THE CHALLENGES OF ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT IN NIGERIA.

In a multi-religious society like ours in Nigeria, we are conscious of the tragedy of christian dis-unity. This is very much so in a Nigerians society where in the extended family circle members may belong to two or more Christians religious denominations. All share the joys and sorrows of everyday life, there is a mutual understanding, love, unity and concern in the various activities in their lives. Again communal efforts and other social functions care integrating factors in the society.
When a religious issue comes up, however, opinions tend to differ, allegiance is divided, feelings are wounded and doubts are cast about the original unity and oneness of the family. Then Christianity may appear to be a disintegrating element (or factor) in our society. This experience is typical of many Nigerian societies today.

“Disunity goes dearly contrary to Christ’s
intentions for his followers. It confuses the
minds of many people and makes them
despair of over getting to know what christianity
is in its fullness and perfection. The
continuing fragmentation of Christian sects,
the continuing doctrinal disagreements
among christian churches and Christian bodies
are unfortunate”

In recent times ecumenical efforts, emphasis is laid on those things that are common which can bring unity than disunity among Christians. Though today there are many voices suggesting that we forget our differences bypass questions of doctrine and authority, and simply come together as friends. In this ease the question of truth does not matter. Christian groups in Nigeria today comprises of catholic, Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc. There are also the traditional and orthodox protestants. These belong to the world council of churches and they take leading part in the ecumenical activity going on in different parts of the country.

“But we have to note that one of the
obstacles to ecumenical movement, in
Nigeria is that most Christians have little
interest in doctrinal matters. What counts
for them is the christian life and the
common problems of community. Nigerians
are not often interested in the good
points of doctrine over which the churches
have fought in Europe for many centuries”

This attention to practical and immediate matters is of great advantage for the ecumenical movement but it also has its own dangers. It can be a stimulus for greater collaboration, but it can also lead to indifferentism or syncretism which in any form will always harm the spread of the gospel and also hinder the movement for Christian unity.
“Looking at the Christian groups in Nigeria
one observes that in origin, teaching and
spiritual practice these churches and
ecclesial communities not only differ from
the catholic church, but also among themselves
to a considerable degree and so the task of describing them adequately is very difficult”

Between these churches and communities on the one hand, and the catholic church on the other, there are very weighty differences not just only of a historical, sociological, psychological, and cultural nature, but especially in the interpretation of the revealed truth.

However, there are differences in the very concept of the churches concerning Christ, God’s word made flesh, the work of redemption, there is the refusal of papal primacy, of the real presence, of the indulgences, of our lady’s role in the work of redemption to mention only few.

“In the age of ecumenism it is worthwhile
to humbly keep in mind that the blame for
the causes of seperation in the past was not one-sided, any more than the challenges of healing the wounds of division of the present day.
Many of our misdeeds and utterances may
have prolonged the wounds of the separation or
even deepend it, sins of indifference, contempt,
self righteousness, arrogance, prejudice,
bigotry, hostility, distortion, intrigue etc.”
Therefore, the age of ecumenism calls for a frank admission of guilt, a humble change of heart and a firm decision to advance to full visible unity. The seperated Christians should also consider more seriously the differences still separating them as a way of achieving the desired full and visible unity. There is need for regular prayer in common for christian unity, for only the Holy spirit can bridge the chasms of separation so deed and old. The holy spirit is the one to heal the wounds of divisions and discord.
“The various bilateral dialogues between
the catholic church and other Christians show
that in seeking to come closer to one church,
she has not intend to exclude others in the sense
of “clubbing” with one church against others”
Though one may perhaps, state with some degree of accuracy that the period of hostility has ceased, but there remains oven mountains of misunderstanding of enstrangement and uneasiness. It might seem as if some of the ecumenical meeting held at various times and places seem not to yield any lasting results. There are still some areas of friction regarding the coming together of these churches despite all the good will and intensions of the catholic church.

“We must endeavour to understand the tragic
Concequence of the disunity of Christians.First
and foremost such disunity of Christians is
contrary to the expressed will of Jesus Christ,
so every Christian should destroy it. It is with
reason that the protectants, the Anglicans and
the orthodox have recorgnised the confusion
in which they finad themselves as a result of
their loss of unity”
No Christian, whether a catholic or not, can deny that Christ expressed in that great prayer that He desired that his own should be one. He who wants to be of Christ should have and seek and keep that unity. Catholics believe that such a prayer could not remain unanswered, and that those words refer to themselves, since they are united in the same faith, under thesame head, in thesame worship, however different they may be in every other way. This explains the desire which urges them to communicate their unity to all those who bear the name of Christians. All Christians, who are praying and working for Christian unity, must react against confusion, and notice how much harm it has done against Christ’s will.
“If only all those who are followers of
Christ had formed a solid block, held together
and directed by one hierarchy, the widespread apostacies which have occurred ever since the eighteenth century, would not have taken
place, and a great many other disasters which
have clouded recent history could certainly
have been avoided”.

Certainly, there are strious obstacles in the way of ecumenical progress. There are some evangelical churches of foreign origin that are still hostile towards Catholics. There are also numerous indigenous churches whose doctriness are contrary to the very idea of ecumenism.