. . . continued from my examiner post http://www.examiner.com/interfaith-spirituality-in-columbus/spirituality-heresy-and-reformation . . .Every one of the Christian churches claims to be the one true way. One of the fastest growing branches of Christendom, the Protestant charismatic churches claim to do away with un-necessary tradition and ‘baggage’ that developed before and since The Reformation (including all the scholarship), and return to the model of the early church, laying on hands, healing, speaking in tongues and prophesying end times, living as it is literally perceived the apostles did in the book of Acts. This rapidly expanding movement is hugely popular in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, making mainline Christianity seem very stuffy and out of touch.
The Eastern Orthodox Church stresses that ‘we are the early church’, which upholds centuries of sacred tradition. It goes on to claim ‘The Eastern Orthodox Church dates its existence from the time of Christ and the Apostles. It was the Apostle Paul, for example, who established the early Christian Church in Greece through his early missionary journeys. The Apostle Peter founded the church in Antioch which exists to this day as the Antiochian Orthodox Church. Other Apostles established the church in Jerusalem, Alexandria and Cyprus. . . .The Church … founded there has never ceased to exist. . . . the Orthodox Church is apostolic because she teaches what the apostles taught and can trace her existence historically through the ordination of the bishops directly back to the apostles, and through them, to Christ. . . . Thus, the Orthodox Church is the legitimate and historical continuation of the early Church. She has the same faith, the same spirit, the same ethos.’ from The Eastern Orthodox Church, Who Are We?
The Eastern Orthodox Church stresses that ‘we are the early church’, which upholds centuries of sacred tradition. It goes on to claim ‘The Eastern Orthodox Church dates its existence from the time of Christ and the Apostles. It was the Apostle Paul, for example, who established the early Christian Church in Greece through his early missionary journeys. The Apostle Peter founded the church in Antioch which exists to this day as the Antiochian Orthodox Church. Other Apostles established the church in Jerusalem, Alexandria and Cyprus. . . .The Church … founded there has never ceased to exist. . . . the Orthodox Church is apostolic because she teaches what the apostles taught and can trace her existence historically through the ordination of the bishops directly back to the apostles, and through them, to Christ. . . . Thus, the Orthodox Church is the legitimate and historical continuation of the early Church. She has the same faith, the same spirit, the same ethos.’ from The Eastern Orthodox Church, Who Are We?
Lutheran churches today- now 4 branches: ELCA, LCMS, WELS, including the new North American Lutheran Church in America -a recent split over the ordination of gay and lesbian clergy- all probably feature prominently the rallying hymn of the Reformation: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. It is magnificent performed with a full choir, symphony, kettle drums and organ. You might not even get a nod to the historic significance of this day in community churches. Yet others would stress the eve of All Saint's Day and remember members of the church family who had died in the past year. You'll find something completely different at one of St. Brendan's six masses than at Rhema Christian Center on this day, 2010.
When we ask, ‘will the real church please stand up?’ people engage in every conceivable argument to establish what is orthodox and what is heresy to bolster the position they have created. It is attributed to 'God', yet millions have been killed over interpretation in Christendom. Red is the color of martyrs, the sacrifice of Christ and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but one questions whether it ought to be worn on October 31st as one reflects on the legacy of violence in a religion Jesus taught, was most centrally about LOVE.
[photo shows a Memorial of the Protestant Reformation in Sagsdorf, disctrict Parchim, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany posted under Wikimedia GNU free license by Niteshift]
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