True ecumenicalism involves a unity with the Spirit among individuals who are "sanctified in truth" (John 17:19). It doesn't involve compromises with teachings and opinions that contain both truth and error. Neither can it involve organizing societies that are far from sanctified in the truth. Real unity in Christ cannot be organized. It is created by God when we become living members of His body. However, nothing should stop Christ's members from serving one another with the kind of unity and love Christ expects. -- Bishop Bo Giertz,
To Live with Christ, p. 338.
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ReplyDeleteIf the parties are all "sanctified in truth", where is any need for "ecumenicalism"? Or how can there be both truth and error, so that the possibility of compromise arises?
What does he mean?
He wrote from the perspective of the Church of Sweden where ecumenism - particularly with the Anglican communion - had led to doctrinal compromise, especially on the Supper. His point is that this is not the way to th union that Christ creates and gives; rather, we discover that union with each other comes as a gift of the Lord, who is our Truth, as we become one with the Father and the Son in the Spirit through faith. Drawing near to God we find that He has given us the gift of unity with each other.
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