The Lord's Prayer . . .

There are some glaring theological problems which most Evangelicals fail to address. One is, of course, related to the priestly prayer of our Lord recorded in The Gospel According to John chapter seventeen, particularly verse twenty-one, which reads:  

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 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. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23)

Practically, this verse is like the proverbial elephant in the room in most Evangelical settings. Everyone knows it is there, but no one mentions it for fear they might kick-start a controversy. Most prefer to talk about cardinal doctrines, as the only essential doctrines of the faith forgetting, of course, that it is the little foxes that kill the vine. In that regards, there is no such thing as just a little heresy—"a little leaven leavens the whole lump (Galatians 5:9),” as Paul wrote.

However, on a much broader scale, we, too, some ask the question as to whether there is any fellowship with the darkness of liberalism. "So, why bother with that bunch?" they argue. And, that, too, must be factored into the ecumenical equation and the High Priestly Prayer of Christ (i.e. John 17:21), since “Light has no fellowship with darkness” (2 Corinthians 6:14)—and that’s Bible, too.

So, in essence, we have a conundrum rife with the fear of controversy.

I feel, for one, however, that we must address this proverbial elephant in the room with common sense and honesty. We will get nowhere without dialogue, and dialogue we must if we are to ever to do what is necessary to bring about healing within the Body of Christ. 

May God's presence embrace you now and forever,

JimR_/