How do we view the historic expressions?

[Eric Frey]

How do we view Roman Catholics/Eastern Orthodox Christians? This has come up in many conversations I've been a part of several times lately. Whether here on Naznet, or in a local diner where I met a manwho despises western churches for sending missionaries to countries that have national church trying to "convert" the Orthodox, or even last night a friend called and told me a denominational official at the HQ level (not a GS) was bragging about our missions work that had "converted several Orthodox priests in the last year."

It seems there is a real problem with how we understand our brothers and sisters in different (but equally valid) expressions of the faith. How do we respond to such comments as the official above?

[Ian Gentles]

My interest is to share Christ, and if a person actually has salvation. However, having said that, we have to understand that just because someone hasnt an evangelical salvation experience dosent mean they haven't a viable faith. I do worry about targetting Orthodox people, instead of coming along side them as brethren from another church. We should boost and build their faith in the framework they know!

[Ian Gentles]

We must remember the Russian Orthodox folks kept their faith through the Soviet years. Reminds me of a story i once heard, a young soviet girls was being told in school that church was only full of old ladies, and she thought, wow, they were young women at time of revolution and they kept their faith is long! This was the start of her search to find what they had!

[Billie Goodson]

There is a difference between what I heard once described as "sheep stealing" and "sheep sheltering".

Sheep stealing is when you target believers in other churches/denominations.

Sheep sheltering is when sheep are not being cared for in their current flock, and they come of their own volition to a flock that is more in harmony with their needs (whatever they may be).

For me, I have a friend that is probably one of the most devout Catholics I have ever met -- he has changed my opinion of Catholics almost singlehandedly. (He is also the one that explained saint intercessory prayer to me). Probably my opinion of him and his witness is the single driving factor for why I can't condemn a practice (intercessory prayer) I don't understand.

Once, I was teaching in sunday school and we were listing "Christian" and then "other" denominations on the board, the majority of the class did not believe Catholics were Christian. This was a sr. teen group, many of whom were from very "churched" families. That led us to deciding what we meant when we said "Christian" -- which got very interesting, especially when the pastor came in. We got pastoral assistance for 2 sessions on this topic -- because of the interest. This got me started down the path of wondering if we oversimplify our faith when teens really do appreciate digging deeper sometimes.

[Ian Gentles]

We forget reformers were good catholics, who at that time only wanted to reform their own church!

[Evan Abla]

I think we have to be very careful who we refer to as evangelical. The fastest growing church in North America, growing at a rate of 6.43 percent, is the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), second is the Assemblies of God at 1.81. Now these are just hard and fast numbers, but perhaps there is some (though perhaps minor) truth as to the evangelical nature of the Orthodox.

I know protestants think they're the only evangelical denoms. They've, in fact, solidified it by defining evangelical as something particularly protestant. Sure, maybe protestants get to pick their own definition because they coined it. But they did they?

I was present at this recent event where a denominational leader expressed excitement over the conversion of folks who were already Christian. Other things this person said were at best derisive and at worst heretical.

[Billie Goodson]

Evan, I have to confess that I read somewhat dyslexically at times -- so, when I read your reply one word jumped out at me. Let me show you what I read (not what you wrote)


I know protestants think they're the only evangelical demons.



I know protestants think they're the only evangelical denoms. They've, in fact, solidified it by defining evangelical as something particularly protestant. Sure, maybe protestants get to pick their own definition because they coined it. But they did they?


I really don't care anymore for the word "evangelical" -- it has come to mean something other than what it was necessarily reflective of in the traditional sense. To me, like the term fundamentalist, it really means something different to every audience. I guess I could be described as an evangelical fundamentalist and some groups would agree and others deny. It is yet just another label that we love to use.

[Evan Abla]

That's really funny . . . and dark . . . but mostly funny . . . and a little dark . . . etc.

[David Parker]

Some of you may enjoy this lively discussion on another forum regarding Franklin Graham's ministry in Catholic/Orthodox countries...interesting perspectives from both sides of the question:

Why Must Franklin Graham go to Catholic/Orthodox Countries?
(http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=188251)