See yellow/red arrow point to Ganoune Diop on front row
Andy Roman
The world’s religions are coming together to push for peace, unity, dialog, cooperation and solidarity. They are aligning themselves together as one in their advocacy for immigration rights and gender equality. They are uniting their voices in unison to combat climate change. Faith leaders are pushing for a new green gospel as environmentalism and social justice becomes the new mission to the world.
The G20 Interfaith Forum was recently held in Chiba, Japan from June 7-9, 2019. Leaders and experts representing over 300 religious faiths came together from around the world to focus on how to implement the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. [1] It’s scary when you consider why the churches are lining up to promote the secular, humanistic social-engineering agenda of the United Nations.
From left to right: Bishop Gunnar Stalsett; Jesuit Sister Denise Coghlan; Mohammed Abu-Nimer; Adventist Ganoune Diop and Adventist Jonathan Duffy at the 2019 G20 Interfaith Forum in Chiba, Japan, on Saturday, June 8, 2019.
Bishop Gunnar Stalsett is the former general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation and a former member of the World Council of Churches’ Executive Committee. [2]
Jesuit Sister Denise Coghlan RSM, a nun from the Sisters of Mercy Order, was chosen by the Jesuit Order to pioneer and facilitate the Jesuit mission in Cambodia. In her own words she says: “I was one of the four chosen to be the pioneer of the Jesuits.” [3]
Dr. Mohammed Abu-Nimer is a senior adviser for Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), an inter-governmental organization that promotes inter-religious fellowship and cooperation. [4]
Dr. Ganoune Diop is Director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church. [5] He is also an official member of the Organizing Committee for the G20 Interfaith Forum and helps to organize these inter-religious events. You can see the complete list of names for the G20 Interfaith Organizing Committee. [6]
Johnathan Duffy is president of Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International, the humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist World Church. [7]
The Secularization of the Church
So what were these religious leaders doing at the G20 Interfaith Forum? To answer this question we need to look no further than the topics addressed in their 2019 agenda: security, peace, immigration, welfare, social cohesiveness, respect for individual differences, the roles of men and women, health rights and the environment. [8]
Seventh-day Adventist leaders are pursuing partnerships with governments, international organizations and with other faith groups in order to promote social, secular, political and revolutionary causes. The revealed word of God is no longer the basis for unity anymore. We are reaching out across confessional lines to stand in solidarity with all the other churches; but what is the basis for this unity? Left-wing, liberal causes?
Whenever the churches discard biblical truth and faith as the principles for Christian unity – what then becomes the basis for unity? False doctrines and social justice? Anytime the church chooses political activism over the word of God the end result will lead to its secularization and to the loss of its Christian/Adventist identity. We may still bear the same name, but the Three Angels’ Messages will be derailed by a liberal agenda. This is exactly what Rome wants. They want to cripple God’s people by getting them to replace the final warning messages of Revelation 14:6-12 with “liberal ideas.”
“Rome never changes. She claims infallibility. It is Protestantism that will change. The adoption of liberal ideas on its part will bring it where it can clasp the hand of Catholicism” (Last Day Events, p. 130).
When the church becomes secular – true prayer, faith and mission is replaced with ecumenism and political alliances. The true gospel is replaced with a “no” gospel. Redemption, salvation and liberation from the power of sin through Jesus Christ is replaced with redemption, salvation and liberation from political oppression, economic want and the evils of capitalism.
Instead of fighting the battle of Christ against sin, the new battle becomes a worldwide class struggle between the rich and the poor. When the churches become secularized, the emphasis for every human hope is centered in building his home here in this world – the material and the tangible.
Johnathan Duffy, president of ADRA, addresses the participants.
In contrast, the gospel of Christ focuses on His work both on the cross and in heaven. It’s not all about this life, but about the new heaven and the new earth that God is preparing. It’s about His soon coming kingdom – and most importantly – about being ready and helping others to get ready for His appearing.
Jesus never partnered with any government or with any pagan, false religion in order to fulfill His mission. The apostles never partnered with anyone other than God. Our Seventh-day Adventist pioneers depended on God and God alone to fulfill their mission. In fact, the work spreads faster and farther whenever we depend solely upon the Lord to accomplish our work. Why do we have to be in unity with Pope Francis, who also participated in this G20 Interfaith Forum through his representatives?[9]
We have been told how to determine between a false movement and a genuine one. We have been warned how to distinguish Satan’s deceptions from God’s work. There’s no reason for any confusion:
“Yet none need be deceived. In the light of God’s word it is not difficult to determine the nature of these movements. Whenever men neglect the testimony of the Bible, turning away from those plain, soul-testing truths which require self-denial and renunciation of the world, there we may be sure that God’s blessing is not bestowed” (Great Controversy, p. 464).
Sources
[2] https://rfp.org/about/leadership/honorary-presidents/bishop-gunnar-j-stalsett/
[3] http://www.sjapc.net/2011/03/discussion-denise-coghlan/
[4] https://www.kaiciid.org/news-events/media/mohammed-abu-nimer
[5] https://www.adventistliberty.org/dr.-ganoune-diop
[9] https://www.g20interfaith.org/speakers/