Becoming more Orthodox

TheoryofForms said:

I use philosophy to make sense of a world which I don't understand

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Everyone does. The difference between you and them is that you're able to recognize the truth of that statement, while they are not. The bigger problem is they can't realize how utterly horrific their philosophies have become, and how destructive it is to others who are genuinely seeking truth.

Lu 11:52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
Ec 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
Mt 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

TheoryofForms said:

Anyone have any links to some great, Orthodox study guides?

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The Catechism of the Catholic Church is an orthodox study guide par excellence.

I feel I have not been following the Bible enough.

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It is good to follow the Bible, but if you look at the thousands upon thousands of Protestant denominations, all claiming to hold "the true doctrine of scripture," you will find that the Bible is not sufficient unto itself.

What you must grow to understand is that the Bible grew out of an oral tradition, and it is only in light of this tradition that it can be rightly interpreted. It is also through this tradition that the canon of scripture is decided--the Bible itself does not tell us which books are canonical. This is why the oldest, largest, and most stable branches of Christianity are the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. They carry with them long and revered traditions of theology, philosophy, prayer, and liturgy out of which scripture has grown.

Think about it. Before any of the New Testament was written there was already a Church which Jesus had established. This Church was gathering, worshiping God, converting new members, consulting the Apostles on matters of importance, etc. The New Testament is something produced by this Church, not the other way around.

TheoryofForms said:

Thanks to Miknik, I think I have a slightly better understanding of Orthodox Christianity. I feel I have not been following the Bible enough. My belief that "truth leads to Truth" was a bit dangerous in that it put philosophical thought ahead of the Bible. But I will still trust philosophy to a certain degree, at least until I don't need it anymore. I use philosophy to make sense of a world which I don't understand because I'm a schizophrenic.

I hope nobody is mad at me for contradicting myself again. But I think with a little guidance and prayer, I will eventually be led the right way.

I will have to read the Bible to confirm some things though for myself.

Anyone have any links to some great, Orthodox study guides?

And is it okay if I have a couple of Unorthodox threads I created locked?

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A little guidance and a ton of prayer guaranteed.

TheoryofForms said:

Thanks to Miknik, I think I have a slightly better understanding of Orthodox Christianity. I feel I have not been following the Bible enough. My belief that "truth leads to Truth" was a bit dangerous in that it put philosophical thought ahead of the Bible. But I will still trust philosophy to a certain degree, at least until I don't need it anymore. I use philosophy to make sense of a world which I don't understand because I'm a schizophrenic.

I hope nobody is mad at me for contradicting myself again. But I think with a little guidance and prayer, I will eventually be led the right way.

I will have to read the Bible to confirm some things though for myself.

Anyone have any links to some great, Orthodox study guides?

And is it okay if I have a couple of Unorthodox threads I created locked?

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Praying for you, brother. It's a journey.

Here is a philosophy professor who will give you some philosophical/biblical food for your brain to chew on. He's great for those who like to think deeply about God (Divine Conspiracy was a great book).

Migliore's book Faith Seeking Understanding is a good one for people looking for a bit of a systematic approach.

TheoryofForms said:

Thanks to Miknik, I think I have a slightly better understanding of Orthodox Christianity. I feel I have not been following the Bible enough. My belief that "truth leads to Truth" was a bit dangerous in that it put philosophical thought ahead of the Bible. But I will still trust philosophy to a certain degree, at least until I don't need it anymore. I use philosophy to make sense of a world which I don't understand because I'm a schizophrenic.

I hope nobody is mad at me for contradicting myself again. But I think with a little guidance and prayer, I will eventually be led the right way.

I will have to read the Bible to confirm some things though for myself.

Anyone have any links to some great, Orthodox study guides?

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My experience has been all denominations will at some point be disappointing. The Heavenly Father, His Son, and The Holy Spirit and their Word will not.

TheoryofForms said:

Thanks to Miknik, I think I have a slightly better understanding of Orthodox Christianity. I feel I have not been following the Bible enough. My belief that "truth leads to Truth" was a bit dangerous in that it put philosophical thought ahead of the Bible. But I will still trust philosophy to a certain degree, at least until I don't need it anymore. I use philosophy to make sense of a world which I don't understand because I'm a schizophrenic.

I hope nobody is mad at me for contradicting myself again. But I think with a little guidance and prayer, I will eventually be led the right way.

I will have to read the Bible to confirm some things though for myself.

Anyone have any links to some great, Orthodox study guides?

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You are on a journey and that is why I decided to write this short note... to remind you of that. Don't feel the need to make any permanent decisions beyond your desire for God. He doesn't always answer immediately, that is where the fruit "patience" comes in. Seek, dig, pray... and get quiet for a time and wait and see if He has anything to say. One of the mistakes many make is turning prayer into a laundry list of "wants" rather than the two way communication it was designed to be. But again... this is a journey and a life-long one at that. A marathon, not a sprint.

Blessings and peace.
Ken

I have heard that written copies of the original manuscripts of The Scriptures were very carefully made. The Scriptures are very important. Most certainly God has given to the world at least one translation of The Scriptures in English which is a perfect translation of the original manuscripts. The love and power of God that is revealed in The Scriptures is important to know about. Believers should read The Scriptures for the renewing of their mind. People need to take some time to make sure they are reading the correct translation. We are to believe what is written in The Word of God. Whenever something someone says does not agree with what is written in God’s Word we should believe what is written in God’s word.

Please read John 1:1-5 and Hebrews 4:12. Read what is written throughout Romans. Salvation is not by works. Read Ephesians 2:8-9.

Read Isaiah 64:6. We see that we are all as an unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.

Read Hebrews 2:9. We see that Jesus has tasted death for every man. A believer in Jesus Christ cannot spiritually die. A believer is a new creation. They have been born again. They have eternal life.
Read Hebrews 3:18-19. We see that those who could not enter into God's rest could not enter His rest because of unbelief. The unbelief referred to is the choice to not believe on Jesus Christ. Once someone has been born again it is impossible for them to ever have that type of unbelief.
There is a reason why rest is called rest.
Read Hebrews 4:3. We see that those who believe do enter into rest. The works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Read Hebrews 4:10. We see that he that has entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God from His. The type of works being referred to is anything a man tries to do or to not do in order to receive or keep eternal life. A man cannot lose eternal life.
Read Hebrews 4:12-13. One thing these verses seem to make clear is that God knows every thought of a man and He knows what is in a man's heart.
Read Hebrews 9:25-28.
Read Hebrews 10:11-18. Notice that by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Read Hebrews 10:12. We see that Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins for ever.
Read Hebrews 12:29. We see that God is a consuming fire.

A man cannot make himself perfectly righteous by his own works. A man who has been saved cannot lose eternal life. There is only one thing a man can do to receive eternal life, that thing is to believe on Jesus Christ.

To believe on Jesus Christ a person must believe that the payment for their sins was made through the shed blood and death of Jesus Christ on the cross, through the burial of Jesus Christ, and through the physical and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In John 6:29 we are told that the work of God is to believe on Jesus Christ. The fact that Jesus only talked about one thing a person must do to receive eternal life makes it clear there is only one thing a person must do to receive eternal life. Read John 3:15-18, John 3:36 and Acts 16:31. You must be born again.

Do you know about what could happen around September 23rd 2017?

There are some that have said that September 23rd 2017 is when one of the Revelation 12 signs will take place. There is astronomy software which people have said confirms that it might take place around that date. I highly recommend watching Christian prophecy update current events videos. Read about the revelation 15 sign.

TheoryofForms said:

Thanks to Miknik, I think I have a slightly better understanding of Orthodox Christianity. I feel I have not been following the Bible enough. My belief that "truth leads to Truth" was a bit dangerous in that it put philosophical thought ahead of the Bible. But I will still trust philosophy to a certain degree, at least until I don't need it anymore. I use philosophy to make sense of a world which I don't understand because I'm a schizophrenic.

I hope nobody is mad at me for contradicting myself again. But I think with a little guidance and prayer, I will eventually be led the right way.

I will have to read the Bible to confirm some things though for myself.

Anyone have any links to some great, Orthodox study guides?

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Your "study guide" is prayer

zippy2006 said:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is an orthodox study guide par excellence.

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No, that is a Roman Catholic Catechism. Here is a more authentic Orthodox Catechism. Or you can just search for "Orthodox Christian catechism" on your favorite search engine.

Monk Brendan said:

No, that is a Roman Catholic Catechism. Here is a more authentic Orthodox Catechism. Or you can just search for "Orthodox Christian catechism" on your favorite search engine.

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Given BlueNinja's posting history and his claim that Miknik (a Protestant) presented him with "Orthodox Christianity," I don't think he was referring to the Eastern Orthodox Church. There is of course a difference between Orthodox Christianity and orthodox Christianity, just as there is a difference between Catholic Christianity and catholic Christianity.

Thanks for the link though!

Monk Brendan said:

No, that is a Roman Catholic Catechism.

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Actually it's a Catholic Catechism, not a Roman Catholic Catechism.