Christian Unity in accordance with Internet

Following are 30 questions that relate with Christian Unity that I'd like you to reflect upon for your edification. In fact,, these questions could possibly be used in your Bible class as you discuss Christian Unity, that is so much needed today.

QUESTIONNAIRE ON "HOW TO APPROACH CHRISTIAN UNITY"

A) AMONG CHURCHES THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE CONSIDER CHRISTIAN

1- What do you consider causes Christian Divisions? A) Is denominationalism (Christians dividing)

a sin?

2- What's Christian Ecumenism and how will you feel about it?

A) Do you believe for Christians to have complete spiritual unity, you will need some sort of Church Organizational Unity?

3- How do you think we have to proceed inside our controversies over the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion?

A) How would you interpret the Lord's Supper?

B) Do you believe that in interpreting the Lord's Supper, we're really using different words expressing the same thing, which, to a certain extent, will always remain an earthly mystery?

C) Who can you believe should take Holy Communion? How often? And how important is the use of both elements (bread and wine) in Holy Communion?

D) How essential may be the Lord's Supper, Holy Communion or the Mass to Salvation?

4- How would you think we should proceed in controversies over Baptism?

A) How would you interpret Baptism?

B) Should Baptism be only for those who are with the capacity of belief, for believers and infants of same, or definitely not be an outward ceremonial act?

C) Just how many Baptisms is it possible to have, and is "Baptism of the Holy Spirit", where speaking in tongues is an essential manifestation, yet another Baptism?

5- Exactly what is a sacrament, and how many activities do you recognize therefore? Is this issue a significant component in any ecumenical dialogue?

6- So how exactly does Free Will and Predestination fit into your over-all belief system?

7- What does it mean to be in the ordained ministry?

A) Who can you believe can perform Priestly functions (Baptism, Holy Communion, etc.)?

B) Do you believe that the ordination of Christians could eventually disappear since it divides Christians into two distinct classes?

8- How will you feel we should proceed inside our controversies over the organizational structure of the various churches, if we're searching for organizational unity?

A) Could you eventually accept the Pope as the head of the complete Christian Church?

B) Do you think that a United Organizational Church ought to be strongly controlled with limited diversity or loosely controlled with a wide variety of diversity?

9- Do you feel that the theory of Evolution can to some degree be compatible with God's Doctrine of Creation? From what extent? Why or why not?

A) Is creation still taking place?

10- Do you think that the Bible literally describes the end of time? Give a few examples. What might be some other interpretations of these examples?

11- Is the debate among Christians on the beginnings and the continuing future of life really that important; and really should not our concentration be more on today's and how exactly we can serve God now?

12- Do you believe that the Bible is the Word of God or provides the Word of God? Martin Luther once compared the Bible to a baby carriage with the baby inside. There can be errors in the carriage, but not with the infant. Does the term of God exceed what's contained in the Bible?

A) What's your interpretative approach to Scripture? Do you believe the Bible is infallible in accordance with each word that's written, or the message it includes?

B) What part does tradition play in your interpretation of Scripture?

C) What part does experience play in your interpretation of Scripture?

13- Do the Christian conservatives (literalists) and Christian liberals (contextualists) need one another for the church to flourish? (see below)

Conservative Emphasis

1) Scripture is authoritative

2) Creeds and Confessions are valuable and Vibrant Expressions of Faith

3)The Gospel changes lives

4)Personal Piety is really a reaction to God's Grace without being legalistic

5)Stewardship is really a Joyous Responsibility

Liberal Emphasis

1)The Gospel must engage contemporary culture.

2)Christians must invite change in the non-essentials.

3)The Gosspel is really a force for social change.

4)The Gifts of all Christians should be claimed by the Church.

5)Christians must be Ecumenical in Dialogue

14- What part does traditions play in your Belief System?

15- Do you consider Priests should have the proper to marry?

16- Could you accept a Pastor who is divorced and remarried? If that's the case, under what circumstances? Due to the trend in increased divorces within society, do you feel an answer may be long-term comprehensive pre-marital counselling sessions?. If not, how will you feel we should cope with so many divorces?

17- How would you think we should proceed to dialogue with a Church that emphasizes Mariology and the Saints?

A)Exactly what is a Saint according to the Bible?

18- So how exactly does Sanctification (making someone Holy or Good) and Justification by Faith rank to be able of priority in your belief system?

19- Do you consider organizational unity ought to be a major goal in order to achieve Spiritual unity within the Christian Church? Do you know the advantages or disadvantages of Christian organizational divisions?

20- What role can you feel women should have in a church organizational structure?

I strongly feel that the future trend in churches will be churches that are Christian non denominational. What do you consider?

B) AMONG CHURCHES THAT A LOT OF CHRISTIANS CONSIDER AS SECTS

1. How would you think we should proceed with those Christian Sects (Christians Scientists, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, etc.) that deny the Trinity (one in three persons and three in a single person) as we understand it? Do you believe in the trinity?

A) Are there any other factors that determine whether a Christian Church is really a Christian Sect?

2. How will you feel we have to proceed having an ecumenical dialogue with the Christian Scientists?

3. How do you feel we have to proceed with a far more active dialogue with the Jehovah Witnesses, especially when their belief dictates that Jesus, The Word, and God are completely separate beings, however in the Jehovah Witness's own Scripture it states in John 1:1a "In the beginning the Word was, and the term was with God". WHEN I understand it from my interpretation of their Scripture it seems to point that Jesus and God are one, but at the same time two separate beings aswell, which contradicts the basic Jehovah Witness' doctrine. What do you think about this along with other Jehovah Witness' doctrine?.

4. How will you feel we should proceed with a far more active dialogue with the Mormons, particularly when you realize that in the Book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price, one of the three books together with the Bible which has equal authoritative status, you find that God told Abraham to lie, which implies that, if this were true and even though God could do anything He wants, He would be going against His individual nature? In the Bible, it only states that Abraham lied without God being involved at all (Gen 12:12-13). How do you cope with this latter concern and other Mormon doctrines.

5. Which Christian Sect would be most difficult to deal with?

6. What can we study from the Christian Sects? What do you think they can learn from us?

7. Would a more effective way to create a more vigorous dialogue with the Sects be to invite members of the Sects to a Christian discussion group, or a Bible study group?

8. Is it possible to disagree with someone and still respect his or her opinion since you probably are speaking from two differing backgrounds?

9. What would your reaction be if someone said to you "Are you currently born again?"?

A) How can you look upon Salvation?

10.How else might you enhance Christian Unity on the list of Christian Churches?

1st Internet Question: IS ORGANIZATIONAL CHRISTIAN UNITY REALLY NEEDED TO HAVE MORE EFFECTIVE SPITITUAL UNITY?

THE RESPONSES RESULT FROM 3 CHRISTIAN WEBSITES

1) Stephen says: Organizational unity is for me an absolute no, no,. Spiritual unity can be an absolute necessity.

2) Corbin says: I feel it is important to have organizational Christian unity, but only when it results in true Spiritual unity.

3) Tom says: Humans are social, yet we frequently fear organization. How come this so? We fear whatever we are in need of. Spiritual unity can only just be accomplished if you have an organization that allows us to come together and seek it. My knowledge of organization is simply a precise space where everyone understands and follows the same rules during that space. Without this common ground how do we create sacred space to talk about that which will bring about unity. Do we fear organization since it calls us to check out rules? Without rules spirituality is impossible.

4) Anne says: I tend to be somewhat an anarchist and rebellious at heart and belonging to a church is really problematic for me. I participate in one now and what brought me back was having small kids. I had the need to bring them up in the traditions and teachings of the church, feeling that I wanted community support along with what I taught them. I guess I have been very fortunate in that I haven't been through any terrible horror stories so far as churches are worried, but I know of suffering due to some churches with church people going awry

5) Shirly says: Today we Jehovah's Witnesses are organized to handle Jesus' command to preach the good thing of the kingdom worldwide. We have been united spiritually in a way that no other group claiming to be Christian can compare. Regardless where you may go on the planet, Jehovah's Witnesses believe a similar thing doctrinally. We remain individuals with many differences as to culture. likes, dislikes, etc. Yet we have been a true brotherhood. We do not mix with the politics of the planet and do not take up arms against our brothers of any nation.

6) Jimmy says: I agree with Shirly about her organization, but I strongly disagree with her about her doctrine.

7) Barbara says: This is simply not a"one size fits all" issue. The answer to your question lies in the amount of faith of the Christian. We are all at different levels-the reason for a Church organization is to give teaching, support, strength, and above all, fellowship by example, to those weak in their faith. Those folks who have a strong faith and also have found the reality have a stewardship toward those that struggle still to get the "mustard seed". We must answer the decision of our Lord and go where He directs us, to administer to His Sheep, our siblings in Christ. This might, or may possibly not be, in a Church organization. Actually we should all achieve Spiritual unity before organizational unity may be accomplished.

8) Johnny says: This is apparently a movement towards a shallow unity at the trouble of truth, which may be based largely partly on the protest movements of the 60s and 70s. True unity must involve both an inner change of heart and life with doctrinal and practical uniformity.

2nd Internet Question: WHAT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN ORGANIZED CHRISTIAN UNITY - THE LORD'S SUPPER, BAPTISM, CHURCH

GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE, WOMEN ISSUES, BIBLICAL INTERPRETATIONS, THE PAPACY, ETC.?

1) Corbin says: I really believe it will be the Papacy because how do you deal with the infallibility of the Pope on moral issues.

2) Johnny says: That's really a fascinating question, You've definitely picked a large obstacle for Protestants, Corbin, with papal infallibility. Especially because the Catholic Church condemned a lot of the Reformational ideas and reformists. Then there is the Evangelical's emphasis on being "born again" and all they mean theologically with that. On the main one hand, it is encouraging that the Episcopaleans and Lutherans exercised a way to accept each other in unity, in a position to supp together and administer all rites together. On the other hand, 20+ years of dialogue seems terribly long to solve together two denominations that a lot of of the world can't even tell apart. Personally, I think they all have to recognize that there are many more grey areas of doctrinal interpretation than they realize. Thank you for the question that handles a matter that's near my heart - the necessity for much more Unity of the Spirit between the brethern.

3) Melvin says: The pope has only been infallible because the 1800s and that has been because the pope said he was infallible, which means nothing if he is fallible. Besides, nobody knows what which means. I believe that sharing communion is about the best that people can hope for.

4) Johnny says: Although it has never been stated before 1800s, I believe the infallibility of the Pope was implicitly understood because the start of the Papacy.

5) Bernard says: The biggest problem for me is that organizational unity can't ever be real in heart, it must

by its nature be coercive.

6) Mary Anne says: I agree Berny. Organizations are by nature, static and ultimately death-dealing to the life of the Spirit. Spirit moves. It is fluid, dynamic, and changeful. Box it up in a pile of laws and statutes and codes and contracts and pretty soon it's dead as a doornail. Unity I really do not support. Love and wonder and appreciation in diversity I really do. Love your individualism. I am hoping it's contagious.

7) Morgan says: I recall an old saying which went "in essentials, unity; in non-essentials, diversity; in every

things, charity". I think there's a lot to be said for that. I work ecumenically, and I find that valuable and worthwhile. But ecumenism, and for example, multi-faith understanding, hasn't been about seeing what is the lowest common denominator which to base a spurious unity, but an appreciation of the diversity of faith and the celebration of that diversity, alongside a recognition of where we can connect with one

another whilst retaining our differences.

8) Jane says: For me, the largest obstacle to almost any human unity is the humans themselves. I need not look further than my very own front door to see that. As far as Christian unity goes, it appears that the second biggest obstacle to unity may be the definition of what it means to be Christian. I've seen so many definitions of this and it could be very confusing.

9) Debbie says: The primary problem with Christian unity is that of differing traditions/doctrines/and/ beliefs. They all cannot be correct; however, each of them could be wrong, but it's impossible for several to be right regarding the nature of God and Salvation.

10) Mary Jane says: I have to agree with those who say that disunity in the understanding of Scripture is probably the biggest problem in the way of unity. Listening to all the chatter about what this verse means and what that verse means makes one believe 99% of folks have bitten the apple if you know what I mean. That is, suffered the effect of a kind of self pride that enticed us to eat of the tree of the data of good and evil and today we all seem to think we have been gods and we are able to decide what's right and wrong and why is one a Christian and what can't possibly make one a Christian, and what is or isn't necessary to believe. Another term to describe this is original sin.

11) Herbert says: Jane, the feet are not only wet, you're really swimming now.

12) Samuel says: The only Christian unity which will come will be at the end of time.

13) Clifford says: I believe the biggest problem would be looking to get everyone to acknowledge what is the right thing to believe. You can find so many various kinds of churches today because whoever started them had a slightly different idea about how exactly something should be interpreted, and when someone else agreed with him, it started a new church, So how do you get them all to believe the same thing?

14) Celeste says: I trust Cliff. I think that is impossible, therefore i think we should try to build our unity on

love and respect regardless of the differences, which is something I believe can work, because we all desire to love God and God tell us to love each other.

15) Corbin says: Another problem could be the meaning of Apostolic Succession. The Roman Catholics believe that Apostolic Succesion just came from Peter, but I really believe Apostolic Succession actually came from all the Apostles so that every Christian is representing Christ here on earth with the Bible as our guidebook.

3rd Internet Question: ONE ANSWER TO CHRISTIAN UNITY MIGHT BE FOR CHRISTIANS TO ORGANIZE AN ECUMENICAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH WHERE IN FACT THE CHURCH WOULD RECRUIT ALL CHRISTIANS, INCLUDING ROMAN CATHOLICS, TO BE MINISTERS TO WHOMEVER NEEDED HELP. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

1) Jim says: This is usually a nice idea. Unity is obviously what the world needs today. And the branches of Christianity began with this idea at heart, the issue being that with each new one, despite having the unification of Christianity at heart, it is just adding itself to the list of branches of Christianity. THE PLANET Christian Encyclopedia estimates that in 1900 there have been 2000 sects of Christianity whereas in 1990 there were 21,000. Almost 5 new ones each year.

2) Stephen says: My connection with ecumenical endeavors is that the mainstream churches generally work very well together whilst recognizing that our various traditions do create differences, but these could be a source of positive diversity and richness.

3) Corbin says: I'm an associate of this type of church down here in Argentina, and we're really one big happy family as far as Christian unity is concerned. Of course we have our family squabbles like all families do, but this is strictly in-house

4) Melvin says: Corbin, I think this type of church appears like a dream. I've heard about other churches like it and I think that if we can get it to work in more places, it'll definitely be a big step in the proper direction for the whole of Christianity.

5) Miichael says: I believe that would be a good idea. We Christians then could work a lot more efficiently in solving Global Issues.

The names of the commentarians have been changed to safeguard the privacy of the web contributors, but their comments are accurate.

AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

I was born in NEW YORK in 1931, was raised on Long Island, graduated from Roanoke College in Virginia with a BA in Political Science, and from NY Theological Seminary with a Masters in Religious Education. I became a committed Christian in 1958, and following a period of time became a committed Ecumenical Christian. I worked as an accountant in a variety of companies for approximately 25 years in NEW YORK, then moved down to Argentina and worked for about 21 years as a Business English conversationalist teacher with a number of the top managers. I also became a Stephens Minister (trained counselor) while down here. I was married twice (the last to an Argentine), widowed once, no children, and one cat. If you would like to contact me, it is possible to write if you ask me via (corbinw@hotmail.com).