In response to the articles on the Taizé website entitled:
This article deals with the important topic of unity among Christians.
From the articles on the Taizé website with the titles mentioned above we have attempted to get to the bottom of Taizé's understanding of what unity is and how it can be reached. Just as in other Taizé articles there is unfortunately much here that remains unclear because the statements are formulated in a very general way and suggestions are made which allow much room for interpretation. Indeed, it seems to be their intention to enable each person to hold on to his own beliefs while creating a feeling of "unity in diversity".
In his "Call for the reconciliation of Christians" Frere Alois asks, “How can we respond to the new challenges of our societies... unless we bring together the gifts of the Holy Spirit placed in all the Christian families? How can we pass on the peace of Christ to all humanity when we remain divided?”
In a certain way it can be said that the main aim of the Taizé community is to work for unity among Christians (as a preparation for the reconciliation of the whole of mankind). From the texts mentioned above the following conclusion can be drawn: the various denominations are described by Taizé as "Christian families", which need to understand that they belong together. In support of this, the passage in 1 Corinthians 12 is used, in which Paul applies the analogy of the members of the body, which, though different, all belong together and need each other in their diversity which is unique to each. Furthermore, it is visible from their articles that the Taizé movement aims at seeking out that which is true in others without having to give up one's own uniqueness. Earlier attempts at a unification of confessions are characterized as having the aim "to present an opposing opinion at any price" which led to "a distorted perception of one's own tradition". Now, it is claimed, we ought to enter into dialogue and be open for the views of others, always remembering to stick to the essentials (what do they mean by that?) and to be free of the fear of accepting one another's differences.
Our intention is to examine these thoughts in the light of the Bible, so first we want to respond to the only two Bible passages mentioned in the text: 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12:4-6. The writer assumes without any closer consideration of the context, that the analogy of the body refers to various Christian confessions or traditions. It does not take a great deal of knowledge about the history of the early church to know that this interpretation is an anachronism1 and must therefore be rejected. If we want to understand the text written by Paul as he meant it to be understood, we have to try, as far as possible, to gain an understanding of his time and situation. It is an abuse of Scripture to simply interpret our modern-day situation into the Bible. In Paul's time, various denominations did not yet exist. There were communities in various places which often sprang up through the preaching of Paul or one of his co-workers. The unity in the teaching and attitudes and in the life which resulted from these was very important. There is only one Gospel, just as there is only one God and one truth which must be preserved:
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6)
That means there is also only ONE church which gathers in various places and is "the pillar and foundation of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15)
Paul wrote the letter to the Corinthians to a specific church where there are were specific problems (the overemphasis of particular spiritual gifts, for example speaking in tongues). That was the reason Paul used the image of the body to admonish them and correct them. He saw that the unity and love, which is the norm among Christians, was threatened. He emphasizes that each Christian should be much more focused on the edification of the body, i.e. the brothers and sisters in the church, than on his own edification. In verse 27 he writes: “Now You are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it." Every individual Christian is a member of the body of Christ. Each one should serve with the gifts God has given him and in this way find his place in the church of God.
Clearly, the passage mentioned in Romans is to be interpreted in the same way. Paul speaks specifically here about the gifts: prophecy, teaching, comforting, admonishing, leading ... how can these be applied to different denominations?
The various members or gifts are obviously not different denominations with their varying teachings, structures, liturgies, and rituals, with differing interpretations of scripture, and concepts of God's nature, discipleship, church, salvation and eternity. In reality there is no unity among the denominations. Unless someone does not know the Scriptures or does not take them seriously or is not interested in the content of his faith and avoids speaking about the differences, it is impossible to ignore this reality. The unity Paul expresses through the image of the body can never exist as long as each person clings to his own individual “truth” as the Taizé community encourages: "I have to learn how to listen. I am not asked to deny the truth (in the German text it says: my truth), to agree with everything. But it may happen that I am called to acknowledge that there can be another way of framing problems, other starting-points and conclusions that have their legitimacy, other words at the service of the faith. The more I am firmly attached to what is essential, the less I will be afraid to accept diverse understandings that do not threaten that essential." (quoted from "What are the presuppositions for a true dialogue...") The expression “my truth” makes it clear that it is not about the truth which was revealed by Jesus and is recognizable by every person which alone can produce and deeper unity from God.
Brother Alois' “Call to reconciliation” is not at all a call to unity in the biblical sense. It is a call to join together differences and opposites with the justification that no one has the whole truth anyway (“No tradition can can claim to possess everything of Christ” - a quote from ”Reconciliation: What are the presuppositions ...”) Nobody has to change his own way of thinking - you only have to look for what is positive in the others. The clear standard of the Word of God is missing and the truth of the Gospel is consequently undermined.
Concerning the Christian teaching and “tradition” we find very clear words in the Scriptures:
I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. (Romans 16:17 + 18)
False teaching can be very deceptive when disguised in beautiful and eloquent speech. Christians must must be aware of this and hold fast to what they learned from the apostles. The Christian tradition is summed up in the teaching of the apostles not in teachings of dogmas laid down several centuries later.
The Gospel Paul preached is the same as what we find in the Bible today. The following words written by Paul apply to everyone who chooses not to hold onto what the Scripture says,:
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:6-10)
This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. (Galatians 2:4, 5)
In Galatians the context speaks of the dangerous teaching of Jews who considered Jesus to be the Messiah, but insisted that Gentile Christians must keep the Mosaic law in order to belong to God's nation. Fromthis situation we can see very well how important it was for the Christians to have unity in the teaching. They assembled in Jerusalem to seek and find God's answer to this question (see Acts 15). From then on, anyone who did not accept this considered a “false brother” or a false teacher. He was not to be regarded as a brother who has “his own truth”.
There are some who would indeed consider what Paul writes intolerant. Actually, he expresses his great love for the truth of God's revelation and his concern for the unity of the believers. who are to be a sign for the world of God's presence and love:
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23)
True unity is not brought about by human means, through a “Vicar of God on earth” who says what everyone is obliged to believe, nor by simply accepting everyone with his own opinion without speaking about the differences. It has nothing to do with a certain atmosphere, experienced through similar feelings brought about by meditative songs with shallow, unspecific, repetitive texts. In fact, what has come about through the efforts of the Taizé community is a deceptive caricature of unity. It is warmly welcomed by all those who do not want to give up their own lives, who do not want to search for the truth, who prefer the apparent peace of indifference to the truth (which is described as tolerance) to the dividing sword of the Gospel.
Jesus said:
"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn
'a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law -
a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'
"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matt 10:34-39)
Scripture makes it clear that the unity among believers can only come into existence and remain on the basis of the truth. God has placed in each person the love of the truth which ought to lead him to recognize God and to salvation (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). Everyone, who does not set his own life and “traditions” above Scripture but allows himself to be corrected in his faith and values by God's word, experiences the unifying power of God. He causes them to be “one in heart and soul” (Acts 4:32).
Holding to the truth also means separating ourselves from everything that opposes the truth of God as revealed in the Bible:
Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work. (2 John 8-11)
In the society of those days offering a greeting was a sign of interest, expressing the wish to find out where a person is coming from and where he is going. It was often connected with showing hospitality to the visitor. Because the support given to an itinerant preacher helped him to spread his message, the person who offered him a lodging took part in spreading the false teaching.
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
"Therefore come out from them
and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you."
"I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
We are truly grateful for the unity in doctrine and life which God's spirit causes among us. He has transformed each one of us, preserved for us his good standards in the scriptures and enabled us to share our lives with one another. So we are able to take care of each other and help one another not to wander from the truth. We invite everyone who is earnestly seeking unity with all believers to share his thoughts or questions with us.
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Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com