That they may all be one (RUPERTUS MELDENIUS)
Verse 21 that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me."
Nearly 1500 years later the Christian Church was in turmoil. The Catholic church was losing it's popular authority (not to be confused with it's validity or value). Especially throughout Germany and Switzerland the great reformers were beginning to speak out and the people were awaking to their personal destiny as they read and considered the significance of the Scriptures in their lives, families, communities, and their nations politics. Munich established a Theocracy, believing in the Sovereignty of God over mankind, the Church and Political/ City/ State. Unfortunately, even this led to the executions of more than 50 people in the first 4 years.
Enter Peter Meiderlin, an irenic Lutheran theologian and pastor living in Augsburg during the early seventeenth century. As an Irenic Peter was a reformer of a different nature than Luther. He devoted his life the "ministry of reconciliation" and to the hope that the Church would "be one".
It was Peter Meiderlin, who scribed this plea to the Church:
"In necessariis unitas, in non-necessariis (or, dubiis) libertas, in utrisque (or, omnibus) caritas."
(penned under the anagram RUPERTUS MELDENIUS (Germany, A.D. 1627 and 1628)
[Translated]
IN ESSENTIALS UNITY,
IN NON-ESSENTIALS LIBERTY,
IN ALL THINGS CHARITY.
Later J.H. Garrison's and B.W. Johnson, who published a journal titled, "The Christian-Evangelist" published a paraphrase of the same:
"In faith, Unity; in opinions and methods, Liberty; in all things, Charity."
Across America (I'm addressing the US specifically, not exclusively), the Church is experiencing many movements (missional, simple church, organic church, emergent) a reformation that is getting even stronger since mid-2008.
A Diamond with many faces
Throughout history reformers have been used to "stir up the faith" among the pagans, non-believers, disenfranchised, disinterested, institutionally entrenched, and the powerful. I praise God for their passion, their Sovereign inspiration and success, and yet like Meiderlin, I would implore the Church today to consider the beauty of a diamond with many faces when the SON shines upon it.
Church, we are the BODY of Christ. Can the hand say to the foot I have no need of you? Therefore I submit that in the midst of these reforms, movements and stalwart faithfulness of Christian denominations and their respective participants and leaders - we must remember the words of Meiderlin. We must thank God for the diversity of expression, understanding that God is not so small as though He could be defined by any denomination or college of scholars. He is not so reserved as to preserve any institution, but in His Sovereignty God has proved since Adam that His Kingdom and His will shall not fail, nor be stalled by any hand. Let us then work together to build that Kingdom of God.
IN ESSENTIALS UNITY,
IN NON-ESSENTIALS LIBERTY,
IN ALL THINGS CHARITY.
Notes:
Wiki the "Major branches of Christianity": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations
Yahoo lists some 144 Christian denominations: http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture
/Religion_and_Spirituality/Faiths_and_Practices/Christianity/Denominations_and_Sects/
A modern anagram for Peter Meiderlin = "Elder Peter Limin "
Also published on: www.wiatoday.wordpress.com
Nearly 1500 years later the Christian Church was in turmoil. The Catholic church was losing it's popular authority (not to be confused with it's validity or value). Especially throughout Germany and Switzerland the great reformers were beginning to speak out and the people were awaking to their personal destiny as they read and considered the significance of the Scriptures in their lives, families, communities, and their nations politics. Munich established a Theocracy, believing in the Sovereignty of God over mankind, the Church and Political/ City/ State. Unfortunately, even this led to the executions of more than 50 people in the first 4 years.
Enter Peter Meiderlin, an irenic Lutheran theologian and pastor living in Augsburg during the early seventeenth century. As an Irenic Peter was a reformer of a different nature than Luther. He devoted his life the "ministry of reconciliation" and to the hope that the Church would "be one".
It was Peter Meiderlin, who scribed this plea to the Church:
"In necessariis unitas, in non-necessariis (or, dubiis) libertas, in utrisque (or, omnibus) caritas."
(penned under the anagram RUPERTUS MELDENIUS (Germany, A.D. 1627 and 1628)
[Translated]
IN ESSENTIALS UNITY,
IN NON-ESSENTIALS LIBERTY,
IN ALL THINGS CHARITY.
Later J.H. Garrison's and B.W. Johnson, who published a journal titled, "The Christian-Evangelist" published a paraphrase of the same:
"In faith, Unity; in opinions and methods, Liberty; in all things, Charity."
Across America (I'm addressing the US specifically, not exclusively), the Church is experiencing many movements (missional, simple church, organic church, emergent) a reformation that is getting even stronger since mid-2008.
A Diamond with many faces
Throughout history reformers have been used to "stir up the faith" among the pagans, non-believers, disenfranchised, disinterested, institutionally entrenched, and the powerful. I praise God for their passion, their Sovereign inspiration and success, and yet like Meiderlin, I would implore the Church today to consider the beauty of a diamond with many faces when the SON shines upon it.
Church, we are the BODY of Christ. Can the hand say to the foot I have no need of you? Therefore I submit that in the midst of these reforms, movements and stalwart faithfulness of Christian denominations and their respective participants and leaders - we must remember the words of Meiderlin. We must thank God for the diversity of expression, understanding that God is not so small as though He could be defined by any denomination or college of scholars. He is not so reserved as to preserve any institution, but in His Sovereignty God has proved since Adam that His Kingdom and His will shall not fail, nor be stalled by any hand. Let us then work together to build that Kingdom of God.
IN ESSENTIALS UNITY,
IN NON-ESSENTIALS LIBERTY,
IN ALL THINGS CHARITY.
Notes:
Wiki the "Major branches of Christianity": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations
Yahoo lists some 144 Christian denominations: http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture
/Religion_and_Spirituality/Faiths_and_Practices/Christianity/Denominations_and_Sects/
A modern anagram for Peter Meiderlin = "Elder Peter Limin "
Also published on: www.wiatoday.wordpress.com
