I am pursuing Church unity in a new way. I am not advocating one institutional authority over the Church, which has never occurred in history. Unlike prior efforts to resolve differences through dialog and words of agreement, I believe that church leaders from around the world could be convinced to gather for the purpose of asking God what we need to do to be unified the way He desires--praying together and seeking God’s answer. What is there to object to in that? What if it was only for one day? I imagine there would be a brief introduction, an initial prayer (similar to what was done in 2 Chronicles 20 and Acts 4:24-31), and then everyone would be free to pray however they felt led.
James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” Should we not at least try? God will answer in the way that He chooses, and prayer like this will provide a spiritual bond of love for each other while not compromising our beliefs.
I believe the idea is more from God than from my own head. A couple of years ago as I was waking up one morning. Normally, my first thoughts as I wake up are very ordinary, but this time, I thought, if the leaders of the Church would come together to ask God what to do about our disunity, He would tell us what to do. Then I woke up completely. As I considered the idea over many days and discussed the idea with friends, I kept sensing God was calling me to work on making the gathering a reality. God opened my eyes to passages in the Bible about oneness (or unity) that I had never noticed before.
The Bible has a lot to say about unity. The most dynamic passage is John 17:20-23. The night before Jesus was crucified, He prayed for the unity of all believers throughout time. He prayed that believers would be one just as He was one with the Father in order that the world might believe. “That they may be one” occurs three times and that the “world may know” two times. (A few of the other scriptures: John 13:34-35, 1 Cor 1:10-13, 1 Cor 3:2-4, Ephesians 4:1-6, Philippians 1:27-28 and 2:1-4, 1 Peter 3:8, and Proverbs 6:16-19.) Interestingly, John 11:50-52 says that Christ died for unity.
After hundreds of years of division, ignoring the broader application of these scriptures has become very convenient. Some truths are essential for being a Christian (1 Cor 15), but some other truths are made reasons for division contrary to what the Bible says about unity. The Church has functional disbelief in the scriptures--knowing the scriptures but not acting on them. In regards to unity, we have made the rules of man greater than the will of God.
I think if we are bold, creative, and honest we can impact the Church and the way people see the Church. God delights to work through the frailty of ordinary people, their personalities, their ways of thinking, and people around them as is illustrated in the authors and the other people he choose in the Bible.
Some will say such a gathering looks good on paper, but belief that such could happen is like believing something too good to be true. Is the following also too good to be true? The infinite God who made the universe loves us enough to die so that we can live forever with eternal happiness. God hears our prayers and in fact lives inside us. Yet we believe these. Something else almost too good to be true—it is possible for the Church to be as one because Jesus prayed that we should be as one that the World may believe (John 17:20-23). Something else—when we come together to pray the prayer of Jesus for oneness, God will respond, just as He did in 2 Chronicles 20 and Acts 4. God wants to fill us with living faith. Something else—many more people than we would ever think possible will believe in Christ when we, with God’s guidance, take Christ’s prayer seriously and do the same.
Will you not pray about this and consider helping? What I am sharing is not about the need for financial support. God has given us each a gift. You and I have influence. Copy this chat and give it to one or two people with more influence than you have, such as your pastor, who has influence with someone who has even more influence. Tell them that you support this idea and ask them to contact me. If it is not asking too much, let me know so that I can follow-up with them.
Anyone can reach me by going on-line to orlando.craigslist.org, use the Craig’s List search box to find “AGathering” (no spaces). This will lead to a book for sale. Hit the reply box.
By networking, eventually leaders and mission groups of the Catholics, Orthodox, Evangelicals, Charismatics, other Protestants, will join together to make this happen. You can make the difference. If you would like to help more (not financially), contact me and together we can find where you can use your gift(s).
Jesus traveled from heaven to earth to die for a united Church. How far are you willing to go?
James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” Should we not at least try? God will answer in the way that He chooses, and prayer like this will provide a spiritual bond of love for each other while not compromising our beliefs.
I believe the idea is more from God than from my own head. A couple of years ago as I was waking up one morning. Normally, my first thoughts as I wake up are very ordinary, but this time, I thought, if the leaders of the Church would come together to ask God what to do about our disunity, He would tell us what to do. Then I woke up completely. As I considered the idea over many days and discussed the idea with friends, I kept sensing God was calling me to work on making the gathering a reality. God opened my eyes to passages in the Bible about oneness (or unity) that I had never noticed before.
The Bible has a lot to say about unity. The most dynamic passage is John 17:20-23. The night before Jesus was crucified, He prayed for the unity of all believers throughout time. He prayed that believers would be one just as He was one with the Father in order that the world might believe. “That they may be one” occurs three times and that the “world may know” two times. (A few of the other scriptures: John 13:34-35, 1 Cor 1:10-13, 1 Cor 3:2-4, Ephesians 4:1-6, Philippians 1:27-28 and 2:1-4, 1 Peter 3:8, and Proverbs 6:16-19.) Interestingly, John 11:50-52 says that Christ died for unity.
After hundreds of years of division, ignoring the broader application of these scriptures has become very convenient. Some truths are essential for being a Christian (1 Cor 15), but some other truths are made reasons for division contrary to what the Bible says about unity. The Church has functional disbelief in the scriptures--knowing the scriptures but not acting on them. In regards to unity, we have made the rules of man greater than the will of God.
I think if we are bold, creative, and honest we can impact the Church and the way people see the Church. God delights to work through the frailty of ordinary people, their personalities, their ways of thinking, and people around them as is illustrated in the authors and the other people he choose in the Bible.
Some will say such a gathering looks good on paper, but belief that such could happen is like believing something too good to be true. Is the following also too good to be true? The infinite God who made the universe loves us enough to die so that we can live forever with eternal happiness. God hears our prayers and in fact lives inside us. Yet we believe these. Something else almost too good to be true—it is possible for the Church to be as one because Jesus prayed that we should be as one that the World may believe (John 17:20-23). Something else—when we come together to pray the prayer of Jesus for oneness, God will respond, just as He did in 2 Chronicles 20 and Acts 4. God wants to fill us with living faith. Something else—many more people than we would ever think possible will believe in Christ when we, with God’s guidance, take Christ’s prayer seriously and do the same.
Will you not pray about this and consider helping? What I am sharing is not about the need for financial support. God has given us each a gift. You and I have influence. Copy this chat and give it to one or two people with more influence than you have, such as your pastor, who has influence with someone who has even more influence. Tell them that you support this idea and ask them to contact me. If it is not asking too much, let me know so that I can follow-up with them.
Anyone can reach me by going on-line to orlando.craigslist.org, use the Craig’s List search box to find “AGathering” (no spaces). This will lead to a book for sale. Hit the reply box.
By networking, eventually leaders and mission groups of the Catholics, Orthodox, Evangelicals, Charismatics, other Protestants, will join together to make this happen. You can make the difference. If you would like to help more (not financially), contact me and together we can find where you can use your gift(s).
Jesus traveled from heaven to earth to die for a united Church. How far are you willing to go?
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,. God bless you and your family!
