The good news is that Russian Orthodoxy is rising in the formerly atheist dystopia of Russia. The bad news? The Russian government is persecuting Protestants and Catholics in an effort to protect Orthodoxy.
This is wrong. Look, I understand why the Russian church, having seen millions of its own martyred by the communists, wants to be sheltered while it tries to rebuild. I get that. But it's a violation of human rights to persecute others, and to deny their freedom of worship. Where would Orthodox believers in Western Europe be if the governments there tried to protect the state churches in this way? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Besides, it's not going to help Orthodoxy become holier. Rather, it seems to me that this is just as likely to make Orthodoxy complacent and arrogant.
I know too that it's hard for Americans to understand the historically close relationship in Russia between the Church and the Throne. I get that. Let me simply say that I am very glad that no bishop of any church in the United States can get on the phone with the mayor and have the storefront church shut down.
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"If the Orthodox in that country as well as here were as deeply interested in the plight of the least of these as they were in their beautiful services and feast days and conducting the correct religious rite in the correct way, etc, etc, perhaps God wouldn't be sending in other troops so to speak."
What makes you say the Orthodox do not care for the impoverished and mentally ill? Guess what - giving to the poor (almsgiving) is a fundamental requirement of Great Lent as much as fasting is.
Maybe you should take care of the homeless in your own country - which, unlike Russia, is one of the richest nations in the world. Heed the words of Matthew 7:5 - "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."
"And why would you be so proud that you don't proselytize?"
Again, it appears you know little to nothing about the Orthodox faith. It sure wasn't the Baptists or Methodists who baptized and brought the gospel to the Native Alaskans. Orthodox make a point not to "poach" Christian believers of different denominations, unlike Protestants - they still preach the Word of God to non-Christians.
Such arrogance and ignorance of the Orthodox faith is sadly typical among Protestant churches, and Americans in general. Such attitudes only seem to vindicate my decision to convert to Orthodoxy from Protestantism.
Grigory, but why is almsgiving emphasized just during great Lent? Shouldn't it be a way of life? The misery and grief I see day to day doesn't stop the rest of the year. There was a piece on 60 Minutes a few years ago about Russian thrown-away orphans, and I couldn't get over it. My own parents were orphans...
The funny thing is, you probably won't believe it, I sort of like the Orthodox faith, no I think I could even love it. I just wished it lived up to what it should be.
Sure there's a beam in my own eye. I don't feel I do enough either. It worries me, I see horrible things at my job and go home and cry and pray. I just think you guys shouldn't get exercised over other Christians (think of us as your distant cousins if not brothers and sisters!) who are trying to alleviate some of the unbelievable pain in this wretched world, whether in Russia or Africa or other places.
Where's that scripture where Jesus says not to forbid people who weren't of the disciples' main clique, who were out preaching in His name? I think Jesus with those outstretched arms on the cross is wanting to embrace as many as will come to Him.
"Grigory, but why is almsgiving emphasized just during great Lent? Shouldn't it be a way of life?"
The Orthodox church has always believed charity to be an important Christian principle regardless of the month or date.
The reason why almsgiving is especially emphasized during lent is because we are saving lots of money by eating less food - and that excess money should go to the poor.
"The misery and grief I see day to day doesn't stop the rest of the year. There was a piece on 60 Minutes a few years ago about Russian thrown-away orphans, and I couldn't get over it. My own parents were orphans..."
Again, Russia just came out of nearly a century-long era of oppression and state-sponsored atheism. Of course there's problems. To insinuate that these problems exist because the Orthodox aren't devout enough is just ridiculous, and arrogant as well.
"I just wished it lived up to what it should be."
Every church has its problems. You don't think there are problems with Protestantism? Why is it that almost every single major American televangelist ends up in some kind of scandal? Bakker, Swaggart, Oral Roberts, Popoff, Haggard - I could go on and on.
"Where's that scripture where Jesus says not to forbid people who weren't of the disciples' main clique, who were out preaching in His name? I think Jesus with those outstretched arms on the cross is wanting to embrace as many as will come to Him."
You don't seem to understand that the problem here is proselytizing of Orthodox Christians, not of the unchurched. We are talking about preaching to the converted, which is a waste of time and is divisive to boot.
You don't seem to understand that the problem here is proselytizing of Orthodox Christians, not of the unchurched. We are talking about preaching to the converted, which is a waste of time and is divisive to boot.
But to many Evangelical/Charismatic Protestants, Orthodox Christians and their priests, besides wearing quaint clothes, are not converted or saved or Christians (as "the Bible" defines "Christian"), but are icon and Mary worshipers who mistake doing dead works and engaging in religious rituals and praying vain repetitious prayers for a personal saving relationship with Jesus.
Disgraceful. Well, there are much worse sins out there, I suppose. And I doubt Soviet Russia was a seminary of the virtues.
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