Learning about Orthodoxy

[Wynona]

Justification by faith alone (sola fide)

I can't be protestant because Ive stopped believing this years ago. I don't think Scripture supports it. I believe in faith and works. And once saved always saved is a particularly bad heresy that comes from this.

 

[shepherdsword]

Nice summary did you use Grok?

Having read ""Stranger in a Strange Land" I refuse to use Grok...lol. I prefer Chatgpt.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

Having read ""Stranger in a Strange Land" I refuse to use Grok...lol. I prefer Chatgpt.

lol I read it too, but I still like and use it. It is the only AI I use outside of the Microsoft one that was initially installed on my laptop so many updates back. Some day, I will have to get into Chatgpt, I know it can do some cool stuff that Grok can't but I am not as tech savvy as my best friend. Grok really meets my basic research needs, but when it comes to video production and other stuff I want to get into I will need to expand my horizons.

 

[shepherdsword]

I can't be protestant because Ive stopped believing this years ago. I don't think Scripture supports it. I believe in faith and works. And once saved always saved is a particularly bad heresy that comes from this.

I pretty much go by this:

Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

 

[Hepzibah]

@Pavel Mosko

THE PATH TO SALVATION, A manual of Spiritual Transformation by St Theofan the Recluse.

St. Theofan says: "Thus begins the warfare of the parents with the sin that dwells within the child".

Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

St Theofan says: "Cleansed with the water of baptism".

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

St. Theofan says: "Sorrows are the fire and tears are the water. This is the baptism of fire and water" As before.

I do not understand how a young infant who sheds the tears, though I have seen smiling baptisms ie no tears, could have repented?

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

I am suspecting that St Theofan the Recluse has had a lot of influence.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

@Pavel Mosko

THE PATH TO SALVATION, A manual of Spiritual Transformation by St Theofan the Recluse.

St. Theofan says: "Thus begins the warfare of the parents with the sin that dwells within the child".

Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

St Theofan says: "Cleansed with the water of baptism".

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

St. Theofan says: "Sorrows are the fire and tears are the water. This is the baptism of fire and water" As before.

I do not understand how a young infant who sheds the tears, though I have seen smiling baptisms ie no tears, could have repented?

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

I am suspecting that St Theofan the Recluse has had a lot of influence.

Thanks, and this does however bring up another big area. Namely the concept of "Original Sin" vs. Ancestral Sin (the eastern view that predates Augustine's one). And I got to say, I'm still grappling with this one. It is not something people write about much etc.

Ancestral Versus Original Sin | St. Mary Orthodox Christian Church of Central Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Website of St. Mary Orthodox Christian Church

www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org

 

[David in NJ]

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.

PRAY that God redirects your husband to Christ and Him alone

God is not interested in Orthodoxy

God sent His only begotten Son........for FREEDOM from religion

Pray to the Lord Jesus Christ and ask for His Favor and then go to your husband and say: "Let's read the Gospel of John together"

 

[Wynona]

God sent His only begotten Son........for FREEDOM from religion

Is religion bad?

James 1:27
King James Version
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

 

[David in NJ]

Is religion bad?

James 1:27
King James Version
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Religion is DEATH = the strength of the Law is sin and leads to DEATH

What you posted is not religion - just as James points out = visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and keep yourself unspotted from the world.

James is pointing out that if you want to be 'religious' make sure it is about serving those in dire need = which God approves of

Yet even in this no one can wash away their sins thru 'good works'

 

[Wynona]

Religion is DEATH = the strength of the Law is sin and leads to DEATH

What you posted is not religion - just as James points out = visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and keep yourself unspotted from the world.

James is pointing out that if you want to be 'religious' make sure it is about serving those in dire need = which God approves of

Yet even in this no one can wash away their sins thru 'good works'

I don't like arguing doctrine anymore. Ill leave the grace and works argument to those more qualified. I just firmly am against speaking as if religion is bad.

"Christianity is a relationship with God, not a religion".

Christianity is a religion. It's both a religion and a relationship with God.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

I don't like arguing doctrine anymore. I just firmly am against speaking as if religion is bad.

"Christianity is a relationship with God, not a religion".

Christianity is a religion. It's both a religion and a relationship with God.

Funny I have dealt with that theme before, as pious as it sounds not only is it wrong in terms of the facts it isn't even "biblical" not when you look up the entire definition of what a religion is, or the actual Greek lexicon and verses of the NT.

James 1:27
KJ21
Pure religion, undefiled before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.


I got a say 20 years back I dealt with a lot of Counter Culture stuff, basically former boomer Evangelicals idealizing the stuff from the Jesus Movement as a norm for Christianity. What a mess that is! Jesus was all loving etc. but not really a hippy, nor was all the fruit of the Jesus movement positive. People need boundaries etc.


Besides that I also dealt with "Christian Anarchism" etc. same thing.

 

[David in NJ]

I don't like arguing doctrine anymore. Ill leave the grace and works argument to those more qualified. I just firmly am against speaking as if religion is bad.

"Christianity is a relationship with God, not a religion".

Christianity is a religion. It's both a religion and a relationship with God.

Ill leave the grace and works argument to those more qualified.

There is no one more qualified then those who are filled with the Holy Spirit and know the Truth

Stay with religion = which always argues with the Holy Spirit

the Holy Spirit is firmly against adding religion to Christ = "not of works lest anyone should boast"

You and i are not compatible for you seek religion and i seek the Truth/Christ/Holy Spirit

 

[Hepzibah]

Thanks, and this does however bring up another big area. Namely the concept of "Original Sin" vs. Ancestral Sin (the eastern view that predates Augustine's one). And I got to say, I'm still grappling with this one. It is not something people write about much etc.

Ancestral Versus Original Sin | St. Mary Orthodox Christian Church of Central Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Website of St. Mary Orthodox Christian Church

www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org

Very good thank you. I love the late Fr Romanides.

"Basil the Great, attributes the change in attitude to humanity rather than to God (Migne, 1857-1866b)."

I have pondered on this a few times, in that, it is not God who is angry with sinners (with sin yes) but it is man who is angry.....with God. Even atheists are angry with God. My mother proved this when she would be ready for me coming in after there had been a natural disaster and say 'so you believe in a God who would do this??' snarl.

"Pelagius is regarded as a heretic in the East (as is the case in the West). He elevated the human will and the expense of divine grace."

This is false and a myth promoted by Augustine.

I will do more reading on Ancestral Sin. thanks.

 

[Wynona]

There is no one more qualified then those who are filled with the Holy Spirit and know the Truth

Stay with religion = which always argues with the Holy Spirit

I know I don't have authority amongst men as a female. Both by biblical mandate and because men just never took my arguments seriously. As a female, men just see me as someone needing to be taught.

I have no problem with this. I try to avoid arguing salvation doctrine for these reasons.

But I can say I think you and others are giving a knee-jerk reaction based on not knowing about Eastern Orthodoxy or their contribution to all of Christianity.

 

[David in NJ]

I know I don't have authority amongst men as a female. Both by biblical mandate and because men just never took my arguments seriously. As a female, men just see me as someone needing to be taught.

I have no problem with this. I try to avoid arguing salvation doctrine for these reasons.

But I can say I think you and others are giving a knee-jerk reaction based on not knowing about Eastern Orthodoxy or their contribution to all of Christianity.

As a female, men just see me as someone needing to be taught.

Not this man

i encourage you to read the Gospel of John with your husband so that you BOTH grow in the LORD

My wife and i do this all the time together.

FYI - i was raised Roman Catholic so i know all about religion including the east orthodox

If you feel led to go in that direction then go.
But do so with prayer and always compare what they teach to the Holy Scriptures

May the LORD Jesus Christ direct you & your husband's steps Today that you may be filled with knowledge and understanding in CHRIST, who is the Measure of all Things to God

 

[Lizbeth]

I don't like arguing doctrine anymore. Ill leave the grace and works argument to those more qualified. I just firmly am against speaking as if religion is bad.

"Christianity is a relationship with God, not a religion".

Christianity is a religion. It's both a religion and a relationship with God.

No need to be qualified.....ask God for wisdom and understanding, because He has promised to give liberally to those who ask.

Jesus didn't come to bring us a religion, He came to demonstrate and bring us a new Way. Religion is what man makes out of things. God's true house/temple is not made with the hands of man, and that speaks to something deeper than just bricks and mortar. I asked the Lord one time, what is it about so many churches that they bring the life of the Spirit to death? (because that is what I observe) He came back immediately with one word..."artificial". I had to think for a second, and then it came to me....artificial means man-made....no life in it, like plastic flowers.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

Yeah, this is a straw man

That's what they all say

this post and the other ones from Big Boy do remind me why I don't post here most of the time.

Those following the Lord and His Truth have no issues standing in the fire of disagreement because they know the Lord stands up for His Own Word and those following Him aren't bothered at all if other people disagree with God's Word.

Those following false doctrine cannot take anyone disagreeing with them as it hurts their pride.
They don't want others to be able to speak freely.

refer to the great cloud of witnesses in Christian history as guides for becoming like Christ.

In other words they are talking to the dead which is witchcraft just like the catholics.

This is one way we know they don't have the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ who NEVER leads anybody to engage in occult practices

Trying to talk to those that are physically dead who have passed from this world opens the door to demons spirits

Unfortunately he does lead souls to forms of godliness that deny the power....and he leads them to seek to establish their own righteousness (Godliness) rather than submitting to the righteousness of God in Christ. Fruits can be and need to be discerned, whether they are of God or of self.

Exactly. The devil is very, very religious and his demons all attend church services every Sunday.

The devil's game has always been just like we saw in the Garden of Eden which is to twist God's Word in such a way to make his lies sound so reasonable and good that one would be dumb to not agree with his lies

People talk about there being so many denominations, and this is how and why there are so many denominations.

Then some folks get so upset over it thinking they are going to somehow change the entire world (hidden pride) that it leads them to worry, fear, anxiety which are open doors to the enemy to attack them with deception successfully because they are walking in fear not trusting the Word of the Lord as their sole source of Truth

looked up the answer from the Orthodox perspective, you can't just write it off as satanic.

We can seeing all the things they are engaged in that are not of God, that Jesus and His Apostles never taught anybody to do showing they are not being led by the Holy Spirit.

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

Those adding things to God's Word (extra biblical) will be treated by the Lord just like the pharisees and sadducees

BTW, I went and watched some of the pro-othadox videos and the Lord started providing numerous alerts from scripture showing error they are enraging in similar to the warnings the Lord brings to my attention when I have watched pro-catholic videos.

So yeah, I have listened to some of the pro-othadox teachers and the Word of the Lord shuts them down every time!

"Knowledge puffs up. Love edifies"

Let's not forget that God also said His people perish for a lack of knowledge - Hosea 4:6

The Lord also says where there is no vision (understanding) the people perish - Proverbs 29:18

More is needed than just love. And actually, knowing the love of the Lord causes knowledge to be passed to us

Ephesians 3:19
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

I've heard people claim it's better to not know anything because they are scared that "knowledge puffs up" so their fear is an open door for the enemy.

I don't see a problem with Communion for children.

Taking communion after some guy does a hocus pocus magic act claiming it turns the juice and crackers in to the literal Blood and Flesh of Jesus is enraging in occult practices.

It's a prime example of the devil twisting scripture and his demons moving in a "church" service which of course leads to spiritual blindness which works to solidify the false doctrine these "churches" walk in.

I see a great opportunity to learn something. For me, you, and everyone here.

Yep, the lesson is jumping in to so called orthdoxy is leading people in to religious teachings that are not from the Lord.

Greek Orthodox is very different from reformed theology

Both are heresy so they are in the same boat, the one with the hole in it that is sinking fast that will not be found in God's Kingdom.

Having read ""Stranger in a Strange Land" I refuse to use Grok...lol. I prefer Chatgpt.

You should forgetta bout artificial intelligence and get hooked up with the Mind of Christ which is far superior.

AI is choked full of false doctrine and is in direct opposition to the Lord as we will see in the not too distant future.

True AI is self learning and since it is learning from this world's wisdom it cannot be in agreement with the Lord and must follow the world and be in opposition to God.

it is not God who is angry with sinners

God said in His Word He is angry with sinners.

But I can say I think you and others are giving a knee-jerk reaction based on not knowing about Eastern Orthodoxy or their contribution to all of Christianity.

It's not knee jerk at all.

See POST #98 for examples of false teachings the so called "orthodox church" engages in.

 

[amigo de christo]

Is that because of not knowing Him intimately face to face....? Old covenant Jews had that awe as well, who were not born of the Spirit.

There is a serious lack of discernment . look real closely
at the conversation going on between two people on this thread .
This is about how something makes US FEEL
But look at what another one is saying and this other person cannot discern it .
I bet anything one amongst us is already big on this community stuff
and even beleives its time to bring folks back to MAMA . but another can no longer see or discern this .
LOOK at what this other is saying and the other person cannot discern it .
Key leaders of the so called orthodoxy came right under the same umbrella as did the prostesetant realm
THEY in league with Pope francis , i know he is deceased , BUT I Watched the key leaders
embrace him . PEOPLE think this only entered into certain places
OH NOT IT DID NOT . IT ENTERED INTO ALL places . Satan knows how to appear as a chameleon
and add fit it to blend in with ANY denomination .
To the baptist it comes in with a baptists mentality
the same as it did with any other group . And i notice something .
WHEN people begin to head into another direction
they will turn from those who speak truth , EVEN if they once heeded them .
THERE IS NO way one can serve both GOD and mammon
both GOD and anything contrary to Him . THEY can beleive THEY SERVE GOD and etc
BUT its all a deception . This is so hard and so sad to watch .
BUT know this , MAY it be an ice cold day in the real hot place BEFORE THIS sheep conforms to anything of men .
OH i know the walk of the sparrow who sits alone on the housetop .
But i wont sell one word of truth for the sake of fellowship . Many are wearing out sister .
The walk of a sheep is gonna come with a cost . All we can do is speak truth .

 

[amigo de christo]

No need to be qualified.....ask God for wisdom and understanding, because He has promised to give liberally to those who ask.

Jesus didn't come to bring us a religion, He came to demonstrate and bring us a new Way. Religion is what man makes out of things. God's true house/temple is not made with the hands of man, and that speaks to something deeper than just bricks and mortar. I asked the Lord one time, what is it about so many churches that they bring the life of the Spirit to death? (because that is what I observe) He came back immediately with one word..."artificial". I had to think for a second, and then it came to me....artificial means man-made....no life in it, like plastic flowers.

People cannot see that the harlot has entered into EVERY mainline denomination .
I watched even the key leaders of the ORTHODOX church bend the knee to this unity of FRANICS .
People have no idea what has occurred .

 

[amigo de christo]

Is that because of not knowing Him intimately face to face....? Old covenant Jews had that awe as well, who were not born of the Spirit.

Wanna hear another dream i had .
AND you see how well even this dream applies to exactly what is going on around us all .
In the dream i was digging down deep and then i came up into a room
full of many peoples .
They were all talking and discussing things
and then i noticed a message on the TV
and i knew that danger was coming . SO i walked up to a man
and told him , THE church has TO get into the wilderness , we must flee to the wilderness
And all of a sudden the entire countenance of the mans face changed , as if wisdom itself
was alive in him
AND guess what he told me , THE CHURCH ALREADY IS IN THE WILDERNESS .
Ponder on that for a bit sister .
OH yeah , ITS TIME TO COME YE OUT and go outside the camp with JESUS into the wilderness .
That dream was so vivid . I had it years and years ago , i think around two thousand
and eight .