Una famiglia con molte camere: Comprendere i cristiani protestanti ed evangelici

In the great house of our Lord, there are many rooms. It is a home built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. Yet, as in any large family, sometimes we who live in this house become confused. We use names for one another—labels like “Protestant” and “Evangelical”—and these words can build walls instead of bridges. They can cause pain and division where there should be understanding and love. The family of God is a beautiful story woven with many different threads, and sometimes we forget that each thread, in its unique color and texture, contributes to the splendor of the whole.

Intraprendiamo quindi un viaggio insieme. Mettiamo da parte ciò che pensiamo di sapere, i giudizi che possiamo aver formato nei nostri cuori e le ferite che possiamo aver sofferto. Questo non è un viaggio per decidere chi ha ragione e chi ha torto, perché questo è un giudizio che appartiene solo a Dio. Invece, questo è un cammino del cuore, un pellegrinaggio di comprensione. Cerchiamo di guardare i nostri fratelli e sorelle con gli occhi di Cristo, di capire le loro storie, di sentire le passioni che animano la loro fede, e di vedere come lo stesso Spirito Santo che si muove nella nostra vita si muove anche nella loro, anche se in modi diversi.

Immaginate la nostra fede cristiana condivisa come un grande e antico albero, con le sue radici nel profondo del suolo di Gerusalemme. Uno dei suoi rami più potenti è il protestantesimo. E da quel ramo è cresciuto un ramo nuovo e vibrante, che chiamiamo Evangelicalismo. Per capire il ramo, dobbiamo prima capire il ramo da cui è cresciuto. Camminiamo insieme, con pazienza e con carità, per esplorare le realtà belle, complesse e talvolta dolorose della nostra unica famiglia cristiana.

Parte I: Comprendere il nostro patrimonio condiviso

Per capire la nostra famiglia, dobbiamo prima imparare la sua storia. I nomi che usiamo oggi non sono nati nel vuoto; Portano con sé le storie di secoli di fede, lotta e amore appassionato per Dio. Districando delicatamente la storia di queste parole, possiamo iniziare a chiarire la confusione e vederci con maggiore chiarezza e compassione.

Cosa significa essere protestanti?

The story of our Protestant brothers and sisters is a story of a deep and passionate desire to return to the heart of the Gospel. It begins over 500 years ago, in a time when many felt the Church had wandered from the simple, life-giving message of Jesus Christ. A German monk and scholar named Martin Luther, his heart aflame with love for God and His Word, felt a powerful spiritual stirring. He rediscovered the breathtaking truth that our salvation is not something we can earn through our good works is a pure, unmerited gift of God’s grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ alone.¹

In 1517, he famously posted his Ninety-Five Theses, a series of points for debate, which sparked a powerful movement of spiritual renewal that we now call the Protestant Reformation.² The word “Protestant” itself comes from those who “protested” certain practices of the time, not out of anger out of a deep conviction that the Church must be reformed according to the teachings of the Holy Scriptures.²

This movement was built on foundational beliefs that brought immense spiritual relief to countless souls. These are sometimes called the “Five Solas,” a beautiful summary of this rediscovered faith:

• Sola Gratia (tramite Grace Alone): Siamo salvati dalla grazia amorevole di Dio, non dai nostri meriti.
• Sola Fide (Solo per fede): Noi riceviamo questa grazia semplicemente avendo fede in Gesù Cristo.
• Solus Christus (Solo in Cristo): Gesù Cristo è il nostro unico mediatore e salvatore.
• (Sola Scrittura). (Secondo la sola Scrittura): La Bibbia è la più alta autorità per la nostra fede e la nostra vita.
• Soli Deo Gloria (per la gloria di Dio solo): Tutta la vita deve essere vissuta per la gloria di Dio.

From this powerful spiritual river, many streams have flowed. Protestantism is not one single church but a vast and diverse family of denominations. It is the family name for hundreds of distinct communities, including Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Anglicans, Pentecostals, and so many more.³ Each has its own unique traditions and ways of worship all share this common heritage of the Reformation, this powerful emphasis on God’s grace and the authority of the Bible.

Che cos'è un evangelico?

Here we arrive at the heart of much confusion, and we must tread gently to understand it. The word “evangelical” is a beautiful one. It comes directly from the Greek word used in the New Testament, Euangelion, which means the “Good News” or the “Gospel”.⁵ To be evangelical, in its purest sense, simply means to be a person of the Gospel.

È così importante capire che lo stesso Martin Lutero usò questa parola per descrivere il suo movimento. Egli chiamò la sua chiesa evangelische Kirche—the “evangelical church”—because he wanted to signify that it was a church centered on the evangel, the good news of Jesus Christ, as opposed to human traditions.² This historical meaning is still alive today, especially in Europe. In Germany, for example, the word evangelisch is still the common word for “Protestant”.²

Questa storia spiega qualcosa che spesso confonde le persone negli Stati Uniti. Troverete grandi, storiche denominazioni protestanti come il Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).⁹ They have the word “Evangelical” right in their name because they trace their heritage back to Luther’s evangelische church. But in the common American understanding today, the ELCA is considered a “Mainline Protestant” not an “evangelical” one.¹⁰

This is because, in the English-speaking world, the word “evangelical” took on a more specific meaning over time. It came to describe a powerful spiritual movement that places a special emphasis on a personal, heartfelt, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.² This movement gained tremendous energy during the great spiritual revivals of the 18th and 19th centuries in America and Britain, known as the Great Awakenings.¹³ Preachers like George Whitefield, John Wesley, and Jonathan Edwards called people to a faith that was not just a matter of formal church membership a living, breathing experience of God’s love in their own hearts.⁷ This is the meaning that most people think of today when they hear the word “evangelical.”

Tutti i protestanti sono evangelici?

With this history held gently in our hearts, the answer becomes clear: No, not all Protestants are evangelicals almost all evangelicals come from the Protestant family tree.¹¹

È forse più utile pensarlo in questo modo: Il protestantesimo è l'ampio ramo storico del cristianesimo che è cresciuto dalla Riforma. L'evangelismo è un potente movimento interconfessionale nella that Protestant branch.² It is not a single denomination itself a set of shared spiritual priorities and passions that can be found across many different denominations. You will find vibrant evangelical communities within Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, and many non-denominational churches.¹³

Parte II: Esplorare il cuore delle nostre credenze

Having gently cleared the soil of history, we can now look more closely at the beliefs that grow there. The differences between our Evangelical and Mainline Protestant brothers and sisters are not usually about the great, central truths of our faith—like the Trinity, or the divinity of Christ. On these, we are largely united. The differences are more often found in the enfasi poniamo su certe credenze e sul modo in cui le viviamo nelle nostre comunità. Esploriamo queste diverse enfasi non come punti di contesa come modi diversi di cantare lo stesso canto di lode al nostro unico Signore.

Come vediamo la Sacra Bibbia?

Sia i protestanti che gli evangelici considerano la Sacra Bibbia come un testo sacro e fondamentale per la vita cristiana. L'amore per la Scrittura è un'eredità condivisa. La differenza sta nel modo in cui si avvicinano al suo mistero divino e al suo carattere umano.

Un'enfasi comune tra i nostri fratelli e sorelle evangelici è una profonda e potente riverenza per la Bibbia come fonte di ispirazione, autorevolezza e inerrante—that is, without error in any of its claims—Word of God.³ This view sees the Bible as God’s direct and perfect revelation to humanity, a trustworthy guide in all matters of faith and life.¹⁷ This often leads to a more literal reading of its historical accounts, believing, for example, that the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis describes a literal, historical event.¹ For many evangelicals, the Bible is the final, objective word from God, a solid rock in a changing world.¹²

Our Mainline Protestant brothers and sisters also view the Bible as the inspired and authoritative Word of God they often emphasize that this divine word comes to us through human hands. They believe the Bible must be interpreted with the help of the God-given gifts of reason, the long tradition of the and the insights of modern historical and literary study.⁴ For them, the Bible

contiene Parola di Dio e diventa the Word of God for us as the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts through its pages.¹² They see it as a sacred historical document that reveals God’s truth one that was shaped by the cultures and times in which it was written. Therefore, many in the mainline tradition would not insist on a literal interpretation of every story, seeing some as powerful metaphors or allegories that teach powerful truths about God and humanity.³

How Is a Person Saved by God’s Grace?

Here, too, we find a shared foundation: salvation is a gift of God’s grace through our Lord Jesus Christ. The difference is in how we describe the soul’s journey into that grace.

For many evangelicals, the heart of the Christian life is a personal, often datable, conversion experience.¹ This is what is often meant by being “born again”.¹⁷ It is a conscious moment of turning from sin and turning toward God, personally accepting Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior.¹³ This is not just an intellectual agreement but a transformation of the heart that brings a deep and lasting assurance of one’s salvation.² Many evangelicals believe with a passionate conviction that this personal faith in Jesus is the

(questa è la "forma" o le parole del sacramento): way to be saved and receive eternal life.⁵

For many Mainline Protestants, the journey of salvation is often described less as a single, dramatic moment and more as a lifelong pilgrimage of faith.¹² It is a gradual process of growing in grace, nurtured within the community of the Church through baptism, worship, the sacraments, and service. Although they affirm that Jesus is the way to salvation, many in the mainline tradition are more open to the mystery of God’s grace, believing that its saving power might also reach people in other religious traditions in ways that we do not fully understand.⁴ They are less concerned with a specific moment of conversion and more focused on the ongoing spiritual transformation that unfolds over a lifetime.⁴

Qual è la missione della Chiesa nel mondo?

Come siamo chiamati a vivere la nostra fede nel mondo? Entrambe le tradizioni sentono una profonda chiamata a servire Dio e spesso danno priorità a diversi aspetti di quella missione.

Il cuore evangelico batte spesso con un senso di urgenza per ciò che viene chiamato attivismo—specifically, the work of evangelism and missions.⁵ The primary mission is to share the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ so that others may also have a personal, life-changing conversion experience.¹³ The focus is on the spiritual healing and transformation of individual souls, believing that changed hearts will ultimately change the world.²⁰

Il cuore protestante della Mainline batte spesso con una profonda passione per social justice.⁴ The primary mission is to live out the Good News by embodying the compassion and justice of God’s kingdom here on earth. This means feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the poor and the oppressed, and working to reform the structures of society to be more just and peaceful.⁴ This is often called the “Social Gospel.” For them, spreading the word is a broad calling that includes not just preaching also acts of charity, community development, and advocating for the voiceless.¹²

Naturalmente, queste due missioni non sono nemici. Sono due ali dello stesso uccello. Un cuore trasformato da Gesù si prenderà naturalmente cura dei poveri, e una chiesa che serve i poveri è una potente testimonianza dell'amore di Gesù.

In che modo queste credenze modellano le nostre comunità?

These different spiritual emphases naturally lead to different feelings and practices within local church communities. The historian David Bebbington has offered a helpful way to understand the core passions that often characterize the evangelical spirit. It is not a rigid checklist a “quadrilateral of priorities” that describes the heart of the movement.²³ These are

Conversionismo (l'attenzione su un'esperienza che cambia la vita con Cristo), Biblicismo (un'alta considerazione per la Bibbia), Crucicentrismo (un focus sull'opera salvifica di Gesù sulla croce), e Attivismo (the drive to share the faith).⁵ These priorities shape a community that is often dynamic, passionate, and focused on personal spiritual growth.

La seguente tabella offre un delicato confronto dei modi comuni in cui queste diverse priorità sono espresse nella vita di una chiesa. È una semplice guida per aiutarci a capire, non a giudicare o a fare stereotipi, perché lo Spirito Santo opera in modo bello e sorprendente in ogni comunità che invoca il nome di Gesù.

Argomento di fede e vita	Enfasi evangelica comune	Enfasi protestante della linea principale comune
La Sacra Bibbia	La Bibbia è l'autorità ispirata, inerrante e finale per la fede e la vita, spesso interpretata letteralmente.	La Bibbia è la fonte e la norma ispirata e primaria della fede cristiana, interpretata con l'aiuto della tradizione, della ragione e dell'esperienza.4
Il cammino verso la salvezza	A personal, transformative “born-again” experience is essential. Salvation is found exclusively through faith in Jesus Christ.5	A lifelong journey of faith and spiritual growth within the church. Often a more inclusive view on how God’s grace works in the world.4
The Church’s Mission	La priorità è l'evangelizzazione e il lavoro missionario per portare le persone a una fede salvifica in Gesù.17	The priority is social justice, service, and working to create a more just and compassionate society, reflecting God’s kingdom.4
Culto e comunità	Spesso musica di culto contemporanea, stile informale, con un focus centrale sul sermone. Forte enfasi su piccoli gruppi e comunità.8	Spesso inni tradizionali e liturgia, seguendo una struttura più formale e il calendario della chiesa. Enfasi sui sacramenti e sul rituale comunitario.19
Problemi morali sociali &	Generalmente ha opinioni più conservatrici su questioni sociali come l'identità LGBTQ + e ruoli per le donne nella leadership pastorale.	Generally holds more progressive or “liberal” views, affirming of LGBTQ+ members and clergy, and having ordained women for decades.3

Parte III: L'esperienza vissuta della fede

Theology can tell us what a church believes only the human heart can tell us what it feels like to live there. To truly understand our brothers and sisters, we must move beyond doctrines and listen to their stories—stories of powerful joy and, sometimes, of deep pain. For faith is not an idea; it is a lived reality. Let us now open our hearts to these personal testimonies, holding them with reverence and compassion, as one would hold a sacred trust.

Qual è la gioia profonda di essere evangelici?

Per milioni di anime, la tradizione evangelica è stata fonte di vita, speranza e potente gioia spirituale. Quando ascoltiamo le loro storie, sentiamo parlare di una fede vibrante, personale e profondamente trasformativa.

Molti parlano dell'incredibile conforto di avere un Il rapporto personale con Gesù. It is not a distant, formal religion an intimate friendship with a Savior who knows them by name and walks with them every day.²⁵ They speak of talking to Jesus with the ease and confidence of a beloved child speaking to a loving Father.²⁵ This personal connection is the bedrock of their spiritual life, a source of strength in times of trouble and joy in times of celebration.

Un altro grande dono di questa tradizione è un profondo e costante Amore per la Sacra Bibbia. Many evangelicals grew up in homes and churches where the Scriptures were not just read cherished, memorized, and studied with passion.²⁵ The stories, poems, and teachings of the Bible permeate their lives, giving them a lens through which to see the world and a language to understand their own story. This love for Scripture fosters a faith that is always seeking to learn and grow deeper in the knowledge of God’s Word.²⁶

Sentiamo anche parlare del potere vivificante di vibrante comunità. For many, especially young people, the church youth group was a place of true belonging, a sanctuary during the often turbulent years of adolescence.²⁵ It was in these communities that they forged lifelong friendships, found mentors who guided them, and discovered a safe space to grow in their faith. The potlucks, the small groups, the shared life—all of these weave a strong fabric of fellowship that supports and sustains its members.²⁵

Infine, c'è la potente pace che viene dal Assicurazione della salvezza. In a world full of uncertainty, the evangelical faith offers a sure and certain hope: that one is saved, right by the pure grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.²⁷ This is not wishful thinking a confident expectation that frees the soul from fear and fills it with gratitude and joy.²⁷

Perché alcuni sentono un doloroso bisogno di lasciare l'evangelismo?

We must also have the courage and humility to listen to other stories—stories of pain and disillusionment. In recent years, many who grew up in the evangelical world have felt a deep need to walk away, a movement sometimes called “exvangelical”.²⁸ Their stories are not told out of bitterness out of a deep sense of loss and a longing for healing. It is our Christian duty to listen to these wounded members of our family with a compassionate and non-judgmental heart.

Molti parlano di esperienza trauma spirituale. They describe faith communities that, instead of being places of grace and healing, became high-control environments that enforced impossible standards.²⁹ They tell of feeling constantly judged, shamed, and made to feel that they could never be good enough. Some speak of misogyny that damaged their sense of self-worth or a culture that prioritized prayer over necessary medical care, leading to lasting harm.²⁹

Altri descrivono un profondo dolore che deriva dal vedere la loro amata fede impigliarsi con politica partigiana. They feel that the simple, beautiful message of the Gospel has been overshadowed by a political agenda, and that loyalty to a political party is sometimes valued more than loyalty to Christ.³⁰ This can create a painful conflict in their hearts, forcing them to choose between their faith and their conscience.

Forse la testimonianza più straziante che sentiamo è la sensazione di potente abbandono. The very intensity of the community that is a source of such joy can also become a source of immense pain. Many who have left tell the same sad story: they spent their entire lives in a considering its members to be their family. But when they began to have doubts, or when they quietly stopped attending, not a single person reached out to them. The silence was deafening.²⁹ This experience suggests that sometimes, the belonging offered by the community can feel conditional, dependent on conforming to a specific set of beliefs and behaviors. When a person can no longer conform, they risk finding themselves not just in disagreement utterly alone. This is a powerful pastoral challenge for all of us: how can our communities offer the gift of true, unconditional belonging, loving even those who feel they must walk a different path?

Quale casa spirituale trovano le persone nelle chiese principali?

Per molti che si sono sentiti persi o feriti, le chiese della tradizione principale sono diventate una casa spirituale, un luogo di guarigione, pace e fede rinnovata. Le loro storie raccontano di un diverso tipo di grazia, che li incontra nelle loro domande e li abbraccia nella loro complessità.

Un tema comune è il potente sollievo di trovare libertà intellettuale. Many who come to mainline churches speak of the joy of being in a community where it is safe to ask hard questions, to wrestle with doubt, and to not have all the answers.³² They find a faith that is not afraid of science or modern knowledge one that encourages the use of the mind as a path to loving God more fully.

Altri parlano della profonda bellezza che trovano in Liturgia e tradizione. In the ancient prayers, the rich hymns, and the holy sacraments, they feel a powerful connection to the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before them.³⁴ The rhythm of the church calendar—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter—provides a sacred structure to their year, grounding their lives in the story of Christ. For those who felt their previous faith was too new or too focused on emotion, this connection to history can be deeply centering and nourishing.

Molti trovano anche una casa nell'impegno principale per inclusione radicale e giustizia sociale. They are drawn to churches that open their arms wide to all people, regardless of race, background, or sexual orientation.³⁵ They find a faith that is not just about personal salvation about actively participating in God’s work of healing and redeeming the world. They find joy in a community that is passionate about caring for the poor, welcoming the stranger, and protecting God’s creation.³⁵

This journey is not always simple. The writer Rachel Held Evans, who found a loving home in the Episcopal Church after leaving evangelicalism, wrote honestly that she sometimes missed the “fire-in-the-belly” passion and the intensive Bible study of her evangelical upbringing.³² Her story reminds us that no tradition is perfect, and that our spiritual journeys are often complex. But for many, the gentle, spacious, and compassionate faith they find in the mainline is the very grace they need to find their way back to God.

Parte IV: Una prospettiva globale e futura

La storia del protestantesimo e dell'evangelismo è spesso raccontata come se fosse solo una storia americana o europea. Ma lo Spirito Santo si sta muovendo in modo potente in tutto il mondo, e il volto del cristianesimo sta cambiando. Per capire veramente la nostra famiglia, dobbiamo alzare gli occhi e guardare il quadro più ampio, vedere come queste parole e movimenti assumono una nuova vita in culture diverse e cosa può riservare il futuro a tutti noi.

Queste etichette significano la stessa cosa in tutto il mondo?

The simple answer is no. The neat lines that are sometimes drawn between “Evangelical” and “Mainline” in the United States often blur or disappear entirely in other parts of the world.

As we have seen, in many parts of Europe, the word “evangelical” simply means “Protestant,” a direct inheritance from the time of the Reformation.²

Ma la storia più entusiasmante sta accadendo nel Sud del mondo—in Latin America, Africa, and Asia—where Christianity is growing with breathtaking speed.³⁶ Here, the faith often looks very different from what many in the West are used to. Churches in Africa and Latin America are often deeply “evangelical” in their passion and piety. They are charismatic, with a vibrant belief in the power of the Holy Spirit, in miracles, faith healing, and the direct authority of the Bible.³⁷ Their worship is full of life and fervor.

Allo stesso tempo, poiché molti di questi cristiani vivono in contesti di grande povertà, ingiustizia e tumulto sociale, la loro fede è inseparabile da un profondo impegno per giustizia sociale e liberazione.³⁷ For them, the Gospel is not just about saving souls for the next life; it is about bringing God’s healing, justice, and hope to the suffering of this life. They see no conflict between a passionate, personal faith and a tireless fight for the poor and oppressed. In Latin America, for example, this vibrant faith is also often paired with a staunch cultural conservatism on issues of family and morality.⁴⁰

Questa bella fusione sfida il modo in cui spesso pensiamo in Occidente. A volte abbiamo creato una falsa scelta tra evangelizzazione personale e giustizia sociale, come se fossero due squadre opposte. I nostri fratelli e sorelle nel Sud del mondo ci mostrano che sono, e sono sempre stati, due ali dello stesso uccello. Stanno insegnando al resto del mondo che un cuore in fiamme per Gesù è un cuore che brucia per i poveri. Questo è un dono potente per l'intera famiglia cristiana.

Dove vanno le nostre chiese?

Quando guardiamo le tendenze della fede, specialmente negli Stati Uniti, è facile sentirsi scoraggiati. Ma dobbiamo guardare con gli occhi della fede, non della paura, confidando che il Signore è ancora all'opera nella sua Chiesa. Studi rispettati, come quelli del Pew Research Center e del Barna Group, possono aiutarci a capire il paesaggio.

Dobbiamo riconoscere con onestà e tristezza il declino dell'appartenenza within the historic Mainline Protestant denominations. For several decades, their numbers have been shrinking.⁴¹ In 2007, about 18% of American adults identified with a mainline church; by 2023-24, that number had fallen to 11%.⁴³ Some observers suggest this may be because, in their noble effort to be open and inclusive, these churches sometimes have not offered a sufficiently distinct and compelling vision of faith to hold their members, especially the young, in a world that is increasingly secular.⁴⁴

The numbers for our evangelical brothers and sisters have been more stable. Their share of the population has declined only slightly, from about 26% in 2007 to 23% in 2023-24.⁴¹ This is partly because they have been more successful at retaining those who were raised in the faith and at welcoming new converts.⁴⁵ But the evangelical community faces its own powerful challenge. The word “evangelical” itself has become deeply connected with politics in the public mind, and for many people outside the it now carries a negative meaning.⁴⁶ This is a source of great sorrow for many evangelicals who wish only to be known for their love of Jesus.

E dobbiamo tutti, come un'unica famiglia cristiana, affrontare la realtà della rise of the “nones”—those who say they have no religious affiliation at all. This group has grown significantly, especially among young people, and now represents nearly 30% of the American population.⁴¹ This is the world in which we are all called to be witnesses of Christ’s love.

The demographic center of our faith is shifting. By the year 2040, it is projected that half of all Protestants in the world will live in Africa.³⁶ The future of Christianity will be shaped more by the voices of believers in Lagos, São Paulo, and Manila than by those in London or Chicago.³⁷ This is not a cause for fear for joyful hope. The Holy Spirit is writing a new chapter in the story of the one that will be more diverse, more vibrant, and more global than ever before. These new centers of Christianity, with their powerful fusion of orthodox faith and a deep concern for the poor, have much to teach the older churches of the West. They may, in God’s providence, be the very ones who help us heal our divisions and rediscover the full, integrated power of the Gospel.

Parte V: Un invito a camminare insieme

Abbiamo viaggiato molto insieme, esplorando la storia, le credenze e le esperienze vissute che modellano la nostra famiglia protestante ed evangelica. Abbiamo visto la bellezza e il dolore, le certezze e le domande. Mentre ci avviciniamo alla fine del nostro pellegrinaggio, dobbiamo porre la domanda più importante di tutte: Come, allora, vivremo? Come possiamo, con tutte le nostre differenze, essere veramente l'unica famiglia di Dio, uniti nel nostro amore per Cristo e gli uni per gli altri?

Possiamo trovare un terreno comune nel nostro amore per Cristo?

La risposta, nata dalla fede e dalla speranza, è un sì clamoroso. Il cammino verso questa unità ha un bel nome: ecumenism. It is the movement, inspired by the Holy Spirit, that calls all Christians to work and pray for the visible unity of the Church.⁴⁸ It is a response to the prayer of our Lord Jesus himself, on the night before he died: “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me”.⁴⁹ Our unity is not for our own sake; it is for the sake of the world, so that all may see our love and be drawn to the Savior.

This unity is not just a dream for the future; it is already happening in what some have called the “ecumenism of the trenches”.⁴⁹ On the ground, in towns and cities all over the world, Evangelicals, Mainline Protestants, and Catholics are already standing shoulder to shoulder. They are working together to feed the hungry, to provide shelter for the homeless, to fight the evil of human trafficking, and to care for the most vulnerable members of our society.⁴⁹ In these shared acts of love and mercy, they discover that what unites them—their common love for Jesus and their desire to serve “the least of these”—is far more powerful than what divides them.

This practical unity can build bridges of trust that make our more difficult conversations possible. Even on the most polarizing issues, there is often shared ground to be found if we have the humility to look for it. For example, in the painful debate over abortion, both sides can often agree on the shared goal of reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies and supporting women in crisis.⁵⁰ Both traditions believe in the dignity of every person, in the call to care for God’s creation, and in the vital role of the church in healing a broken world.⁵⁰ Our shared baptism and our common confession that “Jesus is Lord” is a foundation for unity that is stronger than any wall of division we can build.⁴⁹

Come, allora, ci ameremo gli uni gli altri?

Il nostro viaggio finisce dove tutti i viaggi cristiani devono finire: ai piedi della croce, con il grande comandamento di amare Dio e amare il prossimo come noi stessi. Se vogliamo essere fedeli a questa chiamata, la nostra vita insieme come famiglia cristiana deve essere segnata da certe virtù.

Dobbiamo avere humility. We must have the grace to admit that no single tradition, no single denomination, has a perfect and complete understanding of the infinite mystery of God.⁵¹ We all have so much to learn from one another. Our evangelical brothers and sisters can inspire us with their passionate love for Scripture, their zeal for sharing the faith, and their emphasis on a personal, living relationship with Jesus. Our mainline brothers and sisters can challenge us with their deep commitment to social justice, their embrace of intellectual inquiry, and their vision of a radically inclusive and welcoming church. We are all poorer when we close our hearts to the gifts that God has given to other parts of His family.

Dobbiamo imparare l'arte sacra di ascoltando. So often, we are quick to speak, to judge, to correct. But love requires us to first be silent and truly listen to the heart of our brother or sister.³⁵ We must seek to understand their story, their joys, and their wounds before we presume to have an answer for them. When we listen with a compassionate heart, we create a safe space where the Holy Spirit can work, healing old wounds and building new understanding.

Let us, then, go forth from this journey with renewed hope. Let us look upon every Christian, whether they call themselves Protestant, Evangelical, Catholic, or Orthodox, not as a stranger or a rival as a beloved brother or sister in Christ. Let us pray for the grace to see past the labels that divide us and to see instead the face of Christ in one another. For we are all members of one body, children of one Father, and pilgrims on one journey toward our eternal home. May the world look upon us and say, not “See how those Christians argue,” but “See how they love one another.” And in seeing our love, may they come to know the boundless, unifying, and saving love of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.