Interesting article. It certainly illumunates things that I was unaware of. With respect to Orthodox church and you and John's situation.
Let me just lead off by saying I'm extremely happy to be kept in the loop about the Yasar goings on. That really resonates with me and I not only appreciate it, but covet such immensely. I realize that John and I haven't been in as close communication over the last few years, but circumstances have a way to interve making that more difficult. .I acknowlege that at least 50% of the "blame" is my own. How much easier can it be these days than eMailing somebody? Well, case in point, your message here. I've just not been able to respond to it until now.
That's why I thought it was so important to actually send John a
letter Until I realized I never actually enclosed the handwritten "letter" part of the letter I sent John before he was releaved of duty at his duty station in Iraq. You have no idea how stupid I felt. Hopefully he enjoyed the stamp I put on the envelope. Ah, well, its the "thought" that counts, right?
Secondly, and in response to the article, it shed's some light on how John came to meet you. This was something I wasn't quite clear about. The article filled in some of the blanks. The article quotes him with respect to other things that I do know however. And I have a much better understanding with regards to his decision to convert to Orthodoxy.
Let me state right now, that I will continue to pray for you and John, and
all the Yasars (including your family), and those held very dear in your hearts (as I have since I've come to know you guys), that the Lord will continue to hold you tightly in the hollow of His hand. I covet fiercely that you
remain there; where I've believed you two to be since I've come to know both you and John. We're
all sheep in His flock. THere's only ONE fold, and there's only ONE
Master And if any of the members of the herd stray, go "missing", or whatever, He'll come look for us. It is written: "Mine know my voice." The Master will leave the
whole flock to search for the one stray. And if that "stray" is munching delectible succulent grasses near the precipice, they'll heed the call, "Where are you?" (As if He doesn't know), or "Come here."
I continue to pray for your continual spiritual maturation in your walk with and
in Christ. I pray that this will be profitable not just for the Lord, but also with respect to your progressive sanctification as it pertains temporally until our glorification. None of us (or the angels) will ever plumb the infinite magnitude of God's glory, grace, and holiness. An infinite being will still require an infinite amount of time by perfectly glorified beings to fully comprehend. Progressive sanctification is an eternal process that continues well beyond eternity to come to completion.
The article mentioned a fundamental tenet of Orthodoxy: fundamentalism. This is something that I attempted to answer to John when he first began to question the reason for various differeent christian denominations. Let me just bluntly state that "denominationalism" is un-Scriptural. What
other conclusion can be drawn from Jude 3 in the context of the Jude, the New Testametn and the Bible as a whole? I'm not talking about a difference between Jewish, and christian (or pagan) faith. I'm talking about
The Faith. That is a christian faith.
The
mystery of the Church
in Christ is an under-current that can be discerned (but never revealed) throughout the Old Testament. The best answer I can deliver concerning christian denominationalism is that its predicated upon faulty exegesis or heretical eisegesis. Nevertheless, and that notwithstanding, there is only ONE Church
in Christ, while there may be many churches that people worship and fellowship in. The Church
in Christ is MUCH more than a mere building. And worship in any church is much more than mere
experience.
This is an issue I have with respect to many Roman Catholic testimonies concerning services on the various "feast" days. They all talk a lot about an existential
mysticism .and VERY LITTLE about the message preached.
I'm very happy to know that John is actively
seeking the Truth. It is written:
Seek and ye shall find. The article mentioned that the Orthodox Church conducts "training" in regards to various things. One of the things I gathered from the article is that the Orthodox Church strives to edify its congregation is Greek language. In the context of exegesis there must be a
proper hermeneutic. My firm belief is that the KJV Bible is the best fundamental translation that exists. While, there may be
at least ONE translation subsequently that incorporates manuscripts that were not available to the KJV team, it is definitely a point of origin for Bible study (given the proper study tools, e.g. lexicons, concordances, dictionaries, etc.
My point is that if you and John can learn Greek to a degree where you can dispute with A.T. Robertson then you are well on your way to be firmly equiped to rightly divide the Truth. As far as I'm concerned, disagreement with A.T. Robertson can only be resolved by consulting Westcott - Hort; albeit the latter is wholly secular..
With respect to concordance / lexicon, than there are none better than the "standard" Strong or Vine conccordances. But that's not the "end all BE all". I appreciate Spiros Zodhiates commentary (and concordance / lexicon) as a good reference source to discern doctrine.
So where am I going with all this? If heard that it makes things interesting to the reader (or listener) to actually have a point; the truth of that is uncertain but it is seomthing I've heard.
I was confirmed Lutheran. My late childhood through early juvenile ages where devoted to Lutheran indoctrination. I thought I knew the Word. I effectively "left" the Lutheran Church when the church I was a "registered member" of .excommunicated me because I didn't attend regularly enough. That's just the thing I needed. NOT.
At the time I was excommunicated, I was a high-school rebel
just getting into dope.
I never foresook the salvation that I understood. I never practiced nor actively worshipped either. From the day that I percieved myself to be "saved", I believed I
was saved according to the tenets of the Bible. That notwhithstanding, I believe I AM saved (have always been and always be) since
that Day.
I am and believe that I'll be extremely embarassed before the Lord and all of His Saints on THAT Day when my works will be triied by fire. I will nonetheless suffer no punishment for
sin. Look, it doesn't matter except what is in one's "heart of hearts". A man has THREE hearts:
- THe heart shown publicly
- The heart shown privately
- The heart denied to even oneself
Who knows them all? ONLY God himself can distiguish between Abraham & Lot; and counting them both righteous despite their actions (or lack of).
Have I digressed from my main point AGAIN? When will wonders ever cease?
I understand 10o% John's concern respecting denominational differences in the faith. And while the matter is "difficult" it is not an
intractable one that requires consulting an "expert". Who consulted whom in Acts 17:11?
It is most breathtaking to see somebody take "by the horns" matters of faith and work them out.
I believe I've mentioned this before, according to Scripture you as a "wife" are subservient to your husband with respect to all decisions of the household & spiritual matters. Does I Cor II intimate that you are some sort of "lesser" individual?
Is there any sort of suggestion that YOU can talk to your husband 'bout doctrine?
That being said, and notwithithstanding, the Lord showed me His grip upon me 10 years ago. And that despite of all of carnal debauchery and total lack of worship in the previous 10 years.
That all being said, there is no Biblical basis for:
- confession to an "ordained" priest (AFAIC I'd qualify)
- infant baptism
- worship of "icons"
- prayers to saints
I substantially understand why John converted to Orthodoxy; it fits with everything he was searching for. GIven that premise, is it appropriate to associate with a church or a Church denomination that you personally ascertain to be heretical?
Only the Holy Ghost can convict you of that.
My prayers in Christ are before the feet of God upon His throne in that regard.
Still in the Gap-