God's saving grace is for EVERYONE who is
Christian.
"On the basis of this cursory look at Holy
Scripture and Patristic [Church Fathers]
writings, it seems entirely permissible to
call one a "Christian" who professes faith in
Christ -- without knowingly embracing heresies
that attack the Holy Trinity or the Person of
Christ -- and who is striving to be obedient to
His Commandments. (1) A failure to extend
sincerely the courtesy of such a label causes
unnecessary offense and gives the impression
that heterodox Christians have no relationship
with God at all. This would place them on the
same level as pagans, which is decidedly not
the case. ...." [page 79.].
Note.
1. These qualifiers are added partly as a
result of the author's study of how oikonomia
was justified by the Fathers in Canon 7 of the
Second and Canon 95 of the Sixth OEcumenical
Synods. They reflect personal opinion.
Barnes, Patrick. (1999). THE NON-ORTHODOX:
The Orthodox Teaching on Christians Outside
of the Church. Salisbury, MA: Regina Orthodox
Press. PO Box 5288, Salisbury MA 01952
Regina Orthodox Press Online Store
Dear friends:
*Caveat: Some Evangelical Christians falsely
accuse Catholics and Eastern Orthodox of
mixing true Christianity with paganism, and
imply these whole people are pagans and not
Christians. Unfortunately! God save us.
In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington January 2012
AD
Christian.
"On the basis of this cursory look at Holy
Scripture and Patristic [Church Fathers]
writings, it seems entirely permissible to
call one a "Christian" who professes faith in
Christ -- without knowingly embracing heresies
that attack the Holy Trinity or the Person of
Christ -- and who is striving to be obedient to
His Commandments. (1) A failure to extend
sincerely the courtesy of such a label causes
unnecessary offense and gives the impression
that heterodox Christians have no relationship
with God at all. This would place them on the
same level as pagans, which is decidedly not
the case. ...." [page 79.].
Note.
1. These qualifiers are added partly as a
result of the author's study of how oikonomia
was justified by the Fathers in Canon 7 of the
Second and Canon 95 of the Sixth OEcumenical
Synods. They reflect personal opinion.
Barnes, Patrick. (1999). THE NON-ORTHODOX:
The Orthodox Teaching on Christians Outside
of the Church. Salisbury, MA: Regina Orthodox
Press. PO Box 5288, Salisbury MA 01952
Regina Orthodox Press Online Store
Dear friends:
*Caveat: Some Evangelical Christians falsely
accuse Catholics and Eastern Orthodox of
mixing true Christianity with paganism, and
imply these whole people are pagans and not
Christians. Unfortunately! God save us.
In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington January 2012
AD