Truth, Charity and the Journey Towards Christian Unity

Having found my home in the Catholic Church, it would be simplistic to say that Catholicism has the truth, and therefore to see ecumenism simply as an invitation for others to come and discover what we already possess.

Yet St Paul, in his 2nd Letter to the Corinthians (1:1-23,2 to the end), offers us a rather different way of thinking.

Too often, Christians from all traditions have walked a path that has concentrated on being right, rather than on being faithful. We can become so concerned with defending our position that we forget that the person standing before us is not an opponent, but a brother or sister in Christ. Of course truth matters, but so does the way we hold, live and share that truth.

This is particularly evident in Paul’s relationship with the Christian community at Corinth. It wasn’t an easy relationship. There had been disappointment, hurt and misunderstanding between Paul and the Corinthians. Yet Paul doesn’t respond by simply asserting his authority or demanding that they accept his position. Instead, his response is marked by comfort, forgiveness, reconciliation and love.

Perhaps the clearest expression of Paul’s heart is found in how he understands Christian leadership, not as exercising authority over another’s faith, but as walking alongside others, encouraging, strengthening, and sharing in the joy that comes from following Christ.

Those words offer us an important insight into the Catholic approach to ecumenism.

We need not be uncertain about what we believe. Ecumenism does not require us to pretend that our differences don’t exist, or that questions of truth do not matter. But confidence in our faith doesn’t give us permission to look down on other Christians.

Perhaps the better question is not simply, “How can I convince you that I am right?”, but rather, “How can we help one another draw closer to Christ?” As Catholics, we should have confidence in the truth of what we believe. We should not be afraid to stand by our faith, nor should we change or dilute it simply because prevailing social norms tell us to. But confidence in our faith doesn’t require us to close ourselves off from others. Quite the opposite: secure in what we believe, we should be unafraid to sit at the same table, to listen, to share our faith and, above all, to break bread with others. We can hold firmly to the truth while still meeting others with charity, humility and openness, trusting that Christ is not threatened by our willingness to walk alongside those who believe differently.

Christian history is full of division, suspicion and hurt. St Paul reminds us that Christian truth can never be separated from Christian charity. If our pursuit of truth leads us away from love, humility and reconciliation, then perhaps we have misunderstood the very truth we claim to defend.

The Catholic Church seeks the unity of Christians not because our differences are unimportant, but precisely because Christ desires that “they may all be one.” (John 17:21) Christian unity doesn’t mean ignoring what divides us. It means having the courage to face those differences honestly while refusing to allow them to become barriers to charity.

Perhaps, then, ecumenism begins with humility: being confident enough in our faith to listen; generous enough to recognise what is true, beautiful and good in another Christian tradition; and humble enough to acknowledge the wounds that Christians have inflicted upon one another.

St Paul’s words challenge us to see ecumenism not as a competition to establish who is right, but as a shared journey towards Christ. We’re not called to be lords over one another’s faith. We are called to become workers with one another for joy… trusting that, as we seek Christ together, the Holy Spirit can lead us beyond our divisions towards the unity for which Christ prayed.