My mother wants to talk about Orthodoxy (TAW)

[Not David]

Howdy!

My mom wants to talk what motivated me to choose the Orthodox faith and I don't want to argue nor want to cause trouble.

What should I say?

 

[Jonaitis]

Howdy!

My mom wants to talk what motivated me to choose the Orthodox faith and I don't want to argue nor want to cause trouble.

What should I say?

What is your reason?

 

[Not David]

What is your reason?

What do you mean?

 

[Jonaitis]

What do you mean?

What motivated you to choose the Eastern Orthodox church?

 

[Of the Kingdom]

I assume your mother is not Orthodox, and that you do not want to offend her. How you should respond depends a lot on what your mother's beliefs are, but regardless what you say should be truthful.

Perhaps you could tell your mother you believe that Jesus is the son of God, and is our only hope. You might add that you feel you can grow in Christ best by following the Orthodox way.

Perhaps sharing studies from the Bible with her will help her to understand that you are serious about your relationship with Jesus.

 

[Not David]

What motivated you to choose the Eastern Orthodox church?

Because it makes sense, but I don't want to say it in a way that might insult her faith.

 

[Not David]

I assume your mother is not Orthodox, and that you do not want to offend her. How you should respond depends a lot on what your mother's beliefs are, but regardless what you say should be truthful.

Perhaps you could tell your mother you believe that Jesus is the son of God, and is our only hope. You might add that you feel you can grow in Christ best by following the Orthodox way.

Perhaps sharing studies from the Bible with her will help her to understand that you are serious about your relationship with Jesus.

Yeah, that makes sense.

 

[ArmyMatt]

just be honest and loving, and don't make it a hatchet piece of what you were before.

and let her guide the conversation.

 

[JohnTh]

Some hints:
- don't tell her that she's wrong. Fighting evil is like fighting darkness - you cannot win in that way. You must do exactly the opposite.
- she must see on yourself the concrete result of the therapeutic spiritual science which is orthodoxy besides your words.
- so firstly, you must pray and fast for her, give her your personal example and put on the last priority your words. Yes, this involves to be loving and honest like the others said.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Continued prayers for you.

I wonder why she is asking - if you know? That can help guide the conversation.

Others have given good answers. I will only say that I do best by (1) avoiding mentioning any denomination/comparison at all, and instead (2) focusing on what I have gained by finding such things as God truly as love, discipline that helps in overcoming temptation, prayers that truly open my eyes and heart to God, worship that brings me into the presence of heaven, deepening trust in God, and so on.

I don't mean as a list as I just wrote it. I think that tends to come off as triumphalistic. Rather I find it best if someone asks to talk about one or two things that are fitting to the conversation, and how they help me love God more fully or follow Jesus better than I did before. That kind of concrete honesty seems to reassure people that we really ARE following Christ. And/or give them a glimpse of what they can share in also, if they want it.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

Howdy!

My mom wants to talk what motivated me to choose the Orthodox faith and I don't want to argue nor want to cause trouble.

What should I say?

I would recommend you take the approach of some of the older converts, especially Peter Quilquist in "Becoming Orthodox", and "Coming Home". You basically give the Orthodox Equivalent of a "Testimony" in Protestant circles. This is simply you "telling your story". I assume you like the rest of us probably found some areas of Protestantism wanting. Be honest about that!

But hopefully there are some truths or other positive things in your former background that you found also celebrated in Orthodoxy, also talk about those things. And hopefully in doing so, you can be genuinely gratefully for some areas of your Faith that your previous background helped you learn.


In my case, I was greatly helped in reading many Orthodox testimonies that helped me articulate some things I had experienced. So go looking on the web, but I will leave you a few good examples to peruse that I have cited in the past.


From First Baptist to the First Century


Recovering the Ancient Paths · Journey To Orthodoxy


O Lord, Establish This Vineyard · Journey To Orthodoxy


https://www.amazon.com/Coming-Home-Protestant-Becoming-Orthodox/dp/0962271322

 

[Not David]

Continued prayers for you.

I wonder why she is asking - if you know? That can help guide the conversation.

Others have given good answers. I will only say that I do best by (1) avoiding mentioning any denomination/comparison at all, and instead (2) focusing on what I have gained by finding such things as God truly as love, discipline that helps in overcoming temptation, prayers that truly open my eyes and heart to God, worship that brings me into the presence of heaven, deepening trust in God, and so on.

I don't mean as a list as I just wrote it. I think that tends to come off as triumphalistic. Rather I find it best if someone asks to talk about one or two things that are fitting to the conversation, and how they help me love God more fully or follow Jesus better than I did before. That kind of concrete honesty seems to reassure people that we really ARE following Christ. And/or give them a glimpse of what they can share in also, if they want it.

Well, I was a really devoted Evangelical Christian and she is surprised that suddenly I had a change of faith when I entered college.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Well, I was a really devoted Evangelical Christian and she is surprised that suddenly I had a change of faith when I entered college.

I guess I mean people have usually asked me because of one of several reasons ...

Because they are afraid I have abandoned Christianity and become apostate (I need an eyeroll emoticon)

Because they are interested in theology or Christian history and want to discuss more


Because they see a difference in me and want to know why.

I prefer the third reason. The second works too. I get the first entirely too often.

I'd answer each of them a bit differently.

(Oh, and a few have wanted to track the "journey" ... which is usually simple curiosity or an Orthodox inquirer)

 

[Antoni]

Whatever you do in your discussion with your mother on this very important topic, make sure you do so with smiles and joy. She needs to know she is not losing her son. That is a mother’s greatest fear. Let her see she is gaining a son that is full of love and peace, and a desire to grow closer to Christ.

 

[Not David]

I hope I could be the "really glad sort of figure" that could show his mother he had changed, unfortunately, my life has had a lot of personal struggles, and that has affected me a lot, plus my current situation made me downcast for a couple of days.

 

[Jude1:3Contendforthefaith]

Howdy!

My mom wants to talk what motivated me to choose the Orthodox faith and I don't want to argue nor want to cause trouble.

What should I say?

OP I said a prayer for you.

I've been asking Mary / Theotokos to pray for my Mom to go visit an Orthodox Nun Monastery that is close to where she lives and speak with the nuns there.

I've been trying to tell her about Orthodoxy so I know how you feel.

.

 

[Antoni]

While I don’t know your specific circumstances, I understand what it means to be downcast. It is certainly not easy to be joyful when there is great pain to deal with.

If Orthodoxy is giving you hope and strength in your personal struggles, which I imagine it must be since you are considering to convert, then that is what you should demonstrate to her, in a gentle and loving way. It is often helpful to explain the history and the theological reasons for your conversion, but what your mother likely wants to see is that your consideration is a sober one, coming from your heart and through prayer, and supplying you with the hope and peace which you need. It cannot be that you are running away from something, but that you are walking towards something with hope and which you feel will deepen your love and faith in God.

 

[Newtheran]

Howdy!

My mom wants to talk what motivated me to choose the Orthodox faith and I don't want to argue nor want to cause trouble.

What should I say?

Might help to know where she is coming from...RC? Protestant? Atheist? Something else? Remember, nobody was ever argued into the church. I'm sure you have your reasons, good ones. Offer them as a starting point without being critical. Let her walk the same road you did with your reasons and experiences acting as mileposts for her.