Orthodox Christian Elevator Statement

I'm not sure what about Orthodoxy you want summed up, but I'd say that Orthodoxy is the fullness of the Christian faith handed down from the Apostles. I don't know if that's what you meant though.

"The Orthodox Church is evangelical, but not Protestant. It is orthodox, but not Jewish. It is catholic, but not Roman. It isn't non-denominational - it is pre-denominational. It has believed, taught, preserved, defended and died for the Faith of the Apostles since the Day of Pentecost 2000 years ago."

Hey, AS! Long time no see!

Yes, that's a good one - Ancient Faith Radio uses it.

Orthodoxy is about love. It is the love of a group of sinners celebrating their freedom from death by Christ's death, and their freedom from disobedience by Christ's obedience. We are full of joy for Christ's gift, fighting the good fight to love our neighbor and our God with the fullness of our being, yet full of sorrow for our failures, and full of hope for God's grace. It is imitating the love of God Himself, who is love in His inner being between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is the bright sadness, the "broken hallelujia" (to borrow a pop-song's phrase), of fleeing one's inner selfishness while seeking absolute love - that is, union with God.

I don't know how well that would work...

I think this is an important question because our evangelism to atheists and agnostics seems a lot weaker than our ministry to the heterodox.

I would be deeply curious to hear the personal story of any atheists or agnostics who have converted directly to Orthodoxy (not through another tradition), and what in particular was the appeal of Orthodoxy - what was it that pulled you in?

Cheers,
Macarius

I converted to Orthodoxy after 20 years of lazy agnosticism and 'pofigism' (Russian for who-gives-a-xxx-ism), but not sure how much it counts, as my upbringing was Baptist and I had a strong foundation ready to return to faith in Christ.

That said, CS Lewis, my wife being Orthodox already and me thinking about death and the meaning of life herded me into the Orthodox Church.

rusmeister said:

Hey, AS! Long time no see!

Yes, that's a good one - Ancient Faith Radio uses it.

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I am the absolute worst in these situations. In real time I flounder then retreat and think of all sorts of witty, wise comebacks after the fact. I usually try to rationalize that my actions will speak louder than words, but that doesn't excuse all the chances I've muffed to say just one word about Orthodoxy.

Chacci said:

Thanks for the responses..

Ahh! I forgot about the Ancient Faith Radio statement.. that is a good one! My priest once sent out invitations to inquirers classes with that statement on it..Thanks Asinner!

My wife makes fun of me because I always start explaining Orthodoxy using the same long winded spiel... starting with the beginning of the Church at Pentecost and the development of the five Patriarchies, and finsihing off with the differences between Latin and Orthodox Churches.. usually by the time I'm done.. peoples eyes have glazed over...

What else do folks have? If you only had a few moments to explain the essence of Orthodoxy what would you say?

Asking for your Prayers,
Chacci

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If I were trying to explain Orthodoxy to another, I would begin with the Saints, because through their lives, they manifest Truth. Only in something that is Perfect can one begin to be perfect. Actually, this is one of the great obstacles of Protestantism . . . There are no Saints. To them, everyone is a saint, everyone is like Mary, like Paul, like Abraham. So, to me, the essence of Orthodoxy is revealed in the Saints.

Love,
Christina

Asinner said:

If I were trying to explain Orthodoxy to another, I would begin with the Saints, because through their lives, they manifest Truth. Only in something that is Perfect can one begin to be perfect. Actually, this is one of the great obstacles of Protestantism . . . There are no Saints. To them, everyone is a saint, everyone is like Mary, like Paul, like Abraham. So, to me, the essence of Orthodoxy is revealed in the Saints.

Love,
Christina

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Well, since St. Paul the Apostle refers to those to whom he sent his epistles as "saints," Protestants do have a point in calling all believers "saints."

Jacob4707 said:

Well, since St. Paul the Apostle refers to those to whom he sent his epistles as "saints," Protestants do have a point in calling all believers "saints."

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Yes, but we have different meanings.

Love,
Christina