Before you read this post, please take a look at my interviews with Theron and John. Theron has left evangelicalism for Eastern Orthodoxy. John has left Eastern Orthodoxy for evangelicalism. I now hope to point out some of the interesting parallels and contrasts between the two interviews.
1. The Influence of Folk Religion on Religious Adherents
Theron’s conversion took place in the buckle of the Bible belt, an area of the United States where a majority of people adhere (loosely) to some form of evangelical religious beliefs and would consider themselves “born again.” John’s conversion took place in Romania, where more than 90% of the population is Eastern Orthodox (mostly by birth). Conversions from one denomination to another seem to often take place in areas where one religious affiliation dominates. No one would assume that all the people claiming to be “evangelicals” in the deep south are true believers; neither would we claim that those who are, by birth, Eastern Orthodox in Romania faithful followers of their religion. In a society where one religious form dominates, minority denominations flourish, as challenges to the status quo.
2. The Search for the New Testament Church
Both Theron and John admitted that they were attracted to their respective denominations because of their closeness to what they understand the New Testament church to have been like. John sees the Eastern Orthodox Church, with all its traditions, rituals, and icons as being a perversion of the True Church. The simple worship services and plain churches of the Baptists appear to be more in line with the early church. On the other hand, Theron’s reading of the Patristics led him to see evangelicalism’s lack of ecclesiastical authority as being far from the early church. Instead of seeing in Baptist life a picture of pristine, New Testament Christianity, he took the trail to Constantinople.
3. Sola Scriptura
In the final analysis, the main difference between the Orthodox and evangelicals is the doctrine of sola Scriptura. John became a Baptist after reading Scripture and becoming convinced of Scripture’s authority – even over the church he had been a part of. Theron left evangelicalism once he abandoned his belief in Scripture as the final authority. “Once I reached that point, it was a fast track. That’s the house of cards. At that point, I had to find another authority.” Theron’s testimony should serve as a warning to Baptists who toy with the doctrine of sola Scriptura. Without Scripture as the final authority, Theron is right. One has to find another authority. Unfortunately, most of the people that reject sola Scriptura do not find their authority in the Roman Catholic or Orthodox Church. They prop themselves up as the authority and head down the road of Protestant Liberalism. When sola Scriptura goes, it’s a “fast track” in most cases to liberalism.
4. What the Eastern Orthodox Can Learn from Evangelicals
One of the major problems facing the Eastern Orthodox, especially in countries where it is the state religion, is religious apathy. Evangelicals in these countries are vibrant and passionate about their faith. Baptists like John are seeking to convert their friends, often with tears and pleading. The Eastern Orthodox would do well to renew the fervor among their own church members, converting their own flock – many of whom never darken the door of the church.
The liturgy of an Orthodox worship services stresses God’s transcendence, often to the point of making God seem distant and aloof. A renewal of the liturgy and an emphasis on the personal “relationship” aspect preached by evangelicals would help church members to a more biblical view of the God we worship.
5. What Evangelicals Can Learn from the Orthodox
Evangelicals should admire the stability of the Orthodox Church, even if we disagree with the church structure and emphasis on tradition. We are too often moving from one fad to the next, in a never-ending merry-go-round of “the next big thing!” These fads are not only distracting, but they hurt our witness to those around us.
If the Orthodox can learn from the “immanence of God” shown in evangelical worship, surely we can learn to show the “transcendence of God” in worship. Too often, God is presented as a best friend, a life coach, a buddy to have in time of need. We need the picture of God in His majesty and holiness that an Eastern Orthodox service provides. We should be trying to strike a biblical, healthy balance between these two.
