Eric Reece
The annual “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” is Jan. 18-25.
The observance began in 1908, when an Episcopal priest Paul Wattson urged a time for all Christians to pray for the unity of the church. Soon, it was adopted by the Roman Catholic Church and then many protestant churches. Support increased after World War II.
Today, it is often celebrated with a special prayer service.
The prayer for Christian unity is inspired by the words of Christ in the Gospel of John 17, where he prays for Christians in the future to, “All be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.“
Jesus was not praying for all Christians to become part of one super church, and all worship and organize the same way. He was praying that all Christians – of different countries and cultures – would be one as Christ and the Father are one. Jesus was praying for a unity of relationships. It is the same unity found in the spirit of the Heavenly Father and only begotten Son, working together for the salvation of humankind.
We are coming upon the 1,700th anniversary where church leaders from the world came together to work toward Christian unity at the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325.
The council was called by Emperor Constantine, who gathered 318 church leaders to work to overcome the many disagreements emerging in the church and unify doctrines. One major one was the teachings of the relationship between God the Father and God the Son.
After many weeks, the leaders agreed to a creed with the statement supporting the deity of Christ containing the beautiful words, “We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father.”
The “we” used in the Nicean Creed was a way of including everyone. The leaders worked on how to let those who had fallen away from the faith come back into fellowship.
A common date for Easter was worked on, but ended up being interpreted differently. By coincidence, Easter this year will be celebrated on the same date by the Eastern and Western church families. The statement of beliefs became the Nicene Creed, which is still used in worship by many churches – especially during Christmas time.
During a time of political upheaval in ancient Israel, Jehu took control to reform the country and restore worship of God. He met Jehonadab on the road and said, “Is your heart as true to mine as mine is to yours?” He answered, “It is.” Then Jehu said, “If it is, give me your hand.” He joined Jehu in the chariot (2 Kings 10).
Please pray for the unity of the Christian Church. Not a unity of everyone agreeing on everything, but a unity working to offer Christ to a dying world.
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is the pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church and can be reached via email, ereece@wnccumc.net.