Orthodoxy and inter-Christian dialogue

[mtown]

Greetings in our Lord,

DISCLAIMER
I want this discussion thread to be reserved only by Orthodox Christians. It is not because I choose to ignore comments and replies from other members of this website, but want to understand the views members of the Orthodox community have about other Christian brethren. Now, I don't know if this thread will end up getting me banned from the site or will be closed down almsot immediately. Personally, if I didn't post it I know I would not be able to continue contributing to this site.


ORTHODOXY AND INTER-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE

I am new to this site and have had the opportunity to make some contribution to the Orthodox forum on some threads. I have also have had the opportunity to read many of the threads on other forums from our Christian brethern.

As Orthodox Christians we understand that "Orthodoxy does NOT tolerate any beliefs outside the Orthodox Church." With that statement said, how does Orthodoxy function within the ecumencial movement or within this specific site? It comes from respect, in comes from personal prayer, it also comes from not presenting Orthodoxy less than what it is the TRUTH. We Orthodox Christians avoid "us versus them" situations, as we believe that the TRUTH needs no apology any more.

At the same time I want to be honest of what I have observed on this website. Some of the things about Christianity and the beliefs that some Christian groups hold simply appall me.

I want the Orthodox Christians that visit this site to be careful when making posts on other forums as to not be trapped into heterodox teachings. But when you see posts that you believe are presenting a distorted version of the TRUTH, teach them! Posts links to sites that contain writings from the Holy Fathers, the Canons, Orthodox scholars, the life of the Saints, the Sacraments, etc..... Teach them. I believe it is through this kind of education that Orthodoxy can contribute to the ecumenical aspect of this website.

In Christ,

Miltiadis

 

[mtown]

I give you the following article for your contemplation.

http://www.myriobiblos.gr/texts/english/osborne.html

 

[MariaRegina]

http://www.myriobiblos.gr/texts/english/osborne.html

Conclusion

It is the thesis of this paper that Orthodox and evangelical hermeneutics have a great deal in common. In each category, the similarities outweigh, the differences. The high view of Scripture, the acceptance of the historical veracity of the biblical texts, the emphasis on the inspiration of the sacred authors and the divine origin of biblical revelation-all these demonstrate that Orthodoxy and evangelicalism possibly have more in common than any other two groups in Christendom. Brown speaks of an experience at Harvard in which the only ones who understood the concept "initiated into the mysteries of the faith" were the Orthodox scholar Fr Georges Florovsky and the evangelicals among the student body.(62) This would also be true in most of the categories discussed in this paper (especially between Orthodoxy and the high church segments of evangelicalism).

This is not to minimize the differences. Both sides have strengths that could be of value to the other. Both sides have much to learn from the other. The desire of this paper is to stimulate further ecumenical dialogue so that the Church of Christ might be enriched and strengthened. Truly the goal of all dialogue as well as all hermeneutics is that the Church might grow in the knowledge and the love of our Lord. This can best be accomplished when "iron sharpens iron" and those who worship and serve the Lord begin to challenge and learn from one another.

In all my dealings with the non-Orthodox Christians, I earnestly strive to avoid arrogance, and with humility, knowing my sinfulness, I try to present the Good News of salvation, correcting any obvious erroneous teachings, so that we all may be saved. For example in my latest OBOB posting I was asking how we can best teach at our college campuses that fornication is wrong. Unfortunately on most college campuses I rarely meet a fellow Orthodox Christian, and you need to have eight Chrismated souls in order to set up an OCF.

Yours truly in Christ,
Elizabeth

 

[Patristic]

One thing that bothers me is how when people from other Christian groups critique Orthodoxy they always object to the Orthodox Church's insistence that they are the true Church. Part of the reason why people dislike this is because the Orthodox Church still takes a strong stand on positions it deems heretical. In a world where most churches just agree to disagree and where new teachings pop up almost daily, I find it refreshing that there is a Church that actually has the authority to take a stand and does take a stand on heretical teachings.

 

[MariaRegina]

One thing that bothers me is how when people from other Christian groups critique Orthodoxy they always object to the Orthodox Church's insistence that they are the true Church. Part of the reason why people dislike this is because the Orthodox Church still takes a strong stand on positions it deems heretical. In a world where most churches just agree to disagree and where new teachings pop up almost daily, I find it refreshing that there is a Church that actually has the authority to take a stand and does take a stand on heretical teachings.

And then the Orthodox are called arrogant! However, Christ didn't promise us a bed of roses.

 

[Oblio]

At the same time I want to be honest of what I have observed on this website. Some of the things about Christianity and the beliefs that some Christian groups hold simply appall me.

I agree wholeheartedly. There are indeed apalling things taught under the guise of Christianity on other forums.

I want the Orthodox Christians that visit this site to be careful when making posts on other forums as to not be trapped into heterodox teachings. But when you see posts that you believe are presenting a distorted version of the TRUTH, teach them! Posts links to sites that contain writings from the Holy Fathers, the Canons, Orthodox scholars, the life of the Saints, the Sacraments, etc..... Teach them. I believe it is through this kind of education that Orthodoxy can contribute to the ecumenical aspect of this website.

A wise warning, there are times that I turn off either the internet, or the radio because the information content could possibly allow me to pick up heterodox teachings. Oftentimes I merely do it because the heresies taught inflame my passions, either result is no good for my spiritual health.

However,mtown, I would encourage you to help us in our effort to do as you suggest in bringing the truth to and teaching those who would be drawn to the light by the grace of God.

 

[Photini]

At the same time I want to be honest of what I have observed on this website. Some of the things about Christianity and the beliefs that some Christian groups hold simply appall me.


In Christ,

Miltiadis

Hi Miltiadis, I don't know if we've really met yet. I've seen some of your posts. I look up to you very much, especially knowing you are a cradle Orthodox (correct?).
There have been many beliefs that I've seen that truly floored me. I had no idea....
I've come to be hanging out more in the GA section with the atheists!! I almost always have a negative experience with Christians from other denominations...
Alot of the atheists and such that I've run across left Christianity because of the faulty and unsound theology of various denominations. Most of them think that the "Christian God" is a God of anger and wrath and favortism. Most of them have never heard of the Orthodox Church.
I can deal with this more calmly than I can deal with a Calvinist or some such teaching the 'limited atonement' and 'election' and denying the Eucharist and other such things.

I kind of appear and disappear around here. I'm very glad to meet you, and am happy to see the number of Orthodox Christians growing.

 

[Peter]

Okay, I don't know how to cut and paste yet, but I find it interesting that the "arrogant" card was played. One of my best friends was talking to one of our Protestant friends last night and the Protestant said those very words.

Also, as Oblio pointed out, I too have to just walk away because my passions are stirred in an unhelathy way. (Anger mostly)

 

[MariaRegina]

Dear Peter and Milty:

If you want to quote somebody, then use the QUOTE button instead of the quick reply box.

You will notice that the words quote=peter are within brackets at the beginning. That is how all quotes are distinguished. The conclusion will have the words [/quote].

To see how I insert colors, different sizes and bold or italics, click the quote button now and follow my example.

HI THERE

This is getting easier

Do you have any questions

Ask if you need help

Be not afraid of names. The truth can be intimidating to those who are ignorant.

 

[MariaRegina]

Oh!

BTW: A wonderful feature about the QUOTE button is that it allows you to preview your typed work for misspellings, etc.

To use combinations of symbols, again, click QUOTE to the bottom of this message and see how I did it.

The Orthodox Faith has a purer light.

This statement by a Monk of the Eastern Church is so true. I find myself challenged to do better. When I was not Orthodox, I hated the fasting seasons, not really understanding the need for fasting. Now I look forward to these times of bright sadness when we can draw closer to Christ in repentance. We truly need those seasons of grace.

Hope this helps.

 

[Maximus]

Having been a Protestant myself, and having visited just about every kind of Protestant sect at one time or another, as well as having been a member of three of them, their beliefs do not surprise or shock me.

I also spent a few years as an atheist (sigh).

For me anger is the biggest hazard on this web site.

Actually, though, I am sometimes more discouraged by what I encounter on Orthodox web sites than I am by what I encounter here.

I think I may ultimately leave the internet discussion forums altogether.

Sometimes I feel that I would like to just sit on a mountaintop or in a forest somewhere praying the Jesus Prayer.

 

[MariaRegina]

Dear Maximus,

I agree. I have drastically cut back on the Internet discussion forums which I used to visit. I think Yahoo was the worst of all. The dissipation at that site definitely interfers with prayer life.

We are told to: "Be sober; be watchful. The devil, your adversary, roams about like a lion seeking whom he may devour."

Look at our icons, they are all very sober, eyes wide open. We are to be living icons to all we meet: sober and prayerful. That's why I like coming here and seeing all the holy icons displayed as our avatars.

I will continue to pray for you. Keep us posted.

Yours truly in Christ,
Elizabeth

 

[mtown]

One thing that I have always felt within the Orthodox Church is that our life is not easy. True, like Elizabeth has said many times, it is a narrow and difficult road towards salvation. I look around at various forums here and many of my friends who are not Orthodox and that same feeling does not exist with them.

I asked my priest and spiritual father this question and this was his reply.

The passion of we Orthodox Christians are greater than anyone else, in that Satan works harder to convert us away from our path to salvation.


It is strange for non-Orthodox Christian to understand when we say that we find strength when fasting, prayer, and charity. This in Orthodoxy are the three links of the "chain" that prepare us for the Holy Eucharist.

We invest our time and patience in our aesthetic elders, as they live a life of holiness. We make pilgramages to monastaries as these elders have devoted their life to listening to the Holy Spirit and we yearn for their words as we would yearn for a water in the desert.

These few things I have talked about in this post are impossible for many to understand, but to we Orthodox it seems as natural as breathing.

But not all ecumenical discussion is in vain (some Orthodox would disagree) that is why I also included that specific artical in this thread. The artical objectively removes some of the "arrogance" that many non-Orthodox groups believe we hold to.

In Christ,

Milty

PS- I really thought that this thread would get me banned from this site. It is good that it hasn't happened and have found comfort with the few Orthodox Christians that I have had the opportunity to meet these past couple of weeks. It lifts my heart that we can struggle and suffer together as true brothers and sisters. Peace and blessings be with all of you tonite and tomorrow morning!!

As for tomorrow, it is a day we celebrate the rememberance of the great St. Kosmas the Aitolos. You can best discribe him as one of the protectors and great teachers of Orthodoxy in Greece during the Ottoman occupation!!! It is Holy men like St. Kosmas that we must look to when teach and talk about Orthodoxy as you can say he almost single handely saved Greece from the darkness!!

 

[MariaRegina]

May we all be found worthy to partake of the Precious Body and Blood of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins and for life everlasting.

Good night all and may God keep you safe and guide you.

Lovingly in Christ-God,
Elizabeth