Baptist to Orthodoxy~~the adjustments...

MrJim · Nov 1, 2010

I'd like to hear from converts about the adjustments...about how the kids who are accustomed to the "baptist" or "nondenominational" way of "doing church" have adjusted to a very different manner of worship...about dealing with a spouse that is satisfied with the status quo and not too happy about ventures into something that different.

thanks!

Coralie · Nov 2, 2010

WOW, what a question! Well, I went from low-church Anglican to non-denom (Vineyard) to Orthodoxy, so I will think about this for an hour or so and get back to you. I'd like to answer immediately but honestly the list is so long and extensive I think I need to find a way to distil it into a few key points.

Coralie · Nov 2, 2010

Here are the main principles/ideas/differences that I struggled with/still struggle with. They're all loosely connected to one another and they all have far-reaching repercussions.

1. It's not about you; it's about the Body of Christ.

2. Your own ideas and preferences are interesting, to an extent, but they aren't nearly as important as you think they are.

3. Church is for worshipping God and not for your own personal entertainment and information/education. You will learn something, but probably not what you thought you would learn.

4. Much more is expected of you in Orthodoxy than you will be able to give (at least, this is how it will be at the get-go).

5. Your emotions are not the litmus test for anything.

6. Even if you intellect disappeared and you could no longer debate Scripture or even understand the homily, you would still be a fully functioning member of the Body of Christ. Your intellect doesn't make you worthwhile; God's image in you is what makes you worthwhile.

Re: family members: I can't comment much on that because my husband doesn't currently come with me to Church. I just pray for him, God will have His own way in the end.

MrJim · Nov 2, 2010

I'm a pretty serious, straightforward person not given to the current fads of karaoke-style morning worship. I am certain I can easily adapt to Apostolic liturgical worship. I'm thinking along the lines of bringing my family and the shock difference.

I wonder how the congregations have helped new "outsider" families adjust.

Coralie · Nov 2, 2010

Have you talked to your local priest about this? What was his take?

There are a lot of priests/deacons out there who are converts or reverts themselves, with their own families following them into the Church. I think sooner or later you'll come across someone who'll be able to give you a lot of great insights.

ArmyMatt · Nov 2, 2010

all seriousness, it's the Truth that will awaken folks to Orthodoxy. if you become Orthodox and bring the kids, and you are blessed with a welcoming parish, that's all man can do aside from pray. God will bring her and the kinds in when He knows they are ready.

but yeah, I would talk to your local priest, see what he has to say

MrJim · Nov 2, 2010

Coralie said:
Have you talked to your local priest about this? What was his take?

There are a lot of priests/deacons out there who are converts or reverts themselves, with their own families following them into the Church. I think sooner or later you'll come across someone who'll be able to give you a lot of great insights.

I've not been yet~our local priest is a convert from Roman Catholic Church (even wrote about it~Fr. Theodore Pulcini). I expect to get there this or next weekend. And you are right, I'm sure there are many converts there, this area isn't exactly a hotbed of Greeks, Russians or Serbians

E.C. · Nov 3, 2010

MrJim said:
I wonder how the congregations have helped new "outsider" families adjust.

You'd be surprised how well!

We have converts from all sorts of traditions from Atheist and neo-Pagan to Mormon and Pentecostal. The point is we've all been there and survived. Sometimes fellow converts can explain things in ways which a priest can not. One guy in our parish, who converted fairly recently from Anglicanism, and I ended up talking last Pascha when he was a catechumen. We talked about reasons why we'd left our former Churches and what got our attention with Orthodoxy. At the end of it he said something like, "Now that's something that I wish I'd heard in the inquirers class!"

Sometimes just knowing that you're not the only ex-whatever is help enough.

MamaBug · Nov 4, 2010

MrJim said:
And you are right, I'm sure there are many converts there, this area isn't exactly a hotbed of Greeks, Russians or Serbians

Pennsylvnania? You'd be surprised. The OCA has more parishes in each half of the state than in the entire Diocese of the West.

Lots and lots and lots of descendants of coal mining, railroad building, Slavic families.

MrJim · Nov 4, 2010

MamaBug said:
Pennsylvnania? You'd be surprised. The OCA has more parishes in each half of the state than in the entire Diocese of the West.

Lots and lots and lots of descendants of coal mining, railroad building, Slavic families.

That's in the north and west~~I'm down here in mennonite & amish country in south central Closest OCA is actually 30 miles south in Maryland.

Etsi · Nov 4, 2010

MrJim said:
That's in the north and west~~I'm down here in mennonite & amish country in south central Closest OCA is actually 30 miles south in Maryland.

I'm not certain how South Central you are, but...

There is a Greek Church in Lancaster, two OCA outside of Harrisburg as well as a Greek and a Serbian, a Coptic Church near Columbia, and an OCA in York.

On kids: mine took to it like fish to water.

MrJim · Nov 5, 2010

Etsi said:
I'm not certain how South Central you are, but...

There is a Greek Church in Lancaster, two OCA outside of Harrisburg as well as a Greek and a Serbian, a Coptic Church near Columbia, and an OCA in York.

On kids: mine took to it like fish to water.

I'm west of Gettysburg and way south of Harrisburg

I want to go alone the first time then take the family later~mine are older (10 & 15), maybe old enough to be set in their ways.

Etsi · Nov 5, 2010

MrJim said:
I'm west of Gettysburg and way south of Harrisburg

I want to go alone the first time then take the family later~mine are older (10 & 15), maybe old enough to be set in their ways.

I have several in the age range you mentioned

MrJim · Nov 5, 2010

Etsi said:
I have several in the age range you mentioned

...several? I'm all used up with just two

Etsi · Nov 5, 2010

MrJim said:
...several? I'm all used up with just two

Several in that age range...not several altogether. There are more LOL! We have a rather, uhm, large family.

MrJim · Nov 5, 2010

Etsi said:
Several in that age range...not several altogether. There are more LOL! We have a rather, uhm, large family.

That's great~~we got married late, my wife is now 50 with her youngest at 10~pretty good gap there.

So were you originally with a protestant/evangelical church?

Etsi · Nov 5, 2010

MrJim said:
That's great~~we got married late, my wife is now 50 with her youngest at 10~pretty good gap there.

So were you originally with a protestant/evangelical church?

Ah, and see, we married young. Yes, we did. We were raised Baptist, that is why I jumped in. We are one of the few oddballs in our extended family.

MrJim · Nov 5, 2010

Etsi said:
Ah, and see, we married young. Yes, we did. We were raised Baptist, that is why I jumped in. We are one of the few oddballs in our extended family.

Wow that puts you and my wife in the same boat~she was raised in a baptist-ish type denomination. Have you posted your journey anywhere?

Etsi · Nov 5, 2010

MrJim said:
Wow that puts you and my wife in the same boat~she was raised in a baptist-ish type denomination. Have you posted your journey anywhere?

Not yet. My husband had been studying Orthodoxy for some time before saying something to me. Through a series of church events, he finally said that he was going to start attending the EO and it was my choice to attend with him or elsewhere. I have a pretty strong stand about not dividing my family or creating a divided home for my children. I put my faith in God to lead me as He would and show me what He had for us. We were chrismated last Dec I'm glad for this journey. It is the first place I feel I truly at home.

MrJim · Nov 6, 2010

Etsi said:
Not yet. My husband had been studying Orthodoxy for some time before saying something to me. Through a series of church events, he finally said that he was going to start attending the EO and it was my choice to attend with him or elsewhere. I have a pretty strong stand about not dividing my family or creating a divided home for my children. I put my faith in God to lead me as He would and show me what He had for us. We were chrismated last Dec I'm glad for this journey. It is the first place I feel I truly at home.

Sounds like you have a great story to share and a similar situation that I'm in. Did your husband grow up in a church or was he a later convert?

Baptist to Orthodoxy~~the adjustments...

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