|
walterquez -> RE: The New Testament Church and Apostolic Succession (5/21/2008 10:03:56 PM)
|
I heard a story where the early Reformers sent a group to see the Patriarch in the East. They were looking to join, because they realized they were broken off. But unfortunately, an agreement could not be reached, because the Patriarch could not accept the Westminster Confession. At first, the reformers thought they gave him a bad translation, but the Patriarch wrote them a letter, point by point I think, why it could not be accepted by the Church.
Nothing happened after that, and I think later on in history, the Protestant pretty much lost touch with the East. The RCC occupying an area between Western Europe and the East, and also the Mediterranean Sea with Africa didn't help.
Many Protestants today never heard of the OC. And when they have, they think it's RCC, or if not, very similar. It is true the appearance and traditions looks pretty much the same, but when you look at the core beliefs, you will find they are not the same. For example, the whole concept of salvation is different. The RCC has I think a strong juridical view of salvation while the OC is more therapeutic.
What I mean is that the juridical says, you broke the law therefore you're guilty and must pay the price of death. But if a sacrifice is offered, than you will be forgiven. The concept of sacrificing a human life to appease the anger of an angry God sounds very pagan to the East, because this belief was very common with the pagans.
The East on the other hand understands salvation as given from the scripture, like the Good Samaritan, the Great Physician, etc... What happened was that when mankind sinned, he became sick unto death. Something worst than HIV that passes on to the children. And because of this deadly disease, we are prone to sin. This is because when someone is very sick, they don't think clearly and tend to do crazy things that otherwise would never have done if they were well. Some are more sick than others and are prone to sin more. Unfortunately for mankind, there is nothing we can do get rid of this. But God can and did something about it. He took on flesh and defeated death so that we would no longer be bound to death. And now in Christ, mankind is able to recuperate from this, that is if we follow Him. We are no longer bound to death, whether we believe in Him or not, but we still need to heal further. If you recall, in the end, even the unbelievers are free from the first death. But if we are not in Christ there is a second death for them.
To the OC, when they hear someone say they were saved on June 8, 1983, it sounds strange, because we believe we, or mankind, was saved 2000 years ago when Christ defeated death at the Cross. If you ask an OC when they were saved, the answer will be 2000 years ago. So to the OC, we were saved (2000 years ago), we are being saved (by [therapeutically] living the way as God told us to live), and will be saved when the end comes. In other words, salvation is not one event, but three.
The Protestants in general views salvation as one event. You accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior and you're saved. This sounds strange to the OC, because Christ already defeated death 2000 years ago, so then what were you saved from on June 8, 1983? Again, it can't be from the penalty of death, because Christ took care of it. And again, this is evident because in the end, no one, whether you believe in Christ or not will not have to pay for the penalty of death, or the first death that is. Every one will live for eternity. I know one will be with Christ and the other in the lake of fire, but nevertheless, they are still living. Death has no power.
Although there are many similarities with the RCC, and in some points with the Protestans, the understanding of scripture is not. Each one understands or sees the Holy Scripture with a different glass.
|
|
|
|