It is my own testimony that the victories of my life have always come in the midst of repentance and confession … My biggest problem is not demons. I am my biggest problem. It is only when God has cleansed my own wicked heart that participation in the redeeming work of intercession/reconciliation becomes possible. It is then that the power to change history is released through prayers.
Source: John Dawson - What Every Christian Should Know About Reconciliation, p. 23
A Church Filled Every Week With ...
As we walked back to our apartment, we passed a large neo-gothic building as a couple emerged from a side door. Curiosity drew us inside. To our amazement we discovered a huge ornately-decorated church buzzing with several hundred worshippers. Was there something special happening here? we asked. ‘Oh no,’ we were told, ‘this church is filled every week with Protestant and Catholics worshipping together.’ Over 800 had recently come there for a Christmas meal, we learned.
Source: Jeff Fountain - "A Godly City?", Weekly Word eNewsletter, 5 Mar 2018, https://us9.campaign-archive.com/?e=0b86898e11&u=65605d9dbab0a19355284d8df&id=14bc9e9338
Anglicans & Catholics
In the course of these two centuries, much has also changed between Anglicans and Catholics, who in the past viewed each other with suspicion and hostility. Today, with gratitude to God, we recognize one another as we truly are: brothers and sisters in Christ, through our common baptism. As friends and pilgrims we wish to walk the path together, to follow our Lord Jesus Christ together.
Source: Pope Francis - Address to the Anglican Parish of All Saints in Rome, as reported by Vatican Radio, 26 Feb 2017, http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/02/26/pope_catholics_and_anglicans,_brothers_and_sisters_in_chris/1295193
The Lutheran-Roman Catholic Commission on Unity
In 1517 Martin Luther raised concerns about what he saw as abuses in the Church of his time by making public his 95 theses. 2017 is the 500th anniversary of this key event in the reformation movements that marked the life of the Western Church over several centuries. This event has been a controversial theme in the history of inter-church relations in Germany, not least over the last few years. The Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) has been building up to this anniversary since 2008, by focusing each year on one particular aspect of the Reformation, for example: the Reformation and Politics, or the Reformation and Education. The EKD also invited its ecumenical partners at various levels to help commemorate the events of 1517.
After extensive, and sometimes difficult, discussions, the churches in Germany agreed that the way to commemorate ecumenically this Reformation event should be with a Christusfest – a Celebration of Christ. If the emphasis were to be placed on Jesus Christ and his work of reconciliation as the center of Christian faith, then all the ecumenical partners of the EKD (Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Methodist, Mennonite and others) could participate in the anniversary festivities.
Given the fact that the history of the Reformation was marked by painful division, this is a very remarkable achievement. The Lutheran-Roman Catholic Commission on Unity has worked hard to produce a shared understanding of the commemoration. Its important report, From Conflict to Communion, recognizes that both traditions approach this anniversary in an ecumenical age, with the achievements of fifty years of dialogue behind them, and with new understandings of their own history and theology. Separating that which is polemical from the theological insights of the Reformation, Catholics are now able to hear Luther’s challenge for the Church of today, recognising him as a “witness to the gospel” (From Conflict to Communion 29). And so after centuries of mutual condemnations and vilification, in 2017 Lutheran and Catholic Christians will for the first time commemorate together the beginning of the Reformation.
Source: Vatican - "Resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2017", Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/weeks-prayer-doc/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20160531_week-prayer-2017_en.html
"Lord, Have Mercy"
Just before nine o’clock on the morning of Friday, January 13, I was kneeling in one of the pews of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral, praying Morning Prayer from Magnificat. It was cloudy and dark outside and the Cathedral was still chilly inside, but the lamps were lit in front of the iconostasis and the icon murals on the walls and ceilings glowingly told the story of our Redemption in the Life of Christ. Third Hour Prayer was about to begin.
Around me, Orthodox Christians, other Catholics, and Protestants from various denominations joined in the prayer in different ways, either reciting the prayers along with the priest and reader, or silently joining in the doxologies, the Our Father, the repeated plea “Lord have mercy”—three times, 12 times, 40 times—and hearing the psalms of the day. Each time the doxology invoked the Trinity (Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and until the ages of ages. Amen.) the Orthodox Christians bowed and crossed themselves. This was the first day of the seventh annual Symposium offered by the Eighth Day Institute in Wichita, Kansas.
Source: Stephanie Mann - "Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox in Wichita, Kansas" blog entry, National Catholic Register, 20 Jan 2017, http://www.ncregister.com/blog/stephaniemann/protestants-catholics-and-orthodox-in-wichita-kansas
Even to Non-Jews!
15) As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on these non-Jews just as he came upon us Jews on the day of Pentecost. (16) Then I remembered what the Lord told us, ‘John baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’ (17) So if God gave non-Jews the same gift of the Holy Spirit that he gave to us Jews who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could resist the ways of God?” (18) When the Jews heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “God has also given repentance to non-Jews that leads to eternal life.”
Source: Peter - As quoted by Luke in Acts 12:15-18 (IEB)
Mr. Pentecost
As I lay there in the nighttime, with the lights off … I saw how wrong I had been. I had been expecting Jesus to use me, as a Pentecostal, to shake the churches. I thought I would pound home the truth, tell them just where they were wrong, shake them in righteous indignation. But the Lord sais, no, that's not the way. "The revival will occur if you forgive. If you fight - nothing."
During that time the Lord sent me again and again into chapter 13 of the First Letter to the Corinthians, the most powerful words ever written about love. I read, and I prayed, and I thought. "Can this really be?"
Love is so important that it is beyond our understanding as ordinary human beings. It is more important than talking in tongues to God. More important than talking directly to God. It is more important than prophesying, than receiving a word of knowledge or a word of wisdom directly from God. It is more important than healing the sick, than moving mountains. "Can this really be?"
It is more important than selling all you have to feed the poor. It is more important than giving your life in the cause of social justice. It is more important than your devotional life, than your preaching ministry. All is meaningless without love. "Can this really be?"
In that room of green walls, white ceiling, bedsores, bedpans, and endless hours, the Lord spoke: "You must love those people you minister to. Don't ever minister to anyone unless you love him."
Source: David du Plessis - From "A Man Called Mr. Pentecost", as told to Bob Slosser, Ch. 18, p. 159
Martin Bucer
These efforts came to a culmination in the 1541 Imperial Diet at Regensburg (Ratisbon). Henry VIII sent Bishop Stephen Gadiner of Winchester, Rome sent the irenic Cardinal Contarini. MacCulloch writes, “When introduced to Bucer, [Contarini] observed, ‘How great will be the fruit of unity, and how profound the gratitude of all mankind’. Bucer replied equally graciously: ‘Both sides have failed. Some of us have overemphasized unimportant points, and others have not adequately reformed obvious abuses. With God’s will we shall ultimately find the truth.'”
Not everyone wanted Regensburg to succeed: “some of the Emperor’s own princes were not anxious to see the Habsburg family’s problems solved, even less so the King of France, who would have been a necessary party to any final agreement.” But the politicians weren't the cause of the failure; the theologians were: “Contarini could not give ground on the eucharistic doctrine of transubstantiation; the Protestants were not prepared to say that confession to a priest was necessary. Their measure of agreement on justification in the Regensburg Book was therefore irrelevant. Then messages from both Rome and Luther in Wittenberg made it quite clear that even that would not be accepted.”
Source: Martin Bucer - Martin Bucer, Regensburg Diet, 1541, as quoted by Diarmaid MacCulloch in "Europe's House Divided", as quoted by Peter Leithart, "Ecumenism in the Sixteenth Century", First Things, 6 Feb 2017, https://www.firstthings.com/blogs/leithart/2017/02/ecumenism-in-the-sixteenth-century
John Armstrong
My name is John Armstrong. I live in Chicago, Illinois. My spiritual journey took a decisive and memorable turn one Sunday morning.
It was an ordinary Sunday morning worship service. We were reciting the words of the Apostle’s Creed, words I had said hundreds of times before. As an adjunct professor of evangelism at Wheaton College, I knew the words. As an evangelical (Reformed) Protestant, I believed them. But I had never been particularly moved by them. They were just words recited in a service.
But on this Sunday things unfolded very differently. As I said the creedal words, “I believe in the holy catholic church,” something stopped me. At that moment, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart: “Do you really believe these words? If you believe them, then why don’t you act like it?”
Source: Wittenberg 2017 - "John's Story", from the Wittenberg 2017 (US) website
http://www.wittenberg2017.us/johns-story.html
Worthy of Honor
(15) You know that the household of Stephanas were the first believers in the Roman province of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people in Corinth. I exhort you, my brothers and sisters, (16) to respect (submit to) such people and to everyone who joins in the ministry and works hard at it. (17) I was very happy when Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus arrived in Ephesus from Corinth, because they supplied the fellowship that I lacked from you. (18) They refreshed my spirit and yours also. Men like this deserve to be honored.
Source: The Apostle Paul - 1 Corinthians 16:15-18 (IEB) - with inline notes by Dr. Andrew Jackson
Catholics & Baptists Sharing a Building
A warm and friendly relationship between the two faith communities has developed. All agree that respect has been key. The Baptist and Catholic communities work hard to share the building and to be good neighbors. The Catholic congregation keeps the necessary items for Mass on carts at the back of the church. They set up for Mass and then meticulously return the space to its original configuration so that it’s ready for Baptist Sunday School and worship.
The Catholic and Baptist communities share more than just a church building. Friendships have been formed and strengthened. They pray for each other regularly and assist each other when needed. In January, the Catholic community treated their Baptist hosts to an afternoon meal and social time in appreciation for their hospitality.
“It’s [the fire] bringing the (larger) community closer together,” remarked Pastor Buck. “It has really been a blessing.”
Source: Frank Lesko - "After the Fire", Posted 3 Jan 2017 on Glenmary Home Missioners, http://www.glenmary.org/after-the-fire/
God's 1st Question
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”
Source: Bible - Genesis 3: 8-9
Substitution? Or Identification?
I found it also very important, that one pastor made very clear, what exactly we were doing.
it is not possible to substitute in repentance those who did evil.
But it is possible to identify with the guilt of the past and bring it before the Lord.
Source: Unknown - Personal (unofficial) report on the Reformation Commemoration Tour of Austria, August 16-26, 2016
Corporate Repentance
We have been praying, reading and seeking to hear from God over the past two months. It has been a valuable time for me personally. From our studying Joel and Habbakuk together at home I have been struck by some of the remarkable parallels between their situations and ours. I think that there is also a response that God expects from us in our current situation that parallels what he expected from the recipients of those messages: corporate repentance. I’ve asked our community to consider what they need to repent of in their personal lives, but also to identify the sins of our communities and nations. As the body of Christ incarnated in cultures around the world we identify with those places, interceding on their behalf. We don’t shift blame or justify the sins of the world around us. We should be a people willing to repent, confessing the sinfulness around us as genuine members of those communities. We model repentance and trust in Jesus for the communities around us. And we commit to not participate in that corruption, but to stand against it in all of the ways that we are able. The kinds of corporate sins that have stood out to me in our context include nationalism/racism, materialism, abuse and trafficking of women, and lack of care for the environment. Of course there are other sins and other contexts and other ways of conceiving corporate sinfulness.
The message of corporate repentance is as valid for all of our neighbors as it is for the church. I think this is a good time to find ways to call the nations to repent.
Source: Ryan K - Posted on FB, 3 May 2020
Hamilton
There are moments that the words don't reach
There is a grace too powerful to name
We push away what we can never understand
We push away the unimaginable
They are standing in the garden
Alexander by Eliza's side
She takes his hand
It's quiet uptown
Forgiveness
Can you imagine?
Forgiveness
Can you imagine?
Source: Lin-Manuel Miranda - "It's Quiet Uptown", from the musical Hamilton, by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Philipa Soo, Renée Elise Goldsberry, and the Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton
The Great Schism
In the Protestant and Evangelical worlds, the so-called Great Schism between the churches of the East and West belongs to a chapter of church history lost in pre-Reformation murkiness, seemingly irrelevant to the contemporary struggle for survival in a secular age.
...
It is a rift which erupted in the eleventh century, although it had a long prelude and multiple grievances. The broken relationship between the Eastern and Roman churches lasted over nine whole centuries, before eventually the mutual excommunications were lifted in a joint declaration issued by Pope Paul and Patriarch Athenagoras during the Second Vatican Council in 1965. Communion however was not yet restored and significant hurdles remained.
Source: Jeff Fountain - Weekly Word eNewsletter, 8 April 2019, "The Creed That Unites And Divides"
https://us9.campaign-archive.com/?e=0b86898e11&u=65605d9dbab0a19355284d8df&id=0e080f28cf
An Analogy
On my mind this morning. It's a weak analogy but...
Imagine that you come across a loving, powerful, forgiving, and encouraging individual. You're having a conversation with him. His words fill you with life and hope that you've never known before. You feel you belong. You feel empowered.
Suddenly, you're attacked by a group of thugs who want to steal everything you have and leave you for dead.
This amazing man steps in and covers you. He tells the thugs, "Let him go. You can take me instead."
He gets brutally beaten, so badly that he doesn't even look human anymore. He, even in his dying, extends love to you. He dies, but later he is brought back to life.
You ask him, "What can I do for you? How could I ever repay?"
He expresses that all he wants is for his friends, family, and acquaintances to live in peace and be one together. In fact, this is what he prays for...asking God that they all be one so that the world would know about his love.
Would you respect his wishes?
Would you be appalled and saddened by the bickering, accusing ways of people that "know" him?
Would you give him what he asked for?
To be a name-caller...to be divisive...and to demean another in his name would be a slap in his face.
Yet, we as Christians, have forgotten The Way, and we slap Jesus in the face over and over again with our idiotic, self-righteousness.
Have we forgotten The Way once again during this election?
Lift up your head.
Raise your eyes.
Look at Him. Just look into His eyes. Stop trying to force the gaze of others and trust the one who loves us all.
By putting our trust in this political system we've built, we forget Truth. We forget his request.
Can't you hear the cry of the man who went through hell? Will you give him what he asked for?
(John 17:20-22)
Source: Traci Vanderbush - AS posted on FB 15 Oct 16
Dead, Enemy Churches
"The time for the fulfillment of the prophecy Smith Wigglesworth gave you has arrived. It is time to begin. I want you to go to the leaders of the churches."
I argued back. "Lord, what can I say to those dead churches?"
"I can raise the dead." As simple as that.
"But, Lord, they are enemies." I almost whined.
"Yes, but I have told you to love your enemy."
Ignoring the truth of Scripture in my frustration, I continued to argue. "How can I love people like this? I can agree with neither their doctrines nor their practices."
"Well," the Lord said firmly deep inside me, "you will have to forgive them!"
"Dear, Lord" - it really was a whine by then - "how can I forgive them if I can't justify them?"
"I never gave you authority to justify anybody. I only gave you authority to forgive. And if you forgive, you will love them. And if you love, you will want to forgive. Now you can choose."
The conversation was over. But the battle had only begun. A small light had gone on, enough to show me that I knew very little about forgiveness in the eyes of the Lord. In the days ahead, I had to wrestle with the Lord, to learn, to go through the internal pain of a genuine revolution. A new king had to be put in power over that part of my life.
Source: David du Plessis - From "A Man Called Mr. Pentecost", as told to Bob Slosser, Ch. 18, pp 158-159
CS Lewis on the Difficulty of Forgiveness
Quoting CS Lewis:
To forgive the incessant provocations of daily life - to keep on forgiving the bossy mother-in-law, the bullying husband, the nagging wife, the selfish daughter, the deceitful son - how can we do it? Only, I think, by remembering where we stand, by meaning our words when we say in our prayers each night, "Forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Source: Johann Christoph Arnold - Why Forgive?, pp.123
“The Love of Christ Compels Us”
When the German national planning committee met in the autumn of 2014, it quickly became clear that the materials for this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity would need to have two accents: on the one hand, there should be a celebration of God’s love and grace, the “justification of humanity through grace alone”, reflecting the main concern of the churches marked by Martin Luther’s Reformation. On the other hand, the materials should also recognize the pain of the subsequent deep divisions which afflicted the Church, openly name the guilt, and offer an opportunity to take steps toward reconciliation.
Ultimately it was Pope Francis’ 2013 Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (“The Joy of the Gospel”) which provided the theme for this year, when it used the quote: “The Love of Christ Compels Us” (Paragraph 9). With this scripture verse (2 Cor 5:14), taken in the context of the entire fifth chapter of the second letter to the Corinthians, the German committee formulated the theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2017.
Source: Vatican - "Resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2017", Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/weeks-prayer-doc/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20160531_week-prayer-2017_en.html