Eastern Orthodoxy

In view of an upcoming trip to Georgia, which was the second country in the world to become Christian and has one of the oldest churches worldwide, I have read up a bit on the Eastern Orthodox church. Over 80% of Georgians claim to be members of the Georgian Orthodox church, and it is my understanding that there is still a great spiritual need in that country for sharing the gospel. I decided to begin investigating whether the Eastern Orthodox church is failing as a church there to bring people into a personal relationship with Christ. I've just looked at several Christianity Today articles on the subject, and would be interested to read what you think.
"Will the 21st Be the Orthodox Century?" describes the pros of the Eastern Orthodox Church for today's evangelicals, focusing primarily on what the author calls the "Great Tradition" of the early church fathers - the ones the Holy Spirit used to develop the canon of scripture we have today.
Another article, which should perhaps be read first, is "Why I'm Not Orthodox". This article provides a background on the Eastern Orthodox church and then proceeds to highlight the key differences between it and evangelical Christianity. The questions of emphasizing salvation by grace through faith and of the supreme authority of scripture stand out.
Yet another article, "Coming Home: Evangelical Issues for the Eastern Orthodox" examines more theological differences. (Though I was hoping to read more on practical differences in how the Church is reaching out to the unchurched populations)
So, given this, I'm left with the question: Should evangelical groups be evangelizing in the 'territory' of the Eastern Orthodox church. I think so, particularly if they are reaching out to the unchurched. In a place like Georgia, where 80%+ of the populace describes themselves as Orthodox, the unchurched would seem to be a very small minority (0.7% in the statistics). More to follow on whether that's true. :-)

This one is for Peter

Peter, Check out this link and see if it's in your area of study. This blogger is requesting comments:

I would love your thoughts on the relationship of brains to computers, and the differences between minds, consciousness and computational machines. Also, if anyone has knowledge of pattern recognition vs. sequential processing, that would be cool as well.

Here's the link: Power of Change: Fact of the Day - Computers, Brains, Frustrated Russians

Musings in Job on Marraige

Guys,
I was reading in Job recently and I saw something I haven't noticed or heard before. The first time Job is "tested" by Satan, God allows Satan access to anything but Job's health. His wife is not mentioned, all his kids, livestock, and servants are destroyed, yet his wife is not mentioned...yet. The second time Satan is allowed to test Job, he is allowed to "touch his bone and flesh" (2:5). It is after this that Job's wife tells him "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!" (2:9). To many of you, this may not mean much. Then I looked at Genesis 2:24, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh." It occured to me, in 1:12 God said, "Behold all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him." In both God and Satan's veiws, Job's wife was a part of Job. So then that would only lead us to reason, that Job's wife's verbal attack was a barb from the mouth of Satan. Satan was using "Job's flesh" against him. Every one in organized crime will tell you that the best way to get to a person is through his/her lovers and family. So in this instance, it makes no sense for Satan to wait to use (or kill like the rest of the family) Job's wife against him unless she is considered a part of Job. This is my hypothesis, since I have never heard it before, I would like to hear any comments. To me it is a testament of the sanctity of marraige. Any comments?

Hilarious.

This is very funny. The weather forecast as Anglican chant

Found here, via Confessing Evangelical.

John Piper on Marriage

In keeping with yesterday's post, these three sermons and the "Taste and See" article below are very good.

Three Sermons

• Staying Married Is Not About Staying in Love (1) [Read] [Listen]
• Staying Married Is Not About Staying in Love (2) [Read] [Listen]
• Marriage: God's Showcase of Covenant-Keeping Grace [Read] [Listen]

Taste and See

• Is Pastor John in Love with His Wife? [Read]

Pastoral wisdom from Martin Luther

It's too bad that I missed Valentine's Day with this one.

Here Martin Luther gives the ultimate solution to adultery (and I would say to lust itself). I know that most of us aren't married, but this is still helpful, whether you're already married, or if marriage is just around the corner, or even if marriage isn't yet even on the horizon.

The quote came from Rev. Scott Murray, by way of Rev. David Petersen.

Martin Luther:

"When a man does not look at his wife, on the basis of the Word of God, as the one whom God gives him and whom He blesses, and when instead he turns his gaze to another woman, this is the principal cause of adultery, which then is almost inevitable. Soon the heart follows the eyes, bringing on the desire and appetite that I ought to reserve for my wife alone. Flesh and blood is curious enough anyway. It soon has its fill and loses its taste for what it has, and it gapes at something else. With the devil's promptings, a person sees only his wife's faults, losing sight of her good and laudable qualities. As a consequence, every other woman seems more beautiful and better to my eyes than my own wife. Indeed, many a man with a truly beautiful and pious wife lets himself be hoodwinked into hating her and taking up with some vile and ugly bag.

"As I have pointed out more fully in my other discussions of marriage and married life, it would be a real art and a very strong safeguard against all this if everyone learned to look at his spouse correctly, according to God's Word, which is the dearest treasure and the loveliest ornament you can find in a man or a woman. If he mirrored himself in this, then he would hold his wife in love and honor as a divine gift and treasure. And if he saw another woman, even one more beautiful than his own wife, he would say: 'Is she beautiful? As far as I am concerned, she is not very beautiful. And even if she were the most beautiful woman on earth, in my wife at home I have a lovelier adornment, one that God has given me and has adorned with His Word beyond the others, even though she may not have a beautiful body or may have other failings. Though I may look over all the women in the world, I cannot find any about whom I can boast with a joyful conscience as I can about mine: "This is the one whom God has granted to me and put into my arms." I know that He and all the angels are heartily pleased if I cling to her lovingly and faithfully. Then why should I despise this precious gift of God and take up with someone else, where I can find no such treasure or adornment?'

"Thus I could look at all women, talk with them, laugh, and have a good time with them, without experiencing any lust or desire and without letting any of them seem so beautiful or desirable to me that I would be willing to transgress the Word and commandment of God. Though I might be tempted by flesh and blood, I would not have to consent or let myself be overcome; but I would have to battle against it like a knight and conquer through the Word of God, living in the world in such a way that no evil could corrupt me and no allurement could seduce me into adultery. But because a person does not give this Word of God a glance or a thought, it is easy for him to get tired of his wife and to despise her; he finds his love drawn to another, and his lust and appetite for her are irresistible. For he has not learned the art of looking at his wife correctly, according to the beauty and adornment with which God has clothed her for him. He cannot see beyond what his eyes see, that his wife seems to have a poor shape or other faults, while another one seems prettier and better. Thus you understand when it is a sin and when it is not a sin to look at a woman, namely, that you should not look at another woman the way a man should look only at his wife."

Martin Luther, Luther's Works, 21:87-88

Two articles worth reading...

• Lessons Learned in a Crisis of Life (AlbertMohler.com)
• A Calvinist Faces Death (Time Magazine)

Update on Dr. Mohler

Dr. Mohler is responding well to treatment. Please keep praying for him and his family.

Update from Dr. Russell Moore:

Albert Mohler Update
Friday, January 05, 2007

I just left from visiting Albert Mohler at the intensive care unit of Baptist East Hospital here in Louisville. I am glad to report that he is doing much better than he was when I spoke to the radio audience of the program about this at 5:05 PM.

While his situation is still very serious, it seems that the doctors have his treatment well underway and he is recuperating well. Pulmonary emboli represent a serious concern under any circumstances but it seems that RAM is responding excellently to the treatment. We can all be grateful the doctors found this development so quickly.

The President is talking and in good spirits. Despite his incredible pain and having just lived through the scare of his life, he was actually able to discuss a book I brought to him the other day about, of all things, the life of Wendell Willkie.

Dr. Mohler still needs your prayers, as do Mary, Katie, and Christopher, so please don't stop them. But I am happy to say that I think his treatment is going well and I expect that he will be back to his life as normal sooner rather than later.

Please pray for Dr. Albert Mohler.

Dr. Mohler is the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

From his website:

Please pray for Dr. Mohler
Posted: Friday, January 05, 2007 at 4:12 pm ET

Dr. Mohler's health has sustained a setback. Over the past 36 hours Dr. Mohler has suffered from unrelenting pain. This unusual degree of pain signaled concern for the attending physicians and prompted additional tests this afternoon. In the past hour these tests have revealed that Dr. Mohler is suffering from pulmonary emboli in both lungs. His condition is quite serious and he has been moved to the intensive care unit of Baptist East Hospital in Louisville, KY for immediate treatment.

Please make this a matter of urgent prayer. Thank you once again for your concern and support during these days.

Happy new year to all of you!