The result of a Church Plant
I'm often criticized for being too harsh and critical of the Evangelist church, and just wanted to clarify for the record that in fact it's just the opposite - there is so much to admire and appreciate with both the structure in the church as well as the genuine Christian spirit that prevails.
The success of these Churches actually make me feel more passionate about the Orthodox Church. As an example, the church that I'm most familiar with is Harvest Bible Chapel in Naperville, that now worships in a very nice building right across from the exit I take to work.
An amazing story, and everyone I have met from the Church is so welcoming and enthusiastic ... literally a daily reminder of what a church with a vision can achieve. I also had the chance to visit during the renovation, and even then was amazing to see the joy and "one-ness" of everyone volunteering to get their home ready for the Grand Opening.
This Church along with many other Evangelist churches started with a "church plant", a concept that is so foreign to our Orthodox Church.
The sad irony is there's nothing "un-Orthodox" about this and many of the other concepts used to grow and expand the Church. The same formula would help so much with the divisions occurring due to different needs and expectations of a Church. This indeed is the calling of Christ, whether you are Orthodox, Protestant or Catholic!
The criticisms of the Church that are often expressed (e.g., from this article by Sam George - “I do not get anything out of it”, “Church is a club”, “Church is full of hypocrites” & “Church is more interested in my money than in me", etc) have nothing to do with Orthodoxy.
To try and summarize, my frustration is never with these Christian churches and their people who clearly have committed entirely to their belief of Christ teachings. It is more so with those who argue that Christian thoughts like these go against Orthodoxy, and choose to do nothing.
When will we have the courage to step up and correct? It will happen in some city in the USA ... led by a priest who does understand that this is not against the Faith of the early Church leaders. It's just fixing processes that are long overdue for a re-haul.
Quote from the movie "Gangs of New York" ... although not directly discussing the Church, I think it is applicable as it seems our generation needs a spark to wake us up ...
The success of these Churches actually make me feel more passionate about the Orthodox Church. As an example, the church that I'm most familiar with is Harvest Bible Chapel in Naperville, that now worships in a very nice building right across from the exit I take to work.
An amazing story, and everyone I have met from the Church is so welcoming and enthusiastic ... literally a daily reminder of what a church with a vision can achieve. I also had the chance to visit during the renovation, and even then was amazing to see the joy and "one-ness" of everyone volunteering to get their home ready for the Grand Opening.
This Church along with many other Evangelist churches started with a "church plant", a concept that is so foreign to our Orthodox Church.
The sad irony is there's nothing "un-Orthodox" about this and many of the other concepts used to grow and expand the Church. The same formula would help so much with the divisions occurring due to different needs and expectations of a Church. This indeed is the calling of Christ, whether you are Orthodox, Protestant or Catholic!
The criticisms of the Church that are often expressed (e.g., from this article by Sam George - “I do not get anything out of it”, “Church is a club”, “Church is full of hypocrites” & “Church is more interested in my money than in me", etc) have nothing to do with Orthodoxy.
"True Orthodox fidelity to the past must always be a creative fidelity; for true Orthodoxy can never rest satisfied with a barren ‘theology of repetition,’ which, parrot-like, repeats accepted formulae without striving to understand what lies behind them."- Excerpt from “The Orthodox Way”, by Bishop Kallistos Ware
To try and summarize, my frustration is never with these Christian churches and their people who clearly have committed entirely to their belief of Christ teachings. It is more so with those who argue that Christian thoughts like these go against Orthodoxy, and choose to do nothing.
When will we have the courage to step up and correct? It will happen in some city in the USA ... led by a priest who does understand that this is not against the Faith of the early Church leaders. It's just fixing processes that are long overdue for a re-haul.
"Get all of us together and we ain’t got a gang, we got an army. And all you need’s a spark, right? Just one spark, something to wake us all up."
Quote from the movie "Gangs of New York" ... although not directly discussing the Church, I think it is applicable as it seems our generation needs a spark to wake us up ...
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