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"Take
Heed" Ministries
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Cecil Andrews, PO BOX 13, Ballynahinch, BT24 8AL, Northern Ireland. Telephone/Fax 028 9756 5511. E-MAIL - takeheed@aol.com WEB-SITE - http://www.takeheed.net |
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Christian
Unity & Rev Allen Sleith |
In the
Rev Allen Sleith, one of a
panel of contributors to the weekly
‘THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKEND’
had the following article published
TOMORROW is the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. If church life is becoming a minority sport in this part of the world, then how much more so the attempt to give expression to the unity or oneness of the Christian Church? Nonetheless, for some of us, myself included, the significance of this particular week in the ecclesiastical calendar ought not to overlooked or undermined.
Space does not permit me here to interpret at length the undeniable thrust of such crucial Biblical texts as John 17, Ephesians 4, Colossians 1 and a whole host of others, all of which make crystal clear the unity of the Church amidst - or often, in spite of - the differences that doubtless still exist. And I mention these Scriptural passages fully aware that other people see things rather differently, emphasising, as they do, those texts which speak in more exclusive or separatist ways.
So to anyone who is opposed to, or apathetic towards the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, or other similar ventures in the field of what is variously called 'inter-church relations' or 'ecumenism' or 'fellowship', I wish to put a series of questions for further reflection and possible discussion:
(1) How do you read, and practically respond to, the many 'all' and 'one' passages that reside in the New Testament? Are they to be ignored, suppressed or twisted?
(2) If you still insist on emphasising the Biblical texts that urge separation from other communities who also take the name of Christ at the expense of those texts that speak of the unity of the community, otherwise known as communion or fellowship, how then do you express and embody the unity of the Church? In other words, show us that you're not just a suspicious sect!
(3) Might it not be the case, irony of ironies for 'true Bible believers', that the way in which you interpret Scripture is not quite so pure or sound or spiritual as you suppose but is, in fact, more indebted to, and determined by, a particular 'tradition' of interpretation than you care to admit, thus, and perversely, denying the Holy Spirit the freedom to shape your understanding of the text?
(4) How is the Church's message of reconciliation heard in the world when the Churches are still not reconciled within, and to, each other?
(5) And in case anyone thinks I'm being hard on the 'hardliners' and letting others off lightly, what are you, the reader, whoever you may be, doing to love God, and neighbour, and self, and in that order?
I sent the following letter to the
Belfast Telegraph and a very slightly edited version of it was published in the
Belfast Telegraph of
Dear editor,
Rev
Allen Sleith [Thought For
The Weekend 17 January] seems to infer that there is some undue tension or even
contradiction in the notion that Christians can be both ‘united’ and also
‘exclusive or separatist’. If that were true then it would call into question
the Christian example and testimony of people like the Apostle Paul [author of
Ephesians and Colossians mentioned by Mr Sleith] and
the beloved disciple John [author of John 17 also referred to].
Why do Christians such as myself, who are, as Mr Sleith
said, ‘opposed to…ecumenism’ follow the path of ‘separation’? We do so simply
because that is what God’s Word clearly teaches. We are to have no ‘fellowship’
with those whose professed faith and practice constitute a false ‘gospel’ –
Paul clearly teaches that, not only in Ephesians [5:11] and Colossians [2:8]
but also in Romans [16:17], 1 Corinthians [5:9-13], 2 Corinthians [6:14-17],
Galatians [1:8], Philippians [3:17-18], 1Timothy [6:3-5] and 2 Timothy [2:16-21].
The apostle John was also quite clear on the issue of ‘separation’ as we read
in 2 John [6-11].
‘Exclusivity
or separation’ is obedience to God’s own command and is one of His means of
safeguarding the practice of doctrinal purity by His Church. It is also a powerful means of bearing
witness for God’s true gospel to those led astray by error. The Lord Himself
warned that not everyone who professes to be a Christian actually is one
[Matthew
Those
who pray for Christian ‘unity’ seem oblivious to the fact that ‘separatist’
Christians do acknowledge that such ‘unity’ [Ephesians 4:3] already exists
amongst Christians, those truly ‘born again’ of the Spirit of God. It has been
my great joy over the past almost 20 years to enjoy ‘fellowship’ and ‘unity’
with such fellow Christians. Some of these were, before their spiritual
regeneration, members of groups claiming to be Christian [but whose creeds and
catechisms etc clearly identified them to be proclaimers
of false ‘gospels’] but since their conversion they realise, as I likewise do,
that with such groups there can be no ‘fellowship’ or ‘unity’. To engage in
such sinful, false ecumenical ‘fellowship’ would be to disobey God’s Word.
In
closing let us never forget that the Lord Himself will separate the ‘sheep’
from the ‘goats’ [Matthew 25:32-33] so ‘separation’ on that great judgment day
will be nothing new to the obedient Child of God.
Ballynahinch
The following excellent letter was also
submitted to the Belfast Telegraph
by my brother in Christ in
Dear
Editor,
Mr. Sleith in his article extolling the value of prayer for
Christian Unity conveys the idea that the New Testament makes it “crystal
clear” that the unity of the Church should be the goal beyond “differences that
doubtless exist.” This sounds suspiciously
like a ‘unity at all cost’ dogma. We
should all strive to be gracious to one another and tolerant in the Body of
Christ on points of difference that are inconsequential.
But, before
getting on to Christian unity, let us be certain of the big point. Christians can only have unity with other
Christians for there are many false gospels abounding here and there. There are many doctrinally deficient churches
that hang onto the name ‘Christian’ but deny Christianity’s distinctiveness at
every turn. Hopefully, Mr. Sleith is not recommending, against the New Testament, that
Christians should have ‘concord
with Belial’ [2 Corinthians
Mr. Sleith has called for approval of an enterprise that he
likens to ‘inter-church relations’, ‘ecumenism’ and ‘fellowship.’ The trouble is that Mr. Sleith
gives us no boundaries. Unity with
apostate religions and cults would not be a good thing yet he offers us no
‘port of safety’ for our ‘unity’ ships and boats. This is a dangerous thing. Would any Christian want unity with what the
apostle Paul calls ‘the temple of idols?’ [2 Corinthians 6:16.]
To insist on
a week of prayer for unity without taking into consideration what unites
Christians is more than a little reckless and heading for the rocks. Mr Sleith issued a
challenge and herewith are my answers to his five
questions.
I answer that the ‘all’ and ‘one’ passages assume a Christian unity
already existing among true followers of Jesus Christ. This unity is fashioned by the Holy Spirit in
the hearts of God’s elect.
I answer that we test their
metal first. If they are of Christ and
comply with the Word of God in their faith and practice, we rejoice in our
unity.
I answer that this question
could be posed to any group claiming Christ.
This is precisely why doctrinal agreement on the essentials of
Christianity should precede all attempts at unity within and among those who
claim Christ.
I answer that the Body of Christ
is reconciled to itself in and among Believers.
The assumption that all denominations, cults, sects and religions are a
part of the “Church” is an unwarranted and unbiblical assumption. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a truth upon
which unity depends. Unity is not a
truth upon which the Gospel depends.
I respond that to truly love God
is to obey His Word and live a life in harmony with God’s revealed truths as
found only in His Word. To love my
neighbour is to speak the truth in love and avoid all false gospels and
whatever else is falsely called Christian.
To love myself is to recognize that I am utterly selfish and have need
of a perfect saviour for my many sins.
Those who
strive after a unity ‘in the flesh’ often find it. However, the unity from the Lord is both ‘pure
and peaceable’ [James
Sincerely,
Robert
M. Zins
N.
Virginia U.S.A.