A decade of years can unveil the diversion of purpose veiled in a progression of compromise. Dr. Jack Van Impe in 1983 wrote "I can only believe that the Spirit's power is upon my life in a greater way since I have opened my arms of love to all brothers and sisters in Christ."1 This confessed mark of direction based on "love" as the guiding principle is not without its evidence of change in the JVI ministry.

In our warped generation, man has taken the word "LOVE" and made it a meaningless basis for compromise. But true love is an intelligent principle. True love includes wisdom; it beholds and plans the highest ideal for its object.

True love is BENEVOLENT---it desires good for its objects. On the Divine level this is displayed in God's providential care for His creation and creatures. Of greatest import concerning true love is the fact it must be righteous. True love must include the principle of righteousness in its display. It is therefore morally conditioned. True love does not break nor contradict the moral righteousness of God. In the atonement, God did not overlook the moral depth of degradation in sin but paid an infinite price which satisfied Divine Justice. God's love therefore, does not accept sin, but is morally conditioned in the display of satisfaction paid in the atonement. The basis of forgiveness is the atonement, NOT LOVE---LOVE is the motive of God governed by the Divine principle of righteousness.

Too many today have based the concepts of their preaching on a wrong application of love. They have made their total theological concept a love based theology, a "Phileocentric Theology," at the expense of righteousness and moral justice at the hand of God.

Love without truth has no foundation. Jesus expresses this fact in John 14:15: "If ye love me, keep my commandments." In v.21 we find even more: "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." In Ist John 5:2-3 we find again God does not divorce TRUTH from LOVE: "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

God's Word is plainly teaching LOVE is possible only in and with the TRUTH of God being embraced and kept. JVI has purely missed the mark in his "Phileocentric Theology" of INCLUSIVENESS divorced from TRUTH. This necessitates the presence of inconsistency and will be evidenced in its embrace and/or acceptance of compromise with the TRUTH --- A.K.A. "The Commandments of God, the Teachings of God, and the Doctrines of God."

In a slick well documented "tooting one's own horn" brochure sent to me by the JVI Ministries International, there is presented to the reader all the human reasons to accredit the JVI ministry and support its requests for dollars. Certainly every thoughtful saint should support a man who ---

---Is listed in the Who's Who of Intellectuals...
---Is listed in the International Leaders in Achievement
---Is listed in the International Directory of Distinguished Leadership
Men of Achievement
---Is listed in Who's Who in American Christian Leadership
---Is listed in Who's Who in Religion
---Has memorized 14,000 verses of Scripture
---Has preached to audiences totaling 10 million during crusades and tens of millions through radio and television
---Has preached to more face to face than any evangelist except Dr. Billy Graham
---Has documented the salvation of more than one million souls.2

With this kind of results and recognition, Paul, Peter, and even Christ and His forerunner John are reduced to "also ran" status hidden in the penumbra of vain glory, (I Cor. 3:7.)

There are perhaps some things that should be considered in the situation described that not all would hasten to admit. When JVI was "56 years of age" he told of his earlier being "converted out of Catholicism." He continues saying, "I am...as committed to the Baptist distinctives of the faith as ever," and "every convert...referred to churches within one of the following groups." (Named below.)

1. Southwide Baptist Fellowship
2. Baptist Bible Fellowship
3. World Baptist Fellowship
4. G.A.R.B.C.
5. Independent Fundamental Churches of America
6. Independent, Fundamental, Baptist Churches not listed in the above directories.3

This same document expressed "...we were ethically committed to directing these converts first of all to the churches who had us on their missionary budgets....I revere my Baptist heritage."4 One might ask "What Baptist Heritage?" With all the converts listed in the brochure, these six groups and supporting churches should have "millions" added to their membership from this ONE source. With these words from one who was "converted out of Catholicism" one would assume there would be a tremendous effort to evangelize the Roman Catholic multitudes.

JVI in 1984, just a decade past, filled his February/March and April/May editions of Perhaps Today with a defense of his being a "Fundamentalist." This is based upon the FIVE things he demands "...fundamentalism stands for and proclaims."5 Two months later in a follow up article JVI shows as an example of his concept of "Phileocentric Theology" repeating his position as quoted before and excerpted from his book Heart Disease In Christ's Body.

At this point we are given to understand "Perhaps the time has come to perform major surgery in order to deal with the cancer in our midst."6 By this he refers to Neo-Fundamentalist [as opposed to historic fundamentalism] as "...the harsh, crude and intemperate language neo-fundamentalists use in describing others."7 Later JVI shows his utter contempt for the Truth of God when he writes:

In the early centuries we had Arnoldists, Henricians, Paulicians, the Humiliati, Lollards, Waldenses, and Ana-Baptists. Today we have multiplied denominations preaching the true gospel. And by one Spirit are we all --- past, present, and future --- baptized into one body.8

Next follows fifty marks of those considered born again. Setting aside even the mistakes in this list, one looks in vain for the TRUE LOVE expressed and qualified by Christ when He links LOVE TO DOCTRINE. It is now ten years later and the distance between JVI and Biblical Truth is even broader. What JVI defines as the "Five Fundamentals" are now broad enough to include Roman Catholics and their Pope John Paul II.

JVI is now selling a video tape of some one hour and forty minutes filled with definitions of the "Five Fundamentals" which embraces the doctrine of Pope John Paul II and Catholicism (quaintly referred to as "Classical Catholicism".) In the May/June 1985 issue of Perhaps Today JVI writes, "Religion has been responsible for the death of millions over the centuries."9 Perhaps JVI might do a bit of his "hours" of study in history and determine who killed whom in the list referred to in his April/May 1984 article (supra.) Perhaps today (pardon the pun) as a Baptist, I might not be considered too "intemperate" if I ask if this is the same Catholic body that slaughtered some 50 million Baptists from 600 A.D. to 1600 A.D.? Are we to think suddenly Pope John Paul II has re- defined the Catholic concept of these "Five Fundamentals" and is now hardly able to contain himself from rushing to a Baptist Church of New Testament doctrine and history to submit to Scriptural baptism? Is this the new image of Catholicism or is it the sad instance of a decade of compromise in the revived efforts of self-preservation for one who has abandoned the Great Commission in scriptural details, aborted every effort to return to local church doctrine and authority, and settled for the televangelist empire of sell-out? Let us examine the facts...

In the above mentioned TV program concerning Pope John Paul II and the problems facing the Catholic Church, JVI presents a "Fifth Avenue Example" of marketing excellence in his presenta tion of the Pope as one who embraces the "Five Fundamentals" but is in danger of being succeeded by a liberal Catholic and New Age/Liberation Theology as successor. The marketed video is far longer than the original for TV and contains even more expressions of compromise with Catholicism.

The program is introduced with the usual format of JVI fanfare and moves rapidly to the statement, "The common points of agreement between Orthodox Catholic and Evangelical Protestants extend to: [I will not always make distinction between the statements of JVI and his wife, Rexella, since I assume they stand for the same things.]

-Belief in the triune nature of God
-Acceptance of Christ's incarnation as the God man
-Trust in His Virgin birth
-Atonement death on the cross
-On the resurrection from the graves
-Ascension into heaven
-Future return in glory
-And the work of judgment and resurrection of mankind10

Later the statement is made by JVI that he is not making "...an exposè against the Roman Catholic Church; we Protestants [I thought he claimed to be a Baptist; yet, all through this video he refers to himself as a Protestant. --KJ] faced this very problem 50 years ago."11

After a lively exposè of the liberal Catholics and their compromises, JVI brings forward examples of apostasy among this arm of Catholicism and quotes from Malachi Martin's book to establish proof of problems facing John Paul II. In contrast to liberal Roman Catholicism JVI is asked "What is the doctrine of Christ?"12 To this JVI answers:

Five Points. (1) His deity that He is God from all eternity. (2) His Virgin birth through Mary...(3) His atonement at Calvary's cross as he died for our sins...(4) His bodily resurrection....(5) and His coming again....And God help us when Bishops and ministers bring in apostates and allow them to propagate their err against Jesus Christ.13

In a meeting of "Evangelical Protestants and Catholics" which produced a statement of common position and signed by some forty individuals, this "unity" plea from John 17:21 was used to give credibility to the unity of the "Christian mission." This statement records:

The one Christ and one mission includes many other Christians, notably the Eastern Orthodox and those Protestants not commonly identified as Evangelical. All Christians are encompassed in the prayer, "May they all be one." Our present statement attends to the specific problems and opportunities in the relationship between Roman Catholics and Evangelical Protestants.15

"Much more important, we thank God for the discovery of one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Our cooperation as citizens is animated by our convergence as Christians. We promise one another that we will work to deepen, build upon, and expand this pattern of convergence and cooperation.16

In my article entitled, "That They All May Be One," I said: "I promise God and all members of His family that the remainder of my life will be spent proclaiming the message of reconciliation and love for ALL the brotherhood (I Peter 2:17). I mean this. I will live and die for this biblical principle called love.

If my position causes you to withdraw your church's prayer and financial support, that must be your decision before God. Even if all men follow your example and I become financially unable to continue my ministry, I will know that I have obeyed God and His commandment to love one another --- and nothing else matters.17

Perhaps the position "nothing else matters" is more accurate for JVI than is perceived. The Pope spoke of a common point of agreement according to JVI relative to "atonement." In the Catholic Word Book this means:

ATONEMENT: The redemptive activity of Christ, who reconciled man with God through his Incarnation and entire life, and especially by his suffering and Resurrection. The word also applies to prayer and good works by which men join themselves with and take part in Christ's work of reconciliation and reparation for sin.18

These three sacraments are absolutely necessary, they say, as they are instituted by God. Baptism is necessary to all; penance to those who fall after baptism; and orders simply necessary to the whole church.19

If this represents unity of common faith between Evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics, JVI would have no problem explaining the unity of "Twenty-one Ways To Find God" reported by Barry C. Hughes in The Canadian Magazine relative to 21 various organizations in Canada.20

Enough is enough --- from this platform JVI proceeds to explain prophetically the problems of apostasy in Pope John Paul II's church with Liberation Theology and New Age influence. He quotes Mark 13:6 and develops around the new age concept of pantheism that what has happened to Catholicism in this area is a sign of the near coming of Christ. This is based on Mark's having "Christ" in italics meaning "it is not in the original Greek."21

What does this mean? The new agers will proclaim their godhood saying they are "I AM." This also means JVI postulates a correction in Mark 13:6 to leave out "Christ" which is in italics. This same incident in Christ's ministry is recorded in Luke 21:8 and Matthew 24:5. Luke's verse also has "Christ" in italics but Matthew has "Christ"-- not in italics and it is in the Greek. The KJV translators are correct; JVI the prophet is wrong on his proof text's explanation.

The Van Impe couple discusses p.311 of Malachi Martin's book and state:

"Concerning New Age appeals, John Paul maintains that man is not perfected by his own material experience and certainly not by welcoming Lucifer as a beloved figure. Man is being redeemed by Christ's blood.22

"That's very fundamental and the blood is mentioned 700 times in the Word of God as the only way of salvation and he is talking about the blood as he compares what the new agers teach about this little spark within them and how they can become gods."23

JVI quotes later Revelation 9:20 and then states, "Now, as a Christian, listen to the Pope; listen to me. You should have nothing to do with this abominable system (i.e. new agers.)24 What do we conclude from this? Is JVI speaking "ex cathedra" and equal to the Pope. Or, is JVI simply establishing the credibility of this "infallible vicar of Christ?" Could this possibly qualify as a gesture or overture of acceptance to reach charismatic Catholics and their backing? What a perverted sense of Christianity this is that shrouds truth in compromise to form acceptance between Catholics and Evangelicals. David Briggs in an AP news release reports of Pat Robertson, Chuck Colson, and many others who joined with conservative Roman Catholic leaders Tuesday, March 30, 1994, "asking their flocks for a remarkable leap of faith: to finally accept each other as Christians."25 This is the same meeting [see above f.n. 15] which was attended by representatives of the SBC, Rome, Neo-Evangelicals, Charismatics, etc.] JVI resents being associated with men of doubtful positions. My advice: quit acting and looking like them.

JVI closes out the extension of this video with another application of prophetic twist relative to the rapture and the tribulation. He softly retorts, "Rexella, there are some things I never said --- out of respect. But, now the Pope has answered it."26 He quotes from the Book of Revelation and identifies Rome geographically relative to her seven hills etc. He also identifies the rapture of the saints and speaks of the European Community and of all apostate religions left on the earth joining for a one world religion and of a one world government forming after the saints are gone. Then, of all areas of conflict, JVI brings up "the lady of Fatima," her history, and her three secrets given at that time. JVI gives a wishy-washy debiled attempt to disclaim the implications involved in this subject saying:

So he [the Pope believing he should honor Mary who is the lady of Fatima--- KJ] wants to honor the lady of Fatima. Now whether we agree with all these things or now, that's not the point.27

JVI relates of this 3rd secret revealed by Mary, on May the 13th, 1917, appearing in Portugal, is relative to communism and kept secret by the Popes until Pope John Paul II. Note how this is expressed:

The point is that Pope John 23rd was to reveal the 3rd secret and then Pope Paul VI and then Pope John Paul I -- and none of them did it. WHY? Because they did not want to offend the communists.
Jack, (Rexella speaks) that's in the book. Page 634 speaks about the third secret of the lady of Fatima. And Cardinal Ratzinger in recent days is the only one who has known this secret along with Pope John Paul II; it should have been revealed in 60. Now it's revealed; but, now is the hour....The geo-political change implied by the third secret is not far off; it is imminent; it is just about to take place. Russia is its room; Russia is its focal point. Russia is to be the main agent of change. Russia is to be the source of a universal blindness and error. You've spoken so much about Russia coming down and invading Israel so often....
I've preached on the subject of Russia over 40 years and now to hear him say this is the third secret of Fatima....This thing in Sarajevo and this that's happening could be the beginning according to the pontiff.28

Boettner, no friend of premillennialism, reveals the following concerning Fatima of Portugal, her secrets, and their circumstance:

...(T)he Virgin Mary appeared to three children, aged from ten to thirteen, who had never gone to school, and, curiously enough, in messages subsequently released by the church, gave warnings against the evils of communism, messages having more to do with present- day relations between the Vatican and Russia than with anything that might be thought to concern children of those tender ages. Rome's promotion of the Fatima shrine has been coupled with her crusade against Communism.29

Cardinal Ratzinger, mentioned in the JVI quote "in recent days is the only one who has known this secret along with Pope John Paul II," is an interesting figure to validate this 1917 revelation and 3rd secret of Fatima. In his preface to the "Catholic Church And Bible Interpretation" the reader will find he is anything but one who receives Scripture in the literal or normal sense of the word. This major report endorses modern critical scholarship, and condemns the fundamentalists position on the Bible. I might add, it even refers to the five fundamentals of the American Biblical Congress of 1895. One paragraph caught my attention with particular inclination:

The fundamentalist approach is dangerous, for it is attractive to people who look to the Bible for ready answers to the problems of life. It can deceive these people, offering them interpretations that are pious but illusory, instead of telling them that the Bible does not necessarily contain an immediate answer to each and every problem. without saying as much in so many words, fundamentalism actually invites people to a kind of intellectual suicide. It injects into life a false certitude, for it unwittingly confuses the divine substance of the Biblical message with what are in fact its human limitations.30

Without a doubt there is no Biblical reason to hold hands with the likes of those who deny the Word of God and the way of salvation through Christ. This video is closed with Rexella Van Impe saying, "Unity among believers comes from our union with Christ. Let us love one another if we love Him."31 Unity of believers is based on doctrine that is taught in the Word of God; II John 9-11 and many other verses declare this simple plain thrust of the Scriptures. When a brother, note BROTHER, turns from TRUTH, God's Word instructs the believing saint who is confronted with those who walk "contrary to the doctrine ye have learned" and demands they "AVOID" them, (Romans 16:17). Any "Phileocentric Theology" that negates the obedience that calls for LOVE TO GOD to supersede LOVE TO MAN is a false theology based on a false principle, (Acts 5:29 c/f II Chron. 19:2). It produces that which will "help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord." It can even be a danger unto a "Master of Memory-Minister of Compromise."

1 - "Progress Report," June 13, 1983: Jack Van Impe Ministries International.

2 - JVI Ministries International (brochure), Box 7004, Troy, MI 48007.

3 - JVI Ministries International form letter to "Dear Pastors."

4 - Ibid.

5 - J. Van Impe, "Heart Disease In Christ's Body," Perhaps Today, (February/March 1984), p.2.

6 - J. Van Impe, "The Christian's Marching Orders," Perhaps Today, (April/May 1984) p.2.

7 - Ibid., p.3.

8 - Ibid., p.4.

9 - J. Van Impe, "Religious Bigotry or Christian Love," Perhaps Today, (May/June 1985), p.4.

10 - J. Van Impe, "Pope John Paul II, Startling Revelations (Troy: Jack Van Impe Ministries, circa 1994, video tape.

11 - Ibid.

12 - Ibid.

13 - Ibid.

14 - See "Van Impe Praises The Pope," Plains Baptist Challenger, Vol. LIII, No. 4.

15 - Position paper of "Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the Tird Millennium."

16 - Ibid.

17 - Van Impe, op.cit., "The Christian's Marching Orders," p.4.

18 - Knights of Columbus, Catholic Word Book (Hunnington: Our Sunday Visitor, 1973), p.5.

19 - Charles Elliott, Delineation of Roman Catholicism (New York: G. Lane and P. P. Sanford, 1842), Vol. I, p.176.

20 - Barry Conn Hughes, "Twenty-one Ways to Find God," The Canadian Magazine (August 5, 1972), pp. 2- 6.

21 - Van Impe, op.cit., "Pope John Paul II, Startling Revelations," Video Tape.

22 - Ibid.

23 - Ibid.

24 - Ibid.

25 - David Briggs, "Catholics, Evangelicals Seek Mutual Acceptance," The Coloradian (March 30, 1994). p.A6.

26 - op.cit., "Pope John Paul II, Startling Revelations," Video.

27 - Ibid.

28 - Ibid.

29 - Loraine Boettner, Roman Catholicism (London: Banner of Truth Trust, 1962,) p.375.

30 - [Pontifical Biblical Commission], "The Catholic Church and Bible Interpretation," Bible Review, August, 1994, Vol. X, No. 4, p.35.

31 - op.cit., "Pope John Paul II, Startling New Revelations," Video.