Conversion Between Baptists and Orthodox; Which is Correct?

Conversion Between Baptists and Orthodox; Which is Correct?

 

“To understand these patterns better, it is important to know that in traditional Orthodox countries there is a large majority of nominal Orthodox.  They come to church services once or twice a year and almost never participate in the Church sacraments.  Most conversions away from the Orthodox Church happen from this class of people.”

“As a Romanian Baptist, I knew that the Orthodox practice a Christian faith “corrupted” by un-biblical human traditions.  I do remember that once a Baptist minister, who was well educated, told me that the Orthodox theology is much more profound and rich than ours.  My own pastor in Bucharest complained that while the Orthodox have a rich theology of the Church, ours was very weak and limited.  Coming in contact with some Orthodox books in 1999, I perceived a paradox: I could not understand why Orthodoxy is so corrupted and at the same time holds such a treasure of profound spirituality.  Trying to resolve this paradox I ended up by converting to Orthodox faith.”

“It is easy to perceive an asymmetry between the two directions of conversion.  In most cases, the Orthodox to Evangelical convert is one who was a nominal Christian and knew very little about the church in which he formally belonged, and through some friend has an encounter with an Evangelical service, where he has an emotional experience.  He discovers friendship and love and a sense of community which were previously lacking in his life.”

“The typical Evangelical to Orthodox convert is a knowledgeable and theologically literate Christian who searches for truth and the right Christian practice.  He discovers the Orthodox faith, but is first stopped by all the accusations which he had heard in his own church.  In Romania, the Evangelicals often define themselves in opposition to the Orthodox.  “Unlike the Orthodox,” they say, “we do not believe in…” After a careful study of the issues, he finds out that the accusations are either false or superficial.  Moreover, he discovers a huge body of tradition, practice and theology, which stands as an answer to his or her many old questions.”

Within the above lies the crux of the problem.

Honest appraisal reveals that there are many nominal or sleeping people among both Protestants (Evangelicals, often specifically Baptists) and Orthodox.  These people should not be deceived into believing that they are Christians.  Christianity is about sincerely trying to follow Jesus, and actually achieving that as the gift of God’s marvelous grace.  Failure to follow Jesus as demonstrated in a lax, nominal lifestyle puts the sincerity of one’s confession in question.  Equally heinous is the fault or replacing Jesus with the idolatry of emotionalism, excitement, and sensationalism.  This idol exists in both Protestants and Orthodox churches as well.

Honest appraisal shows that in both cases, that is in either direction, the individual grew closer to Christ in the conversion.  Baptists showed the nominal, something precious about Jesus.  Orthodoxy showed Baptists, something equally precious about Jesus.

Common sense might indicate that our true brothers and sisters in Christ are those who are sincerely following Jesus by faith in His precious name, whether they are known as Orthodox, Protestants, or Romanists.  See Matthew 12:46-50 and Luke 8:18-21.  Those who are asleep in the pews or are overcome with idolatrous excitement and superstition are not our true brothers and sisters in Christ.

Honest appraisal realizes that many Baptist churches have a rich heritage of the Liturgy of the Word, but almost no Liturgy of Communion.  Many Orthodox churches have a rich heritage of the Liturgy of Communion, but almost no Liturgy of the Word.  Roman churches have their faults as well.  As a result the bulk of the laity are dying of starvation.  Few of the laity realize that they have a responsibility to awaken the sleeping and suppress the idolatrous among them.

This is not to overlook the fact that we are also failing to address the hateful masses seeking to destroy us both, and need to hear that Jesus died and raised again.  That as hateful as they are, Jesus loves them, He died to give them life, and He raised to give them a home.

When we fully realize the impact of these facts, we will see the need to come together sincerely as One in Christ, not by compromise, but by seeking the Truth together.  Throughout this reply, I have assiduously avoided the use of the word Catholic, simply because we will not be truly Catholic until we (all the sincere Orthodox, Protestants, and Romanists) come together as One in Christ.  Then and only then will we be effective in changing our fallen world to the obedience of Christ.  We must stop taking sides and figure out how to come together.

Which is Correct?  Both and Neither.