Eastern Orthodoxy - your views

Dear Editor,

As an Evangelical Christian with a longstanding academic and pastoral interest in Eastern Orthodoxy, I have followed with interest the story surrounding the ex-FIEC congregation in Halifax which recently converted en masse (no pun intended) to Eastern Orthodoxy. I have appreciated the coverage of this story in en, namely the articles by Lydia Houghton (see here) and particularly the one by Kenneth Brownell (see here). In my experience, in Russia and the English-speaking world, Eastern Orthodoxy holds a certain appeal for Evangelical Christians, particularly in situations where theological truth seems too confused or personality-based, and where public worship becomes too casual and reduces the divine means of grace to “explanation” and “symbol”.

Orthodoxy presents itself as an ancient and unchanging faith with a form of worship that captures the senses of worshippers. While there is certainly plenty to learn from the Orthodox tradition, I am not suggesting we convert. Rather, we need to heed the warning and go back to the depths of our own Bible-based Evangelical tradition, and correct tendencies to be casual, reductionist, equivocal, swayed by personality, and generally less than Biblical in our faith, worship and practice. Looking to the past, I have always loved re-reading the Puritan work, “Public Worship to be Preferred Before Private” [by David Clarkson]. The recent en article by Matthew Roberts (see here) makes similar points very clearly, and offers several specific suggestions as to how things might be remedied. I also think we need to think carefully about things like the outward circumstances of how we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, or our posture as we stand, sit or kneel during church (public worship). Do these “details” demonstrate our faith and love and awe, or do they reveal the “soft underbelly” of our evangelical spirituality?