Three Reasons to join the Eastern Orthodox Church

[Sola_Fide]

I came to a similar place years back,,with conflicting doctrine of many denominations. and many teachers.

and I went to the Source.

I can worship almost anywhere,, in any church. Though usually under the sky.

I would advise finding a community of believers that you are comfortable with,, and let yourself be led By God among them.

What's the source?

[tod evans]

I came to a similar place years back,,with conflicting doctrine of many denominations. and many teachers.

and I went to the Source.

I can worship almost anywhere,, in any church. Though usually under the sky.

I would advise finding a community of believers that you are comfortable with,, and let yourself be led By God among them.

My very limited experience with the EO church is that they behave more like TER and much less like S_F..

[pcosmar]

What's the source?

The Creator, The Most High God, The Alpha and the Omega,,My Father and friend.

You really should meet Him. He walked the Earth once as a Man,,

[Sola_Fide]

The Creator, The Most High God, The Alpha and the Omega,,My Father and friend.

You really should meet Him. He walked the Earth once as a Man,,

The Father never walked the earth. Are you a Trinitarian?

[pcosmar]

The Father never walked the earth. Are you a Trinitarian?

God walked the Earth,, as a man,, in the person of the Son...

"I and my Father are One",,,
"If you know me, you know the Father"

And if you were not so busy attacking everything and everyone,, it would make conversation simpler.

"From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

unless you don't

[donnay]

God walked the Earth,, as a man,, in the person of the Son...

"I and my Father are One",,,
"If you know me, you know the Father"

And if you were not so busy attacking everything and everyone,, it would make conversation simpler.

"From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

unless you don't

John 14:9-11 (KJV)

9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

[heavenlyboy34]

God walked the Earth,, as a man,, in the person of the Son...

"I and my Father are One",,,
"If you know me, you know the Father"

And if you were not so busy attacking everything and everyone,, it would make conversation simpler.

"From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

unless you don't

+rep This is the Truth revealed in the Gospels and affirmed by the Orthodox Church. (John 14:7-14, for example)

[heavenlyboy34]

1. It's the church that Jesus planted.

No it isn't. The EOC doesn't teach the gospel that Jesus and the apostles preached. The EOC preaches the second and third century churchmen's deviations from the gospel. It's a watered down half gospel that really is no gospel at all because it doesn't protect the pure grace of God.

That's incorrect. The Church Fathers teach exactly the Gospels taught by Christ and the apostles. Exactly what Orthodox literature have you read? All of St. Basil The Great's homilies, for example, cite scripture repeatedly.

[Sola_Fide]

God walked the Earth,, as a man,, in the person of the Son...

"I and my Father are One",,,
"If you know me, you know the Father"

And if you were not so busy attacking everything and everyone,, it would make conversation simpler.

"From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

unless you don't

Even that sounds modalistic to me. I believe the eternal second Person of the Trinity put on flesh. It was the Son who became flesh, not the Father.

[Sola_Fide]

That's incorrect. The Church Fathers teach exactly the Gospels taught by Christ and the apostles. Exactly what Orthodox literature have you read? All of St. Basil The Great's homilies, for example, cite scripture repeatedly.

No it's not incorrect. The penal substitution of Paul, for example, is totally absent from EOC theology. 'Citing scripture' is not what makes a theology right. Every false religion and cut cites scripture.

[heavenlyboy34]

No it's not incorrect. The penal substitution of Paul, for example, is totally absent from EOC theology. 'Citing scripture' is not what makes a theology right. Every false religion and cut cites scripture.

IOW, you don't know what you're talking about, are completely unread, and are talking out your ass. Thanks.

[Sola_Fide]

IOW, you don't know what you're talking about, are completely unread, and are talking out your ass. Thanks.

I know more about EOC theology than you do. You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. None.

I'm sure you'd have to google and find out what penal substitution even is.

[pcosmar]

IOW, you don't know what you're talking about, are completely unread, and are talking out your ass. Thanks.

I can not tell that he has ever read more than a couple of scriptures.. as he presents them in a completely unbalanced way..
and distorts the clear meaning.

I can not even tell what brand of religion he subscribes to,, because he attacks all who claim Christ as Savior and those that don't

"as iron sharpens iron"



perhaps these challenges will sharpen us all.
still,, seems an odd spirit

[pcosmar]

I'm sure you'd have to google and find out what penal substitution even is.

Your not supposed to worship them

[heavenlyboy34]

I know more about EOC theology than you do. You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. None.

I'm sure you'd have to google and find out what penal substitution even is.

LOL. Dream on, brother. I learned about penal substitution when I was a catechumen. I also learned about a wide array of religions, Eastern and Western. Your condescending bull$#@! is tiresome, and your pseudo-intellectualism thoroughly unimpressive.

"The Truth lies with the Greeks(the Orthodox)". -Martin Luther

[lilymc]

http://www.returnofkings.com/144309/3-reasons-to-join-the-eastern-orthodox-church

Ugh. I'm sorry, but that's one of the ugliest sites I've ever seen.

The comments section is cringe‐worthy and extremely sad.

The article is wrong too... which I guess isn't surprising, if the writer has the same mindset as the guys who hang out on the comments section of that site.

[Sola_Fide]

LOL. Dream on, brother. I learned about penal substitution when I was a catechumen. I also learned about a wide array of religions, Eastern and Western. Your condescending bull$#@! is tiresome, and your pseudo-intellectualism thoroughly unimpressive.

"The Truth lies with the Greeks(the Orthodox)". -Martin Luther

So you think the EOC teaches penal substitution? Um... Do you care to try to substantiate that?

[Anti Federalist]

The article is wrong too... which I guess isn't surprising, if the writer has the same mindset as the guys who hang out on the comments section of that site.

Uh huh, why? Specifically.

[Anti Federalist]

My father in law, (who I find myself missing a great deal) was a story teller, he loved telling stories and anecdotes of all sorts.

One of his particular favorities were "Brother Percy" stories.

His father in law was a dour and cynical sort of fellow, a lay preacher and vociferous quoter of verse.

And he did not care for my father in law at all. Considered him nothing more than a street-corner guinea hoodlum.

My father in law delighted in trolling him, especially when they had bible study groups, with one fellow in particular that he used to get a rise out of all the time: Brother Percy.

Usually these "trollings" revolved around some vice of my father in law's...smoking, drinking, gambling, what have you.

But one of things that stuck with me from these stories was how he was always flabbergasted by the fact that all these "believers" could gather around a table, and within five minutes, be in a heated argument over what a particular passage meant, when the meaning was very clear to him. And the only thing that happened at these meetings was that anybody who was curious or might have been saved, was run off by the acrimony and arguing that revolved around bible study time with Brother Percy and friends.

Simple wisdom.

God bless and RIP, J....

[lilymc]

But one of things that stuck with me from these stories was how he was always flabbergasted by the fact that all these "believers" could gather around a table, and within five minutes, be in a heated argument over what a particular passage meant, when the meaning was very clear to him. And the only thing that happened at these meetings was that anybody who was curious or might have been saved, was run off by the acrimony and arguing that revolved around bible study time with Brother Percy and friends.

Simple wisdom.

God bless and RIP, J....

That's why I rarely get into religion debates anymore. Especially on this site. I believe there's definitely a place for discussing theology...but bickering and always arguing is another matter. That definitely does not lead people to Christ, iyam.

[William Tell]

These are just a few of the reasons why I joined in 2015. After my Chrismation, I was greeted after the Liturgy with "welcome home." That is the best way I can describe my journey to Orthodoxy from atheism and various denominations, I finally felt at home.

I knew you were EO but I assumed you had been for a long time.

[William Tell]

You may have a point. The Church isn't that picky. They let me and HB join.

Come now, even Danke believes in standards.

[heavenlyboy34]

That's why I rarely get into religion debates anymore. Especially on this site. I believe there's definitely a place for discussing theology...but bickering and always arguing is another matter. That definitely does not lead people to Christ, iyam.

+1 These threads are more intellectual exercises than civil discussion, sadly. When non-Orthodox come to a bible study class to ask sincere questions IRL(we get muslims and all sorts of people from many backgrounds in our parish inquirer classes ), the discussion goes smoothly.

[Sola_Fide]

That's why I rarely get into religion debates anymore. Especially on this site. I believe there's definitely a place for discussing theology...but bickering and always arguing is another matter. That definitely does not lead people to Christ, iyam.

Debates are the only way to define and clarify the issues. Nothing wrong with debating.

[Sola_Fide]

That's why I rarely get into religion debates anymore. Especially on this site. I believe there's definitely a place for discussing theology...but bickering and always arguing is another matter. That definitely does not lead people to Christ, iyam.

Also, I have a completely different theology than you. I believe that God ALONE causes people to come to Himself. It's not up to my cunning language or devices to "lead" people to God. I have a supernatural theology of salvation, not a man centered one.

[lilymc]

+1 These threads are more intellectual exercises than civil discussion, sadly. When non-Orthodox come to a bible study class to ask sincere questions IRL(we get muslims and all sorts of people from many backgrounds in our parish inquirer classes ), the discussion goes smoothly.

Yup.

Debates are the only way to define and clarify the issues. Nothing wrong with debating.

I wasn't talking about debate in general, but bickering and endless arguing, specifically in religion debates. Yes, civil debate can be helpful, but being overly argumentative or arrogant is a different story.

Also, I have a completely different theology than you. I believe that God ALONE causes people to come to Himself. It's not up to my cunning language or devices to "lead" people to God. I have a supernatural theology of salvation, not a man centered one.

I knew you were going to say something like that. That's not what I meant, and I think you know it. You just like to argue.

[Anti Federalist]

Also, I have a completely different theology than you. I believe that God ALONE causes people to come to Himself. It's not up to my cunning language or devices to "lead" people to God. I have a supernatural theology of salvation, not a man centered one.

Then why does God find the need to appoint apostles, teachers and so on among men?

1 Corinthians 12:28 (KJV)

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

[pcosmar]

Then why does God find the need to appoint apostles, teachers and so on among men?

1 Corinthians 12:28 (KJV)

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Always has,,
Just as he raised up Judges and Prophets of old.

The problem is people having titles that God didn't give. either given by man,, or taken upon oneself.

[Sola_Fide]

Yup.



I wasn't talking about debate in general, but bickering and endless arguing, specifically in religion debates. Yes, civil debate can be helpful, but being overly argumentative or arrogant is a different story.




I knew you were going to say something like that. That's not what I meant, and I think you know it. You just like to argue.

Engaging in debates or even watching them is good because it shows that you are still willing to learn. As much as you might think I'm stubborn, the first time a worldview comes by mine that is contrary to it, I want to engage it so I can learn new things.

[Sola_Fide]

Then why does God find the need to appoint apostles, teachers and so on among men?

1 Corinthians 12:28 (KJV)

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Because God uses the means of preaching the word to bring people to Himself.