I ran across an interesting set of articles by an Orthodox theologian. Many evangelical Christians have little understanding of Orthodox Christianity. This "brand" or "stream" of the Christian faith developed after the "Catholic" church decided to change the formula for understanding the nature of the relationship between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Known as the "filoque" controversy, it meant the western "Catholic" church became separate from the eastern "Orthodox" church. (Around 1000 A.D.) Orthodox Christianity takes its position as the church that has been most true to the early Church Fathers and their interpretation of the main elements of Christian dogma - namely the Trinity, Salvation, and faith in Christ. Most Orthodox churches are in the east of Europe, including Russia. While present in the US and other places, they are not that well known. Steeped in liturgy and mystery, going to an Orthodox church service is a "sensory" experience to say the least.
I ran across an Orthodox theologian while doing some reading, and one thing he said resonated deeply within...an "amen" so to speak. He was speaking about theological education...something I am not only interested in, but do, and he made the following truth statement:
‘We must note a distinction between the terms scholar and theologian. A scholar engaged in the study of theology may not be a theologian in the patristic sense of the word. From the [patristic] perspective,a theologian is one who experiences God—one who knows God and not only knows about God: “Theological science, which is taught in schools and has become an intellectual specialization open to all, does not give knowledge of God. Knowledge of God comes from life in God, which is born in the deepest place of the heart…. One can be a great scholar, with academic qualifications, and yet remain completely ignorant about the path of salvation.”
The Orthodox theologian is Archimandrite Sophrony - he goes on...
‘There are two ways for theology: the one, widely familiar in previous centuries, appertaining to the professional theologian; the other, which means being crucified with Christ, knowing Him in the secret places of the heart...‘What is theology? Orthodox theology is primarily a spiritual process…. More specifically, Orthodox theology is a personal process aimed at progress in prayer... for the fathers of the Church, theology is an existential experience of the life of Christ. Theology is the process of the transfiguration of the human person. Theology is a life of prayer and asceticism (aka...spiritual disciplines) centered within the liturgical life of the Church and immersed in Holy Scripture…. The life of prayer cannot be learned simply by reading books on prayer. It demands much spiritual effort, trials, temptations, suffering, humility and obedience. One learns to pray only by praying. In the words of St John Climacus: ‘You cannot discover from the teaching of others the beauty of prayer. Pray has its own special teacher in God…. He grants the prayer of him who prays.’ (St John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent,
This is good...very good. It reminds me, as pastor, theologian, teacher, and discipler that there is no good learning that excludes personal experience. It is a good reminder also of communing with God in prayer, not to get what we want, or go through a laundry list of personal needs; but to come in order to clearly "see" with spiritual eyes into the very heart - our own, and God's. And, we always start at the beginning...each day we must come humbly, with an open repentant heart - "Search me O God..." and in that humility simply say "Lord today I would like to walk with you...grant me your grace and the power of your Spirit within to make that possible."
Peace
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