04-18-2005, 10:56 PM
an actual opinion piece submitted by somone at my school to our newspaper. he has his own opinion column apparently (not like i read the thing, i'm just the business manager, as long as people tell me the ads were actually put in its fine with me)
Unifying the Church
By A Real Goober
Staff Writer
As Cardinals from around the globe meet in the secret conclave to elect the next pope, a religious debate has arisen about how to unify Christians in the United States and the world. As someone who grew up under the Baptist and Catholic traditions I can personally identify with this struggle.
During his life, Pope John Paul II worked effortlessly to reach out to people of all faiths, including those of the various denominations of the church. In fact, many have argued that that no other religious leader in recent history has done so much to reach out to people of all faiths or within their own religious community. However, when one examines US churches there are deep divisions.
It is often said there is no more segregated places in the US on Sunday mornings then churches. There are “Black” churches, “White” churches, “Korean” churches, “Hispanic” churches, Lutheran churches, Episcopalian churches Pentecostal churches, Baptist churches, Greek Orthodox churches, Roman Catholic churches, and hundreds of other churches that separate Christians by race, nationality, ethnicity, denomination, and other factors. While I do not propose that such distinctions are unimportant, as these distinctions can help those who do not speak English or cannot identify with the culture of existing churches. However, I do not believe that such distinctions serve the greater good of Christianity as a whole.
Christians no matter what denomination, nationality, race, or ethnicity they are share the idea that Christ is at the head and the center of the church. Furthermore, (barring additional texts and slight moderations) all Christian churches share the Bible, and its teachings.
In a discussion I had with a IVCF about he church, I was told Christ did not shed his blood for 70 percent of Whites, 12 percent of blacks, 50 of Catholics, 2 percent of Pentecostals, or any other group. However, Jesus shed his blood for all who would accept him; and therefore, accept the Father (God). Why then do we as Christians argue that one church is better then the other and create division within our church (Christianity as a whole)? I am not a black Christian, or a Baptist Christian, or a Catholic Christian – I am a Christian period.
Similarly, this idea can be applied to Christian worldwide. I am not arguing that distinction such as language and culture should be ignored, but that they should be used a tool to separate Christians globally. A Christian in France should be proud that his church teachings are taught in French, but he or she should not use this as a tool to downplay the language or traditions of a Christian in Brazil. Such arguments underplay the teachings of the churches.
Ultimately, I argue that Christians should not let distinctions such as language, race, ethnicity, denomination, and other factors divide the church. I believe Pope John Paul II’s initiative to reach out to all Christians worldwide should serve as a model for healing divisions within the church. His death should not symbolize sadness, but should stand as a symbol of hope and optimism for the future. In this same spirit, it is my hope and my prayer that Christians worldwide can work together to unify the church. If not how can the Christian community criticize the ills of the world when it does not even recognize the problems within its own church?
Unifying the Church
By A Real Goober
Staff Writer
As Cardinals from around the globe meet in the secret conclave to elect the next pope, a religious debate has arisen about how to unify Christians in the United States and the world. As someone who grew up under the Baptist and Catholic traditions I can personally identify with this struggle.
During his life, Pope John Paul II worked effortlessly to reach out to people of all faiths, including those of the various denominations of the church. In fact, many have argued that that no other religious leader in recent history has done so much to reach out to people of all faiths or within their own religious community. However, when one examines US churches there are deep divisions.
It is often said there is no more segregated places in the US on Sunday mornings then churches. There are “Black” churches, “White” churches, “Korean” churches, “Hispanic” churches, Lutheran churches, Episcopalian churches Pentecostal churches, Baptist churches, Greek Orthodox churches, Roman Catholic churches, and hundreds of other churches that separate Christians by race, nationality, ethnicity, denomination, and other factors. While I do not propose that such distinctions are unimportant, as these distinctions can help those who do not speak English or cannot identify with the culture of existing churches. However, I do not believe that such distinctions serve the greater good of Christianity as a whole.
Christians no matter what denomination, nationality, race, or ethnicity they are share the idea that Christ is at the head and the center of the church. Furthermore, (barring additional texts and slight moderations) all Christian churches share the Bible, and its teachings.
In a discussion I had with a IVCF about he church, I was told Christ did not shed his blood for 70 percent of Whites, 12 percent of blacks, 50 of Catholics, 2 percent of Pentecostals, or any other group. However, Jesus shed his blood for all who would accept him; and therefore, accept the Father (God). Why then do we as Christians argue that one church is better then the other and create division within our church (Christianity as a whole)? I am not a black Christian, or a Baptist Christian, or a Catholic Christian – I am a Christian period.
Similarly, this idea can be applied to Christian worldwide. I am not arguing that distinction such as language and culture should be ignored, but that they should be used a tool to separate Christians globally. A Christian in France should be proud that his church teachings are taught in French, but he or she should not use this as a tool to downplay the language or traditions of a Christian in Brazil. Such arguments underplay the teachings of the churches.
Ultimately, I argue that Christians should not let distinctions such as language, race, ethnicity, denomination, and other factors divide the church. I believe Pope John Paul II’s initiative to reach out to all Christians worldwide should serve as a model for healing divisions within the church. His death should not symbolize sadness, but should stand as a symbol of hope and optimism for the future. In this same spirit, it is my hope and my prayer that Christians worldwide can work together to unify the church. If not how can the Christian community criticize the ills of the world when it does not even recognize the problems within its own church?
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