Posted on 01/08/2020 2:01:10 PM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
The Eastern Orthodox Church is breaking apart. The Russian Orthodox Church cut ties with the patriarch of Alexandria on December 26, following his decision to recognize an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This schism follows the Russian church’s decision to cut ties with the archbishop of Athens and the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople. Both leaders also recognized the new Ukrainian church.
There are 14 universally recognized Orthodox churches, plus the Orthodox Church of America and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (which are not universally recognized).
The Russian Orthodox Church holds jurisdiction in Russia, Ukraine and other former Soviet nations. Therefore, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow opposes all attempts to recognize an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Yet Orthodox churches in Egypt, Greece and Turkey have done so anyway. This development is splitting the Orthodox churches into pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian factions. If the Eastern Orthodox Church breaks up over Ukraine, the pro-Russia faction will likely draw closer to Moscow, while the pro-Ukrainian faction will draw closer to the Roman Catholic Church.
The Eastern Orthodox Church split from the Catholic Church in the 11th century. The Roman Catholic Church has been trying to bring the Eastern Orthodox back under its dominion since the 1970s. But negotiations have stalled over the Eastern Orthodox Church’s refusal to accept the authority of the pope. Yet according to a report from the Union of Orthodox Journalists, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople told several abbots and monks last November that there were no dogmatic differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, and that eventual reunion with Rome is inevitable.
News site Angelus published an editorial titled “Could the Reunion Between Catholics and Orthodox Be Closer Than We Thought?” It highlighted the biggest obstacle to Catholic-Orthodox unity: tension between Rome and Moscow. If the Orthodox churches split into pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian factions, the pro-Ukrainian faction might move toward reunification with the Catholic Church, unencumbered by Moscow.
For over 40 years, until his death in 1986, Plain Truth editor in chief Herbert W. Armstrong forecast that the Roman Catholic Church would pull its Protestant and Eastern Orthodox daughters back under its dominion as it rose up to rule over a united Europe. The November 1963 issue of the Plain Truth stated:
The mighty problem of achieving [Catholic] unity is twofold. First, it involves reconciliation of the Orthodox Schism that officially commenced in 1054 and divided the churches in the East—Greece, Russia, the Balkans and the Near East—from Rome. Second, it involves the restoration to the Roman Communion all Protestantism, which developed from 1517 onward.
This prediction was based on a prophecy in Isaiah 47, which describes a church called “the lady of kingdoms” that has power over many nations. Yet this church has protesting daughter churches that have split away. The Prophet Isaiah states that these protesting daughters will be brought back under their mother’s control. This mother will rise to prominence in the end time, exerting great influence over a European superpower.
The Roman Catholic Church has signed agreements with Orthodox, Lutherans, Methodists, Anglicans and other religious groups in its push to unify the world—and especially Europe—under its control. Political tensions over Ukraine may present a stumbling block to the Vatican’s efforts to reabsorb the Russian Orthodox Church, but it will not stop Rome from reabsorbing other Eastern Orthodox patriarchates. Just as Eastern Europe is being divided between a German-led European Union and a Russian-led Eurasian Union, it is also being divided between the Catholic Church, led by Rome, and the Orthodox Church, increasingly led by Moscow.
For more information on how the Roman Catholic Church is working to unite all Christians under the pope, read “Returning to the Fold,” by Stephen Flurry.
No one should kid themselves:
1) The Eastern Orthodox Churches have never really been united to begin with.
2) Reunion between East and West is far down the road if it ever happens at all.
Honestly I see zero positives for any church body going back into the RCC.
None whatsoever.
So now what does this mean for the Ukrain Orthodox Church? and why would they throw in with the RCC which has gone communist, i.e., its head is a communist Pope?
If anyone should know what communism is, its the Ukrain people. How many million of them were starved to death under Stalin?
Francis being Pope jeopardizes the RCC actually being considered a church.
There is no universal Orthodox biblical canon, right? But books like 3 and 4 Maccabees are accepted as scripture by some Orthodox, but not Roman Catholics?
“The Trumpet” is published by the “Philadelphia Church of God” (Edmund, OK) which is rooted in W. Herbert Armstrong’s “World Wide Church of God”. Older Freepers might remember “The Plain Truth” racks in airports, TV advertisements and a free book called “The Modern Romans”. Although some of their political positions are sound, their theology is “out there”, with some similarities to the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Some nuggets from the “Worldwide Church of God” Wikipedia page:
* Armstrong taught that God works only through “one man at a time” and that he was God’s selected representative on earth.
* He believed that the observance of Sunday as the “Lord’s Day” was a papal and/or satanic corruption
* Armstrong adhered to a form of British Israelism which stated that the British, American and many European peoples were descended from the so-called Ten Lost Tribes of Israel,
* Armstrong taught that God’s purpose in creating mankind was to “reproduce Himself”, [...] He concluded that; “Until the resurrection, therefore, we cannot see, enter into or inherit the Kingdom of God. WE CANNOT BE BORN AGAIN UNTIL THE RESURRECTION!”[72]
* Armstrong preached that Jesus Christ will return to earth to “rescue” humanity from the brink of self-annihilation, resulting in the establishment of “God’s government” upon earth
* Armstrong did not accept the concept of eternal judgment in this life. He believed that those who die as unbelievers prior to the return of Christ, exist in a state of “unconsciousness” (see Soul sleep) until after the ‘Millennium’ at the second resurrection, during which they will be offered the choice to submit to God’s government.
* Armstrong did not accept Trinitarianism, believing it to be a doctrine of satanic authorship as part of a “counterfeit Christianity” (which he identified as the Roman Catholic Church). Armstrong taught that the Father and the Word were co-eternal, but that the Holy Spirit was not an actual person.
* A 30% tithing system!
No
Probably not as long as Rome views “reunification” as errant Orthodox sects “returning” to Roman authority. It could be possible if Rome wanted a unified approach between equals, or heaven forbid, saw itself as returning to the Church. In the Orthodox view, they never split away and have always existed. They trace themselves back to the beginning until Rome demanded primacy and they did not follow. There is a mainstream view in Orthodox that does not see itself as a breakaway, but rather as the main trunk of the Christian tree.
So it would depend on the point of view both players brought to the table.
It would probably help also to get rid of this communist pervert loving Pope.
Well, FIRST the RCC would have to defrock the current POSEUR POPE and all the Cardinals named during his illicit reign.
Fair enough, I likewise see zero positives for any protestant church denomination constantly splintering itself up into more and more new churches every week.
None whatsoever.
What if the Orthodox Church is the real mother church and all others will reconcile with it? I prefer that scenario. I never want to become a Roman Catholic but I’d gladly follow Orthodoxy.
I do.
Some are more interested in doing their best staying true to the word of God and their church body is divided on how to do that.
You being in the RCC may not care about that because your denomination has been screwed up for centuries.
And we have this little thing called freedom of religion here as well, so people can live their religious faith freely and without coercion or having to be part of a denomination because some group or state demands it.
in other words, reunification is possible if Rome is wiling to settle for a Primus inter pares type position-first among equals?
After the breakaway schismatic branch leaves so they can be more "biblical" and "godly", it lasts about a week before they split up yet again. Let's see how long the "conservative" Methodist church lasts before it splits up again because some faction of its members disagree about whether you can come to church with wet hair.
I must have missed where Jesus commanded Christians to start 33,000+ different churches that don't agree on anything.
He didn’t. And not all the splits are done for godly reasons.
That doesn’t mean some are not the proper thing to do.
And joining back together when there is fundamental disagreements for the sake of a false unity isn’t what He wants, either.
When I received the Modern Romans Garner Ted was running the show. The messenger was flawed, the specific message was pretty accurate: http://www.herbert-armstrong.org/Books%20&%20Booklets/Modern%20Romans%20(Prelim%201975).pdf
I think the liberal Methodists will fade away to nothing before the conservative Methodists split anymore.
A lot of wishful thinking on the part of Catholics.
The author has obviously NOT actually read Isaiah 47!
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