Christian unity

[ziapueblo]

So I was speaking to a non-Catholic Christian friend about Jesus’ prayer to His Father that we may all be one. The topic came up because I brought up this article with him.

Long story short, he “directed” me to a website that had a long article about Christian unity. This is just part of it:

What kind of unity?
The first order of business, then, is for us to understand what kind of unity Jesus is (and is not) asking for.

He is not asking for organizational unity between churches. Although this may come to our minds first, and though the church has often tried to achieve organizational unity over the past 20 centuries, there is no indication in this passage (or any other New Testament passage) that God prioritizes this kind of unity. In fact, attempts to achieve this kind of unity have often done more harm than good in drawing people to Christ (ROMAN CATHOLICISM & ORTHODOXY; PROTESTANT ECUMENCIAL MOVEMENT).

He is not talking primarily about spiritual unity shared by all Christians. I say “primarily” because Jesus does refer to this in this prayer. When he speaks of a union between Christians that is connected to his union with the Father and our union with him, he is talking about the “mystical union” of Christians. The moment you receive Christ, you are indwelt with the same Holy Spirit that indwells all other true Christians, and thus you are united with them on a profound spiritual level. This is very important, but it is not what Jesus asks for. This unity is complete and invisible, but the unity Jesus prays for is something that is observable to non-Christians and it is a unity that needs to be completed.

He is talking primarily about relational “community” between individual Christians. This is clear for two main reasons:

Jesus asks for a unity that will somehow show non-Christians that God loves Christians the same way he loved Jesus (17:23). So it is an observable unity that displays God’s unique love among Christians.

Jesus’ parallel statement in Jn. 13:34,35 confirms this (read). Just as Jesus asks one preeminent request in 17:21-23, he gives one preeminent command in this passage. He wants us to love each another in the same way that he loves us so that those who don’t know him will recognize us as his followers, and be drawn by this to believe in him, too.

What is the best way to respond to this article? I’m not at home and I do not have my copy of the CCC. Is there anything in the Catechism that speaks about unity among Christians?

Thanks,
ZP

 

[ipwnuathalo]

What is the best way to respond to this article?

“You say so.”

 

[PraRFLEsEkHm]

I’m not sure what you might have issue with regarding this…it seems to be fine to me

There is more about unity in general - but these seem to be the relevant paragraphs in the CCC. From 820 on speaks directly to the prayer of Christ…

817 In fact, "in this one and only Church of God from its very beginnings there arose certain rifts, which the Apostle strongly censures as damnable. But in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions appeared and large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church - for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame."269 The ruptures that wound the unity of Christ’s Body - here we must distinguish heresy, apostasy, and schism270 - do not occur without human sin:

Where there are sins, there are also divisions, schisms, heresies, and disputes. Where there is virtue, however, there also are harmony and unity, from which arise the one heart and one soul of all believers.271

818 "However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers . . . . All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church."272

819 "Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth"273 are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: "the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements."274 Christ’s Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him,275 and are in themselves calls to "Catholic unity."276

Toward unity

820 "Christ bestowed unity on his Church from the beginning. This unity, we believe, subsists in the Catholic Church as something she can never lose, and we hope that it will continue to increase until the end of time."277 Christ always gives his Church the gift of unity, but the Church must always pray and work to maintain, reinforce, and perfect the unity that Christ wills for her. This is why Jesus himself prayed at the hour of his Passion, and does not cease praying to his Father, for the unity of his disciples: "That they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us, . . . so that the world may know that you have sent me."278 The desire to recover the unity of all Christians is a gift of Christ and a call of the Holy Spirit.279

821 Certain things are required in order to respond adequately to this call:

• a permanent renewal of the Church in greater fidelity to her vocation; such renewal is the driving-force of the movement toward unity;280
• conversion of heart as the faithful “try to live holier lives according to the Gospel”;281 for it is the unfaithfulness of the members to Christ’s gift which causes divisions;
• prayer in common, because “change of heart and holiness of life, along with public and private prayer for the unity of Christians, should be regarded as the soul of the whole ecumenical movement, and merits the name 'spiritual ecumenism;”'282
• fraternal knowledge of each other;283
• ecumenical formation of the faithful and especially of priests;284
• dialogue among theologians and meetings among Christians of the different churches and communities;285
• collaboration among Christians in various areas of service to mankind.286 “Human service” is the idiomatic phrase.

822 Concern for achieving unity "involves the whole Church, faithful and clergy alike."287 But we must realize “that this holy objective - the reconciliation of all Christians in the unity of the one and only Church of Christ - transcends human powers and gifts.” That is why we place all our hope "in the prayer of Christ for the Church, in the love of the Father for us, and in the power of the Holy Spirit."288

Pax

John

 

[ipwnuathalo]

You asked a question. I gave an answer. The best way to respond to a completely unsupported assertion is to simply challenge it. “You say so. So what?”

 

[PraRFLEsEkHm]

You asked a question. I gave an answer. The best way to respond to a completely unsupported assertion is to simply challenge it. “You say so. So what?”

ummmm…I’m not sure if you were responding to me or not - since I’m the only other person to respond to this so far…but i was responding to the OP…??

Pax

John

 

[ipwnuathalo]

Sure, I’m just creating a new reality in my head, apparently.

 

[JRKH]

So I was speaking to a non-Catholic Christian friend about Jesus’ prayer to His Father that we may all be one. The topic came up because I brought up this article with him.

Long story short, he “directed” me to a website that had a long article about Christian unity. This is just part of it:

What is the best way to respond to this article? I’m not at home and I do not have my copy of the CCC. Is there anything in the Catechism that speaks about unity among Christians?

Thanks,
ZP

My response to this is to try and get him ot consider Christ’s words in John 17:21
… that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Is Christs mind and being seperate from God’s? Can Christ have seperate, even opposing beliefs from the father and still remain "one with Him?.
If not then how can different Christian groups hold differing and opposing beliefs and still claim to be fulfilling the prayer to be one as Christ and the Father are one?
Can’t be done.

It’s easy to take this verse and then find other verses to support it. This occurs all the time. Tell this person that you can find verses that support your view that God DID intend an authoritative Church with authority to bind and loose and make doctrinal determination fo the universal church.
When He tells you that these verses don’t mean that, then calmly explain to him that Christ told us how to resolve such issues by “telling it to the church” (Mt 18:17) and then abiding by the decision of the Church, If he squawks that the passage in Mt 18 speaks of your brother “sinning”, ask him if spreading a false gospel or a false doctrine is a sin or not. He will have to admit that spreading false doctrine is sinful so then Mt 18 applies.
Then ask him which church authority should the two of you take this matter to for a definative and authoritative answer - Since the Bible alone is not sufficient to resolve the matter, containing as it does passages that can support both views.

The Father, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, The Church -
One. - One mind - One heart - one Being - that is to be one with God.
To be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect (Mt 5:48)
Christ founded One Church with Authority to “bind and Loose” (Mt 16:17-19 and Mt 18: 15-18) He also gave those he put in charge of that church (the apostles and their successors) the power to forgive sins.

God is of one mind - from the largest concept to the smallest detail. One Mind, One Heart, One Love. Christ United with God, One with God, is also of one mind, heart and love. The Church likewise is of one mind, heart, and love.
God’s one mind, shared with Christ, cannot teach opposing views on the same issues. Such seperation does not fit with being One - As Christ and the Father are one. For Christ and the Father are of the same essence, the same “being”, not seperate beings. That kind of oneness is total - not partial.

Sorry if this is a bit disconnected. It’s late.

Peace
james