In unusual video, pope speaks of his longing for Christian unity (with Evangelicals)

cns ^ | February 20, 2014 | Cindy Wooden

[NYer]

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In an unusual video message, recorded on an iPhone by a Pentecostal pastor Pope Francis knew in Argentina, the pope says all Christians share blame for their divisions, speaks of his "longing" for their unity and insists that God will bring the miracle of Christian unity to completion.

"Pray to the Lord that he will unite us all," the pope tells a group of Pentecostals meeting in the United States. "Let's move forward, we are brothers; let us give each other that spiritual embrace and allow the Lord to complete the work he has begun. Because this is a miracle; the miracle of unity has begun."

Screen grab of Pope Francis interview shown to a group of Pentecostals in the United States. (CNS photo)

In the video, posted on YouTube and never released by the Vatican, the pope quotes a character from a novel by Alessandro Manzoni; the character says, "'I have never found that the Lord began a miracle without finishing it well.' He will finish well this miracle of unity," the pope added.

The Vatican did not release any details when it announced Jan. 14 that Pope Francis had met with "Anthony Palmer, bishop and international ecumenical officer for the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches," a group that is not affiliated with the Anglican Communion.

The video, which Palmer said he took with his iPhone, begins in English with the pope apologizing that he will have to switch to Italian, although mostly, he said, he would speak from the heart, which is "a more simple, more authentic language."

Addressing Palmer as "my brother, a bishop-brother" and saying they had "been friends for years," the pope offered what he said were greetings "both joyful and full of longing" to participants in a forthcoming meeting of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries, a Pentecostal group that sponsors large prayer gatherings around the world.

The joy, the pope said, comes from knowing that "the Lord is working all over the whole world."

But he said he is full of longing because Christians are still separated, "separated because of sin, our sins."

"Who is at fault?" he asked. "All of us are, we are all sinners. There is only one who is just and that is the Lord."

Pope Francis said he longs for the day when "this separation would end and there would be communion."

"Let's allow our longing to increase so that it propels us to find each other, embrace each other and to praise Jesus Christ as the only Lord of history," the pope said.

The video begins with Palmer telling a Pentecostal gathering about the importance of Christian unity for preaching salvation in Christ to the world.

Palmer said that the Catholic-Protestant divisions have had no reason to exist since the 1999 Catholic-Lutheran Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. The agreement recognized that "by grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works."

"Brothers and sisters, Luther's protest is over," Palmer told his audience. "Is yours?"

"We are not protesting the doctrine of salvation (taught) by the Catholic Church anymore," he said. "We now preach the same Gospel."

The Catholic Church has celebrated the agreement on justification and other ecumenical agreements, while insisting that further progress must be made to resolve other differences before there is full unity and sacramental sharing. Those differences include how different Christians view the sacraments and how they see the role of the papacy.

[NYer]

You can watch the video HERE. The pope's message begins at about 31:35 after Bishop Tony Palmer delivers a speech to a Kenneth Copeland Ministries about the importance of Christian unity for preaching salvation in Christ to the world.

[Buckeye McFrog]

I don’t disagree with anything he said.

For the night is coming when no man can work.

[dartuser]

There can be no unity ... apart from truth.

[Salvavida]

"Let's allow our longing to increase so that it propels us to find each other..."

Translation: Let's follow emotions rather than having a honest debate on objective truth in God's Word.

NO SALE.

[xone]

NO SALE.

Agree.

[miele man]

So, is the Pope proposing to initiate communion or full communion with a church that ordains women as deacons and priests?

[353FMG]

Christian unity is also important so as to repel their common enemy — Islam.

[txrefugee]

The infamous Rodney King solution to every problem: “Can’t we all just get along?” And the answer is always,”No, unless you give in to me.”

[keats5]

As an Evangelical, I am honestly confused about why the 1999 Catholic-Lutheran Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification has not resulted in more unity. It seems that the 14 year old news that we agree on the basics of the gospel has not filtered down to the masses.

My active practicing Catholic relatives do not seem to believe that salvation is “by grace alone, in faith in Christ’s saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works.” And unfortunately, many of my Evangelical friends do not believe Catholics can be Christians, because they think Catholicism teaches a works based salvation.

I’d be interested in knowing what the Catholic FReepers think. I came to Christ primarily because my Catholic mother-in-law prayed for me to accept Christ as my Savior for over 10 years. I am convinced she is in heaven today because of her faith. She wept with joy the day my husband and I told her we had accepted Christ and had become active in and Evangelical church.

[Vinylly]

As a Presbyterian I can agree with him. The world is against the Christian faith and we must stand together for our belief in Christ although each faith may do things differently. Christ said, ‘love one another’.

[Gamecock]

The agreement recognized that "by grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit

I seem to remember this was agreed upon at the meeting, but higher headquarters in Rome said no dice.

Plus the RC on FR seem to disagree with this statement.

We want unity too, but that doesn't mean I am unifying with a group that denies that we are saved by faith alone in Christ alone.

[Alex Murphy]

In an unusual video message, recorded on an iPhone by a Pentecostal pastor Pope Francis knew in Argentina, the pope says all Christians share blame for their divisions, speaks of his "longing" for their unity and insists that God will bring the miracle of Christian unity to completion. "Pray to the Lord that he will unite us all," the pope tells a group of Pentecostals meeting in the United States. "Let's move forward, we are brothers; let us give each other that spiritual embrace and allow the Lord to complete the work he has begun. Because this is a miracle; the miracle of unity has begun."

Related threads:
Remember the ultimate goal of ecumenism: Pope
Ecumenism is Not Compromise, Pope Says
Pope says uniting Christianity requires conversion
No Salvation Outside the Church
The “Necessity” of Being Catholic (Ecumenical Caucus)
Can Non-Catholics Be Saved?
The Great Heresies [Open]
Why Can't Protestants Take Communion in a Catholic Church
(Audio) My Advice to Catholic Parents: Don't Let Your Kids Date Non-Catholics

[TexasRepublic]

Late one night, the Pope awoke to a vision from God —

God: “I am sorely displeased that my children have not heeded my voice and are violently divided from each other, rather than united in truth and love. The Good News is that I am creating a new dispensation in which all men shall be united as members of one faith.”

Pope: “Oh! Praise! Lord, that IS good news!”

God: “The Bad News is, I’m calling you from Salt Lake City.”

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

If it was nixed, I presume it was for a different reason, as the Church has affirmed salvation by grace alone since the second synod of Orange.

[RichInOC]

Not just the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do. Here, in Latin America and elsewhere, the evangelical and Pentecostal movements are too big, with too many former members in their flock, for the Church to ignore.

[Biggirl]

With the upcoming Easter this year being shared by all the Christian Churches, this could be a true blessing in itself.

[NYer]

Translation: Let's follow emotions rather than having a honest debate on objective truth in God's Word.

Correction: debate begins with God's Word.

[Biggirl]

.....And much more so, the enemy.

[DannyTN]

There are certainly areas where we can work together. But that pope might have looked like a foot washing Baptist for a little bit, but he just called us to go to confession. That Pope’s Catholic!