Why There’s a Need to Address the Orthodox Church?
by Richard Haas
4/21/2017
There is a need to address the Orthodox Church because of its large membership and its many false doctrines. With a worldwide congregation of over 200 million people[1] and the church’s claim to be the “one true Church on earth[2],” it is necessary to address this sub-christian group. When any such claims are made that involve so many people, it becomes necessary to research and write about such a group; comparing what they are saying to what Scripture says.
With the recent conversion of once seemingly solid Protestant, Hank Hanegraaff of the CRI (Christian Research Institute) to this aberrant sect of sub-christianity the need to write on the Orthodox Church is more apparent than ever. Until Hank Hanegraaff’s conversion, many in Protestant Christianity were unaware of the Orthodox Church and its teachings. Please understand that if you are a member of the Orthodox Church the intent of these articles are not to offend you, but instead it is to compare all things to Scripture. We are told in Acts 17:11 to compare all things to Scripture and to be noble-minded. The purpose of the articles in this section is not to give an opinion, but instead, compare Scripture and biblical doctrine to the teachings of the Orthodox Church. Since many in the Orthodox Church do not rely on Sola Scriptura, this makes it difficult at best when presenting an authoritative position based on Scripture.
Nonetheless, what gives a Protestant the right or the authority to examine the Orthodox Church and compare its teachings with Scripture? The subject is not a matter of authority of a person or outside group from the Orthodox Church. Instead, it comes down to the simple issue of the reading of God's Word, the Bible, and comparing that to what is being taught by the Orthodox Church. Anyone can and does have the authority to do that. There isn't some "mystical" authority, as taught by the Orthodox Church, that falls upon people by the hand of God that allows only them to accurately translate the meaning of God's Word to the masses.
In upcoming articles in this section, we will address many of the false teachings, symbolisms and erroneous doctrines of the Orthodox Church. It is the primary goal of EBC†Ministries to bring glory to God and His Word by providing theological truth through comparing all things to Scripture.
[1] the Oxford dictionary of world religions p211
[2] http://orthodoxfaith.co.uk/
4/21/2017
There is a need to address the Orthodox Church because of its large membership and its many false doctrines. With a worldwide congregation of over 200 million people[1] and the church’s claim to be the “one true Church on earth[2],” it is necessary to address this sub-christian group. When any such claims are made that involve so many people, it becomes necessary to research and write about such a group; comparing what they are saying to what Scripture says.
With the recent conversion of once seemingly solid Protestant, Hank Hanegraaff of the CRI (Christian Research Institute) to this aberrant sect of sub-christianity the need to write on the Orthodox Church is more apparent than ever. Until Hank Hanegraaff’s conversion, many in Protestant Christianity were unaware of the Orthodox Church and its teachings. Please understand that if you are a member of the Orthodox Church the intent of these articles are not to offend you, but instead it is to compare all things to Scripture. We are told in Acts 17:11 to compare all things to Scripture and to be noble-minded. The purpose of the articles in this section is not to give an opinion, but instead, compare Scripture and biblical doctrine to the teachings of the Orthodox Church. Since many in the Orthodox Church do not rely on Sola Scriptura, this makes it difficult at best when presenting an authoritative position based on Scripture.
Nonetheless, what gives a Protestant the right or the authority to examine the Orthodox Church and compare its teachings with Scripture? The subject is not a matter of authority of a person or outside group from the Orthodox Church. Instead, it comes down to the simple issue of the reading of God's Word, the Bible, and comparing that to what is being taught by the Orthodox Church. Anyone can and does have the authority to do that. There isn't some "mystical" authority, as taught by the Orthodox Church, that falls upon people by the hand of God that allows only them to accurately translate the meaning of God's Word to the masses.
In upcoming articles in this section, we will address many of the false teachings, symbolisms and erroneous doctrines of the Orthodox Church. It is the primary goal of EBC†Ministries to bring glory to God and His Word by providing theological truth through comparing all things to Scripture.
[1] the Oxford dictionary of world religions p211
[2] http://orthodoxfaith.co.uk/
