Posted on 06/29/2011 7:38:42 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The three main bodies in Christianity, representing about 90 percent of Christians worldwide, released a "historic" agreement Monday on how Christians should conduct themselves when witnessing in a religiously diverse context.
Leaders from the World Evangelical Alliance, the World Council of Churches and the Vatican’s Pontifical Council on Inter-religious Dialogue were in Geneva on Monday to launch the document entitled, "Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World: Recommendations for Conduct."
The document, a result of five years of cooperation, provides a biblical mandate for evangelism and outlines a set of ethics on Christian conduct in missions.
It is the first time that bodies representing evangelicals, mainline Protestants and Catholics have joined together to endorse a major document.
"This is a historic document, a historic moment and a time for Christians to awake once again to our calling to mission and unity, always bearing in mind the ways in which Jesus calls us to do so," the Rev. Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, secretary general of the WEA, said at a press conference at the Ecumenical Center in Geneva.
The top evangelical leader also said the document was a "major achievement" because it shows the world that Christians across different backgrounds and traditions can work together.
There are three main parts that make up the Recommendations for Conduct.
The first part provides a biblical basis for Christian mission, asserting that Christians should follow the "example and teaching of Jesus Christ and of the early church" in their witness and that "conversion is ultimately the work of the Holy Spirit."
The second section outlines 12 principles Christians are called to follow in witnessing of Christ in a manner consistent with the Gospel. These include: acting in God’s love; living with integrity, compassion and humility; rejecting any form of violence; and offering respect to all people.
The document concludes with six recommendations to all Christians, church bodies, mission organizations and agencies.
They are: study the document; build respect and trust with people of all religions; strengthen religious identity and faith while at the same time deepening knowledge and understanding of different religions; advocate justice and respect for the common good; call on governments and representatives to ensure religious freedom for all people; pray for the well-being of neighbors, recognizing prayer is integral to the Christian life and of Christian mission.
The Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC, commented, "We send this document to each of our constituencies with the hope that they will see these recommendations as an inspiration to design their own codes of conduct, relevant to their own particular contexts."
Christian leaders involved in the language of the document said it is in part a response to the accusation that the Church and missions seek to “unethically” convert non-Christians. The text seeks to resolve some of these misunderstandings, they said.
Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran, president of the PCID, said the recommendations "will help us reduce unnecessary tensions and to present the truth of God in a credible way to the world around us."
"Conversion cannot be imposed on anyone," Tveit stressed. "I hope this is a clear message [we convey] through this document."
Tauran added that there was "no hidden agenda" behind the spirit of renewed missionary activity embodied in the document but rather it is to "encourage people in a pluralistic world to live together in a better climate of mutual dialogue and respect and sincere friendship."
The team comprised of consultants from the WEA, WCC and PCID first met in Lariano, Italy, in May 2006 to discuss the document. The text was finalized during a meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, in January of this year.
8:}
I think it’s important not to just use our experience to understand this. In the US, the problem can be that people are too “nice” and wishy-washy. But in places like Africa and other Islam and pagan environments, this civilized approach to conversion reaffirms the distinction between the freedom of Christianity and the coercion inherent in conversion to some other religions, such as by the sword in Islam, or by means of fear and manipulation, as with cults and occult practices. The poor and ignorant around the world need to see clearly that real Christians don’t use hard-sell, manipulative tactics on them, or against each other.
Jesus was so meek he drove religious and political leaders to beat and murder him in the most despicable manner possible.
“World Evangelical Alliance, the World Council of Churches”
“Somehow Mystery Babylon comes to mind”
“Vatican’s Pontifical Council on Inter-religious Dialogue”
Why did you the Vatican’s participation out of your comment?
Just curious
Leftist, Leftist, and ???
If now they just begin to understand these things, what have they been doing all these past years? Political activism, environmental issues, human/animal rights protests, anti-nuclear power?
Only in the Biblical quote, not as a reply.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2741585/posts?page=14#14
My thoughts exactly. Something is askew here.
Oh no kidding...I hadn’t heard the term before that article I read. (I guess I’ve really led a sheltered life)
I think we tend to misunderstand the meaning of meek. William Barclay translates the Greek word "proates" to have 3 basic meanings: (1)One who has the right kind of temper (2) A person in control of ones life, responsive to God (3)Knows ones limits and accepts them.
So, yes, Jesus was meek and He drove the religious and political leaders to murder Him. His was strength (power) under control, submitted to the will of the Father
Ok, I ‘fess up! I personally include the Vatican in the list of heirs from Babylonian mysticism, and therefore a possible candidate for Mystery Babylon (actually I think it’s second, behind Islam). I just wasn’t up to stirring an ant hill! You called me out, and in a way I’m glad you did!
“Offering respect to all people” will be confused with ACCEPTING all beliefs as somehow equally valid...wait and see. The P.C. movement and its first cardinal rule - “tolerance” has run amok.
I looked up the WEA...never herd of them, nor of the NAE (National Assoc of Evangelicals). Looked thru the latter’s newsletter, and it looks like they need to spend more time reading the Bible and less time worrying about ‘social justice’ - which somehow always seems to end up being politically liberal.
I looked up the WEA...never heard of them, nor of the NAE (National Assoc of Evangelicals). Looked thru the latter’s newsletter, and it looks like they need to spend more time reading the Bible and less time worrying about ‘social justice’ - which somehow always seems to end up being politically liberal.
It was a test...
;^)
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