Dixie Ribs

I am not sure I fully understood the power of forgiveness and reconciliation until I lived with Florida State Rep. William L. (Bill) Flynn, owner of Flynn's Dixie Ribs, a barbecue restaurant known also for its Key lime pie, in 1980. Flynn represented South Dade County, where my family lived. I met Flynn only a few years before the photo of the men in blackface and a Ku Klux Klan costume appeared on Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's yearbook page when he was a medical student.
...
I learned from my parents that in the 1960s, Flynn didn't let blacks eat in his barbecue restaurant. Two black community leaders said Flynn had even chased them away from the property with a shotgun. But he had since renounced his segregationist ways as a result of the civil rights movement and implored my mother to entrust him with my care.

I don't know what was in Flynn's heart and mind. Had he rejected segregation at his restaurant because it was the morally right thing to do? Because he was legally required to do so? Because it was an opportunity to earn more revenue? Or, because it was politically expedient, since blacks were now able to exercise their right to vote? Regardless, he did it, and in doing so, publicly confronted his past.
...
As a young adult, I didn't understand how people could so drastically change or evolve their views, but I knew my parents wanted to give Flynn a chance to prove himself. While my parents' decision was not supported by many in the black community, they still felt it was necessary for reconciliation.

Source: Johnita P. Due - "What a Dixie Ribs joint owner taught me about forgiveness and reconciliation", CNN.com, February 3, 2019
https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/03/opinions/william-flynn-power-forgiveness-reconciliation-johnita-due/index.html

Be the Bridge

When it launched in 2015, Be the Bridge’s Facebook group had about 69 members. Today, the online community fostering racial reconciliation is more than 21,000-strong, with more than 1,000 groups in 48 states.

The nonprofit was tapped in September to receive up to $1 million in grants by Facebook’s inaugural Community Leadership Program, which also awarded Morrison and four other global leaders a residency.
...She describes Be the Bridge as a ministry and the organization’s successes as guided by God. Yet, when she presented Be the Bridge at a Facebook summit, Morrison was unsure if she should identify it as a faith-based organization.

“But they (Facebook) really wanted me to name it,” she said. “I thought that was just incredible, that they wanted me to name it.”

She said that the consultant Facebook had her work with at the time encouraged her to bring her “full self” to the table.

“That impacted me, that there’s an organization that doesn’t claim that they’re a Christian organization or anything like that, but they wanted me to bring my full self when there are Christian organizations and churches that I cannot step in and be my full self. I thought that was incredible,” Morrison said.

According to Facebook, Morrison and her fellow residents have “demonstrated the ability to transform the way people support each other through community.”

Source: Nicola A. Menzie - "‘Be the Bridge’ fosters dialogue between black and white Christians", Baptist Standard, March 19, 2019
https://www.baptiststandard.com/news/faith-culture/bridge-fosters-dialogue-black-white-christians/

Hostility towards Pentecostals

c) “Satanic” Pentecostalism in Germany

Equally, Evangelicals’ former exclusion of Pentecostals from the camp of the faithful is yet another example of over-extended essentials. In the highly influential 1909 statement adopted by a large section of German Evangelicals in the so-called “Berlin Declaration,” the Pentecostals were judged to have so compromised the essentials of the Christian faith by their beliefs and practices that they were actually dismissed in print as demonic, the exact words being:

"The so-called Pentecostal Movement is not from above, but from below; it has many phenomena in common with spiritism. Demons are at work in it which, craftily led by Satan, mix lies and truth, in order to mislead the children of God. In many cases, the so-called ‘Spirit-gifted’ have subsequently proved to be possessed. In the conviction, that this movement is from below … [we note] the healings, tongues, prophecies, etc., by which the movement is accompanied. Such signs were ever connected with similar movements, for example with ... spiritism. "

Thankfully, a significant measure of reconciliation was reached between the so-called “charismatic” and “non-charismatic” wings of Evangelicalism in Germany with the 1996 signing in Kassel of an accord between the German Evangelical Alliance and the Union of Freechurch Pentecostal Congregations (Bund Freikirchlicher Pfingstgemeinden) whereby they expressed mutual respect for each other in the midst of their doctrinal differences. (Anon 1996) That it took nearly ninety years to reach this accord again indicates the proclivity we Evangelicals have of hardening our denominational distinctives into wider tests of true Christianity.

Source: Paul Miller - "Evangelicals Cooperatively Evangelising & Discipling with Catholics in Faithfulness to Evangelical Distinctives", by Paul Miller

Eberhard Arnold

All the movements of the past decades will one day converge in a radical awakening of the masses that leads the way to social justice and to God's unity. And so we prepare ourselves to set our little community in the midst of this mighty awakening. We must be ready to sacrifice ourselves.

Source: Eberhard Arnold - As quoted by Peter Mommsen in "Homage to a Broken Man", p. 118

Biblical Story of Identificational Repentance

The result of Daniel's prayer, fasting, and identificational repentance was that the angel sent to him on the second occasion broke through the opposition of the demonic principalities of Persia and Greece (Dan. 10:13, 20). Because there was spiritual breakthrough, God's desire was fulfilled to open the way for Daniel’s people to return to Jerusalem and to reveal to Daniel by the angel of God what God's redemptive plan was for Israel in world history--that the anointed Messiah of Israel would establish God's Kingdom over Israel and all nations (Dan. 7:13-14, 26-27; 9:2ff., 25ff.; 12:1-3). In fact, Daniel’s intercession seems to have been answered by the Lord releasing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem from Babylonia, since Ezra 1, describing the return of the exiles to Jerusalem, and Daniel 9, describing Daniel’s prayer and repentance, are both dated to the first year of Cyrus’s rule, 539/38 B.C.

Source: Dr. Gary S. Greig - The Biblical Foundations of Identificational Repentance as One Prayer Pattern Useful to Advance God's Kingdom and Evangelism, April 2001

Imitating Other Churches?

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from others, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s other churches around you ...

Source: Bible - 1 Thess 2:13-14

History of the John 17 Movement

2010. Our new Phoenix Bishop Olmstead asked me and another friend to present him with a list of a dozen or so key evangelical pastors and leaders, which the Bishop invited to a luncheon at the Diocesan Center. He told us that mainline churches have a point person, as do the Mormons. (We have three Mormon temples in Phoenix.) But no one person speaks for Evangelicals. The meeting was a first for many, maybe most of the people in room. The bishop’s purpose was to call us together around our shared concerns about religious liberty, life, and family and he shared his remarkable faith journey.

2013-Present. I’ve been told that, at the time or our lunch meeting with Bishop Olmstead, he was more interested in shared activism than in deep and personal fellowship. That changed dramatically three years ago. A dear friend and colleague, Joe Tosini, who has residences in Phoenix and Long Island, reconnected with his Italian friends Giovanni Traettino, a Pentecostal pastor, and Mateo Calisi, appointed by St. John Paul II to lead the Charismatic Movement in the Catholic Church. (It’s estimated that there are 150 million Catholics who have had a deep personal experience with the Holy Spirit.)

Source: Gary Kinnaman - Presented during Movement Day NYC, representing the John 17 movement and Greater Phoenix and Arizona Catholic/Evangelical Bridges, as posted on the John 17 FB page on 1 November 2016.

Luther on the Hebrew Language

In the 16th century, the founder of the Protestant Reformation Martin Luther said:

"The Hebrew language is the best language of all … If I were younger I would want to learn this language, because no one can really understand the Scriptures without it. For although the New Testament is written in Greek, it is full of hebraisms and Hebrew expressions. It has therefore been aptly said that the Hebrews drink from the spring, the Greeks from the stream that flows from it, and the Latins from a downstream puddle."

Source: Martin Luther - As quoted in A Prayer to Our Father, by Nehemia Gordon & Keith Johnson, pp 83-84

Leonard's Story

In 1972, I became a believer at the age of 21. My story is sadly summed up in one word: ignorance.

For twenty years following my public profession of Jesus as my Redeemer, my young family actively attended church and all became Christians. We grew in the Spirit, placed our faith in God who guides our lives and decisions.

Regretfully, during all that time I was completely unaware of what the term Protestant meant and the reasons of its origin. This became particularly embarrassing and painful in the years ahead because, I was a teenager living in Wiesbaden, (just a short drive from Mainz & Worms) where my father was stationed serving in the U.S. Air Force. And, during those years I was oblivious to anti-Semitism, the history of Reformation and the deep divisions between Catholics and Protestants.

Even though I regularly attended church in the chapels provided on the military bases, I was completely unaware of the reasons there were separate "Protestant" and "Catholic" services, nor the history behind it.

It was not until around 1993 while attending a PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) the "scales" fell off my eyes while studying the history of the Church (from many differing sources) leading up to the Reformation and why freedom of worship for billions became radically different since 1517.

I began observing and, now seeing, the divisions in virtually all churches – Protestant and Catholic alike. Determined not to add to those divisions, I became familiar with the many differing ways worship was lived out in all followers of Christ, and in the Tribe of Judah.

In recent years I've prayed that God would involve me in some fashion with the events this year and with all the healing restoration many are receiving. My ignorance has been replaced with a clearer understanding of our shared history and in particular the extensive anti-Semitism that remains throughout Europe.

Sharing our mutual Christian history with those in my life and church helps reconcile followers of Jesus, and helps diminish the wariness many Americans harbor toward Jewish people.

I praise God and thank Him for His Patience with me during all those years of ignorance.

Source: Wittenberg 2017 - "Leonard's Story", from the Wittenberg 2017 (US) website
http://www.wittenberg2017.us/leonardrsquos-story.html

Jesus Prayed

(1) After Jesus taught his disciples, he looked up to heaven and prayed, “Father, my time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son can glorify you. (2) For you have given him authority over all people, so that he can give eternal life to whoever you have given him. (3) Now this is eternal life: That they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent into this world. (4) I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. (5) And now Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the creation of the universe.”

Source: Jesus - John 17:1-5 (IEB)

Brick by Brick

Until I, as an evangelical Protestant, met some halfway decent Catholics I had no idea what they believed. Likewise, if it wasn’t for my Anglican friend I’d have no ideas how gosh darn similar we actually are.
It’s not until we actively begin to reach out and meet each other where we are that we can begin to take down these walls, brick by brick.

Source: K. Albert Little - The Cordial Catholic on Patheos, 1 May 2015, "Dear Christians: Take Our Unity Seriously, Because Everyone is Watching", http://www.patheos.com/blogs/albertlittle/dear-christians-take-our-unity-seriously-because-everyone-is-watching/

One Body

What kind of churches do we at Theopolis dream of? Churches like these …

Protestants who recognize that they are already members of a Church where some venerate icons, some believe in transubstantiation, some slaughter peaceful Muslim neighbors, some believe in papal infallibility and Mary’s immaculate conception. For we are one body.

Source: Peter Leithart - Theopolis Institute blog, "Reformational Catholicism, A Wish List", 20 October 2016, https://theopolisinstitute.com/reformational-catholicism-a-wish-list/

Words of Praise for Luther from ...

Years ago, Francis spoke harshly of the Protestant reformers. But in the run-up to the trip, he has had only words of praise for Luther. He recently called the German theologian a reformer of his time who rightly criticized a church that was "no model to imitate."

"There was corruption in the church, worldliness, attachment to money and power," Francis told reporters this summer.

They are the same abuses Francis has criticized in the 21st-century Catholic Church he now leads.

Source: Pope Francis - As quoted by Andrew Medichini, Jan M. Olsen & Nicole Winfield of the Associated Press, "Pope on Reformation: Forgive 'errors' of past, forge unity", 31 Oct 2016, https://www.yahoo.com/news/reformer-pope-heads-sweden-mark-luthers-reforms-050227744.html

Learnings from an NDE (Near-Death Experience)

Omoye Agbontaen:

Do you have any recommendations for how people can experience and cultivate an atmosphere where they can experience a portion of the love that you experienced in heaven? ...


Dr. Mary Neal:

I mean, we're all broken. And you have to get to the point where you recognize that, and realize, like "OK." I mean, like a good friend, they can be jerks one day, but you're not going to stop being their friend. But it's sort of a snowball, that as you begin to walk that walk, and express that love to yourself and to others, the intensity of it does build.
One little trick, for example. (I'm not going to pretend that I like every person I meet. But, having said that ...) If I meet someone that they just bug me, and my initial reaction to them is not one of love, it's really interesting, because I can, first of all, consciously remind myself that this person in front of me is an incredibly beloved child of God, I remind myself of that.
And then I find one thing about them that I like or that I appreciate, it can be anything so silly
the color of their shirt, any little thing. It's amazing, if I can pick out that first thing, and then I start feeling love for that, it grows, and very rapidly, I'm amazed at myself, now it happens almost instantaneously, I can go from meeting someone and thinking, "Uh, I don't like this person", to feeling incredible love for them, very quickly, and it's all because you just have to practice love, you have to practice love, and then it becomes second nature.

Source: Dr. Mary Neal - Q&A during Rez Week 2020, 2 April 2020
https://youtu.be/SN-B8sN7BKc?t=7567 (2:06:12, 2:09:01ff)

Amazed that the Holy Spirit was poured out, even on ...

(44) While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came upon everyone who heard his message. (45) The circumcised Jewish believers who had come with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on non-Jews, (46) for they heard them speaking in tongues (spiritual languages) and praising God. Then Peter said, (47) “These non-Jews have received the Holy Spirit just as we Jews have; surely no one can stop them from being baptized in water.” (48) So Peter told the Jews to baptize them in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for several days.

Source: Luke - Acts 11:44-48 (IEB)

Reflection ... Action ... Prayer

Reflection
This section hits home hard for me. I find it easy to close my heart off to those who have hurt me and even more difficult to face the reality that I have hurt others and that my attitudes and actions have directly and indirectly led to division and disunity. There are conflicts in my past where I have hidden behind the letter of the law, and fallen short of the spirit of law that calls me to follow Jesus to the cross. Jesus is teaching and helping me to keep my heart open and pursue those who have brought me deep pain and to never lose hope that God can heal and restore in even the most hopeless situation.

Action
Ask God to show you a broken relationship in your life that He desires to bring healing and restoration to. Begin to pray about this asking God to show you what to do. Trust that He will speak to you and then obey what He asks you to do. Consider inviting others to pray with you. Never underestimate the rippling effects of healing and peace that can come from a restored relationship.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, who prayed that we might all be one, we pray to you for the unity of Christians according to your will, according to your means. May your Spirit enable us to experience the suffering caused by division, to see and confess our sin and being forgiven and restored prepare us to be bearers of reconciliation wherever you place us. Amen.

Source: A2J Community - Apprenticeship to Jesus Community, Phoenix, Blog Post "Unity Week Devotion - Day 4", 21 Jan 2016, http://www.a2jphoenix.org/blog/unity-week-devotion-day-4

Thomas & Amy Cogdell

Around the year 2000, my wonderful wife Amy was drawn unexpectedly into the Catholic Church. I remained Protestant, and together we share both worlds. As instructed by her priest, she comes with me each Sunday to Hope Chapel, a Protestant non-denominational church. Frequently I bundle up the kids and attend mass with her.

People who meet us did not immediately realize, “She is Catholic, but he is Protestant.” Instead, they just see a married couple, Amy and Thomas, whom the Lord had mystically made one flesh through the sacrament of marriage.

We have the understanding that this represents, in a very faint way, the radiant beauty of the Church universal – we, the body of Christ, are one body, because He, our Lord, is one God. He has made us one, in a mystical sense.

And yet, for Amy and I this oneness has to be worked out in real, practical moments. I have to apologize for my insensitivity to her. She has to sacrifice her desire for solitude to join me at a prayer meeting. We have to sit down together, listen to each other, and decide together how to structure our life. And so on …

In the same way, mystical oneness in the body of Christ must be worked out in a myriad of practical decisions. Does the Catholic bishop reach out to connect to Protestant pastors in his diocese? Does the “united” prayer gathering of mostly evangelical pastors, invite Catholic priests to participate? How does an Anglican respond upon learning that the Roman Catholic church asks her not to receive communion during mass? How does a Messianic Jew respond when he overhears an Eastern Orthodox believer making statements he considers to reflect replacement theology? And so on …

Jesus set a high bar when He prayed for us, you and me, as recorded in John 17:

My prayer is not for them alone.
I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.

To me, these words contain an echo of Genesis 2, “a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” It is widely recognized that there is a required “leaving” required for the unity of marriage – a death to previous identity and known way of life. For us to enter, as Jesus prayed, into the unity of the Trinity, must we not also leave behind those aspects of our church identities that are obstacles to reconciliation?

Source: Wittenberg 2017 - "Thomas' Story", from the Wittenberg 2017 (US) website
http://www.wittenberg2017.us/thomas-story.html

Wish List

What kind of churches do we at Theopolis dream of? Churches like these …

Pastors who form friendships with, pray with, learn from, and study the Bible with local Catholic and Orthodox priests, as well as other Protestant pastors. Pastors who take the time to cross the street to befriend a pastor from another denomination. For we are one body.


Source: Peter Leithart - Theopolis Institute blog, "Reformational Catholicism, A Wish List", 20 October 2016, https://theopolisinstitute.com/reformational-catholicism-a-wish-list/