A Much Needed Ecumenism

There have been few, if any, successful ecumenical movements in church history. The issue has always been either a strong ecumenism that has doctrinally weak churches or doctrinally strong churches that have a weak ecumenism. In either case the results fall far short of the ideal and nothing good happens. It would take a very rare set of circumstances and a special act on God's part for ecumenism to be desired and fruitful. I for one believe that those circumstances and God's action may be in the process of intersecting.

In the last few years, we have seen the enemies of the gospel rally and strike in unprecedented ways. Evangelical Christianity now finds itself right in the middle of two very formidable foes. On the one front is radical islam with its suicide missions, and koran quoting imams. On the other front, is secular naturalism and atheism spewing forth its evolutionary, politically correct, vitriol with its allies in Hollywood and the media. Satan has positioned his armies well and they are bent on wiping out any vestige of truth and righteousness. What is a believer to do?

Well there are some believers who, in the face of such opposition, have decided that there is strength in unity. They have decided to put aside any disagreement on non-essentials for the purpose of spreading the gospel. Before you begin to think this an effort to water-down truth for unity, think again. The group I am referring to call themselves Together For The Gospel and for once it looks like this might be ecumenism done right. How could you go wrong with men like Mark Dever, Dr. Al Mohler, C.J. Mahaney, and John Piper (just to name a few).

The men cooperating in this effort all come from doctrinally sound churches. They have a stated purpose that's more than just getting together for interfaith karaoke night. And they all hold to a solid, Biblical view of the simple message of the gospel. I am happy to see the success of their efforts and I think that more solid, evangelical churches should support it. I shudder to think how many people walk by and just have a laugh at us Christians who cant even work together to share the gospel because of non-essentials like modes of baptism or style of worship. Its high time for sound, evangelical churches to direct the fight at satan instead of each other.