The Apostolic Dialogue With Catholics 4

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Christian Unity and Diversity (continued)

In the midst of the great diversity of belief in the Apostolic movement
there is an underlying unity which bonds Apostolics together and gives
Apostolics their distinctive identity.  The same can be said for
Christianity in general.   Behind the great diversity of Christian
belief there is a unity which bonds Christians together and gives them a
distinctive identity. In the next few paragraphs I would like to discuss
several elements which help comprise this Christian identity.

"The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch"  (Ac 11:26).  
This brief statement in the book of Acts receives little attention in
Apostolic circles.  Listening to Apostolic sermons one is usually led to
the conclusion that the disciples were known as "one God people",
"holiness people", "tongue talkers", "holy rollers", "bible believers",
et. al.  However, Acts 11:26  is very explicit.  During the course of
their ministry in the book of Acts the disciples developed one
distinctive identity.   The disciples were Christians, followers of
Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ defined their lives!  Christians are those
whose fundamental orientation in life is defined by Jesus  Christ.  For
many Apostolics this definition may seem to simplistic, and definitely
to generic, so let me explain what I mean.

Christianity arises from the experience of the risen Savior Jesus
Christ.  Jesus is now present in the world through the Holy Spirit.  The
Holy Spirit calls all men are  to  faith in Jesus Christ and to the
experience of salvation.  Humankind has never been without a witness to
the reality of God (Ro 1:18-20).  But now this God is known and defined
by Jesus Christ.  Jesus has made God known (Jn 1:18).  All who seek
after God are seeking Jesus Christ.  All who worship the true God are
worshipping Jesus Christ.  Is not this the thrust of Paul's sermon to
the Athenians already mentioned in this post?  The "unknown God"  the
Athenians were worshipping was Jesus Christ  (Ac 17:22).  According to
Paul, God has but one purpose for creation.  "God did this so that men
would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he be
not far from any one of us"  (Ac 17:27). Christians are those who
respond to this calling of God in faith, experience the reality of God's
salvation,  discover that the "unknown God" is Jesus Christ, and allow
Jesus Christ to define their lives.

At its heart Christianity is an experiential religion.  Christians are
bound together by a common experience of Jesus Christ.  This is the
foundation of Christian unity.  Talk to Pentecostals, Apostolics,
Catholics, Baptists, et.al., and you will find an experience of God's
Grace in Jesus Christ at the heart of their faith. The Holy Spirit has
made Christ present to them and they have responded in faith according
to the knowledge of God they possess.  From my Apostolic perspective I
may question the theological expression other Christians give to their
experience of Christ, but I cannot question  the reality of an
experience which engenders faith in Jesus Christ and creates a Christ
like life.  Our Apostolic forefathers were Christians in another way
before they received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the revelations
which led to the creation of the Apostolic movement.  Christ was present
in their lives through the Holy Spirit guiding them into more truth.  
The reality of the experience of Christ by other Christians  and the
faith it creates  holds forth the possibility that they can be guided by
the Holy Spirit into more truth.  Apostolic Pentecostalism compliments
previous Christian experience, it does not supplant it.  Apostolics are
united with other Christians by a common experience of God in Jesus
Christ.

Christians not only experience Jesus Christ but allow this experience to
be informed and interpreted by  Holy Scripture.  Christians  define
themselves by the original witnesses to Jesus Christ, the disciples,
found in Holy Scripture.  Talk to Christians about their faith and you
will inevitably end up talking about the Bible. Christians receive the
Bible as authoritative for all manners of faith and life and live by by
its promises.  As an Apostolic  my interpretation of Holy Scripture
varies greatly in many areas from Roman Catholicism, Baptists,
Methodists, et.al.  But the fact remains we all, in some way, 
acknowledge  the authority of Holy Scripture in shaping the Christian
faith.  This orientation towards Holy Scripture unites Christians and
creates the possibility for dialogue.  

The Christian experience of Jesus Christ and orientation toward Holy
Scripture leads to a life of discipleship.  Christians are Christians,
followers of Jesus Christ who continue his ministry upon the earth. The
ministry of Jesus Christ not only involved the proclamation of the
salvation of God but the demonstration of the ethics of the Kingdom of
God in personal lives and in meeting the needs of the poor and the
outcasts of society. Traditionally Apostolics have emphasized personal
discipleship to the neglect of the social responsibilities found in Holy
Scripture.  Mainline Christians have emphasized the social gospel to the
neglect of personal discipleship.  Although discipleship is emphasized
in different ways it still is an essential characteristic of all
Christians.  Christians are united by their desire to be disciples of
Christ, to imitate his life.

In experience, receiving Holy Scripture as authoritative, and in
discipleship Christians have a fundamental orientation toward Jesus
Christ in their lives.  This is what makes them Christians.  This is
what unites them. But unity does not mean uniformity.  In my next post I
will discuss the biblical basis for Christian diversity.