Ecumenicalism vs. Christianity
One big happy religious family
Ecumenicalism and Christianity are studies in contrast. Historically, Ecumenicalism has been “concerned with establishing or promoting unity among churches or religions” according to Dictionary.com. Much of the Ecumenical movement within Christendom has been built largely upon the prayer of Christ:
“I do not ask for these [eleven disciples] only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20-21 ESV)
Obviously, unity amongst fellow Christians is desirable. Of all the things Jesus might have prayed for in the hours prior to His arrest and before His crucifixion, He prayed for unity among future believers. Apparently it was an extremely high priority in His mind.
However, if the definition above is accurate, and if the intent of those who hold to an ecumenical mindset is to establish unity and oneness among churches and religions, then Ecumenicalism is inherently destructive to Christianity. Universal oneness amongst churches and religions cannot exist where there is conviction for absolute truth. Christianity holds to just such a conviction.
Jesus put it this way just three verses earlier in John 17:17 - “Your word is truth.” Jesus had convictions regarding truth. Any religious doctrine which does not agree with what Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has said, is false. That in itself disqualifies Christ from inter-faith, poly-religious ecumenicalism. Even more, Jesus prefaced the above words (Your word is truth) with these: “Sanctify them in the truth.”
The word “sanctify” means “to set apart for holy service” or “to separate from common use”. The truth of God’s word separates people. Jesus was praying that God would separate His disciples from the general population by means of conforming them to His word. Those who believe the Scriptures are set apart by God from those who do not. This is why Christianity is by definition exclusive rather than ecumenical.
The apostle Paul put it in unmistakable terms when he wrote to the Christians in the city of Corinth: “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God.”
In Christianity, there are spiritual contrasts that cannot be reconciled: Believers in Christ and unbelievers, righteousness according to the Scriptures and lawlessness, spiritual light and darkness, Christ and the Devil, God and gods. These are the truths and realities that prevent those who take the Scriptures seriously from participating in religious exercises with other religious groups whose beliefs conflict with biblical truth. Every religion and every church believes it teaches the truth. But as Jesus stated, God’s word is truth. Do your convictions concur with what God has said in the Scriptures?
