FROM MONERGISM.COM:
What Beliefs do Eastern Orthodox Christians Hold in Common with the Augustinian/Reformed Tradition?
- The inspiration of Scripture
- The two natures of Christ
- The historical uniqueness of Christ’s death on the cross
- Christ’s physical resurrection
- Our future hope of eternal life
- And all the early Christian creeds
- Like Eastern Orthodoxy, we also hold in common the view that the rejection of the Trinity constitutes heresy
What Beliefs do Eastern Orthodox Christians (EOC) Hold in Contrast to the Augustinian/Reformed Tradition?
- EOC reject the Biblical teaching of the natural man’s bondage to a corruption of nature, embrace free will and reject the Doctrines of Grace.
- EOC reject the Biblical doctrine of predestination. But like Arminians believe that when the Bible speaks of Predestination, it speaks of divine foreknowledge of the sinner’s choice.
- With regard to their soteriology, EOC, like Arminians, are synergistic in their view of regeneration. In other words, they embrace the teaching that man and God cooperate to bring about the new birth.
- EOC reject the doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith alone. Rather, “theosis” (becoming God) or the progressive transformation of people into full likeness to God, in soul and body, takes prominence. Regeneration & sanctification is viewed as a part of justification.
- EOC reject the biblical idea (Romans 5) of inherited (imputed) guilt; They believe, rather, that we are guilty only for our own sins rather as a result of the consequences of Adam’s fall.
- EOC unapologeticly hold that they are the one true church of Christ on earth, which alone has guarded right belief and true worship in absolute identity and unbroken succession with the apostolic church. In other words, Evangelicals have lapsed from the true faith into error, if not outright heresy, according to Orthodox believers. The salvation of non-Orthodox is, therefore, in question.
- EOC hold to baptismal regeneration – no one can be saved unless he is baptized with water.
- EOC reject Sola Scriptura. Orthodoxy affirms a single source of revelation, holy tradition, of which Scripture is the preeminent among several forms. The other forms of tradition include the first seven ecumenical councils, patristic writings, especially those of the first four centuries; later councils; icons; the Liturgy; and canon law. The Protestant view which raises Scripture above tradition as final authority in matters of doctrine is considered by Orthodox as the sin of the Reformation.
- EOC teach that there are seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Confession, Ordination, Marriage, and Holy Unction
- Like Romans Catholics, EOC believe the Eucharist is a true, propitiatory sacrifice.
- Veneration given to icons. For EOC, icons have always been a part of church tradition so this tradition is considered on par with Scripture.
In other words, we can only conclude that Eastern Orthodoxy is an inconsistent, unbiblical substitute for a Christ-centered Biblical Christianity.
- What the Orthodox Believe: Four key differences between the Orthodox and Protestants
Daniel B. Clendenin
- Searching for the True Apostolic Church:What Evangelicals Should Know about Eastern Orthodoxy (.pdf)
Paul Negrut - Eastern Orthodoxy: Coming Home? Evangelical Issues for the Eastern Orthodox
Lawrence W. Carrino - Just Say No An Evangelical Assessment of Eastern Apophaticism
Lawrence W. Carrino - Eastern Orthodox Christianity
Wikipedia - Eastern Orthodoxy, Icons, and Christology
William J. Baldwin - Eastern Orthodoxy . Understanding the Incarnation
William J. Baldwin - A Calvinist Looks at Orthodoxy
Jack D. Kinneer - Franky Schaeffer Hasn’t Left Contemporary Christianity
Covenant Community Church - An Evangelical Appraisal The strength of Orthodoxy
, it turns out, is also its greatest temptation An interview with Harold O. J. Brown - Eastern Orthodoxy
Collection of Several articles in the the Spring, 1997 issue of Christian History e-zine - Eastern Orthodox Teachings Compared
of the Eastern Orthodoxy Task Force Report (.pdf) 82 pages - Summary
of the Eastern Orthodoxy Task Force Report (.pdf) 8 pages - Eastern Orthodoxy, Icons, and Christology
William J. Baldwin, June 6, 1995 - Ossuary Poses Catholic [and Eastern Orthodox] Problems
J. Grant Swank, Jr. - History for the Church of God in the Fifth and Sixth Centuries
Hassell - The Procession of the Spirit
Greg Uttinger - Witnessing to People of Eastern Orthodox Background
Matt Spann (pdf) – Turning Barriers of Belief into Bridges to Personal Faith - 16th Century Lutheran & Orthodox Exchange
Eve Tibbs - Bad Calvinism?
Monenergism was condemned by the 6th Council of Constantinople - Eastern Orthodoxy
Pilgrim
thejunglemissionary
Bill
Manfred
abidingthroughgrace
Chris Hohnholz
Excellent post Coram Deo! Thanks for all the work put into this. In our part of the world, it is easy to point out the heresy and error in the Roman Catholic Church and forget about the heresy and error in the Orthodox denomination as well.
The Desert Pastor
Hmmm…I wonder why a post like this would appear now?
It’s intended as a help for those who are interested in, and/or currently deceived by Eastern Orthodoxy.
Look, CD, you’ve done a nice job of demonstrating how Orthodoxy differs from your faith tradition (but that’s a no-brainer. I could have done that). What you haven’t done is shown how the teachings of Orthodox Christianity differ from the teachings of the Bible, the Early Church fathers, the Ecumenical Councils, etc.
Evidently you didn’t read through the links provided. In violation of Galatians 1:6-9 EOC teaches another gospel than that which is presented in scripture (Eph. 2:1-9), which thing is – according to the inspired Apostle Paul – anathema.
It’s not enough simply to say These teachings differ from ours, so they are therefore un-biblical.
You’re correct, but that’s not what I’m saying. I’m stating that foundational gospel teachings of the EOC – its soteriology – differ from scripture, therefore they are unbiblical.
Besides, you got a few things wrong:
EO does not reject the doctrine of Grace (on the contrary, it’s only because of grace that we can even believe at all).
It’s an erroneous and unbiblical definition of “grace” to claim, as you have done here, that it is representative of sinful man’s cooperation with the One True and Living God in his own justification. This isn’t grace, it’s soul-daming works-righteousness heresy and is another gospel which is no gospel at all.
EO does not “embrace the teaching that man and God cooperate to bring about the new birth.” We do believe that we cooperate with God insofar as we need to deny ourselves daily and take up our cross.
You have claimed here to be a convert to the EOC. You have also claimed that you do not know if you are justified before God or not. And finally you have claimed that justification is a process in which you presently and continually cooperate with God “daily”. This is an erroneous and unbiblical definition of justification and is heresy.
EO does not “reject the doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith alone.” Theosis involves the daily living out of one’s Faith, which one can only do by Grace.
See above – you simply can’t have it both ways. You can’t pretend on the one hand to adhere to justification by grace alone through faith alone while simultaneously insisting that you cooperate with God “daily” to bring about your justification. Alone means alone, not “faith plus”, as in “faith plus works”, as in “cooperating with God daily in a process of justification”. If justification is of works, then it’s no more of grace. Again, either the EOC or you (or both) are guilty of redefining terms to fit within an unscriptural works-righteousness soteriology against which the inspired Apostle Paul pronounces anathema (Gal 1:6-9).
“no one can be saved unless he is baptized with water.” Not exactly. Orthodox Christians recognize many people as Saints–Sts Dismas and Alban for example–who were never baptized.
I’ll take your word for this.
“Orthodoxy affirms a single source of revelation, holy tradition, of which Scripture is the preeminent among several forms.”
While you are right that the Orthodox Church does hold Scripture as preeminent among its teachings, Tradition is not the source of revelation. The Holy Spirit is.
So then the Holy Spirit has inspired EOC’s forms of holy tradition which include teachings that run directly contrary to the teachings of the Holy Bible? Amazing! It is impossible that the Holy Spirit could ever contradict Himself since He is the Third Person of the Triune One True and Living God, therefore it is manifestly obvious that the EOC has received and believed another spirit other than the Holy Spirit, which has led to the spawning of doctrines of demons in its midst.
“EOC teach that there are seven sacraments.” It is true that the seven Sacraments you listed above are usually the only ones identified as Sacraments, but the Orthodox Church recognized the sacramental nature of many other actions as well.
I’ll take your word for this.
Now. Let me ask you and your readers something. Do you really expect to learn what Orthodox Christianity is, what it teaches, believes, practices etc, by reading articles that are obviously written for the purpose of trying to discredit it?
The teachings of the EOC must be compared with the truth of the One True and Living God’s unique and authoritative self-revelation as it is found the Holy Bible, and many of its teachings have been weighed in the scales and found wanting because they contradict the written Word of God.
If I wanted to learn about what Evangelicalism taught, would I read an article written by a Catholic priest?
Of course not. Try reading something by someone who knows what they’re talking about.
Start here: Excerpts from “the Orthodox Church” by Bishop Kallistos Ware
The last time I read and critiqued an article at your request you expressed strong displeasure with my analysis and you summarily dismissed my observations as being those of a “know nothing”. With this in mind I think I’ll pass on your offer here. Thanks anyway.
If you’d like more reliable sources, I’d be happy to pass them along.
See comment above
Matt
I’ve been to eastern Europe four times and have seen first hand the shackles of legalism, tradition, idolatry and works righteousness that the Orthodox Church has put on those sweet people. There may be some true believers within the Orthodox camp, however the system itself is apostate.
I don’t know how it is in Eastern Europe–having never been there–but I can tell you from first hand experience, as someone who wandered through the anarchy and confusion of Protestantism, only to finally find the Truth through Orthodoxy, that The Orthodox Church has nothing whatsoever to do with legalism, idolatry, or works righteousness. Tradition, yes. The others, no not at all.
If you actually took the time to go visit an Orthodox Church (find one here) and talk to a priest, you’d find that Orthodoxy is nothing like what you think it is. It is real faith, real worship, real life. You’ll be surprised.
Now, you may reject the Church all you want, but two things you can not deny–although I do invite you to try to disprove–are that:
1) The Orthodox Church is the only Christian body that can trace its lineage directly, in unbroken, continuous succession all the way back to the Apostles. It is, therefore, the very Church described in the New Testament.
2) No other Christian body can be shown to have preserved, maintained, and upheld the Faith once for all delivered to the saints, unchanged, undiminished, unaltered for two thousand years.
CD,
Did I actually call you a “know nothing,” or are you misquoting me again?
I see, so you have chosen not to learn something about the Church. That’s fine. But know that your comments regarding the Orthodox Church are completely erroneous. I say this as someone who actually knows something about Orthodox Christianity.
You may choose to continue to slander the Church all you like, but I would prefer that you make an attempt to learn something about it first. Please.
Any church that has an office of “priest” is missing the whole point of Jesus Christ’s position. How can one read the letter to the Hebrews and call a church officer “priest”?
As for the historical record linking the Orthodox Church to the Apostles, anyone can make up ancient history to support their claims. It’s no wonder the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church have conflicting reports on this topic.
matt,
I see you have returned once again with the same mantras that you have been taught. Sadly, they do not line up with true history, and the traditions of the Orthodox religion does not line up with biblical Christianity.
Col. 2:8, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.“
I will conclude by noting that at no time have you gone to the Scriptures to show that what you actually believe comes from the Word of God. ALL true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are commanded to study the Scriptures (not traditions) so that they can give a ready answer of the hope that is within them.
May I recommend that you continue forward by actually picking up a copy of the Bible and begin studying it for yourself. As every person who will ever see eternal life must do, as we come to understand the truth of the Scriptures, we realize that we are totally depraved sinners who will suffer eternally at the hands of the holy, righteous Judge of the Universe. Somebody must pay the penalty for your sin and mine.
In my case, matt, the Holy Spirit revealed the truth in my heart and my faith was placed in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. When I stand before God, I will stand complete in Christ robed in the garments of His righteousness – NOT because of what my church taught, NOT because I held to any tradition of man, NOT because I lit candles or venerated the saints, NOT because of anything I could do – BECAUSE OF JESUS CHRIST ALONE!
matt, your testimony and comments do not bear this out with you. We will continue to remember you in prayer that the Holy Spirit will reveal God’s truth to you.
The Desert Pastor
I’ve been to eastern Europe four times and have seen first hand the shackles of legalism, tradition, idolatry and works righteousness that the Orthodox Church has put on those sweet people. There may be some true believers within the Orthodox camp, however the system itself is apostate.
Unfortunately, Habbakuk is 100% accurate in this assessment.
I lived in Bulgaria for 4 years, and most of the self-proclaimed Orthodox are de facto atheists who light a candle and kiss an icon once a year (usually on Easter) before going out and getting drunk. Meanwhile, they will tell you that theirs is the One True (and oldest) Church – while admitting in the next breath to never having read the Bible or attending services. Next, ask a basic question about Church history, and they are completely in the dark. I have seen this over and over and over. Lastly, they will arrogantly dismiss you, and revert to their societal prejudice that Protestant = heretic. All this, without the slightest knowledge or interest in basic Christian doctrine. The Orthodox Church is a corrupt, crumbling tyrannical institution over there, which is one reason so many people are leaving it in droves once they come to a saving faith in Christ.
Yes, there are true disciples of Christ within the EOC. Most of those I’ve met are here in the U.S. – including a couple of immigrants who have, and read their Bibles. However, as with your assessment of the RCC, your exposition of what the EOC teaches is completely accurate. I spent several years studying EOC theology and comparing it to RCC (the church in which I was raised) and biblical Christianity. Unfortunately, it does not hold up. The 7th Church Council, I believe, was the one where praying to dead saints was made part of church dogma. Throughout the centuries, more and more man-made doctrine and tradition has been added which has diluted the faith. The Eastern Orthodox Church is NOT the Church of the first century, any more than Rome is. Even a cursory reading of the Book of Acts will confirm that.
Recently, I copy edited the English translation of Rev. Hristo Kulichev’s “Heralds of the Truth: The History of the Evangelical Church in Bulgaria”. History has borne out the corruption and violence the EOC used in the Balkans to keep the sheep firmly under it’s grasp, both spiritually and politically. Persecution against Evangelicals has been rooted in jealousy. I would be happy to discuss the historicity of the EOC’s corruption and departure from the truth with anyone interested.
matt said: “CD, Did I actually call you a “know nothing,” or are you misquoting me again?”
The comment in question is right here, matt. After I critiqued an article at your request you said: “But it really could not be more obvious to me by your comments that you know nothing about Orthodox Christianity.” Anyway I don’t care what you think about me or what you call me, I only care about the trajectory of your eternal soul which, based upon the numerous unbiblical comments you’ve left here, I am fully persuaded is currently upon the broad path that leads to destruction.
matt it’s manifestly clear that you are either attempting to deceive others about, or else you are being deceived by the EOC (or possibly both); and this is demonstrated by your flat rejection of appeals made to the absolute authority of God’s Holy Word as it is uniquely contained within the 66 books of the Holy Bible in favor of the EOC’s vain traditions of men.
The true Apostolic Deposit is the Apostolic doctrine as it is contained in God’s Holy Word, not in a corrupted earthly institution that labels itself as the “true church”! True Apostolic succession isn’t found in the offices held by a line of sinful men, rather it’s found in the chain of doctrinal truth as it is revealed by the Holy Spirit Himself through the Apostles to God’s elect children within His Holy Word.
Born-again, blood bought believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are the members of a chain of Biblical truth that has extended from Jesus Christ, through the inspired Apostles and their close associates who as His instruments penned God-breathed scripture, and then down through the ages to the living saints today – the church militant – who themselves represent lively stones fitly joined together comprising the true church of Jesus Christ, the real Body, His spotless virgin Bride, the church invisible, the ekklesia, the called out ones who are united together by grace alone, through faith alone, who miraculously exist in absolutely inseparable spiritual unity with Christ alone, to the eternal praise and glory of God alone. This chain of succession is in fact the unbroken teachings of Jesus Christ the Lord as recorded through His Spirit inspired human instruments, which has been preserved in God’s Holy Word and passed down through the ages to His elect, even as it is today.
The church isn’t a brick and mortar building with a sign out front and a membership roll inside, instead it’s those who have been supernaturally redeemed from every kingdom, tribe, tongue and nation and who by God’s unmerited, miraculous, and unspeakably glorious gift of salvation have become partakers of His Kingdom solely from The One True and Living God’s infinite oceans of mercy, grace, pity, and love.
God’s Word commands you to repent, matt. His Word commands you to turn away from your false religion of self-righteousness and to flee unto the cross of Christ empty handed and broken, bringing nothing but your wretched, filthy, worthless sin stained rags of works righteousness, falling on your face before the One and only mediator between God and man, Christ Jesus the Lord.
In Christ,
CD
Desert Pastor,
“I will conclude by noting that at no time have you gone to the Scriptures to show that what you actually believe comes from the Word of God. ALL true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are commanded to study the Scriptures (not traditions) so that they can give a ready answer of the hope that is within them.”
Actually I have. Perhaps not so much on this thread, but certainly on previous threads. And it didn’t really make much difference to you, did it? Look, I spent years playing the Protestant game of Whoever Stacks Up The Most Proof-text Bible Verses Wins. Ultimately, it really ends up being a game of My Interpretation of Scripture Is Better Than Yours. Nobody wins.
There are a lot of comments on this post in which the commentor claims to follow the Bible as the one single ultimate authority for all faith and worship. If they are honest with themselves, they will admit that they do not believe that the Bible is the ultimate authority, but that their interpretation of the Bible is the ultimate authority, and that everyone else’s interpretation is wrong. I heard someone say one time that Protestants simply exchanged one pope for another: themselves. On what, Desert Pastor, do you base your unflagging conviction that your interpretation of Scripture is superior to that of other Christians (who, by the way, believe the same thing about their interpretation of Scripture)? You may denounce “tradition” all you like, but everyone (yes, even you) reads Scripture according to a particular tradition: Lutherans read it according to the Lutheran tradition, Presbyterians, according to the Calvinist tradition, and so forth. These, sir, are traditions of men. “Tradition” is simply the teachings that have been handed down. The ones St Paul is referring to in 2 Thess 2.15, are sacred tradition. Those are the ones followed by the Orthodox Church. (which, by the way, include Scripture. The Orthodox Church does not set Sacred Tradition at odds with Sacred Scripture.)
Coram Deo,
To be fair, I did say that you know nothing about Orthodox Chrstianity (I didn’t actually call you a “know nothing”), and I stand by my comment. Being able to come up with new elaborate and inventive ways of articulating your conviction that Orthodoxy is a soul-damning false gospel simply does not reverse the fact that you know nothing about Orthodoxy Christianity.
“the true church of Jesus Christ, the real Body…who miraculously exist in absolutely inseparable spiritual unity with Christ alone…the unbroken teachings of Jesus Christ the Lord as recorded through His Spirit inspired human instruments, which has been preserved in God’s Holy Word and passed down through the ages to His elect, even as it is today.”
Aside from being borderline Gnostic (Christ’s Body is invisible?), your description of the “church” resembles nothing whatsoever that exists in modern Protestantism. I have to wonder, truly, if you’re being ironic here. Are you actually aware of what’s going on in the Protestant world today? Do you really think that Protestantism fulfills Christ’s desire for oneness of Faith? (John 17.20-23)
The Scriptures refer to the Church as “the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Tim 3.15), and “the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way” (Ep 1.23); the Church has the authority to expel unrepentant Christians and the power to “bind and loose” (Mt 18.15-18).
How do you reconcile the doctrine of an authoritative, truth-filled Church with the existence of thousands upon thousands of Christian denominations who all teach different doctrines, follow different practices, and disagree on their understandings of the nature of the Trinity and the Incarnation of Christ; the role of good works; the proper place of Mary and the Saints; the right approach to Scriptures; the definition and means of salvation, justification, sanctification, glorification; the meaning, method, and timing of baptism; the substance of the elements of Communion; the proper understanding of atonement, original sin, mortal sin, venial sin; predestination versus freewill; imparted versus imputed righteousness; lordship salvation versus free grace; efficacious versus prevenient grace; total versus limited depravity; conditional versus unconditional election; premillennialism versus postmillennialism versus amillennialism and on, and on, and on, et cetera, ad nauseam, ad infinitum…
Is it possible that all these different doctrines are correct?
Maybe doctrine is irrelevant and the differences don’t matter?
Or maybe only certain doctrines are important and the rest is just academic?
Or perhaps Christ established more than one church?
Christ said “I will build my church,” not “churches” (Mt 16.18), and that “there shall be one flock and one shepherd,” not thousands of flocks (Jn 10.16). Christ did not establish dozens, hundreds, or thousands of churches; He established one church, which is His one body.
But if the Church is the “body of Christ” (Col 1.18,24), and all the tens of thousands of denominations in this world are part of that one body, can all their disparate beliefs and teachings be valid? Is it acceptable to have conflicting and contradictory doctrine within the one Body of Christ?
St Paul wrote that “if anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” (Ga 1.8-9) He told Timothy to “command certain men not to teach false doctrines,” and that “some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” (1 Tm 1.3, 4.1) He wrote that, only under the “unity of faith,” and in the “fullness of Christ,” will we “no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.” (Ep 4.11-16) He told Titus that an elder in the Church “must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it,” and that Titus himself “must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.” (1.9, 2.1)
Christ told his disciples that “the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you,” and that “he will guide you into all truth.” (Jn 14.26, 16.13)
God Himself said that “I the Lord do not change” (Mal 3.6), so what reason do you have to believe that His doctrines—the means by which we attempt to understand Him, worship Him, and live a life of devotion to Him—will change, develop, evolve?
Doctrine clearly does matter, but which doctrine?
Can we divide doctrine into essential and non-essential?
Christ said during His temptation in the desert that man is to live by “every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt 4.4), and in the Sermon on the Mount where He said that, “until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5.18-19)
Ask yourself: if Christ is the Truth (Jn 14.6), can there exist in His Body any falsehood?
The answer is: NO!!
The belief that the Church is the body of Him in Whom there is “no variation or shadow of turning” (Jam 1.17) absolutely excludes the possibility of contradictory or conflicting doctrine.
Jesus established one church, in which all doctrine matters and does not conflict, and which contains the full truth as revealed by God. And if Christ has kept the promise He made in Matthew 28.20, then that Church must still exist.
How then can you possibly accept the notion that every body of Christian believers is a part of that Church? Two confessional bodies that hold contradictory beliefs can’t both be true. One of them has to be wrong. Ten thousand worship communities that confess contradictory beliefs can’t all be true. Nine-thousand, nine-hundred, ninety-nine of them must be wrong.
If it’s true that there are tens of thousands of Christian “denominations” in this world that all hold different beliefs, then there can be precisely one that is the true Church.
Which one could that be? Could there be a Church that can claim to have been founded on Pentecost, and that all the evidence points to as having preserved the Faith—including doctrine, practice and worship—of the Apostles, unadulterated, unmodified, unaltered?
In fact, there is. If anyone reading this is interested in actually learning something about it, I have set up an email account specifically to answer questions you may have: letusattend@gmail.com
I am not interested in arguing or debating or condemning (or being condemned), but simply in answering questions.
To the rest of you, Desert Pastor, Coram Deo, Fourpointer and the rest, this has been fun(ish), but I’m done with this debate. Good luck.
I became interested in the Orthodox Church in January 2009. I became a member in April 2009. I left it in 10 July 2009. God alone is my refuge and strength. Thanks for this site. There is so little on the internet to compare Orthodoxy with Protestantism, I look forward to reading the links. Love Ricky