AboutHerman Expertise I can answer general questions about the teachings of the Orthodox Church and Orthodox monasticism, particularly differences from Protestants and Catholics.
Experience Orthodox Christian convert from Protestantism over 30 years ago. 1 year seminary training.
Organizations American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese
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Followup To
Question -
From the time of the reformers in the 16th cent. until today there is the teaching among many protestants of 'salvation by faith alone' and the idea that once one is saved they are guaranteed enrtrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. Also called 'justification by faith alone'.
I understand this was answered well by Patriarch Jeremiah II and this position was even condemned by an Orthodox council(the Calvinism of Cyril Lucarius) and there are some good contemporary Orthodox answers, but I would like to know what you think of this subject and the best way to address it. A friend of mine's two girls go to a protestant high school and are having this doctrine forced upon them, and want to know how to answer it. Especially good would be Biblican answers, since they also stress 'sola scriptura'
Answer -
Glory to Jesus Christ!
I certainly believe in the KISS principle: Keep It Strictly Scriptural...
OK, I would say, starting off, that the biggest arguement is this: the teaching of Sola Fide (by Faith alone) dates, not from Apostolic times, but is an innovation from the 16th century and is based on some false or erroneous premises that come from flawed Catholic theology and which were never part of Orthodox theology to begin with. Orthodoxy looks at things in a very different light. We may use some of the same words, but we mean very different things by them, such as "salvation" and "justification".
An important thing to emphasize throughout is that Orthodoxy does NOT teach that we are "justified by works" in any way or that we can "earn" salvation. So, in that, we are in total agreement with Protestantism. But it is important to point out the Epistle of the Apostle James 2:14-17 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
My favorite analogy is also one that the Apostle Paul is fond of, that of an athlete (see 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 and Phillipians 3:14). Does an athlete "earn" his victory through training and exercise? No, but it is only through making an effort, WORKing for it, that victory can be achieved. If a runner simply has "faith" that he will win, but does not exercise, or make any effort, he will NOT get the prize. Sola Fide is a non-sequitor, it contradicts itself, because the ACT of making a decision to have Faith, is a concious effort, a WORK. This was apparent even to John Calvin, which caused him to take the whole thing to (in his mind) the only logical conclusion which is PREDESTINATION. Of course, if they are Calvinists, all bets are off and even trying to get them to see another side to the discussion is probably fruitless. Orthodoxy teaches us that we continually particpate in that work in EVERY decision we make, whether or not to ACCEPT (another ACT) God's GIFT of Salvation.
So, we can agree with them that we are SAVED by God alone, not by anything we do. However, even as the Holy Apostle James tells us in Holy Scripture, without ACTING/WORKING in accordance with God's will, our Faith is DEAD and does not save, otherwise, why would the Apostle even ask the question "Can faith save him?" in such a manner? Seems to fit the KISS principle, yes?
How's that for starters?
Your servant,
Herman
Thank you for your quick and informative answer. I have two follow up questions.
1- you said that sole fide comes from flawed catholic theology- but I thought that sole fide was a protestant reaction to Catholic theology at the time-especially indulgences. Reformers such as Luther and Melancthon seemed to think that sole fide was a radical departure from the Catholic 'tradition' mired as it were in human accretions to the gospel. Sole fide was for them getting back to the primative gospel message. Anyway could you develop this more.
2- what about the idea 'once saved always saved' part of the sole fide idea is that once one has accepted Christ there is an assurance of salvation. I have spoken to protestants who believe that once they have been saved there is no way to loose that salvation, since it is a free gift of God and not earned by 'works'. Thus, as one protestant put it to me, they do not loose and gain and loose and gain their salvation if they sin, they already have through their faith an absolute assurance of their salvation. Yet the witness of the saints seems to be that salvation is never guaranteed. Can you elucidate this for me? Thanks,
Michael
Answer 1. The Catholic theology of "merit" is where the idea of indulgences came from. "Merit" was what Catholic theologians used to "balance" their flawed idea of atonement. Merit (meritum) in general is understood that property of a good work which entitles the doer to receive a reward (from the Catholic Encyclopedia). Monastics and saint who "suffered" intentionally built up a "bank" of surplus merit that the Pope could then "make withdrawals" in the form of indulgentces. The Protestants rejected merits and indulgences, but kept the flawed ideas about "atonement" as defined by the Catholics, which was developed apart from Orthodox thought or contribution.
And, of course, Protestantism considers itself to be a "purified" or restored form of early Christianity, but the problem is that they threw the baby of Holy Tradition out with the bathwater of Catholic additions and corruptions.
2. The Apostle Paul, in one of his letters to the (I would have to assume
already baptised and "saved" in the Protestant sense) brethren, admonishes
them to continue to work out their salvation "with fear and trembling." If
it is all done, what is he talking about? What is there to fear and tremble about?
Salvation is always there, it will not be taken away. We don't "gain it and loose it again" but neither is your free will violated. If our Lord holds out a rope to us drowning men, we can be sure that HE will never pull it away, but we never lose our ability to reject that rope. We still always have the option to let go at any time. This is why the Apostle Paul compares salvation to a race and continually urges us to "hold fast" and be constant, like an athlete so that we may WIN the prize. If you quit the race at any time before the race ends, you lose if you don't start running again. And just because we decided to start the race, does not mean we have already finished.
Orthodoxy says we must keep running. It gives us the Holy Sacraments to strengthen us as we run. And God makes the promise that as long as we make an effort, He will be there at the finish line. In fact He is there all along the way, cheering us on, encouraging, admonishing through trials, pushing and pulling when necessary to help us get there, but He leaves the final decision on whether or not to cross that finish line to us. We don't "lose" as long as we don't stop trying. That is our security, that is our Faith.
