Ukriane Proselytizing

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JustaServant said:
Take my word for it, the fundamentalists are in no way, shape, or form trying create dialogue. They do not consider Catholic OR Otrhodox to be Christians.
Catholics and Orthodox in Eastern Europe are in the initial process of dialogue, THAT is the one positive thing the fall of the Soviet Union has produced.
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Whether or not they consider EOs or RCs Christians is of no consequence, since they aren’t going to stop either way.

They’re wrong and silly for not considering EOs, and Catholics Christians.

But as they keep coming they will challenge the cultural Christianity that has settled in, provoking some to come over, some to defend their faith leading to inspiring more to actually show up.

When I was in that region I noticed that very few folks bothered to actually show up to church on Sunday. Christianity seemed more a Christmas and Easter thing and weddings and funerals. It wasn’t meaningful in the day to day life of people.

Baptists and fundamentalists with their emphasis on personal relationship could shock the people out of their religious fog and stupor. That’s why I think its a good thing.
 
House_Harkonnen said:
Whether or not they consider EOs or RCs Christians is of no consequence, since they aren’t going to stop either way.

They’re wrong and silly for not considering EOs, and Catholics Christians.

But as they keep coming they will challenge the cultural Christianity that has settled in, provoking some to come over, some to defend their faith leading to inspiring more to actually show up.

When I was in that region I noticed that very few folks bothered to actually show up to church on Sunday. Christianity seemed more a Christmas and Easter thing and weddings and funerals. It wasn’t meaningful in the day to day life of people.

Baptists and fundamentalists with their emphasis on personal relationship could shock the people out of their religious fog and stupor. That’s why I think its a good thing.
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You can be sure that Baptists especially in the South where they dominate have their own cultural Christianity.

I think that would be true for any area dominated by one church anywhere. Maybe even in Minnesota or parts of the Midwest where Lutherans are the dominant religion.
 
andrewstx said:
You can be sure that Baptists especially in the South where they dominate have their own cultural Christianity.

I think that would be true for any area dominated by one church anywhere. Maybe even in Minnesota or parts of the Midwest where Lutherans are the dominant religion.
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True.

I would actually enjoy having some Orthodox Christians come try to convert us. I think it would lead to some great interactions and an increase in respect and understanding.
 
House_Harkonnen said:
True.

I would actually enjoy having some Orthodox Christians come try to convert us. I think it would lead to some great interactions and an increase in respect and understanding.
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That would be fun. But after a few brewskis Lutherans would be fighting among themselves 😃
 
andrewstx said:
You can be sure that Baptists especially in the South where they dominate have their own cultural Christianity.

I think that would be true for any area dominated by one church anywhere. Maybe even in Minnesota or parts of the Midwest where Lutherans are the dominant religion.
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To be sure. I have to continually roll my eyes and snort loudly whenever German or Scandihoovian cultural uffda gets dragged into our churches here. I am sure it’s the same for Orthodox parishes, too.

But to the point of the topic…debating theology is fun; a rousing good argument in brotherly love is fun; even a good “you heretic” here and there can be a blast. But when Christians try to deliberately convert Christians (whatever that even means), it’s downright sick.
 
House_Harkonnen said:
True.

I would actually enjoy having some Orthodox Christians come try to convert us. I think it would lead to some great interactions and an increase in respect and understanding.
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Really I have a lot of respect for Lutherans. I was raised fundamentalist and the first non-fundamental church I worshipped in was Lutheran LCA. I do not think of Lutherans as Protestants in the same way as evangelical fundamentalists at all. If there were no Orthodox church close by, I could easily and comfortably go to a Lutheran church.

The first LCMS I went to was caught up in the church growth movement and they eschewed liturgical worship. It was much like the fundamentalist churches I was trying to escape and it was the only LCMS church in town. Truthfully it took me a while to try another LCMS church… sorry.
 
Per_Crucem said:
To be sure. I have to continually roll my eyes and snort loudly whenever German or Scandihoovian cultural uffda gets dragged into our churches here. I am sure it’s the same for Orthodox parishes, too.

But to the point of the topic…debating theology is fun; a rousing good argument in brotherly love is fun; even a good “you heretic” here and there can be a blast. But when Christians try to deliberately convert Christians (whatever that even means), it’s downright sick.
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I agree with the “conversion” stuff. That is exactly why I say proseletize and not evangelize.
Tell me what is ELDONA? I have never heard of them. All we have around here is ELCA, LCMS, and Wisconsin synod.
 
Peter_J said:
Ukraine.
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I heard a discussion on the radio this morning about whether to call it “Ukraine” or “The Ukraine”. The conclusion was that you can tell someone’s age by which way (s)he says it.

I’m 60 years old, so I still catch myself saying “The Ukraine”. But then again, my wife is from “The Philippines”. 🙂

Anyway, my Baptist friend at work now believes that I am a Christian in spite of my Catholic faith, and possibly the only Catholic on Earth who has read the bible and really knows it. 😉

Sometimes you just have to shake your head and chuckle.

Paul
 
House_Harkonnen said:
Whether or not they consider EOs or RCs Christians is of no consequence, since they aren’t going to stop either way.

They’re wrong and silly for not considering EOs, and Catholics Christians.

But as they keep coming they will challenge the cultural Christianity that has settled in, provoking some to come over, some to defend their faith leading to inspiring more to actually show up.

When I was in that region I noticed that very few folks bothered to actually show up to church on Sunday. Christianity seemed more a Christmas and Easter thing and weddings and funerals. It wasn’t meaningful in the day to day life of people.

Baptists and fundamentalists with their emphasis on personal relationship could shock the people out of their religious fog and stupor. That’s why I think its a good thing.
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I think you may be onto something there…

Challenge is a good thing. Many Catholics on these fora tell of coming to a deep understanding of the faith only after being challenged by a non-Catholic and researching to find the answers. People generally study their way out of non-Catholic faiths and study their way into Catholicism. If a challenge from a Baptist is what gets that started, I say hurrah!

Paul

BTW: That “studying into” applies to the Orthodox faith (the other lung, which I deeply love and respect) as well.
 
andrewstx said:
I agree with the “conversion” stuff. That is exactly why I say proseletize and not evangelize.
Tell me what is ELDONA? I have never heard of them. All we have around here is ELCA, LCMS, and Wisconsin synod.
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andrew, sure…Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America. Our only real distinctive theologically is that we are strictly episcopal in church governance. Our parishes are strictly liturgical as well. It broke away from the LCMS mainly over the church growth influence within the Synod.
 
Per_Crucem said:
andrew, sure…Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America. Our only real distinctive theologically is that we are strictly episcopal in church governance. Our parishes are strictly liturgical as well. It broke away from the LCMS mainly over the church growth influence within the Synod.
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You’re good people, and good Lutherans. But we’d have preferred you stuck around to help us combat potential heterodoxy in the ranks. Church Growth needs to end. Also, kudos to y’all on the correct usage of ‘diocese.’
 
This bothers me too. We should be sending Catholic and Orthodox Apologetic books in their language to help counter their influence !
 
Darrel_Slugoski said:
This bothers me too. We should be sending Catholic and Orthodox Apologetic books in their language to help counter their influence !
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In their language? Isn’t what the Southern Baptists speak still counted as English? :ehh:
 
Darrel_Slugoski said:
This bothers me too.
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Indeed. A source of profound aggravation for me. Gospodi pomiluy!
We should be sending Catholic and Orthodox Apologetic books in their language to help counter their influence !
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I like this idea. I may end up learning Russian–though my interest was originally for unrelated reasons, I now have a new one to add to my list: saving souls from Baptist/Fundamentalist heresy. (I know Ukrainian is a separate language, but one can only do so much. At least I should be understood in most places.)
 
it’s not just the american baptists that are sending missionaries to eastern european countries ,the lds ,sda,and jw ,as well.any country that is a catholic or orthodox is their prime target.look at what they are doing in latin americas and border cities .they are destroying their culture,tradition and faith.families that used to worship in one religion,they divided them and pitied against each other.they just dont proselytize,they also brainwash and program uncatechized or poorly cathechized catholics to despise their former faith.
 
Trebor135 said:
I like this idea. I may end up learning Russian–though my interest was originally for unrelated reasons, I now have a new one to add to my list: saving souls from Baptist/Fundamentalist heresy. (I know Ukrainian is a separate language, but one can only do so much. At least I should be understood in most places.)
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Since I speak Russian (or rather I should say, back when I spoke Russian…I haven’t in several years by this point, so I’m very, very rusty), I can understand Ukranian to some degree. I never, ever use Russian around Ukrainians, though (I did once and trust me it was more trouble than it was worth). As you can imagine, non-Russians of the ex-USSR have mixed feelings about the Russian language, and most of the new countries have dropped it like a hot potato or limited it to a secondary/regional/trade language (with the notable exception of Kazakhstan; see here). As you can see at that link, there are many Russian speakers in Ukraine, but probably the number of people who would feel comfortable speaking it with you is not as large as the demographics might suggest.
 
We will be one Church again , only with the help of the Holy Spirit . I just want to let my Orthodox brothers and sisters the profound respect I have for you . When it comes to the eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches we do need to support each other in regards to these sects attempt to sheep steal . When I am doing Apologetics work with other Christians I always include the Orthodox as being part of the true Church . Of course we have differences to work out which are being addressed in official dialogue . I wonder if any one knows if Catholic Answers and the Orthodox are sending apologetic tracks to eastern countries ? I would be willing to donate my money towards this effort !
 
I also respect non Orthodox/Catholic Christians on this website. My concern is that certain Christians do not share that same respect or when they go to eastern countries . Billy Graham would send Christians to their own Church for support and did not sheep steal unlike what is done in these countries . I also believe that these Christians are under Gods grace . However there are 33000 different Churches which claim they have the corner on the truth . Truth demands one answer not multiple interpretations of scripture . When these Christians enter eastern countries they are not generally evangelizing but are trying to win converts to their understanding of scripture and their Church . I honestly have lived in 34 and traveled through 40 countries around the world and I have seen this play out .
In my studies over 25 years the Catholic/Orthodox have the better argument historically and biblically . Two of my favorite books on apologetics are Catholicism and Fundamentalism and Born Fundamentalist born again Catholic . You should read them . I would suggest that the Orthodox us them as a model although you may not agree with all of our beliefs .
 
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