From trusted sources: “The Greek Orthodox Church (GOC) is a branch of Eastern Orthodoxy, which formally broke with the Western (or Roman Catholic) Church in AD 1054. Even though the Greek Orthodox Church is separate from Catholicism, many of its practices are similar, such as the veneration of saints. The term orthodox means that they believe they hold the correct opinion on true Christianity. The Greek Orthodox Church claims to trace its roots to the apostles and early church fathers, calling itself “the Mother Church of Christendom.” While they do hold to many foundational truths of Christianity, such as the Trinity, they have also added many practices and beliefs at variance with biblical Christianity. Many Greek Orthodox Churches conduct their Sunday service, called a Divine Liturgy, in Greek, which is a problem for anyone who does not speak Greek. Their structure more resembles Catholicism than Protestantism. Worship services are filled with formality, ritual, and choral music. Within a typical 75-minute service, they will light candles for various reasons, kneel in tandem, kiss icons, and make the “sign of the cross,” although they repeat the gesture backward from the way Roman Catholics do. Observing the Eucharist is central to their service and for continuing their “process” of salvation. A few Greek Orthodox practices that differ from evangelical Christianity are as follows:

1. Communion - Only baptized and faithful Orthodox may partake of the elements of Holy Communion, which they suggest become the actual body and blood of Christ, a belief called “transubstantiation,” although some Orthodox theologians object to that term. There is no solid scriptural foundation for believing that bread and drink become the physical body and blood of Jesus. Such a concept hints at cannibalism, which is only spoken of in Scripture as a most heinous desperate act (Leviticus 26:29; Deuteronomy 28:53-57; Jeremiah 19:9; Lamentations 2:20; 4:10; Ezekiel 5:10). The Greek Orthodox Church believes that the partaking of communion helps guarantee their salvation. 2. Veneration of saints - The Greek Orthodox Church states that their practice of kneeling before or kissing the images of Mary and deceased saints is a way of showing reverence to their memories, rather than worshiping them. Their website states, “The Orthodox Church worships God alone. Yet, she does offer veneration to individuals who have been important human instruments of God in the history of salvation. Among those so venerated is Mary, the Mother of God, the Theotokos.” Evangelical Christians consider this inclusion of saints in worship as a violation of 1 Timothy 2:5, which states, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Scripture also records several responses of men or angels when someone bowed before them (Revelation 22:9; 19:10). Acts 10:24-25 says, “As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. ‘Stand up,’ he said, ‘I am only a man myself.’” The persistent focus on celebrating deceased saints draws attention away from Jesus and therefore does not agree with Scripture’s focus. Revelation 5:13 describes a scene in heaven: “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’” 3. Salvation - The Greek Orthodox Church claims that salvation is by faith in Christ. However, they differ from the evangelical concept of faith by adding, “Orthodox Christians throughout their lives receive salvation and renewal through faith, works, and the sacraments of the Church.” They teach that the purpose of Christ’s death and resurrection was so that we could become divine as He is divine.

Their website states that “the Holy Spirit is the agent of deification whose task it is to incorporate us into the life of the Holy Trinity.” They believe that it is baptism that “introduces the believer into the life of the Kingdom”; therefore, they baptize infants, stating that “holy anointing or Chrismation grants the gift of the Holy Spirit for growth in the image and likeness of God.” However, this contradicts the New Testament teaching that the gift of the Holy Spirit is for those who hear and believe “the message of truth, the gospel” (Ephesians 1:13). Infants and young children have no way of understanding the message or of making a decision to “deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Jesus” (Luke 9:23). While the Greek Orthodox Church claims to believe in salvation by faith, they add this: “According to St. Paul, not only loving deeds but also the sacraments of Baptism (Rom 6:1-11) and the Eucharist (1 Cor 10:16-22; 11:23-32) are decisive to salvation.” Sadly, many who have grown up in the Greek Orthodox Church tradition have never heard the real gospel of grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), either because all services were in Greek or because the true message was lost in all the pomp. 4. Scripture - The Greek Orthodox Church uses Scripture but includes twelve non-inspired, apocryphal books. On par with Scripture is their “Holy Tradition,” which includes “the writings, teachings, and acts of the apostles, saints, martyrs, and fathers of the Church, and the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils.” Their website states, “All of this collective wisdom and experience through the centuries are combined to form this second great source of sacred authority.” Although wisdom passed down through the ages can be of value, Bible-believing Christians do not consider any other writings or revelations equal to the 66 books of the Bible. It is dangerous to consider human experience and man’s “collective wisdom” as a “source of sacred authority.” 5. Life after death - The Greek Orthodox Church’s doctrine of life after death is vague. They maintain that they do not support the Catholic idea of purgatory, yet they state that “a partial judgment is instituted immediately after our physical death, which places us in an intermediate condition of partial blessedness (for the righteous), or partial suffering (for the unrighteous).” They believe that “a change is possible during this intermediate state and stage,” and therefore include prayers for the dead, along with almsgiving on their behalf. This contradicts the biblical teaching that there is no change possible after death (see Hebrews 9:27). This also does not comport with Jesus’ description of what happens immediately after death in His account of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). 6. Feasts and holy days - Greek Orthodoxy resembles ancient Judaism in its designation of holy days, feasts, and remembrance celebrations. While it is not wrong to celebrate special days and feasts, the Greek Orthodox Church borders on legalism in its rigid adherence to religion, much like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day (Matthew 23:23; Luke 7:30). The extreme focus on tradition, ritual, repetition, and formality creates an environment for a false understanding of what it means to have a saving relationship with Jesus. Although perhaps not intentional, such focus on outward displays can leave the impression that pleasing God equals strict obedience to the Greek Orthodox Church tradition. Romans 14:5 gives the Christian freedom in regards to days: “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.”

@@wendylee1213 praise God!

Okay Orwell. And the year is 1984 where you’re at too I presume.

@@BKNeifert I agree with your principle, but I don't think he is attack JM at all. I think he is cautioning us to remember that the gospel doesn't change with an enhanced focus on discipleship. We just had a nice chat over a couple of my comments that might help you see his intention and views on JM

@@BKNeifert and FWIW, and I'm not saying JM has gone this far with it, but remember Paul openly corrected Peter and Peter was helped by it. He wasn't hating on Peter, but correcting an error. Both were obviously brothers

@@chadg6874 Possibly. I did correct the Pope, in a video I made. But you'll see that's a matter of salvation. I don't think MacArthur's Lordship Gospel is leading people to hell.

@@BKNeifert that's fair and thanks for elaborating. I know, from my experience at least, I had to understand that Jesus truly saved me regardless of my behavior or willingness to "make Him Lord over my life.". He saved me because my heart was ready to know Him. I see it more that He saved me and then began to SHOW me how He simply IS Lord, and it takes no effort on my behalf to make Him or not make Him anything... I have learned that He blesses me with a deeper relationship with Himself and provides more ways for me to serve Him and grow my faith in Him when I seek to do His will... But it was vital to my faith to fully understand that trusting in Him is the entirety of my faith, and obedience is being gardened in me as a result

@@BKNeifert and now that I think about it, especially during the beginning of my walk with Him... There were times where I felt that I needed to "cut such and such sin out of my life" in order to keep a good relationship with Him. I tried to hard, and succeeded for a while.. and didn't get the "reward" I was expecting. Then I gave up trying not to sin, and sinned. And prayed. And our relationship felt stronger, but I believe that's because He was showing me the depths of His grace to strengthen my faith... And guess what? That sin is now a lot less of a burden on my life and I am tempted far less now than when I was trying to cut it out to please Him. Not that it's wrong to not want to sin to please God, but that I believe He was using my failure to help me ultimately succeed through faith in Him

I never knew you were in, lol😅

Not exactly shocking when you consider 1 John 3… “Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,[b] if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.”

Hmm.. thinking about what I said above in relation to your thoughts on the video (about lordship salvation being a doctrinal overreaction to a real problem of lack of cultural seriousness given to lordship) ... I can see how "the other side" (ie Bethel, etc) can do the same thing. Where they may see a lack of trust in the Holy Spirit as God's gift to show us what we need to see, and instead of seeking out God in Spirit and in Truth, they just go all out with no discernment and believe anything and everything is the holy Spirit and shame people for wanting to study the Bible

I really love MacArthur's teaching. He is a gift to Christianity and the church. I trust people will realize I'm not hating on him--just cautioning that we have to be very clear to present the simple, unaltered gospel for salvation and all the other stuff for sanctification.

@@robsingletonchannel totally with you there, and I also consider JM a brother, but definitely agree with the caution about his approach. I would say Paul Washer's teaching could be even more so that way. I'd say in agreement with you, that if we approach it with caution, it can be very beneficial to bring back a focus on discipleship and building each other up in growth in following Jesus... But of course, also in agreement with you, that we should be careful to avoid inadvertently discouraging people from trusting in Jesus and instead becoming focused on their own obedience to validate their salvation. Pretty cool though, how even in the NT, there were brothers of the same Faith who God used their unique personalities to help the body in different ways. Paul defending the pure Gospel, John emphasizing the loving relationship, James focusing on faith in action and discipleship, Jude and others warning the flock about false teachers, etc. I feel that the same is true today with unique members of Christs body. God bless you brother and thanks for the video

And lordship as a result of salvation and not a cause of it also emphasizes the Gospel message.. because faith is trust in God AND NOT IN OURSELVES... So to obey the Gospel is to trust Jesus and not ourselves, which by faith will result in good works, not because of us trusting in ourselves to do good works to save us, but because of trusting in THE ONE WHO IS FAITHFUL and because He is faithful, we can have certainty that good works will result. But if we trusted instead in our fruit and not in He who grows it, the fruit wouldn't be a result of salvation.

Great video, thank you! I subbed to your channel. Love to you in Christ brother

@@chadg6874 I like that, "a result, not a cause" -- that about sums it up.

@@robsingletonchannel amen brother

Uh.. what? That's what you took from that? Really seems like you're taking your theology and getting the meaning from reverse engineering.

@@caliconservative20 no, I will tell His (Jesus) story until I draw my last breath

@robsingletonchannel there is room in evangelistic outreach for both. May the Lord bless you and keep ✝️🙏🏻

True

No, the vast majority are not wealthy

@robsingletonchannel so if we are talking about "The 1%". You are saying that no polls show or even indicate that Christian faith correlates with wealth in America. I am continuing this conversation despite this guys understanding of statistics and set theory. This is for the benefit of Toutubers.

@ “we” aren’t talking about the 1% - you are. The wealthy in this country tend strongly toward the left and progressive Christianity (an oxymoron) so your premise breaks down right out of the gate. Like RINO’s - they are mostly CINO’s

@@Lericah4902 you offer no facts, just assertions

@ BTW, nearly 70% in this debauched country we live in claim to be “Christian” but no honest person believes it.

@@adamgarcia6706 😊

It’s a good reminder for all Christian’s followers

😊

Who can argue with suck a well thought out, deep, well supported comment as that? Oh wait

The Bible has some pretty clear things to say about how you’re judging his standing before God right now.

I’m presenting his words rather than people’s (like you) opinions.

“False assassination attempt?” Do you realize how disconnected from reality you are?

@ Really? You tell me, how does a shooter hit trump on the tip of his EAR when trump had a cap on his head? How does that blood smear reach his face and nowhere else? If the bullet nicked trump’s ear then a person behind him would have gotten shot, right? Nobody was shot behind him, but a man on the farrrrrrrr left corner of the stage was killed. You got answers for this? trump lies too much. Too many ppl dying around him for what?

True

@@robsingletonchannel based on what? your feelings? What other people said? Those are the only 2 options

The blindest of all believe what you just typed

@@louisedgewood9839 that’s a good, biblical reminder

@@ShermanMays-fw8ko true

@@neverBragg The Bible teaches that Jesus was not created but was rather the Creator. “In [Jesus Christ] all things were created: . . . all things have been created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16). The doctrine of the eternality of Christ is one of the distinguishing marks of biblical Christianity. While Jesus is held in high esteem by Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and others of various theological beliefs, those groups teach that Jesus was a created being. It is orthodox Christianity’s affirmation of the full deity of Christ and His uncreated nature that makes Christianity unique from all other religions and philosophies. Various world religions may agree on some important issues such as the existence of a transcendent, objective morality and the value of a strong family life, but the answer to the question “who is Jesus Christ?” quickly separates those who adhere to biblical Christianity from those who do not.

Who is Robert Shilimon?