Recently (Jan 19-20, 2023), I was honored to participate in the Christian Forum in Atlanta, Georgia. The gathering consisted of about forty pastors and other clergy from Roman Catholic, Baptist, and Pentecostal churches. We came together holding to a simple theological commitment – belief in the Triune God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The agenda was likewise simple: “to build bridges of unity through the sharing of faith stories or testimonies.”
This was the second forum I’ve attended. The first was in May 2022 on the campus of Pentecostal Theological Seminary in which about thirty Pentecostal and Roman Catholic clergy gathered to share their stories and build bridges.
In reflecting on these events, I’m reminded of my youth being reared in a Pentecostal church that viewed ecumenism as a tool of the antichrist. We were warned that Baptists and Methodists reflected the lukewarm church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14) and that the Catholic church was the great whore of Babylon (Revelation 17:1). Ecumenism was viewed as a compromise with the world that polluted the true church.
Even so, early in my ministry I embraced Christians from other theological traditions as brothers and sisters. In fact, I discovered that faithful Pentecostals are compelled to embrace an ecumenical spirit. Why? Because the Holy Spirit promotes ecumenism. The apostle Paul declared, “…no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3 LSB). This is the common confession of men and women from every tribe, tongue, and nation that unites us as the people of God. Paul also declared, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all” (1 Co 12:4–6 NKJV). In other words, the Holy Spirit compels us to embrace unity without uniformity, unity that accepts faithful diversities and differences within the universal church. Even as many Pentecostal leaders view ecumenism with suspicion, they gleefully proclaim that the Pentecostal blessing of Spirit-baptism and tongues-speech has been experienced by Christians of all faith traditions from Roman Catholic to Mennonite. This in itself seems to testify of a Pentecostal ecumenism.
Embracing otherness doesn’t come easy. We prefer the familiar. We are naturally inclined to drift towards those who look like us, speak the same language, like the same music, and enjoy the same foods. But the Holy Spirit compels us to love strangers, speak and interpret other tongues, dance to a variety of tunes, and sit at the table and eat the foods of other cultures. The Holy Spirit compels us to discern faithful diversity and differences. Faithful ecumenism requires faithfulness to the apostolic kerygma, that is, the doctrine of the apostolic church. Again we look to the apostle Paul who said, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:4–6 NKJV). There is one body, one faith, one Lord; not many bodies, many faiths, and many lords.
Ecumenical endeavors must not seek for a unity that sacrifices fidelity to the ancient faith. In the early centuries of Christianity there were many theological differences that threatened the unity of the Church. These differences – Arianism, modalism, Nestorianism, et al – were heretical and threatened the apostolic faith.
Nor should embracing diversity become an excuse for a fractured and divisive church. In some academic circles it is common to suggest that in the early centuries there were many Christianities. In this view there is no such thing as orthodoxy, and no such thing as heresy.
The work of ecumenism should not be limited to academics and vocational clergy. Ecumenism is important because the laity of the church practice ecumenism every day. Pentecostals, Baptists, Catholics and other Christians work together, go to school together, and play together. They discuss their faith with each other, and they pray together. Occasionally, these Christians will attend a funeral, wedding, or some other special service in a church very different from their own. Pastors need to be informed so they can help guide the informal process of ecumenism among the various and diverse people of God.
Ecumenical events such as the Christian Forum often begin with suspicion, but end in surprise. The people I met at the Christian Forum shared their stories of faith in Jesus and I shared my story with them. They are genuine and faithful followers of Christ. I was blessed by our time together.
