Question for protestants: What if the east and the west reunited...?

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Scenario:

Let’s say that there was a full restoration/renewal/reunification between the Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church, giving way to just one Church, once again, truly functioning as a united Church, ecumenically speaking.

Would any non-Catholic consider membership with this restored church if this Church was once again “breathing with two lungs” and finally returning to its former constitution, ecumenically speaking?
 
joe370 said:
Scenario:

Let’s say that there was a full restoration/renewal/reunification between the Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church, giving way to just one Church, once again, truly functioning as a united Church, ecumenically speaking.

Would any non-Catholic consider membership with this restored church if this Church was once again “breathing with two lungs” and finally returning to its former constitution, ecumenically speaking?
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The next day.

Jon
 
Personally, I think the Roman Catholic church should concentrate on reunifying with the Protestant churches, then we can see what happens.

I would hate to reconcile with our Roman Catholic cousins only to find the Papacy making some unacceptable arrangement or promises with the Protestant churches at a later date. It could potentially bring us back to schism and that would be very unfortunate.
 
[Q
UOTE=Hesychios;8463472]Personally, I think the Roman Catholic church should concentrate on reunifying with the Protestant churches, then we can see what happens.
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Well, that can’t happen until protestants concentrate on reunifying with other protestants.
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I would hate to reconcile with our Roman Catholic cousins only to find the Papacy making some unacceptable arrangement or promises with the Protestant churches at a later date. It could potentially bring us back to schism and that would be very unfortunate.
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The CC will never compromise when it comes to doctrinal truth, so I don’t think you’d have to worry about the Papacy making some unacceptable arrangement or promises with the Protestant churches at a later date. 👍
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joe370 said:
The CC will never compromise when it comes to doctrinal truth, …👍
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Well, some Orthodox would say it already has disappointed on a few important things, and as I personally see it there is a culture of change involved. There is actually an expectation of changes, which is why there is so much focus on having an authority that can put it’s ‘stamp’ of approval on them. There is also the promotion of changes, with people actually petitioning the Pope for new dogmas! (a huge shock and scandal to most Orthodox)

If a new dogma or interpretation is finally proclaimed the Roman Catholic rank and file will usually meekly go along, even when they secretly don’t care or don’t believe it.

No Orthodox Christian will believe that the Papacy left to itself can never compromise when it comes to doctrinal Truth, since in their eyes it already has (I am just trying to realistically relate the facts about Orthodox perception). These are the Christians that would have to be part of any future reconciliation which you seem to suggest here. This is the church that is proposed to set a shining example to Protestants.

I suggest the better way would be to have the Papacy concentrate on wooing the Protestants, with which it already has so much common history, and Orthodox can watch the process and see how it turns out. If it doesn’t ‘sell the farm’ in the process perhaps it will reassure Orthodox and strengthen Orthodox faith in the Papacy after all.
 
Maybe we should look for Protestant-Orthodox reunification first. I’ll represent the Anglicans and Jon can bring in the Lutherans.
 
In which case, of course, the question becomes, if there was substantive Protestant - Orthodox reunion, would any Catholics throw in their lot?
 
joe370 said:
Scenario:

Let’s say that there was a full restoration/renewal/reunification between the Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church, giving way to just one Church, once again, truly functioning as a united Church, ecumenically speaking.

Would any non-Catholic consider membership with this restored church if this Church was once again “breathing with two lungs” and finally returning to its former constitution, ecumenically speaking?
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After a prolonged period of crying of joy, yes. Without a doubt.
 
joe370 said:
Scenario:

Let’s say that there was a full restoration/renewal/reunification between the Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church, giving way to just one Church, once again, truly functioning as a united Church, ecumenically speaking.

Would any non-Catholic consider membership with this restored church if this Church was once again “breathing with two lungs” and finally returning to its former constitution, ecumenically speaking?
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That would be wonderful, and of course I’d consider it, though it would depend on the terms of the reconciliation.
 
GKC said:
All Anglicans?

GKC
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No reunion will bring in everyone. Even if there is Catholic-Orthodox reunion one day, I would expect both groups to give birth to conservative schismatics.
 
joe370 said:
Scenario:

Let’s say that there was a full restoration/renewal/reunification between the Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church, giving way to just one Church, once again, truly functioning as a united Church, ecumenically speaking.

Would any non-Catholic consider membership with this restored church if this Church was once again “breathing with two lungs” and finally returning to its former constitution, ecumenically speaking?
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I liked to offer a different perspective; The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox remains still one Church in the body of Christ via valid sacraments and valid holy orders. To me this is the foundational aspects of unity that no man can seperate what God has joined together.

Authority and jurisdiction are a few of the main issues remained to be settled between Juridical, Ecclessial and apostolic offices. These same arguments are found in Protestant circles.

What protestants may not realize is that both Catholics and Orthodox maintain an apostolic valid priesthood and sacraments, which protestantism removed itself from.

In summary it would be difficult for non-catholics to join in a Catholic/Orthodox juridical, Ecclessial, Apostolic unity, without first coming to the sacramental ecomony of both Catholic and Orthodox Church.

I see difficulty for some non-catholics who would have to drop some of their theology in order to come to the Sacramental life in the body of Christ, which would blame the Pope for holding to and refusing to move from revealed Apostolic Tradition and Sacred Scripture.

Unity for Catholic and Orthodox is much easier than non-catholics joining in the unity of the Catholics and Orthodox, because non-catholics to do so would have to take on a new identity of theology, liturgy etc…

Where there is Love there is hope. 🙂
 
Since it would just be a unification of two diverse bodies of Christians…it wouldn’t inspire me to join any more than a merger of the United Brethren and Methodist churches inspired others to join them.🤷
 
Right these are all just lovers quarrels anyway. Where-ever one finds the Lord pray for those elsewhere, instead of condemning those who follow the Trinity. We are surrounded by much greater evils, do you not see them? Not a new concept in North America, its called Religious Freedom, seems to be under attack btw. Umm, the Copts come to mind immediately. What do you suppose evil will do to you where no religious freedom exists???

Peace
 
I like this question, and although I am not a protestant, I am a member of a church with protestant leanings. Just think of it, the two most numerous branches together. And in many ways they are together. They agree on the Eucharist (more or less), they agree on a male priesthood, they agree on the sacramental system, and they accept the validity of each other’s orders, they agree that marriage is between a man and a woman, they agree that abortion is taking human life (murder).

So, for those of use who are in churches that aren’t either Roman or Orthodox, they present a formidable front. I’m likely to become Catholic anyway, just because I believe in Christian unity.
 
Usbek_de_Perse said:
I like this question, and although I am not a protestant, I am a member of a church with protestant leanings. Just think of it, the two most numerous branches together. And in many ways they are together. They agree on the Eucharist (more or less), they agree on a male priesthood, they agree on the sacramental system, and they accept the validity of each other’s orders, they agree that marriage is between a man and a woman, they agree that abortion is taking human life (murder).

So, for those of use who are in churches that aren’t either Roman or Orthodox, they present a formidable front. I’m likely to become Catholic anyway, just because I believe in Christian unity.
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Amen, you know when you walk with your head up high, then you are not looking down and seeing the snares which surround you? Look down and walk in humility, the love of Christ which none of us can ever fully understand must be acknowledged.

Lord, let us not mistake ego for the desired state of altruism.

Peace
 
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