Ecumenism: "Why Can't We Be Friends?"

[Fidei Defensor]

1 minute ago, Mike Mclees said:

 concerning ecumenism is your view more on a social plain. If I know some Catholics I can be friends socially even if I cannot except their beliefs. Is this what you mean be bein ecumenical    

That’s exactly the ecumenism I am talking about.  

[Sower]

 

"The Catholic Church has engaged in the modern ecumenical movement especially since the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and the issuing of the decree Unitatis redintegratio and the declaration Dignitatis humanae. It was at the Council that the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity was created. Before that time, those outside of the Catholic Church were categorised as heretics (in reference to Protestantism and other groups) or schismatics (as in the case of the Orthodox Church).

Ecumenism, from the Greek word “oikoumene”, meaning “the whole inhabited world” (cf. Acts 17.6; Mt 24.14; Heb 2.5), is the promotion of cooperation and unity among Christians. The Union of Christendom is a traditional Catholic view of ecumenism; the view is that every Christian church is destined to return to the unity which it has broken.[1] As the largest, most widespread and oldest Christian denomination, the Catholic Church saw itself as a trunk from which other Christian denominations had broken off.[1] This would mean that Christian unity was a reality, present in the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church's commitment to ecumenism is based on the conviction that a divided Christianity "openly contradicts the will of Christ, scandalizes the world, and damages the holy cause of preaching the Gospel to every creature."[2]

"The search for Christian Unity was one of the principal concerns of the Second Vatican Council."[3] This was attested to even from the moment the Council was announced, by Pope John XXIII, during the vespers closing the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity on 25 January 1959, at the Basilica of Saint Paul's Outside the Walls.

"The Catholic Church is committed to working for the reunion of all Christians, but the exuberant spirit following Vatican II has been tempered. Sober minds realize that the road to full unity will be long and arduous. One of the principal ecclesiological tasks is to discern the relationship between the Churches." [4] Underlying the Catholic Church's pursuit of ecumenism is its recognition that elements of sanctification and truth are found in other churches, that these are real Christians and real Churches or ecclesial communities, and that our common baptism itself impels us toward greater unity.[5]

It can be said that the "ecumenicity" of the Church is another way of expressing her "radical catholicity and/or universality".[6]"

 

My words;

The catholic church is losing membership, (praise God) as the flock now has a means of truth/light outside the church.
Ecumenism is their solution to halt the loss, and put herself back as the head.

I see their bottom line is, "Come home, to the one holy apostolic mother church, the  catholic church"
(I had to leave it to find out how to be saved. I will not join hands with the catholic church.
I will share the gospel with them, and whosoever will, any faith, any time!!)

 

[Mike Mclees]

56 minutes ago, Fidei Defensor said:

That’s exactly the ecumenism I am talking about.  

These relationships already exist  It is your use of word ecumenism that is the stumbling block 

[Mike Mclees]

It is believed that the papacy  started the ecumenical movement after the reformation to restore dialog with various denominations that would eventually bring protestants back to papal authority. unfortunately one or two denoms fallen into the trap. 

Im sure you know how the papacy believes  that they are the only true Church of Jesus Christ. Ecumenism is just bait. They believe thee pope is higher authority than God word. This is why I have ill feelings about how they believe and why I despise the of hat word ecumenism.

I have seen westerns where the outlaws come to town and take it over and pin themselves with law badges.  They then rule the town.  This is the history of the papacy.  

 

[Fidei Defensor]

1 hour ago, Mike Mclees said:

These relationships already exist  It is your use of word ecumenism that is the stumbling block 

Ecumenism means many different things, see OP. 

[Fidei Defensor]

1 hour ago, Mike Mclees said:

It is believed that the papacy  started the ecumenical movement after the reformation to restore dialog with various denominations that would eventually bring protestants back to papal authority. unfortunately one or two denoms fallen into the trap. 

Im sure you know how the papacy believes  that they are the only true Church of Jesus Christ. Ecumenism is just bait. They believe thee pope is higher authority than God word. This is why I have ill feelings about how they believe and why I despise the of hat word ecumenism.

I have seen westerns where the outlaws come to town and take it over and pin themselves with law badges.  They then rule the town.  This is the history of the papacy.  

 

The Papacy did not start ecumenism. The First Ecumenism was The Ecumenical Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.: 

“This ecumenical council was the first effort to attain consensus in the church through an assembly representing all of Christendom. Hosius of Corduba may have presided over its deliberations.

Its main accomplishments were settlement of the Christological issue of the divine nature of God the Sonand his relationship to God the Father, the construction of the first part of the Nicene Creed, establishing uniform observance of the date of Easter, and promulgation of early canon law.

The First Council of Nicaea was the first ecumenical council of the church. Most significantly, it resulted in the first uniform Christian doctrine, called the Nicene Creed. With the creation of the creed, a precedent was established for subsequent local and regional councils of bishops (synods) to create statements of belief and canons of doctrinal orthodoxy—the intent being to define unity of beliefs for the whole of Christendom.” (Wikipedia) 

The First Ecumenical Council decided what Christian dogmas, doctrine, and theology should be. Without it the Arian Heresy, Nestorian Heresy, and the Gnostic heresies would have infected Christ’s Church. We owe this Council [via the Holy Spirit] for protecting Christian Orthodoxy. 

The Council of Nicea was in 325 A.D. The Roman Catholic Church does not offically exist tell 1054 A.D. after it broke away in The Great Schism from Eastern Orthodoxy. 

Edited July 11, 2020 by Fidei Defensor

[Fidei Defensor]

Nicene Creed (325-381 A.D.) 

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father the only-begotten; that is, of the essence of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance (ὁμοούσιον) with the Father; by whom all things were made both in heaven and on earth; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down and was incarnate and was made man; he suffered, and the third day he rose again, ascended into heaven; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

And in the Holy Ghost.

But those who say: 'There was a time when he was not;' and 'He was not before he was made;' and 'He was made out of nothing,' or 'He is of another substance' or 'essence,' or 'The Son of God is created,' or 'changeable,' or 'alterable'—they are condemned by the holy catholic and apostolic Church.^[18]

Nicene Creed as altered in 381Edit

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds (æons), Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; from thence he shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. In one holy catholic and apostolic Church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

[Buddy D. Mouse]

Some say that the Jerusalem council in Acts 15 was the first ecumenical council.

There was no Pope then, and no creeds yet.

The Old Roman Symbol, around 100 AD, was expanded into THE APOSTLES CREED

I question that 325 version of Nicene Creed that is posted above, it seems to have some of Athanasian Creed in it.

The filioque was added to Nicene Creed much later

Edited July 11, 2020 by Buddy D. Mouse

[Buddy D. Mouse]

Ecuminism can be likened to cholesterol.

Ye gotcher good cholesterol, ye gotcher bad cholesterol; you have good Ecumenism, you have bad Ecumenism.

 

[Fidei Defensor]

1 hour ago, Episcopius said:

Some say that the Jerusalem council in Acts 15 was the first ecumenical council.

There was no Pope then, and no creeds yet.

The Old Roman Symbol, around 100 AD, was expanded into THE APOSTLES CREED

I question that 325 version of Nicene Creed that is posted above, it seems to have some of Athanasian Creed in it.

The filioque was added to Nicene Creed much later

Indeed The Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-20) was indeed Ecumenical, concerning the Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. 

The translation of 325 Nicene Creed is a english translation. I’ll try to find another one. 

The Filoque was indeed added later by Rome. It is a debate, Eastern Orthodox Christians say it makes the Father and Son seem superior to the Holy Spirit by the addition of “proceedeth fron the Son,” (Filioque), Western Christians argue no, the Filioque is supported by, “Again Jasus said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:21-22), and “"When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father--the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father--he will testify about me.” (John 15:26), and that all three persons of the Trinity are Co-Equal, and Co-Substantial.