Loyal
Ecumenism - Just a fancy word that means Christian of all denominations should strive to work together in order to bring unity to the church.
It sounds good in practice, and I wish, it really was that easy. The thing is, there are hundreds... ( thousands?) of Christian denominations.
Some are accepted as Christian denominations by certain Christians, and others are not. Then you have the whole "What is a Christian"
discussion. Even here on TalkJesus, it seems we rarely agree on the answer to that question.
Why are there so many denominations in the first place? This isn't a new problem, but was a problem even in Biblical times.
1Cor 1:10; Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1Cor 1:11; For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you.
1Cor 1:12; Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ."
1Cor 1:13; Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Admittedly the number of denominations was likely much smaller back then.
I like most Christians wish that in my heart, we could all get along and become one church body again. I think this is what God wants.
But also like just about everyone else... I want us all to become one body.. "that believes most of the same things I believe".
..and there is the problem.. we don't all believe the same things about Jesus/God/Christianity. Hence.. many denominations.
Eph 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Eph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Paul at least, wanted to achieve "the unity of the faith". The unity....of... "the faith". The faith. two simple words that have so many different meanings.
To me.. "the faith" means whatever is closest to the Bible teachings (particularly Jesus). But to other people it means a number of different things. Some of which have nothing to do with the Bible.
So then, if not many of agree on the basic principles of Christianity, or even the definition of Christianity.. how can we ever attain the unity of the faith?
Well, I suppose we can keep arguing about it.. but that doesn't seem to get us anywhere.
Then there is the idea of.. "we will all just agree to disagree". I feel sorry for the moderators of this site... because the members make up so many different denominations and points of view.
In a way, they have to "agree to disagree" just for the sake of the members. I personally don't like this approach, because there is only one truth. The plain and simple fact is...
if we all don't agree, then somebody somewhere is wrong. Somebody believes a lie, a fallacy, a bad doctrine.. whatever you want to call it.
So then, rather than becoming one body at the expense of my beliefs. I would much rather we became one body, in the acceptance of the truth.
Yes, Jesus said He was the truth, and I believe He is. But that's a pretty broad and vague statement. As Pilate asked... What is truth?
Again, for me... it goes back to the Word, the Bible. The very Words of God inspired by the Holy Spirit. It's all there in black and white.
If it's not there, don't believe it. if it is there.. believe it. It's really that simple to me. Jesus is the Word. If you believe in Jesus, you believe the Word.
Now I don't know if we'll ever be able to stop disagreeing and arguing with each other. ( Everyone seems to be offended, and have an opinion )
But is there a way to seek the truth, without arguing? Will we ever really achieve the unity of the faith this side of eternity?
It sounds good in practice, and I wish, it really was that easy. The thing is, there are hundreds... ( thousands?) of Christian denominations.
Some are accepted as Christian denominations by certain Christians, and others are not. Then you have the whole "What is a Christian"
discussion. Even here on TalkJesus, it seems we rarely agree on the answer to that question.
Why are there so many denominations in the first place? This isn't a new problem, but was a problem even in Biblical times.
1Cor 1:10; Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1Cor 1:11; For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you.
1Cor 1:12; Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ."
1Cor 1:13; Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Admittedly the number of denominations was likely much smaller back then.
I like most Christians wish that in my heart, we could all get along and become one church body again. I think this is what God wants.
But also like just about everyone else... I want us all to become one body.. "that believes most of the same things I believe".
..and there is the problem.. we don't all believe the same things about Jesus/God/Christianity. Hence.. many denominations.
Eph 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Eph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Paul at least, wanted to achieve "the unity of the faith". The unity....of... "the faith". The faith. two simple words that have so many different meanings.
To me.. "the faith" means whatever is closest to the Bible teachings (particularly Jesus). But to other people it means a number of different things. Some of which have nothing to do with the Bible.
So then, if not many of agree on the basic principles of Christianity, or even the definition of Christianity.. how can we ever attain the unity of the faith?
Well, I suppose we can keep arguing about it.. but that doesn't seem to get us anywhere.
Then there is the idea of.. "we will all just agree to disagree". I feel sorry for the moderators of this site... because the members make up so many different denominations and points of view.
In a way, they have to "agree to disagree" just for the sake of the members. I personally don't like this approach, because there is only one truth. The plain and simple fact is...
if we all don't agree, then somebody somewhere is wrong. Somebody believes a lie, a fallacy, a bad doctrine.. whatever you want to call it.
So then, rather than becoming one body at the expense of my beliefs. I would much rather we became one body, in the acceptance of the truth.
Yes, Jesus said He was the truth, and I believe He is. But that's a pretty broad and vague statement. As Pilate asked... What is truth?
Again, for me... it goes back to the Word, the Bible. The very Words of God inspired by the Holy Spirit. It's all there in black and white.
If it's not there, don't believe it. if it is there.. believe it. It's really that simple to me. Jesus is the Word. If you believe in Jesus, you believe the Word.
Now I don't know if we'll ever be able to stop disagreeing and arguing with each other. ( Everyone seems to be offended, and have an opinion )
But is there a way to seek the truth, without arguing? Will we ever really achieve the unity of the faith this side of eternity?
