Ecumenism as far back as the Gospels!

[HillbillyHermit]

Reading some of the things said online and in person between Catholics and Protestants I kept thinking, “Isn’t there something in the Bible about this, even back when Jesus walked among us?” Thankfully for the computer, a search was easy for someone who can rarely remember book, chapter, and verse.

49 John answered, “Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us.”
50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him; for he that is not against you is for you.” (Luke (RSV) 9)

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us.”
39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me.
40 For he that is not against us is for us.
41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward. (Mark (RSV) 9)

I know, there are theological, etc. differences, but it fascinates me how there were those who…I guess you could say…weren’t members of the Church that were bringing His love, mercy, and healing to others and the Lord Jesus didn’t say to forbid, belittle, or argue with them.

It also reminded me how blessed both the community of my local parish is and the neighboring Methodist Church. Our priest and their pastor have worked together a lot on various spiritual, community and charity events over the years. Even a mission given by a Franciscan Friar was shared between churches! (Both the actual buildings and people!)

I guess my point in this is to maybe share some local stories of ecumenism. IMO at this point in the country and world’s history, we Christians really need to work together to bring the joy of Jesus Christ to the world.

 

[cheezey]

Reading some of the things said online and in person between Catholics and Protestants I kept thinking, “Isn’t there something in the Bible about this, even back when Jesus walked among us?” Thankfully for the computer, a search was easy for someone who can rarely remember book, chapter, and verse.

I know, there are theological, etc. differences, but it fascinates me how there were those who…I guess you could say…weren’t members of the Church that were bringing His love, mercy, and healing to others and the Lord Jesus didn’t say to forbid, belittle, or argue with them.

It also reminded me how blessed both the community of my local parish is and the neighboring Methodist Church. Our priest and their pastor have worked together a lot on various spiritual, community and charity events over the years. Even a mission given by a Franciscan Friar was shared between churches! (Both the actual buildings and people!)

I guess my point in this is to maybe share some local stories of ecumenism. IMO at this point in the country and world’s history, we Christians really need to work together to bring the joy of Jesus Christ to the world.

 

[UnumCorpus]

Reading some of the things said online and in person between Catholics and Protestants I kept thinking, “Isn’t there something in the Bible about this, even back when Jesus walked among us?” Thankfully for the computer, a search was easy for someone who can rarely remember book, chapter, and verse.

I know, there are theological, etc. differences, but it fascinates me how there were those who…I guess you could say…weren’t members of the Church that were bringing His love, mercy, and healing to others and the Lord Jesus didn’t say to forbid, belittle, or argue with them.

It also reminded me how blessed both the community of my local parish is and the neighboring Methodist Church. Our priest and their pastor have worked together a lot on various spiritual, community and charity events over the years. Even a mission given by a Franciscan Friar was shared between churches! (Both the actual buildings and people!)

I guess my point in this is to maybe share some local stories of ecumenism. IMO at this point in the country and world’s history, we Christians really need to work together to bring the joy of Jesus Christ to the world.

What a beautiful post! This is precisely the ministry I’m passionate about. It’s wonderful to see how much work has been done for Christian unity over the past few years. Such ecumenism would have been unthinkable even a generation or two ago.

Thank you for sharing

 

[EIF5A]

Thank you for that. It really saddens me when ardent supporters of whatever tradition deplore ecumenism, as if they’re going to be contaminated or something.

God have mercy on us all…

 

[cheezey]

Thank you for that. It really saddens me when ardent supporters of whatever tradition deplore ecumenism, as if they’re going to be contaminated or something.

God have mercy on us all…

would it be inappropriate to the thread to give 2 specific and personal examples?

 

[EIF5A]

would it be inappropriate to the thread to give 2 specific and personal examples?

I’m not the OP, but if it would edify us, then why not?

 

[cheezey]

Thank you for that. It really saddens me when ardent supporters of whatever tradition deplore ecumenism, as if they’re going to be contaminated or something.

God have mercy on us all…

It saddens me as well.
We are all God’s children. All Christians love Christ. Not in the same way, but with love of Christ, and this is where ecumenism begins in my book. Thus, I think more of Christ’s love within us, than I do the differences between us.Of course, I recognize the latter, but with a hopeful heart.
I pseudo work with a youth ministries volunteer group. Arrived one day with a personal favor, simply to get a copy of a document off my pc. In passing, I mentioned how nervous I will be when handing in the paper. I was offered prayers. I had also mentioned the word Deacon in the process, and he suddenly changed his mind. I, too, felt his response to be one of ‘contamination,’ but it was a gut reaction, so of course, I could be wrong, but there was that gut feeling.
On the other side of the proverbial coin, while discussing ecumenism (not really in depth, though) with someone, sorry to say, a Catholic, I was simply told, “never should happen.” I am not a good apologist, so I don’t usually start such conversations. But to this I asked, “Why? There is a common element.” (Christ, of course, was my intention) To which he replied, “No, there isn’t. Christ isn’t even on their radar.”


These are only two of my experiences of too many and I am but one. It physically pains me when two people, ya know, who are gathered in His Name, and hence there is Love, cannot talk this out with grace, dignity, and respect for each other’s genuine attempts at loving Him. None of us do anything perfectly, even loving Him.
Why does it ever come to verbal fistacuffs? Let’s face it, it does sometimes.
Should it ever? No.
Will it? Yes. I am not naive.
We would not be contaminating each other with ecumenism
The first agenda to such discussions is to take a deep breath and approach it with genuine concern and inquiry, based in Love.
Peaceful Love.
Christ’s Love.
The Reason behind all Christian faith.

May Our Father help us all

 

[HillbillyHermit]

Thanks for all of your replies! I had a reply typed out and the browser closed before it could be posted. All that was copied in the clipboard was this:
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John (RSV) 13)

Maybe that’s all that needed to be said.

 

[cheezey]

Thanks for all of your replies! I had a reply typed out and the browser closed before it could be posted. All that was copied in the clipboard was this:
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John (RSV) 13)

Maybe that’s all that needed to be said.

:yup: