Need advice please

[Aaron Wake]

Greetings all

I am new to this forum and new to Orthodoxy as well. I had been brought up protestant until a year ago when I discovered heaven on earth. My question is if anyone that had converted to Orthodoxy had a difficult time telling others about what you believe is the true faith? I don't think I can explain it without it sounding like I am bragging or trying to sound superior. Has anyone else had this same problem?

Also, I am ashamed to say that I have had some fairly bitter feelings toward the protestant church (though I don't like to admit it) that I attended because I felt as though they were covering my eyes with a veil for all these years. God forgive me. Does this feeling go away?

Peace

[Herman Blaydoe]

As a convert from Protestantism 31 years ago, yes, time and Christ heals all wounds. The euphoric feeling to share with others hopefully will not go away, but over time you will learn how to share more by a life transformed and less by words. Just remember it is not our clever words in their ears, but the Holy Spirit in their hearts that will convert others. The Holy Apostle Paul commends us to be READY to DEFEND the HOPE that is in us. I might add that we should not "attack" others with our hope. This requires much patience, and boy am I tired of waiting for God to grant me patience! ;)

Use your enthusiasm in a Berean manner, who searched the scriptures daily to see if these things are true. That is, keep learning and praying and seeking truth, so that as the hope grows in you to a point where others can see it and ask about it, you can answer their questions and defend that hope.

Realize that not everyone is going to "get it". Even Christ Himself was asked to leave the village of the swine-herders.

Don't be in a big hurry to tell others that they are WRONG or even that Protestantism is "wrong". Simply say: "As I understand it, this is what Orthodoxy teaches..." If they are insistant, say "that is not what the Orthodox Church teaches." If they refuse to accept what you have to offer, and continue to disagree, simply say "so you say" and be at peace.

May our Lord, God, and Savior, be with you on your spiritual journey.

[Aaron Wake]

Thank you so much for your advice. It helps to know others went through the same type of situations.

Peace

[Irene]

Dear New Orthodox Poster,

I agree with Herman, such good advice.

Work on yourself, pray and improve yourself in the faith, be peaceful, humble and loving, (as far as you possibly can be), and those seeking peace, those hungering for the truth will eventually be drawn to you.

In Christ
irene

[John Charmley]

Dear Aaron,

As someone who is some way behind you in the journey to Orthodoxy, I can only congratulate you on having advanced so far.

Being on the journey, I can see how your dilemma arises. There is a sense of frustration at oneself for having been in the wrong place for so long, and that can lead to anger. What I try to do is to remember that that is not helpful for my spiritual growth. My old Communion does its best, and it is full of good Christian people, most of whom have not encountered Orthodoxy; if they can see in me even a pale reflection of what I see in Orthodoxy, then I am, in my humble way, doing the Lord's work (with his Grace and help). If I am angry or 'superior', that would not, I think, reflect Orthodoxy, which is neither of those things.

From my poor understanding of Orthodoxy it seems as though we are all on a journey of the spirit, and as I marvel at the compassion of Our Lord in becoming man so that man might become God, I find any anger dwindles away; that Jesus Christ died for me is so far beyond any sacrifice I could make, that I become more willing to sacrifice my own human pride.

I hope that is of some use.

God bless you,

In Christ,

John

[Sophia]

Aaron,

When I left the protestant church that I had been in for years, not only was I hurt and upset at them, I was horribly criticized. They informed me that I was "just being seduced by the evil orthodox church and that satan was taking hold of my life". So no, you are not alone.

As long as they thought that we left because we no longer got the 'warm, fuzzy feelings' there, they were fine with it. When they learned that it was more about theology, I was treated as a traitor at best.

It wasn't easy to leave many people that I thought were my friends, but I can assure you that those that I have met in Orthodoxy are true friends. And I am much better off now.

It was very hard for my daughter at first, but when she saw how they treated us for leaving, she was happy to be away.

I would suggest that you focus on the journey ahead of you and leave the past there. You needed to go through it to get where you are now, but don't let it hamper who you will become in Orthodoxy. Share your story in love with any and all who want to know and move forward.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ,
Sophia

[Audrey]

Aaron-

I tend to struggle similarly, feeling angry sometimes that some of my Protestant friends seem content with the resources they have in Protestantism, and I don't understand how they do not want something more. Sometime I find myself angry and judgemental. This also comes from the anger in general I still have toward Protestantism. My priest helps remind me that all goodness in me is completely God's, and that I am totally dependent upon God for the light I have in my heart. That helps me get rid of the pride that pops up constantly.
Also, I notice that if I don't make attempts to talk about Orthdoxy to my Protestant friends, and if I pray for them instead, eventually they ask me questions. My personal philosophy on sharing is that people will notice my life as an Orthodox person and if they desire anything they see, they will bring it up and ask. I always try to sense what a person wants and is seeking for, and if they are seeking for what Orthodoxy has to offer, and if I sense they want me to share, I share. Otherwise I wait for people to ask, and eventually, even those who I think will never ask me about Orthodoxy end up asking. If someone never asks I need to accept that they are not seeking at the moment.
Hope that helps, and I'm very excited for your conversion!

Audrey

[Owen Jones]

This will go right over their heads, but explain that in protestant thinking (and there are a million different opinions and beliefs in protestantism) truth is understood to be a set of demonstrable facts and beliefs that are supposedly objectifiable. In Orthodoxy, truth is a realm that we enter into.

[Mary]

Greetings all

I am new to this forum and new to Orthodoxy as well. I had been brought up protestant until a year ago when I discovered heaven on earth. My question is if anyone that had converted to Orthodoxy had a difficult time telling others about what you believe is the true faith? I don't think I can explain it without it sounding like I am bragging or trying to sound superior. Has anyone else had this same problem?

Also, I am ashamed to say that I have had some fairly bitter feelings toward the protestant church (though I don't like to admit it) that I attended because I felt as though they were covering my eyes with a veil for all these years. God forgive me. Does this feeling go away?

Peace

Dear Aaron,

How good to have you with us! I too am a 'new' convert - got baptised 6 months ago. I have been angry with myself for not converting sooner, since our friends have been orthodox for 6 years. I can't believe I could've been so dumb that I couldn't listen to them sooner.

But, some things take time. And becoming orthodox is not easy, because it truly does involve some kind of sacrifice. My husband & I, and our friends who converted 6 years ago - have all lost friends because of our conversion. I try to understand our protestant friends and family, by remembering my first responses/feelings, when our friend became orthodox.

He was telling the truth when he said the orthodox church is the true church. But I felt he was saying all other churches aren't true. He never said that. I thought it was implied. I also felt offended when he said he wouldn't partake of communion in a protestant church again nor would we be allowed to partake of the communion in an orthodox church. Again, he was just stating a fact, he was in no way judging us or our relationship to God, but it felt like it! So - regardless of how kindly you can speak the truth, it will hurt them. Knowing that, avoid getting into discussions, unless they ask first.

I was enjoying getting to know my husband's SIL, when we started attending their church. We would talk about the pastor's sermons, about the new things God is teaching us, about our personal struggles, etc. But since we've become orthodox, she hasn't spoken to me about it. She refuses to bring it up. But it's her place to bring it up. As a friend, she has every right to question my decision. She knew of the things that I was struggling with and she has every right to ask me how I'm dealing with those problems now. If I bring it up and show her how much healing I've found in just 6 months in the Orthodox church, that'll sound like bragging and also like I'm trying to say that things are happening in my life that would never have happened at the other church. I don't have to defend God, or the Church, or even my conversion.

We recently went back to that church to drop off some stuff for one of the women there. I found it quite stressful. Folks wondered why they hadn't seen us around. I didn't want to explain. But it hurt because they were looking at me as if I'd somehow been unfaithful... like I was saying they weren't good enough for me, so I'd left. I tried to understand my hurt and the best that I could come up with was that I didn't like being misunderstood. I dont want them to think the wrong thing of me! So all my hurt, was totally self-centered! I thought, it was because I truly loved them and wanted for them all that I'd discovered. But I am a worm... I am only in love with myself!

There's no need to be angry with them. They have been true to what they've been taught. They haven't been deliberately hiding the truth from you. They just don't know it. You've found it before them. Like the blind leading the blind, they are groping around with what they've been taught. They don't believe that the orthodox church has anything more to add to their lives. At best, they see it as 'just another denomination'. If they know anything about the orthodox church, they'll tend to think it's the style of worship that's different, and nothing else.

Audrey, you said you don't understand how they can be content with what they have and how they do not want something more. They aren't. They just don't believe that the orthodox church has the very thing that they're longing for. For a while year, we enjoyed the fellowship at my BIL's church. There were over a hundred folks who attended each sunday, but there was a core group of about 25 people who showed up for every meeting, whenever and wherever it was. They were the hungry ones. I know, because I was there too, always searching, always longing for more. We came with great anticipation. I could feel, not only my desire for more, but also theirs. You could see it in their eyes, their voices, their faces. They wanted more and more and more.

We always left with something. WE felt some need had been met. But, we were never satisfied. It never lasted. But, we all felt, if we kept diligently at it, we'd eventually be satisfied. So we kept at going back to the same stagnant pool, expecting to find fresh water there the next time...

If our friends hadn't converted before us, I would never have converted. As it was, I wasn't interested in converting. I just started asking questions that I didn't have the desire to ask when we first spoke to our friends. God needed to prepare my heart first. I needed to be depressed enough, I needed to be desparate enough. I needed to get to the place where the only thing I could be sure of was that I didn't know anything anymore.

Now, whenever I think about God calling me to His One True Church, I weep. I have been loved much. Audrey is right, the best thing to do, is simply pray for them.

Love in Christ,
Mary.

[Ana Maria]

May God's Blessing be with you all!
My name is Ana Maria, as you can see I am a student in History-English.This year I received a scholarship in Greece for 3 months through Erasmus pro gramme.A colleague and I will study at The University of Western Macedonia, in Florina. I want to know if one of you could give us information on some churches or if you know a Father, who can speak English or Romanian in that era, we need a confessor for the time we stay, we need someone to suport us spiritually.
We will arrive in Greece on 1st of March and we will stay till June.

I look forward for your replies. Till than may the Holly Spirit fill your heart with Love.

In Christ, Ana Maria

[Andreas Moran]

Dear Aaron,

You have received some wonderful advice here from your brothers and sisters in Christ. Generally, some of the comments here are useful in other threads. I especially think of Herman's saying that we show and share our faith by a life transformed. It is this transformation by Orthodoxy of our lives which those unimpressed with the C of E/Protestant churches perhaps instinctively sense that such churches lack.

In Christ,

Andreas.

[Andreas Thiel]

I just read your post, and am intrigued about your experience...do you feel comfortable sharing in more detail how your conversion happened?
Thanks,
Andreas


I had been brought up protestant until a year ago when I discovered heaven on earth.