Protestants should stay out of Slavic states. It’s like a 3rd grader going up against a tenured professor, spiritually speaking.
The riches of Orthodoxy cannot be found in any other Christian expression, as it is the Church of Christ and the full expression of Wisdom.
I once had a (formerly protestant) convert friend reprimand me for mocking the spiritual and intellectual simplicity of protestants. She told me, “We have this huge feast, with every possible food imaginable. And we say, “Come, eat with us! The food is plentiful, unending, and rich.” All they have is baby food and milk, and they mix it up in all these different ways to make it palatable, but it’s all they have and it’s all they know. They cant even imagine our reality.”
Don’t get me wrong, I personally don’t care if you or anyone else is a protestant. But it’s foolish to think any protestant has anything of faith to offer a practicing Orthodox. Almost all the protestants I know who genuinely explore Orthodoxy become Orthodox.
Just wow. My dad (when he was alive), made a couple of trips to the Ukraine to help with the work of the church there in a preacher training school (church of Christ). The way you just wrote makes my draw drop. The attitude of so many people these days, like yours, portends the second coming of Christ. I don’t see how things can ever improve.
That's funny; I think the same thing about chrstians (of any variety) trying to convert Jews.
The NT church saw great evangelism by new converts, while your arrogance is a reason why evangelicals should stay NOT out of Slavic states (and just 7% of Russians say they attend services on a weekly basis anyway). While having substantial disagreements with Rome, they hold many of the distinctive Catholic teachings that are not manifest in the only wholly inspired substantive authoritative record of what the NT church believed (which is Scripture, in particular Acts through Revelation, which best shows how the NT church understood the gospels).
Oh yeah, nothing says "tenured professor of spirituality" than the degenerate KGB agent and purveyor of Liberation Theology, Archbishop Kirill. In fact, according to KGB files, pretty much ALL Russian Orthodox Priests with any authority have KGB codenames and served the state. The very few that didn't, or who only served half-heartedly, were never promoted.
And Daniel is quite right that only 7% of the population even bothers to attend church once a month.
So much for the "spiritual treasures" of Orthodoxy! In Russia, it's quite dead, just a fake State Run church for its fake Priests and Fake "elected" leaders.
Except true salvation.
I guess the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ does look unappealing to someone who thinks religion is about the smells and bells and dazzling the eyes with their finery and pomp, but religion, no matter how overwhelming to the senses, can never impart eternal life.
Especially the True Scotsmen.
Stay out of Slavic nations??
Pfffft!
We are commanded to reach every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.
That includes Slavic peoples God loves enough to send His only Son to die for their sins.
It includes everyone in “Christian religions” that do not preach the Gospel of Grace. They too need to hear the Gospel.
Many will respond and have salvation.