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[[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.
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**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.
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**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)
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