Monday, January 10, 2005

The ‘outsider’ who knows nothing of the mixture of tradition, conviction, honest difference, and hidden resentment, that lies behind the divisions of the Christian Church sees clearly the advantage of a united Christian front and cannot see why the Churches cannot ‘get together’. The problem is doubtless complicated, for there are many honest differences held with equal sincerity, but it is only made insoluble because the different denominations are (possibly unconsciously) imagining God to be Roman or Anglican or Baptist or Methodist or Presbyterian or what have you. If they could see beyond their little inadequate god, and glimpse the reality of God, they might even laugh a little and perhaps weep a little. The result would be a unity that actually does transcend differences, instead of ignoring them with public politeness and private contempt.

... J. B. Phillips (1906-1982), Your God is Too Small [1953], Simon and Schuster, 2004, p. 40 (see the book; see also Neh. 4:4; Matt. 12:25; Rom. 15:5; 1 Cor. 1:10-13; more at Church)

 
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Last updated: 10/04/11

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