Who is my Jesus?
A "song" by Christian singer Todd Agnew includes a lyric that's been on my mind for awhile, i.e., "my Jesus would never be accepted in my church"
This echoed an astute observation made in a comment to an earlier post to explain why people are continuing to leave our Church, i.e., "to find a Jesus who fits the Jesus they have in mind".
It's been very difficult to not be frustrated at the continuing exodus in our Orthodox Church towards what they perceive is "better" Christianity ... the attitude of my Jesus is better than your Jesus. As the living Church is a family of people who together do as our Lord commanded both in worship and action, each loss of a Christian brother or sister without question weakens the living Church.
Even though it's been interesting to see a renewal of interest in the early Church teachings, as long as people like Joel Olsteen tops the list of 50 most influential Christians and is easily more associated as being a "Christian" than any saint from the early Church it doesn't seem as if Orthodoxy has much of a chance.
So, with all these thoughts and emotions in mind, the guidance found in the introduction of the wonderful book 'Mere Christianity' was quite profound.
C.S. Lewis uses an analogy of a large hall with a number of doors, and on opening each door one finds a room with chairs, fires and a meal i.e., a place to settle and get comfortable. Lewis explains that the hall is a place to wait, a place to meditate and decide which door is the true one.
He further cautions that this should be an informed, careful decision ... i.e., "the question should never be: 'Do I like that kind of service?' but 'Are these doctrines true: Is holiness here? Does my conscience move me towards this? Is my reluctance to knock at this door due to my pride, or my mere taste, or my personal dislike of this particular door-keeper?'"
This is actually a great insight into human behavior that many in our Orthodox Church overlook. We do believe that Baptism and other Holy Sacraments are undoubtedly true, but each person will be a different levels of understanding of who is Jesus and why our Faith is true. Through Baptism we do enter the Hall, but we must continue to learn and understand why we need to go through that door with the label of 'Orthodox'.
And, much as our parents want to believe, its not because we have to :P
Powerful imagery and advice ... and very well applicable to what's going on in today's world. Our job as Christians is to make sure that first everyone gets into the Hall, but then our job as Orthodox Christians is to make sure we understand that the faith must be defended and protected from heresies, and teach why the door - although definitely not the one with the shiny bright colors and neon signs - is indeed truth. And truth is what defines God the father, His only begotten Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
And if we fail? Lewis has that covered as well.
Lewis concludes by saying once a person reaches a room, its our duty to be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall. He writes, "If they are wrong, they need your prayers all the more; and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them as this is one of the rules common to the whole house."
This echoed an astute observation made in a comment to an earlier post to explain why people are continuing to leave our Church, i.e., "to find a Jesus who fits the Jesus they have in mind".
It's been very difficult to not be frustrated at the continuing exodus in our Orthodox Church towards what they perceive is "better" Christianity ... the attitude of my Jesus is better than your Jesus. As the living Church is a family of people who together do as our Lord commanded both in worship and action, each loss of a Christian brother or sister without question weakens the living Church.
Even though it's been interesting to see a renewal of interest in the early Church teachings, as long as people like Joel Olsteen tops the list of 50 most influential Christians and is easily more associated as being a "Christian" than any saint from the early Church it doesn't seem as if Orthodoxy has much of a chance.
So, with all these thoughts and emotions in mind, the guidance found in the introduction of the wonderful book 'Mere Christianity' was quite profound.
C.S. Lewis uses an analogy of a large hall with a number of doors, and on opening each door one finds a room with chairs, fires and a meal i.e., a place to settle and get comfortable. Lewis explains that the hall is a place to wait, a place to meditate and decide which door is the true one.
He further cautions that this should be an informed, careful decision ... i.e., "the question should never be: 'Do I like that kind of service?' but 'Are these doctrines true: Is holiness here? Does my conscience move me towards this? Is my reluctance to knock at this door due to my pride, or my mere taste, or my personal dislike of this particular door-keeper?'"
This is actually a great insight into human behavior that many in our Orthodox Church overlook. We do believe that Baptism and other Holy Sacraments are undoubtedly true, but each person will be a different levels of understanding of who is Jesus and why our Faith is true. Through Baptism we do enter the Hall, but we must continue to learn and understand why we need to go through that door with the label of 'Orthodox'.
And, much as our parents want to believe, its not because we have to :P
Powerful imagery and advice ... and very well applicable to what's going on in today's world. Our job as Christians is to make sure that first everyone gets into the Hall, but then our job as Orthodox Christians is to make sure we understand that the faith must be defended and protected from heresies, and teach why the door - although definitely not the one with the shiny bright colors and neon signs - is indeed truth. And truth is what defines God the father, His only begotten Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
And if we fail? Lewis has that covered as well.
Lewis concludes by saying once a person reaches a room, its our duty to be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall. He writes, "If they are wrong, they need your prayers all the more; and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them as this is one of the rules common to the whole house."
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