{{2015_07_15_t1.jpg}} {{2015_07_15_t2.jpg}} {{2015_07_15_t3.jpg}} [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/de/doku.php/jn_de_2015_07_15|Deutsche Version]] [[Start|| Wiki Start]] [[topics_collection_vii|| Topics Collection vii ]] ======Christians United ...====== Wednesday, July 15, 2015. When you are an active believer, you will run into the discussion between different churches very soon. In particular in Europe this is still an issue, since you have areas where the catholic church is strong and other churches are often seen as sects by catholic church members. They themselves are often seen as secularized Christians, which are members of a large institution, but have never made the step to personal faith. {{2015_07_15.jpg }} **Peace, please! ...** The question of faith and church membership is an important one. Clearly, the New Testament calls us all to personal faith. Jesus calls his disciples and every human to come to him, to believe in him and to live in him. All churches which are half way faithful to the Christian message share this view. But in practice, there are of course many differences. The way in which we realize this faith practically, and in particular our way to celebrate services and to live together as Christians, can seem to be quite different. Some attend church only occasionally, others go every Sunday. Some attend some bible study or cell group during the week, others do not. Some teach Christian ethics, others do not pay attention to it. The landscape of churches is very rich today, in many countries on the planet. We find everything, from catholic to orthodox, from free evangelical to charismatic, from pentacost to brethren. And it seems clear that differences in focus and differences in balances will develop in different communities. Friends, all this is very natural and does not contradict a united Christian faith. Let us say peace to one another - before we go into the necessary discussion of theology and ethics. {{ 2015_07_15_2.jpg}} **Truth and Peace ...** Clearly we need and want peace. And clearly we need and want truth. What is it that Jesus taught, and how do we need to live with it today? What is his teaching today? He is the living source and the living God, yesterday and today and tomorrow. He is the head of the church, and through his spirit he is the continuing guide and leader. Nothing else, for catholic Christians as for baptists, for charismatic churches as for the reformed evangelical communities! Theology has always been an issue. It is one today, even if young people today sometimes tend to ignore the differences completely. But even the early church has had sincere discussions on theological issues, it is part of our life, part of our reason, our mind, our actions and decisions we do day by day. We will continue to discuss and learn with respect to theological questions - and it is fun for those who are gifted and skilled to argue and to develop the more theoretical layers of faith! I love people of sincere faith in Christ Jesus, what ever church they are part of! It is good to have you, when you take Jesus serious. And I know that our knowledge is partial, that we all are on a journey, a pilgramage, an adventure - the adventure of life, eternal life! (RWEP) [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/en/doku.php/topics_collection_vii|... more texts]]