In the 1950s and 1960s it was easy to argue and even get into fights over differences between Lutherans and Catholics. But today those animosities are long gone. No one is looking for a fight.
Last October 31, Pope Francis and Bishop Mounib Younan, president of the Lutheran World Federation, signed a joint statement in which Catholics and Lutherans pledged to pursue their dialogue to remove the remaining obstacles that hinder them from reaching full unity. They also stressed their commitment to common witness on behalf of the poor, the needy and the victims of injustice.
The leadership of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has signed the “Declaration on the Way” document. At the heart of it are 32 “statements of agreement” that state where Lutherans and Catholics do not have church-dividing differences on topics about church, ministry and the Eucharist. For example, Lutherans and Catholics believe the same about the real presence of Jesus in Holy Communion.
Agreement No. 30 states: “Lutherans and Catholics agree that in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, Jesus Christ himself is present. He is present truly, substantially, as a person, and he is present in his entirety, as Son of God and as a human being.”
Our church doors are not big enough to post the 32 agreements on them; however, the bulletins of Catholic and Lutheran Churches could publish a summary of them to mark the 500th anniversary the week of October 31.
As the march toward full, visible, sacramental unity nears maturity, watch for remaining differences between Catholics and Lutherans to melt away.
“And all the world wondered…” Revelation 13:3.
Comments
Henry Taylor
Thursday October 12th, 2017 at 12:48 PMAre we going to be loyal to the man that speaks down to the masses from a window, or to the Man that comes to our level, knocking on the door of our heart, hoping to be given entrance and to sup with us? https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Drawing-SUBRUTUM/48184/3213888/view
julio
Monday October 16th, 2017 at 10:21 AMThank you so much for sharing that link. Amazing art work. So glad to see that God has His chosen faithfuls that are still very aware of the ongoings of this Jesuit Pope. I believe that according to Revelation 17:9-11, Pope Francis is the antichrist and the last pope. He is the 8th that comes out of the 7th since 1929 when the Lateran Treaty was signed.
MJ
Friday October 13th, 2017 at 08:03 PMYes, and how long will it be once so called “Protestants” give up the protest (formally and publicly) until we get a “National Sunday Law”? Will it be counted in days, weeks, or months? I doubt it will be years.
With the calamities worsening and happening closer together, with World War III becoming more evident nearly every day. There will be great pressure to restore temporal prosperity and Divine favor – in returning to God – a National Sunday Law, then an International Sunday Law.