Chapter 21 Why We Must Walk Back to the Original Intention of Christ

Christianity today stands at a crossroads. After 2,000 years of history—glorious, turbulent, inspiring, and broken—we face a global landscape where the sin-centric interpretation of the Gospel has failed, internal division has drained the Church’s power, and rival religions have leveraged the simplicity and unity of their narratives to expand worldwide.

The only true path forward is the same path backward—
back to the original intention of Christ and the apostles,
back to the cosmic vision of the early Church,
back to the undivided faith of the first millennium.

This is not regression.
It is restoration.

This is not nostalgia.
It is necessity.

This is not romantic idealism.
It is the only sustainable way forward for the future of Christianity.

1. The Sin-Centric Western Approach Failed

For 1,500 years, large parts of Christianity were dominated by a guilt-forgiveness model, where salvation was framed in terms of:

  • legal guilt

  • divine wrath

  • courtroom metaphors

  • penal substitution

  • fear of hell

  • individual salvation instead of cosmic renewal

This model had three catastrophic consequences:

1.1. It reduced Christ to a transaction

If salvation is simply “forgiveness of sins,” then:

  • Christ becomes primarily a sacrifice

  • the Cross becomes a legal payment

  • the Resurrection becomes optional

  • theosis and cosmic vision disappear

  • the Church becomes a sin-management institution

The result?
A small Gospel for a vast universe.

1.2. It weakened Christian identity

A sin-centric Gospel cannot:

  • offer deep meaning

  • provide cosmic purpose

  • build cultural stability

  • explain suffering

  • inspire scientific curiosity

  • hold civilizations together

It collapses under the weight of modernity because it cannot speak to the whole human being.

1.3. It created a vacuum others filled

When Christianity lost cosmic vision, Islam filled the void with:

  • strong identity

  • simple theology

  • clear community structure

  • unified liturgy

  • global missionary ambition

Islam’s theology is far inferior—philosophically, spiritually, theologically—but Islam leveraged clarity, while Christianity embraced fragmentation.

The result?

  • Islam grows through certainty

  • Christianity shrinks through division

Western Christianity fought sin, not meaning.
Islam offered meaning, purpose, and belonging—even if built on theological misunderstanding.
Thus, it advanced.

2. Division Destroyed Christian Witness

Christ prayed:

“May they be one, so that the world may believe.”

For 1,000 years, Christians were united.
For the next 1,000, we have been divided.

This contributed more to global Christian decline than any external enemy.

2.1. Divisions left Christianity vulnerable

While Islam and other religions expanded under unified banners, Christianity fractured into:

  • East vs West

  • Orthodox vs Catholic

  • Protestant vs Catholic

  • Protestant vs Protestant

  • Oriental Orthodox vs Eastern Orthodox

  • countless sub-groups

Each division reduced spiritual power, moral authority, and missionary strength.

2.2. Internal disputes replaced cosmic vision

The Church spent centuries arguing:

  • Christological formulas

  • calendars

  • vestments

  • jurisdiction

  • canons

  • political alliances

Meanwhile:

  • the world modernized

  • science reshaped consciousness

  • Islam expanded

  • secularism grew

  • young generations drifted

The Church defended boundaries instead of expanding horizons.

2.3. Division is scandal, not dogma

No apostle ever said:

“Be divided over nation, language, or tradition.”

Yet we built denominational walls thicker than doctrinal foundations.

It is time to end this.
For the sake of the Gospel.
For the sake of the world.
For the sake of future generations.

3. Pope Leo XIV Reciting the Original Nicene Creed Is a Prophetic Sign

For the first time in 1,000 years, the Bishop of Rome publicly recited the original Nicene Creed without the Filioque (“and the Son”).

This is monumental because:

  • it acknowledges that the Great Schism was not inevitable

  • it recognizes the Eastern tradition’s faithfulness

  • it shows Rome can walk back

  • it opens the door for healing

  • it demonstrates courage, not weakness

  • it tells the world: unity is possible

If Rome can walk back 1,000 years, we can all walk back 100, 200, or 50.

This courage must spread:

  • to the Orthodox

  • to the Protestants

  • to the Oriental Churches

  • to the Malankara community

  • to every fragmented Christian group

Unity is not compromise.
Unity is obedience to Christ.

4. Healing Malankara: A Model for Global Christian Unity

The Malankara Church, with its ancient heritage, theological brilliance, and apostolic foundations, has suffered wounds for centuries.

Now is the time to heal them all.

4.1. Mar Thoma and Jacobite

These two communities:

  • share the same ancestry

  • share the same Scriptures

  • share the same Liturgy’s foundations

  • share the same apostolic root

Their separation weakens them both.
Their unity would strengthen Christian witness in India.

4.2. Jacobite and the Independent Malabar Syrian Church (Thozhiyur)

This division is centuries old yet entirely unnecessary now.
Thozhiyur can remain autocephalous but still unify in sacrament and mission.

4.3. Indian Orthodox and Jacobite Churches

This conflict has:

  • destroyed families

  • weakened faith

  • tarnished witness

  • wasted enormous spiritual energy

It must end completely and permanently.

Concrete steps:

  • mutual recognition of sacraments

  • shared liturgical celebrations

  • joint seminaries, retreat centers, and mission projects

  • unified youth ministries

  • restoration of inter-communion

  • end of litigation over churches

4.4. Alignment with All Apostolic Churches

This includes:

  • Oriental Orthodox (Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Syriac)

  • Eastern Orthodox (Greek, Russian, Antiochene, Serbian)

  • Roman Catholic Church

  • Believers Eastern Church (which practices Syriac tradition)

Orthodoxy is strongest when its Apostolic families unite.

Rome is already adopting Eastern wisdom—liturgy, icons, fasting, mysticism.
Why should the East remain divided while Rome moves toward unity?

5. Healing Beyond Orthodoxy: Protestant, Pentecostal, Evangelical Unity

Protestant communities hold millions of sincere, Christ-centered believers. Despite doctrinal differences, they seek:

  • Scripture

  • prayer

  • mission

  • transformation

  • Christ-centered living

We must not treat them as enemies or competitors.

5.1. What Orthodoxy Can Offer

  • cosmic vision

  • liturgy

  • sacramentality

  • spiritual depth

  • apostolic continuity

  • fathers and tradition

5.2. What Protestants Can Offer

  • energy

  • evangelism

  • music and worship creativity

  • flexible structures

  • bold mission

  • Scripture literacy

Together, a powerful synergy is possible:

  • Scripture + Sacrament

  • Spirit + Structure

  • Mission + Mysticism

  • Innovation + Continuity

5.3. Practical Unified Initiatives

  • joint prayer meetings

  • shared humanitarian missions

  • youth conferences

  • Bible translation committees using Syriac insights

  • worship collaborations

  • combined evangelistic efforts

  • interdenominational study centers

Christianity will shine again when its fragmented light is reunited.

6. Building Infrastructure for a United Future

Unity requires spiritual intention AND practical planning.
We must build global infrastructure to support the next 1,000 years.

Here are practical, achievable initiatives:

A. Educational Infrastructure

1. Pan-Christian University Consortium

A global institution connecting:

  • Orthodox

  • Catholic

  • Oriental Orthodox

  • Protestant

  • Evangelical

with departments in:

  • theology

  • liturgy

  • patristics

  • Syriac studies

  • science and faith

  • bioethics

  • philosophy

  • arts and liturgical music

2. Syriac Research Centers in Every Region

To recover:

  • Peshitta tradition

  • Syriac liturgy

  • original hymnody

  • Christological insights

B. Liturgical Infrastructure

1. Shared Liturgical Spaces

Churches of different traditions offering:

  • Eucharistic hospitality (gradually)

  • shared feast day celebrations

  • joint vespers and matins

2. Unified Liturgical Calendar (Long-Term Goal)

3. Translation projects for common liturgical texts

C. Digital & Technological Infrastructure

1. Christian Content Platforms

High quality productions on:

  • theology

  • history

  • science dialogue

  • saints

  • comparative religion

  • apologetics

2. AI-powered Catechesis Tools

To teach the faith to:

  • children

  • youth

  • new believers

  • seekers

3. Global Christian Communication Network

Connecting churches instantly for:

  • emergencies

  • prayer

  • missions

  • education

D. Mission Infrastructure

1. Pan-Christian Humanitarian Alliance

To respond to:

  • disasters

  • poverty

  • migration

  • persecution

2. Unified Evangelistic Initiatives

A shared global mission strategy combining:

  • Orthodox depth

  • Catholic structure

  • Protestant energy

E. Healing Infrastructure

1. Centers for Inter-Church Reconciliation

Equipped with:

  • counselors

  • theologians

  • mediators

  • historians

  • pastoral teams

2. Christian Mental Health Network

For trauma healing, especially in places where inter-church conflict has left deep wounds.

7. The Great Vision: One Bread, One Cup, One Body

The final goal is clear:

One day, all Christians will share the same Eucharist at the same altar,
speaking the same creed,
worshiping the same Lord,
in the unity of the Spirit.

This is not fantasy.
This is the WILL of Christ.

  • Rome is moving toward the East.

  • Protestants are rediscovering liturgy.

  • Pentecostals are discovering ancient Christianity.

  • The East has preserved the fire.

Unity is possible.
The world is starving for it.
Humanity is waiting for it.
Christ commands it.

It is time for:

  • humility

  • courage

  • healing

  • cosmic vision

  • restoration

  • reunion

A new beginning is not only possible—it is necessary for Christianity to shine as the light of the world once again.

Conclusion: Walk Back to Walk Forward

The future of Christianity depends on returning to:

  • the cosmic Christ

  • the undivided Church

  • the sacramental worldview

  • the Trinitarian core

  • the apostolic intention

  • the Eastern wisdom

  • the unity of the first millennium

We walk backward only to reclaim what was lost, so we can walk forward with renewed power.

For the sake of our generation.
For the sake of our children.
For the sake of the world.
For the sake of Christ.

Now is the time to begin.