We all have our own preferred faith but sometimes we venture out of our comfort area to participate in others’ religious practices.
It could be a Wedding, a Baptism, first Communion, Confirmation, Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah, Bible studies, or Witnessing. The common denominator is God. Each religion worships in their own way - what happens when you cross paths with some other religion?
Wikipedia defines "Ecumenism, as initiatives aimed at greater religious unity or cooperation.
In its broadest sense, this unity or cooperation may refer to a worldwide religious unity; by the advocation of a greater sense of shared spirituality across the three Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Most commonly, however, ecumenism is used in a more narrow meaning; referring to a greater cooperation among different religious denominations of a single one of these faiths." These three faiths are all monotheistic: meaning the belief that there is one and only one God.
My own personal ecumenical experiences revolve around Christianity and Judaism. Without going into detail about Sacraments and Rituals, I was born a Catholic and experienced the traditional Sacraments of my faith. The Catholic Church has changed little in formation and dogma, but has evolved into a more humanistic and personal faith over the years. I enjoy this very beautiful religion which is centered around the Eucharist, and has personal, special meaning for me. In my formative years, when religious instruction was memorizing a Catechism to attain the Sacraments, I was blessed at age 9 to be invited and attend a Presbyterian Bible Summer School. My parents agreed I could go and I was introduced to the concept that Jesus was my Best Friend, a concept that I embrace to this day. We spent the summer singing hymns - lots of hymns - to Jesus and making crafts with Him in mind. It was pure and natural to me. Children do not have built in prejudices against the norms in their lives; they are taught them. Left alone, children are accepting and nonjudgmental. And open to new concepts.
When I was 13, we moved to a predominantly Jewish neighborhood and I was introduced to bas mitzivahs, bat mitzvahs and the closely knit Jewish family. All members of the family participated together during the readings at the temple. I found they were very much like our family. They believed in the Old Testament like we do, and were very religious. I experienced the Passover Seder and on sad occasions, gave condolences at Shiva. Did this confuse me? Not at all; I was entrenched in Christianity; and I was learning about and experiencing the religion that My Best Friend, Jesus, embraced while on earth. It enlarged my religion by bringing me closer to Christ. Now I experienced what He did and added His background to my faith.
In high school, a family member embraced Jehovah’s Witnesses. I have always marveled at how they went from house to house witnessing their faith. They still do. The Bible calls us to do that, but not many people do it. There were differences from us in how the Witnesses practiced their faith, but I did attend some of their Bible Studies and learned many Scripture passages that I never knew. I became a student of the Bible because of them and pursued Bible study at our church. I am ever grateful for that.
In my adult life, I have very dear friends who are Baptists. They are also Bible-study enthusiasts. When we visit them, we attend their services with them - it usually encompasses most of the Sabbath. At their service, there is a choir that could sing in Carnegie Hall. They are praise-singing people of faith and I find joy and peace listening to their hymns. They even have large screens where you can sing along and the whole congregation joins in. We attend their Bible School which is immediately after the church service and partake of their fellowship. They are sharing and caring people. I credit the Baptists for my love of praise songs.
In my work position of seminar-giving days, a group of us were asked to give a career seminar to members of a Lutheran church. Before we started the seminar, we gathered in the church and had service. My other presenters did not know the name of the song we sang, but I knew it from my ‘ecumenical flavor’ and when they broke into "Lord I Lift Your Name on High", I joined in loud and clear. After the church service, the church members hugged me and were surprised that I knew the song. That bonding moment was a successful vehicle to engaging in seminar objectives - a shared feeling that overlapped into our discussions. And friendships.
I love ecumenical bridges. I find new paths and avenues from them to explore God and His Word. I find that although others may worship differently from me, we have many common threads in our tapestry of faith. Someday I hope to add threads of the Muslim faith to it.
I never see the differences in these folks and their faiths; I only see the sameness we have in loving God, expressing that Love and sharing our different ways to live it.
Below is a sharing of World Scriptures from many faiths on the subject of Gratitude - it is an ecumenical belief; we are all in this world together.
God created foods to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing isto be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving; for then it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. Christianity. 1 Timothy 4.3-5
O you who believe! Eat of the good things that We have provided for you, and be grateful to God, if it is Him that you worship Islam. Islam. Qur’an 2.172
Abraham caused God’s name to be mentioned by all the travellers whom he entertained. For after they had eaten and drunk, and when they arose to bless Abraham, he said to them, "Is it of mine that you have eaten? Surely it is of what belongs to God that you have eaten. So praise and bless Him by whose word the world was created." Judaism. Talmud, Sota 10b
The unworthy man is ungrateful, forgetful of benefits [done to him]. This ingratitude, this forgetfulness is congenial to mean people… But the worthy person is grateful and mindful of benefits done to him. This gratitude, this mindfulness, is congenial to the best people. Buddhism. Anguttara Nikaya i.61
One upon whom We bestow kindness But will not express gratitude, Is worse than a robber Who carries away our belongings. African Traditional Religions. Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria)
Be not like those who honor their gods in prosperity and curse them in adversity. In pleasure or pain, give thanks! Judaism. Midrash, Mekilta to Exodus 20.20
It is God who has made the night for you, that you may rest therein, and the day, as that which helps you to see. Verily God is full of grace and bounty to men, yet most men give no thanks. It is God who has made for you the earth as a resting place, and the sky as a canopy, and has given you shape–and made your shapes beautiful–and has provided for you sustenance of things pure and good; such is God, your Lord. So glory to God, the Lord of the Worlds! Islam. Qur’an 40.61, 64
O my Father, Great Elder, I have no words to thank you, But with your deep wisdom,I am sure that you can see How I value your glorious gifts. O my Father, when I look upon your greatness, I am confounded with awe. O Great Elder, Ruler of all things earthly and heavenly, I am your warrior, Ready to act in accordance with your will. African Traditional Religions. Kikuya Prayer (Kenya)
You, the World Honored One, are a great benefactor. By doing this rare thing, You taught and benefited us Out of your compassion towards us. No one will be able to repay your favors Even if he tries to do it For many hundreds of millions of kalpas. No one will be able to repay your favors Even if he bows to you respectfully, And offers you his hands or feet or anything else. No one will be able to repay your favors Even if he carries you on his head or shoulders And respects you from the bottom of his heart For as many kalpas As there are sands in the River Ganges. Buddhism. Lotus Sutra 4
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Christianity. Colossians 3.17
And a great Hindu prayer that is too long for me to include here, but enjoy by clicking: And a great Hindu prayer that is too long for me to include here, but enjoy by clicking: http://www.unification.net/ws/theme108.htm Ref.
