I'm so angry with Protestantism

I can't speak for Jesus but if you bad mouth MY mom, you're going to need a team of podiatrists and proctologists.

Try instead to focus on the good things that you have gained from your time as a Protestant. I would bet that without the time spent among them, you would not have the great love of Jesus Christ that you no doubt possess. You probably wouldn't have the knowledge of the scriptures that you have. In fact, you might even say that the desire to seek the truth that you now have had its beginnings in your earlier faith. So give thanks to God for those elements of Protestantism that have now lead you to where you are.

The Protestant aversion to all things regarded the Theotokos largely stem from the previous Roman abuses that early Protestants had to deal with. Since then, you have literally centuries of doctrinal development stemming from these feelings. It's not the fault of modern Protestants. They need gentle encouragement to help them see things correctly. This encouragement might come from love, but it definitely won't come from anger.

For now, take baby steps and don't go overboard. Don't get down on yourself for having a hard time reevaluating what Mary's importance is. This is not a change that will come overnight. In my experience, changes like this come gradually from participating in the liturgical life of the Church. Slow and steady wins the race in this regard.

"You" and "you're" being used as an idiom, not meaning you specifically, in case the smiley didn't make that clear.

Well said. Wisdom mixed with gentleness. Saint Matthew 16:10 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

InnerPhyre said:

Try instead to focus on the good things that you have gained from your time as a Protestant. I would bet that without the time spent among them, you would not have the great love of Jesus Christ that you no doubt possess. You probably wouldn't have the knowledge of the scriptures that you have. In fact, you might even say that the desire to seek the truth that you now have had its beginnings in your earlier faith. So give thanks to God for those elements of Protestantism that have now lead you to where you are.

The Protestant aversion to all things regarded the Theotokos largely stem from the previous Roman abuses that early Protestants had to deal with. Since then, you have literally centuries of doctrinal development stemming from these feelings. It's not the fault of modern Protestants. They need gentle encouragement to help them see things correctly. This encouragement might come from love, but it definitely won't come from anger.

For now, take baby steps and don't go overboard. Don't get down on yourself for having a hard time reevaluating what Mary's importance is. This is not a change that will come overnight. In my experience, changes like this come gradually from participating in the liturgical life of the Church. Slow and steady wins the race in this regard.

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This is an incredibly lucid, charitable, thoughtful post that reflects a lot of spiritual depth.

I agree with Phyre, here. Don't hold resentment toward your Protestant past. The Lord gave you much through them, but like Phyre said, Marian devotion has had a lot of bizarre stuff attached to it in the past few centuries. Embrace the Theotokos, and keep warm feelings toward our protestant brothers and sisters. Remember, they were born into a lack of Mary in their lives. For them, it was ingrained from day one.

InnerPhyre said:

Try instead to focus on the good things that you have gained from your time as a Protestant. I would bet that without the time spent among them, you would not have the great love of Jesus Christ that you no doubt possess. You probably wouldn't have the knowledge of the scriptures that you have. In fact, you might even say that the desire to seek the truth that you now have had its beginnings in your earlier faith. So give thanks to God for those elements of Protestantism that have now lead you to where you are.

The Protestant aversion to all things regarded the Theotokos largely stem from the previous Roman abuses that early Protestants had to deal with. Since then, you have literally centuries of doctrinal development stemming from these feelings. It's not the fault of modern Protestants. They need gentle encouragement to help them see things correctly. This encouragement might come from love, but it definitely won't come from anger.

For now, take baby steps and don't go overboard. Don't get down on yourself for having a hard time reevaluating what Mary's importance is. This is not a change that will come overnight. In my experience, changes like this come gradually from participating in the liturgical life of the Church. Slow and steady wins the race in this regard.

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Mikhael, I was a Protestant and it took me awhile to love Mary as I do now. When I didn't understand the Orthodox teaching on Mary (when I first started), I just left it alone but kept an open mind. Later, as I learned more, it just started to click. I have always said the prayers for the Theotokos, but it has only been in the last few months that I have really started getting close to her, as I've been doing the Akathist for the Mother of God. One thing you will learn is that the Orthodox Church is patient with our learning things. It is not going to happen all at once. You will keep learning on the journey. Be patient with yourself. I have been Orthodox for almost 12 years (it will be 12 years in April), and I am still learning all the time.

As far as talking to your Evangelical acquaintances about Mary, I wouldn't bring up the topic. If it comes up, try to defend her as best you can. However, I don't bring up the topic. I know what most Evangelicals say about her, and I won't expose her or them to that, as they will have to answer for what they say. They don't know any better.

Mikhael The Archangel said:

I've been a Protestant for most of my Christian walk. Only relatively recently have I been exploring Orthodoxy and to a lesser extent, Catholicism. I'm trying to establish more of a relationship with Mary. I'm trying to show her the respect she deserves. I must say, however, deep down, there's somewhat of a resentment, if you will. Protestants have beat it into my head that Mary was nothing more than a doorway. They won't say it, but they almost hate her! This is probably because of their hatred for Catholicism more than anything else, but the fact is, they can't stand Mary. Being involved in these circles for so long I can't help but feel resentment toward the blessed virgin, and it pains to me to admit it. I've kept this to myself for so long, but it's time to come clean. I want to love her as you all love her. I'm so angry with Protestantism for this.

Prayers, advice, anything. This really hurts me.

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I feel your pain bro, I haven't struggled with my understanding of the Theotokos (at least not yet, not that I know of), but I've found that I harbor a lot of anger and resentment towards Protestantism and it's hard for me to address some of the things that have troubled me without it turning into a roast of Evangelicalism.

I have to be thankful though, because in spite of it all, my journey has ultimately led me to this point where I'm inquiring about Orthodoxy and taking in as much as I can in my circumstances.

I'll pray that Christ will continue to help you work through the things that you're confronting on your journey.

I will agree with Phyre. don't harbor any resentment toward being raised a Protestant, because that was what God used to lead you to look into Orthodoxy. I used to be a tad miffed at my Anglican raising, but then I realized that it was my parents who took me to church as a kid, and God used them, and my old parish, to build me to an area where I could accept His Church fully.

Yeah, and thank God they had you at an Anglican parish with a liturgy, bishops, Eucharist, and some normalcy. Imagine if you'd have been taken to a Mormon, Unitarian, Pentecostal, or some other lulus!

ArmyMatt said:

I will agree with Phyre. don't harbor any resentment toward being raised a Protestant, because that was what God used to lead you to look into Orthodoxy. I used to be a tad miffed at my Anglican raising, but then I realized that it was my parents who took me to church as a kid, and God used them, and my old parish, to build me to an area where I could accept His Church fully.

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Mikhael The Archangel said:

It's really very strange; I can't stand anything Protestant. It almost makes me sick! I have a mostly KJVO/Pentecostal background... It's just sickening to me now. For about a year I have been on this journey, and although I'm neither Orthodox nor Catholic at this time, my walk has been so much more fullfilling.

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I know how you feel, I suspect there's kind of a "shock period" when a person begins inquiring into Orthodoxy. It's that time when the "scales fall off our eyes" so to speak and we begin to see Protestant doctrine from a new perspective. At times it can stir feelings of anger because we feel duped, but the reassuring thing is that we're at least on the path pointed towards Orthodoxy at this point. That's a comforting thought.

I'm a second generation Christian & Missionary Alliance member, my mom left the Baptist church for them about 45 years ago. That's where she met my dad after he returned to church after having left the Assemblies of God as a teen, and that's what I was born and raised in. So all of the accompanying doctrines and theologies were pretty deeply entrenched into my DNA. The C&MA church has a strengthening Pentecostal/Charismatic component which can carry very strong anti-tradition sentiment, something that I was fortunate to not hold onto for very long before I began to question it.

What I try to do, which in some ways is due to the advice of my friends here in TAW, is to draw on the good that came from my experiences there. For example, the Christian & Missionary Alliance (naturally) very missions-oriented, so I grew up going on missions trips to different parts of California and Mexico to serve. That taught me a lot and that's something that I'll carry with me always, and quite possibly something that I can use to serve in the context of Orthodoxy down the road.

Based on the Christian Missionary Alliance folks I've met, I'd run so far from that bunch that I'd leave scorch marks on the asphault!

Big Fudge said:

I know how you feel, I suspect there's kind of a "shock period" when a person begins inquiring into Orthodoxy. It's that time when the "scales fall off our eyes" so to speak and we begin to see Protestant doctrine from a new perspective. At times it can stir feelings of anger because we feel duped, but the reassuring thing is that we're at least on the path pointed towards Orthodoxy at this point. That's a comforting thought.

I'm a second generation Christian & Missionary Alliance member, my mom left the Baptist church for them about 45 years ago. That's where she met my dad after he returned to church after having left the Assemblies of God as a teen, and that's what I was born and raised in. So all of the accompanying doctrines and theologies were pretty deeply entrenched into my DNA. The C&MA church has a strengthening Pentecostal/Charismatic component which can carry very strong anti-tradition sentiment, something that I was fortunate to not hold onto for very long before I began to question it.

What I try to do, which in some ways is due to the advice of my friends here in TAW, is to draw on the good that came from my experiences there. For example, the Christian & Missionary Alliance (naturally) very missions-oriented, so I grew up going on missions trips to different parts of California and Mexico to serve. That taught me a lot and that's something that I'll carry with me always, and quite possibly something that I can use to serve in the context of Orthodoxy down the road.

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gurneyhalleck1 said:

Based on the Christian Missionary Alliance folks I've met, I'd run so far from that bunch that I'd leave scorch marks on the asphault!

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Yeah, nowadays I wouldn't blame ya. It used to be that at least at my church things were pretty level-headed. But then around 6-7 years ago (maybe more) the guy that used to be the senior pastor became infatuated with the Lakeland Revival, Todd Bentley and then our nearby Bethel Church in Redding. The Lakeland/Todd Bentley thing subsided but there's still a huge obsession with Bethel to the point that there's whole swaths of people that make weekly pilgrimages up there because they think they're going to "get better stuff".

There's been a resurgence of proper doctrine being taught by some of the new pastors, but it's a hard fought battle that's polarized the congregation. You have the holy roller Bethelites on one side and the more level-headed orthodox (small "o") theological types on the other, I was definitely in the latter group.

I still consider myself to be a member there technically, but I haven't been to church in over six months.

No doubt, bro. Orthodoxy has horribly low levels of the missionary hormone! If they depend on the cradle folks to mission, we're doomed. The only way this faith can spread in America is through the zealous energy and passion of converts.....like you!

Big Fudge said:

That taught me a lot and that's something that I'll carry with me always, and quite possibly something that I can use to serve in the context of Orthodoxy down the road.

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Would you mind expounding on why or how your walk has been so much more fullfilling. Thanks in advance.

Mikhael The Archangel said:

Thank you all for your kind words of wisdom. It's just so frustrating reading about Mary in the Gospels, only for my first thoughts to be about "how wrong the Catholics are," as that was drilled so deeply into my head for so long; or trying to get closer to her during prayers, only to be in it half-hearted. I trust that I will get there, though.

It's really very strange; I can't stand anything Protestant. It almost makes me sick! I have a mostly KJVO/Pentecostal background... It's just sickening to me now. For about a year I have been on this journey, and although I'm neither Orthodox nor Catholic at this time, my walk has been so much more fullfilling.

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Mikhael The Archangel said:

I've been a Protestant for most of my Christian walk. Only relatively recently have I been exploring Orthodoxy and to a lesser extent, Catholicism. I'm trying to establish more of a relationship with Mary. I'm trying to show her the respect she deserves. I must say, however, deep down, there's somewhat of a resentment, if you will. Protestants have beat it into my head that Mary was nothing more than a doorway. They won't say it, but they almost hate her! This is probably because of their hatred for Catholicism more than anything else, but the fact is, they can't stand Mary. Being involved in these circles for so long I can't help but feel resentment toward the blessed virgin, and it pains to me to admit it. I've kept this to myself for so long, but it's time to come clean. I want to love her as you all love her. I'm so angry with Protestantism for this.

Prayers, advice, anything. This really hurts me.

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Since you are attacking "Protestantism", you invite Protestants to join the debate. When you make these statements, you attack all Protestants, so I can reasonably regard your statements as personal attacks on me. You accuse me, personally, of these sins. I don't particularly appreciate being accused of hating the Virgin Mary or these other things. You are bearing false witness against me and many other Protestants, and that is a sin. It is fair to call you on it and exhort you to control your tongue.

I have seen convertitis before, and you have the symptoms. People move from Orthodoxy to Catholicism, or Catholicism to Protestant faith, or Protestants become Orthodox, and they come down with convertitis. What it is a focus on what is, or what was, wrong with their old faith rather than a growing in their new faith and an appreciation of it. I can show you many posts from people whose testimony is something like "I used to be a Catholic hating Protestant. But praise God, now I am Catholic and I hate Protestants." Other symptoms can include spiritual pride, because you have converted and all those other dumb cluck Protestants have not, so you are superior to them, and because of your great Protestant heritage and your conversion, you are better than the cradle Orthodox! This is a deadly disease, and I will NOT be a target of it. I will warn you with tears to repent.

Please focus on the glories and wonders and mysteries of Orthodox faith. There is a lot to appreciate. Posting rot about Protestants like you have only makes people like me mad and corrupts your soul. I am glad you are zealous for your new-found faith. May you grow in your love for God and the Theotokos, but do not turn your fire in the wrong direction. Thank you.

Mikhael The Archangel said:

You have taken the word "they" as meaning literally all.

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Where did you exclude anyone? Where did you say you meant less than all?