The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity & Diversity

by Roger E. Olson

Christians agree that the church of Jesus Christ is one, holy, catholic (universal) and apostolic.

Christian common ground about the church is summed up in the four universal marks of the church stated in the Nicene Creed.

The church of Jesus Christ is one.

The church is holy.

The church is catholic or universal.

Finally, the church is apostolic.

A unifying Christian vision of the church may seem to be a pipe dream, but in reality it need not be that. In spite of continuing debates between theologians and church officers, the laity (ordinary church members) are already forging ahead with visible, if not institutional, unity of the church. While bishops and theologians, denominational executives and seminary professors anxiously discuss how to achieve “visible and institutional unity of the churches,” ordinary lay Christians in movements such as the charismatic movement, lay renewal weekends, men’s and women’s Christian movements, base communities, Bible study groups and ecumenical worship services are already practicing visible unity across denominational lines. While there are certain dangers in this post-denominational Christian grassroots practice, it is also full of promise and hope for Christian unity that has not been achieved by all the efforts of ecumenical meetings and organizations. Perhaps the time has come for denominational Christian leaders to catch up with the practice of their laypeople and drop the barriers to full fellowship that have stood so long in the way of the church’s unity.