To donate to our temple fund: www.sthermanor... Metropolitan Jonah Paffhausen continues his Orthodox Apologetics series. Part four: APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION AND SACRAMENTAL GRACE, ECONOMIA, INTER-FAITH DIALOGUE, ECUMENISM, AND INFALLIBILITY
(Apostolic Canon XLVI) "We order any Bishop, or Presbyter, that has accepted any heretics’ Baptism, or sacrifice, to be deposed; for 'what consonancy hath Christ with Belial or what part hath the believer with an infidel?'" (Apostolic Canon XLVII) "If a Bishop or Presbyter baptize anew anyone that has had a true baptism, or fail to baptize anyone that has been polluted by the impious, let him be deposed, on the ground that he is mocking the Cross and death of the Lord and failing to distinguish priests from pseudopriests."
I love these talks, I wish he would speak more about the non chalcedonian issue. I’m having trouble understanding the division. I’m from a non chalcedonian country
The first thing to note is that the 4th Œcumenical Synod (at Chalcedon) was so difficult to find a conclusion that it was finally left up to the reposed incorrupt St Euphemia: the two parties, the Dyophysites and Monophysites, left two scrolls with their positions in the hands of the incorrupt body of St Euphemia and sealed the tomb for 3 days. When they opened the tomb again, the Monophysite creed was laying at the feet of the relics and the Diophysite in her outstretched hand. For the theological implications of the Monophysite/Miaphysite position, this involves specifically the effect of Theosis: that is, the Chalcedonian belief is that human nature and the Divine Nature of God were united in the single Person of Jesus Christ _without confusion or mixing._ According to St Athanasius of Alexandria, "God became man that man may become God", but if the natures become confused, as non-Chalcedonians teach, then we would lose our individuality in our sainthood, and St Athanasius himself would have ceased to be St Athanasius and would be only God (or, more specifically, God's Divine Energies, without individual distinction). So the non-Chalcedonian position must either 1) deny Theosis or 2) deny Sainthood.
I highly recommend doing further research. The above comment, though undoubtedly meant to be helpful, could possibly lead to confusion about the current discussion between the two traditions.
I just want to address the comment about God not working through other religions. Jesus said that "the only way to the Father is through him." That being said, God may work through other religions but only those that believe in Christ the goodman and follow him, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Again, not my words, Jesus' words. John 14:6. Christianity is the one True religion. Also I'm my opinion, I believe that God's grace has shown through all the denominations, though I must also say that certain groups that claim to be Christian are not. IE mormonism and Jehovah's witness who have strayed so far away from the truth they, in my opinion, they do not qualify as Christian so far as belief and worship is concerned. There are obviously other groups that would fall in to that category as well but they are the two most prominent groups so I used them as an example. If a Church teaches something is acceptable that is condemed in scripture how can they consider themselves a Church. IE homosexual marriage, or clergy.
I would like to add that we do know where the church begins and ends. Protestants are not Christians as the Bishop talked about in previous videos. Going a little bit further, we are supposed to be brothers and sisters in Christ. Making the statement " the Greeks are going to do what they want, and it's not our job to see and or do anything about that" is completely unacceptable. The ecclesiastical body is supposed to come together 2x a year. That's canonical edict. There lack of obedience to the councils have driven a wedge between the Sister Churches. It is our job to ask and see if we are ok. It is talked about in Scripture and Tradition something that we Orthodox hold to as the definitive guide for our lives to ascend to Theosis. "If there is a problem, we speak to our brother or sister about it, if they do not repent we bring three more to try to persuade them to relent from there heretical views. If they still don't , we take them to the Church, and if they still don't repent we treat them as like a tax collector." We are meant to be with each other helping each other and denying the crab mentality of grabbing political power for ourselves ( Churches) can't people see that because of this mentality people see us as like the world? Done ranting, back to studying.
