The head of the World Council of Churches, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, has expressed his support for full communion among all denominations by the middle of the 21st century.
In a front page interview with the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano published on Friday, Kenyan Methodist Kobia said that he expected the world’s Christian denominations to be united enough by that time to be able to join in Holy Communion together.
"My vision for the ecumenical movement is that by the mid-21st century we will have reached a level of unity such that Christians everywhere regardless of their confessional affiliations, can pray and worship together and feel welcome to share in the Lord's Table at every church," said Kobia.
His comments came ahead of a key meeting with Pope Benedict on Friday and an ecumenical prayer service in the afternoon to mark the end of the 100th annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
At present, the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Churches do not permit members of other denominations to join in their celebrations of the Eucharist. Intercommunion would be a significant symbol of unity among Christians.
Kobia went on to express his belief that sharing communion was the foundation for reconciling divisions across the world.
He told the Vatican daily, "By this example, the church can help humanity to overcome all divisions and people of the world be able to live together in peace and harmony regardless of their backgrounds and identities."
Kobia, whose WCC brings together 347 churches, denominations and church fellowships, added that efforts among Christians to find unity had been crucial to building a peaceful Europe in the aftermath of two world wars.
"Ecumenical cooperation and the search for unity among the churches has definitely played a role in overcoming the heritage of two world wars and building peaceful relationships in Europe," Kobia said.
"Who would have thought at the beginning of the last century that only some decades later Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, Reformed, Methodists, Baptists and churches of other traditions would be working together in the World Council of Churches?
"Surely, the Second Vatican Council was a watershed and opened the door to meaningful ecumenical co-operation between the Roman Catholic Church and many of the member churches of the WCC."
Catholics, however, are skeptical that shared communion will become a reality any time soon. Despite Kobia’s article hitting the Vatican broadsheet’s front page, the Pope made no reference to it in his address, saying simply that he hoped Christian unity “will be ever more fully realized in our time.”
Comments
Prophet,
This is a common pattern for taj; he does not really want to discuss the real issues, so, he goes about trying to cause disunity among us. This is something that I have noticed for some time; really unfortunate.
Online4Him,
He's just up to his old tricks...trying to cause division. Which is anti-scriptural.
Taj,
Though there may be disagreements from time to time; I am convinced that prophet, annieforjesus, and wilderness know Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior. They have testified to the Lord's goodness here on the CP and have also defended the truths of God's word.
Taj,
Why do you keep bringing up people who convert to Catholicism? That does not prove anything; what about the former priests who left Catholicism for the true gospel of Christ?
Like Richard Bennet who was born into a Roman Catholic family, educated in Ireland and Rome, was a priest for 22yrs and gave it all up.
Like Silvester Ezhumala who was a priest for 15yrs and then left to preach the true gospel of Christ. He writes the forward to the book, Once a Catholic.
Like Bartholomew F. Brewer who was a priest in the Discalced Carmelite Order and left to preach the gospel of Christ. He wrote the book, Pilgrimage from Rome; nice guy, I had a phone conversation with him a few years back.
So, as you can see; there has been conversions from both sides. Truth can only be determined by the Scriptures.
TAJ,
Yeah, I'm sure that whether people agree with me or not will prove or disprove that you're spiteful. I'm trying to figure out your lack of logic.
Anniefourjesus,
It is true that there are people throughout Christendom who love and follow Christ regardless of their name tags. My concern is the neglecting of biblical truth; we are witnessing the emergence of a pluralistic gospel where love and unity is the central issue. What about “truth”? This article is talking about “full communion” between Protestants and Catholics; how can this be, when Protestants for example, believe in the inspiration of Scripture above tradition, believe in the priesthood of believers, believe in justification by faith – apart from works, believe in salvation by grace alone, believe that Christ is the only mediator between God and men (mankind), believe that the Holy Spirit is Christ’s true representative on earth, etc. This article also highlights the “Eucharist” which according to Catholics – the bread or host becomes Jesus Christ himself; the Mass becomes a reoccurring daily sacrifice that is contrary to scripture. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus was offered up “ONCE” for sins! I attended a wedding last Saturday night; the service was at a Catholic church and during the service the priest lifted up the host (wafer) and said, “This is Jesus”.
Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself – Hebrews 7:27.
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all – Hebrews 10:10.
I am sure some Catholics also take issue with this possible “full communion”. I agree with what you and Prophet said about loving and helping one another; we should continue to do this without sacrificing the truths of Scripture. Doctrine is important and it should not be set aside in order to attain “full communion” - This has been my point all along.
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained – 1Timothy 4:6.
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee – 1Timothy 4:16.
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers – Titus 1:9.
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: - Titus 2:1.
I'm spiteful? ok, prophet let's prove it:
"We are to be in unity with our brothers and sisters, otherwise we will not be in unity with Christ. We are all part of the body of Christ, regardless of the name over the door of our church. Anyone who has recieved Christ as their savior, whether Methodist, Unitarian, Pentacost, Evangelical, Catholic, SDA, SBC, etc, is part of His body". That is what this article is about and you agree. Ok, let's see how many of the people who post after this statement agree. Ok anniefourjesus, online4him, wilderness, ....do you agree? Now let us wait and see.
annie,
You'll have to fogive truthandjustice. He's filled with anger and spite. And he's double-minded. He spent a considerable amount of time with me and some other people, nagging us to no end to tell him what denomination we were. And now he "doesn't want to know". He also got so upset with us for posting anti-Catholic messages, and now he wants us to. I don't get him, and I don't think I want to. I usually just let him rant and rage, and ignore him until he actually says or asks something mature.
We can only hope that those in the Catholic church can see through all that religious garbage and see the real truth of Jesus. Some actually do.
truthandjustice,
God couldn't care less about the history of your church, my church, or any other church out there. He just wants to know if you're teaching the truth. History and tradtions make Him sick. They put His children into bondage. They take us farther from Him, instead of closer. Traditions are a man-made creation, totally independent from God. The only "traditions" God asks us to observe is the sabbath, and communion. Anything outside of that is just heaping an unneccesary yoke upon us.
After attending our church for over 15 years I finally felt God telling me to become a member (long story). In our "new members" class they went over the history of our "Church". I dont care! It is interesting, yes. But it plays absolutely no part whatsoever in my salvation, or what God has for me to do. So get off the "blessed" history of the RCC. Who cares. And while you're busy with your head in the past, you'll miss what God is doing today.
anniefourjesus,
One more thing, please don't mention what church you belong to because it confuses a lot of us who have no clue what denomination you are referring to. There are over 30,000 different protestant denominations and it gets confusing trying to remember them all. Can we just please continue to discuss the merits or your problems with the Catholic Church?
Why did the President of the Evangelical Theological Society convert to Catholicism last year? in his own words: "Protestants simply do not have a good grounding in Christian history... I returned to the early Christian Fathers and found in them, very early on, [confirming] the real presence, infant baptism and apostolic succession, as well as other "Catholic" doctrines. But what was shocking to me is that one never finds in the fathers' claims that these doctrines are "unbiblical" or "apostate" or "not Christian," as one finds in contemporary anti-Catholic fundamentalist literature. So, at worst, I thought, the Catholic doctrines were considered legitimate options early on in church history by the men who were discipled by the apostles and/or the apostles' disciples. At best, the Catholic doctrines are part of the deposit of faith passed on to the successors of the apostles and preserved by the teaching authority of the Catholic Church.
At this point, I thought, if I reject the Catholic Church, there is good reason for one to believe I am rejecting the church that Christ himself established. That's not a risk I was willing to take.
After all, if I return to the church and participate in the sacraments, I lose nothing, since I would still be a follower of Jesus and believe everything that the catholic creeds teach, as I have always believed. But if the church is right about itself and the sacraments, I acquire graces I would have not otherwise received."
Online4Him,
"We really should not be surprised when some turn from the gospel of Christ to other religions.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; - 2Timothy 4:3." I TOTALLY agree with you, I guess you noticed why the President of the Evangelical Theological Society converted to Catholicism last year - because Catholics can quote from the early Christian fathers ..whould I be impressed when wilderness quotes from somebody in 1888? As for AnniefourChrist (poor grammar aside) I haven't heard from you since you were stating how great Huckabee is/was are you still supporting him? the campaign needs money to pay for his staff, so hope you have been giving. Nice attempt to blame the Church because your dad didn't want to pick up a bible and read it. Has he ever heard of a place called a library? I'm guess the priests and nuns never told him about a library. The poor guy driving by libraries all of his life and thinking they were post offices.
Whoever calls upon the Name of the LORD, shall be saved!! The LORD doesn't leave anyone out, so why should we. Do you know for a fact Online for Him that God doesn't have some sheep in those pens?? I was a member of the Worldwide Church of God, Pasadena CA, when we were quite the legalistic church, there were many including myself who had come into a better understanding, but felt led by THE LORD not to move out; The LORD caused that whole church to be shaken and The power of The Holy Spirit changed hearts and minds!
I remember very well, the day the sermon was preached on being BORN AGAIN! That was historic for WCG and thank you Jesus for leading us out of the darkness we were in!
He will do that for those who truly SEEK HIM! no matter what denom they are in; because HE is not bound by those things. He is building HIS church, man is not doing a thing, we brought the sin; what man does that God won't do/can't do; is we REPENT of the evil we have done in HIS sight! HE brings the GRACE, it is all about JESUS, nothing about us!!!!! Hallelujah!!
HE REIGNS! And all God's children said, AMEN!
Prophet: My dad grew up Catholic and in the last 15 years he gave accepted Jesus as his Savior and we have great discussions about how he was raised; and we've heatedly discussed how Mary is not the mother of God! That she is not someone we should be praying to. She is human just as we are; yes she was a blessed chosen vessel, but so are all those the LORD has chosen to carry HIS Glory!
Jesus is LORD, there is no other Name under heaven or earth by which men must be saved.
For me these are the core beliefs: Jesus, born, crucified, dead, buried, resurrected, ascended into Heaven! I accept and believe what HE says! Do I fully understand the Word of God (The Bible) no, but The HolySpirit is my teacher and my comforter as The Lord promised to those who are born again!
My dad is always amazed when I read certain Scriptures to him; because he never really read the Bible as a child, he was told what it said by nuns and priets. Today, he doesn't fully understand the many denominations, and ffrankly neither do I.
The Body of Christ is those who are called out, set apart by GOD, who yield their life, recognizing they need a Savior, can not atone for my sin, but God has made a way and that way is Jesus Christ, alone!
The Bible is a collection of stories of God working in very human lives and the story of Salvation. What gets to me is that JESUS said what was important:
To love the LORD your GOD and your neighbor as yourself! If Jesus is abiding in me and I am in Him; HIS LOVE is shed abroad in my heart by The Holy Spirit (who I am sealed with as a guarantee until Christ returns) and God has prepared works for me to be involved with.
So, I should be about my Father's business, sharing my testimony and declaring the Word of the LORD, by my very life! I don't care where a person is sitting, God knows where each one of us is, and don't you think, HE knew all these denominations would exist and within those denominations, is the Body of Christ, well hidden and God will sort the tares from the wheat when HE returns! That is HIS business.
Prophet thank you, I did not know that Pope meant Father; I'm not a babe in Christ,but I am to many aspects of world religions.
I have always known that Roman Catholic faith is so works based and icon ladened and I'm not bowing down to any graven images.
God is Spirit and Truth and true worshippers, Worship HIM in Spirit and in Truth.
Unity is maturing in the faith of Jesus Christ! When we all reach that; when we lay aside mans doctrines and embrace the DOCTRINE OF LOVE: 1 Corinthians 13!!!
When we love out of a heart full of God's love; when we get God centered and not self-centered; then the Body of Christ allows the LORD to be LORD! The church is NOT THE LORD!
So many are caught up in non-essentials...let the love of Christ, reign in your hearts!
Prophet,
"We are to be in unity with our brothers and sisters, otherwise we will not be in unity with Christ. We are all part of the body of Christ, regardless of the name over the door of our church. Anyone who has received Christ as their savior, whether Methodist, Unitarian, Pentacost, Evangelical, Catholic, SDA, SBC, etc, is part of His body."
"Anyone who has received Christ as their savior,"
This is the acid test, is it not? My point is Christians should not set aside biblical truth for the sake of unity. This article in essence is speaking about uniting biblical Christianity with groups such as Catholicism; you and I both know that Rome does not preach the true gospel of Christ. It is a system based upon works and has set itself up in the place of Christ. You also mentioned the Unitarians; Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion that encompasses many faith traditions. Unitarian Universalists include people who identify as Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Pagans, Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and others. This type of universalism is sweeping the land today and this is why the biblical gospel is being diluted and redefined.
I never said that we as Christians should not unite in areas where we can be of assistance to one another or that we should neglect one another because we have a different name tag above our doors. I have been in a bible study group for the past several months where brothers there are representing different denominations. It is a blessing to all in attendance.
"Anyone who has received Christ as their savior,"
Which Christ are we talking about; is it the Christ of Scripture or someone entirely different?
Amen, annie!
But don't you know who the Pope is? He is God's right hand man! He's one rung short of deity! He's infallible, utterly perfect, in his interpretation of the scriptures! I say that tongue-in-cheek though.
But many Catholics do regard him above God, because they take what he says as truth, without studying the true Word of God to make sure it's scriptural. He's the leader of the biggest religious movement in the world. And many Catholics believe that might makes right. If it's so big, it must be right! The bigger the religion, the more right it must be. That's human philosophy. Worthless, corrupt, errant, and self-centered. And the word "Pope" means "father". And the Word of God says to call no one Father, but our Father in heaven.
I will say, though, that there are many truly saved, born again Christians in the Catholic faith. And why they remain there, I do not know. But I don't judge them. After all, why has God told me to remain in my church organization when He knows that there are so many things wrong with it? I don't know. But I do know that God is moving in our church. And He will move in many other churches. God looks beyond the titles and denominations. He looks at the heart. That is all He cares about.