Eastern Christian traditions

In this arena, I'm a believer of "Let each be convinced in his own mind".

 

I think there is a lot that both the Eastern and Western traditions of Christianity could teach each other if we had teachable hearts.

 

Isn't Eastern Orthodox just a remake of Catholicism? I will admit that Im not all that familiar with them, but I always have had the impression that it was just an eastern form of Catholic.

 

Eastern Orthodoxy has it's own unique tradition in that the Eastern Church was never under Rome. Their Patriarch in Constantinople is more similar to the Arch Bishop of Canterbury than a pope.

Eastern Orthodoxy also rejects Transubstatiation, Purgatory, Indulgences and the Immaculate Conception which Rome holds. Eastern Orthodoxy never had the Bible phobia that Rome had either.


Eastern Orthodoxy unfortunately like Rome sees man as cooperating with God to achieve his salvation but then again so does Arminian theology to an extent. Eastern Orthodoxy also seems to have a weaker view of original sin than either Protestantism or Rome. Eastern Orthodox theology and liturgy tends to heavily emphasize the Resurrected and Glorified Christ and His victory at the Cross while Protestant and Roman Catholic theology and liturgy tends to heavily emphasize Christ suffering on the Cross and the Ransom for sinners more so than the Eastern Church.

It is hard to say if Eastern Orthodoxy is closer to Rome or Protestantism in that their overall theology is so different.

 

Then the only real basis for saying anythng is the "right" form of Christianity would be in whether or not it teaches the true Gospel, right?

I don't believe that any form of church that incorporates a pope figure is doing things properly, that doesn't mean that Id assume they are teaching a false doctrine on Christ. Id have to see what they believe.

But if they add works, then Eastern OR Western dosen't matter, its not a proper form of Christianity.

 

The EOC does have a heirarchy but does not have a single pope-like leader. EOC governance is divided by state where Russia would have a holy synod which is a board of bishops and lay people who governs the Russian Orthodox Church.

The authority that higher levels of the heirarchy has over individual churches does have some similarities to the congregational model used by Baptists.

Here is the Salvation portion of the wikipedia entry of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Here is an excerpt from a Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission quoted from the Sola Fide entry in Wikipedia.

 

Orthodox also seems to hold to the viewpoint that only those within the Orthodox church are going to reach Heaven.....or perhaps that only they have a CHANCE to reach Heaven.

Is that what the part about "theosis" was saying?

 

No. I think the best protestant equivalent to theosis would be sanctification.

 

Actually, there are many "unofficial popes" in Baptist life. It depends on the person. Bascically, the Pope, Patriarch, etc. are elected leaders of the denomination.

 

There are several different western views of soteriology so it is difficult to say that the EOC view is similar to the western view. Which western view? I would say the EOC view is similar in many ways but different in many ways to some western views.

 

tenor,

I think I know what you mean, but when Im talking about "pope" Im using it here in the Catholic sense.....one who is the Vicar of Christ for his people.

I don't think this is paralleled in Baptist circles.

 

I know a deacon from my former church that used to witness to some men from the Eastern Orthodox Church, and they held to a works + faith false gospel. And like Catholicism they believe in baptismal regeneration.

Here is some info on that religion:

http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/orthodoxy.html

http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/eastern.htm

And if any of you are up on your current events, you know that the Eastern Orthodox Church in Russia is actively against the Gospel. If that isn't a red flag, I don't know what is.

http://www.raptureready.com/resource/hunt/dh7.html

 

Hi rsr. Eastern Orthodox like to say that Roman Catholicism and Protestanism are the flip sides of the same coin and view Western Christianity as rationalistic. They attack the RCC Transub as trying to explain the Real Presence. In fairness to the teaching of the Real Presence, only the Zwinglian school in Protestanism denies it. Even the 1689 London Baptist confession affirms a real presence in the Supper though it is Calvin's spiritual presence argument.

It might be argued that the Eastern Orthodox view on the Supper is more similar to the Lutheran view BUT I think that is not accurate. The Eastern Orthodox just refuse to define the Real Presence but just simply say the Bread and Cup are the Body and Blood of Christ and trying to explain it like Roman Catholicism and Protestanism do is an error. I think their view of Communion is unigue unto their own selves.

I do think you are correct however that Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholicism are similar when it comes to salvation in saying that we cooperate with the Grace of God to achieve salvation. Traditional Protestanism denies any cooperation but affirms that it is by God's grace alone through Faith in Christ alone that man is saved. On the other hand, Arminian Free will theology at times teaches a cooperation with the Grace of God to achieve salvation.

 

I like the Eastern Church a great deal more than the RC.I have done some limited reading on the church but like the fact they never outlawed their people from having the Bible to me this is the gravest error mankind can make to keep God's Word from the people when one has God's Word it doesn't matter what he is taught the Spirit of God can convict and use the Word powerfully.