Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Evangelicalism vs Eastern Orthodoxy

What are some of the differences between Evangelicalism and Eastern Orthodoxy? And in what way are they important to Christians?

Some time ago the evangelical world went abuzz with the news that Hank Hanegraaff had converted to the Eastern Orthodox Church. It’s not that unusual for an evangelical to leave the “Protestant” faith and convert to Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy. Of course, there are examples of Catholics who have become Protestants. Naturally, whenever this happens, the side who receives the convert into its fold celebrates a victory...keep reading

8 comments:

duke said...

well what can I say your commentary is a lot better about the EO then that of *certain* evanglicals and I am guessing a least you would know what you are critizing and disagreeing with rather than making absurd accusations.

Alf Cengia said...

Thanks for dropping by. Appreciate your input.

duke said...

everybody interprets the bible in their own traditions, you do too, and I have seen some dispensationalists like Hal Lindsey arbitrary allegorize the text in order to force a future prediction.

Alf Cengia said...

I like Hal but you'll find a lot of serious dispensationalists disagree with his interpretations.

I see things similarly to Paul Henebury (Dr Reluctant). His is the first blog on my blog list to the right of the page. The Bible uses symbolism and types (dispies agree) but what we need to do is assess what God is plainly communicating through the Bible writers. Roman Catholicism and the Orthodox tradition often reinterprets plain-sense passages such as (for example) Acts 1:6-7. The Reformed churches do the same thing. They reason that God has finished with Israel as an entity therefore Christ's answer to the disciples regards timing is really a rebuff to their aspirations. But that isn't what the text says, it is an inductive opinion.

duke said...

Well that's just your opinion

Alf Cengia said...

It isn't about my opinion. It's about understanding what God is telling us rather than what tradition teaches.

In the case of Acts 1:6-7, Jesus does not reject the disciples' question but tells them it isn't for them to know the time.

If someone asks me when I will given them $1000, yet I have no intention to - then I will say so. I won't be discussing time. It just stands to reason.

duke said...

well your rapture beliefs are technically inductive opinions. But at least unlike pop eschatologists you are willing to admit so. Tradition is the proper way to interpret the Bible and with out it you get a bunch of mini-popes spawning everywhere

Alf Cengia said...

Note: I should correct myself. I said inductive above when I meant deductive.

That there will be a rapture is clear from several passages (e.g., 1 Thess 4:16-17). It is the timing of the rapture which is deductive. We deduce its timing from a number of assumptions regarding our millennial position.

I'd also suggest that a plain understanding of Scripture affirms premillennialism and that many of the early fathers held to this position. Amillennialism crept in later (Augustine onwards), and then also postmillennialism. Tradition tends to be fluid whereas Scripture isn't.