Convergence Movement

 

The Convergence Movement is a coming together of the three major historic branches of the church:

the Sacramental, the Evangelical, and the Charismatic.

 

To converge, according to Webster, simply means to move towards one point, to come together or to meet.

For far too long the church has been divided and separated from one another.

There are so many denominations and independent churches it is almost unbelievable, and yet there is only one Bible.

It is evident that God has one thing to say to all people, one plan for our conduct and relationship with Him; but we have developed many churches and church groups to suit our own varying ways of interpreting what the Bible says.

 

I have come to understand that none of us is 100 percent correct.

Most of the things that separate us are very petty.

Jesus told the Pharisees that they strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel. -Matthew 23:24.

They had become so picky about little things that really did not make any difference;

it prevented them from centring in on the main things that were truly vital.

 

For it has been made clear to me, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household,

that there are contentions and wrangling and factions among you.

What I mean is this, that each one of you says, I belong to Paul, or I belong to Apollos,

or I belong to Cephas (Peter), or I belong to Christ. Is Christ (the Messiah) divided into parts?

Was Paul crucified on behalf of you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?” 

 1 Corinthians 1:11-13

 

Christ is not divided into parts, and neither can His body be divided.

 

Any Kingdom that is divided against itself is being brought to desolation and laid waste,

and no city or house divided against itself will last or continue to stand. - Matthew 12:24

 

 As members of the church, the body of Christ, we are powerless if we are filled with prejudice and disharmony.

The agreement between each other brings power and Unity. 

 

Each of these expressions of the Church of Jesus Christ has been carefully nurtured by God

and greatly used to establish and to expand His work on earth. Our Lord’s Prayer for his church was,

“Father that they may be one even as we are one.”

John 17:21

Ecclesiastes 4:12 tells us that, “a cord of three strands is not easily broken.”

When the three strands of God’s Church are braided together there will be a new strength and unity in the church.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service,

but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. - 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

 

The Convergence Movement has identified the three living streams of the Church and invites God

to bring them together as one complete and life-giving river. “

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the Place where the Highest dwells” -Psalms 46:4.

 

The Convergence Movement seeks to blend or merge the essential elements in the Christian faith

represented historically in three major streams of thought and practice:

The Evangelical, the Charismatic and the Sacramental.

These three streams each in their own way have defined the map of Christianity

through the ages and will merge like a flood into the future to bring reconciliation and unleash

God’s powerful purpose for his Church.

For the present time, Convergence churches and ministries

are bridge builders for the unity and are ambassadors of reconciliation

with a desire to bring harmony in the body of Christ. Both Mission for Unity International

and Mission pour l'Unité - France are part of this movement.