I'm becoming Orthodox

Not my reasons; as I said, have a look at some of my postings in this forum over the last 6 months to get a feel. My main reasons:-

1. Sola scriptura, congregational autonomy and soul liberty (all sides of the same coin) don't work; rather they produce a collection of mutually contradictory epistemologies. A more consensual and dialogical approach to interpretation of Scripture is therefore needed.

2. I yearn for an authentic encounter with God and find that not only lacking in my Baptist church, but actively discouraged; for example, we are always at great pains to stress the Real Absence (as opposed to the Real Presence) at communion.

Yours in Christ

Matt

 

Matt,

I think the reasons I listed fit with your second reason.

 

Matt,

You specified Baptists. I am not baptist.(but have been a part of 2 Baptist fellowships during my christian life.)

I'll comment using "evangelicalism" as the contrast.

Needless to say, they work beautifully...if compared against other ways.

Sola Scriptura:

I cant think of any group that denies sola scriptura and claims that they are Gods truth interpreter for the "lay" people that isnt light years beyond evangelicalism regarding error, false teaching, idolatry, and heresy.

Here are some groups who deny sola scriptura and say that their organisation is Gods truth interpreter...

Jehovas Witnesses

David Koresh

Mormons

Jim Jones

Catholic Church

Christian Science

Clearly that position doesnt work. Exrememly bad things are inevitable when Gods truth standard is rejected and the leadership of a large church body are not held accountable to the scriptures by those in the church.

Problems that come up in evangelicalism is not the fault of sola scriptura, they are because we are all flawed people. Sola Scriptura keeps the problems from multiplying exponentially unchecked as if evidenced in the Catholic Church. What a hidious and blasphemous overflow of error and idolatry in that group, and others who reject Gods scriptures as the truth standard.

Congregational autonomy:

That is Gods method of choice. A localised hierarchy is all we find in the scriptures. Their is no biblical support for any kind of monsterous world wide behemoth of hierarchial oppression and control.

Soul liberty

Gods idea of course, not ours.

But they are all proclaiming the true gospel and are in unity as the one body of Christ. I fellowship just fine with evangelicals, charismatics, pentecostals, non-charismatics, baptists, etc."

Regarding differences on non-foundational things, the scriptures tell us to expect it, and to allow it to occur.

The reason is because born again people have the Lord Jesus Christ alive inside of them...not alive inside of a cracker. The "real presence" teaching is an example of the idolatry I mentioned earlier in this post.

Grace and peace,

Mike

 

Praying for you Brother Matt.

I could pray
better if you would remind me what 'EOC'
and 'ATM' means. Here in the states 'ATM'
means 'automated teller machine'

 

It does here, too! But in 'netspeak' it means "at the moment". EOC=Eastern Orthodox Church.

I appreciate your prayers, Ed

Yours in Christ

Matt

 

HERE'S AN ARTICLE written from an evangelical POV* as to why some evangelicals become Orthodox

Yours in Christ

Matt

*Note to Ed: = Point of View

 

Taufgesinnter, may God reveal Himself to you ever more richly as you enter this new chapter in your journey of faith that many evangelicals have also begun.

I choose to remain Baptist even while agreeing with you about many of your greivances. Doctrine and tradition are important defining parts of our identity in Christ, but they do not fully encompass.

 

Matt Black,

from your link...

As one who is probably more pentecostal/charismatic then maybe many on BaptistBoard, I can certainly appreciate the idea of profoundly "encountering" God in a worship service.

(or during a normal day at home for that matter)

Probably the vast majority of time, I have heart that is very much biased and inclined towards that kind of thing.

However, the christian faith is more than just "warm and fuzzies" during worship. Thats not to mean that warm and fuzzies arent legitimate. They can very well be VERY legitimate. But the christian faith is also a faith of objective emperical truth claims.

In my experience with Orthodox...and its admittedly less than with Roman Catholics...I have noticed two things that are very very vigorously denied...

1) Gods truth of justification through faith alone.

2) And Gods truth that it is the scriptures alone that are our truth standard to test all things against.

And one thing thing that is very very vigorously promoted...

A completly idolatrous attitude towards the sinner saved by grace Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Because of errors of such foundational magnitude the only sensible attitude to have towards the Orthodox is to warn against it.

God bless,

Mike

 

Taufgesinnter

I have tremendous respect for the Orthodox Churches and wish you well on your journey. Their spirituality and liturgy have so much to be admired.

I haven't read the entire thread so i may have missed it but have you decided which Orthodox Church you will join and did you ever consider any of the 21 orthodox rites in union with the See of Rome. I know they are sort of the black sheep of the Orthodox family but was curious which Orthodox Church you were going to join and why that one verses another Orthodox Church.

God Bless you

 

Taufgesinnter

Here is a to the Byzantine Catholic Church Forum if you are interested.

http://www.byzcath.org/bboard/ultimatebb.php

[ July 29, 2005, 12:27 AM: Message edited by: Born Again Catholic ]