One For All: The Foundations

Malcolm Duncan

Description

500 years after Martin Luther's objections, the Church is threatened with division. With fundamentalists and liberals pulling at either end of the scale, have we forgotten everything that binds us together? Are we focusing too much on the things that could pull us apart? In 2017 Spring Harvest celebrates the theme of unity. Instead of fracturing over secondary issues, we have an opportunity to celebrate a God-given unity centred on mission and the primary truths of faith. We have an opportunity to be One for All.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Christianity

Informations

• Publié par: Lion Hudson
• Date de parution: 21 avril 2017
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780857218117
• Langue: English

Extrait

A tour de force in the call to a new unity. Each generation needs to grapple with this quest and Malcolm has met this challenge afresh.
Lyndon Bowring, Executive Chairman of CARE
A wonderful and insightful look at the clear biblical mandate for unity. I found myself captivated by the wisdom pouring from each page. Get it today and be inspired to play your part.
Gavin Calver, Director of Mission, Evangelical Alliance; Chair of Spring Harvest Planning Group
One For All is not for the fainthearted. Malcolm Duncan calls us from our comfortable corners of opinion and denominationalism to engage in what the Bible actually says about the unity of the body of Christ. With a passionate heart, he challenges us to bravely and honestly examine the causes of disunity within the Church, and to set the Bible as our plumbline against which we measure ourselves . This book is easy on the eyes, at times uncomfortable for the soul, but ultimately directs our purpose for unity as expressed by Jesus in John 17, that the world might believe that You sent Me. Surely that s the resolve we all should strive for!
Catherine Campbell, Author of Chasing the Dawn and Broken Works Best
One for All calls the church to a Christian unity based not in fad or fashion but rooted in the foundation of Scripture. What makes it even more compelling is Malcolm Duncan s evident passion for the church, the real flesh and blood , warts and all church to become what Christ has already purposed and prayed for it to be. This is a significant and timely book.
Chris Cartwright, General Superintendent, Elim Pentecostal Churches
This book is both timely and helpful. With disarming honesty and genuine humility Malcolm digs into important Bible passages on the blessings of unity. Thank you Malcolm for this courageous message. Not everyone will agree with what you say but all can learn.
Bishop Ken Clarke
One for All has captured what is for me a central theme of scripture and a key prophetic challenge that God wants to bring to the Church at this time: in the midst of amazing diversity as God s people, God has called us to recognise and celebrate our unity - being members of the same family, brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a unity which brings smiles in heaven and greater effectiveness on earth.
Steve Clifford, General Director, Evangelical Alliance
When then church fails to address the issue of its own unity, then the world suffers. Study the biblical foundations and get ready for volume two on the implications!
David Coffey OBE, Global Ambassador BMS World Mission, Past President of the Baptist World Alliance
This is a book for our time! We live in a time when divisions within evangelicalism seem to increase rather than decrease. Malcolm calls us to take a long hard look at ourselves in the light of biblical teaching. He is honest about the challenges and even his own failures in maintaining unity. He urges us to consider that biblical unity will not sacrifice truth on the altar of grace but nor will it sacrifice grace on the altar of truth . There is much in this book to challenge us. There is also encouragement to recognise and live out what it really means to be family.
Elaine Duncan, Chief Executive, Scottish Bible Society
Erudite and theologically robust. Malcolm Duncan engages with the issue of Christian unity with courage and clarity: courage, because the road he invites us to travel is devoid of sentimentality; clarity, because it is rooted in a rich pastoral ministry.
John Glass, Chair of Council, Evangelical Alliance; Former Elim General Superintendent
As a non conformist addressing a predominantly evangelical constituency, Malcolm winsomely challenges the default position of so many churches of all traditions where disunity and separation seem to be accepted as inevitable and unavoidable. His analysis is measured and compassionate but hard-hitting as he builds up a biblical case against the blind spot in which churches choose to tolerate disunity while yet professing to be thoroughly biblical. His concern is not about structural unity nor about lowest common denominator unity-at-all-costs. He is, however, passionate about a thoroughly biblical concern for truth matched by a deep resolve to love and engage with those Christians with whom we may differ, to the point where walking away from them is an absolute last resort. In the 500th anniversary year of Martin Luther s 95 theses, this is a timely and even prophetic book which flows from a strongly missional heart.
Rt Rev Ken Good, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe
The call to unity runs all the way through the New Testament: Jesus called us to it, Paul called us to do it, and yet still we struggle with it. In fact it is so hard that it is tempting to give up on unity entirely. This brilliant book reminds us of why unity is so important and why it is vital for the health and wellbeing of the church. It is a must-read for anyone serious about their faith and what it calls them to be and do.
Paula Gooder, Theologian in Residence, The Bible Society
Jesus didn t give us any language to explain how we would differ from each other within his Church. We use labels to explain our inevitable differences, but he gave us one common identity - disciples . And he made clear that the mark of being his disciples would be unity expressing itself in love. Malcolm s wonderful book serves the body of Christ in a time of tensions and divisions by reminding us that we are, and could only ever be, one body.
Paul Harcourt, National Leader of New Wine England
The unity of the church is central to Christ s prayers for his people but is sadly so often missing from our priorities. In this timely book Malcolm Duncan shows us not just why unity matters to God but also how it can become a reality for us. He refuses to give pat answers or to back away from the real issues we face. You may not agree with all of his conclusions but you will be challenged by the grace of his approach and the courage of his convictions.
Dr Krish Kandiah, Founding director of Home for Good and author of God is Stranger
In this year, when we will be remembering the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation, One For All is a call to the church to commit again to unity. Not always the easy or simple route, but the route that pleases the heart of God and provides a strong foundation for the church s witness.
Billy Kennedy, Leader, Pioneer
It is almost scandalous that we have so little concern for the unity of God s people - here is an urgent and passionate book that offers help and hope. Malcolm Duncan offers profound encouragement from key Bible passages, grapples honestly with the contemporary challenges of church life, and demonstrates personal commitment to the cause of unity across the country. A welcome and timely call to action for every church that is committed to the cause of Christ.
Jonathan Lamb, Minister-at-large, Keswick Ministries, and Vice President of IFES
Like a warm and wise friend, Malcolm skilfully weaves together theology, church history and his own experiences, drawing us again and again to wrestle with the unity, rather than uniformity, that rests at the heart of God. One For All is an extraordinary book, a useful manual, a personal challenge and an absolute must-read for us all as we share faith, hope and love in a fractured world.
Cathy Madavan, writer, speaker, member of Spring Harvest planning group and author of Digging for Diamonds
National church leader and prophet Malcolm Duncan offers us the glorious vision of a united Church - one which fulfils Jesus high priestly prayer, which receives the Father s commanded blessing, which confirms the Spirit s baptism into one body, and which causes the world to sit up and take note.
Simon Ponsonby, Pastor of Theology at St Aldates, Oxford
This book is profound, prophetic and heart-stirring. What is unity? Malcolm expounds scripture s answer. He reminds us that unity is something we already have, not something to strive for; it is something to maintain and to live from. This unity is a unity of love in which we love each other because Jesus first loved us, and we him; a unity based entirely on the relationship between heart and heart, a unity that is profoundly missional in its impact.
Stephen Ruttle, Senior Advisor to the Archbishop of Canterbury, trustee of New Wine, leading UK barrister and global leader in Mediation
Also by Malcolm Duncan:
Kingdom Come: The local church as a catalyst for change
Risk Takers: The life God intends for you
40 Days with Jesus: An invitation to know Him better
I Want to be a God Gazer: Yearning for intimacy with the Saviour
Unbelievable: Confident Faith in a Skeptical World
Spring Harvest 2014 Theme Guide: Your daily guide to exploring Unbelievable
Fleeting Shadows: How Christ transforms the darkness
Building a Better World: Faith at work for change in society
Malcolm would love to hear your thoughts or stories of unity and invites you to connect with this subject on the Facebook Page One for All which can be found by searching @unitedforapurpose. He s keen to hear stories of what happens when churches work together and some of the challenges that this presents us with. He d also love to learn from your stories and thoughts on unity.
Malcolm blogs at www.malcolmduncan.typepad.com, can be followed on Facebook at RevMalcolmDuncan, on twitter at @MalcolmJDuncan and can be contacted at [e-mail] He d love to connect with you.

Copyright 2017 Malcolm Duncan
This edition copyright 2017 Lion Hudson
The right of Malcolm Duncan to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage