A new ecumenism was afoot among Christians. This movement was different from the old ecumenism which tried to water down the faith for unity's sake. This movement hold dearly those doctrines that are essential to the faith, and discovers afresh what common doctrines bind us together. John Frame writes directly to this point. He believes that denominationalism is a curse that defames the Lord. And by denominationalism, he means that sinful attitudes and mentalities that cause the splits as well as the splits themselves.
Frame speaks directly to evangelical churches using evangelical arguments. Similar to Catholic Christopher Dawson, Frame believes that most denominationalism comes about through political, social, and personal disagreements, rather than key theological ones. Frame, as Dawson, even questions the motives and outcomes of the dividing of Christendom at the Reformation. He believes that denominationalism weakens church discipline, weakens the meaning of church membership, causes an imbalance of spiritual gifts, hardens existing divisions, and even destroys church courts. They create unholy alliances, comprise the church's witness to the world, and lead to creedal stagnation, as well as superficiality and distorted priorities. The church becomes parochial rather than universal, emphasizing unhealthy competition among denominational groups and ungodly pride and snobbery. Yet Frame discusses how legitimate forms of denominational loyalty are valid.
Frame outlines a biblical view of tolerance where "[t]he ideal is not a tolerant church where all views are given equal respect (i.e., doctrinal indifference); rather, it is a church where all members are agreed on the truth so that tolerance of opposing views in unnecessary" (p. 91). He then applies his abstract theories to nitty gritty disagreements over theology, worship, the sacraments, church government, ethnic differences, and differences in priorities. He even goes on to deal with the practicalities of inter- and intradenominational cooperation, para-church ministries, partial unions, and trans-denominational loyalty.
Though Frame is a Calvinist from the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, he looks beyond Calvinism. He still feels uncomfortable joining with denominations that are radically different from the Reformed faith, but believes that they are at least a good place to begin. His illustrations and examples are mostly from his own denominational background, but they are highly applicable to all biblical forms of church unity.
The time is ripe for evangelical reunion. In fact, the time is ripe for Christian reunion. It is high time that the universal church renew its roots in the gospel, quit bickering, and start living the gospel out in life itself. Its calling is to disciple the nations, and when it does less, it becomes ingrown and unchristian. As therapists we are sometimes even more sensitive to these issues, since our clients are usually not limited to denominational divisions. Our treatment includes the essence of the gospel that applies to all Christians. It is God's power through the death and resurrection of His Son, and the enlivening Holy Spirit, that has come to heal the world by drawing all people unto Himself. Let us not draw the world simply in our particular denomination. The Christian faith is so much richer in both theology and heritage.
