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Glory to Jesus Christ!
“We don’t like that church. It doesn’t feed us. It just isn’t relevant.”
This has become a rallying cry for Christians in America to formulize Christianity around their wishes and interpretation. Liturgy, altars, prayer books, sacraments, accountability, and pursuit of virtue have been thrown out and replaced with auditoriums, a stage and with a rock band, grape juice and crackers, and preachers in flashy suits (or “Joe Schmoe” casual with torn t-shirt and jeans), and complacency in a doctrine of “eternal security.” The “Sunday Christian” has become a common entity due in part to a dumbing down of Christianity. “Incense and chanting are too ancient and do not speak to the culture. Candles and vestments are pagan! They must be shunned! Just accept Jesus into your heart and you’ll go to heaven!”
Please, make no mistake: I am not saying this is the case of all of Christianity in America, but it has become a growing trend in American Protestantism. Going to church on Sunday has become more of a fellowship event and entertainment than anything else. In a recent podcast of “The Intersection of East and West” on Ancient Faith Radio, Fr. Deacon Michael Hyatt discusses this very subject. The preacher is often times preaching a feel-good message of a Christ who is "our homeboy," waving a Bible around or has the congregation dance around to rock music with watered down lyrics. Church has become in America an extension of Saturday Night Live.
One of the reasons many are drawn to Orthodoxy is that it demands holiness from its adherents. It does not change itself to suit the ever-evolving trends and desires of people. This is not to say that it is some sort of legalistic code that people follow and *poof* they are in heaven. Rather, the Orthodox Church guides its adherents on the path to salvation in love. The Church teaches that when we as fallen human beings sin against God, we are “missing the mark,” which is exactly what the word sin means.
A wise priest once said in a homily that salvation can be likened to a folk dance. We always take two steps forward, but sometimes take a step back. Christ is always there to lead us in this dance when we take a step back. The source of confusion that is engulfing American Protestantism is its attempts to suit the needs of gaining converts, by making it relevant to them. Nevertheless, this is not how people are altered and “made a new creation in Christ” as St. Paul mentions many times in his letters.
The Orthodox Church raises the bar, calling on us to pray without ceasing, fast at certain times, do vigils, make sacrifices, do prostrations and be filled with the very life of God. All of these were how the early Christians lived and grew in a relationship with their God. St. Paul also writes in his letter to the Romans that “we do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans12:2).” People cannot be transformed if they remain complacent and content with where they are.
By encouraging growth, coupled with all the tools the Church has for salvation, transformation is made possible. Orthodoxy preaches that spiritual warfare is all too real and offers all that is necessary to combat it. Becoming like Christ is made possible. Becoming “partakers of the divine nature” as St. Peter says is made possible. Even though we may take a step back (no matter what it is), Christ and His Church will always be there to help lead us in that folk dance to salvation. I am glad these tools exist for our sanctification and pray others will find them, too.
On the feast day of St. Philip the Deacon 24 October.
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