[jo kus]

One Orthodox priest once said it's like getting a visa to America and all you have is a dinghy at the coast of France (and a whole Atlantic Ocean in between)! You have been given the visa and you have a dinghy, but it's up to you to undertake the voyage; you must want it, and you must initiate it. There will be tribulations and temptations and storms and obstacles that you must overcome to get there, and the only way you will accomplish this is if you persevere to the end, even if you perish trying. Living or dying is not an issue here; nor is it important as far as our salvation is concerned.

Yes, that's a good analogy. It is apparent our Protestant brothers have a totally different concept of who God is and our relationship with Him. I guess it comes from Luther's totally corrupt man who cannot do anything without God doing it for man. We supposedly are not puppets or we supposedly have free will, but then we cannnot do anything, God must do it for us. There seems to be a disconnect between what they say in one post and what they say in another.

Regards

[kosta50]

I guess it comes from Luther's totally corrupt man who cannot do anything without God doing it for man

My favorite one is their idea of repentance: you repent because God leads us to repent. Of course He does, but do we always make use of that opportunity?

We believe we don't repent because we are ungrateful to God, and not for lack of opportunity, placing the blame squarely on us, the sinners; they think that those who don't repent were not given the opportunity to repent, because God hates them! It's all God's doing! Didn't Adam suggest something similar?

But those who "know" they have been "saved" can go on sinning boldly -- they know God will forgive them anyway! Comfy, isn't it? I would say that it is the ultimate in a religion made for, and by men.