Should Orthodox Christians receive the word from non-Orthodox sources?

[MsDahl]

I have been debating whether I should attend this weekly women's bible study in my area or not. This is the issue, my church has a Bible study conducted by the priest one Tuesday a month in the evening. I share a car with my husband and he works nights. So I can't attend that Bible study although that is my first choice being that it is in my own denomination.

So, there is the local woman's Bible study at a non-denominational church. For the past 2 years I have tried to attend the sessions. Both times I attempted it kind of fizzled out. The first time I felt attacked by the ladies when they discovered I was an Orthodox Christian and we started discussing doctrinal beliefs. Also, I reached out to several women during that time none of whom called to see how I was when I stopped coming to the meetings although they all seemed to care so much about my well being when I first appeared in the studies.

The second year I tried again, this time the issue was mainly with the childcare situation that they had.

I really need to have Christian fellowship and a small reprieve from my son. I don't know if I should go again. At the end of the day, their interpretation of the word of God is vastly different than an Orthodox interpretation and I wasn't sure how healthy that would be for my spiritual walk.

[DarkNLovely]

Hmm, well the problem with many "non-denominational" churches, is that there really is an invisible denomination. If you felt attacked, I don't think you should go. But also remeber that they may have just been taken aback and truthfully probly don't know the first thing about Orthodoxy and lumped you in with Catholics. That being said, they have no right to mistreat you! You will be confronted with scriptures that they feel refute the EOC so be prepared if you do decided to attend. If it makes you feel better, the non-denom church I have been attending, the pastors got help to start their church from a Greek Orthodox priest who has visited the church and the pastor always speaks well of the EOC and Orthodoxy and some who do attend non-denom church hold on to their denominations, so many maybe more open to you then you think! So don't be discouraged! :hug:

[buzuxi02]

Your situation is a microcosm of the entire ecumenical movement.

An Orthodox precense trys to be a witness to the heterodox, but in reality our voice is drowned out by all the heterodox. And it finally morphs to political correctness, where the truth is hushed up altogether in order to avoid conflict. Many times the heterodox teaching begins to even be tolerated so we wont look intolerant and finally some of it is absorbed.

MsDahl i urge you to avoid them. Try a night out with your husband, bowling, go shoot a game of pool, but avoid this bible study.

[MsDahl]

buzuxi02, could you explain what is meant by heterodox? Excuse my ignorance, please. The point is I am looking for a Bible study, a place to fellowship with other Christian women and where there is childcare available. Going out with my husband won't help me with this need.

DarknLovely, that sounds like a great non-denominational church!

[DarkNLovely]

I can kinda understand buz, at the same time, if you are strong in your beliefe and dedication to the church, they really can't bother you. Heterodox is non Orthodox. Also, I'm sure you caould talk to them or a pastor and tell them that you are seeking only fellowship and that you have no desire to convert. My concearn is if they challenge your beliefes, which they should not. Just let them know how you feel. Maybe you could start an internet Bible study with us or an Orthodox Bible study at your church if you decide not to do it.

[DarkNLovely]

Really non denom means "evangelical". So most churches ascribe to these beliefes and associated doctrines!

[Orthosdoxa]

I wouldn't, Ms. D. Not in a million years. Perhaps ask your priest if there is someone you can hook up with for a ride to your church's Tuesday night study?

[MamaBug]

Hi MrsDahl,

I can't remember your background of the top of my head - have you attended a Protestant bible study before? I have participated in several and they tend to be very focused around individual interpretation of the Bible. Also, the other women will be viewing the Scriptures through a shared set of doctrines and presumptions that you may not share.

I've been in the same boat as you (desperate to get a break from my 2 year old at the time). I considered going to a Bible Study but realized I would just end up on tenterhooks trying to avoid contention and would probably end up being asked to leave if I tried to stick it out for any length of time.

You may want to look into any Mom groups in your area such as Moms Club or Mommy-and-me. Most of them are attended by Christians as well as other women who choose to stay home with their kids. They will have meetings to discuss parenting (with kids in a playroom) and open play periods. They may also have play groups, activities, and book clubs depending on the club.

[MsDahl]

I wouldn't, Ms. D. Not in a million years. Perhaps ask your priest if there is someone you can hook up with for a ride to your church's Tuesday night study?

Would you mind sharing why you wouldn't? Do you think it is hurtful to an Orthodox Christian's walk to receive the Word from non-Orthodox Christian sources?

That wouldn't be able to happen (carpooling) as I live farther north than most of the members of the church plus there is no childcare provided.

This is a tough situation for me as I so much love being part of a weekly Bible study group, I am at a place where I look forward to it and rejuvenate from it. There is another option, I attended another similar type of women's Bible study during that first year but it was at a Methodist church. I found that the sessions were informal but not so much where they attacked me for not being a Methodist. The childcare there was superb as well. I sought these 2 studies at that time as I was new to the area and suffering during some major trials in life and just needed to be in God's word and in Christian fellowship.

Thank you to everyone who is replying as your comments are definitely helping me sort out what I should do (both studies start up next week).

[MsDahl]

You may want to look into any Mom groups in your area such as Moms Club or Mommy-and-me. Most of them are attended by Christians as well as other women who choose to stay home with their kids. They will have meetings to discuss parenting (with kids in a playroom) and open play periods. They may also have play groups, activities, and book clubs depending on the club.

Yes, I was toying with that idea. I think it is MOPS that is the Christian moms group. They aren't strictly a Bible study group, though it does provide fellowship with other Christian women. Maybe that might be the best option for me as I don't want to get caught up in studying the Bible from a different set of interpretations than TAW.

[MamaBug]

Yes, I was toying with that idea. I think it is MOPS that is the Christian moms group. They aren't strictly a Bible study group, though it does provide fellowship with other Christian women. Maybe that might be the best option for me as I don't want to get caught up in studying the Bible from a different set of interpretations than TAW.

I did Moms Club for awhile and enjoyed it. It gave me an excuse to get out of the house a 2-3 times a week and they did a Book Club and a Moms Night Out once a month for pure socializing and fun.

I do miss having Bible Studies (my church has something about once a month but I'm in school so I usually can't attend). I just thought through how comfortable I would feel while other women talked about OSAS, Sola Scriptura, a debt-fullfillment view of the Crucifixion, or whatever random doctrine their pastor happened to be talking about that week and realized I couldn't do it.

[Michael the Iconographer]

The Word is Jesus Christ. The Word which is referred to in John is "the logos" and the logos was an ancient Greek term used by philosophers who were looking for God long before the incarnation. The Christian interpretation of the logos is that the logos is Christ, not the bible. Further, when scripture is mentioned in the NT it is only OT scripture that is being referred to because when St. Paul was writing the NT was not canonized yet. The NT was not canonized until about 410 AD. That being said, can an Orthodox Christian recieve the Word (Christ) from a non-Orthodox source? Sure they can, but the question is, why would they want to?

[Kristos]

I have been debating whether I should attend this weekly women's bible study in my area or not. This is the issue, my church has a Bible study conducted by the priest one Tuesday a month in the evening. I share a car with my husband and he works nights. So I can't attend that Bible study although that is my first choice being that it is in my own denomination.

So, there is the local woman's Bible study at a non-denominational church. For the past 2 years I have tried to attend the sessions. Both times I attempted it kind of fizzled out. The first time I felt attacked by the ladies when they discovered I was an Orthodox Christian and we started discussing doctrinal beliefs. Also, I reached out to several women during that time none of whom called to see how I was when I stopped coming to the meetings although they all seemed to care so much about my well being when I first appeared in the studies.

The second year I tried again, this time the issue was mainly with the childcare situation that they had.

I really need to have Christian fellowship and a small reprieve from my son. I don't know if I should go again. At the end of the day, their interpretation of the word of God is vastly different than an Orthodox interpretation and I wasn't sure how healthy that would be for my spiritual walk.
My wife tried to do this for awhile because they had good on site child care, but in the end it didn't work out - for many of the same reasons you are listing.

[Jacob4707]

Further, when scripture is mentioned in the NT it is only OT scripture that is being referred to because when St. Paul was writing the NT was not canonized yet. The NT was not canonized until about 410 AD. That being said, can an Orthodox Christian recieve the Word (Christ) from a non-Orthodox source? Sure they can, but the question is, why would they want to?

Except there is this one verse, 1 Timothy 5:18....

[Lukaris]

Perhaps if you can find a group who has a "CS Lewis" type of mindset then fellowship would be satisfying.

[rusmeister]

I think you'll find that veteran Orthodox folk (including me) will advise you to find something else to do - heterodox (non-Orthodox Christians) teach all kinds of things that ultimately go against Church teaching, and the potential harm is great and the benefit - fellowship with human beings - isn't worth it.

Surely there must be other places where human interaction outside of the family is possible? If you are looking for religious fellowship, are there any Orthodox folk within 3 light years of your home?

I would ask if you can ask your priest what he has to say. It is difficult for me to imagine that he would encourage studying with a heterodox group. The danger of absorbing teaching counter to Church doctrine (aka heresy) is enormous. (Not that your acquaintances are technically heretics, but it would certainly make you heretic, for example, the idea that the individual can interpret what Scripture means all by himself, leading to Sola Fide, denying the ever-Virginity of Mary and other things.)

[MsDahl]

In keeping with the title of this thread but moving in a slightly different direction, what are your thoughts on an Orthodox child's education. Is it best to attend public school so that the child does not get confused by doctrinal beliefs during his earlier years? Or is Christian or Catholic school a better choice?

I ask because I worry about the public schools and I would feel at ease knowing that my son's teacher is praying over him during the day. Although I am a teacher by profession and would only put my child in the school that I would be teaching in. This thread has gotten me thinking if it would not be in his best interest to attend a Christian school because of the mixed message he may get of the Gospel. My church has a very active Sunday school but that is only once a week. If he attended a Christian school, he'd be getting the Gospel from a non-denominational Christian perspective 5 days a week with me having to supplement either way at home regarding the Orthodox way.

[buzuxi02]

In keeping with the title of this thread but moving in a slightly different direction, what are your thoughts on an Orthodox child's education. Is it best to attend public school so that the child does not get confused by doctrinal beliefs during his earlier years? Or is Christian or Catholic school a better choice?

I ask because I worry about the public schools and I would feel at ease knowing that my son's teacher is praying over him during the day. Although I am a teacher by profession and would only put my child in the school that I would be teaching in. This thread has gotten me thinking if it would not be in his best interest to attend a Christian school because of the mixed message he may get of the Gospel. My church has a very active Sunday school but that is only once a week. If he attended a Christian school, he'd be getting the Gospel from a non-denominational Christian perspective 5 days a week with me having to supplement either way at home regarding the Orthodox way.
I would keep him in the public school (im probably in the minority). Ive had many Orthodox friends and relatives sent to catholic schools, but never for the religious aspect. Only because the public schools were in bad communities and possibly dangerous. And in one instance two of my friends were recruited by a catholic high school because they were amazing basketball players.
I cant say they adopted heterodox practices,
but i would save the money so you and your family can travel on a pilgrimage, think of it as a field trip. You can also send him to Ionian village .
I mentioned this in another post.

[rusmeister]

You can look at this thread here:
http://foru.ms/t6048655

There is an older thread but I'll have to collate my posts so that it makes up something sensible to read. I hope to make a book out of this stuff someday.

FYI, I am a former public school teacher with 4 years of experience public and 8 private. Certified, taught East coast, west coast, public and private on both, and Russia.

[Oblio]

Really non denom means "evangelical". So most churches ascribe to these beliefes and associated doctrines!

Exactly , in fact I try NEVER to use that term here at CF and rather use what it really is, 'evangelical', or more precisely fundagelical, a union of evangelicalism and fundamentalism.

[DarkNLovely]

Exactly , in fact I try NEVER to use that term here at CF and rather use what it really is, 'evangelical', or more precisely fundagelical, a union of evangelicalism and fundamentalism.
Or how about:

Evangel-dumental!

or:

Funda-magelical!

Sorry couln't resist! Carry on!

[Bushmaster78FS]

What do you mean by receiving word...

Like their advice or take on the Gospels?

I do attend a "non-denom" Bible study thing on base here in Baghdad. It is being taught by my section chief and when available pentecostal chaplain. They are using the Foundations of Christian Doctrine by Kevin J. Conner. I sit there and listen, and add things when I want to speak. I try not to conflict because I do not wish to put a dent in their faith first of all. Section chief is ex-catholic so he is against all these traditions, infant baptism, etc etc, in his mind.

What they receive, I don't make that a main concern, some of the things they say sometimes make me giggle, but what is important to me, what I might learn, what God might show me. I know it kind of sounded selfish, I didn't mean in that aspect. What I mean though, I don't use this bible study thing to advertise Orthodoxy.

But you shall see, they have no historical input on Christianity. That takes away alot.

[Dorothea]

buzuxi02, could you explain what is meant by heterodox? Excuse my ignorance, please. The point is I am looking for a Bible study, a place to fellowship with other Christian women and where there is childcare available. Going out with my husband won't help me with this need.

DarknLovely, that sounds like a great non-denominational church!
Is there, by chance, another Orthodox Church in your area that you could go to for a Bible Study?