20080506 My Journey to Orthodox Christianity

20080506 My Journey to Orthodox Christianity

This is the first of a series of podcasts based on a class we teach here at St. Michael’s, called “Our Faith: Orthodox Christianity at St. Michael’s”. This set of classes is designed to explore Orthodox Christianity as it is practiced at St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Church. As such, it will cover the fundamental tenets of our faith as they are lived in our personal lives, our homes, our community, and our parish. The others will be published as time permits.

Today I will briefly discuss my own journey to Orthodoxy and Woonsocket.

Future classes will cover:

• ABC’s of Salvation through Christ and His Orthodox Church: why do we have all this stuff?
  
• Church Architecture and the Movement of the Faithful
  
• The Prayers of Our Church: Patterns of Personal and Corporate Worship
  
• The History of Our Church – from the upper room to Woonsocket
  
• A Brief Catechism of Our Church
  

The main downside to presenting this information in podcast form is the lack of interaction, so if you are interested in the topics, I encourage you to visit your local Orthodox Church. Most offer similar classes. Better yet, if you are within commuting distance of Woonsocket - come here!

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Session One: Introductions (My Journey)

Opening Prayer.

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

Raised a Christian in a loving Christian family and community

• Theology: love, sin, and forgiveness (in and through Christ)
  
• Boundaries set by Scripture, Conscience, and Community/Church
  

Active in church life; called to ministry early

Faith was challenged: fundamental question – who has ultimate authority and discernment?

• Scripture? Sola Scriptura is empty
  
• My conscience? Unreliable (and so is everyone else’s)
  
• Community/Church? Perhaps, but what kind? And what if they differ?
  

Shouldn’t there be a process? Shouldn’t these things have been studied (There is nothing new under the sun – Ecclesiastes 1:9).

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.

“Trade-up”. Started researching. Became convinced of the authenticity of the Councils, of physical/spiritual Apostolic succession, and of tradition. Left three options:

• Anglican Church (but Bp. Spong etc.)
  
• Roman Catholic Church (okay, but some prejudices & legitimate problems)
  
• Eastern Orthodoxy (okay, but foreign)
  

Attended each. Was blown away by the Orthodox manner of worship.

• THIS was big enough to fill the hole; the medicine I needed for salvation; and the way you would expect people to behave if what we say in the Creed is true.
  

Immersed myself in the faith.

Convinced of its authenticity, I submitted myself to the Church (and benefitted thereby!)

• Self – became a better person, a better husband, father, and colleague
  
• Family – gave the tools we needed to grow together in joy
  
• 100% solution: even money problems!
  

Columbus to Charlottesville to Woonsocket.

Discussion: What brought you to where you are? Where is God in your life?

Next week: The ABC’s of salvation and sanctification!

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Thank you for listening to OrthoAnalytika, the podcast of St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!