Ecumenism: What it is and why you should care.


 Christianity, the largest religion in the world and sadly the most divide religion the world has ever known. Christians disagree on a number of topics, some minor and others very important, this is obviously a huge issue as it can be a stumbling block to a lot of new believers. Congratulations you have managed to convince someone that God exists, not just that you have somehow managed to convince them that that God can be found in Christianity however it may prove even more difficult to convince them of which church to join. Of course they can just join your own church but is your church the right one? 

If Christ and his apostles taught one Gospel, why do we hear numerous different Gospels from Christian pulpits today. Believe it or not things were not always like this, in fact centuries after Jesus and his apostles died there was one Christian church. that's right just one! Isn't that exciting, 1600 years ago you didn't need to worry if you were attending the "right church" and there is no doubt that, that church was a true church, scratch that, it was the true church. So what happened to that church? is it alive today? Sadly that church has splintered into several denominations over four big splits that occurred throughout her history. How do we return to that state of being one church again, what's the solution?

Ecumenism is the concept in which Christians of differing denominations attempt to resolve their differences through meaningful dialogue. You may ask: "why should i care about this? Its just me and my Jesus anyway". The truth is the current state of Christianity is stopping a lot of people from coming to Christ and this isn't a problem with Christianity, its a problem caused by Christians and it is that sort of apathy that has been one of the main causes for disunity in the Church for the past 1600 years. Let us not also forget first and foremost that our Lord commands us to be one we see this in his high priestly prayer: John 17: 20 I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (ESV)

Our Lord prayed to the Father in his high priestly prayer three times that we may be one and he also says that our unity will be a testament to non-believers that he was sent from the Father and not only that, but also proof of the love the Father has for us. According to Jesus our disunity speaks volumes not just about us but about himself and his Father. The current state of the Church is nothing short of utter and complete disobedience to the commands of the one we claim to love  John 14: 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.(ESV)

This blog is a place where I will attempt to tackle different issues that Christians disagree on ,Church history, arguments for theism and against atheism and general apologetics, in hopes of moving the conversations forward and making people understand the views others have and sympathize with them. If that sounds interesting to you, pop back in and give me a read.

  

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