Christian Unity (the book) - The Maranatha Community

CHAPTER 11MAKING CHURCH HISTORY IN THE 21 ST CENTURYHaving looked at some of the attempts to bring Christians together over theChurch’s 2,000 years of history, attempts which have largely failed, what canwe do now in the 21 st Century?Our main thesis is this: there is in the present century an unprecedented‘kairos’ 179 opportunity for Christians to stand in united witness to the goodnews of Jesus Christ. Up to now the three main divisions of the Church, EasternOrthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant, have gone their own ways andoften been in opposition to each other. Now, for the first time in anysignificant way, the three traditions are listening to and even learning fromeach other.But we must face facts. It is clear that there can be no unity with those whohold liberal ‘non-realist’ theologies. By a ‘liberal’ I mean one who is ready tobreak away from allegiance to a classical Christianity as seen in a commitmentto the Bible as God’s revelation to us for all times and a confession of theCreeds of the early Church.Those who do have a basis of unity find it in classical Christianity as seen inGod’s revelation in the Bible, the Creeds and, for Catholics and OrthodoxChristians, in the Church’s traditions and dogmas.That we have to talk of ‘liberal’ and ‘classic’ theologies at all is very unpleasant.Would it not be better to have a ‘unity’ that encompassed all views? Thetrouble is it would not be unity as portrayed for us in the Bible as being of ‘oneheart and mind’ (Acts 4.32) on the central issues of the faith.It would be wrong for either side to belittle the other. Sincere and devoutliberals often have insights the traditionalists ought to consider, and liberalscan find in traditionalist faith inspiration for daily living, but ultimately the twosides cannot journey as one.179Kairos: An ancient Greek word meaning the right or opportune moment (the suprememoment).Page 189