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grengliman
Senior Member
USA
1053 Posts |
 Posted - 09/22/2007 : 17:25:52
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I am curious about some of the views of the members here on the issue of ecumenism and the World Council of Churches. At what level, if any, do you think the Orthodox Church should be engaged in the ecumenical movement?
I'm not completely sure where I stand. My knee-jerk reaction is complete rejection of the idea. But thinking deeper, maybe Orthodoxy should be in the mix to expose people to the true Church?? |
Edited by - macacic on 09/22/2007 18:36:51 |
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grengliman
Senior Member
USA
1053 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2007 : 17:34:33
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| Sorry about my spelling error, can't seem to fix it. Oh how I wish spell check would hit the topic line as well... |
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macacic
Moderator
USA
1968 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2007 : 18:38:59
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I've taken care of the spelling error.
I believe the Orthodox Church should be engaged with other Christian Churches with the intent of us bearing witness to them.
It is quite clear that this is a futile attempt within the current World Council of Churches as well as the National Council of Churches here in the United States. All of the Orthodox Patriarchates should make severing any ties with these organizations a top priority. |
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Aristokles
Average Member
USA
931 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2007 : 01:24:36
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| No question about it! |
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Lover of Monasticism
Average Member
USA
919 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2007 : 09:14:48
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| Ecumenism is the church of the Antichrist. |
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Aristokles
Average Member
USA
931 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2007 : 10:48:52
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| False ecumenism (as in the WCC and NCC) to be sure. |
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Lover of Monasticism
Average Member
USA
919 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2007 : 11:45:48
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| Correct. Unfortunately, it's a wonderful term that heretics have stolen from us for their ungodly movement. |
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grengliman
Senior Member
USA
1053 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2007 : 13:25:12
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| I agree with every point thus far. On a personal rather than national or global level, I know I have been accused (by heterodox)of acting "not very ecumenical", and "intolerant" of any Christian other than Orthodox. I fear being boxed in as an egotistical Orthodox thinker who refuses to see anyone else's point. Most of that is true, but its not ego. |
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Yiorgos75
Junior Member
Australia
461 Posts |
Posted - 09/24/2007 : 04:18:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Lover of Monasticism
Ecumenism is the church of the Antichrist.
Cut to the chase don't you! 
I reckon we should really get out of all the ecumenist councils. They promote nothing and in fact our involvement gives credence to all the heterodox involved. I am not aware whether after 50 years of active involvement whether any particular heterodox group has "woken" up and said "lets leave all this crap and go back to our Orthodox roots".
A young priest once gave me a glowing report on how lovely the local council of churches was in my hometown. I asked him point blank if he had been doing much witnessing to the lesbian female Presbyterian minister who was chairing the council. He went red and changed the topic.
Do we really want to be on the same councils as these type of people? |
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recent convert
Junior Member
100 Posts |
Posted - 09/24/2007 : 07:18:53
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| Groups like the National & World Council of Churches are sellouts to all professing Christians and many of them realize this. Every Orthodox church should withdraw participation from these hopeless councils and focus on receiving & educating other professing Christians who feel trapped in what are nothing more than agenda driven politics. |
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divinehandmaiden
Starting Member
USA
23 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2007 : 23:36:25
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quote:
Originally posted by grengliman
I am curious about some of the views of the members here on the issue of ecumenism and the World Council of Churches. At what level, if any, do you think the Orthodox Church should be engaged in the ecumenical movement?
I'm not completely sure where I stand. My knee-jerk reaction is complete rejection of the idea. But thinking deeper, maybe Orthodoxy should be in the mix to expose people to the true Church??
I'm with you on this in that I don't want to appear egoistic,and perhaps cut off any opportunity to witness/educate others about Orthodoxy. If Christ could dine with prostitutes/tax collectors etc. who am I to judge people of other faith? The difference, I suppose, is that Christ did not do these things in vain, but with a purpose, as should we. If we can educate/evangelize then we should make the most of an oportunity to do so. However, if it becomes obvious that the other person has no intentions of exploring our beliefs, is vain about their faith etc. then time is wasted.
Belive it or not, I've had Jehovas witnesses over to my home (gladly) so that I can share Orthodoxy with them!
Really. I enjoy taking the initiative from them and explaining the Orthodox perspective to them! Making them ask me more questions!
I have yet to offend any of them, rather they enjoy coming over b/c I'm one of the few "kind" people who not only invite them in, but can discuss theolgy respectfully enough, to create opportunity for "thought". I don't do it often any more-don't have the time.
But I enjoyed opening my home up to them and teaching them something they didn't know! It's all in how you approach people-they respond greatly to kindness, first and foremost. |
Edited by - divinehandmaiden on 10/01/2007 23:37:28 |
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recent convert
Junior Member
100 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2007 : 12:01:42
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The WCC is disproportianately composed of a liberal/radical bureaucracy from so called "mainline" (mostly American) Protestant churches whose congregations are becoming nonexistent. If rank and file mainline Protestants wisely leave these liberal shells called "churches" (but often fail to find Orthodoxy) why should Orthodoxy maintain a presence there? We need to evangelize non Christians and offer the truth to Protestant Christians who have been swindled by usurpers in the WCC. If one wants to understand the ideology of the radical bureaucracy that hijacked (such as it was)
Protestantism (mostly american but also most influential) one should read books like "The Death of a Nation" by John Stormer (1968)and "Collectivism in the Churches" by Pastor Edgar Bundy (1955?. Surely these men have been referred to as "coo coos" which is arrogant & condescending. There is no witness to bear within a secularized & often anti Christian bureaucracy; the Antiochian Orthodox Church thankfully left the US based National Council of churches (NCC) in 2005. |
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Kevin
Junior Member
United Kingdom
273 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2007 : 13:09:53
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I am an Anglican at present but I am wavering towards Orthodoxy. Hence I am here.
It depemnds what ecumenicalism is. I only recognise one Church and it believes this.
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, light from light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
----
The fact that the fundamental tenets of our faith are the same means we can fellwship and work together as Christians. This means You can take the sacrament in my church and I should be able to in yours. But I do not believe it can come from a high level. When tChurch leaders get involved it ends up being a political thing that does not glorify Christ.
Kevin |
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Lover of Monasticism
Average Member
USA
919 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2007 : 13:32:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Kevin
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son].
Got to get rid of that "and the Son" if you want to become Orthodox.  The "One Church" that Orthodoxy recognizes - the Orthodox Church itself - renounces this blasphemous addition to the Creed. |
Edited by - Lover of Monasticism on 10/19/2007 13:33:27 |
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macacic
Moderator
USA
1968 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2007 : 13:47:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Kevin
I am an Anglican at present but I am wavering towards Orthodoxy. Hence I am here.
You may have missed the mention in the forum policies but non-Orthodox are asked to limit their postings (as opposed to their readings) in the Inquirers Forum. Thanks. |
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Paulie
Starting Member
25 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2007 : 05:08:07
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Orthodox Christians cannot speak enough about the heresies and errors of Roman Catholics and Protestants but when it comes time to have the opportunity to rub shoulders with them and maybe as brothers try to talk and teach them about the traditions of the orthodox church which they have lost all the orthodox get all on the panic and say its all from antichrist and the orthodox church is falling into heresy.
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Edited by - macacic on 10/21/2007 10:45:31 |
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Topic |
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Ecumenism
