Opening Scripture: First General Epistle of St. John, Chapter One.
Summary of Scripture: The invitation to Orthodoxy is an invitation to fellowship with Christians so that your joy may be full.
Today’s Lesson: How did we get here?
Questions for consideration:
- What(or who) brought you to Orthodoxy?
- What brought you to St. Michael’s?
- What is the role of God in your life.
Opening Scripture: First General Epistle of St. John, Chapter One.
Summary of Scripture: The invitation to Orthodoxy is an invitation to fellowship with Christians so that your joy may be full.
Today’s Lesson: How did we get here?
Questions for consideration:
- What(or who) brought you to Orthodoxy?
- What brought you to St. Michael’s?
- What is the role of God in your life.
My Story – How I got here
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Raised a Christian in a loving Christian family and community
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Theology: love, sin, and forgiveness (in and through Christ)
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Boundaries set by Scripture, Conscience, and Community/Church
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Active in church life; called to ministry early
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Faith was challenged: fundamental question – who has ultimate authority and discernment?
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Scripture? Sola Scriptura is empty
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My conscience? Unreliable (and so is everyone else’s)
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Community/Church? Perhaps, but what kind? And what if they differ? How do I choose?
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Shouldn’t there be a process? Shouldn’t these things have been studied (There is nothing new under the sun – Ecclesiastes 1:9)? What else is up for grabs?
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Coincided with a yearning for more. The “God-shaped void” was not full. Nor was the medicine offered strong enough to save me from myself and a world of temptations. A desire to be more intentional about life.
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“Trade-up”. Started researching. Became convinced of the authenticity of the Councils, of physical/spiritual Apostolic succession, and of tradition. I had found authority. Left three options:
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Anglican Church: most familiar (but Spong etc.)
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Roman Catholic Church (but Pope, dryness of worship)
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Eastern Orthodoxy (but foreign)
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Attended each. Was blown away by the Orthodox manner of worship. Until then, my conversion was intellectual; the liturgy moved my heart.
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THIS was big enough to fill the hole; the medicine I needed for salvation; and the way I would expect people to worship if they believed what we confess in the Creed.
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Immersed myself in the faith through prayer, worship, work, and discussion.
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Eventually, I became convinced of its authenticity, I submitted myself to the Church (and benefitted thereby!). The full Church was something that I could trust.
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Self – became a better person, a better husband, father, and colleague
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Family – gave the tools we needed to grow together in joy
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100% solution: even money problems! (the joy of asceticism and hesychasm)
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Columbus to Charlottesville to Woonsocket (and from Georgian to Ukrainian)
Discussion: What brought you here? What does God do for you?
