Some suggest that a creed book or central headquarters may help achieve unity. The Ecumenical Movement encourages unity on the basis of compromise: we just just overlook contradictory doctrines and practices.
Some suggest that a creed book or central headquarters may help achieve unity. The Ecumenical Movement encourages unity on the basis of compromise: we just just overlook contradictory doctrines and practices.
But haven´t all these ideas been tried before? Nearly every denomination has its headquarters and creed book, yet division continues because people follow different headquarters and different creeds! Compromise does not solve the problem either, because people cannot agree about how far to compromise. Should the church accept atheists and agnostics? No matter where you draw the line, there is always someone on the other side!
The fact is that every plan for unity automatically results in division, simply because people cannot agree about what plan of unity to follow! As long as some refuse to accept a plan of unity, division continues.
God also has a plan of unity. You can read it in Ephesians 4:3-6. However, this plan too can result in unity only if all people are willing to accept and abide by it. Nevertheless, God promises to bless and reward those who are willing to follow His plan, regardless of what others may do. We must be “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).
(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 4/2009
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