TBN presents “The Journey”?

I don’t normally publish two posts in one day, but events prompted me to quickly put together this impromptu critique.

Readers of this blog know I’m not a fan of Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). The cable network specializes in “health and wealth,” prosperity-gospel tele-shysters and other manifestations of aberrant, pseudo-Christianity.

While I was channel surfing last night, I came across TBN-owners, Matt and Laurie Crouch, hawking their upcoming TBN-produced film, “The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli,” due in theaters nationwide for four nights, April 2-4 and April 6, preceding Easter weekend.

I knew popular tenor singer, Bocelli, was a “devout” Roman Catholic, so what exactly does this “journey” entail? The official, on-line promotion (see below) says the film follows “Bocelli and his wife Veronica as they travel through Italy’s beautiful terrain on horseback to complete parts of the unforgettable Via Francigena — a historical pilgrimage in which Christians journey to Rome to worship at grand cathedrals and visit the burial sites of revered saints and apostles.”

The promo also states that the film features a “blessing by Pope Francis.”

So what we have with this TBN-produced film is “devout” Roman Catholic, Bocelli, journeying along the Italian portion of this Via Francigena Catholic pilgrimage route, stopping at several Catholic churches along the way, including St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, all under the supposedly auspicious blessings of pope Francis. From the preview clips it’s clear there will be lots of impressive scenery and music.

This upcoming “The Journey” is currently being heavily promoted by TBN. What is the message the unwitting, mostly-Protestant viewers of TBN will understand by these promos and by “The Journey” itself? The message from the Crouches is that pope Francis and the Roman Catholic church teach the genuine Gospel. But is that true? Pope Francis and the Roman Catholic church teach that salvation is by sacramental grace and merit. They teach this unabashedly and without apology.

“Since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace, no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification, at the beginning of conversion (i.e., baptismal regeneration – Tom). Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the attainment of eternal life.“ – Catechism of the Catholic Church, para. 2010.

But God’s Word teaches salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. The two gospels are irreconcilable. One is right and one is wrong. They cannot both be right. This movie will undoubtedly be pleasing to both the eye and to the ear, but it’s seductive spiritual rat poison.

Shame on the Crouches and TBN for yet another anti-Gospel message in addition to thousands of others.

The Journey – TBN press release
https://www.tbn.org/press-releases/tbn-presents-journey-music-special-andrea-bocelli-coming-theaters-nationwide