Let all churches return to Jesus

 Today, Christianity across the world is steadily losing its strength and influence. Fragmented into countless denominations and groups, it faces a serious question of survival. Only if this broken faith can find a way to stand together does it have a real possibility of enduring into the future.

When we examine how Christianity became so deeply divided, one cause stands out clearly: the divisions arose primarily over differences in beliefs. Most of these beliefs are not about what Jesus taught, but about beliefs concerning Jesus himself. During Jesus’ lifetime, the focus was not on doctrines about him. It was only after his time that beliefs about Jesus gradually became central.

Jesus’ own teaching was centered on God and the Kingdom of God. He spoke of God as a loving Father and called people to turn back to God and live according to God’s will. However, after Jesus, his disciples and the early church increasingly focused on teaching about Jesus—that Jesus is divine, that his death was for the salvation of the world, and similar doctrinal claims. Different interpretations of these beliefs eventually became the foundations of different churches and denominations.

Each church now strives to defend its own belief system as the correct one, often by judging or excluding others. This has weakened Christianity, not only institutionally but also in its moral and spiritual witness to the world.

In this situation, there appears to be only one viable path for Christianity to rediscover unity: instead of accusing one another, all must engage in self-examination and return to Jesus himself. This means setting aside, at least temporarily, conflicting beliefs about Jesus and giving renewed priority to understanding what Jesus actually taught—and striving to live according to those teachings.

Even the World Council of Churches, which was established to foster unity among Christian churches, restricts its membership to those who affirm that Jesus is God. This approach deserves reconsideration. Unity based solely on shared doctrinal affirmations will always be limited. A more inclusive and enduring basis for unity would be a sincere commitment to learn, embrace, and live out the teachings of Jesus with a whole heart.

If such a shift were to take place across Christian churches worldwide, global Christianity could move forward together once again—not as a collection of competing belief systems, but as a living witness to the way of life that Jesus taught and embodied.