Benedict XVI on Ecumenism, Baptists, & Catholics
From the Catholic News Agency:
Baptists leaders from around the world met with Pope Benedict XVI this morning at the Vatican as the second round of Baptist-Catholic talks continued. Saying that the lack of unity among Christians contradicts Christ’s will, Benedict XVI told the Baptist delegation that the world needs “our common witness to Christ and to the hope brought by the Gospel.”
This meeting in Rome is the second round of ongoing discussions that Members of the Baptist World Alliance are holding with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The theme for this meeting is: "The Word of God in the Life of the Church: Scripture, Tradition and Koinonia."
That theme, the Pope told the delegates, "offers a promising context for the examination of such historically disputed issues as the relationship between Scripture and Tradition, the understanding of Baptism and the Sacraments, the place of Mary in the communion of the Church, and the nature of ... primacy in the Church's ministerial structure.”
In an approach that seems to be characteristic of all Benedict XVI’s efforts to promote dialogue, he said, "[i]f our hope for reconciliation and greater fellowship between Baptists and Catholics is to be realized," he added, "issues such as these need to be faced together, in a spirit of openness, mutual respect and fidelity to the liberating truth and saving power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
"Today, as ever, the world needs our common witness to Christ and to the hope brought by the Gospel," Pope Benedict concluded. "Obedience to the Lord's will should constantly spur us, then, to strive for that unity so movingly expressed in His priestly prayer: 'that they may all be one. so that the world may believe.' For the lack of unity between Christians 'openly contradicts the will of Christ, provides a stumbling block to the world, and harms the most holy cause of proclaiming the good news to every creature'."
posted by Sherry W @ 7:19 PM
6 Comments
6 Comments:
Praise God. In terms of missions to the Muslims the Baptists are in the vanguard and are doing so much more than the Catholics. There is much to learn here for both sides.
>... the Baptists are in the vanguard and are doing so much more than the Catholics."
Without proof to back this claim, count me as doubtful to its veracity. With 1.1 billion Catholics (and far fewer Baptists), many in contact with Muslims, I rather doubt that any Baptist efforts come close to matching Catholics.
God bless...
Timothy:
That depends upon what you mean by "doing so much". Abu Daoud is an actual practitioner in this area and knows quite a lot about the Baptist/evangelical outreach to Muslims around the world.
It is true that there are many more Catholics than Baptist in direct contact with Muslims around the world - but most of the ancient churches in communion with us in the Middle East have learned from many centuries of hard experience to not share their faith with Muslims. Most of them are just trying to survive, not evangelize.
And most Latin missionary efforts over the past 40 years and most of the great missionary orders have dropped serious attempts to proclaim Christ in favor of inter-religious dialogue, presence, and work with the poor. (These are all wonderful works of Christ and badly needed - but simultaneously, these same orders have consciously repudiated proclamation. )
Not so the Baptist and their evangelical cousins who are involved in all kinds of really creative outreach to Muslims - within Muslim cultures and to Muslim communities in the west. In terms of intentional efforts to evangelize Muslims, I'd say the proportion is at least 100 Baptists efforts to every Catholic one. And the Catholic initiatives are usually the efforts of exceptional individuals rather than a group effort.
The stories we are hearing these days - of whole families, villages, even "people movements" of tens of thousands of Muslims to Christianity - are almost entirely associated with non-Catholic missionary efforts.
I think the dialogue is extremely useful. Why? Well it was precisely in a dialogue with a Baptist years ago - that the Holy Spirit began to call me to conversion (with my tepid faith at the time I was trying to argue doctrine with a Baptist - but I believe the Holy Spirit wasn't after clearing up our doctrinal differences - when I was basically a "Catholic pagan.")
All to often ecumenical endeavors are looked at through the perspective of our flesh (I know - because I do it all the time!?), and thus they become in the Catholic media akin to politics (a reason I try to avoid to much Catholic media - since some tends to be polemical - that sells - I prefer to stick with the Gospels and straight up Church teaching).
Listen to JPII on ecumenism in his Encyclical Ut Unum Sint:
"The commitment to ecumenism must be based upon the conversion of hearts and upon prayer.... What is needed is a calm, clear-sighted and truthful vision of things, a vision enlivened by divine mercy and capable of freeing people's minds and of inspiring in everyone a renewed willingness, precisely with a view to proclaiming the Gospel to the men and women of every people and nation." #2
Hello All,
Thank you Sherry for the accurate comments. You have spoken well.
In fact I will shortly be departing for a new city in the Middle East and I covet your prayers for safety, guidance, and provision.
Pete: I think you are right on. I recall something that CS Lewis wrote: that the people at the heart of their traditions (Baptist, RC, Anglican) are closer to each other than the people on the fringes of their traditions (think Catholics who want women priests).
The lack of unity between Christians "openly contradicts the will of Christ, provides a stumbling block to the world, and harms the most holy cause of proclaiming the good news to every creature" (Unitatis Redintegratio, 1)
As an individual you can take a small step towards Christian Unity at www.onedate.org.
It is an on line petition to unite the dates of Easter that Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox would celebrate this Feast of Feasts all on One Date.
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