S
Dear friends, God bless you. If you have any questions
regarding the Orthodox Church, ask an Orthodox Christian
like Cleante or Zossima, who contribute to this website. I
am a convert and not yet a baptized Orthodox, so it is not yet
time for me to answer everyone; I'm just a learner in
Orthodoxy, not an authority on everything Orthodox; I've
just been introduced to the Church over the years since 1985,
and it has been a rather slow, gradual process of un-learning
errors from Lutheranism and Pentecostalism, and my own
sinfulness and antinomianism. I have read some Orthodox
books and been to Russian Orthodox church services about a
dozen times so far. I still have much to learn. I would say,
from Patrick Barnes, "The Non-Orthodox: The Orthodox
Teaching On Christians Outside the Church". Salisbury,
MA: Regina Orthodox Press, the Orthodox Church does not
comment and does not consider everything is bad outside of
Orthodoxy, and that there are no genuine Christians outside
of the OC. Orthodoxy leaves such questions to the Holy
Spirit and to God, as the Orthodox Church doesn't judge
others. She just judges what is true doctrine, and is able,
since She is endowed (imbued) with the Holy Spirit, is able
to discern heresies and errors in others which exist outside of
Orthodoxy. My local friend, the Russian Orthodox priest,
did tell me "you don't have to be Orthodox to go to heaven."
Even so, the Orthodox Church does teach, "Outside of the
Church, there is no salvation" (Extra ecclesiam nulla salus),
which is the teaching of St. Cyprian of Carthage. In some
mysterious way, God can and does save some people outside
of the Church, just as He did save the penitent thief on His
right hand (on Christ's right hand) while on the Cross.
God bless you. I will be leaving all of this to you, for now.
If you have any questions regarding any of my posts, just
leave replies at my comments, and email me on my personal
mail at Scotth1960. If you want to ask me why I believe in the
Trinity. Some of you have some very strong, vicious opinions
full of venom and poison, and have been filled in your hearts
with hatred for the Trinity doctrine, considering yourselves
better than the poor sinners who still believe in the Trinity.
Well, it (the Trinity: Matthew 28:19)
is the Gospel, and it is no sin to believe in the Trinity.
Doctrines alone do not justify; It is God who justifies the
sinner, and deifies him; Orthodoxy does not even tend to use
the term justify, but prefers the general term deify. Doctrines
don't alone deify; there must be repentance and baptism and
receiving of the sacraments. There must be a new life in
Christ, and frequent and constant prayer, and much
confessions of sins. But Orthodoxy is also found in true
doctrines, and we must of course also believe in the Trinity
and in the Deity of Christ, and all the other heresy-free holy
teachings of the holy Orthodox Catholic Faith. (Jude 3).
God bless you all. Take care. Here is a reference to the Bible,
which many of you have very, very strong (dispensationalist,
book of Revelation based beliefs), and so here is a good article
on how the EOC reads the Holy Bible. God grant you all
many years of grace in Christ Jesus; AMEN.
HOLY SCRIPTURE IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
"The Bible"
Compiled by Father Demetrios Serfes
Boise, Idaho, USA
April 20 2000
http:// Holy Scripture In the Eastern Orthodox Church
Priest: Wisdom! Let Us Attend! Let Us Hear the Holy
Gospel! Peace Be Unto All!
Choir: And To Thy Spirit!
"The Bible is the book of the Church. We therefore read Holy
Scripture, not as isolated individuals, but as members of the
Church."
God save us. In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington (B.A.,
psychology, Gannon University, Erie, PA, 1990 AD).
So, my background is more in psychology than in Orthodox
theology. I am a self-study, so if there are any inaccuracies
in my understanding (and practice) of Eastern Orthodox
theology, may some good, patient Orthodox Christian gently
correct me and show me where I need to change and conform
myself to the true Faith of the Church. I don't want to believe
in or confess any other faith than the Orthodox Faith
(Ephesians 4, Jude 3). God save me. God save all of us.
Take care.