Reservations

[Patristic]

For those of you who don't know, I am not officially a member of the Orthodox Church yet, but Father Nicholas and I have been targeting sometime this spring as the time for my Chrismation. Anyways, a few of my friends from college have found about this and have begun to ask me all sorts of questions and such for the purpose of keeping me from going through with my Chrismation. Most of the are Reformed so they think the Church teaches heresy, even though they won't go so far and say so to me personally. I just wanted to ask everyone here to pray for me so that I won't be hindered from taking this step because I would be lying if I said there criticisms and attacks haven't had any effect on me.

 

[MariaRegina]

For those of you who don't know, I am not officially a member of the Orthodox Church yet, but Father Nicholas and I have been targeting sometime this spring as the time for my Chrismation. Anyways, a few of my friends from college have found about this and have begun to ask me all sorts of questions and such for the purpose of keeping me from going through with my Chrismation. Most of the are Reformed so they think the Church teaches heresy, even though they won't go so far and say so to me personally. I just wanted to ask everyone here to pray for me so that I won't be hindered from taking this step because I would be lying if I said there criticisms and attacks haven't had any effect on me.

Dear Patristic:

Please post any questions here so that we can openly and honestly discuss them. Who knows? Maybe some of your protestant friends will convert with you. I've known quite a few young men who bring a crowd of friends and their families with them. So welcome.

And don't be embarrassed because we converts probably all went through some uncertainty before our Chrismation. I think the devil is trying to prevent you from receiving one of the truly great sacraments that of being purified, sanctified, and illuminated. And surely he doesn't want you to partake of the Most Precious Body and Blood of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.

My love and prayers for you.

Elizabeth

 

[Photini]

I just wanted to ask everyone here to pray for me so that I won't be hindered from taking this step because I would be lying if I said there criticisms and attacks haven't had any effect on me.

You are such a blessing to this board. My humble prayers are with you.
In the months before my baptism came many temptations. I found the words of the Elder Joseph of Optina to be so true...."It always happens like that. As soon as a person starts thinking of going on the path of salvation, right away there appears an obstacle and temptation." Be strong and stay in close contact with the priest. All of us are praying for you. If you have time, you may like to read the life of St. Moses of Optina.

 

[MariaRegina]

You are such a blessing to this board. My humble prayers are with you.
In the months before my baptism came many temptations. I found the words of the Elder Joseph of Optina to be so true...."It always happens like that. As soon as a person starts thinking of going on the path of salvation, right away there appears an obstacle and temptation." Be strong and stay in close contact with the priest. All of us are praying for you. If you have time, you may like to read the life of St. Moses of Optina.

Dear Photini:

Please post a link to a good biography of St. Moses of Optina. Or do you know a book you can recommend?

 

[Photini]

Dear Photini:

Please post a link to a good biography of St. Moses of Optina. Or do you know a book you can recommend?

The book I have is entitled The Elder Moses of Optina. Translated from the Russian by the Holy Nativity Convent in Boston, Mass, 1996. I haven't finished the whole book yet...about 2/3 of the way through. A nun recommended this book to me, saying that Saint Moses is a shining example of the Christian attitude we should all have in the face of difficulties. Through much cultivation and continuous prayer, he acquired the lovely virtues of Christ.

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

You will be in my prayers.

 

[Matrona]

Dear Patristic,

Well, I can't say I didn't go through the exact same sort of thing... people trying to keep me from becoming Orthodox. One guy who is a protestant even had the nerve to say he'd LIKE to have a relationship with me... if I'd only "come to my senses" about Orthodoxy! (As if I'd leave the Church I love for a silly BOY. ) I found the timing of these intrusive people very ironic... one literally days after I became a catechumen, and the other very shortly before I was baptized.

Remember that you're not alone. I think pretty much all of us converts have faced temptations and distractions before joining the church. If someone asks you a question you can't answer, don't be afraid to ask about it here. I don't know what I would have done without internet resources for Orthodox information. As a catechumen, when none of my "real life" friends were available to help, my online friends could, and I didn't have to feel embarrassed. And also remember that there's nothing inherently wrong with questioning your beliefs on occasion... how else would we learn about our faith?! Just don't be ready to give up on Orthodoxy just because of something your "friends" tell you. (And if you ask me, they don't sound like very good friends, anyway.)

 

[Patristic]

Everyone thanks for your encouragement and support, I have often thought that these reservations and doubts were seeds planted by Satan to prevent me from joining the Church. Anyways, my friends do mean well, atleast in my heart I honestly believe they do. Yet, they always throw something in my face like, well the Orthodox are semi-pelagian or they don't understand the doctrine of God's sovereignty and election. Being from a Reformed perspective I wouldn't expect anything else from them. All I can do is point them in the direction, pray for them, and try to make them understand where I am spiritually.

 

[Maximus]

I will pray that God delivers you safely from Calvin's pawn-playing Baal.

Turn your face from Calvinism and run as fast as you can, my friend. It's a nightmare.

God loves everyone, absolutely everyone.

He loves you and always will.

 

[Alfred M]

I will say "ditto" to Maximus' last post.

God loves everyone! His desire is for all to come to Him through Christ and the fullness of that here on earth is within Orthodoxy. Through all the ages, satan has been very much at work. Through relativism, scholasticism, dispensationalism, humanism, and all other philisophical points of view, satan has tried again and again to let mankind think that we alone can be god unto ourselves.
Till deep the garden of your heart for that will be what is judged. The "home" to best till that garden in is the Orthodox Church. For there you will find a taste of heaven in the worship of our Lord and Saviour.

You are in my prayers,

Alfred.

 

[nicodemus]

I think many people have this experience when converting to Orthodoxy. It is so "different" from what we're used to in the west that a lot of people are really turned off by it. I posted something similar in another thread, but I think it is applicable here too:

Orthodox Christianity is the first Faith I've ever come across that inspired me to try to conform to it and not have me try to conform it to me.