Comment on What Protestant Christianity is Wrong about, Protestant wrong ideas about Orthodox Christianity and some protestant heretical and inaccurate beliefs and practices by Onesimus.
I do appreciate you taking the time to write this. It gives me a better idea of orthodox belief. However I strongly disagree on many points on your accusations against protestants. Many people have gave their life and soul to serve Christ and you regard them merely as heresy because they do not keep to traditions and religious outward appearance? I want to beg you to rethink using that word so lightly. Your post has a lot about orthodox belief and traditions but shows a lack of knowledge of the Holy Scriptures (by even calling Joseph Jacob, but im sure that is just a oversight). They body of the church is made up of many members, some in the orthodox and some outside. Christ has died for protestants, orthodox, catholic believers, the Lord is not fooled by mere labels. It is man who creates these divisions for the sake of their traditions. I beg you again, do not call someone who does not adhere to Eastern orthodox rituals and traditions as a Heretic! Many of these people love Christ and honor the Holy Word of God, seeking them diligently (like acts 17:11) and Christ is not ashamed to call them His own. Hebrews 2:11, It is Christ our Lord who sanctifies us.
With 1 Timothy 1:4-7 in mind, we must be careful less we move further away from love and the gospel.
To even speak quick about it. Marys ever virgin status is because Matthew 1:25 and other verses referring to Christs brother. As far as overly reverence we must keep in mind Luke 11:27-28.
As far as praying to the saints, why go to the employees when you can go straight to the boss. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
Brother, I cannot get into more at this time, but the heresy part made me angry, because they are ones who the Lord Jesus Christ died for. Even watchman nee, i dont know everything about what he taught, so I cannot speak on that matter although nothing he taught screams heresy, but was he not one in China who served Christ when few people were ?
Why take offense if Holy or saint is not used? God is concerned with the heart more than titles. Someone honors Christ if they listen and obey not by calling him Lord. It would be a dishonor if we do not listen and obey and call him Lord. Yes I wish things and people were giving the proper titles at times too but if i say Paul rather than Saint Paul, It does not mean I do not honor and respect him. Of course I do because I am conveying what he is saying and recognizing his Apostleship given to him by our Lord. It seems merely some grew up differently.
My hope if possible is we can leave traditions and opinions as just that (not to forget about them but not let them get into the oneness that is in the Lord), because quite honestly many traditions seem to fall in the area of rough and grey interpretation not taking into account a holistic view of scripture, but rather based on perspective and traditions.
So brother it seems the tone i hear is just because some dont consider the traditions of the Orthodox or agrees with some of the practices they are not loved and saved by the Lord Jesus Christ. Is this what Christ taught or any of the apostles and prophets?
