but it was St. Constantine who took the step of equating unity with 'identical' in every single thing- for political reasons.
Kizzy,
This is nonsense. Firstly, St Constantine the Great did not equate "identical" with unity. The different Liturgies throught the East and West attest to this. Secondly, "unity of Faith" is not an invention of St. Constantine, it comes from Christ and the Apostles.
Let me repeat again some of what the Apostles wrote:
"There is
one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in
one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." Ephesians 4: 4-6
"That ye may with
one mind and
one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 15:6
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort,
be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." 2 Corinthians 13:11
"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye
stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;" Philippians 1:27
"Fulfil ye my joy, that ye
be likeminded, having the same love, being of
one accord, of
one mind." Philippians 2:2
"Finally, be ye all of
one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:" 1 Peter 3:8
Now, let's look at what the Apostles said about those who do not hold the one Faith of the Church:"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto
another gospel." Galatians 1:5-7
"Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would
pervert the gospel of Christ." Galatians 1:6-8
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so
your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth
another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive
another spirit, which ye have not received, or
another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with himGǪGǪ.
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 3-13.
(do you see that those who do not share the mind of the Church are worshipping “another Jesus”?)“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye
withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.” 2 Thessalonians 3:5-7
In summary, rather than go off in tangents with our own ideas and concepts of God, the Apostles exhort us:“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and
hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether
by word, or our epistle.” 2 Thessalonians 2:14-16
