[CS-FSLUG] TD: Orthodoxy (was Re: Benny Hinn)

[Christopher Rose]

I am a member of the LCMC and I can say that no church honestly has the absolute truth. Every church, in my opinion, only has a portion of the truth. The fact of the matter is that we humans are limited in our understanding and that there is more in the Bible than anyone of us can truly begin to understand. I have read through the Bible once and the New Testament at least five times and I still struggle with those areas that I don't understand. I imagine that there are pastors that have similiar struggles. Let us remember that Luther sought to reform the church and that the church is still in need of reform today. Let us seek first what is written in the scripture and not whatever man's popular spin of the decade is.

Pax,
Christopher



----- Original Message -----
From: dmc <edoc7 at verizon.net>
To: "A Christian virtual Free Software and Linux Users Group." <Christiansource at ofb.biz>
Subject: Re: [CS-FSLUG] TD: Orthodoxy (was Re: Benny Hinn)
Date: Sun, 11 Sep 2005 18:43:41 -0900

> 
> I must share that there is as much to test, as a good
> Berean, in the practices and teachings of the Orthodox
> church as any other.  As is common to churches it is
> led and populated by fallible humans and their fingerprints
> all over God's initial "easy yoke and light burden" are
> as evident as in other denominations.
> 
> There tend to be many many traditions that pass for
> Biblical truth, especially rituals and liturgies.  Just
> because they are older than some other churches
> doesn't make them right -- there were plenty of
> Judaizers in the early church, as well as others with
> very confused theologies.  Older is not necessarily
> truer (more true?).
> 
> I am also not terribly happy with either Arminius or
> Calvin -- God chose not to include either in His Word
> for what I believe are very good reasons.  Jesus specifically
> taught us to not obsess over theological minutae yet the
> two of them have been used by the enemy to sow seeds
> of argument and debate that has wasted thousands of
> man-hours better used for the Great Commission and
> often engaged in the absence of the Greatest Commandment.
> 
> Both also have a way of rendering the work of Christ on
> the Cross meaningless -- either because everyone gets to
> Heaven anyhow or everyone going to Heaven was predestined.
> Or so go the extremes of each and so logically proceeds
> the fully tested philosophies of each.
> 
> God just refuses to fit inside of man-sized boxes!  ;-)
> 
> At the end of the day the Bible is a wonderfully readable
> document without the need for complex theologies nor
> unteachable theologians.  In my church, college, and seminary
> experience I have suffered more than my fill of both!
> 
> There is an old country western song (not sure how I ever
> heard it since that's not my favorite music) that goes
> "I'm not religious, I just love the Lord."  I'll stand with
> that good ole boy!
> 
> doc
> 
> >     I must admit that the Orthodox church really intrigues me. In 
> >  many ways it seems to have the best claim to Apostolic authority 
> >  (since it has remained much the same since early church times), 
> > its  doctrines seem mostly agreeable -- though I have some qualms 
> > with  them, just as with any denomination... mostly, in this 
> > case, with  their theology that is more Arminian (though long 
> > predating Arminius,  of course, it is just easier to refer to it 
> > by that) whereas I am  most certainly a Calvinist in most ways.
> >
> >     But, I like the way it operates. It seems to stand firm in 
> > its  views, but be willing to work ecumenically to some extent. 
> > It seems  not to waiver much in the face of the world's changing 
> > views. And, I  appreciate the idea of a traditional liturgy. I 
> > always feel like us  Protestants have lot something of the 
> > mystical side of faith by  rejecting the liturgical experience 
> > (the Puritans roll over in their  graves as I write those words).
> >
> >     I have a friend who is Orthodox and I always mean to ask her  
> > more on the view from the inside, but haven't. I suppose from the 
> >  denomination always looks greener from the other side of the 
> > fence.  While in America, she has been rather impressed with the 
> > Lutheran  Church (LCMS). :-)
> 
> 
> -- Blessings ... doc
> 
>       /\ /\
> ?(~~~{ @ @ }  Sent from (      *     Puppy Linux
> (        )
>   ~~~~~~~~~  http://bibleseven.com
>   / /   / /
> 
> 
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