimate for true Christians to be partners with him for whatever ’cause’. I can’t help but be amazed at the naivety ….
To add to Howard’s endorsment of Roman Catholicism, his guest on the Late Show last night was a chap called Cyril Smith. Now – it didn’t seem a good start to me that Howard’s introduction of him [ if my memory serves me right] as ‘the nearest thing to a Saint’ – or at least – a ‘Saintly man’ didn’t seem to phase the man at all …. the warning bells also sounded when he mentioned his ‘Kingdom Faith’ background. Anyhow - this man is a Christian who has chosen, he believes by God’s call , to remain a Roman Catholic. He was told by God [ as was Howard] via prophecy that he would be used to reach people who couldn’t be reached by others.
Now – it may be that Cyril Smith is right when he says that God wants him to stay in order to bring the Gospel to RCs, but I doubt very much that he would counsel them to leave. If God wanted him to stay for a season to reap the Harvest of the gospel , followed by an ‘exodus’ I would be the first to rejoice. My problem is that there seems to be a confusion surrounding RCs being ‘Baptised in the Holy Spirit’ and being ‘Saved’…. NB below. I suggest that if they are genuinely saved, their own conscience would not be able to tolerate the idolotry and blasphemy of the Mass let alone all the the other diabolical heresies of the RC church. Please understand here that I am not judging or trying to be unkind to ordinary members of the RC church – they are sincere and are ignorant of the Scriptures for the most part. [That's the reason they need the Gospel]. But shame on evangelical Christians who should know better . I would like to ask Howard and Cyril – what was the Reformation all about ? It makes complete nonsense of history to dismiss so lightly the Reformers ‘ stand and in some cases loss of life for the sake of the truth of God’s Word. It also negates the stand that ex RC Priests like Richard Bennett take in our own time. The end times apostate Church is here alright – deceiving even the elect !
NB : Way back in 1964 I got saved in the Charismatic ‘revival’ going on in the CofE. While still a young Christian, the Church I belonged to held an ecumenical ‘Mission’ , so we had RC monks and nuns visiting and holding meetings. It was all exciting and wonderful because we thought it a marvelous work of the grace of God that He was pouring out his Spirit on Roman Catholics too. BUT – the big difference was that I fully expected those who were so blessed to ‘come out of her’. However to my eventual dismay I realised it wasn’t going to happen - they were quite happy, thank you very much, to go along with the notion that as God had baptised them with the Holy Spirit while they were members of the RC church, then that meant it was also an endorsment of the RC system – aided and abetted by Evangelical Christians I might add. The truth of God’s Word and the Gospel didn’t come into it at all !
This throws a huge question mark on their ‘Charismatic’ experience being the focus rather than the Gospel of salvation. The cart comes before the horse it seems. A Roman Catholic is ‘saved’ by the sacraments still. The big Error , with ecumenical Christians in tow, goes on. Those who try to make a stand for Truth are just legalistic trouble makers, out of touch with what God is doing, aren’t they ?
Your comments – in agreement or not are always welcome. Eileen
PS – any secular ‘Links’ below are not mine !
