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S
Dear zone, More truth from an Orthodox Christian.
"Dear Parents,... the Protestant churches confess that only the Bible is the source of truth, but they do not obey the scriptural exhortations to follow both the written and spoken traditions which the holy apostles gave to the Church: Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold to the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word or our letter (I Thess. 2:15(. Now I praise you, brethren ... that you keep the traditions as I delivered them to you (I Cor. 11:2); and, The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things (Phil. 4:9). Also, whereas the Apostle St. Paul speaks of the Church as a Body, fitly joined and working together (Eph. 2:19-22), we find the actual Protestant belief is that each person is on his own to discover the true interpretation of Scripture. St. Paul also exhorts the believers to be in subjection to their leaders in the Church (Heb. 13:7,17), but most Protestants are in no real subjection to their ministers. Either their ministers do not ask for obedience, or if they do, many of their people leave and go to another church with fewer requirements. You stated that you had to accept the authority of the Ecumenical Councils after reading my first letter. You therefore must accept the veneration of icons and honor the Mother of God Mary as Ever-Virgin, yet most Protestant churches will hardly allow this, even even preach vehemently against it. Christ said that the Holy Spirit would lead the apostles into all truth (John 16:13), and part of that truth concerns the order of the Church. The Church was established by the apostles through the Holy Spirit, to have bishops, priests and deacons with apostolic succession, that is, the ability to trace their ordination back to the apostles. This requirement is implicit in the canons the holy apostles gave to the Church and in the writings of the early fathers. Indeed, there is no historical question that apostolic succession was required in the early Church, yet not Protestant minister can claim apostolic succession. So, according to the canons and the entire tradition of the Church, the authority and sacraments of these minister have no validity and their doctrine is suspect. By these few signs, among others, Protestantism is shown to be in error.
"In regard to apostolic succession: it is required from the first for a bishop to be able to trace his ordination back to the apostles. ...."
(pages 35-36: LETTERS FROM A CONVERT: Missionary Letters from an Orthodox Convert to her Protestant Parents. Copyright 1982, Marianna Friesel. 3rd printing (revised), 1994 Published by THE SAINT JOHN OF KRONSTADT PRESS, 1180 Orthodox Way, Liberty, TN 37095-9720
It is not easy to become an Orthodox Christian. I must do that if I want God's blessing.
God save us. In Erie PA June 2011 AD Scott R. Harrington
"Dear Parents,... the Protestant churches confess that only the Bible is the source of truth, but they do not obey the scriptural exhortations to follow both the written and spoken traditions which the holy apostles gave to the Church: Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold to the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word or our letter (I Thess. 2:15(. Now I praise you, brethren ... that you keep the traditions as I delivered them to you (I Cor. 11:2); and, The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things (Phil. 4:9). Also, whereas the Apostle St. Paul speaks of the Church as a Body, fitly joined and working together (Eph. 2:19-22), we find the actual Protestant belief is that each person is on his own to discover the true interpretation of Scripture. St. Paul also exhorts the believers to be in subjection to their leaders in the Church (Heb. 13:7,17), but most Protestants are in no real subjection to their ministers. Either their ministers do not ask for obedience, or if they do, many of their people leave and go to another church with fewer requirements. You stated that you had to accept the authority of the Ecumenical Councils after reading my first letter. You therefore must accept the veneration of icons and honor the Mother of God Mary as Ever-Virgin, yet most Protestant churches will hardly allow this, even even preach vehemently against it. Christ said that the Holy Spirit would lead the apostles into all truth (John 16:13), and part of that truth concerns the order of the Church. The Church was established by the apostles through the Holy Spirit, to have bishops, priests and deacons with apostolic succession, that is, the ability to trace their ordination back to the apostles. This requirement is implicit in the canons the holy apostles gave to the Church and in the writings of the early fathers. Indeed, there is no historical question that apostolic succession was required in the early Church, yet not Protestant minister can claim apostolic succession. So, according to the canons and the entire tradition of the Church, the authority and sacraments of these minister have no validity and their doctrine is suspect. By these few signs, among others, Protestantism is shown to be in error.
"In regard to apostolic succession: it is required from the first for a bishop to be able to trace his ordination back to the apostles. ...."
(pages 35-36: LETTERS FROM A CONVERT: Missionary Letters from an Orthodox Convert to her Protestant Parents. Copyright 1982, Marianna Friesel. 3rd printing (revised), 1994 Published by THE SAINT JOHN OF KRONSTADT PRESS, 1180 Orthodox Way, Liberty, TN 37095-9720
It is not easy to become an Orthodox Christian. I must do that if I want God's blessing.
God save us. In Erie PA June 2011 AD Scott R. Harrington
S
Truth from an Orthodox Christian:
"Dear Parents, ....
"HIstorically, I can tell you that you read and revere the collection of books known as the Bible as a result of the decisions of church councils which were held to decide this issue (in addition to others). Local councils were held in 58-65?, 364, and 419. and councils of the whole church took place in 691 and 787 A.D. They made their decisions, which together with the Church's confirmation and emendation became the established Word of God. Much later, when the Protestants rebelled against and separated from the Roman Catholics (1400 A.D. on) they kept most of the doctrine about Scripture even though they discarded many other doctrines. Thus you were taught that these books are the Bible, God's communication to mankind. This is historically why you believe the Bible to be God's Word. ...
"... a council of bishops is not necessarily infallible (although mistakes are very rare). Notice that in Acts, chapter 15, the letter to the Church did not state, "This is the truth, the final decision, the immutable law," but said that this seemed good to the Holy Spirit and the apostolic council. By this it can be inferred that the apostles were offering their decision ffor the Church's confirmation and approval, i.e., "It seemed good to us, do you agree?" For if their decision was final, surely the apostles would have made some statement such as "The Holy Spirit told us so," or "If any disagree, let him be to you as an unbeliever." Considering the number of disrupters of the Church at this time, according to St. Paul's testimony, the apostles must have made as strong and as powerful a statement as possible. Therefore, their use of the word "seemed" indicates, as the Church professes, that a council's decision is not valid if the Church as a whole rejects it. When approved by the consensus of the Church, a council's decisions become dogma and are to be followed by all Christians. In this way, the Church has held many councils. Some were local councils held to suppress some local heresy or to decide local matters or order and discipline. But several were councils representing the whole Church, the doctrinal decisions of which are recognized by the whole Church as true. This is the basis of the authority of the Church as a whole to judge councils. ...."
(pages 4-7: LETTERS FROM A CONVERT: Missionary Letters from an Orthodox Convert to her Protestant Parents. by Marianna Friesel. Copyright 1982, 3rd Printing (revised), 1994. THE SAINT JOHN OF KRONSTADY PRESS, 1180 Orthodox Way, Liberty, TN 37095-9720 ).
God bless us and save us in Christ Jesus; Amen. In June 2011 AD Scott R. Harrington
"Dear Parents, ....
"HIstorically, I can tell you that you read and revere the collection of books known as the Bible as a result of the decisions of church councils which were held to decide this issue (in addition to others). Local councils were held in 58-65?, 364, and 419. and councils of the whole church took place in 691 and 787 A.D. They made their decisions, which together with the Church's confirmation and emendation became the established Word of God. Much later, when the Protestants rebelled against and separated from the Roman Catholics (1400 A.D. on) they kept most of the doctrine about Scripture even though they discarded many other doctrines. Thus you were taught that these books are the Bible, God's communication to mankind. This is historically why you believe the Bible to be God's Word. ...
"... a council of bishops is not necessarily infallible (although mistakes are very rare). Notice that in Acts, chapter 15, the letter to the Church did not state, "This is the truth, the final decision, the immutable law," but said that this seemed good to the Holy Spirit and the apostolic council. By this it can be inferred that the apostles were offering their decision ffor the Church's confirmation and approval, i.e., "It seemed good to us, do you agree?" For if their decision was final, surely the apostles would have made some statement such as "The Holy Spirit told us so," or "If any disagree, let him be to you as an unbeliever." Considering the number of disrupters of the Church at this time, according to St. Paul's testimony, the apostles must have made as strong and as powerful a statement as possible. Therefore, their use of the word "seemed" indicates, as the Church professes, that a council's decision is not valid if the Church as a whole rejects it. When approved by the consensus of the Church, a council's decisions become dogma and are to be followed by all Christians. In this way, the Church has held many councils. Some were local councils held to suppress some local heresy or to decide local matters or order and discipline. But several were councils representing the whole Church, the doctrinal decisions of which are recognized by the whole Church as true. This is the basis of the authority of the Church as a whole to judge councils. ...."
(pages 4-7: LETTERS FROM A CONVERT: Missionary Letters from an Orthodox Convert to her Protestant Parents. by Marianna Friesel. Copyright 1982, 3rd Printing (revised), 1994. THE SAINT JOHN OF KRONSTADY PRESS, 1180 Orthodox Way, Liberty, TN 37095-9720 ).
God bless us and save us in Christ Jesus; Amen. In June 2011 AD Scott R. Harrington
F
I for one believe that the gospel of "the cross" is without out a doubt the most controversial thing that a person could preach or teach. I personally believe that "the cross" means more than simply forgiveness of sins but that it also encompasses deliverance from sinful desires for those who understand and embrace it.
However, you would not believe how many "christians" have come against me in "real life" and others who agree with me on this issue and the despicable things that they have said and done behind our backs to make us look bad simply because our beliefs convict them of their sinful lifestyles. At times it is very discouraging to see people who profess to be believers stoop so low in attempt to discredit others. However, fortunately I am a lover of church history and have read countless accounts through out history where complacent nominal "christians" have bitterly turned on their own when God raised up a handful of Godly people who refused to compromise.
Jesus wasn't kidding when he said "I came to bring a sword..."
However, you would not believe how many "christians" have come against me in "real life" and others who agree with me on this issue and the despicable things that they have said and done behind our backs to make us look bad simply because our beliefs convict them of their sinful lifestyles. At times it is very discouraging to see people who profess to be believers stoop so low in attempt to discredit others. However, fortunately I am a lover of church history and have read countless accounts through out history where complacent nominal "christians" have bitterly turned on their own when God raised up a handful of Godly people who refused to compromise.
Jesus wasn't kidding when he said "I came to bring a sword..."
I think true Christianity has alot that is not controversal.
1. The Bible is the Word of God
2. Jesus died for our sins
3. We believe in life after death
4. We except the books of the Bible
5. We believe in Jehovah the God of the Jews
6. We believe the answers to the controversys you mentioned are in Bible
7. We all believe in Hell
8. We all believe in Heaven
I think anyone who doesn't agree with these is possibly not a Christian
1. The Bible is the Word of God
2. Jesus died for our sins
3. We believe in life after death
4. We except the books of the Bible
5. We believe in Jehovah the God of the Jews
6. We believe the answers to the controversys you mentioned are in Bible
7. We all believe in Hell
8. We all believe in Heaven
I think anyone who doesn't agree with these is possibly not a Christian