Last Sunday was Easter, for Christians in the Orthodox tradition. That means that this week, the week after Holy Sunday, is the only week all year where they don't fast on Wednesdays and Fridays.* My good Orthodox friend Mark, invited me to his place for a "Bright Wednesday" feast celebration. A food feast, in lieu of the fast.
It's been a pleasure getting to know him, and learning about his journey from the charismatic, to the Mennonite, to the Orthodox Church. I see so many similarities between his spiritual journey and mine, although my journey entailed a different trajectory: Mennonite - Anglican.
The difference between his journey and mine is primarily that I've gone to seminary, but our dissatisfaction with our church experience is very similar, and stems from the same theological and philosophical questions. I have not become Orthodox, and that is another difference, but I think the only thing that prevents me from doing so is my considerations on Anglican ordination, and family. More on that, perhaps another time...
Anyways, the celebration was at his place. He'd invited a few friends, each of whom brought either a bottle of wine or a snack. We spent the evening getting to know each other, sharing our views on various issues. Here are some thought-provoking quotes from Mark, on salvation.
Salvation not so much an event/decision as a Process: "We have been saved, we are being saved, and we should hope that one day we will be saved."
Salvation as Divinization: "...we understand salvation as nothing other than becoming Jesus. Theosis. Complete, perfect, utter union with God." (My addition: this is in part based on 2 Peter 1:4).
Evangelism as seeing my brother as my salvation: "Your neighbour will only begin to see Christ in you, if you can first sincerely see Christ in Him. When He is your salvation (i.e. the one you must love right now. . .), then you are being saved. You are passing, "from glory to glory," as St Peter put it. You no longer live, but "Christ in you" lives, as St Paul put it. You will then have fulfilled Christ's new commandment to us: to love one another as He has loved us (i.e. He has become what we are-- Sin itself-- so that we might live! You must likewise become the sin and brokenness of your brother if you would live. Wear it as your own and repent of it as if it is yours, for your brother is your life. This is your salvation!)."
The wine, the food, and the company was great. One of the girls, Esther I believe her name was, made an amazing humous dip, that was super yummy with some crackers that someone else brought.
* According to Mark, North America is the only place where the post-Easter break from fasting lasts a week. Everywhere else the break is 40 or 50 days. The reason it only lasts one week here is for cultural reasons. We live in a culture of narcissism, and in order to keep us mindful of this, and in order not to fall into the temptation of self-indulgence, people are asked to return to the regular fasting rhythm sooner than elsewhere.
It's been a pleasure getting to know him, and learning about his journey from the charismatic, to the Mennonite, to the Orthodox Church. I see so many similarities between his spiritual journey and mine, although my journey entailed a different trajectory: Mennonite - Anglican.
The difference between his journey and mine is primarily that I've gone to seminary, but our dissatisfaction with our church experience is very similar, and stems from the same theological and philosophical questions. I have not become Orthodox, and that is another difference, but I think the only thing that prevents me from doing so is my considerations on Anglican ordination, and family. More on that, perhaps another time...
Anyways, the celebration was at his place. He'd invited a few friends, each of whom brought either a bottle of wine or a snack. We spent the evening getting to know each other, sharing our views on various issues. Here are some thought-provoking quotes from Mark, on salvation.
Salvation not so much an event/decision as a Process: "We have been saved, we are being saved, and we should hope that one day we will be saved."
Salvation as Divinization: "...we understand salvation as nothing other than becoming Jesus. Theosis. Complete, perfect, utter union with God." (My addition: this is in part based on 2 Peter 1:4).
Evangelism as seeing my brother as my salvation: "Your neighbour will only begin to see Christ in you, if you can first sincerely see Christ in Him. When He is your salvation (i.e. the one you must love right now. . .), then you are being saved. You are passing, "from glory to glory," as St Peter put it. You no longer live, but "Christ in you" lives, as St Paul put it. You will then have fulfilled Christ's new commandment to us: to love one another as He has loved us (i.e. He has become what we are-- Sin itself-- so that we might live! You must likewise become the sin and brokenness of your brother if you would live. Wear it as your own and repent of it as if it is yours, for your brother is your life. This is your salvation!)."
The wine, the food, and the company was great. One of the girls, Esther I believe her name was, made an amazing humous dip, that was super yummy with some crackers that someone else brought.
* According to Mark, North America is the only place where the post-Easter break from fasting lasts a week. Everywhere else the break is 40 or 50 days. The reason it only lasts one week here is for cultural reasons. We live in a culture of narcissism, and in order to keep us mindful of this, and in order not to fall into the temptation of self-indulgence, people are asked to return to the regular fasting rhythm sooner than elsewhere.
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