Christians Worldwide Mark 100 Years of Prayer for Unity

By Ethan Cole|Christian Post Reporter

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Christians across denominational lines celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Friday.

The week, Jan. 18-25, brings Christians worldwide together in prayer so that “we might become one,” as in Jesus’ prayer at his Ascension. This year, the theme is “Pray Without Ceasing,” taken from I Thessalonians 5:17.

The annual observance for Christian unity began in January 1908, when the “Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity” was celebrated in a remote chapel some 50 miles from New York City.

In 1907, the Rev. Spencer Jones, Anglican vicar of a parish in Moreton-on-Marsh, England, had wrote to the Rev. Paul Wattson an Episcopal priest in the United States, suggesting that a day should be established for all Christians to pray for unity among them. Wattson proposed an eight-day observance of prayers, sermons and conferences.

Wattson then took his idea to the Society of the Atonement which he co-founded with Mother Lurana White in Garrison, New York. They established the Church Unity Octave in January 1908. In 1909, the Roman Catholic Pope at the time, Pius X, gave his official blessing, and in 1916 Pope Benedict XV encouraged its observance throughout the Roman Catholic Church.

Then in 1967, representatives from the Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic Churches agreed to jointly observe a time of prayer called the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Since 1968, the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity has worked together annually to select scriptural themes and helpful materials to promote prayer for the unity of Christian churches.

This year, in observance of the week, a number of Christian organizations will hold ecumenical prayer services, social action activities (such as an environmental cleanup), Bibles studies or seminars together.

Meanwhile, the American Bible Society is hosting its second annual Day of Prayer for Christian Unity on Jan. 24 when Padre Alberto Cutie, priest of the Archdiocese of Miami, and other speakers will help ABS reach the Hispanic and Latino communities in the New York City area with the Word of God.

The eight-day observance is set between the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, on Jan. 18, and the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, on Jan. 25.

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Online4Him »

Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:32 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

Chris333,

Amen!
Chris333 »

Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:53 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

I am in full agreement.
Online4Him »

Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:02 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

Chris333,

I agree; our focus should be on Jesus Christ and following him. The name of a particular church actually emphasizes a certain truth which others may or may not be teaching. Anyway, I am all for unity "IF" the essential truths of salvation are not compromised for unity itself. These essentials cannot be neglected if unity is to be achieved - Salvation by faith alone, salvation through Christ alone, salvation by grace alone, salvation revealed by God’s Word alone.
Chris333 »

Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:41 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Hey, thanks for responding.

Good points all of them. And I too agree that the vast majority of denominations do share a lot more in common (especially regarding the fundamentals of the faith) than what separates them. I don't believe the Truth, or the true Church is distinguished by what denomination one belongs to, so my question is, why would anyone say they are Lutheran or Presbyterian? If the fundamentals are the same, and we both agree that they are, then what is separating us? It is a name. We don't have to all agree on the little points, if that was necesarry then the Bible would probably be clearer on them, but we are supposed to strive for unity. The Bible is clear on unity being a key aspect of the Church. I realize it would be hard to unite the various denominations, but too bad, the Christian life was not guaranteed to be easy. The standard for the unification would be the Bible, but we have already conceded that most denominations are in agreement on the main/necessary points. I just cannot understand why a Christian would call themselves "Lutheran" or "Baptist".

Let's take one issue that separates the church, predestination. As a Christian, can I logically say, "I believe predestination is true, and not true" Of course not, I have to make a decision or else I am deemed irrational (rightly so), what is more, there is a correct answer, one of the two, not both, is true. There is only one answer, and as a Christian my goal is to follow the truth. This should not be any different for the Church, we do represent the Body of Christ after all.
Online4Him »

Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:24 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Chris333,

Hey, how are you doing? I agree with what you said for the most part; we are not dependent upon church denominations for our identity or our salvation. It is found in Jesus Christ and those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. However, there has to be a standard by which truth is measured; it is the Word of God. I know that many Protestant denominations disagree upon many points but they do agree upon the essentials of the faith. You spoke of unity within the church; I believe there is unity amongst believers who know Christ as their savior. How do you propose this unity should be accomplished and what would be the standard for this unification?
Chris333 »

Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:56 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

wilderness, I agree. We can't accomodate the liberal church for the sake of unity. But Paul did tell Christians to be unified. I am going to throw this out here, I think that the only reason for the many splits in the protestant denominations are primarily based on evil motives. I grew up a Lutheran, but why on earth should I call myself Lutheran? Luther does not define my faith in any way, Christ defines my faith. I am a Christian, not a Lutheran or Baptist or anything else for that matter. God is one, His truth is one, so the Church should be one. As a person I cannot be divided against myself. I can't be logically incoherent. So why on earth should the Body of Christ be able to be logically incoherent? The various denominations need to wake up, and get over their names, it is shameful, I would never name my belief after a certain person or organization. Anybody else got any thoughts on this? (I am asking Christians, this doesn't concern atheists)
Chris333 »

Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:50 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

I have another hypothetical argument, let's just pretend that tomorrow you wake up and up is down and down is up, and evil is good and good is evil, and the sun revolves around the earth. What would you do? Or what if you wake up tomorrow and gravity is no longer real? Or hot is cold? Why ask such questions? Why should we even pretend like God will change tomorrow? The Bible says He won't, so is it beneficial to anybody to make a what if statement that supposes that the God of the Bible could then become radically different tomorrow? Marantha's question is good though, I would like to hear your answer to it Citizen.
maranatha7593 »

Sat Jan 19, 2008 3:08 pm Agree: 3 Disagree: 0

Citizen:

I propose a thought experiment for you: suppose you appear before God tomorrow, and it really is God. He tells you things about yourself that no one could possibly know, except God. Then he tells you that he hasn't changed his mind, and that the Bible is still his Word. It isn't a lie or trick - God's Word really is true.

What will you do?
wilderness »

Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:21 pm Agree: 3 Disagree: 0

CP Article: “Christians across denominational lines celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Friday.”

Take heed, when crossing some (if not many) denominational lines, you will find yourself no longer standing on true Biblical territory.
Online4Him »

Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:27 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 0

Citizen,

What is your point? I do not want to get into hypothetical and unrealistic scenarios.
Citizen »

Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:31 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 4

Online4him: I propose a thought experiment for you: suppose god appeared before you tomorrow, and it really was god, not satan or someone else trying to trick you. He tells you thingsabout yourself that noone could possibly know, except god. Then he tells you that he's changed his mind, and that the bible isn't his word anymore. Instead, he has a new word, and it contradicts everything you've believed about god previously, but it isn't a lie or trick. god really has changed his mind. What would you do?
Online4Him »

Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:59 pm Agree: 4 Disagree: 1

Let’s allow the scriptures to define true unity. . . . . John 17:21 says, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

However what is ignored by the ecumenists are the prerequisites that alone will provide unity.

Sanctify them through thy truth: they word is truth – John 17:17.

There are but two prerequisites to the uniting of the flock of Jesus: the first is TRUTH, and the second is SANCTIFICATION. It is plain from the words of Jesus that there is no sanctification aside from truth. With so much pluralism and eclecticism being promoted in the ecumenical movement there is not a sliver of hope that this movement can lead to TRUE unity.

Yet truth alone is not sufficient to bring unity. We may have an intellectual knowledge and acceptance of the truth, but unless in the power of the indwelling Jesus Christ we allow the truth to permeate every neuron of our mind and sinew of our body, we will not be agents of unity. Many see unity as a goal, an objective, or an aim, but that thought cannot be sustained. UNITY IS A RESULT. It is a natural consequence that binds together those who have been sanctified by the TRUTH.

All men and women on the planet, who permit the Holy Spirit to bring them to truth, and permit Christ to sanctify their hearts and lives without manipulation, will be united one with another. Unity brooks no consensus and no compromise. The very suggestion that powerful truths such as - salvation by faith alone, salvation through God’s grace alone, salvation in Christ alone, and the truth that is revealed in God’s word alone be put aside in quest for unity will be repugnant to all faithful Christians. Such a movement degrades Christianity into a pagan faith hostile to the true gospel.
FullGospel »

Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:06 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

That prayer for unity is actually in John 17:21 and 23, before Jesus was crucified. Either way, it's a great idea, long overdue.
maranatha7593 »

Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:57 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

"The week, Jan. 18-25, brings Christians worldwide together in prayer so that “we might become one,” as in Jesus’ prayer at his Ascension."

What prayer is this referring to? Anybody got a scripture reference?
Lex »

Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:52 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

Wow. We've been praying for this for 100 years and look where we are. "Faith without works is dead."

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