Let’s stop with this nonsense of tearing the Body of Christ apart. The notion of dividing Christians one against the other is rooted in nothing but evil.
I found this at the Acton Institute Blog earlier today. It might be good for everyone to read it in full. I share an excerpt:
“Last night a band of hearty travelers braved the first snow of the season here in Grand Rapids (and the attendant slick and dangerous roads) to hear Dr. John H. Armstrong speak at the November/December Acton on Tap, “Ecumenism and the Threat of Ideology.” Dr. Armstrong is founder of ACT 3 and adjunct professor of evangelism at Wheaton College.
Armstrong spent some time discussing the thesis of his book, Your Church is Too Small: Why Unity in Christ’s Mission Is Vital to the Future of the Church. A recurring theme was the phrase coined by Timothy George, “ecumenism in the trenches,” which is sometimes how we describe what we do here at Acton. The basic point of Armstrong’s book is that Christians must be able to come together to work in concrete ways in order to be an effective and faithful witness to Jesus Christ in the culture and the world.
As Peter writes, we are to “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Peter 2:12 NIV). Undoubtedly this call to live “good lives” means showing love to other people, “especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10 NIV).”
Acton on Tap: Ecumenism and the Threat of Ideology
http://blog.acton.org/
And, of course, let’s not forget the last prayer of Jesus before He went to be with the Father:
20
“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
21
so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.
22
And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one,
23
I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. (John 17)
May God grant us all HIS Holy Spirit to grow us in the gifts and fruits of that same Spirit. Amen
Ecumenism is an attempt to overthrow the true Gospel of Jesus Christ by overwhelming it with false religions in a democratic consensus. (National Council of Churches, World Council of Churches, etc.)
>> Let’s stop with this nonsense of tearing the Body of Christ apart.
Excellent characterization.
We are Christians first and foremost.
Bigger battles abound.