Comments for Orthodox-Reformed Bridge

Comment on An Easter Sermon for the Ages by Karen

Karen — Fri, 24 May 2013 03:35:22 +0000

Prometheus,

I recommend you search Fr. Stephen Freeman’s blog site here:

http://glory2godforallthings.com/
http://glory2godforallthings.com/2009/01/15/gods-wrath/

He has written a lot about the meaning of the wrath of God from an Orthodox perspective, and is also coming from Protestant roots.

Comment on An Easter Sermon for the Ages by Prometheus

Prometheus — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:32:47 +0000

Karen,

Thanks for clarifying. So much of what we say (it seems) requires working out since the frameworks are so different. Thanks for clarifying how you see impassibility. [Though I made some mistakes in my last post above where I should have said energies instead of essence twice.] This is how I have seen it as well. I just felt that Chris had brought it up in such a way that it made God different in his essence than he is in his energies . . . sounded eerily like Calvinism to me. Also, I would love to hear your reaction to Fr. Hopko’s musings on the wrath of God: http://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/hopko/the_wrath_of_god.

Comment on Crossing The Bosphorus by Blair

Blair — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:53:03 +0000

It seems to depend on the Bishop. My Priest has indicated to me that my baptism (Brethren) was valid, because it was trinitarian. But I have not had a full discussion about chrismation with him as yet, so we shall see.

Comment on Is Conversion to Orthodoxy Escapist? A Response to Pastor Steven Wedgeworth by David

David — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:51:53 +0000

Amen Gabe/jnorm! Prof. Clark Carlton, and Orthodox convert from So-Bapt. argue convincingly that the Orthodox Church should target a High-English with a nobility that will shape the Orthodox English-speaking culture. Giving the devolving crudity of modern ‘street-English’…including the silliness of the old ’60 bibles in the cool hippy language of the day, I’m also with him all the way. (Oophs…can find the podcast where he “Commends!!” this book as an example of the high English to shoot for [i'll keep looking]:
http://www.amazon.com/Psalter-Prayer-Adaptation-Translation-Instructional/dp/0884651886/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1E08T2QIBPY56&coliid=I3SBBI23Y5M286

…but the ones below are ‘related’, are excellent, and only 11-minutes long…(reminds me how much substance can be said in 11 mins…IF the speaker is thoughtfully prepared)! enjoy

http://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/carlton/art_and_the_formation_of_orthodox_culture

http://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/carlton/some_thoughts_on_american_orthodoxy

Comment on Is Conversion to Orthodoxy Escapist? A Response to Pastor Steven Wedgeworth by robertar

robertar — Thu, 23 May 2013 06:32:44 +0000

Dear Fr. John,

I don’t disagree with what you wrote, but is it not the case that the reception of the Evangelical Orthodox in 1987 changed the way people looked at Orthodoxy in America? I know it did for me.

Robert

Comment on Why We Need an All-English Liturgy by robertar

robertar — Thu, 23 May 2013 06:30:27 +0000

Dear Fr. John,

I’m sorry but I’m going to have to differ with your statement: “Anyone who speaks English can understand them.” That may be the case if one grew up WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant), but in my case I did not. As a matter of fact I only went to a Christian church two times when I was growing up. I did receive a KJV Bible after attending one Sunday School class but I could not understand what I was reading. I came to faith in Christ through the Living Bible translation. There are a lot of people in Hawaii who grew up without a deep exposure to Protestant culture. As a matter of fact a significant proportion about 20% struggle with Standard American English. As a matter of fact some 27% of Hawaii residents do not speak English at home. Furthermore, over half of the Hawaii populatin 51.1% are unaffiliated. See the Wikipedia article on Hawaii. Until we (the Orthodox Church) face up to the reality on the ground in Hawaii, Orthodoxy will be inaccessible to a significant segment of Hawaii’s population.

And with respect to the Liturgy, I think it depends on which jurisdiction one visits. My initial experience has been with Greek parishes where there is more than a little Greek used in the Liturgy. My experience of the Liturgy in the Antiochian Archdiocese matches your description and for that reason I usually prefer to attend the Liturgy at an Antiochian or OCA parish.

The point is that the demographic situation in Hawaii, and also for the rest of the USA, is extremely complex. If we simplify the situation my fear is that the effectiveness of Orthodox mission and evangelism will be compromised.

Robert

Comment on Why We Need an All-English Liturgy by Archpriest John W. Morris

Archpriest John W. Morris — Thu, 23 May 2013 03:59:09 +0000

I have several comments. My experience is that you are exaggerating the nature of the problem. I have been an Antiochian Orthodox Priest for 33 years and have never been to an all or even mostly Arabic Liturgy. I have seen two Patriarchs of Antioch serve in English. I have always served entirely in English.
However, I also am used to and like the Elizabethan translations used by the Antiochian Archdiocese. The language is not that archaic. Anyone who speaks English can understand them. Once all English speaking Chrisitans used the Elizabethan English.The traditional English is beautiful, and is the kind of English that I was used to praying in as a child in the Methodist Church.

Comment on Is Conversion to Orthodoxy Escapist? A Response to Pastor Steven Wedgeworth by Archpriest John W. Morris

Archpriest John W. Morris — Thu, 23 May 2013 03:45:19 +0000

This was a good article except for one thing. The conversions to Orthodoxy began long before Metropolitan Philip had the courage to receive the Evangelical Orthodox. Convert priests were already close to a majority of the clergy of the Antiochian Archdiocese long before the EOC came into the Church. There were many who prepared the way for the mass conversions, going all the way back to the 1920s.

Comment on Is Conversion to Orthodoxy Escapist? A Response to Pastor Steven Wedgeworth by Gabe Martini

Gabe Martini — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:38:45 +0000

Me too. Much better than awkward reworkings in modern English. Like saying “people” instead of “mankind.”

Comment on Why We Need an All-English Liturgy by robertar

robertar — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:47:49 +0000

Blair,

Thank you for sharing your perspective with us! You made some good points.

Robert