Sharing Orthodoxy

Daisy · Post by **Daisy** » Fri 6 February 2004 12:24 pm

Hi,

I've been browsing these boards for a while now and I have now registered and will make my first post so hello!

I converted to Orthodoxy when I was just 18, I am now nearly 20 and as such have had a little time to get used to things. I also spend a bit of time surfing the net for information on Orthodoxy. Something troubles me though...

A lot of the converts and even birth Orthodox that I meet seem more concerned with getting it right and keeping all the rules of the club than they do with talking to people about it. How are you supposed to let other Christians know about your faith if you don't talk to them about it? Why is that people can be so cliquely and exclusive, it puts people off.

I am not attacking anyone personally I just wonder if sometimes we are so caught up in setting ourselves apart from the world that we forget to go and call others to Chruch.

romiosini · Post by **romiosini** » Fri 6 February 2004 12:57 pm

Lord Have Mercy!

Mary Kissel · Post by **Mary Kissel** » Fri 6 February 2004 1:14 pm

welcome daisy! Glad you decided to post, never be afraid to say what you did. I do understand what you're asking, I've asked that myself sometimes although I think I now understand why it seems that we keep to ourselves more. The Orthodox Church is the True church and those who are looking for the Truth will find Orthodoxy, we need to be good examples to those around us though and follow Christ's teachings, no amount of talking to people about joining Orthodoxy will cut it with some people. For example with me if I would have just been 'told' to convert to Orthodoxy, and only about what Orthodox believe etc. I would probably not have become Orthodox like I am right now. I had to attend Liturgy for myself and see for myself what this was all about. I have been Orthodox now for about 3 years and I am now 21 years old. Forgive me though if I come off as judgemental or prideful, I tend to have a lot of problems wording things correctly, and I'm far from living as an Orthodox Christian is supposed to live.

In Christ,
the sinner, MaryCecilia

romiosini · Post by **romiosini** » Fri 6 February 2004 4:48 pm

Lord Have Mercy!

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Mon 9 February 2004 12:31 pm

Daisy,

I admire your evangelical zeal, and I too think it'd be good if we could stop appearing to be (or being) more like an exclusive club than the Church of God.

I think the problem is that people generally just don't want to listen. This includes we Orthodox too, of course: we think we know what's right or are the right track, and it's not easy to get things through to us when we are actually wrong. I guess that's why many people say that it's better to make sure you have yourself right, and then when people notice you can talk to them. In other words, we should become salty and bright (Matt. 5:13-16) before we talk about how great Orthodoxy is. Jesus said "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).

I think that, if we start talking the talk, but can't walk the walk, it might do more harm than good. It will give people an excuse to say about Christians "See, they say one thing, but do another! Why should we believe anything else that they say?" I'm not saying that we have to be perfect to talk with people... but maybe it has to do with the opportunities. If someone comes to you asking questions, maybe then we can help. I think that righteousness really does attract: that if people think of us as meek, humble, nice, knowledgable people, but people who won't pressure them into anything or force certain views on them, they'll be more likely to talk.

I've never been very righteous, but what little success I have had in discussing religion with friends, co-workers, etc. came because they saw that I had changed. People who knew me in High School saw that I changed after I became a Christian... or at least that I was a very different person. They noticed a change in me, and only then did my words really have any meaning to them--otherwise they just would have been one more philosophy being preached at them (as was normal with me... I tended to gab on in high-sounding words about nothing particularly important ...I guess I probably still do that). I think that all of this is what Saint Seraphim of Sarov was getting at when he said that, when we attain inner peace, thousands around us will be saved. I'm not trying to rain on anyone's missionary parade, of course I just think that, for many of us, being vocal missionaries (within our own community) wouldn't be very productive; though of course there are those exceptions who are naturally good missionaries and evangelically hearted. Those on fire and are vocal about their love for God and their neighbor--those people I admire immensely.