No offense to Oscar Cullman but I will stick to what the Bible says and not the wisdom of man. Yes there are some differences around the edges but the core has to be consistent or we should not be a part of it. Pope Francis? Seriously? Beloved this is the path to the ecumenical one world religion prophesied about in Revelation. Look how utterly warped and perverted this rationale is. Christianity can contribute NOTHING to why we are unified. Christ already provided it all. There is no symphony or harmonizing with what is opposed to Christ. The spirit is Christ and Christ is His Word so the notion that there can be spiritual unity without doctrine is simply ridiculous. Unless you mean an antichrist spiritual harmony. That we will definitely see increasing as the end times deepen. We have already seen Rick Warren, Kenneth Copeland and countless other leaders of the apostate church seek to hold hands with Rome. This is the one world church forming beloved. Be very aware.
"The church has come a long way since the 16th and 17th centuries, when being a Protestant in France or a Catholic in England could be a death sentence. The French Edict of Nantes, in effect for less than a century, and the English Act of Tolerance were important steps toward Paul's admonition to accept brother Christians. The revivalists of the Great Awakening and the second Great Awakening first transcended their denominations, achieving a forerunner of unity in diversity. The charismatic movement brought about spiritual unity, as Christians across many denominations shared in the same experiences and often worshiped together." -- Ron Allen
Two different points here. First of all, I agree that it is good that denominations do not kill people who disagree with them but isn't that muddying the waters a bit too much? I would like to believe that we can disagree with someone, not break bread with them as if they were our mother and brother and at the same time not kill them. Secondly, I would hardly categorize charismania as being overly infatuated with unity. It is the Pentecostal experience that ostracizes fellow believers if they have not had this subjective baptism in the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues. Many of this belief claim you are not saved until this happens! Within Charismatic churches there is always a spiritual competition for just who is more spiritual. Who is slain the most, who wears the most pious prayer shawl, or who has the loudest gift.
"Even so, much remains to be done to bring together the body of Christ. Today one of the worst schisms in the American church has arisen between the social gospel and the evangelical gospel, and the accompanying politicization of faith. We must come together to care for the poor and needy while reaching the lost with the love of Jesus. We must also transcend politics, guiding both of our political parties to embrace Christian policies." -- Ron Allen
