Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 7/23/2007

Question
I thank God for the good work you are doing.

I will like to know the effect of Pentecostal churches on Orthodox churches.

Thank you and remain blessed.

Bola


Answer
Bola,

Thank you for your questions. I have not considered this before. And though I have no evidence to support my opinion, I ill tell you what I think.

The differences between the two are obvious. In many aspects, Orthodox churches are simply catholic. As such, it has been my experience that the catholic church has had a smaller effect upon Pentecostal churches than Pentecostal churches have had upon catholic churches. By this I mean to say that the vast majority of one converting to the other weighs for more in the Pentecostal majority. This I suspect is also true of Orthodox churches as well.

Also, there are significant differences between Orthodox churches. Orthodox Churches differ in both their ecclesiastical customs and in theology. The parallel church hierarchy that often exists in the same city demonstrates these divisions between Orthodox groups. The nationalism found among Orthodox churches demonstrates their lack of unity and universality.

One important difference between Eastern Orthodoxy and Pentecostal churches is the way the two groups approach theology. Pentecostal churches use a creation-fall-redemption model to interpret God's revelation, while Eastern Orthodoxy uses a creation deification (theosis) principle. Pentecostals emphasize the results of the fall. Sin is a violation of God's law that warrants death. Jesus fulfilled the demands of the law by suffering the penalty of sin in our place. The righteousness of Jesus is imputed to all who believe in Him. Salvation can only be received by grace through faith, and is not the result of good deeds.

Eastern Orthodoxy follows a mystical approach to God. They teach that God can be known experientially, but not intellectually. God transcends the ability of language to describe or human logic to understand. God is both unseen and incomprehensible. In other words, God is an enigma.

Since they believe that God is incomprehensible, Orthodoxy has not emphasized the development of systematic theology. Rather, they have stressed the achievement of a mystical union with God. This mystical union with God is referred to as deification (theosis).

According to Eastern Orthodoxy, the universe was created by a loving act of God. God created that which is not God. The creation possessed a nature distinct from God's. Yet, God's creation was blameless and deserving of His love.

God not only gives created beings their structure and variety, but He also gives them their energy. Through the process of creation, God has given His creatures their own energy. These beliefs form the basis of the Orthodox hypothesis of the "double movement." According to the double movement theory, God moves toward creation through the incarnation of the divine Logos. Through the logoi, creation proceeds in the direction of God. Creation naturally moves toward, not away from Him. In time, this movement toward God will end in creation partaking in the energies of God. As a result of moving toward God, perfection or deification is attained.

Eastern Orthodoxy believes that Adam was created as a child. They believe he was not a mature being and only possessed the capacity for perfection. Because of this view, Orthodoxy does not view the fall of humanity as seriously as Pentecostals do. For the Orthodox, the problem of sin is not as grave as Western Christians assert. Orthodox theologians support this notion of sin by differentiating between person and nature. They reason that though humanity possesses the freedom to sin through an act of the will, humanity's nature is to be in communion with God. Because of this nature, and people naturally proceed towards fellowship with God.

According to the Orthodox, the sin of Adam and Eve affected only themselves. Their descendants inherited no sin or guilt because of the fall of the first parents. The fall resulted in their descendants becoming mortal and subject to physical death. This mortality resulted in an increased tendency to sin, but only because humanity was subject to physical needs. Humanity's mortality makes people prone to sin. The sin of Adam and Eve created a barrier of mortality between God and humanity. Only God could do away with this barrier. God removed this obstacle through the incarnation of Christ.

The incarnation of Christ made it possible for humanity to be united with God. Orthodox writers often refer to this union as deification. It is not a union with God's essence, but with God's divine energies. God reveals Himself through His energy. Through deification, humanity may participate in these divine energies.

The road to deification involves prayer, meditation, asceticism, and the performing of good deeds, as well as receiving the holy sacraments. Consequently, Orthodox churches do not emphasize a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as much as they do taking the sacraments. They believe that receiving the sacraments provides a relationship with Christ. One may not achieve this union solely by the grace of God through faith.

The Orthodox understanding of Adam's fall results in an impaired view of the results of sin. In Orthodoxy, the result of the fall is mortality, not the doctrine of original sin.

The Orthodox teach that the sacrament of baptism provides participants with new life. Faith in Christ and repentance from sin are not necessary for this new life. This is demonstrated by the fact that the

Orthodox baptize infants. The sacramentalism of the Orthodox competes for the need of a personal faith in Christ as the means of salvation.

There has  also been an attempt by many so-called "church leaders" of the catholic/orthodox/and Pentecostal churches to have some sort of "dialog and understanding". Which in truth is simply compromise of true Biblical doctrine in the name of unity. This is something I am opposed to. Not to be mean-spirited or self-righteous, but to stand firm upon the Word of God. Unity for the sake of unity always leads to compromise.


Bola, please let me know if this helps, or if you have any further questions.

Elder Greg Madden
http://www.forministry.com/USOKPENTEMMM1