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Christian unity demands encounter – not theory, says Pope
EWTN News/CNA ^ | Jan 25, 2015 | Ann Schneible

Posted on 01/27/2015 1:24:04 AM PST by Grateful2God

More than “theoretical discussions,” what unites Christians is encounter, and a willingness to “challenge one another,” said Pope Francis as he marked the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

“Christian unity will not be the fruit of subtle theoretical discussions in which each party tries to convince the other of the soundness of their opinions,” the Pope said during vespers at Saint Paul Outside the Walls Basilica on Jan. 25.

“To plumb the depths of the mystery of God, we need one another, we need to encounter one another and to challenge one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who harmonizes diversities and overcomes conflicts,” he said. ...

...“So many past controversies between Christians can be overcome when we put aside all polemical or apologetic approaches, and seek instead to grasp more fully what unites us, namely, our call to share in the mystery of the Father’s love revealed to us by the Son through the Holy Spirit.” ...

(Excerpt) Read more at ewtnnews.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Ecumenism; Ministry/Outreach
KEYWORDS: christianunity; dialogue; peace; popefrancis
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Invite a fellow Christian Ping!
1 posted on 01/27/2015 1:24:05 AM PST by Grateful2God
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To: NYer; Salvation; defconw; MamaB; RnMomof7; Iscool; GBA; GreyFriar; Morgana; FamiliarFace; ...
Common ground, Christian encounter, Invite a Friend PING!

God bless all of us: and may the Holy Spirit be with us!

Prayer For Peace

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

AMEN

2 posted on 01/27/2015 1:57:53 AM PST by Grateful2God (That those from diverse religious traditions and all people of good will may work together for peace)
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To: Grateful2God

“To plumb the depths of the mystery of God”

Dear Pope, there is no mystery of God, it is all in the Bible. You might want to read it sometime.


3 posted on 01/27/2015 2:42:19 AM PST by ImNotLying (Any gun in the hands of a decent person is only a threat to those who intend to do harm.)
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To: ImNotLying
Dear Pope, there is no mystery of God, it is all in the Bible. You might want to read it sometime.

All that God wants us to know.

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
Deuteronomy 29:29
4 posted on 01/27/2015 2:48:30 AM PST by Old Yeller (Civil rights are for civilized people.)
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To: ImNotLying

But isn’t God infinite? More even then all the books in the world could hold, just about what Jesus did on earth. Why put limits on God? Hasn’t He done something in your life, you, personally, have you not been affected by Him on any way? That’s what this is about... Give glory to Him!


5 posted on 01/27/2015 2:56:29 AM PST by Grateful2God (That those from diverse religious traditions and all people of good will may work together for peace)
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To: Old Yeller

That’s exactly what the Holy Father means! My Mom survived cancer against all odds when I was just a baby! The doctors never figured out why. I praise God every day of my life for that miracle! Don’t you have something to thank or praise Him for?


6 posted on 01/27/2015 3:00:08 AM PST by Grateful2God (That those from diverse religious traditions and all people of good will may work together for peace)
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To: Grateful2God

Francis Schaeffer: The Mark of the Christian

http://www.ccel.us/schaeffer.html


7 posted on 01/27/2015 3:02:26 AM PST by don-o (He will not share His glory and He will NOT be mocked! Blessed be the name of the Lord forever!)
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To: don-o
"If the world does not see (our love), it will not believe that Christ was sent by the Father. People will not believe only on the basis of the proper answers. The two should not be placed in antithesis. The world must have the proper answers to their honest questions, but at the same time, there must be a oneness in love between all true Christians. This is what is needed if men are to know that Jesus was sent by the Father and that Christianity is true."

Of course, Schaeffer has disagreement and criticism of the Roman Catholic church. But, imo, this should not obscure the major points he is making in this little book.

Of course, the disagreement is all some will ever want to talk about.

8 posted on 01/27/2015 3:10:26 AM PST by don-o (He will not share His glory and He will NOT be mocked! Blessed be the name of the Lord forever!)
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To: Grateful2God

All I know is that if the Pope does not accept Jesus Christ into his heart as his Lord and Savior, confess his sins and repent, then the Pope is not going to be favorably judged I am afraid.


9 posted on 01/27/2015 3:10:40 AM PST by ImNotLying (Any gun in the hands of a decent person is only a threat to those who intend to do harm.)
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To: don-o

“If, when we feel we must disagree as true Christians, we could simply guard our tongues and speak in love, in five or ten years the bitterness could be gone. Instead of that, we leave scars — a curse for generations. Not just a curse in the church, but a curse in the world.

The world looks, shrugs its shoulders and turns away. It has not seen even the beginning of a living church in the midst of a dying culture. It has not seen the beginning of what Jesus indicates is the final apologetic — observable oneness among true Christians who are truly brothers in Christ. Our sharp tongues, the lack of love between us — not the necessary statements of differences that may exist between true Christians — these are what properly trouble the world. “


10 posted on 01/27/2015 3:17:51 AM PST by don-o (He will not share His glory and He will NOT be mocked! Blessed be the name of the Lord forever!)
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To: Grateful2God

For the Pope and those who follow him, Christian unity means believing in the Pope (and Catholic doctrine).


11 posted on 01/27/2015 3:19:47 AM PST by fatboy
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To: Grateful2God

> Don’t you have something to thank or praise Him for?

It would take months if I sat down and thought about it. Even just being able to express this on a tablet from the confines of my warm home with hot coffee brewing is testament to that...: )


12 posted on 01/27/2015 3:23:48 AM PST by jsanders2001
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To: don-o

Thank you! Bookmarked, and partly read this far! That’s the spirit- we love Jesus and show that love by loving one another! Though times may be ahead. We are going to have to stand together with courage as followers of Jesus Christ! We need to give one another the love and support it takes to live a Christian life in a secular world! Great post! Thanks again, and my prayers for you, our dear Mrs. D, and all your loved ones! God bless you!


13 posted on 01/27/2015 3:41:43 AM PST by Grateful2God (That those from diverse religious traditions and all people of good will may work together for peace)
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To: don-o

“Of course, Schaeffer has disagreement and criticism of the Roman Catholic church. But, imo, this should not obscure the major points he is making in this little book.”

No sweat- He still speaks about love as part of being a Christian! Jesus loved us unto folly, as it is written, by taking on our human nature and dying for our sins! We need to show His love to the world. Look at the best things Mother Teresa accomplished- out of love for God and for all men!


14 posted on 01/27/2015 3:47:09 AM PST by Grateful2God (That those from diverse religious traditions and all people of good will may work together for peace)
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To: ImNotLying

He is Catholic, we accept Jesus at Baptism and affirm that acceptance at Confirmation. He not only accepted Jesus, but 1.2 billion others besides, and anyone else seeking God- check pit the rest of the article! Good bless you!


15 posted on 01/27/2015 3:51:14 AM PST by Grateful2God (That those from diverse religious traditions and all people of good will may work together for peace)
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To: Grateful2God
I agree - "No sweat" in light of the of the two main things that our Lord is declaring when He gives clear instructions on how He requires Christians to behave. We are to love one another in a way that is observable:

So that the world may know

1. That we are His disciples
and

2. That He has been sent by the Father.

16 posted on 01/27/2015 3:53:33 AM PST by don-o (He will not share His glory and He will NOT be mocked! Blessed be the name of the Lord forever!)
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To: jsanders2001

Amen! For the roof over my head, the food on my table. So many things to thank Him and praise Him for! I love those simple, quiet times when you’re just grateful for peace in your heart and getting through the day with a smile or two: God has blessed you with gratitude- may it continue to grow, and may He continue to bless you!


17 posted on 01/27/2015 3:56:07 AM PST by Grateful2God (That those from diverse religious traditions and all people of good will may work together for peace)
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To: don-o

We have to show it! What we do for others and how we do it, shows our love! My Dad worked in a cold damp garage with holes in the bottoms of his boots- so he could use the boot money to give me a Christmas when i was a kid. Love sometimes requires sacrifice, but true love lightens the burden as Jesus said, “Take up My yoke and learn from Me... for My yoke is easy and my burden is light!”


18 posted on 01/27/2015 4:03:15 AM PST by Grateful2God (That those from diverse religious traditions and all people of good will may work together for peace)
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To: Grateful2God; Tax-chick; GregB; SumProVita; narses; bboop; SevenofNine; Ronaldus Magnus; tiki; ...

Ping!


19 posted on 01/27/2015 4:07:12 AM PST by NYer (Without justice - what else is the State but a great band of robbers? - St. Augustine)
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To: fatboy

Read the entire article! He speaks of the Love of Jesus; the mercy to the Samaritan woman aft the well! I posted this, and I believe in it, of we stick with our common ground, our experiences in life where the Love of Jesus had been evident! In our love of Him and our gratitude for His Sacrifice on the Cross! In the shu coming up in the morning, and the people we love around us! God bless you!


20 posted on 01/27/2015 4:09:32 AM PST by Grateful2God (That those from diverse religious traditions and all people of good will may work together for peace)
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