Christian Unity

[Abiel]

I am involved in the planning of the UK week of Christian Unity service in my town this year. This is really challenging stuff. There is a prayer in the material provided, which contains a line which I cant remember off the top of my head, but along the lines of 'giving up those things which stand between us'

What do you think we Salvationists should be prepared to give up in the interests of Christian Unity?

 

[Andy Broadley]

I am involved in the planning of the UK week of Christian Unity service in my town this year. This is really challenging stuff. There is a prayer in the material provided, which contains a line which I cant remember off the top of my head, but along the lines of 'giving up those things which stand between us'

What do you think we Salvationists should be prepared to give up in the interests of Christian Unity?

Hmmm....good thread Abiel.

I'll post properly later, gotta run right now.

 

[catlover]

I am involved in the planning of the UK week of Christian Unity service in my town this year. This is really challenging stuff. There is a prayer in the material provided, which contains a line which I cant remember off the top of my head, but along the lines of 'giving up those things which stand between us'

What do you think we Salvationists should be prepared to give up in the interests of Christian Unity?

I think giving up something from your faith,for the sake of unjity, is a very bad idea.

 

[elm0]

I think giving up something from your faith,for the sake of unjity, is a very bad idea.

I don't think they're talking about compromising your faith catlover, after all we're all Christians and should have the same base for our faith, Jesus. I think it's more about each denomination putting aside rituals/ceremonies, and embracing fellow Christians as the brothers and sisters that they are.

 

[InTheFlame]

Pride. Arrogance. Self-righteousness

(I'm not saying these are hallmarks of Salvationists, btw )

 

[Abiel]

Pride. Arrogance. Self-righteousness

(I'm not saying these are hallmarks of Salvationists, btw )

but I think they are often displayed when we talk about what makes us different to other churches.

 

[TheDag]

I am involved in the planning of the UK week of Christian Unity service in my town this year. This is really challenging stuff. There is a prayer in the material provided, which contains a line which I cant remember off the top of my head, but along the lines of 'giving up those things which stand between us'

What do you think we Salvationists should be prepared to give up in the interests of Christian Unity?

There is a saying of which I can't remember who first said it but it goes
In essentials unity
In non-essentials liberty
and in all things charity (love)

It sounds like the aim of the prayer is that where we have differing beliefs then if it is a non-essential then just let it be. To do this you need to know what is essential. The leader at my corp when asked how many essentials there were said alot less than eleven. I'm not sure what essentials are (still trying to decide on that) but things like doctrine 9 might be a non-essential and something that could be given up. I certainly agree with it but I wouldn't think it is something worth debating.

 

[InTheFlame]

I was about to say "St Augustine", then thought about other stuff I've learnt about him and thought, 'that's a bit weird...'

Turns out, it's commonly attributed to him but doesn't appear in any of his writings still around today. Apparently Rupertus Meldenius is the best guess for author, according to modern scholars? Source.

 

[catlover]

I don't think they're talking about compromising your faith catlover, after all we're all Christians and should have the same base for our faith, Jesus. I think it's more about each denomination putting aside rituals/ceremonies, and embracing fellow Christians as the brothers and sisters that they are.

Christians can embrace Christians who practice Christianity without putting aside their rituals.

Certain rituals are very important and key to denominations. I don't think the Episcopalians, Anglicans, or Roman Catholics would give up The Eucharist,nor should they, that's a big part of their service.

As for Baptists their rituals is baptism.

I think we can cooporate and love each other and maintain what makes us unique.

 

[elm0]

Christians can embrace Christians who practice Christianity without putting aside their rituals.

Certain rituals are very important and key to denominations.

Yes, certain rituals are important to certain denominations, and that's why I said 'put aside' not 'give up'. By put aside, I meant that when meeting together with fellow believers, not to always expect things to be done their way. I've previously been involved in organising combined churches meetings, and unfortunately I have seen too many disagreements between Christians because they do things differently in their churches, even within the same denomination! I suppose the order of service can also be counted as a ritual, if you do everything in the same order every service. Should we expect that this will still happen when meeting together with other Christians?

I think we can cooporate and love each other and maintain what makes us unique.

I think we can too, as long as we don't expect each other to conform to our denomination's uniqueness, which is the case if our traditions and rituals aren't left at our church. What I'm trying to say is that when uniting with other Christians, we need to focus on what joins us together (Jesus) and leave out those things that could separate. After all, we should all be focussing on Jesus anyway, so it shouldn't be too difficult.

 

[Abiel]

* Abiel puts her neck on the block


I think we are probably a bit stubborn about baptism and communion, and should probably admit we have to do some serious thinking about these.

* Abiel waits for the axe to fall!