The Journey to Orthodoxy 17 May 2007 08:00 pm
Ascension
Why does Orthodoxy feel so full to me? Like it’s the fullness of Christ, the fullness of christianity, the fullness of any expression this human could ever aspire to? This is why. I missed today’s liturgy; didn’t know it was even happening in fact, so bad am I at looking at my calendar some weeks. But he’s right (about more than one thing, might I humbly say): it was not a part of my protestant experience (more than an almost incidental bible story) and I’m ever grateful that this deep ocean of Orthodox christianity is there and that I have as long a lifetime as needed to discover it. When one has been a “christian” for over 20 years and yet struggles to know very basic things about the Christ she tries to follow, things not even brought up much during those first 20 years, finding “the point” is refreshing balm.
on 17 May 2007 at 8:47 pm 1.Mary said …
It is, I think, a wonderous life-long learning through the journey (like everyone’s Christian walk). Within Orthodoxy, I too have that sense of learning something which is complete in a way which I did not have the opportunity to discover within my former background.
BTW: I didn’t realize today was Ascension either– until I read the post you reference. And that post brought me a new aspect of the event I hadn’t seen before. I too struggle to know very basic things.
on 17 May 2007 at 11:52 pm 2.2cfamily said …
We, too, read the blog by Fr. Stephen and can thankfully say that we already knew of what we would call “essential elements.” The basics of Christianity can easily be learned…one just needs to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God…” (2 Timothy 2:15). The problems with “Christians” in general –particularly in this day and age when we have God’s word at our fingertips — is that they don’t study the scriptures as they should and as commanded by God. (On a secondary note, most Christians also don’t put themselves under solid Bible preaching.) They seem to solely rely either on “the man of God” to impart some “manna from heaven” once or twice a week or on some books of “spirituality”. This should not be.
Learn the basics, as well as the “meat” of the word, by studying (not just reading) God’s word daily — by topic/subject matter, by chapter, whatever is placed upon your heart to study. This should be a grave priority over any “man of God’s” impartations or “spiritual” books. Take notes. [The use of a good concordance (Stong’s) will help you with word studies.] And before you know it, you will grow more in your knowledge of the word as well as — and more importantly — in your relationship with the Lord. Thank God for the “man of God” — but thank God even more for His precious word which we can study daily and grow thereby.
on 19 May 2007 at 7:14 am 3.Beth said …
This is one of those things the Catholics have screwed up, imho. At least here in America, Ascension Thursday is observed on Sunday! How screwy! It’s like when Martin Luther King or George Washington or whoever had their birthday’s civil observance changed to Monday, because it made it nicer for the postal workers to have a long weekend! I want Ascension Thursday celebrated on… (forgive me! I think this sounds obvious!) … Thursday!
OK, rant over. I feel better now.
on 23 Jun 2008 at 12:21 pm 4.Brian Glass said …
Tia,
Just wanted to say thank for this post. Ever since I read it (over a year ago now), I have been investigating Orthodoxy (Fr. Stephen’s blog is indeed profound). I haven’t become Orthodox yet, but my theology has significantly changed and my horizons have broadened. My Christianity had stagnated and this post revived it. Thanks.