Something Hard Not to Notice

BobRyan said:

ok so you say that you are getting a lot of "walk in's " people who just "show up" with no connection at all to the RCC??

REally?

Is there no one here that converted to the RCC as an adult - apart from marriage etc?

If there is someone - or if you personally know of someone who just walked in -- please share with us.

in Christ,

Bob

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I'm pretty sure MoreCoffee converted as an adult, you know him right?

Here is a show about adult converts to the RCC:
The Journey Home | Eternal Word Television Network, Global Catholic Network

BobRyan said:

ok so you say that you are getting a lot of "walk in's " people who just "show up" with no connection at all to the RCC??

REally?

Is there no one here that converted to the RCC as an adult - apart from marriage etc?

If there is someone - or if you personally know of someone who just walked in -- please share with us.

in Christ,

Bob

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RCC? You mean the Catholic Church?

I'm not Catholic. I wouldn't know. I would imagine it is the same though.

You mentioned the Orthodox Church, and that's where I attend.

I became interested in the Orthodox Church through her teachings. Didn't know a soul there.

I just got contacted by someone else who has been reading about Orthodoxy and wants to just walk in, and I made arrangements to meet with them and take them because they don't know anyone (was put in touch with them via someone else). We've had two others show up in the last few weeks.

You seriously think all the converts are due to marriage? I actually only know one person who is interested in joining because her fiancee is Orthodox. The rest came on their own, not knowing anyone.

BobRyan said:

My question - is how does that happen?

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I think I see where this is going...

The best way, perhaps the only way to learn about Christ and to get closer to Him is not to seek religion but instead to meditate on His words and also to obey them. John 14 and 1 John 2 teach us this. It doesn't matter what Church we attend, it matters only who we rejoice in and who we abide in. I recommend the Gospel of Mathew and John, along with the Psalms, Proverbs, and the letters in the New Testament.






James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will[a] abide in Him.

28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when[f] He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.


John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep[d] My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said,[e] ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.


Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.



1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when[f] He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

LiberalAnglicanCatholic said:

Yes, I do see a number of former evangelicals joining more liturgical churches or establishing yet more non-denominational churches but with a more liturgical bent. However, this is not to discount the effect of the charismatic movement gaining momentum within liturgical or more mainline branches of Christianity. there is also a fundamental shift in how the role of the church is looking in general with the appearance of non-traditional explorations of evangelization, such as "beer and bibles" as it has been called By Tickle.

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I was invited to a 'beer and bible study' back when I was an undergrad. I still don't know what to make of that.

Anyway, I was raised Pentecostal and then joined my husband's Baptist church (where we were also married). We are both now Orthodox. Whoever said Orthodoxy is 'dead'- may the Lord have mercy on you. Instead of wallowing in the ignorance you're spouting, come and see what we're really all about. I find it to be quite the opposite of 'dead'. My husband and I had essentially given up on Christianity and had major spiritual struggles. I was reading everything I could find about various world religions, philosophies, and even Christianity. I read a book that introduced me to Orthodox theology and Church history and wanted to visit an Orthodox parish. We did. It affected me profoundly. I had a spiritual experience. We kept returning every week 'just visiting', until one day, I told my husband that he could do what he wanted, but that I was converting. I'm exactly where God wants me to be.

seashale76 said:

I was invited to a 'beer and bible study' back when I was an undergrad. I still don't know what to make of that.

Anyway, I was raised Pentecostal and then joined my husband's Baptist church (where we were also married). We are both now Orthodox. Whoever said Orthodoxy is 'dead'- may the Lord have mercy on you. Instead of wallowing in the ignorance you're spouting, come and see what we're really all about. I find it to be quite the opposite of 'dead'. My husband and I had essentially given up on Christianity and had major spiritual struggles. I was reading everything I could find about various world religions, philosophies, and even Christianity. I read a book that introduced me to Orthodox theology and Church history and wanted to visit an Orthodox parish. We did. It affected me profoundly. I had a spiritual experience. We kept returning every week 'just visiting', until one day, I told my husband that he could do what he wanted, but that I was converting. I'm exactly where God wants me to be.

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Good to hear that

Restoresmysoul said:

The best way, perhaps the only way to learn about Christ and to get closer to Him is not to seek religion but instead to meditate on His words and also to obey them. John 14 and 1 John 2 teach us this. It doesn't matter what Church we attend, it matters only who we rejoice in and who we abide in. I recommend the Gospel of Mathew and John, along with the Psalms, Proverbs, and the letters in the New Testament.

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When talking to his disciples in Matthew 18:18-20, Jesus said:

18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Here we see that Christ gave his apostles authority to create the church on Earth. The apostles then went forward and established churches across the globe, meeting together at councils to discuss matters of faith in accordance with what we see written above.

Today these churches live on, maintaining Christ's wishes:

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 Tim 2:2)

It is important to maintain this Apostolic lineage, because the churches that have, maintain the orthodox Christian faith. Christ did not tell his apostles to go forth, hand people a book, and let them figure it out for themselves. Christ placed his teaching in the hands of the disciples, who then taught them to us through word and letter.

GoingByzantine said:

It is important to maintain this Apostolic lineage, because the churches that have, maintain the orthodox Christian faith. Christ did not tell his apostles to go forth, hand people a book, and let them figure it out for themselves. Christ placed his teaching in the hands of the disciples, who then taught them to us through word and letter.

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I don't agree with what i "think" you are referring to, i don't agree with this "lineage" as you believe in it, i instead agree with John. Christ Himself teaches us, all we must do is abide in His Words and in Him. We are His temple, we need no building or Apostle, or Pope. We are sons of God, not sons of men. The apostles who wrote the NT, the ones Christ sent to teach us, they are the only apostles we need.

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Restoresmysoul said:

I don't agree with what i "think" you are referring to, i don't agree with this "lineage" as you believe in it, i instead agree with John. Christ Himself teaches us, all we must do is abide in His Words and in Him. We are His temple, we need no building or Apostle, or Pope. We are sons of God, not sons of men. The apostles who wrote the NT, the ones Christ sent to teach us, they are the only apostles we need.

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

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The verse you post is somewhat ironic, considering it comes from an Epistle written by an Apostle who was granted his pastorship by Christ. The whole letter is John the Evangelist teaching Christians the truth as he learned it. Just read the introduction:

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)

Through epistles like Titus we know there is an Earthly Church, intended by Christ, created by his apostles.

GoingByzantine said:

The verse you post is somewhat ironic, considering it comes from an Epistle written by an Apostle who was granted his pastorship by Christ. The whole letter is John the Evangelist teaching Christians the truth as he learned it. Just read the introduction:

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)

Through epistles like Titus we know there is an Earthly Church, intended by Christ, created by his apostles.

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Its not ironic and it supports everything i said. Please brother, don't attempt to put me under men or into bondage to religious practice and teachers. I have found liberty in Christ, He is the teacher and i'm free. I didn't learn this the easy way, i was forced to go without a Church and so i found Christ regardless of that situation. I have found the true meaning of liberty in Christ.

GoingByzantine said:

I'm pretty sure MoreCoffee converted as an adult, you know him right?

Here is a show about adult converts to the RCC:
The Journey Home | Eternal Word Television Network, Global Catholic Network

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I don't know when he converted or why.

Kylissa said:

RCC? You mean the Catholic Church?

I'm not Catholic. I wouldn't know. I would imagine it is the same though.

You mentioned the Orthodox Church, and that's where I attend.

I became interested in the Orthodox Church through her teachings. Didn't know a soul there.

I just got contacted by someone else who has been reading about Orthodoxy and wants to just walk in, and I made arrangements to meet with them and take them because they don't know anyone (was put in touch with them via someone else). We've had two others show up in the last few weeks.

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Ok so you had no Orthodox friends or family and were a ...??? atheist? methodist? Baptist? that suddenly got interested in the EO?? and began to study it and then joined it?

Is that what the other two you mentioned have experienced as well?

You seriously think all the converts are due to marriage? I actually only know one person who is interested in joining because her fiancee is Orthodox. The rest came on their own, not knowing anyone.

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I don't even know where a single EO church IS in my area -- how does someone just wake-up and want to join it? It gets to the question in the OP.

in Christ,

Bob

I know someone who was at the SBTS (seminary) and became Orthodox after learning about Church history. My FIL was an ordained Baptist Minister with a Th.D. and he is now Orthodox. I met an Orthodox priest who had once been and AoG minister. I know others who were once AoG, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Catholic, one a former pastor from the Church of the Nazarene, Mennonite (one guy had even been raised Amish) and who knows what else that have become Orthodox. I come from a large parish and many of them did not convert due to marriage. In fact, most of these people I personally know were married to non-Orthodox before becoming Orthodox. Also, to the few I do know who married into an Orthodox family, they don't necessarily become Orthodox themselves.

Some people literally decide to visit out of the blue. Others actually read, like I did, and then decide to visit.

seashale76 said:

I know someone who was at the SBTS (seminary) and became Orthodox after learning about Church history. My FIL was an ordained Baptist Minister with a Th.D. and he is now Orthodox. ...

Some people literally decide to visit out of the blue. Others actually read, like I did, and then decide to visit.

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What in the world did they read to make them think that EO was the right way to go from being Baptist???

in Christ,

Bob

BobRyan said:

What in the world did they read to make them think that EO was the right way to go from being Baptist???

in Christ,

Bob

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Why don't find out for yourself? Come and see.

BobRyan said:

What in the world did they read to make them think that EO was the right way to go from being Baptist???

in Christ,

Bob

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Calling.

I think we would all do well to not teach the way of denominations. There is not one denomination that can replace the Word, not one who has fullness, not one that has "THE" exclusive "truth". Its the Word that is truth, and if any denomination has that then that Word is the source of truth. But i tell you the truth now, seeking a denomination is a waste of time. Fellowship is good, but we must seek the Word. Christ is the way, the truth and the Life. He is the "way". Its not found in a denomination, only in the Word.

Please don't be offended, but the truth is that denominational thinking is carnal thinking. Im not saying that those who follow a denomination are carnal, just that they may have a few carnal ideas.

Restoresmysoul said:

Its not ironic and it supports everything i said. Please brother, don't attempt to put me under men or into bondage to religious practice and teachers. I have found liberty in Christ, He is the teacher and i'm free. I didn't learn this the easy way, i was forced to go without a Church and so i found Christ regardless of that situation. I have found the true meaning of liberty in Christ.

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You can find liberty in Christ through praying with others. The lord wants us to be pray with each other, to worship with each other.

At a liturgical church, we sing together, pray together and worship together. We listen to scripture together, we meditate together. The pastor is our spiritual guide, his homilies are in line with the apostolic teachings of the Church. Come and join us. Come and see.

If nothing else, visiting our Churches would make you a better apologist for your own belief in Christ.

BobRyan said:

Ok so you had no Orthodox friends or family and were a ...??? atheist? methodist? Baptist? that suddenly got interested in the EO?? and began to study it and then joined it?

Is that what the other two you mentioned have experienced as well?




I don't even know where a single EO church IS in my area -- how does someone just wake-up and want to join it? It gets to the question in the OP.

in Christ,

Bob

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That is EXACTLY what I am saying. And it is the experience of most of the converts I know.

I still don't know anyone Orthodox outside of the Churches I have been to and online forums like this. No one in my family is or ever has been Orthodox. Not one. None of them support me in it either. Same with my friends. Never knew a single Orthodox Christian until this year.


My family was Baptist. That was the first church I joined. I've been through what feels like almost every Christian denomination. I found the Orthodox Church online. The experience of the other two I mentioned was similar.