This week is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. I suppose we might wonder why such a reminder should be necessary as there is only one Jesus Christ after all and that should be enough to unite us all. However I guess that worshipping Christians in every denomination of the church have differing views and experiences of Christian faith that are essentially shaped by the state of their nation, their local communities and their own background and branch of the church.
Here in Henley in Arden we are relatively prosperous in church and community with a stable lifestyle, freedom of choice in worship style and little integration with other religions. One of our greatest concerns may be the lack of younger worshippers coming through and maybe some doubts about the future shape of our churches whether they be Church of England, Baptist, Methodist or Catholic. We don’t seem to have many other alternative churches around us that might distract our conventional Christian discipleship so perhaps the drift to secularism is one our main concerns.
In other areas of the country however, there are other styles of Christian worship amongst which are some free churches and Pentecostal Churches. These, for example, may offer exciting new ways of worship and expressions of Christian faith. Such churches should not be regarded as a threat but more an opportunity to broaden our minds.
As we step into larger city communities we find that Christianity as a whole has to face the challenges of other approaches to faith where it seems that there is still only one God but this version of God seems totally different to ours. Followers of these other religions sometimes seem a lot more dedicated to their faith, frequency and application to worship. One thing is
certain though is that Jesus Christ is not at the centre of their faith. Christians though are called upon to respect all such faiths and give them the right and the space to exercise their faith.
Moving even further abroad we find Christianity and any form of Christian faith and church worship to be under pressure as a minority religion which is often persecuted or even totally banned. The very survival of our faith and its communities and churches in such countries is in perilous danger and financial resource very limited too.
Upon reflection then we can see every reason that Christians should unite under one overall banner which is the all-embracing cloak of the Holy Spirit that brings courage, wisdom and strength to all followers of Jesus Christ.
So maybe there are a number of good reasons for a Week of prayer for Christian Unity – what do you think?
