‎[Greek] οἰκουμένη (oikoumenē), [Latin] orbe

‎[Greek] οἰκουμένη (oikoumenē), [Latin] orbe: world, inhabited earth, all over the world; Lk.4:5, Rom. 10:18, Act.11:28, Act.17:6, Act. 24:5, Lk.2:1, Lk. 21:26, Act. 17:31, Rev.3:10, Rev. 12:9

Oikoumene: The Greek World

Background Information:

Greek Hellenism: This term means inhabited region, Greek world, barbarian lands, the whole world, and Roman world.

Demosthenes’ On the Halonnesus 7.35: “He will not restore your possessions, for he claims them as his own, and his rewards will not be delivered in this part of the world, for fear his motive should be misrepresented to the Greeks; some other country, it seems, new quarter will assigned for the bestowal of your rewards.”

Demosthenes’ On the Crown 18.48: “Since then the whole world has become crowded with men exiled, punished in every conceivable way.”

New Testament: This term means the world, empire, earth, people, humankind, and entire world.

Oikumene: The Roman world

Scripture:

Mt.24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come.” (All the nations refer to the Gentiles. These inhabited lands were more or less consisting of the Roman Empire. The end shall not be until the gospel has done its work.)

Lk.2:1:“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.” (The whole world is Rome, Italy, and the Roman provinces.)

Caesar Augustus’ reign:

1. The reign of Augustus is usually dated from 27 BC to 14 AD.
2. Augustus was regarded as savior, god, and peace-maker (pax Augustus).
3. Luke intentionally defines Jesus as savior, God, and peace-maker in contrast to Augustus.
4. Augustus is simply God’s agent who provides the occasion for God’s purposes to bring Jesus into the world.
5. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were residents, not refugees, under the Roman Empire.

Lk.4:5: “The devil took Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant.” (The kingdoms of the world are the areas of the world which are inhabited by man. The devil had been granted power and glory of these kingdoms. The devil could give this power to any one he wished.)

Satan’s power and authority in the world:

1. Mt.4:9: Satan will grant these kingdoms of the world if you prostrate and worship him.
2. Jn.12:31: Satan is the ruler (prince) of the world.
3. Eph.2:2: Satan is the ruler of power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the world.
4. Eph.6:12: Principalities, powers, world rulers of present darkness, evil spirits in the heavens.

Acts 17:6: “The Jews shouted, ‘These people [Paul and Silas] have been creating a disturbance all over the world have now come here.'” (In the synagogue in Thessalonica, Paul stated that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. But the Jews became jealous and gathered a mob in protests. The Jews accused Paul was supporting another king, Jesus, in defiance of the Caesar’s decree.)

Acts 17:31: “[In speaking to the Athenians], Paul states, ‘God has established a day on which He will judge the world with justice through a man He has appointed.'” (Paul acknowledges the Athenians’ religiosity, but states we have a God who does not need to served by human hands but made the whole human race. This God has overlooked the peoples’ ignorance, but now demand that all people repent.)

Acts 19:27: “The danger grows, not only that our business will be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be of no account, and all the world worship will be stripped of her magnificence.” (The silversmiths claimed that Paul has ‘misled’ a great number of people by saying that the gods made by hands are not gods at all. Paul was seen as undermining the silversmiths’ paganism and livelihood.)

Acts 24:5: “We found this man [Paul] to be a pest; he creates dissension among the Jews all over the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazoreans.”

Pest: one who corrupts the morals of others, a seditious person, a wicked person

Dissension: an advocate of sedition, doctrines contrary to laws and customs of Moses, a crime severely punished by the Romans

World: the Roman Empire

Sect: part, precursor

Nazarenes: a name given to Christians by way of contempt, those from Judea, Jesus was a Nazarean

Pope Paul VI posing with six Protestant theologians who took part in a commission to write the New Mass. Their task was to “Protestantize” the Mass.  LET THAT SINK IN!

Etymology: The Greek noun oikos means home. The Greek verb meno- means to remain.

Changing Church teachings for purposes of being ecumenical.

1. Pre-Vatican II: The Church of Christ IS the Catholic Church.  (“Outside the Church there is NO salvation.” The Church remains a divine institution separate from the world.)
2. Vatican II: The Church of Christ SUBSISTS in the Catholic Church. Any concept of the Catholic as being necessary for salvation has been minimized or eroded in order to be ecumenical. Non-Catholics were significantly involved.
3. Synodality: Jesus’ divine Church is becoming transformed into worldly synodal “listening” Church made in the image of man and his lived experiences. Clergy, lay Catholics, lay non-Catholics are now involved in defining the Church: decision making authority regarding vocations, Church organization, Church teachings, and Church doctrine. Laity is not also involved in part in deciding Church doctrine ===> huge red flag.

What can be concluded from this?

1. In the past: ecumenism meant bringing the faithful INTO the fullness of the Truth in the Catholic Church.
2. Now: ecumenism means the Catholic Church seeking agreement or accommodation [with other faiths] OUTSIDE the Catholic Church.

What are the consequences of this? More liturgical and doctrinal confusion and ambiguity, confusion about vocations/rights, changing or re-organizing Church organization, intermingling clergy and laity decision-making authority, increasing worldliness and politics in the Church, ignoring the Church’s primary mission to BRING SOULS INTO HEAVEN, become a Church for what the laity want, a church becoming more human and less divine.

More questionable statements from Pope Leo:

1. “We have to change attitudes before we ever change doctrine.” (Pope Leo is actually open to changing doctrine to accommodate peoples’ beliefs and attitudes. Could this then potentially later be applicable to homosexuality and women deacons? This is very troubling!)
2. Pope Leo at his first consistory: Quoting Pope Paul VI, Pope Leo stated that the Church embarked on a new path “to seek the truth by way of ecumenism, interreligious dialogue, and dialogue with people of good will.” (Since the Catholic Church already has the fullness of Truth, why is Pope Leo seeking truth OUTSIDE THE CHURCH by ecumenism and interreligious dialogue? It is because of Synodality!)

Quotes by Bishop Strickland:

“If you view the Church as DIVINE: doctrine should be binding for all time, guarding doctrine, and NOT subject to revision.”  (This is the Church before Vatican II.)

“If you view the Church as merely HUMAN: then doctrine can be reshaped, softened, managed, negotiated, or set aside for the sake of unity with other faiths.” (This is the modern Church since Vatican II.)

Religious indifferentism: This heresy is the belief that all religions are equal paths to God or that religion is not necessary at all.

1. Pope Francis: found himself in making questionable and heretical statements about ecumenism. “All religions are path to God.”
2. Pope Leo: he suggested omitting the Filioque clause from the Nicene Creed to seek unity with the Eastern Church. This sounds like forsaking unity at the cost of doctrine.

Conclusion:

Ecumenical, ecumenism, orbit

Update: Since Vatican II and with Synodality, the Church seems to focus more on ecumenism, listening, and walking together rather than preaching the gospel and making disciples of all nations.

Rather than fulfilling the Church’s primary mission to BRING SOULS INTO HEAVEN, it focuses more MAKING A BETTER WORLD/SEEKING FAVOR WITH THE WORLD.

Contrary to public belief, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were NOT refugees. They were residents who moved from one region to another under the Roman empire. Recently, some clergy and laity seek to politicize the manger (inserting ICE as an governmental despot).

The devil’s domain resides in earthly kingdoms of the world. The devil often seeks to seduce us with worldly desires: idols, sin, fame, wealth, money, notoriety, and power. The devil also seek to distract us from God with busyness, spiritual dryness, and worldliness. ALL THE DEVIL NEEDS TO DO IS TO MAKE US FORGET ABOUT GOD!

All of us have heard that proverbial notion of someone “signing his/her soul to the devil”. I would say that this actually happens more frequently than we may think.

In the Synodal Church, Synodality (lived experiences, tolerance, inclusion, false compassion) often take precedence over Church teachings, doctrine, and Jesus’ statements. This is Synodality becoming elevated as an IDOL.

Ecumenical misleading: “Church teachings against LGBTQ are clear.” (Making this statement when actions say otherwise is essentially paying lip service to Church teachings.)

1. Yet we have many pro-LGBTQ clergy [in high positions in the Church] seeking to promote this agenda contradicting Church teachings. (This comes from continually making scandalous appointments.)
2. We have clergy who engage in this homosexual lifestyle. (These are clergy who think there is nothing wrong with this lifestyle.)
3. We have clergy who remain silent on Church teachings against homosexuality. (When the laity hear this, they may also think that there is nothing wrong with this lifestyle.)
4. Fudicia Supplicans states that Church teachings against homosexuality but then also allows “non-liturgical blessings” for same sex unions. (This documents leads same-sex couples to believe that this lifestyle can be blessed. This document further promotes confusion and ambiguity.)
5. We have LGBTQ Masses allowing LGBTQ “Catholics” living the homosexual lifestyle receiving the Eucharist. (There is no mention of receiving the Eucharist in a sinful state.)
6. We have Pope Leo approving the Vatican LGBTQ Jubilee. (We have very few clergy protesting because they are fearful of the repercussions of potential criticism from the LGBTQ community.)
7. This is a clear example of how Synodality (inclusion, tolerance, and false compassion) TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER Church teachings. 

The Novus Order Mass: the focus of this Mass is on a COMMUNITY MEAL, rather than a sacrifice. This is a result of the influence of Protestant theologian commission in formulating this Mass.

The Novus Order Mass: there continues to be a sparse attendance by Catholics. Are you surprised?

The Traditional Latin Mass: the focus is on the SACRIFICE. Attendance continues to thrive (where allowed). Are you surprised?

Vatican II just celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Vatican II document Nostra Aetate on the relationships with Non-Catholics. (This is celebrating not bringing in the faithful into the Catholic Church but ecumenism with other faiths.)

“The most deadly poison of our time is indifference.” St. Maximillian Kolbe

“No one in the world can change Truth.” St. Maximillian Kolbe

“Those wretches tainted with the error of Indifferentism and Modernism hold that dogmatic truth is not absolute, but relative, that it must adapt itself to the vary necessities of the times.” Pope Pius XI

“The greatest obstacle in the apostolate of the Church is the timidity or rather, the cowardice of the faithful.” St. Pope Pius X

“We must strip from our Catholic prayers from the Catholic liturgy which can be a shadow of a stumbling block for our separated brethren (the Protestants). Fr. Annibale Bugnini  (This Cardinal was instrumental in influencing the creation of the NO Mass at Vatican II.)