Among the material that fills up my email inbox is the online bulletin of the South Australian Council of Churches. It’s interesting to know what everyone else is up to.
Right from the beginning, those who know me are aware that I work happily with other Christians of other denominations on a variety of projects. The ecumenical movement is not really my cup of tea because they are committed to ecumenism and the spread of ecumene, or unity. The problem for me is that unity with other Christians is caused by us sharing the Gospel, not a desire for unity. Unity is a product of our mission. Our mission is the Gospel.
So, what was newsworthy in the ecumenical movement today? For all Christians to have a common date for Easter.
The article on the World Council of Churches website is titled “A common date for Easter is possible“. This refers to the fact that all Christian churches do not celebrate Easter on the same date each year. But don’t get your hopes too high: “The hope that all Christians will be able to celebrate Easter on the same day in the future was reaffirmed by an international ecumenical seminar organized by the Institute of Ecumenical Studies at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, 15 May.”
If you think that this hope seems a little vague it may help to know that: “Attempts to establish a common date for Easter began with the Council of Nicaea in the year 325.” It’s been a long term project, so don’t rush it.
The Presbyterian heritage at one time declined to celebrate Easter and Christmas, determining that there was not biblical basis for doing so. For the Christian every day is lived in the light of the incarnation, atoning death and resurrection power of Jesus. To emphasise them at particular seasons is to suggest that there are other seasons when they are not emphasised.
While no doubt drawing charges of compromise I don’t particularly commend their observation but participate in these seasons. If people want to come and hear a sermon on a particular Friday or December 25 they’ll get one. I never expect them to be surprised that those sermons strongly focus on the person and work of Jesus and our need to personally respond to His work.
So, if a common date for Easter is agreed on for all Christians it is not a matter of great worry for me. People will stop asking why different churches celebrate it at different times. If you look up the article you’ll find another linked to the bottom that explains: “Frequently asked questions about the date of Easter“. If you get embarrassed when your friends ask you questions about the date, this is what you’ve been looking for.
Sadly for the ecumenical movement this sort of work is the fruit of their movement. Consider that it’s taken nearly 2000 years (or 1700 years) to arrive on a common date for Easter, how long would you imagine it would take for the World Council of Churches and the Ecumenical Movement to arrive at a common understanding of what Jesus meant when He said “It is finished” on Good Friday and what we mean when we affirm “He is risen” on Easter Sunday.
Affirming a common biblical understanding of what Easter means would truly be a triumph for ecumenism.
mgpcpastor's blog 