“Do you believe this?” (John 11:26) – Jesus’ question to Martha about her faith in him is the theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity this year, and it expresses perfectly the focus and reason for ecumenism: our common faith in Christ and joint witness to the world.
The simple question “Do you believe this?” was in the context of Lazarus’ death and rising to life again as Jesus explained to Martha that he is “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Often I wonder, do we really need to ask any other additional questions? Isn’t that enough for our unity in Christ? Moreover, the Gospel story about the raising of Lazarus leaves room for hesitation and lack of faith. Martha tries to stop Jesus from opening Lazarus’ tomb; however, her hesitation didn’t change God’s plan to raise him back to life. Our disbelief, questioning, and objections are part of life in faith.
Lutherans have embraced an often-quoted phrase: “to be Lutheran is to be ecumenical,” and the Lutheran World Federation is keeping open the dialogue with the whole spectrum of Christian churches, from Orthodox to Pentecostal traditions. One of the biggest milestones was the wording of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification with Catholics, affirmed later also by Methodist, Anglican, and Reformed churches. Recently, we have agreed with Orthodox Christians that the filioque addition to the Nicene Creed could be omitted.
And again, Jesus asks only a simple question: “Do you believe this?” How many questions did Jesus ask at the table of the Last Supper, and what kind of additional criteria did he give when he asked disciples to baptise “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt 28:19)? While I admire the ecumenical achievements made, especially the Porvoo Communion that has led to full altar and pulpit fellowship between Lutherans and Anglicans in different areas in Europe, I wonder if striving for unity has become a victim of our ever more complex lives and if the simple statement about Jesus, the resurrection and the life, is a good enough litmus test for true Christian faith.
Christian unity, similarly to peace, is not something to take for granted. Luckily we live in times where our predecessors have laid a solid ground for our united work together, witnessed by CTE and CTBI, or the World Council of Churches, or the Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe and other organisations. In times of polarisation and social media bubbles, we need to be more aware of the need to maintain dialogue and openness to listen to each other. And we can be confident because of Jesus’ high priestly prayer for us: “that they may all be one. As you, Father, 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” (John 17:21).
Rev Meelis Süld is the General Secretary of the Council of Lutheran Churches, uniting nine national Lutheran churches from Europe which are represented in the UK. He is a Pastor and Trustee of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain (LCiGB). He has worked as a radio journalist and religious editor for Estonian Public Broadcasting.