- Oct 4, 2016
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I was posting this thread for @Thatgirloncfforums that really got me into thinking in terms of Orthodoxy etc. I really got a lot of mileage out of Peter Gillquist, "Becoming Orthodox" which I think is ideal for someone who is very new to the topic (addressing various kinds of Protestant ideas, objections).
But this testimony of a Baptist preacher turned Greek Orthodox was very useful when it comes to the notion of a phrenoma (mindset) of Faith.
From First Baptist to the First Century
Like a Protestant may be sacramental, having a liturgy based on the old Catholic mass etc. but there can be something missing that comes for how they conceptualize it. They can see it as a means of worship etc. but they don't really have a high view of it in terms of like an Existential and metaphysical reasons. This can lead a person who see things from a purely Utilitarian point of view to maybe want to scrap it, when there is an issue. That sort of thing was something I argued for as a youth, because our little Lutheran mission was not really taking off compared to all the Low Church, or nonliturgical churches of Baptists, Pentecostals etc.
Another thing I'm aware of is either intentionally or by osmosis absorbing the positions of other Evangelical Christians. In confirmation class when talking about Mary the WELS pastor reinforced the notion that Mary and Joseph had sexual intimacy after having Jesus which is the ancient position of Helvidius, but that is not what Luther actually believed who honored her as Theotokos and Ever Virgin (Because I'm sure he was aware of not just the Church Fathers position but also the role this belief played in various controversies like Nestorianism).
Besides that were other little things growing up. Like Lutherans in early days made the sign of the cross when praying much like all the other Christians but except for the pastor blessing the congregation with the Aaronic Blessing in the Liturgy, that was largely not done (seemed too Catholic or superstitious). And I got to say, the season of Lent was kind of the same way, we had it on our calendar etc. but we didn't really do any seasonal fasting. The closest thing we did was have some Lentil soup around then but we still put some meat in it for flavor.
Anyway, it just food for thought. Maybe your experience of Lutheranism was different than mine from the "Old Missouri" synod and Wisconsin Synod in California.
But this testimony of a Baptist preacher turned Greek Orthodox was very useful when it comes to the notion of a phrenoma (mindset) of Faith.
From First Baptist to the First Century
Like a Protestant may be sacramental, having a liturgy based on the old Catholic mass etc. but there can be something missing that comes for how they conceptualize it. They can see it as a means of worship etc. but they don't really have a high view of it in terms of like an Existential and metaphysical reasons. This can lead a person who see things from a purely Utilitarian point of view to maybe want to scrap it, when there is an issue. That sort of thing was something I argued for as a youth, because our little Lutheran mission was not really taking off compared to all the Low Church, or nonliturgical churches of Baptists, Pentecostals etc.
Another thing I'm aware of is either intentionally or by osmosis absorbing the positions of other Evangelical Christians. In confirmation class when talking about Mary the WELS pastor reinforced the notion that Mary and Joseph had sexual intimacy after having Jesus which is the ancient position of Helvidius, but that is not what Luther actually believed who honored her as Theotokos and Ever Virgin (Because I'm sure he was aware of not just the Church Fathers position but also the role this belief played in various controversies like Nestorianism).
Besides that were other little things growing up. Like Lutherans in early days made the sign of the cross when praying much like all the other Christians but except for the pastor blessing the congregation with the Aaronic Blessing in the Liturgy, that was largely not done (seemed too Catholic or superstitious). And I got to say, the season of Lent was kind of the same way, we had it on our calendar etc. but we didn't really do any seasonal fasting. The closest thing we did was have some Lentil soup around then but we still put some meat in it for flavor.
Anyway, it just food for thought. Maybe your experience of Lutheranism was different than mine from the "Old Missouri" synod and Wisconsin Synod in California.
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