Ancient Faith Today - An Orthodox Conversation with Evangelicals (w/ Fr. Lawrence Farley)

[@fishosoficaldebaitsphiloso7760]

I was telling an evangelical the other day that we spend a lot of our worship time in repentance. They asked me, “What’s that?” Exactly.

[@BDRe1nelt]

Respectfully, sowing division between Christians isn't worthy of you as a believer. Do you suppose that person was a good example of a sincere evangelical? Just like there are some Orthodox who think they will be saved for their adherence to tradition and doctrine (not Christ Himself), there are some misguided evangelicals who think that grace does not require sanctification. The evangelicals I know most certainly know what repentance is and many view Orthodoxy as beautiful and profound. We who confess Christ share of His Spirit to some extent or we could never arrive at that confession. Let's join in fighting the enemies of Christ in the heavenly realms. It is certainly the case that His enemies in this world would be just as happy to make a martyr of an evangelical as an Orthodox.

[@fishosoficaldebaitsphiloso7760]

@@BDRe1nelt thank you for the thoughtful feedback Benjamin. Forgive me. It is something for which to need to repent. May God grant me a sinless day. Glory to God for all things!

[@AbbeysArtPrints]

Lack of reverence YES YES YES YES YES …. I grew up in the Greek Orthodox Church and now I’m back at the Orthodox Church as I crave reverence and the seriousness of the word.

[@heatherlong1235]

This was a blessing, thank you so much!

[@AncientFaithMinistries]

You're welcome, God bless you

[@gregoryw4662]

Thanks Fathers for this. I would like to get the book. I am in my 40s and am moving into Orthodoxy. I am looking for advice on how to take my family with me.

[@annalynn9325]

Glory to God! I was in the same position a few years ago. My “method” was zero pressure. Invitation but not expectation. My husband, step-daughter and I were all received together Pascha ‘22, thanks to God

[@miztenacioust1758]

​@@annalynn9325this is encouraging to hear!

[@synthesaurus]

Is venerations of the ikons of saints in a church instrumental for the salvation of the soul? Is ignoring them and focusing only on Jesus not sufficient? These are pretty legitimate questions from the serious enquirers.

[@ldowdy9828]

I asked a similar question, and I liked the response. I was asked why I was trying to do the least amount necessary. Why was I worried about only what I have to do to be saved, and not giving honor where honor is due. All your praise for the Saint is going to God as well anyways, so why only do what is sufficient, when God has done more than what is sufficient for me.

[@synthesaurus]

When it comes to ikons most protestants have no issue with them until it comes to “veneration” which does come across as worship, especially in some old orthodox countries where some ikons become like talismans or charms. In some churches people even bring offerings to these ikons.

[@HVACSoldier]

Handing out an encyclopedia’s worth of Orthodox Christian books, at airports, would be inundating. “You want to hear about the Orthodox Church? Here, read THESE books.”

[@annalynn9325]

😂 Facts!

[@HVACSoldier]

My cousin is leaving the Methodist Church.

[@IOANNIS-l7r]

SPEAKING OF ANCIENT FAITH IS APOSTASY BECAUSE THE FAITH NEVER CHANGED WE HAVE THE FAITH OF APOSTLES UNTIL TODAY

[@gheiberg59]

?? huh ?? - "THE FAITH NEVER CHANGED WE HAVE THE FAITH OF APOSTLES UNTIL TODAY" ...which is what we believe, and is the very point of saying, "Ancient Faith Today"... so, NOT apostasy...

[@MrChi31]

Sir, please relax.

[@fishosoficaldebaitsphiloso7760]

JI Packer wrote on personable holiness. His expression got me to thinking that I was not anywhere near godly and holy. This started my move away from evangelism ironically. I wanted transformation.

[@synthesaurus]

When a man like Paul says he is a sinner. Isn’t God who has the final judgment and not people who elect him a saint? Many who eventually were canonized had said they weren’t worthy. Also, the words “the last will be the first” make me think that perhaps most real saints are not really known or noticed.

[@HVACSoldier]

Are Orthodox Christians “Evangelical,” or “Fundamentalist?”

[@BrianJonson]

It depends on how those terms are defined. Orthodoxy is very evangelical because we proclaim the good news in all our services. We do not believe the Bible must be interpreted with wooden literalness, so aren't fundamentalists, but we are fundamental when it comes to the dogmas of the ancient church (see the Nicene Creed)

[@HVACSoldier]

@@BrianJonson “The Left,” say we are “Fundamentalists,” as IF was a bad thing. They say it like we think the Earth 🌎 is 6,000 years old and people and dinosaurs existed at the same time, but do not know anything about our faith. They base it on their “faith” that’s what Orthodox believe.

[@harrygarris6921]

​@mikebastiat Oh there's no question that we should be sharing the faith in some respect the question is just how this should be done and who in the church should be doing it. Accosting people on the street handing out tracts? Not really the way that the Orthodox Church historically has shared the faith. But that doesn't mean that we don't share the faith.

[@rigavitch]

That's not true.@mikebastiat

[@wesleyerickson8661]

@mikebastiatby virtue of claiming this, so also is claimed that the apostles and their disciples were cultists.

[@joshbanker8743]

Oh gosh no

[@TruePathLiving]

Huh ?