April 26, 2009

Christianity’s Family Tree: Orthodoxy

Where Traditions Die Hard

Hebrews 11:1-4; 12:1-2

Opening Words: There are six billion people in the world today. Two billion profess to be Christians. What links all these believers together is the very first creed in the church. We find it in Romans 10:9. It says, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” From the very beginning the early church knew the importance of the resurrection. It separates us from the rest of the world. Over two thousand years later the only thing that still really matters is your belief in the resurrection, everything thing else is secondary.

Today, we look at the oldest branch on Christianity’s family tree, the Orthodox Church. In the year 325 the church decided to have a great conference to define her beliefs. They held that conference in the city of Nicaea, located in present day northwestern Turkey. Their goal was to ease the tension that had been growing between the Western Church and the Eastern Church. The Western Church emphasized sin and justice. While the Eastern Church emphasized salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus. The end result of that conference was the Nicene Creed.

The tension was eased until the seventh century when the Western Church at a regional conference in Toledo, Spain added to the creed three little words without the Eastern Church permission. Those three little words were highlighted for you in the Nicene Creed, you read this morning. Those three little words are from the son. Those three little words called “the filioque” caused a great civil war within the church. Issues of papal authority and changing liturgy could no longer be ignored by the east. The end result was the Orthodox Church claimed her independence. Those were dark times in church history. In the year 1054 Pope Leo X of the Western Church and Patriarch Michael I of the Eastern Church excommunicated one another. The division was complete and holds to this day. Ask any Orthodox priest and they will tell you they can trace their roots back to the apostles, themselves. Did you know the word “Orthodox” actually means “right worship” or “right doctrine?”

Having completed this little lecture on church history, let us listen to this morning’s scripture lesson from the epistle to the Hebrews. We will hear from two chapters. The first reading is from the eleventh chapter, verses one through four. The second reading is from the following chapter, verses one and two. May God give you ears to hear. Let me call this message Where Traditions Die Hard.

Hebrews 11:1- 4; 12:1-2 1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for. 3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

William Poteet wrote in The Pentecostal Minister how in 1903 the Russian Czar Nicholas II noticed a sentry posted for no apparent reason on the Kremlin grounds. Upon inquiry, he discovered that in 1776 Catherine the Great found there the first flower of spring. "Post a sentry here," she commanded, "so that no one tramples that flower under foot!" One hundred and twenty-seven years later that flower was gone but a guard still protected that spot. Can I state the obvious? Some traditions die hard. No branch of the Christian church has a greater appreciation of tradition than the Orthodox Church. If you do not believe me, then look at our friends in the Orthodox Church.

You must know of someone who claims the Orthodox Church as their branch of Christianity’s family tree. Within your edition of the 2009 Youngstown-Warren AT&T phone book there are fifteen different congregations listed. To name just a few there is St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church on North Walnut. There is Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church on Wick Avenue. (Our confirmation class visited them last year.) There is Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church North Raccoon Road and the Russian Orthodox Nativity of Christ on Miller Avenue. There is Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church on Belle Vista. Maybe you have visited one of these churches? Maybe you have worshiped in one of these churches? Maybe at one time in your past you have been a member of one of these churches? It is nearly impossible to live in the Mahoning Valley and not make some contact with an Orthodox Church. It is impossible to live in this world and not make some contact with the Orthodox Church.

The Eastern Orthodox Church makes up the second largest Christian body in the world today. (They are second only to the Roman Catholic Church.) Their numbers are not clear. Their membership ranges from between 95 million and 300 million. Most of the divisions within their church are ethnic in nature. We see that in our own community. However, the largest body of Orthodox believers can be found in Russia.

In many ways the Orthodox Church is different from us. They are known for their golden domes and icons. However, in many ways they are like us. Both the United Methodist Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church belong to same family tree. My goal is not to emphasize how we are different. My goal is to emphasize how we are the similar. Don’t forget my opening words. All Christians believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Eastern Orthodoxy affirms the power of the empty tomb.

This morning I want to look at three points of Orthodox theology. They are not unique to Orthodox theology. They are points where we share common ground. You may be much more comfortable in an Eastern Orthodox Church than you could imagine. So if you are ready to look at three points of Eastern Orthodox theology say, “Amen!”

The Supremacy of the Bible

The Orthodox Church emphasizes the supremacy of the Bible. If you believe in the supremacy of the Bible say, “Amen!” Second Timothy 3:16 and 17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Even in our cynical world there are very few people who find no value in the Bible. The problem is interpreting the Bible. Do you have a problem understanding the Bible?

As mainline Protestants we believe in something called “sola scriptura.” In other words, we believe in scripture alone. The responsibility of correct interpretation

of the scripture rests completely on the reader. Interpreting scripture correctly is hard work and many people are lazy or lack the basic knowledge. The end result

is people read their own opinions and prejudices into the scriptures. They don’t learn from the scripture; they add to the scripture. The problem is heightened

because so many don’t attend or trust any church.

The Eastern Orthodox Church admits something that we good Protestants refuse to admit. The Bible is complex and we need help interpreting the scriptures. Our

Orthodox brothers and sisters say that is the roll of the church. With the help of the Holy Spirit, who led the early church fathers in their writings, the scriptures

can be interpreted correctly. The Orthodox emphasizes interpreting scripture correctly. Your attitudes and opinions are not important. What is important is

God’s original meaning of that scripture.

A Methodist bishop of a century ago pronounced from his pulpit and in the periodical he edited that heavier-than-air flight was both impossible and contrary

to the will of God. Oh, the irony that Bishop Wright had two sons, Orville and Wilbur! Wright was wrong. Sure of himself, but wrong. I hope you aren’t wrong.

If you need some help in understanding the Bible, get some help. That is one of the primary functions of this church. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Real World

The Orthodox Church emphasizes we are aliens or visitors in this world; our real world or home is heaven. If you believe you are just a temporary visitor in this world and your real existence is in heaven say, “Amen!” Second Corinthians 5:1 says, “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”

Contemporary Russians refer to the Communist period as the 70 year experiment that failed. (Many of those young Russians now laugh at the Communist era.) Those were dark days for the Russian Orthodox Church. The Communists were officially atheists; they did not believe God even existed. The communist party staged various anti-religion campaigns. The main target was the Russian Orthodox Church. They were carried out during the 1920s and 1930s. The communist party saw them as successful. The Russian Orthodox Church saw nearly all her priests and many of her believers shot or sent to labor camps. Theological schools were closed, and church publications were prohibited. Between 1927 and 1940 the number of Orthodox Churches in the Russian Republic fell from 29,584 to less than 500. But in spite of all of that the church survived and is making a steady comeback.

Why was the Russian Orthodox Church able to survive her persecution? There are many reasons but this is one. The Orthodox Church emphasizes the fact that we are just visitors in this world. Their real home is in heaven. The hardships of this world will only last for a short time but we will live in heaven for eternity. Orthodoxy challenges us to live with certainty.

Orthodox worship is designed to inspire people by reminding them of their eternal home. Their sanctuaries are built to remind them of what their eternal home, heaven, will be like. There are no windows because the outside world doesn’t matter. The ceiling itself represents the heavens, often with a picture of Jesus, who is always looking down on us. The favorite color is gold because heaven is golden. The liturgy itself is designed to welcome people into heaven. Ask any Orthodox priest and they will tell you they are aliens or visitors in this world. Their real home is in heaven.

Have you ever longed to go home? I don’t mean your little piece of property. I mean your home in heaven? Have you ever gotten tired of being in this world? Is anyone here tired of going to pay your last respects at the local funeral home? Is anyone here tired of visiting the doctor? Is anyone here tired of taking pills? Is anyone here tired of paying bills? Is anyone here tired of being disappointed? Is anyone here tired of being responsible 24/7? Be honest with yourself. Aren’t there days when you long to go home and be at peace? I am not suicidal but I have a little confession. When I am no longer needed in this world and miss everyone I love, I will be more than glad to go home in heaven. If there are days you long to go home to heaven say, “Amen!”

Great Cloud of Witnesses

The Orthodox Church emphasizes we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. If you believe you are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses say, “Amen!” Hebrews 11:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” I find this teaching to be very comforting. The idea that everyone who has died is praying for me now is uplifting.

The one practice that most Protestants think of in the Orthodox Church is the use of icons. I have seen all kinds of people painted on icons. Sometimes it is Jesus and the holy family. Sometimes the pictures are of saints who lived in that community in the past. Icons are said to be windows into heaven. They are not praying to the icon; they are praying through the icon. The pictures on the icons are there to motivate one spiritually. They are pictures of ordinary people who lived extraordinary lives. They are their spiritual heroes.

Can I ask you a question? Do you have a spiritual hero? Whose picture would you paint on your personal icon? It may be your mother or your father? It maybe an aunt or uncle? It may have been a former Sunday teacher or pastor? It maybe a missionary who inspired you when you were young? My spiritual hero was my paternal grandfather, Roger Adams. Who is your spiritual hero? Whose face would you paint on your icon? Research tells us 70% of all Americans have no heroes. Maybe that is part of our problem. Let me end with this story.

A very poor holy man lived in a remote part of China. Everyday before his time of meditation in order to show his devotion, he put a dish of butter up on the window sill as an offering to God, since food was so scarce. One day his cat came in and ate the butter. To remedy this, he began tying the cat to the bedpost each day before the quiet time. This man was so revered for his piety that others joined him as disciples and worshiped as he did. Generations later, long after the holy man was dead; his followers placed an offering of butter on the window sill during their time of prayer and meditation. Furthermore, each one bought a cat and tied it to the bedpost. Some traditions die hard.

Never underestimate the influence of the Eastern Orthodox Church. There are up to 300 million Eastern Orthodox believers in our world today. Don’t ever question their loyalty or their salvation. They are able to confess with their mouths “Jesus is Lord” and believe in their hearts that God raised him from the dead. They believe in the supremacy of the scriptures. They believe we are just temporary visitors in this world. Their real home is in heaven. They believe we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, who are praying for us today. If you believe these things say, “Amen!”