Been Hearing - Droves of People Becoming Christians, and many to Orthodoxy

[Hazelelponi]

but extreme examples like this do highlight they hypocrisy of the Religious Right

Well, that's a tragic tale and we find tragic tales all the time, all over the world, but even a few bad experiences doesn't mean anything. You have to aggregate net for positive or negative.

All one story is is an emotional plea toward an intended conclusion, whereas for truth you have to look at everything.

How often do Christian conservatives adopt compared to liberal atheists? How often do they foster children in comparison?

How do their churches conduct community outreach to the poor compared to the liberal atheists?

You have to use actual metrics that are measurable first, then you decide if the emotional story is the sign of what might be a widespread problem, or whether it's just an outlier and not a representation of the whole ("the religious right")

I have had nothing but positive experiences in the main, in the Bible Belt during my life, and find them a people I would give my life for... they really are lovely, despite the few flaws we all have.

 

[Chesterton]

Tragically, she did not last a month.

What did she die from?

 

[stevevw]

Hi, friends,

Christ is risen!

Have you been hearing what I've been hearing? That many people around the world, and here in the US, are becoming Christians, including Orthodox Christians? I've heard from a friend of mine from my former church in Spokane, WA, that four new Orthodox Churches came about after I moved away (that would've been 2007) and that many young men are coming to the faith. I heard this on videos from Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, Fr. Josiah Trenham, and Abbot Tryphon.

I do know in my small church that it's grown in the past year or two. Every Sunday, the pews are full. It's amazing to see all these new people coming.

Have you heard this from anybody you know or any other priests in our Church?

I just saw that Russell Brand has been baptized into the Christian faith, but I don't know which Christian sect he's joined. Candice Owens, I just saw a headline, has joined the Catholic Church.

Anybody heard these things or anything from your end of the world?

I heard Elon Musk is already a Christain but gave a little sermon. Jordan Peterson is so close but yet so far as he has to get through all the psychology to find the personal Jesus lol. But hes close.

But I am not surprised really as to what has been happening in society and the world. It seems like we are in a time of great conscious raising and the world is getting smaller. So its getting to a point where people need to think and choose what hill they want to die on.

I think identity politics has a lot to do with it. The political became the personal so religion, culture, personal stuff morphed into one. So now which side of the fense you take is a matter of life and death.

As a result I think Christains have to become bolder. The enermy has made itself known and we even see attacks on Christain beliefs. So its now a time of putting your faith on the chopping block. Or it will soon become more like that as the spiritual battle warms up.

Christs church shines best when it has to stand up against lies and false prophets who want to silence God. Thats when Christains become boldest and will stand on that truth until death.

The reasons a lot of men especially are standing up is because thats how its always been when God is in a battle against the evil ones. When its about to get rough thats when Gods warriors step in. Because ultimately thats what it comes down to, standing up in the face of the enermy which is ultimately going to use intimidation and force.

But not standing up to have an unjust war or be violent. But to just stand up and not back down on Gods truth. To let it shine out for the world to see. I think we are now moving into a time where we will see both men and women standing up for God unlike we have seen for a long time.

 

[E.C.]

What did she die from?

Hypothermia I think. Winters in the Pacific Northwest are not kind.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

We have about 30 young guys who’ve poured on converting over the past five years. Full of testosterone and a desire to be as manly as possible, honestly some of them have annoyed me. They treat the church like a pickup zone. One hit on my daughter very inappropriately and he had a come to Jesus talk with yours truly.

 

[prodromos]

We have about 30 young guys who’ve poured on converting over the past five years. Full of testosterone and a desire to be as manly as possible, honestly some of them have annoyed me. They treat the church like a pickup zone. One hit on my daughter very inappropriately and he had a come to Jesus talk with yours truly.

Was that a "let me show you my gun collection" and "how soon would you like to stand before our Lord in person?" kind of conversation?
We have a Cypriot friend from England who was one of three daughters. Their father was a butcher. Whenever a young man showed an interest in one of his daughters he would have them come to his shop where he would proceed to expertly carve up and de-bone a few roasts and steaks in front of them. They got the message.

 

[ArmyMatt]

We have about 30 young guys who’ve poured on converting over the past five years. Full of testosterone and a desire to be as manly as possible, honestly some of them have annoyed me. They treat the church like a pickup zone. One hit on my daughter very inappropriately and he had a come to Jesus talk with yours truly.

sounds like the pendulum swung too far to course correct how they think of masculinity.

 

[E.C.]

We have about 30 young guys who’ve poured on converting over the past five years. Full of testosterone and a desire to be as manly as possible, honestly some of them have annoyed me. They treat the church like a pickup zone. One hit on my daughter very inappropriately and he had a come to Jesus talk with yours truly.

Idiots.


This, is exactly what concerns me about this wave of conversion. These people seem to believe that the Orthodox Church is some redoubt for the conservative side of the culture war. She is not. She is the Bride of Christ and the path to salvation; not some ultra-conservative "answer" to the progressive swing in this country. These newcomers must be corrected in their tracks and corrected early on. We don't "give away" the bride in an Orthodox wedding for the simple reason that unlike the West, we never viewed women as property. As much as these people may be interested in the theology (venerating icons, praying to the Theotokos, etc) we need to also educate them in having a proper Orthodox mindset.

 

[Chesterton]

Wow, this is very different from my experience. Most of the newer converts in my city, both male and female, are a bit too liberal for my liking. But I love them anyway of course.

 

[ArmyMatt]

most of my converts are unknown as far as their politics. I tell them no one cares who they vote for and I don’t want to hear it.

 

[Chesterton]

most of my converts are unknown as far as their politics. I tell them no one cares who they vote for and I don’t want to hear it.

There was this time at coffee hour in 2016 when some parishioners half-jokingly handed Father a MAGA hat and asked him to put it on. He just smiled and said "c'mon guys, you know I can't do that".

 

[ArmyMatt]

There was this time at coffee hour in 2016 when some parishioners half-jokingly handed Father a MAGA hat and asked him to put it on. He just smiled and said "c'mon guys, you know I can't do that".

haha, yep

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

There was this time at coffee hour in 2016 when some parishioners half-jokingly handed Father a MAGA hat and asked him to put it on. He just smiled and said "c'mon guys, you know I can't do that".

Our priest would! He loves Trump!!