Christian Unity
How can the message of the gospel have any semblance of credibility when we Christians who bring it with our ‘new form of evangelism’ are divided among ourselves?
Reviewer: David Oletu (DCM)
Book Title: Christian Unity: How You Can Make A Difference.
Author: Thomas Ryan
Publisher: Paulist Press (October 6, 2015)
Pages: 224
ISBN-10: 0809149508
ISBN-13: 978-0809149506
Psalm 133:1 KJV
[1] Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
Christian Unity
The Christian community, like the world around it, is increasingly fragmented.
Despite a proliferation of ‘new evangelization’ efforts and charitable initiatives by Christians to win souls, the unity among Christians in faith seems to be waning.
This disconnect between the gospel’s message of love and unity and the reality of a divided Christian community is a pressing concern.
Thomas Ryan astutely questions in his book “Christian Unity,”
“How can the message of the gospel have any semblance of credibility when we Christians who bring it with our ‘new form of evangelism’ are divided among ourselves?”
Thomas Ryan’s ‘Christian Unity’ is a cry for all hands in the Christian community to be on deck!
Christian Unity
Divided into 10 chapters, the book aims to remind us of our responsibilities as Christians, in obedience to the prayer of Jesus in John 17:21,
to be actively involved in deepening and rendering more visible our bonds of unity with one another as Christians,
and to inspire a more authentic and unified Christian belief.
In chapter one, Ryan reminds us of ‘What Jesus Desires From Us’, Christians,
and critically examines some of the foundational reasons that should motivate us to keep taking steps to build our unity and love as Christians.
This chapter also reveals some of its findings about ‘Unity and Mission in the 21st Century Christianity.’
Ryan asserts that God longs to build us together into a family where the communication among us is so heartfelt,
and the love among us is so tangible that it makes outsiders long to discover God and join us.
Hence, our Christian community should be strengthened by love and collaboration,
breaking down every dividing wall between us beyond merely smiling at, bypassing one another, or preaching.
According to Ryan, it is no use walking somewhere to preach unless we are doers of the good things we preach in Christendom.
Christian Unity
Are we living our messages?
In this chapter, Ryan admonishes that every member of the church, according to his or her talents and abilities,
has a role to play in helping congregational members grow in unity with other Christians, avoiding expression, judgement,
and actions that are not truthful or misrepresent our faith and practices.
Ryan therefore encourages that even as we exercise good initiatives to promote Christ,
we should also take on an active and intelligent part in the work of promoting Christian unity, because God desires that from us.
Christian Unity
In Chapter 2, Ryan explicates the concept of ‘Unity’ and highlights our obligations in fostering unity among us.
Ryan acknowledges the number of other things observable in the life of church communities today—
—-the new emphasis on denominational identity, bioethical and socioethical challenges around issues like abortion, homosexuality, and the blessing of same-sex unions.
However, in all of these, Ryan exposes us to what it means to be united as Christians.
He describes our unity as ‘Koinonia’ to mean communion and a reflection of how the church shares in and is shaped by salvation and shares that salvation with others.
I.e., we are called by God into the fellowship of His son (1 Cor. 1:9).
We share in the gospel (Phil 1:5).
And We share in Christ’s body and blood in the bread we break and the cup we share at the eucharistic table (1 Cor. 10:16).
Ryan goes on to say that communion—both mystical and practical—is what holds the church together.
Although communion is already given through all that we share in Christ, there is still more to receive,
and we have an obligation and imperative as Christians to deepen our communion with one another.
Ryan therefore encourages that in this time, we must come closer to one another again in our lives.
We must become accustomed to one another, praying together, bearing the pain of our incomplete koinonia together,
and advancing the process of healing and wholeness within the Body of Christ.
Christian Unity
In Chapter 3, Ryan discusses what Christian parishes and congregations can do to give their unity more concrete, visible expression.
Ryan points out that while lay understanding of the work for Christian unity,
joint prayer service, common Bible studies, and collaboration in social action have increased over the past fifty years,
…there are other measures we could be taking to keep moving forward.
In striving to move forward in our desire for unity, Ryan asks some reflective questions:
How many parishes have ecumenical representatives or commissions?
Also, How often are prayers offered at Sunday worship for Christian unity in general and the life and witness of other congregations in the neighbourhood in particular?
And How many adult faith formation or catechetical programs integrate the gains being made through the national and international dialogues into their teaching and course material?
And How many local congregations have a covenant with another,
or other Christian churches in the neighbourhood to express together a shared Christian life to the extent that current circumstances permit?
Ryan believes that through dialogue, acting together, hospitality, inter-congregational events, etc., we can achieve unity.
However, in the end, it is a question of obedience, and we can only achieve unity when we are holy.
Christian Unity
In Chapter 4, Ryan examines ‘Inter-Church Couples and Families’ as bridgebuilders concerned with working in harmony with the ministers and congregation where they worship.
Ryan paints a clear picture,
using stories and thoughts of other Christian leaders, of how church marriages bring to the church, by the testimony of their love and vows,
a call to all of us to continue to respond to the Holy Spirit’s present gift of unity and to collaborate with the spirit and one another in the journey to the full unity of the church.
Ryan admits that for interchurch couples, there can be a doctrinal clash between their home church, and it may result in difficulty in adapting to each other’s doctrine.
However, Ryan calls for the need for churches to be ready to receive couples from different churches with an understanding welcome.
When that is imbibed, the inter-church character and commitment can become a gift and visible sign of hope for our churches in our path to unity.
More importantly, Ryan points out that inter-church couples also have much to learn about each other’s Christian traditions.
And, learning not only includes each tradition’s particular take on church doctrine but also the personal practice that makes that faith come alive in worship.
Christian Unity
In Chapter 5, Ryan exposes us to what Christian monastic and religious communities,
societies of apostolic life, and lay movements can do to make a difference in fostering unity among Christians.
According to the Directory for Application of Principles and Norms on the Christian Unity Movement as shared by Thomas Ryan in his book,
…..the aforementioned groups have a mandate:
~ to foster an awareness of the importance of the Christian Unity Movement of their particular forms of life,
in as much as the conversion of heart, personal holiness, public and private prayer, and service to the church and the world are at the heart of the Christian Unity Movement.
~ to contribute to an understanding of the Christian Unity Movement dimensions of the vocation of all Christians to the holiness of life by offering occasions for developing spiritual formation,
contemplation, adoration and praise of God, and service to one’s neighbour.
~ to take account of the circumstances of place and persons and to organise meetings among Christians of various churches and ecclesial communities for liturgical prayer, recollection, and spiritual exercises,
and a more profound understanding of Christian spiritual traditions.
~ to maintain relations with monasteries or communities of common life in other Christian communions for an exchange of spiritual and intellectual resources.
~And to conduct their many varied educational institutions to promote Christian unity.
~ Also, to collaborate with other Christians in the areas of common work for social justice, economic development,
progress in health and education, the safeguarding of creation, and peace and reconciliation among nations and communities.
However, ultimately, according to Thomas Ryan, to make these mandates and bonds visible,
we must all recognise that we are all members of the one body of Christ.
Christian Unity
In Chapter 6, Ryan discusses the function of the social action groups of the church.
According to Ryan, the church is the sacrament, the sign of the unification of the whole of humankind.
Ryan points out that the increasing globalisation of the world’s societies with its related challenges around racism, poverty,
and the promotion of interreligious dialogue have made the unity of humankind a more pressing issue than ever.
This calls for us to take a fresh look at the relationship between the church and the world in line with the nature of the church’s mission in the world.
Ryan believes that the position of the church in reaching out to all nations determines its relationship of basic solidarity with the world in suffering and in hope.
And its foundational conviction is that it is in the world that the signs of the kingdom have to be made manifest and credible.
In this chapter, Ryan goes on to reveal how social action has been and is an increasingly common ground for Christians,
taking us through the history of the consciousness-raising of all Christians over the past century.
Christian Unity
In chapter 7, Ryan enlightens us about ecumenical formation and education.
He also goes on to share his experience of how he got involved in the ecumenical movement and how his faith and prayer have been shaped by it.
According to the ‘Ecumenical Formation’ document by the joint working group between the Roman Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches:
“Ecumenism is not an option for the churches.
In obedience to Christ and for the sake of the world, the churches are called to be an effective sign of God’s presence and compassion before all nations.
For the churches to become divided into a broken world is to undermine their credibility when they claim to have a ministry of universal unity and reconciliation.
The ecumenical imperative must be heard and responded to everywhere.
This response necessarily requires ecumenical formation, which will help the people of God to render a common witness to all humankind by pointing to the vision of the new heaven and new earth (Rev 22:1).
What does ecumenism therefore mean?
Ecumenism is a movement that refers to the cooperation among different Christian denominations, churches, and traditions.
It seeks to overcome historical divisions and foster greater understanding, respect, and collaboration among Christians,
ultimately aiming for visible unity in faith, worship, and mission.
Ryan observes that in the 21st century, there is a growing number of persons or groups in the churches who know little or nothing about the ecumenism movement—its origins, aims, and visions.
However, he believes that we won’t live in such an apartheid reality if we remain faithful to Jesus’s call to and prayer for unity among us, His disciples.
Christian Unity
In Chapter 8, Ryan saw the need to address the importance of not neglecting the spiritual and receptive aspects of ecumenism in our quest for unity.
According to Ryan, spiritual ecumenism is seen as an opening of ourselves to the transformational power of the Holy Spirit,
who changes our hearts and leads us to repentance, conversion, and holiness of life.
While receptive ecumenism represents a way forward,
in which the currently divided tradition can walk towards full structural, ministerial, sacramental communion and their own healing together.
Both aspects work hand in hand together.
However, Ryan observes that despite how the movement for unity among Christians has made significant gains;
through the international and national dialogues that have led to considerable rapprochement and, in some cases, to consensus,
the dialogues are finding it challenging to maintain positive momentum in the face of newly surfacing questions emerging from the culture wars of our times.
Ryan reveals that the danger of such is that the ecumenical movements can become so preoccupied with conferences, committees, dialogues,
and reports that it can just come to feel like office work rather than something spirit-led.
He further admonishes that whenever ecumenism ‘moves’, it is not our achievement we celebrate, but God’s,
for God is the chief actor in the movement.
And, since God is the centre, we should draw closer to one another as we draw to God.
Hence, the only way we can make progress in this ecumenism movement is if we return to our spiritual roots and search for renewed ecumenical spirituality.
Christian Unity
In Chapter 9, Thomas Ryan examines closely some of the particular spiritual gifts offered by our different traditions of Christian faith to one another for our mutual enrichment.
In the spirit of recognition and mutual enrichment,
Thomas Ryan in this chapter lifts five gifts of each of five confessional families,
—protestant, Anglican, pentecostal, orthodox, and Roman Catholic—that may bring Christians mutually to fuller flourishing.
In this same chapter, Ryan stresses the importance of friendship among Christians from different denominations.
Ryan asserts that “friendship among people from different churches often enables improved understanding of their positions,
because friends can listen to each other sympathetically.
Without the presupposition of hostility or competition, they can often learn something new from each other’s viewpoint.
Ryan thinks that we need one another’s insights and spiritual gifts to correct deficiencies and imbalances.
Rather than view each other from the lenses of our doctrines alone,
we should see each other on a human level and how God sees us before trying to argue doctrines and theology.
This chapter concludes with a profound message to us that Christ reconciled us to Himself,
prayed for our unity, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
We Christians serve as His voice and hands to propagate His will on earth for mankind.
How bad will it be if the ministry Christ has given us dies in our hands due to our division?
Let’s think about it!
Christian Unity
Finally, in Chapter 10, Ryan dwells on the need and ways to find and build a spiritual community in a secular community.
Ryan points out that while doctrinal agreement is necessary for the expression of our unity on one level,
it is obvious that such agreement is not enough. We can have it and remain divided.
Hence, people need occasions where they can come together across denominational lines to share their Christian faith experience.
Ryan thinks that under the banner of that lordship, they will discover relationships of surprising depth.
They will inevitably come to see the truth of the situation: what they share in common is far greater than what divides them.
In conclusion, Ryan has made us reflect on the contributions each of us can make to attain that unity in our parishes and social action networks,
as interchurch couples or members of Christian monastic and religious communities and lay movements,
as students or lecturers, as an association of community leaders from the private, public, and non-profit sectors, etc.
Each of us can make a difference in fostering unity, and we should not neglect the call for it, for our sake and God’s sake.
Also Read: It is written – Diademng (thediademng.org)
Christian Unity
