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Of monkeys and watermelons

This past week a mayor in California sent out the above picture in an email saying that there would be no Easter Egg hunt this year at the White House. Now, as you know, about two weeks ago, a mayor metropolitan newspaper published an editorial cartoon that showed an assassinated monkey as the author of the bailout bill. Now, two weeks ago I actually wrote what I thought was a rather neutral post... [Read more]

So, what happened to the Jewish liturgical year?

But don’t you think they would wonder what happened to the order of their Religious Year? Where are the Feasts? Oh, sure, the Church has feasts. But they are not just new. They are not just improved. They are complete replacements. As though the church went from DOS to Mac in one generation (if you will pardon my attempt at analogy). Put analogously another way, it is as if the church... [Read more]

faq

On the “Greeking” of the Church

In our ongoing conversation, Scott writes (again, with permission to post): What troubles me about that unanimity is the almost complete rejection (a sort of pseudo-Marcionism) of Jesus’ Jewishness. I think I can accept that the influx of Gentiles post-70 AD would lead to a “Greekening” of the Church. And certainly historical events and the free choices of the actors on the stage... [Read more]

Would a first-century believer recognize the Orthodox Church?

St. Abo of Tiflis While Orthodox liturgy looks an awful lot like Jewish liturgy (Temple and Synagogue), some of Her theology and practices would appear completely foreign to a first century follower of the Messiah. So wrote Scott to me recently, and it is a legitimate comment and question. With his permission, I am reposting some of our conversation here. As background, let me tell you that Scott... [Read more]

handbook

Why do you make it so hard to become Orthodox? – part 03

OK, I understand much of what you have been saying, but why must I have a sponsor, or why is a baby expected to have godparents? Well, in the book of Hebrews, it says: For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.  For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled... [Read more]

Why do you make it so hard to become Orthodox? – part 02

So, why is a catechumen encouraged to take on a “new” name when they are chrismated? What’s in a name? Taking on a new name is not necessary, but it is highly encouraged. The background to a name change goes all the way back to the beginnings of God’s special interactions with Abraham and continued all the way through the New Testament. There is a long list of people who had... [Read more]

help

Why do you make it so hard to become Orthodox? – part 01

St. Augustine with catechumens Last week one of my readers asked me to comment on the year-long process to become Orthodox and be allowed to participate in the sacraments. Let me begin with a bit of contrast. Recently, an evangelical who worked on the Mike Huckabee presidential campaign, and is a blogger, wrote a posting listing ten problems with evangelicalism. Let me pick up on just one of them as... [Read more]

tools

My big fat Greek food festival

Besides church, I was invited today to the big annual ethnic food festival at the local Greek Orthodox parish. It was wonderful! I ate too much. I will regret it tomorrow, and I do not regret it in the slightest today. I had the opportunity to watch the different Greek dance teams, that ranged from middle school age through high school through grandparents age. And the food, oh the food. I have certainly... [Read more]

tour

The appropriate way to discuss income redistribution

Hopefully no one will be offended, but below is the appropriate way to discuss income redistribution.  Read More →

More chimpanzee inkblot test

Two days ago, I commented on the flap surrounding the New York Post chimpanzee cartoon. Well, it is still meandering its weary way through the “national” media, like a soap opera that refuses to end. Nevertheless, there is something that we can learn out of all this, as Christians. Part of our family’s missionary training was on the whole subject of perceptions. What does that mean?... [Read more]