Comments for Journeys to Orthodoxy: From Protestant Missionary to Orthodox Christian at http://www.myocn.net , comment 1 to 6 out of 6 comments http://www.myocn.net Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:42:59 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.myocn.net/index.php/Journeys-to-Orthodoxy/Journeys-to-Orthodoxy-From-Protestant-Missionary-to-Orthodox-Christian.html#comment-120 From whence do we define our base? Raised in a family of 2 generations of Baptist Deacons, I later went to the Church of Christ, a more fundamental group than Baptist. Teaching high school classes on Bible study, I ran into the basic problem that would not go away with simply being told "thats not what we teach now". I found through study that the Church did not originate in either the 1500's or the 1800's, but there were 15-18 centuries of history, action, writings, discovery, and truth to be found in traditions that Paul and Peter talked of, to hold precious and important. Hence, orthodoxy takes on serious weight going back to the begining. Your foundations are the beginning of your building, NOT the roof. It is the cornerstone, not the peak of the roof that holds the structure up. Going back to the base, the origin, seems to point one back to orthodoxy. - just tom Sat, 20 Dec 2008 08:58:16 +0100 http://www.myocn.net/index.php/Journeys-to-Orthodoxy/Journeys-to-Orthodoxy-From-Protestant-Missionary-to-Orthodox-Christian.html#comment-116 [quote]We teach, preach, talk about, meditate on, and memorize the BIBLE - God's Word! Some may call this 'beating someone over the head' with scripture, but there is no other source of TRUTH in the world. I do not appologize for this.[/quote] And what church gave you that scripture? Which church proclaimed the canon? Was it your church, with roots going back a century or less? Which church defended that scripture during persecution and eventually evangelized hundreds of millions worldwide. As someone who grew up protestant, I can tell you it wasn't the baptists or the Assemblies of God. The Orthodox Church gave you the Bible. It came from within the Orthodox Church. The books were selected from among those extant because they conformed to the teachings of the Church, not the other way around. The Church predates the New Testament. This is quite a conundrum in your methodology. [quote]Tradition is not on par with Biblical Truth. In fact, tradition, icons, etc. all a product of MAN, not God. The Bible is God's word and our sole source of faith and PRACTICE![/quote] How many of your graduates go on to found new denominations? How many of these denominations teach competing ideas, all grounded (supposedly) on Biblical truth? The fact is that trying to base the rule of faith only on the Bible has led to nothing but chaos. The Bible arose within the Church. The Church has had clear teachings on how to interpret the Bible. These interpretations are handed down in the liturgy, the writings of the Fathers, and other sources. Your method, with none of these sources, treats the Bible as if each new generation can look at it anew. Which means that each teacher can make of it what he will. It becomes a bunch of proof texts to be trotted out as needed to prove a point. Whether it is Luther or Calvin or Joel Osteen - Biblical teachers come up with a new doctrine, find scripture to back it up, and then go off and teach it. Your Biblical methods are just as 'traditional' as any other, but it simply stems from a much more recent tradition. I often think of the concept of Eschatology at this point. The concept of the 'rapture' is treated as a traditional teaching by most Evangelicals, but stems only from the 19th century, and then from the ravings of a sick woman. Brett - if you are going to drop by an Orthodox site, then how about looking at some of the other content on the site? Give it a listen, then engage seriously with the ideas on offer. Everyone who contributes to this site has a high view of scripture. We read it, we study, we kiss it. But we don't read it in a vacuum. We read it as part of the ongoing witness of the Holy Spirit within the life of the church. - gchancy Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:22:36 +0100 http://www.myocn.net/index.php/Journeys-to-Orthodoxy/Journeys-to-Orthodoxy-From-Protestant-Missionary-to-Orthodox-Christian.html#comment-115 Grace and Peace! As the director of the campus when Jacob was there, I must admit to the following: 1. We teach, preach, talk about, meditate on, and memorize the BIBLE - God's Word! Some may call this 'beating someone over the head' with scripture, but there is no other source of TRUTH in the world. I do not appologize for this. 2. Any Bible student must become an anthropologist, historian, and sociologist. We must evangelize in LOVE. "Go unto all the world preaching the Gospel" 3. Tradition is not on par with Biblical Truth. In fact, tradition, icons, etc. all a product of MAN, not God. The Bible is God's word and our sole source of faith and PRACTICE! This is what we taught when Jacob attend Calvary Chapel Bible College, and this is what I still teach. Steve, I am sure you guys have not 'changed', and still hold to the authority of scripture above Church tradition. Love you guys! Brett www.livingwater.cc www.ccbcu.edu - Brett Peterson Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:09:08 +0100 http://www.myocn.net/index.php/Journeys-to-Orthodoxy/Journeys-to-Orthodoxy-From-Protestant-Missionary-to-Orthodox-Christian.html#comment-91 Hello Jacob, I'm an evangelical Christian who is exploring Eastern Orthodoxy. I listened to your interview and was surprised at your understanding of God the Father. You are intelligent, educated and have a good measure of experience within the evangelical "tradition" and yet, from a theological standpoint, have a poor and fragmented understanding of the character of God the Father. The Father is not evil as you put it, and is not full of wrath. If the Father had no love, we wouldn't have the Son. I can understand your experience within evangelicalism and empathize with you. I know where your coming from and can relate. This is why I'm investigating Orthodoxy. However, flawed as it is, please don't misrepresent the evangelical understanding of the Father within the Trinity. I sense that you are still carrying the bitterness and anger of the past within your soul. For a wonderful picture of a just but loving God, read Is. 1:10-31, especially vv. 15-23. I come back to it a lot myself. Take care. In Him, Fred Tomek - Fred Tomek Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:31:52 +0100 http://www.myocn.net/index.php/Journeys-to-Orthodoxy/Journeys-to-Orthodoxy-From-Protestant-Missionary-to-Orthodox-Christian.html#comment-71 Steve, I am not sure which Steve you are there were two. Steve Carr and I can't remember the other fellows last name, but I would be more than happy to talk with you. Shoot me an email at jacoblee@iconnewmedianetwork.com. I did leave the bible college when the director Pastor Brett Peterson did so I know things may have changed after that. Sorry if I upset you. Peace + Jacob Lee - Jacob Lee Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:17:50 +0100 http://www.myocn.net/index.php/Journeys-to-Orthodoxy/Journeys-to-Orthodoxy-From-Protestant-Missionary-to-Orthodox-Christian.html#comment-70 Hi Mr. Lee, I am not sure if you remember me, but I feel a need to respond to your interview. I am sure that your comments on the Bible College in RSM. The intent of the college was never to beat anyone over the head with the Bible. You made a comment about Jews and Muslims and our lack of understanding of their backgrounds, beliefs and customs. I have worked in Israel, with Jews and Muslims, Indonesia with Muslims...and I hardly carry or teach a textbook understanding. Church History is a 2 semester course that uses the direct source information in its distinction of movements and world religions. We teach a class that studies the Septuagint and its validity. As school, we do not cater to "Chuck Smithisms". Your assessment of Calvary Bible College at RSM is blanketed and unfair. If you want to discuss this, I would be more than willing. I would love it. Not so much of a defense of what I believe...but "my journey" to get there. Thanks for the ear.... and God bless you! Steve - slcarr Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:28:03 +0100