grace and peace: Introduction

20080711

Introduction

Updated 8 Jan 2010

This is not an Orthodox blog. This is a blog by an Orthodox Christian.

There is a difference.

The purpose of this blog is to challenge, not to debate; it is intended to be informative not polemical. It is not my purpose to beat up on anyone or to attack the beliefs of any of my readers.

This blog is intended to communicate to my family and friends my observations, insights, and opinions regarding the Christian Faith, as well as to present my readers with news and information about Christianity that they may not receive from "mainstream" western Christian sources. My observations and opinions are the result of many months and years of reading, research, discussion, and prayer and not of any formal theological training.

I don't for one minute claim to be any kind of theologian.

And while it is certainly not my intention to misrepresent any body of Christian worship or the doctrines and practices thereof, I confess to a bank of knowledge that is anything but comprehensive. I promise to do my very best to be as accurate and factual as possible, but I also recognize the likelihood of my distorting, garbling, perverting, complicating, confounding, or otherwise goofing up the facts. I apologize ahead of time, and welcome your gentle rebuke.

The purpose of this blog is to address any questions and concerns that my recent explorations and investigations into Orthodox Christianity might provoke. It is my prayer that this blog will encourage, enlighten, and draw its readers—and author—closer to God.

Furthermore, I truly believe that anyone who makes an honest and thorough examination of Scripture, history, and the Patristic writings will ultimately arrive at many of the same conclusions I have; I hope this blog will serve as a springboard for such examination.

My readers are invited to participate or not participate as they feel inclined; comments and questions are welcomed and encouraged, but I ask that all comments posted include the name of the person posting; anonymous comments will be deleted.

I understand that, given what I know to be the religious background of my intended readers, that there will be much about the Orthodox faith and doctrine with which they will disagree, and which they will wish to challenge. Believing as I do that truth will always hold up under scrutiny, I welcome and encourage honest inquiry and will do my best to provide accurate information. Where possible, I will quote the writings of others who understand and can explain the Orthodox faith much better than I ever could.

The truth is, there is much yet that I don’t know or understand about the Orthodox Church; there are many things that baffle me, and a few things that, frankly, I’d like to see done differently. But until I find a church that...

…can better or more clearly demonstrate continuity between its present self and the Church established at Pentecost,

…can be shown to have adhered to and taught more steadfastly the "faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3),

…more consistently and accurately reflects the teaching of the Scriptures,

…gives more appropriate respect and honor to “the mother of my Lord” (Lk 1.43),

…has a fuller and more active and robust prayer life,

…can make a better case to being the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church,