Comments on: Theologians to meet in Greece in search of Christian unity

By: I believe in Christian Unity « Castle of Nutshells

I believe in Christian Unity « Castle of Nutshells — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:04:47 +0000

[...] invisible, Papal authority, pope, protestantism, spiritual, unity, visibility trackback Jeff and Joel both linked to this ridiculously short Christianity Today article regarding an ecumenical meeting [...]

By: Fr. Robert

Fr. Robert — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 01:54:51 +0000

Oh yes, but if we look at the Western history, it has certainly a Trinitarian life and culture. The Middle Ages, to the fulness of the European life and culture. Roman Catholic to Swedish and German Lutheran, to French and Dutch Reformed, it has been deeply Trinitarian. Not to mention the life of the Scots and English, even the Anglican Irish. The 4th century was indeed past history for them. And really as it should be, at least in the sense of the majority. The Christian Church, especially in the freedom of the West, has always had those Christians on the fringe of orthodoxy. But this is just not the central culture nor theology that shaped the West or the European. So Christian unity must be fully historical, when we try and forget our history, or minimize what has shaped it, we really never come back to lasting truth. Note in Barth, and also in Torrance they simply knew that Christian theology must be Trinitarian, if it were to be true and renewed. This is also my deep conviction for Christian theology and doctrine, as we all head into the 21’st century, and 2010!
Fr. R.

By: Polycarp

Polycarp — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:39:53 +0000

But, don’t you think that this is a hindrance to any talk of unity? Such as it was in the 4th century? Misunderstanding or just bad doctrine – both will be thrown around against the other side.

By: Fr. Robert

Fr. Robert — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 23:23:26 +0000

Joel,
I have never seen a true Christian doctrine that is really tritheistic on the Trinity. The three distinct persons also form the Unity of the One God & Godhead. The only people that talk about a real tritheism are the Mormons. There are no doubt some evangelical Christians that are poorly taught, or don’t even really know the proper doctrine and definition of the Trinity of God, but that is something else again.
Fr. R.

By: Polycarp

Polycarp — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:56:02 +0000

Fr. Robert,

Many Trinitarians see the Trinity as three distinct Gods, claiming this as the mystery. Yet, you would allow these people to be accepted as Trinitarians?

By: Fr. Robert

Fr. Robert — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:25:36 +0000

Joel,
The issue is not to make or expect every Christian to toe some Trinitarian mark or statement, but simply but profoundly to acknowledge the Trinitarian Mystery. The whole nature and reality of the First Council of Nicaea is to fence the great dogma, rather than define, or even seek to define the total mystery. This cannot really be done, but there are certain lines and trues that must be maintained. This is Nicaea! And later of course both the Council of Ephesus (Mary as the Theotokos in Christology) and Chalcedon. Which reaffirmed the definitions of Nicaea and Constantinople and repudiated Eutychian and Nestorian positions as heresies.

So there are indeed certain banners which the Trinitarian doctrine is regarded and maintained.
Fr. R.

By: Polycarp

Polycarp — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 20:59:59 +0000

I would think, Fr. Robert, that even among Trinitarians, there are so many differences, even on the subject of the Godhead, that to unite all Christians under the same banner would be an impossible task.

By: Fr. Robert

Fr. Robert — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:12:07 +0000

How many of these things I have seen in my Christian life and existance! The only one that brought note and attention was when Barth and Georges Florovsky met and became friends. (WCC) Indeed Florovsky’s vision of the church was eschatological, mystical, and catholic.
Fr. R.