Trinity not specifically in scripture?

[MORTANIUS]

I would agree, but sadly this "definition" of the true God has become more obscure in recent times. The implications of not accepting the revelation as given by Christ himself concerning who God is has led to much confusion. We see this not only with JW's, but with new age practices creeping into Christianity.

New Age practices will always be around as the flavour of the month, but the Holy Bible will remain the same.

I hope you looked at the Scriptural passages I posted in this thread that identify the Trinity even in the Old Testament (or at least thats what we Lutherans believe)

Maybe you Orthodox also identify these passages with the Trinity as well?

 

[sin_vladimirov]

...but it's about not driving people away by our condescension.

I do understand that prayer is probably more effective though.

In IC XC,
Marjorie

I agree.

 

[Marjorie]

New Age practices will always be around as the flavour of the month, but the Holy Bible will remain the same.

I hope you looked at the Scriptural passages I posted in this thread that identify the Trinity even in the Old Testament (or at least thats what we Lutherans believe)

Maybe you Orthodox also identify these passages with the Trinity as well?

We do. If you went to an Orthodox Liturgy you would hear many "holy holy holy" hymns about the Trinity; we take that as the basis of Trinitarian worship.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

In IC XC,
Marjorie

 

[MORTANIUS]

I still consider anyone who loves Jesus a Christian. Even if that love is misguided, they still recognize something in the Lord. Maybe all thats needed is what Marjorie says, and thats to Pray.

 

[sin_vladimirov]

I still consider anyone who loves Jesus a Christian. Even if that love is misguided, they still recognize something in the Lord. Maybe all thats needed is what Marjorie says, and thats to Pray.

I do think that prayer is the only thing that works..... and fast...... and a lot of love. (that is somewhat of an universal solution for this planet-Christianity 101)

 

[Theophorus]

New Age practices will always be around as the flavour of the month, but the Holy Bible will remain the same.

I hope you looked at the Scriptural passages I posted in this thread that identify the Trinity even in the Old Testament (or at least thats what we Lutherans believe)

Maybe you Orthodox also identify these passages with the Trinity as well?

Yes they have always been around. Since the garden of eden the same concept has been dangled aaround men, praying on their pride.

Yes, I did read the passages. The Trinity is Christianity, both OT and NT.

 

[MORTANIUS]

Yes they have always been around. Since the garden of eden the same concept has been dangled aaround men, praying on their pride.

Yes, I did read the passages. The Trinity is Christianity, both OT and NT.

So true.

 

[Theophorus]

I do think that prayer is the only thing that works..... and fast...... and a lot of love. (that is somewhat of an universal solution for this planet-Christianity 101)

A monk once told me that many want a "quick fix" for their spiritual hunger. That Orthodoxy was the opposite. True Christianity is a struggle of "cosmic" proportions. And that through real praxis and thirsting for truth in humility, your thirst is really quenched.

 

[StChristopherofPalestine]

Put a cross somewhere near your front door or on it. A cross that has been blessed by an Orthodox priest is especially effective.

It will turn away JWs and Mormons.

Try it.

It works.

This reminds me of a story that a Deacon-Monk told me. Apparently these Jehovah's Witnesses kept harassing a priest. They came over and over and over. So one time, he asks them to hold on for a moment. They gladly agree. He returns in vestments and with a big bowl of water and a cross (or something) and begins blessing them with the water and loudly proclaiming "In the Name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY SPIRIT!" They run like they're on fire and never bug him again.

I love that story.

 

[MORTANIUS]

A monk once told me that many want a "quick fix" for their spiritual hunger. That Orthodoxy was the opposite. True Christianity is a struggle of "cosmic" proportions. And that through real praxis and thirsting for truth in humility, your thirst is really quenched.

I don't necessarily agree with your statement.

Christianity isn't a struggle of cosmic proportions.

Once we accept them, the only struggle is against our sins.

 

[Marjorie]

I don't necessarily agree with your statement.

Christianity isn't a struggle of cosmic proportions.

Once we accept them, the only struggle is against our sins.

And the struggle against our sins is of cosmic proportions.

In IC XC,
Marjorie

 

[sin_vladimirov]

A monk once told me that many want a "quick fix" for their spiritual hunger. That Orthodoxy was the opposite. True Christianity is a struggle of "cosmic" proportions. And that through real praxis and thirsting for truth in humility, your thirst is really quenched.

But if you think, it is that way with everything!

Humanity prefers easy way, the highway...

Just look at the world and you will see that in every area of our being we look for an easy way to do things. Now this is not always worse but in many many things it is.

So, I think that if it is easy, it must be wrong!

To give it a "theologic" spin- if it is easy it is from devil!

(there are things that are better for being easy-many tools for work and studying and so on... also I do not think that anyone here will misunderstand what I am talking about).

 

[MORTANIUS]

And the struggle against our sins is of cosmic proportions.

In IC XC,
Marjorie

What do you mean when you say "cosmic proportions"

 

[Theophorus]

What do you mean when you say "cosmic proportions"

For me, it is the struggle against ourselves, our sins, the temptations of the world, and against all untruth/lies, and against the author of those lies. These effect everything, as Paul noted in Romans; the whole creation groans until now (Christ's redemption).

Think about it, sin and temptation are ubiquitous.

 

[sin_vladimirov]

Sin has brought an un-natural state to the Universe.

It is manifested by noetic as well as organic falls (Angelic and Human).

It is an un-creating (retarding, anticreating) process. Sin is nothing. It is empty. It is un-natural. And the fact that we fallen, have made it so "natural" so "full" so "something" is proof of its deadliness and retardation.

Effects are felt in all of creation, for even those who are not fallen do feel the consequences of it one way or the other.

 

[Marjorie]

What do you mean when you say "cosmic proportions"

It's something completely beyond us... it affects all things... something so immense that only grace can overcome it-- and grace, too, affects all things, in a cosmic manner.

In IC XC,
Marjorie

 

[The Prokeimenon!]

Put a cross somewhere near your front door or on it. A cross that has been blessed by an Orthodox priest is especially effective.

It will turn away JWs and Mormons.

Try it.

It works.

A few weeks ago, some JW's came to my door to tell me what the Bible says about death (in fact, it was Bright Week- they couldn't have picked a worse time to try to scare me about death.) I invited them inside to pray in front of the Icons. They said "that's not our business here today- we just came to tell you about the kingdom." then they left. Icons scare them off every time.

Actually, I got the idea from a man at my Parish. He had some JWs come to the door and he insisted that they come inside. He led them to the Icon corner and stood there for a few seconds. The JWs, looking like deer in headlights, said "um... we're at the wrong place. Goodbye."

Another story, of unknown origin, goes like this: Some JWs knock on the door of a Priest (or it may have even been a monastary). The Priest begins to discuss the Trinity, and the JWs say something about how "in the Greek, it says 'the Word was a god' and not 'the Word was God.'" So the Priest says "hmmm- let me get my Bible" He comes back with a Greek Gospel Book, and reads them the verse in question, and shows it to them. They are silent. The Priest says, "What? You don't know Greek?"

Moses

 

[elizabethevangeline]

The Priest says, "What? You don't know Greek?"

Is it wrong that I snickered wickedly?

 

[sin_vladimirov]

Is it wrong that I snickered wickedly?

Hmmmm well if it is... I am guilty also!

 

[Kolya]

Seventh Day Adventist (Sabbatarians) do the same... I know... I did so

Stefan, when were you SDA?

Kolya