Deep Creek Anglican Church Blog

Chapter Nine: The Cause of our Disunity

Have you experienced life in a church where a spirit of separatism is in its DNA?  That was my experience of ‘church’ even before I was old enough to go to school!  Massively unhelpful, ungodly and life (in its fullest sense) destroying.

Our author, John Armstrong, notes the historical fact that “Christians have argued and opposed each other for centuries.”

However, notwithstanding significant issues, the leaders of the early church (30 – 62 AD) worked to preserve unity and indeed through to ~150AD the church “steadfastly refused to be divided.”  There were certainly differences of opinion but a unity of belief involving the person and work of Jesus and the practice of baptism and the Eucharist.

But down through the centuries, divisions grew: the Eastern and Western churches formally divided in 1054AD; the Western church split at the Reformation.  Our author comments:

“This movement challenged the Catholic Church to renew itself but resulted in a massive schism leading to errors on every side.”

John Armstrong acknowledges that diversity in our expression of the Faith (arising from many cultures and contexts) is not bad per se.

But disunity is the fruit of sin.

Why have we ‘allowed’ sin to go so unchecked?  John’s contention is that we have not worked on our relationships with one another based on Christ as the centre and the need to “press into Him.”

In the next chapter, he looks at “Sectarianism: our enemy.”

Archaeologists in Jordan have announced the discovery of a cave under the church of St Georgeous in Rihab that they believe was used as far back as between 33 AD to 70 AD to shelter early disciples of Jesus Christ.  See here for a great picture gallery provided by the Guardian.

As a relatively new Christian in the early 1990s, I began reading, and profited much from, the writings of Dr John Armstrong – especially the Reformation & Revival Journal and his newsletter, Viewpoint. Over the years it has been fascinating to witness the obvious work of the Lord in John’s life and the evolution of Reformation & Revivial into ACT3, a ministry to equip leaders for unity in Christ’s mission.

But the negative response of some high profile evangelicals to John’s journey has been most unedifying.  The response from the Board of ACT3 is worth reading.

We’re going to blog through your church is too small: why unity in Christ’s mission is vital to the future of the church.  It reflects a journey that John has been on for almost two decades.

Why the title?  In his Introduction, John writes that he is not referring to the size of physical facilities or the number of people attending services but,

“…our all too common penchant for placing limits on Christ’s church – limits that equate the one church with our own narrow views of Christ’s body.  When our church is too small, we adopt a desperately flawed image.  The image shrivels our spirit and hinders Christ’s mission.”

Chapter One: The Road to the Future

John begins with a recognition that the church is in a period of significant transition.  There are many new patterns of Christian faith and life emerging in the church – but our author calls us to see that the road to the future must run through the past.  John’s context is the American church and he observes that “American Christians have a unique predilection to approach the Christian faith as if what we know is vastly more relevant than what previous generations knew.”

Unique to American Christians?  I don’t think so.

Our author expresses concern (alarm?) at Christians building their lives and faith on various passages of Scripture understood through private experience.  His argument is that Christ’s mission is best served by the one church of Jesus Christ ministering out of its spiritual unity in Christ and being rooted in core orthodoxy.

As John develops his thesis of the road to the future he makes the following points:

• Scripture is the supreme witness to the living Christ, illuminating the minds of God’s people in every culture and context.  We need to listen to the witness  of the whole church through Scripture.
• Contrary to the last few hundred years, the church in history has not been made up of unrelated and independent entities.  Our author expresses the view that we are now witnessing the Holy Spirit bringing unity amongst our diversity – a new expression shaped by mission and ecumenism.
• Critical realism is required, defined as “a positive yet critical response to the past allowing the past to be properly linked with a biblically hopeful view about what God will do in the age to come.”
• Despite obvious flaws, there is no need to be pessimistic about the church.  Why? It belongs to Christ!  And we see congregations flourishing where the kingdom of God breaks out.
• Jesus’ prayer of John 17:20-24 is being answered in previously unheard-of-ways.  We are witnessing Catholics and Protestants learning to interact with one another in gracious ways.  We are beginning to experience the reality of Eph 4:4-6.
• Christians need a deep sense of our collective spiritual roots – this will “move us forward to new faith, fresh hope, and genuine love.”

In a world with a massively fragmented church I trust that you’ll join our journey with John Armstrong, with our hearts attuned to the Word and Spirit.

“Lord, what do You want me to do?”  ”Go back to your city and you will be told what you must do.”

At the break of day, Francis, with his reformed inner self, desired only to conform to the will of God.

So reads the plaque outside the magnificent Basilica di San Francesco in Assisi, Italy.

Iain Campbell in Heroes & Heretics: Pivotal Moments in 20 Centuries of the Church picks up the story of Francis of Assisi:

“The reputation of the Dominicans was exceeded only by that of the Franciscans, the order established by Francis of Assisi (c.1181-1226).  He was the son of an Italian cloth merchant.  Francis pledged himself to the restoration of church buildings which had fallen into ruin and disrepair.  In 1208 he had an experience in which he believed the voice of God came to him, calling him to devote himself to a life of poverty and preaching.  He determined to live as Christ had done, imitating him and preaching his message.  Some twelve or so companions joined him and Francis drew up a Rule for them…The Franciscan order was missionary minded.  The Franciscans went around in pairs, preaching wherever they could….” (111f)

Assisi is a great Italian town to visit and the Umbrian region is a delight.  And significant in church history!