More on Eastern Orthodoxy
by Pastor Walter Snyder

Q: Here are some followup questions to earlier comments on the Orthodox Church. 1) Do
they believe in "by grace are you saved not of works"? 2) Do they believe that the Bible is
the literal word of God? 3) Do they believe that Mary is on a higher plain than other
ordinary human beings? 4) Do they believe in life after death? What about Purgatory? Do
they believe in Easter and the resurrection? 5) Do the patriarchs have a similar role as the
pope in their respective territories? 6) Would we or rather should we consider them as
Christian? Would they be saved? 7) Do they baptize their youth? Do they believe that
baptism saves? 8) It seems that their elevation of the Lord's Supper puts a similar emphasis
as we do? Is that a correct interpretation? 9) I assume that the priest and the icon
represent an intercession with God and forgiveness. Consequently the individual cannot go
directly to God in prayer for forgiveness. Is that correct? 10) What art work used in
worship is not acceptable to the Lutheran or Catholic Churches? 11) Does all of the above
vary by each patriarch's territory?

A: 1) No, they teach that while God's grace effects full forgiveness of sins, some form of life
change must accompany faith. 2) Generally, they do. Certain portions of Orthodoxy tend to have
higher or lower regard for Scripture's inspiration. Also, they've traditionally not emphasized Bible
study and even Biblical preaching sometimes was overshadowed by the weight of the Liturgy. 3)
Orthodoxy has a high regard for Mary. However, they do not approach Roman Catholicism's
veneration of the Virgin. I've not found any authoritative writings calling her "coredemptrix" (that
is, a redeemer on the level of Christ Himself). 4) Their teachings on heaven and hell are in line
with those of Western Christianity. However, they officially allow that there is a purgatory,
although their understanding is different from Roman Catholicism. They agree with the West on
the resurrection of Christ, however ~when~ to celebrate it has been argued for over 1000 years.

5) Their patriarchs, while respected and granted great authority, do not approach the level granted
the Roman pope. 6) While we may disagree with some specific interpretation, they clearly confess
Jesus Christ as true God, true man, and Savior from sin. By what they confess, we agree that they
are Christian. 7) They baptize infants and believe in baptismal regeneration. They also practice
chrismation, anointing with oil, normally immediately after the baptism. Then they usually give the
child's first Communion, using a small amount of bread dipped in the cup. The next time the child
communes is several years later, after a period of instruction in the Christian faith. 8) Orthodoxy
teaches that the Eucharist prefigures the ultimate ~theosis~, a holy, unending union with God in
heaven. Thus the eating and drinking of the Savior's body and blood is part of this ongoing
process and the Liturgy is designed to draw the congregation into a state of heaven on earth.

9) While priests act as intercessors and mediators, the Orthodox Church teaches that  individual
believers have direct access to God. Still, saints are sometimes invoked to help get the message
across. Icons are not seen so much as intercessors as means of focusing attention. The Second
Council of Nicea defended using of icons while forbidding their worship. Using icons, Orthodox
Christians acknowledge that matter is not inherently evil, but can be used by God. John of
Damascus observed that those attacking the use of icons often denied the goodness of material
creation (the heresy of Gnosticism), doubted real incarnation of Jesus Christ as fully human (the
heresy of Docetism), or questioned that He was resurrected with a physical body. 10) No
religious art is condemned in Lutheranism or Roman Catholicism. Improper use is, however,
sinful. 11) Except, perhaps, for some more liberal or modernistic leanings, Orthodox theology is
fairly standard throughout the various patriarchates.

Ask the Pastor, © 2004 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality, including this disclaimer,
by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said republication and redistribution. Translations
into other languages should similarly note the United States and any appropriate international
copyrights, as well as God's Scriptural injunctions concerning the property of others.

Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of
the book "What Do Lutherans Believe."