Asking a Priest - good questions?

[TheCunctator]

Hey guys. So I've had a crazy thought. In exploring the ancient Church, I've got my head essentially focused on Confessional Lutheranism, Catholicism, and Orthodoxy. I've been trying hard to study. So I had an idea: asking a priest/pastor of each group some questions on the three respective faiths in order to get better discernment.

So today I e-mailed the priest of an Orthodox church I attended a long time ago. Here's what I sent him:

Dear Father Koles,

I'm not sure you remember me. I attended a few Divine Liturgies a year or so ago, up to the Easter liturgy (one of the most beautifully reverent services I've ever had the pleasure to attend). I've always been grateful for the great kindness you, your wife, and your parishoners have shown me while I attended. I haven't forgotten it.

Anyway, I am writing you this e-mail because I was wondering if you would mind setting an appointment with me sometime during this week or next week (or whenever you are available) because I'd like to ask you some personal questions with regards to the Orthodox faith.

A while ago I've begun questioning my Pentecostal faith, and through much study, I've come to the painful conclusion that Evangelicalism is lacking in much. I've begun to consider that the Church might be found either in Confessional Lutheranism, Roman Catholicism, or Orthodoxy.

I was wondering if I could have a face-to-face meeting with you so I could ask you some questions regarding the Orthodox faith, as I would like to do with a Lutheran minister and a Catholic priest. Just so I can get understanding, wisdom, and perhaps a little closer to finding Christ's Church.

If you could help, I'd be very appreciative.

Sincerely yours,

Dario

Are there any questions that maybe any of you had, before you converted, that might be useful for me to ask if he says yes? I'd like to get ideas from people who've been through it. And I hope to get similar ideas from the other two groups once I man up the courage to ask them for face-to-face appointments as well. I kind of want to get a small list of questions to ask him.

 

[Macarius]

A decent one for all three might be:
"How does one find Christ in the ___________ church?" In other words, if someone comes seeking Christ, what would that church direct him or her to do in order to find Him?

 

[ProScribe]

Ask him whatever you feel is relevant to your studies of the different branches of Christianity.

 

[Bryne]

I was also Pentecostal...and I also looked into the same churches that you are looking into...I ended up in a confessional Lutheran church.

My questions revolved around the Sacraments, mostly. I really struggled with infant baptism.

 

[lankyknight1990]

The beauty of Clergymen in the Orthodox Church is you can ask them anything, they are there to help

 

[ArmyMatt]

as one who was raised Episcopal, I was raised confessing that there was One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. so my question was, where did it go? especially that last adjective Apostolic. now, Rome, Anglicanism, Lutheranism, and Orthodoxy all can trace historic Apostolic succession. however, since they all say differing things in terms of belief and practice, only one can trace their teaching to the Apostles. so I would ask where to find this historic, by her teaching Church, because we are commanded to worship in spirit and in truth.

that'd be one of my questions

 

[Annoula]

nice move emailing the priest!

you can write down some of your questions so that you don't forget them.
on the other hand, don't stress yourself much. the priest will help you, he might start answering before you even start the questions.
it happens in Orthodoxy... heheee

 

[TheCunctator]

I got a response from the priest. He says he'd like to organize it for next week because he's busy. That's fine by me. It gives me time to get questions together.

as one who was raised Episcopal, I was raised confessing that there was One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. so my question was, where did it go? especially that last adjective Apostolic. now, Rome, Anglicanism, Lutheranism, and Orthodoxy all can trace historic Apostolic succession. however, since they all say differing things in terms of belief and practice, only one can trace their teaching to the Apostles. so I would ask where to find this historic, by her teaching Church, because we are commanded to worship in spirit and in truth.

that'd be one of my questions

I really like this question. I was thinking something similar.

I was also Pentecostal...and I also looked into the same churches that you are looking into...I ended up in a confessional Lutheran church.

My questions revolved around the Sacraments, mostly. I really struggled with infant baptism.

That's really awesome. Assemblies of God?

I never really had a problem with infant baptism, but I do moreso with priestly confession. Also Marian devotion, but it seems much more tempered in Orthodoxy than in Catholicism.

 

[Bryne]

That's really awesome. Assemblies of God?

I was a member of an Assemblies of God church for several years, and a Four Sqaure church for a few years before becoming Lutheran. In between the AoG and the Four Square, I went to a Baptist church for about 5 years...but that is only because where I lived the only choices I had were Baptist or LDS.

 

[Mary of Bethany]

as one who was raised Episcopal, I was raised confessing that there was One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. so my question was, where did it go? especially that last adjective Apostolic. now, Rome, Anglicanism, Lutheranism, and Orthodoxy all can trace historic Apostolic succession. however, since they all say differing things in terms of belief and practice, only one can trace their teaching to the Apostles. so I would ask where to find this historic, by her teaching Church, because we are commanded to worship in spirit and in truth.

that'd be one of my questions

That was the question that ultimately brought me to Orthodoxy from the Anglican Catholic Church.

Mary

 

[Monica child of God 1]

I had a lot of questions about how we are saved. I came into Christianity via a Baptist church with Calvinist theology, so the only thing I really knew was TULIP, penal substitution etc. So questions about salvation were big for me.

But, ask whatever you have been wondering about or worrying about.

M.

 

[MKJ]

I think for all three, I would be interested in how they understand factions within their groups that I would be concerned with, and in relation, how they see the future of their group.

In Catholisism, I would ask about the state of the liturgy and traditionalists. In Luthanism I think I would be concerned with the way they seem to be suffering some of the same problems my own AnglicanChurch is with religious liberalism vs conservatism and fundamentalism. In Orthodoxy, I think I would be concerned with fundamentalism. I'd want to know why they thought these movements existed and how they would be dealt with or what role they had to play in the Church.

Reading it here is seems very practical and not very spiritual, but it is something that concerns me.

 

[27B6]

Cunctator,

I don't have any suggestions for questions, but I think your approach is a good one, and might get you some interesting answers to follow up on. At the very least, you will hopefully get a clearer idea of how each communion addresses certain questions.

Being Orthodox, I would, of course, suggest you then take the answers you receive and do some comparative reading in the Fathers to see what they said on those questions as well.

Best wishes in your questioning!

 

[TheCunctator]

I was a member of an Assemblies of God church for several years, and a Four Sqaure church for a few years before becoming Lutheran. In between the AoG and the Four Square, I went to a Baptist church for about 5 years...but that is only because where I lived the only choices I had were Baptist or LDS.

Utah? I'm glad you picked the Baptist Church (before Lutheranism) instead of LDS. My friend currently lives in Salt Lake City, says his LDS friends keep trying to bring him to church. Apparently their friendship has already gone to a level in which they are willing to share some of their more eccentric beliefs wit him. Must be difficult to be of a minority faith with few churches around.

I had a lot of questions about how we are saved. I came into Christianity via a Baptist church with Calvinist theology, so the only thing I really knew was TULIP, penal substitution etc. So questions about salvation were big for me.

But, ask whatever you have been wondering about or worrying about.

One of my biggies is the charismatic movement, as a Pentecostal. I know the Catholic Church is okay with it, not sure about the Lutherans though I vaguely remember a reference to charismatic Lutherans. I know the Orthodox don't, but I'll ask for a deeper understanding. But I don't want a church that conforms to my beliefs, I want the truth, as hard as it might be to swallow. Sometimes I just wish the heavens would open up, Christ would present himself and say "YOU. See over there? That's my Church. Please go there [pointing]!"

Being Orthodox, I would, of course, suggest you then take the answers you receive and do some comparative reading in the Fathers to see what they said on those questions as well.

Best wishes in your questioning!

Thanks. Those pesky Fathers are the ones that got me in trouble in the first place. Especially Irenaeus of Lyons.

 

[27B6]

Thanks. Those pesky Fathers are the ones that got me in trouble in the first place. Especially Irenaeus of Lyons.

Haha, well good for the holy and glorious, right-victorious Hieromartyr Irenaeus!

 

[Bryne]

Utah? I'm glad you picked the Baptist Church (before Lutheranism) instead of LDS. My friend currently lives in Salt Lake City, says his LDS friends keep trying to bring him to church. Apparently their friendship has already gone to a level in which they are willing to share some of their more eccentric beliefs wit him. Must be difficult to be of a minority faith with few churches around.

When I lived in a small town in the mountains (which was where the Baptist church was), it was a bit difficult. But I live in a large city now that have much more diversity.

One of my biggies is the charismatic movement, as a Pentecostal. I know the Catholic Church is okay with it, not sure about the Lutherans though I vaguely remember a reference to charismatic Lutherans.

This was a bit of an issue with me, too. While there are some Lutherans who are open to the Charismatic movement, the church that I go to is not. I have completely changed my worship style, and honestly, I am fine with that. I have found that the Holy Spirit is not limited by worship style, and the Liturgy is anything but dry, dead ritual (which is what I was taught as a Pentecostal). I do still practice speaking in tongues during my personal private devotional times, and that seems sufficient.

 

[TheCunctator]

Small update:

I set up an meeting with him for this upcoming Thursday, at 11 AM, at the church.

If throughout the week anyone can spare a small prayer that I might gain wisdom and not be held back by doubt, fear, or cultural prejudice, but driven simply for truth, that'd be much appreciated.

 

[Dorothea]

Of course, Cunctator! You have my prayers.