Quest wrote:Hello All,
I am a Seminary student, an African American, and the Son of a Pentecostal Pastor. As I have studied theology I have come to change my perspective on a lot of issues. As I continue to prayerfully study I was wondering if I could possibly get some of my questions answered here.
Hi, Quest! I extend a very hearty welcome to you on behalf of all members of this forum. May God grant you illumination and answers to all your questions.
Here are a few:
How is the Authority of the Orthodox Church established?
I'm not quite sure what you mean by this question. Perhaps you can clarify? But to answer you straightly I would say the Authority of the Orthodox Church was established on Pentecost by Jesus Christ Himself!
How do you explain your mandatory Veneration of Icons, Theotokus, and the Communion of Saints, when it seems to someone outside the Orthodox Church, that these were not apparantly evident in the Early Church of the first 300 yrs of the Church?
These are weighty questions that require fairly lenghthy discussions to help combat all the misinformation that Protestantism has spread. I mean no offense, for I come from a Protestant background myself. If I may suggest, the best resource for you in answering these questions would be the Our Life in Christ radio program. Check out this website: http://ourlifeinchrist.com/ and download the programs in their audio archives.
The two hosts of that show are both from a Protestant background and they do a good job of "framing" Orthodoxy, as it were, for an American Protestant. Probably the best way to get your answers would be to find an Orthodox Church near you and contact the Parish Priest. He should be more than happy to tackle any issues you may have with Orthodoxy and explain things in further detail.
One final note: Take what you see on Message Boards with a grain of salt. I've found that what you see represented on the internet often conflicts with how Orthodoxy is "in real life". If you get frustrated in your search and feel overwhelmed or unconvinced, the best course of action would be to pray... fervently. God will provide all the answers you seek... just keep the faith and trust in Him. That being said, Euphrosynos Cafe is a great place with a colorful cast of characters trying to 'work out their salvation with fear and trembling'.
Please do take my questions as an insult!
I wouldn't dream of it!
May the blessings of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be with you ALWAYS. Much love.
