The following is my own adaptation of an article called "Forty Excuses for not Joining the Orthodox Church," from the superb Orthodox England website:1.
"I can’t become Orthodox, because I am comfortable where I am."Did Christ say "I have come that they may have comfort, familiarity, etc."? He did not. He said "
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (
Jn 10.10). If you are not in the Orthodox Church, you are simply not living the Christian life to its fullest. Period.
2. "I can’t become Orthodox, because I was raised Roman Catholic/Protestant."So, what's the problem? The Apostles were all raised Jewish. Then they recognized Christ for who He was and followed Him. You were raised Christian, and that's a good thing. But now it's time take your Christian life farther than you thought it could go.
3. "I can’t become Orthodox, because you don’t believe in the Pope." The only man we
believe in is Christ; He alone is the head of the Church and does not need a "vicar."
4. "I can’t become Orthodox, because you don’t have the filioque."Nor does the New Testament. (See
Jn. 15.26 or Acts 2.33); nor did the Nicene Creed prior to the 6
th century; nor even did the Church of Rome until the eleventh century.
5. "I can’t become Orthodox, because you believe in the Real Presence."We simply take Christ at His word: "
This is my body..." (Mt 26.26-29; Mk 14.22-24; 1Co 11.23-26). Why don't you?
6. "I can't become Orthodox because you baptize infants."
So did the New Testament Church; that's how people came
into the Church in the first place: adults
and infants. Only many centuries later did people begin to reject this practice. Christ said "
Let the children come to me and do not hinder them" (
Lk 18.16). Do you think perhaps that refusing them membership in the Church because they are unable to articulate their faith to your satisfaction
might be hindering them?
Infant baptism
isn’t some new thing that medieval Roman Catholics came up with just to be troublesome. It has been with the Church from the beginning, undisputed until some sixteenth-century European decided that he could out-think a millennium and a half worth of eastern theologians and scholars.
7. "I can’t become Orthodox because doctrine doesn't really matter anyway."I think St Paul may beg to differ: He wrote that “if anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted,
let him be eternally condemned!” (Ga 1.8-9). He told Timothy to “command certain men
not to teach false doctrines,” (1 Tm 1.3). He told Titus that an elder in the Church “must
hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can
encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it,” and that Titus himself “must
teach what is in accord with sound doctrine” (1.9, 2.1).
The question isn't
whether doctrine matters--it clearly does. Very few people who take their faith seriously will argue otherwise. The question rather is:
what doctrine do you choose to believe: that which has been taught by and lived out within the life of the Church for two thousand years, or that which has been pieced together by "cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming” (
Ep 4.11-16)? (See also 1Ti 4.6, 4.16, 6.3-4; 2Ti 4.2-3)
8. "I can’t become Orthodox, because you pay too much attention to saints." We believe, as we confess in the Liturgy, that "
God is wondrous in His saints." We laud the saints, not because of their own accomplishments, but because of the work that God has accomplished through them. We also look to them as partners in prayer, and as role models. Who are your role models? Who are the role models of your children?
9. "I can’t become Orthodox, because you pay too much attention to Mary."
None of our beliefs and practices with regard to Mary are simply about Mary, but are a direct reflection of our beliefs about the Incarnation of Christ.
The Orthodox Church has two--and only two--dogmas concerning the Virgin Mary: 1) She is the
Theotokos (that is, the
Birthgiver of God. In other words: Jesus was fully divine even from His conception in the womb), and 2) She is ever-virgin (that is, the womb that bore God was consecrated and was therefore never again used for any secular purpose).
10. "I can’t become Orthodox, because you use 'vain repetition.'" It's unfortunate that people have the mistaken idea that
any repetition must be vain, or
in vain. Repetition does not make a prayer vain; what makes a prayer vain is the heart of the person saying the prayer, which of course is not something we can judge.
Is it vain to call on the Lord for mercy? Is it vain to repeat "Holy, Holy, Holy"?
Why is it acceptable to reprise the chorus of a "praise song" a dozen or more times, and yet reciting the Lord's Prayer might be
"vain repetition"?Read Psalm 136 and consider whether
that qualifies as "vain repetition."
11. "I can't become Orthodox because you don't believe in Original Sin."Actually we do. What we don't accept is the Augustinian doctrine of original guilt, whereby the guilt of Adam's sin is transmitted from generation to generation through the act of human reproduction. The Orthodox Church teaches that human beings are born into the
consequences of, rather than with the
guilt of, Adam's sin.
12. "I can't become Orthodox because you have bishops."So did the Church of the New Testament. Why doesn't yours?
13. "I can’t become Orthodox, because you don't believe in Sola Scriptura."
Nor does the Bible teach such a doctrine. We certainly hold the Bible in very high esteem (and use it more than any other Christian body). But we also believe, as Christ said, that man lives by "
every word that proceeds from the mouth of God," not just those words that happened to be committed to writing. St Paul told the church at Thessaloniki to hold to the teaching they had received, whether it came to them in writing or "
by word of mouth" (2Th 2.15). Clearly s
ola scriptura is
not a biblical teaching.
14. "I can’t become Orthodox, because you use 'canned prayers.'"Every Christian worship community uses
prewritten prayers. Every one. Hymns, psalms, "praise songs." They are all
pre-written. Without
pre-written prayers, community worship would be chaotic, and St Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14.40 that, in the Church, "all things should be done
decently and in order." The choice, therefore, isn't between "canned prayers" and no "canned prayers." The choice really is about which "canned prayers" you choose to use: ones that have been with the Church for centuries upon centuries, and have been prayed (
and are still being prayed!) by multitudes of saints, martyrs, ascetics, etc. Or a collection of songs that have maybe been around since the Civil War at the earliest, and that may or may not be used someday by your grandchildren.
15. "I can't become Orthodox because you believe in works righteousness." We believe no such thing. The Orthodox Church teaches--as does the Bible--that faith is more than intellectual assent or verbal expression. It must me demonstrated through action, proved by the way we live, otherwise it isn't real (Jam 2.14-26). Christ told us to be perfect (Mt 5.48), so this is what we strive for (Rom 12.2; 2Cor 4.16-17;
Eph 4.21-24; 1
Thess 4.1-8).
This takes work.Yes we believe that good works are necessary because they 1) demonstrate that faith is genuine, and 2) are a means by which we continue to deny ourselves and grow more and more in the likeness of God.
Works are NOT 1) an attempt to earn salvation, 2) a reparation for sin, 3) a way to appease God's anger.
Read the following verses and consider whether they support the notion that our salvation requires no effort whatsoever on our part: Mt 7.21-6; Mt 10.40-2; Mt 19.17; Mt 25.31-46;
Lk 6.46;
Jn 13.17; Rom 2.6-8, 13; 1 Cor 4:4; 1 Cor 9.27; Gal 5.6;
Php 2.12-3; 1 Ti 5.8; Heb 10.26-8;
Jas 2.14-26.
16. "I can't become Orthodox because your services are not entertaining enough."If what you want is entertainment, then why go to church at all? Really. Stay home and watch TV.
17. "I can't become Orthodox because you don't practice open communion."Actually, the Orthodox Church allows and encourages
everybody to receive Communion. But we do take very seriously St Paul's warning not to do so in an unworthy manner (1Co 11.23-31). Refusing to unite oneself with the Orthodox Church would be to "discern not the body" (v.29), and would put someone in jeopardy of "eating or drinking judgment" onto oneself. We believe, as St Paul says, that "a man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup" (v.28), and that this is only properly done within the sacramental, spiritual, and devotional life of the Church. So, yes,
everyone is allowed to receive Communion in the Orthodox Church, however you must be an Orthodox Christian first.
18. "I can't become Orthodox because I'm not Greek, Russian, Romanian, etc."Neither were the Apostles.
19. "I can't become Orthodox because you have too many rules."
Actually we don't have rules. What we do have is a set of practices that have, through the past 20 centuries, proven to make saints.
Consider this: If someone wants to be a marathon runner or an O
lympic swimmer, one must maintain a strict regimen that includes a proper diet, adequate sleep, refraining from smoking and excessive drinking, proper hydration, etc. There isn't a set of "rules" that dictate, in a legal sense, what one must to to be an athlete, but these things have been tried and have proven effective at conditioning one's body.
Conditioning one's soul also requires a strict regimen. It's no accident that St Paul repeatedly uses athletic imagery to illustrate the Christian's pursuit of holiness (Acts 13.25, 20.24; 1Co 9.24-27; Gal 2.2, 5.7;
Php 3.13-14; 1Ti 4.7-8; 2Ti 2.5, 4.7-8). In fact, the word used to describe this pursuit,
asceticism, comes from the Greek word ἄσκησις, which means athletic exercise. The Church, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, has given us a set of practices that will make us spiritual athletes, including prayer, repentance, fasting, observing holy days, participating in the sacraments, and attending corporate worship. All of which are designed for the purpose of conditioning our soul, of helping us follow Christ's instruction to deny ourselves, of becoming more like Him.
Lance Armstrong didn't get to where he is by spending an hour a week on a stationary bike, and the rest of his time in front of the TV eating
Munchos. Likewise, one will never reach the level of holiness attained by the likes of St Paul by spending an hour a week in church and the rest of the time focused on secular pursuits. Spiritual athleticism--just like physical athleticism--requires dedication and hard work.
20. "I can't become Orthodox because I don't see all your beliefs and practices in the Bible."The Bible was not written to be an exhaustive instruction manual on all matters of faith and practice. If you insist on being able to find a clear, unmistakable instruction in the Bible on every single belief and practice of the Church, then perhaps you can show me where it is stated that we are to perform "baby dedications." Where is the verse that instructs us to attend Sunday School? Where in the Bible does it say that Communion is merely symbolic and that baptism is strictly for adults?
In fact every
single one of our beliefs and practices has biblical support. Do yours?
21. "I can't become Orthodox because you do things differently than we do at our church."Have you considered that maybe that's a
good thing?
22. "I can’t become Orthodox, because you kiss icons."In the Orthodox Church we kiss a lot of things including the Cross and each other. People often kiss things for which they feel love and respect. Have you ever kissed a picture of a loved one?
23. "I can’t become Orthodox, because I'm just not ready yet."What are you waiting for? If you're expecting a burning bush or a Road to Damascus-type experience (Acts 9), you'll be waiting a long, long time. Perhaps you can follow the example of Simon and Andrew who, when Christ told them "Follow me," they didn't hesitate; they didn't think about it, or consider it, or take notes, or discuss it, or hem and haw and think about it some more.
They dropped what they were doing; as the text says, "
Immediately, they left their nets and followed him." (Mt 4.18-20). James and John did the same thing: "
Immediately, they left the boat and their father, and followed him" (v.22). When Philip shared the good news of Jesus with the Ethiopian eunuch, the latter didn't insist on taking the time to consider his options and figure out whether the Church was right for him. Rather, the very moment they approached some water, the Ethiopian insisted on joining the Church right then and there: "See, here is water!
What is to prevent my being baptized?" (Acts 8.26-38) Perhaps you should ask yourself the same question: "What is to prevent my being baptized?"
24. "I can’t become Orthodox, because there is too much political strife within the Orthodox Church." Yes, we are all too aware that our church is brimming with sinners. Like every other Christian body in the world, our members suffer from pride, greed, impatience, lust, envy, and all the rest. That's just a fact of human frailty. What we don't suffer from is doctrinal uncertainly. In the words of the radio host Steve Robinson, "We can't come into the Church and idealize it. Just because it's two thousand years old, we can't come in thinking it's a perfect organization.
We've had two thousand years to work out dogma and tradition, but we're constantly adding new sinners." Sorry, but you're just not going to find a Christian body that doesn't include sinners. So, at least be part of the one that has its doctrine straight.
25. "I cannot become Orthodox, because you don’t sing our hymns."Protestant hymns are indeed beautiful and even some of the modern Evangelical "praise songs" are decent (although some do leave a bit to be desired), but their beauty, their message, their spirituality, and their theological depth in no way even approaches that of Orthodox hymns. Our hymns were written by prophets, priests, kings, holy elders, theologians, emperors, angels, and even the Virgin Mary herself. If you want to hear real hymns, come to an Orthodox Church.
26. "I can’t become Orthodox, because the services might be in a language I don't understand."
It's a shame this excuse doesn't seem to be preventing people from converting to Islam, in which every service, everywhere in the world, is conducted in Arabic. Most Orthodox services will be in a language you do understand, but if not, take comfort in knowing that God receives our worship and our prayers regardless of the language. And besides, hearing the Gospels read in the original language is a powerful thing.
27. "I can’t become Orthodox, because the services are always the same."
Actually they're not. Very rarely are two services identical.
28. "I can’t become Orthodox, because it doesn't match up with history."
I have never heard this excuse, but if I did I might laugh out loud. If there is any Christian body that matches up with history, it is the Orthodox Church. That fact is simply undeniable. John Henry Newman was a Roman Catholic bishop, but his position was perfectly consistent with Orthodoxy when he wrote that "one thing at least is certain; whatever history teaches, whatever it omits, whatever it exaggerates or extenuates, whatever it says and unsays, at least
the Christianity of history is not Protestantism. If ever there were a safe truth, it is this....
To be deep in history is to cease to be a Protestant" (
An Essay on the Development of Doctrine, Introduction 5).
29. "I can’t become Orthodox, because I will no longer be free to change the Faith and pick from it what I want."Exactly! You don’t come to the Church to change the Faith, you come to the Church
to be changed by the Faith. Or are you under the delusion that you don't need changing?
30. "I can’t become Orthodox, because your services are too liturgical."How liturgical is
too liturgical? Nearly every Christian worship community (with a few unfortunate exceptions) is liturgical to a point. That is, they follow a pattern from week to week. This is not a bad thing; as we have already seen, worship in the Church is to be conducted "
decently and in order."
Read God's meticulous instructions to the Israelites for the form, manner, and conduct of their worship (Ex 25-30, 35-40; Lev 1-8, 21-25,
Num 6-11). These instructions have an extraordinarily high level of attention to detail. We are simply worshiping God in the manner that He has quite clearly shown He wants to be worshiped.
31. "I can’t become Orthodox, because I already believe what you believe."
Then what are you waiting for?!
32. "I can’t become Orthodox, because [insert lame excuse here]."Sorry that's just not reason enough not to unite yourself immediately with the
Body of Christ (Col 1.18,24), the
Pillar and Foundation of the Truth (1Ti 3.15), the
Fullness of Him Who Fills Everything in Every Way (
Ep 1.23).
33. "I can’t become Orthodox, because you don’t have the same calendar."Correction: it is
you who does not have the same calendar.
34. "I can’t become Orthodox, because it’s too Middle Eastern."
Christ was Middle Eastern, too. Perhaps you thought He was a gum-
chewin, baseball cap-
wearin, SUV-
drivin, flag-
wavin American? Ah, no.
35. "I can’t become Orthodox, because I'm not very religious."Perfect! The Orthodox Faith isn't a religion, it's a relationship; In fact it's
more than a relationship, it's an actual participation in the Life of Christ. In the words of Fr. Andrew
Damick, it is a "program for the healing of the human soul."
36. "I can’t become Orthodox, because I might be forced to climb down off my throne." Not "might"... "WILL" You
will be forced to climb off your throne.
37. "I can’t become Orthodox, because women have to wear skirts and cover their heads. It’s like Islam."
There are many reasons to revile Islam, but its sense of modesty (which it picked up from the ancient Christians) is not one of them.
38. "I can’t become Orthodox, because my family will think I've joined a cult and will reject me."They may. Or they may recognize the truth of the Orthodox Faith and follow you into the Church. But if, God forbid, your family should alienate you for your beliefs, remember that Christ warned His followers that His teachings would result in division within families (Lk 12.51-53). Are you not willing to risk that for Christ?
39. "I can’t become Orthodox, because the services are too long."
There are exactly 168 hours in the week. If you find it so difficult to sacrifice three of those hours (which is 1.8% of your week), then you need to go to Church more than you realize.
40. "I can’t become Orthodox, because you have to stand during your services."
See excuse #1
This glorious saint was born in Italy and brought up in the city of Milan. While still young, he dedicated himself to military service. Being educated, handsome and courageous, he received the favor of Emperor Diocletian, who appointed him captain of his imperial guard. Secretly he confessed the Christian Faith and prayed to the Living God. As an honorable, just and merciful man, Sebastian was greatly beloved by his soldiers. Whenever he could, he saved Christians from torture and death, and, when he was unable to do so, he exhorted them to die for Christ the Living God without turning back. Two brothers, Marcus and Marcellinus, who had been imprisoned for Christ and were already on the verge of denouncing Him and worshiping idols, were confirmed in the Faith by Sebastian, who strengthened them for martyrdom. As he spoke with them, encouraging them not to fear death for Christ, his face was illumined. Everyone saw his shining face, like that of an angel of God. Sebastian also confirmed his words by miracles: he healed Zoe, the jailer Nicostratus's wife, who had been mute for six years; he brought her, Nicostratus and his entire household to baptism; he healed the two ailing sons of Claudius the commander and brought him and his household to baptism; he healed Tranquillinus, the father of Marcus and Marcellinus, of gout and pains in his legs which had troubled him for eleven years, and brought him to baptism together with his entire household; he healed the Roman eparch Chromatius of the same illness and brought him and his son Tiburtius to baptism. The first of them to suffer was St. Zoe, whom they seized at the tomb of the Apostle Peter, where she was praying to God. After torturing her, they threw her into the Tiber River. They then seized Tiburtius, and the judge placed live coals before him, telling him to choose between life and death, that is, either to cast incense on the coals and to cense the idols or to stand barefoot on the hot coals. St. Tiburtius made the sign of the Cross, stood barefoot on the hot coals, and remained unharmed. After this, he was beheaded. Nicostratus was killed with a stake, Tranquillinus was drowned, and Marcus and Marcellinus were tortured and pierced with spears. Then Sebastian was brought before Emperor Diocletian. The emperor rebuked him for his betrayal, but Sebastian said: ``I have always prayed to my Christ for your health and for the peace of the Roman Empire.'' The emperor ordered that he be stripped naked and shot through with arrows. The soldiers shot him through with arrows until the martyr was so completely covered with arrows that his body was not seen because of them. When all thought that he was dead, he appeared alive and completely healthy. Then the pagans killed him with staves. He suffered gloriously for Christ his Lord and took up his habitation in the Kingdom of Christ in the year 287 at the time of Diocletian the Emperor and Gaius the Bishop of Rome.
