Eastern Orthodoxy and the Gospel

Yesterday I had a great blessing in that Frederica Matthewes-Green was in Bangor for our Bangor Theologian Group.  This group was brought together eight years ago by Rev. Jim Haddix of All Souls Church in Bangor because of the conviction that the primary issue within the Church in America is not a wrong technique or strategy but a lack of theological reflection.  We have had many wonderful Christian leaders come and join us for these discussions over the years.  Yesterday continued in this tradition.

For those who do not know, Mrs. Matthews-Green is an accomplished writer, a good cultural critic, and a proponent of Eastern Orthodoxy.  She converted to Eastern Orthodoxy in 1993 with her husband, who had been an Episcopalian priest before conversion.

While I enjoyed her presentation and her time with us, I also have to say that the presentation confirmed both what is interesting about Eastern Orthodoxy as well as why I am glad I am not Eastern Orthodox.

Why would I say so?  I am afraid most people do not know what Eastern Orthodoxy is all about.  Orthodoxy is an early brand of the gospel movement.  It flourished in the eastern Mediterranean from about the fourth or fifth century AD as a cultural articulation of Christianity.  While it was developing, Roman Catholicism was also developing in the Western Mediterranean.

For centuries, Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism affirmed identical beliefs and similar forms of spirituality.  Yet, as time went on, these two branches of the Church steadily grew apart.  

Why?  A large part of the drift was theological.  These differences cannot be dismissed.  Another important cause of the eventual division (known as the Great Schism of 1054) was situational/cultural.  The center of the then Roman world shifted to the East in the fourth century.  This eventually became the Byzantine empire.  The West was left to itself and the Church steadily grew in influence.

Then Islam entered the picture.  Islam had a major shaping influence on the East since that was the site of constant battles throughout the middle ages.  By and large, the West did not have these struggles even as they had struggles against the raiding hordes from the north.  These influences continued to separate East from West.

Perhaps the biggest reason for the differences between East and West was the great cultural differences between the regions.  The East was from the beginning much more mystical and experiential in their religious practices.  The same culture that gave rise to Islam shared a belief in the transcendence of God.  In their belief system, Jesus and Mary began means of experiencing and encountering the transcendent Father.  In the East, the use of Icons grew in importance as well as the emphasis on encountering God through ritual, dreams, saints, Mary, and relics.  These intermediaries assist in worship by drawing us from this world into the heavenly realm.

While many of these traits also were important in the West, the emphasis was often different.  It appears to me (though other probably would differ) that Roman Catholicism retained a stronger emphasis on the equality of the Trinity while the East emphasized the differences in the persons of the Trinity.  The West also followed the lead of Augustine on many issues, particularly his doctrine of the Church, while the East retained an emphasis on desert Father spirituality.

It is truly not possible to do this justice in such a brief manner!  What I find interesting is that for all the differences, each branch of the Christian tree has so many similarities.  Why?  Because we all have the same root and stock!  While I am glad I am not on some other branches, I believe that where these branches are close to the root and stock, there is much overlap, agreement, and fidelity to the scriptures.

What do I mean?  Matthewes-Green began the discussion by sharing Eastern Orthodoxy has a strong emphasis on repentance as a lifestyle.  All I can say is Amen!  She affirms that Orthodoxy is concerned for seeing ourselves as in need of grace and mercy.  Thus, the central prayer of Eastern Orthodoxy is "Jesus have mercy on me," which is called the Jesus prayer.

Here is where I had some issues with her presentation.  She continued to proclaim that such an emphasis on repentance is something missing from Protestantism.  What does she mean?  She is right if she is pointing the spotlight on much of our shallow evangelicalism in America, but she is absolutely wrong if she believes this is missing from the Protestant branch.

Why?  Because repentance as a lifestyle is the teaching of scripture.  This is why Luther announced in the first of the 95 Thesis (the document that began the Protestant Reformation), "When the Lord says Repent, he willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance."

I am not surprised that Eastern Orthodoxy and the best of Protestant thought arrive as similar conclusions Just as I am also not surprised that the best of Catholicism arrives at the same conclusions.  The nearer to the root and trunk of the tree we get the more the branches have similarities.

It is my opinion that Matthewes-Green should grow in her understanding of Luther and Calvin because there is much to learn that would inform the Eastern Orthodox position (though one of the greatest weakness of Eastern Orthodoxy is that it refuses to learn anything past the first five or six centuries of the Church).  At the very least, she should stop saying that our shallow evangelicalism is the same as those movements in Protestantism that are deeply committed to the scriptures as informed by the entire Christian tradition.

Regardless, I was so enriched and encouraged to look at the grace and mercy of Christ through her presentation.  There is much in Eastern Orthodox practice that I recommend even as there is much in their thought and practice that makes me glad to be a Protestant.

When we know what the Christian tree looks like, we can rejoice in the source of all power and glory our Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the root and stock of this strange but beautiful creation called the Church.  We can also affirm why we belong to our particular branch of the tree without feeling judgmental of other branches.  I am so thankful for the grace of Christ for without it we would all be in trouble!

Overall, the time of reflection upon Christ was a perfect way to prepare my heart for Easter.  May each of us take time this week to prepare our hearts for the celebration of our Risen King.