Oddbean

Yeah, this is one of those english translation things. A priest is simply an elder and the bishop is the overseer (1 tim 3:2). The scripture also says to call no man teacher in verse 10 of that same chapter, but scripture is clear that this is a gifting and refers to several people as teacher. I think the biggest hurdle for me when looking at orthodoxy was understanding that these guys arent just a bunch of enigmatic sand hippies, worshipping dead people and their petrified limbs, doing weird stuff because they love heresy. These people truly love Jesus and have a historic basis for literally everything they do, pray, and believe. Many things were difficult to grasp at first but I wanted to give them the honest benefit of the doubt before judging them as incompatible with true christianity. Turns out, they hold the scripture arguably in higher regard than post modern christianity does in my opinion, as they were the ones responsible for compiling it lol

To be fair, I don't think I recall Jesus personally ordaining any elders or overseers either. 🤔 I actually have great respect for the orthodox church, it's teachings and continuity. That is why I've spent about a year trying to learn about it and 6 months sometimes attending one to attempt to understand the practices through personal encounter. Shh.. Don't tell anyone but I'm actually a very bad protestant with plenty of beliefs that my peeps would call bad theology 😅.

I don't believe in penal substitution theory. I lean more Christus Victor... I think we are all head and no heart, reverence and lack an understanding of sacred spaces. I believe in theosis, that God is redeeming all things to Himself. I'm a partial preterist... The seeming theotokis worship stuff really gets me, although a Catholic once explained it to me in a way that made it seem less problematic and even a little beautiful... I still don't understand venerating objects though I have done it twice. That sand and stone video helped. The priest said orthodox believe they are looking at Jesus in an icon, so kissing his feet makes sense I guess. I still have to ponder that some more.. I'm sure there's more ways I'm a bad protestant with "bad theology" but taht should do for now 😂😅

Oops I left out one of my really bad beliefs... I don't believe that we are saved by Grace *alone*. The "sinners prayer" does lots of damage when not followed up properly. To the point where it's probably more dangerous than worthwhile. Though to he fair many protestants will try to unite 'new converts' to a church. I don't believe in the woo woo end-times prophetic stuff that some obsess over. I believe the Israelites were called to giagantomachi but also that it probably concluded with David. The latter part would also make me a bad orthodox too, I guess. I'm a pacifist, but Christians of all pursuasions bar some extremes seem to call for war... I think I just figured out why people go to confession 🤣🤣 I've never really listed all my "bad" theologies before. That was oddly cathartic. Thanks for reading. 🤣