Both this post and my last post on Communism are more factual than insightful. My point is merely to raise awareness to anyone who reads. I know I appreciate America and the freedoms we enjoy at a whole new level. I also know that the American church has countless flaws and blemishes, but at heart we still turn to Jesus and the Gospel is still our guiding light. All this to say, I have a new appreciation for what I have waiting on me back home.
The Orthodox Church is the primary religious institution in Romania. Prior to arriving here, I had exactly zero knowlege about the Orthodox Church. I thought it was basically like my church except maybe with incence and guys in long robes singing songs that echoed off the ceilings of their huge churches. I was wrong. (Disclaimer: My information comes from a long conversation with our contact who is a Romanian Baptist preacher. I appologize if any facts regarding the Orthodox church have been misconstrued or lost in translation. This is merely a summary of our conversation.)
(The Orthodox Church in the town where we lived in Romania)
To jump right in, our contact informed us that the Orthodox Church does not believe that the Bible is the only Word. They have the Holy Bible and the Holy Tradition. Things that are not in the Bible, but are a part of the Holy Tradition are deemed valid. For example, we were told that the Orthodox Tradition provides that you can pray somebody from hell to heaven after they die.
Additionally, the Church presents itself as more important than a relationship with God. The Church is believed to be His proxy on earth. The “Church” brings salvation and if you are a member then the priest can pray for you salvation and the Church protects you. Members often do not pray because the priest prays for them. The one catch for members is that everything from prayer to moving family members from hell to heaven comes with a price tag. Payment must be made for blessings and actions of the priests.
Perhaps the most heartbreaking thing is the lack of knowledge. Many priests tell their congregation that they are sinners and sinners can not even touch the Bible. That gives the priests all the power. The priest can present only the information he wishes the people to hear. As a result, people think that Bibles are almost magical. Our contact says he often gives Bibles to Orthodox believers. However, they will frame the Bibles in their homes or build a display box. They believe that the Bibles protect them from Satan's forces. People will also ask for Bibles for their cars because they believe the Bibles will keep them from having a wreck. Essentially, the Bible has become a mystical good luck charm.
(Side Note: I was reading my Bible in the park the other day and person after person stared at me with mouths agape because I was reading and writing in my Bible. I got looks of confusion and wonder. A few older women became angry when they saw me writing in my Bible. I seriously thought they were going to confront me about my actions.)
After our conversation was over, I began to ponder what Jesus must think about this form of religion. Jesus came to fullfill the law and break tradition. The Orthodox Church has attempted to make tradition holy. I look around and see so many that have been lied to from pulpits all over Romania. These people have been denied the truth and made to believe their souls are safe when in fact they have never had a relationship with Jesus. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everybody and the least shall be the greatest in His Kingdom. The thought of His word being denied to those that need it most has bothered me more than I can express in this blog.
This is the first time on the Race I have had to think small because if I look at the enormity of the lost souls here I begin to panic. One can quickly spiral into apathy when faced with such an enormous problem. God is teaching me through this to focus on the things that I can do. I can't reach a fraction of those around me, but I can reach a few. God is showing me that I have to trust that He has a plan for all of those that I can't reach. It is a hard lesson.
