Learning about Orthodoxy

[Wynona]

My husband is extremely interested in the Orthodox church. I want to support this so I'm making a thread dedicated to learning more about the history and beliefs.

I would love to hear testimonies and things Orthodox members enjoy about Orthodoxy here.

 

[Wynona]

Diving into this one.

 

[rockytopva]

My husband is extremely interested in the Orthodox church. I want to support this so I'm making a thread dedicated to learning more about the history and beliefs.

I would love to hear testimonies and things Orthodox members enjoy about Orthodoxy here.

There is differences in the Orthdox churches... The term "Africa Oriental Orthodox Church" generally refers to the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which are prominent Oriental Orthodox Churches with significant presence in Africa, specifically in Egypt and Ethiopia respectively. These churches are part of a larger group of Oriental Orthodox Churches, which are also known as non-Chalcedonian churches. The Greek Orthodox church is a whole other thing.

 

[Wynona]

There is differences in the Orthdox churches... The term "Africa Oriental Orthodox Church" generally refers to the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which are prominent Oriental Orthodox Churches with significant presence in Africa, specifically in Egypt and Ethiopia respectively. These churches are part of a larger group of Oriental Orthodox Churches, which are also known as non-Chalcedonian churches. The Greek Orthodox church is a whole other thing.

Thank you. We are looking into the Greek Orthodox Church since we have one nearby.

 

[Wynona]

I want to state the current appeal of Orthodoxy for my husband and I.

--- We don't believe the terms "faith alone" and "salvation by faith alone" from Martin Luther's reformation are biblical. So we essentially got alienated from Protestantism.

---Corruption, greed, and greasy grace in our experience with various protestant churches.

---The Orthodox Church stands out for consistency whereas modern Protestant churches are always changing and splitting.

---Scripture and the tradition of the saints seems to lend itself to more consistency in the Orthodox Church.

---Modern churches have let in a lot of feminist ideology that we don't agree with.

 

[Jay Ross]

By definition, most religious activity ends up being orthodox: -

 

[Nancy]

Reading about the Greek Orthodox church, it seems very confusing and involved with tradition and stances. I do love the reverence but do not think I would fit well in one. You and hubby seem like you would like it!
God bless his visit tomorrow.

 

[Wynona]

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

My husband is extremely interested in the Orthodox church

Sadly that pathway leads to reformed theology which is not biblical and leads to deception.

The Orthodox Church stands out for consistency

Yes, constant in holding on to deception.

Reformed theology became accepted widespread primarily with Augustine who was a gnostic and modern so called "orthodox" churches today still hold to many unbiblical teachings brought for by this Augustine character

So the pathway you are on is one the devil is trying very hard to keep you on as this pathway leads to scripture twisting and heresy which is listed as one of the world of the flesh (see Galatians 5:19-21) that cause people who do these things to not inherit God's Kingdom.

These people seek to impress others with their "rich history" and their "theological degrees" from supposedly big time thological colleges and universities but it's all a ruse to entice others to join them in their deception

You should do yourself a favor and continue with what God's teaches in His Word and refrain from allowing others to influence you in to departing from the truths found in God's Word.

Scripture and the tradition of the saints seems to lend itself to more consistency in the Orthodox Church.

Jesus said tradition makes the word of God of none effect

Priest Ranks Every Protestant Heresy - In this video, I rank the most infamous heresies of Protestantism, sola scriptura

See there,. he's already telling you to depart from God's Word and believe things not from the Lord, thing not taught by Jesus, His Apostles and not accepted by the early church

Sounds like you have already accepted their seed of deception. Sad.

This dude in the video is demonic! Beware!

 

[Wynona]

@Big Boy Johnson
I'm not sure what you mean by "reformed theology". If you mean Calvinism---we don't agree with this and don't believe Orthodoxy teaches this.

Reformed theology came way after Orthodoxy.

I don't want to argue but can you explain what deceptions you are talking about?

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

I don't want to argue but can you explain what deceptions you are talking about?

The guy in the video is not of the Holy Spirit of the real Jesus Christ. He's of another spirit that is not of the Lord.

Did you not notice he advocates going out side of God's Word for truth???

They considers using God's Word only to be heresy meaning he believes extra biblical teaching that does not come from God's Word.

That's an open door to deception as these people follow traditions of men rather than strictly abiding in Christ by walking with the Lord based on what Jesus and His Apostles taught.

You are at a crossroads, if you allow others to entice you in to following their traditions that are not taught in God's Word you shall be deceived and will be led in to following doctrines of demons as they clean itt all up an d make it sound so wonderful when it's actually darkness.

The guy in the video is anti Word of God only ((aka Sola scriptura which is just a latin term meaning "by Scripture alone," which is a doctrine in Christianity that asserts the Bible is the sole infallible authority for faith and practice. This principle emphasizes that all necessary truths for salvation and spiritual life are found in Scripture, without the need for additional sources of authority)

He's claiming going by God's Word is heresy so that's a very big and obvious red flag as this leads to accepting things not taught by Jesus and His Apostles in God's Word, the Doctrine of Christ!

 

[Wynona]

The guy in the video is not of the Holy Spirit of the real Jesus Christ. He's of another spirit that is not of the Lord.

Did you not notice he advocates going out side of God's Word for truth???

They considers using God's Word only to be heresy meaning he believes extra biblical teaching that does not come from God's Word.

That's an open door to deception as these people follow traditions of men rather than strictly abiding in Christ by walking with the Lord based on what Jesus and His Apostles taught.

You are at a crossroads, if you allow others to entice you in to following their traditions that are not taught in God's Word you shall be deceived and will be led in to following doctrines of demons as they clean itt all up an d make it sound so wonderful when it's actually darkness.

The guy in the video is anti Word of God only ((aka Sola scriptura which is just a latin term meaning "by Scripture alone," which is a doctrine in Christianity that asserts the Bible is the sole infallible authority for faith and practice. This principle emphasizes that all necessary truths for salvation and spiritual life are found in Scripture, without the need for additional sources of authority)

He's claiming going by God's Word is heresy so that's a very big and obvious red flag as this leads to accepting things not taught by Jesus and His Apostles in God's Word, the Doctrine of Christ!

Okay. I must admit, I have doubts about Sola Scriptura.

This is Martin Luther's response to Catholicism but the result has been 8,000 denominations. Everyone who picks up a Bible can now claim they have the true gospel and way of following it. But if Sola Scriptura is true, how do you know which interpretation to follow?

The departure from God's Word seems to be a pattern that the Reformation made worse.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

Okay. I must admit, I have doubts about Sola Scriptura.

This is Martin Luther's response to Catholicism but the result has been 8,000 denominations. Everyone who picks up a Bible can now claim they have the true gospel and way of following it. But if Sola Scriptura is true, how do you know which interpretation to follow?

The departure from God's Word seems to be a pattern that the Reformation made worse.

Catholics do not follow God's Word,. they believe God left some stuff out so they go outside of God's Word.

Orthodox churches do the exact same thing (while claiming catholics are in error and they are not) and do not follow God's Word, they believe God left some stuff out so they go outside of God's Word just like the catholics do.

Just because there are so many denominations is meaningless. That's just the devil muddying the waters and it started right after Paul left earth

Acts 20:27-30
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Jesus specifically said the Holy Ghost would lead us in to ALL Truth (John 16:13),
and Jesus said God's Word IS Truth (John 17:17)

There were massive amounts of deception going on prior to the so called reformation, and lots of deception after the reformation. The reformation was a tactical move by the enemy to bring in even more false doctrine to muddy the waters even more and to bring in even more division to solidify deception being what people follow rather than following what the Lord teaches in His Word

So called "orthodox" churches are all peddling deception just as much as the catholic churches

It appears the starting point the enemy used to get you off track, trying to lead you in to deception, if your concern that there are so many denominations and so many claiming to be Christians who all disagree.

They care and concern should be cast upon the Lord as you and your husband focus first and foremost on having your own direct relationship with the Lord by the Holy Spirit based on what the Lord teaches in His Word independent of any outside influence.

Actually your husband should be doing this as the Pastor of your household which is the order the Lord gives in His Word.

Care, worry, concern is an open door for the enemy

1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Philippians 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

John 14:1
Let not your heart be troubled

Walking in sorrow, worry, fear, anxiety, etc is sinful behavior because it's NOT walking by faith and such behavior is an open door to the enemy come in and attack which results in incoming deception.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

how do you know which interpretation to follow?

You and your husband should prayerfully (with a little fasting) follow God's Word and be directly led by the Holy Spirit with sincerity trusting that the Lord will lead and guide you in to all Truth as Jesus said the Holy Spirit would do.

THAT is the interpretation you follow.

Jesus said the Holy Ghost would lead us in to ALL Truth (John 16:13),
and Jesus said God's Word IS Truth (John 17:17)

Romans 8:14
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Matthew 24:5
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am anointed of God; and shall deceive many.

Take note of Jesus' warning and don't get caught up in care, worry, anxiety about it. Trust Him and stand on His Promises!

Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

The only things we need to know that are not written in God's Word are things such as: "Do I take this job?", "Do we buy this house?", "Do we have another child?" etc, etc.

God will lead you in these questions, but all other questions related to salvation and walking with the Lord are already in His Word.

God did not forget to put things in His Word that His people need to know as the catholics, and so called orthodox churches claims. That's a trick of the devil to get people to open the door to accept teachings not from the Lord.

 

[Hepzibah]

My husband is extremely interested in the Orthodox church. I want to support this so I'm making a thread dedicated to learning more about the history and beliefs.

I would love to hear testimonies and things Orthodox members enjoy about Orthodoxy here.

In the introduction to The Study of Holiness from the Early Church Fathers by J. B. Galloway(Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2014), we read: “If the teachings of the modern holiness movement are correct concerning the doctrine of holiness and the baptism with the Holy Ghost as an experience for the saints of God today, perfecting them in Christian love and freeing them form carnal sin, it seems that we should find some evidences of this faith and teachings in the period of the history of the Church where it was the closest to the days of Christ”.

I started going through de-Protestantisation a few years ago when I began to look at EO in depth, though I had looked less intensely when I heard that John Wesley had discovered the doctrine of Entire Sanctification in their writings while I was studying him and the revivals at that time. This time I realised that the Orthodox mind-set has to be understood and it takes time to do that and I don't think that Wesley did that fully as he was stuck on two stages not three.

It is my belief that anyone looking in depth will no longer be able to call themselves Protestant again as so many of their doctrines are not found there like sola scriptura. Augustine of Hippo has had a massive influence and not just with Catholics and Calvinists.

Unfortunately his influence is also found in the Orthodox church and has increased in time especially regarding sanctification which he claimed would be gradual and not achieved fully in this life, in contrast to the early teachings of a three stage progression to deification in this life ie being made a saint, known as the Via Triplex.

The early teaching was, that it is or rather should be, in their doctrine of Theosis which has a similarity to Wesley's Entire Sanctification.

St. Gregory Nazianzen, one of the great theologians of the fourth century, calls out to us over the centuries and exhorts us with the following. To quote St. Gregory: “Let us not remain what we are, but let us become what we once were.” And from St. Peter, the chief of the apostles, through the first-century voice of St. Ignatius of Antioch, from Irenaeus of the second century through the great Cappadocian Fathers of the fourth century, of the great Desert Fathers of the fifth century, Maximus the Confessor of the sixth century to John of Damascus and John of The Ladder in the ninth century, from Gregory Palamas in the 14th century to St. Silouan in the 20th century—the great Fathers of the Orthodox Church have echoed this exhortation of St. Gregory, reminding us and ever pointing us to the truth, that by God’s grace we can become much more than we are

I fully believe that EO is the nearest by far of all the faith groups to early teaching on salvation which is the most important thing so I read their writings and just miss out the bits of later writers, that I think are not inline with early teachings on things mainly like baptism and communion, and the habit of not looking at their deep spiritual meaning, and how they relate to those in the Theosis state when all is fulfilled.

The rot set in early when not enough bishops could be found that were not in Theosis, the original bar. One must be in that state to be taught all of the finer details of things which believers in the 'early rain' period are unable to discern, even though they may be fervent.

They will not accept me into membership because of my beliefs on baptism, communion and Theosis, saying that sin can not be overcome in this life (but must be fought against) and I am having trouble finding any since Father John Romanides who lived in the 20th century (Romanides Study Group FB).

Things I love - the selfless dedication of some priests to their flock. The wonderful liturgy which is mainly scripture. Much more integrity. Depth of Bible study and amazing sights of families with young children and young single men filling up the church. There is much to love and especially for men with that 'masculine' feel of it all.

 

[SavedInHim]

Orthodoxy broke away from Roman Catholicism. Yet, they see themselves as Catholic, the true Catholics; the true church really. Many of their beliefs and practices are the same as the RCC. How anyone can look at them in their gawdy attire, waving incense around, and think they have anything to do with Christianity is far beyond me.

 

[Hepzibah]

Orthodoxy broke away from Roman Catholicism. Yet, they see themselves as Catholic, the true Catholics; the true church really. Many of their beliefs and practices are the same as the RCC. How anyone can look at them in their gawdy attire, waving incense around, and think they have anything to do with Christianity is far beyond me.

The Roman church broke away from the early church, by denying the Nicene Creed regarding the Filioque, and putting one man above all others when the early church according to the faith handed down from the saints, had a group of bishops to make decisions.

 

[Lizbeth]

Orthodoxy broke away from Roman Catholicism. Yet, they see themselves as Catholic, the true Catholics; the true church really. Many of their beliefs and practices are the same as the RCC. How anyone can look at them in their gawdy attire, waving incense around, and think they have anything to do with Christianity is far beyond me.

Priests, robes, incense offerings, liturgies etc, are all trappings of old covenant temple worship............not the new covenant simplicity of Christ, which is the new way of the Spirit. We should not be about those dead shadows/types any more but about the living substance and reality of what they only symbolized.

Can see here how important a matter this is:

2Co 11:2-4

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

It is my belief that anyone looking in depth will no longer be able to call themselves Protestant again as so many of their doctrines are not found there like sola scriptura.

Protestant is just a phrase coined to indicate one is in protest again catholic doctrine.

The Apostles and the early church got their doctrine from God's Word with the Apostles being involved in putting God's Word in written form. It is error to get doctrine from any place other than God's Word as this is forsaking the Doctrine of Christ by accepting teaching that are extra biblical not taught by Jesus and His Apostles.

Those doing such are no longer Christians because they are sadly no longer following the Doctrine of Christ having opened themselves up to doctrines of demons (extra biblical religious teachings that do not come from the Lord)

There is much to love and especially for men with that 'masculine' feel of it all.

Well they do exhibit a lot of pride

Priests, robes, incense offerings, liturgies etc, are all trappings of old covenant temple worship............not the new covenant simplicity of Christ, which is the new way of the Spirit. We should not be about those dead shadows/types any more but about the living substance and reality of what they only symbolized.

Can see here how important a matter this is:

2Co 11:2-4

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Exactly!

 

[BreadOfLife]

Protestant is just a phrase coined to indicate one is in protest again catholic doctrine.

The Apostles and the early church got their doctrine from God's Word with the Apostles being involved in putting God's Word in written form.

Interesting . . .

So, if the Early Church got their doctrines from God’s Word – WHY is it that Protestants don’t?
The Early Church believed in Baptismal Regeneration and Infant Baptism.
(Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Justin Martyr, Clement, Origen, Cyprian, Ambrose, Augustine)

The Early Church believed in the Real Presence (i.e., the Eucharist).
(Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Hippolytus, Cyril of Jerusalem, Theodore, Ambrose of Milan, Augustine)

It is error to get doctrine from any place other than God's Word as this is forsaking the Doctrine of Christ by accepting teaching that are extra biblical not taught by Jesus and His Apostles.

I agree with the first part in RED.
The second part is a LOT more squishy . . .

Your use of “extra biblical” implies that it is not explicitly stated in Scripture. First of all - NOT everything is found explicitly in the Bible. Sola Scriptura is a 16th century, man-made invention. This is what Jesus told the future leaders of His Church:

Matt 16:19, Matt. 18:18
I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. WHATEVER YOU BIND on earth shall be bound in heaven; and WHATEVER YOU LOOSE on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

John 16:12-15
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to ALL truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to YOU the things that are coming.
He will glorify me, because he will TAKE from what is MINE and declare it to YOU.
Everything that the Father has is MINE; for this reason I told you that he will TAKE from what is MINE and declare it to YOU.

He gave His Church supreme earthly Authority to speak on His behalf.

Those doing such are no longer Christians because they are sadly no longer following the Doctrine of Christ having opened themselves up to doctrines of demons (extra biblical religious teachings that do not come from the Lord)

As I’ve shown - that mirror needs to be turned toward yourself and ALL non-Catholics and non-Orthodox . . .