#Christian Unity

[findingrome1]

Peace be with you all friends, happy All Hallows Eve to you!! This will be a somewhat lengthy post because I think I have some ideas worth sharing.

So for those of you who don't know All Hallow's Eve is the day before all saints day. The day when the Church remembers her saints. The Catholic and Orthodox churches alongside high church protestants observe the day as to keep alive the memory of those who gave their lives to the faith, either working tirelessly to spread the Gospel, help us to understand the nature of God better, or literally gave their lives in witness for the Gospel.

A few saints outside of the Bible I think are worth sharing.

Saint Athanasius- 5x exiled for defending the divinity of Christ and kept fighting heresy.

Saint Anslem- Theologian who made the ontological argument of God.

Saint Patrick- Herald of God's kingdom to Ireland.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe- Took the place of a married Jewish man destined to be killed in WW2 at the cost of his life.

Saint Justin Martyr- Early Church Father who recklessly defended the Christain faith, to the point of writing letters to the Roman Emperor to debunk rumors. This cost him his life.

Sadly (at least to me) this day marks the anniversary of when Dr. Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses, which contained 95 points of protest against the perceived and real problems occurring within the Roman Catholic church. Ofc the indulgences scheme to build Saint Peter's Basicillia comes to mind yet there was plenty of clerical and liturgical abuses, inconsistentcy in training for the priesthood going on too. I am not going to talk about why I think the Catholic position is more correct. Plenty of smart people have done this before me. What I will offer are a few ideas to foster deeper unity.

Working in common interest- while having deep differences Catholics, Orthodox and Lutherans share a common foundation and values. For example Christian orthodoxy (just right belief, not the churches) rejects aborti0n. Think about how much more of a statement it would be if Catholics and Protestants if instead of holding separate marches were one big march at state capitals?

Learning from one another- As Thomas Aquinas said "All truth, is God's truth". While I don't believe God intended his beloved Church to fracture this to me seems very human. God works with human errors as he did with Israel when they fractured, God's grace and power works through all who strive to know him. While I am Catholic I still consume non-Catholic Christian media. For example on Youtube the Lutheran Pastor Jordan B. Cooper, makes videos about the Lutheran confession explaining it. These videos help inform me so I don't strawman Lutherans and I better understand the Catholic faith by seeing the differences. Furthermore he makes other videos especially on etiquette which is informative.

Talk to each other- similar to my first point, but different enough to be worth mentioning. If we talk to each other, it will do so much good. When we talk to each other it will break down prejudices and enlighten both parties quickly. We will see each other as more than souls 'on the wrong side' but friends who we value and care to learn more about.

I hope this post gives some helpful thoughts. May the love of Jesus Christ that surpasses all understanding br with you all.

[thecatholicbozo]

The Unity of Charity (Demons Hate this One Weird Trick)

"We must also take into account that at the time of our change of life we declare perpetual warfare against the devil. Now there is nothing he fears so much as the unity of charity. For if we give away all we possess for God's sake - this the devil does not fear, because he himself possesses nothing. If we fast, he has no fear of our action because he does not use food himself. If we make long watchings, again he is not alarmed, for he himself never slumbers. But when we are united in brotherly love, then he is intensely affrighted - because we hold firmly here upon earth the treasure that he thought light of keeping in heaven." "So it is that Holy Church, described as an army in battle array, inspires terror, because as the enemy fears at the sight of the battleline well-ordered & compact, so in the same way the devil trembles when he beholds persons of spiritual life armed with the weapons of virtue living together in the unity of concord. He grieves most deeply in his defeat when he fails to break through their ranks and separate them by discord. Hence it is written of our Lord: "Hus place is in peace... there hath he broken the powers of bows, the shield, the sword, and the battle." We see then that concord shatters all the weapons of the evil one."

-Hugh of St. Victor, in his commentary upon Chapter I of the Rule of St Augustine

[biblebloodhound]

Accept One Another (Romans 15:7-13)

It is very difficult to have hope, peace, and spiritual power, whenever there is disunity.

Christian Unity, by Gisele Bauche Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the…

[biblepreacher]

Question: Who Should Christians Vote For?

Allow me to offer a simple take: Christians should vote our sincere conscience. With the election just eight days away as of this writing, we are being bombarded by people trying to tell you who you must vote for and support. Within Christian circles, pastors are telling their churches that they must vote for Trump, not only saying that “you can’t be Christian and vote for Kamala”, but also that…

[compassionmattersmost]

Experiencing Oneness with God: A Deeper Look at John 14:20

Introduction: In Christian teaching, we often emphasize the unique relationship between Jesus and God the Father. Jesus, as the Son of God, is understood to have a special connection with the Divine—a connection that many Christians see as exclusive to Him. Yet, when we look closely at Jesus’ own words, we find something even more profound: an invitation to share in this divine relationship, to…

[tmarshconnors]

"Long after you and l are gone, God will still be at work-and many of the things we prayed for will finally come to pass."

William Franklin Graham Jr. was an American evangelist, ordained Southern Baptist minister and civil rights advocate whose broadcasts and world tours featuring live sermons became well known in the mid- to late 20th century.

Born: 7 November 1918, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Died: 21 February 2018 (age 99 years), Montreal, North Carolina, United States

[bvthomas]

Rekindling 'First Love' in Faith

Summary: The biblical admonition to the Ephesian church about abandoning their ‘first love’ serves as a poignant reminder for believers to maintain the primacy of spiritual devotion. This ‘first love’ refers not to a mere emotional beginning but to the prioritization of Christ in every aspect of life. Over time, even the noblest pursuits can overshadow this fundamental commitment. The Ephesian…

[readersmagnet]

Spiritual Warfare Through Christian Unity by Bill McCracken

"Spiritual Warfare Through Christian Unity" by Bill McCracken is a spiritual guide that emphasizes the importance of unity in the face of spiritual battles, urging believers to recognize the common enemy—Satan and his demons. Rooted in biblical truths, the book unveils Jesus' "starter kit," empowering believers with tools like truth, righteousness, and peace.

Let's unite against the true enemy. Grab a copy at www.spiritualwarfarethroughchristianunity.com.

[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection:

Today as we celebrate Christian unity we recall in today's gospel a prayer of Jesus in which he is praying for unity, but not just any  unity, but a unity based on mutual respect and love, the same love that the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit share equally. For this is the foundation for all love — respect and unity — which Jesus prays that his followers, which include all of us, will join with the Trinity in a united way through love and respect for all we meet. Yet, with all of this said, we must remember that unity takes work and God gives to us what we need, for he gives us grace, which comes to us through the Holy Spirit, in order, for us to stand united in our faith which gives to us a sense of hope for through unity of faith we bring true meaning of unity in the prayer Jesus is praying.

Today’s Spiritual Links for January 18, 2024

National Eucharistic Review Today’s Mas Readings Today’s Reflection Rosary Liturgy of the Hours New American Bible Non-Scriptural Reading Prime Matters

[watchigtbj]

Video: Wiseman Harry Responds to BBC Documentary on Prophet TB Joshua

[shiningthelightministries]

The Doctrine Of Unity - Bible Study - Shining The Light Ministries - Th...

[givingchrist]

The Unity of Christians

As you drive down the street in a country where Christianity is legal, you may see a bewildering variety of Christian churches. Not only is there Roman Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and other major divisions, there are also subdivisions of each. I am a Lutheran pastor, part of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (which is not just located in Missouri). I was not aware of how many…

[biblebloodhound]

Dealing with Opposing Views (Romans 14:1-12)

Unity doesn't just happen; it must be pursued, worked on, and maintained.

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s…

[biblepreacher]

I’m sharing this study of the history of Christianity from the Useful-Charts YouTube channel because I think it’s really helpful. What I’m going to do is link and embed this video here, and then share some thoughts that I have from the video centering on Jesus’ two parables of the Mustard See and Leaven. I recommend watching the video first, but, I’ve written this post in such a way that you can…

[martyschoenleber]

Serving the Community through Existing Associations

Serving the Community through Existing Associations

How can we show the world the unity in so much of the diversity of our Christian expression in the fractured culture that we live in? How can we work harder at forging that unity without theological compromise of our convictions? What might be some practical things that local groups of Christians leaders could do to show more unity and create more conversations around the gospel? Here’s some…

[billionbrilliantstars]

When we put country before party, we vote for a future that benefits all of us. Let’s make the right choice this November.

If you’re a Christian, this is also about putting God before party and before a man. Trump is no Godly man. Liz Cheney is very much pro life, but the healthy way to reduce abortions is not to create dystopian laws. These are laws that force victims of rape and incest to carry a child. These laws also inhibit care for partial miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, and other medically necessary abortions.

Conservative Christians, we can elect Kamala Harris and advocate for taking rapists accountable, enhanced access to comprehensive sex education, access to birth control, and a better adoption system. Kamala Harris has already promised to enhance the child tax credit and reduce the cost of living so less mothers will feel they can’t care for a child. You can be deeply religious and pro life and still vote for Kamala and stop Trump.