But why is our kind so characteristically obnoxious? No doubt, I felt at home when first attending the Divine Liturgy, but this was after months of study and discussion with other Orthodox people. To support our efforts, join us as a member . In Russia, the largest figure usually cited for the Orthodox Church is 85 million people (some estimates are as low as 50 million), which means 100 million Russiansmore than half the countryare not affiliated with Orthodoxy. So they begin the process of "converting.". Your email address will not be published. The priest censes them and elevates them in processions. Before trying to discern how evangelicals should respond to these many issues involving Eastern Orthodoxy, a brief history is in order. By joining Orthodoxy one inherits a theological package that includes central elements that have traditionally troubled many Protestant evangelicals and omits doctrines many evangelicals consider nonnegotiable essentials of vital Christianity. Becoming an Orthodox Christian is not easy, nor does it promise great happiness or success in this life. Step Two: Repentance There is no salvation without repentance. Clearly this stability is found in no other church. Young teens go through a few years when they are trying to understand their own unique identity and trying to establish it in the face ofwell, it would be one thing if they had to establish it in the face of hostility, because, even though that would be hard, it would be bracing and clarifying. Poland, 1 million Kate Forbes is young, smart, a woman (in the actual sense of the word), but fatally, an orthodox Christian seeking the top office in the land. Beyond the recovery of history and liturgy, there are deeper and more important questions. Scripture and tradition. To be Eastern Orthodox is, above all, to stake a bold and unapologetic theological claim as the one true church of Christ on earth, which alone has guarded right belief and true worship in absolute identity and unbroken succession with the apostolic church. It makes no appeal to a doctrine of transubstantiation and instead simply affirms the mystery. The Mission of The Orthodox Church in America, the local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church, is to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. For example, on the Feast of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, the chanter launches into this: Of the Father before the morning star Thou wast begotten from the womb without mother before all ages, even though Arius did believe Thee to be created, not God, classing Thee in ignorance and impudence with creatures. Together they gathered an army with the intent to regain control of Rus' and establish Vladimir as the ruler. Orthodox Christians believe you must be converted every day- every day - and everyone must start with this step if they desire to make spiritual progress and be saved. Orthodoxy allows divorce in some conditions if I'm not mistaken, and it would have been an easier transition to switch to another powerful church (and become friendly with Russia, etc.). Many would find themselves back in Rus with their new faith and establishing Churches (Spinka, 42-44). "More than a . Not a few evangelicals in the last decade have forsaken Protestantism to join an Eastern Orthodox church. many mercenaries would convert to Christianity. Sizable groups of the Russian population are disenchanted with Orthodoxy for a number of reasons. The Eucharist, according to the Divine Liturgy of Saint Chrysostom (the normal liturgy for Sundays and weekdays), is "for the purification of the soul, for the remission of sins, for the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, [and] for the Kingdom of Heaven.". Baptism is the primary and fundamental basis of the entire Orthodox Christian life. One who would claim that he or she wishes to embrace the faith but doesnt want to get involved with other people and their lives falls short in his or her understanding of the Church as the People of God and, as such, has yet to make that internal conversion that must take place before one is received into the Church. The Biblical Basis for Holy Tradition., On the Path of Love: From Islam to Christianity, Madagascar: Church Opens Huge Complex with Church, Schools, Orphanage, Old Folks Home, Australia: Orthodoxy Fastest Growing Church amidst General Christian Decline. For taking Communion together? Nicholas reversed the decision, reinstating Ignatius and deposing Photius. Debate is more plentiful than research, but also indefinite. But that cant be the case with me, so lets press on. It depends on where you put the emphasis. Discussion online about converts to Orthodoxy in America includes papers and blogging by writers in venues such as Public Orthodoxy of the Fordham Orthodox Christian Studies Center, the allied Orthodox Theological Society of America, and various blogs and social media. I had been to the east and discovered something wondrous that I assumed all Christians crave. One can find people who interpret this ecclesiological exclusivity more leniently; in fact, some would argue that the best Orthodox scholarsGeorge Florovsky and John Meyendorff, to name twowould allow for such leniency. But every church must have its distinctiveness, or wed all be in the same church. Another issue is becoming Orthodox because one thinks the Church will reward them in some way for doing so. It takes awhile to get it, because its gotten by a process of immersion, by soaking in a context of worship. The last reason Orthodox converts are obnoxious resembles the reason adolescents are obnoxious. Pray for the Lords mercy, and you can find the strength to endure to the end. But the impulse is to exaggerate the differences when you fear being hugged to death. There most certainly will never be a "Southern" or "Confederate" Orthodoxy".And yet another reason not to join is the hopes of having a base of operations for a goofy political ideology. All Rights ReservedDesigned by Fr. While reading about the Orthodox Christian tradition is certainly important, it is crucial to stepliterallyinto an Orthodox Christian parish church near you to witness/experience the Churchs worship and fellowship. It is not always easy to advance strong arguments for these conversions. This is particularly notable in the mid-1st century, when the circumcision controversy came to the fore. Over coffee one day I asked an Orthodox priest whether I, as a Protestant theologian, might be considered a true Christian. She is conscious of being the true Church founded by Christ. After his marriage Vladimir I officially changed the state religion to Orthodox Christianity and destroyed pagan temples and icons. All Rights ReservedDesigned by Fr. Paganism was a mental mindset of the Eastern Slavs living in a world where a majority of the European countries surrounding them had already converted to a monastic religion. Bulgaria, 8 million Calvin objected to the "tyranny of human tradition which is haughtily thrust upon us under the title of the Church." My ideas havent changed, and Im always glad for a good discussion, but maybe Im past the need to belabour them. These arguments wont convert anyone. Maybe you have to soak in it for years, till the evidence becomes overwhelming. Praise for Surprised by Christ "Surprised by Christ is an autobiography, an intellectual history, and a conversion story, and more than these, conveys a spiritual and theological vision in a message that touches people from many different backgrounds. This period of instruction, discernment and spiritual formation also affords you with the opportunity to develop and strengthen your relationship with the parishs clergy and faithfulthose with whom you will worship in Spirit and truth and with whom you will share in fellowship as a member of the Body of Christ, the Church. The Search for Authority and the Fear of Difference, Nostalgia Without Memory: A Case Study of American Converts to Eastern Orthodoxy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, The Eastern Church in the Spiritual Marketplace: American Conversions to Orthodox Christianity, New York Times Article on Calvinist Revival., If Not Sola Scriptura, Then What? For Eastern Christians, this was yet another Roman encroachment upon their autonomy. On the Path of Love: From Islam to Christianity, Madagascar: Church Opens Huge Complex with Church, Schools, Orphanage, Old Folks Home, Australia: Orthodoxy Fastest Growing Church amidst General Christian Decline. There was plenty of ceremony and beauty, but without the mainline churches affection for keeping up-to-date. However, they rarely spent any time in Orthodox worship services or their local parish, developed no relationship with a priest, and did not engage their spouse or family in their studies and interest in the Church. Liturgically, the Orthodox ethos of a formal worship setting will attract some Christians, but to many other vibrant movements within evangelicalism it will have little if any appeal. This doesnt mean we shun catechesis, but just that its not always done in the same way everywhereand where it exists, its likely different from what a catechumen might expect or even hope. When we realize that every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle or a matter of conscience, then we are freed to engage fully people with whom we actually have profound differences without compromising our own theological commitments. already I have lost many people I thought were friends but so be it! The reality of the difficulty of living the Orthodox life then bubbles up, and apostasy from exhaustion is a real risk. In 1993, I was chrismated and joined the Eastern Orthodox Church. The first, most obvious explanation is that some people simply are obnoxious to start with. Any vestiges of hope for unity after the estrangement of 1054 were dashed with the pillage of 1204. But if you are still intrigued and drawn to the Orthodox Church, considering all of these disclaimers, then do so with faith, reverence, and a healthy fear of God. Schisms had already occurred in the Christian church, and others would occur later, but the Great Schism was the first of such major consequence. Second, in biblical interpretation the Reformers placed the Scriptures above the church. For them the fundamental schism occurred 500 years earlierin the year 1054 (more about that below). This absorbed my attention so much that I was apt to expound my current level of comprehension to anyone who stood still in my vicinity. Orthodox Christianity has a rich tradition of being mindful. But about this pursuit we can make several observations. It is not a surprise that many Catholics adhering to traditional values are converting to conservative Orthodoxy. Protestant Christianity," Andrei went on, "is a cheap, terrible substitute, and an Orthodox believer who knows his own faith will never go there.". Any objective historian can discover that the permanence of Orthodoxy is due to the preservation and the passing on of the apostolic faith unadulterated, pure. Why would a Protestant Christian convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity? And such a journey can only be spoken of from experience. Conversion involves a change or transformation in vision, direction and heart, one rooted in repentance and the acknowledgement of Our Lord as the One Who is "truly the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Who came into the world to save sinners." Orthodox Christianity has a rich tradition of meditation, of fasting, of praying, of giving alms. I can remember, after Id been Orthodox a few years, developing an increasing sense of tension or frustration. They push it down the road that they will be able to transition to that in their new group eventually. The Eucharist is a true, propitiatory sacrifice. Further, they identify themselves by reference to Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), the "new Rome" of Emperor Constantine, and to the first seven ecumenical councils of the church. The unchangeableness of dogma as well as the purity of rite [are] entrusted to the care not of one hierarchy but of all the people of the church." And to share why I am not Orthodox. A Aristocles Merarches Joined Apr 23, 2003 Messages 10,031 Reaction score 1 Points 0 Location Pittsburgh Aug 5, 2006 #4 Matthew777 said: Along with Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, Orthodox Christianity is one of the world's three major Christian traditions. It had ramifications for the ecclesiastical status of both cities and further exacerbated the strained relations between the two regions. The church. Pretty good. The East allowed some priests to marry, while the West required celibacy. At the time I was so occupied with comprehending this strange thing called Orthodoxy that I emphasized the differences, and was impatient with kindly big-tent suggestions. If anyone is unwilling or not ready to submit to the Church in all areas of life, they should stay awayuntil or unless they are ready to do so. Buddhists are called to meditate. Rather, they are a source of revelation. For me it was due to the fact that papal supremacy is a later doctrine, yet I could not become a Protestant because the writings of the Fathers do not agree with Protestantism. Orthodoxy looked like taking that escalator up one more floor; plenty of ceremony and beauty, but without the mainline churches affection for keeping up-to-date. During those years of discovery I labored to absorb new ideas and excise stubborn old ones. Forgetting early on that Orthodox worship is liturgical and cyclical (i.e. His response: "I don't know.". Their new group who were so "excited" to have them isn't interested/has no role for them as clergy. Others charge complicity with the state, both past and present. Step Two: Repentance There is no salvation without repentance. Nicola Yanney, Holy Man of Nebraska, Out of Appalachia: Orthodox Christianity and the Old Regular Baptists, What Do You Believe In? In time, you will be welcomed sacramentally into the Church and continue your ongoing path to the Kingdom of God. In chrismation, performed immediately after rising from the baptismal waters, the priest anoints the infant with a special ointment, making the sign of the cross on various parts of the body, thus acknowledging the gift and seal of the Holy Spirit. Because everyone has their own presuppositions in which they interpret reality and thus no surprise you'll find people based on these presuppositions won't accept Christianity. Vladimir I formed an alliance with Basil II of the Byzantine Empire and married his sister Anna in 988. The sacraments. But they all came together in worship, and were shaped by the same hymns and prayers, the appointed Scripture readings, preaching, and the "picture bible" of iconography. . But the impulse is to exaggerate the differences when you fear being hugged to death. Underneath were written the Greek words en toutoi nika, "In this sign, conquer." It must sound like vague, fluffy religious talk (though in my experience it is anything but). Also, people should not join the Church in the hopes of solidifying an identity they have in the first place. In 1523-24 the Reformers Ulrich Zwingli and Martin Luther donned the gown of the university scholar. She has offered more martyrs in the twentieth century under communism than most churches have members. He senses that its something much more profound than that, as he is turning into a different person, the adult he is destined to be. He has no good option for dealing with that affection, so he's either sullen or angry. There is an organic quality here, and the thing itself is inexpressibly alive. In this wonderful, 4-minute video, Fr. What was the foreign policy of Yaroslav the Wise? In contrast, Orthodoxy offers a view of theological authority that is internal and pneumatic rather than external and dogmatic. It was like seeing a face emerge from a random pattern of dots, and then wink at you. Sad, very sad. When celebrating the Eucharist, Catholics mixed the wine with water, while the Orthodox did not. She rightly claims the wholeness of the truth. Worshipers prostrate themselves before them and kiss them. As we said, conversion is a love affair. Don't pretend you don't know what I mean. There are no doubt some ways that he is the same person he will always be, and there are ways Orthodoxy and every other church has significant points in common, not least that we love the same Lord. If someone is approaching the Orthodox Church from a purely rationalistic standpoint, they will almost surely find it wanting. Conversion means belief and acceptance in Jesus Christ, the God-man, as the Savior of the world. Converts to Orthodoxy usually precede their decision with voluminous reading and research, so their friends must endure agitated lectures on church history, ancient heresies, and what words mean in Greek. Geoff Harvey on Thu, 20/11/2008 - 11:15am. Yet, at times there are questions of conscience and matters of principle. Unfortunately the Eastern organization is founded on control and power. Instead, an adolescent has to figure out and establish his adult persona in the face of affection. The basic theological impetus for the ever-virginity of Mary (besides the fact that it is presumably historically true and would have been passed down from the early days of the church) is the fact that Mary was profoundly sanctified by her role as the living sanctuary in which God dwelled (quite literally) for nine months and from whom he I can't be the only one who's observed a friend converting to Orthodox Christianity and noticed them instantly, literally overnight, losing their sense of . Thumb through Calvin's Institutes or a volume of John Wesley's Works and you will see our Protestant forebears thoroughly engaged with patristic tradition. And while they are just beginning to recover, he says, Protestants invade, with all their Western resources, and attempt to draw away the very people the Russian Orthodox Church is attempting to nurture in the faith. Similarly, Protestants like Thomas Oden, Donald Bloesch, and others have shown that one need not join Orthodoxy to immerse oneself in the patristic past with joy, gratitude, and a sense of accountability to that "great cloud of witnesses" of the last two millennia. Intellectuals, like one of my students at Moscow University, often disdain Orthodoxy as a "medieval mentality." YouTube | He senses that its something much more profound than that, as he is turning into a different person, the adult he is destined to be. Romania, 19.8 million At the beginning, I thought I knew what I was getting into. Unfortunately most "Orthodox Christian" are nominal even despite their active presence they are nominal because they extinguish the Holy Spirit and do not have a relationship with God, they outwardly seem to be praying but like the Pharisee praise themselves for being 'good with God'. I've chosen Oriental Orthodoxy over the Byzantine Church because I believe that ours is closer in doctrine and liturgy to the earliest Christians. This is the ultimate reason an ultra-Orthodox Jew would turn to Jesus. Thus, when an Orthodox believer once asked why his church did not do more doctrinal teaching, his priest responded, "Icons teach us all that we need to know." In the dystopian film,Children of Mendirected by Alfonso Cuarn, a world is imagined in the future where no more children are born, and, as the decades pass, humanity is plunged into despair. The reason Orthodoxy is stable is because she is grounded in the truth. its the same every year, year after year), it soon becomes familiar, and perhaps even boring for some. For example, on the Feast of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, the chanter launches into this: Of the Father before the morning star You were begotten from the womb without mother before all ages, even though Arius did believe You to be created, not God, classing You in ignorance and impudence with creatures Thats just a fraction of a thorough march through what happened at the first Council of Nicaea, and why it was important (including Arius unpleasant death from digestive indisposition: his bowels were torn by a divine hookin a repulsive manner his soul came out). John A. Peck, The Apostolic Mission of Journey To Orthodoxy. The last reason Orthodox converts are obnoxious resembles the reason adolescents are obnoxious. Similarly, a person can read a dozen books on Orthodox Christianity, but that which he or she has read will not come alive until he or she actually encounters the Church as the worshipping People of God. 2. The Orthodox Church has existed since the day of Pentecost and when we truly believe and become truly attached, not merely by baptism or chrismation, not merely by our presence but by our actions and our inner convictions, then and only then do we truly become connected to the Church, to Jesus Christ the Saviour and therefore to the Trinitarian God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Orthodox Church does not fit into the paradigms of modernity; it is not a wholly rational faith. Thats surely a factor, but I think theres something else going on, more specific to Orthodox converts. Yeah, I think Ive gotten it out of my system. A person can read a dozen books on swimming, but that which he or she has read will not come alive until he or she actually gets into a pool. Copyright 1997 Christianity Today. The final declaration of the Second Ecumenical Council of Nicea (787) that ratified the use of icons appealed to the "written and unwritten" tradition of the early church. Converts to Orthodoxy usually precede their decision with voluminous reading and research, so their friends must endure agitated lectures on church history, ancient heresies, and what words mean.
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