Digging Out the Embedded Church - The Maranatha Community
Digging Out the Embedded Church - The Maranatha Community
Digging Out the Embedded Church - The Maranatha Community
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
are often much bigger divisions between people of <strong>the</strong> same denomination than between<br />
individuals of different denominations.<br />
Denominational differences – are rarely <strong>the</strong>ological, but more usually results from<br />
cultural conditioning.‟<br />
Alec R Vidler – 20 th Century:<br />
„Reuniting <strong>the</strong> existing churches seems laudable but is unrealistic as <strong>the</strong>y are no longer<br />
potentially powerful institutions in modern society – It is more likely <strong>the</strong>y will have to<br />
die, in order that by <strong>the</strong> grace of God and in His good time <strong>the</strong>y may be born again.<br />
<strong>The</strong> moment has not yet arrived when we can do <strong>the</strong> decisive thing; we have to prepare<br />
ourselves and to prepare society for <strong>the</strong> fresh revelation of <strong>the</strong> arm of <strong>the</strong> Lord, and to<br />
apprehend His judgement in order that we may be ready to receive His mercy.<br />
<strong>The</strong> restoration of <strong>the</strong> universal <strong>Church</strong> may be as remote as <strong>the</strong> restoration of<br />
Christendom.<br />
<strong>The</strong> existing condition of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Church</strong>, its disunity, its worldliness, its acceptance of<br />
compromise – is certainly a scandal – but <strong>the</strong> weakness of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Church</strong> and her<br />
humiliation draws ra<strong>the</strong>r than repels <strong>the</strong> believer.<br />
It is not impossible that in <strong>the</strong> providence of God, Europe will be re-evangelised by<br />
what we now call “<strong>the</strong> younger churches”.‟<br />
Cardinal Mercier – 20 th Century:<br />
„In order to unite with one ano<strong>the</strong>r we must love one ano<strong>the</strong>r; in order to love one<br />
ano<strong>the</strong>r, we must know one ano<strong>the</strong>r; in order to know one ano<strong>the</strong>r, we must go and<br />
meet one ano<strong>the</strong>r.‟<br />
A R Cross – 20 th Century:<br />
„Christian unity – is not based on agreement on ecclesiology, baptism or ministry<br />
(though this is not to imply that <strong>the</strong>se are unimportant), but in our common life in God,<br />
Fa<strong>the</strong>r, Son and Holy Spirit.‟<br />
Hans Kung – 20 th Century (speaking of Catholic and non-Catholic Christians):<br />
„<strong>The</strong>re is already a deep communion, koinonia, between <strong>the</strong>m and us; it is founded on<br />
one baptism, faith in one Lord, and love for him; and it is stronger and more important<br />
than anything that separates us. We are Christians, and <strong>the</strong>y are Christians.<br />
What we need for reunion is that this communion which already exists should grow.<br />
What we need is that both sides should create more and more common ground between<br />
us, until at last what separates us becomes insignificant and full unity is a reality. This<br />
“perfect unity” will not be uniformity. As <strong>the</strong> Pope [John XXIII] has said, it will be<br />
unity in essentials, freedom in all else.<br />
Page 60