JOHN MICHAEL TALBOT (Monk and Recording Artist)
Reviewing one of his albums: "The Regathering. A call, to gather the dispersed traditions of our Christian heritage to evangelize the world."
Thus begins the description of John Michael Talbot's album; the art work includes pictures of Martin Luther St. Peter's Basilica, St. Bernard, Zwingli, Calvin, St. Paul, John Wesley, Ignatius of Loyola (founder of the Jesuits and two Roman Catholic popes, Gregory the Great and Leo the Great. Talbot is a Franciscan monk whose cassettes are often sold in "Christian" book stores.
Talbot's explanation of this work is that it "is a musical work for Christian unity. Christians must stand together as a unified people to face the awesome challenges of our world. They are too great to face alone, or even as fragmented denominations, fellowships or groups. This is a time that demands unity."
Some of the lyrics appear to give glory to God, but when you read Talbot's explanations, it becomes apparent what the hidden motives really are. In his song, ONE FAITH, Talbot says he "drew from Ignatius of Antioch's ecclesiology of apostolic succession." He makes special mention of Simon Peter's having received the keys of the Kingdom, and speaks of regathering His people back home; into one fold and one faith. Those familiar with Roman Catholic ecclesiology know to what home, fold and faith Talbot is referring.
The theme of BUILD UP is the regathering that will take place as a result of God's forgiving our sin, which occurred in ONE FAITH when God caused the scattering because of false shepherds.
SAY TO THE PRISONER is a call from "Mother" Church, who will not forget her wandering child, to come, as during the trek home they will find green pastures. SEE MY SERVANT, according to Talbot, is meant to usher us through a door to actual fulfillment of the goal of the (prophetic) call; the unified worship. HAVE MERCY contains the actual words of the Kyrie Elieson of the Mass, thus establishing a link between Talbot's ecumenism and the theological center of Roman Catholicism. ALL WHO ARE THIRSTY is a call to the individual for commitment to unity, and symbolizes, for Talbot, "the mingling of water and wine in the Eucharist." The ending is supposed to remind us, says Talbot, "that the work of unity is not complete. It is only beginning,"
I urge Christians to visit their local religious book store and if this title (or any other title by Talbot) is available, to bring the contents to the attention of the owners. Some boycott stores that sell liquor; certainly this poison is even more deadly because of the ecumenical implications of all Talbot's work)