Glenn Argento

@AL_J82 As a EO Christian I would say the Bible is very clear because we consistently read it within the Tradition, teaching authority and daily life of the Church Sadly by divorcing the scriptures from the Church’s ethos and Tradition, you have made it unclear for millions of people.

Imagine self proclaimed "Christians" claiming that "the Bible isn't clear" unless you have a someone else to interpret it for you. This is a CLEAR example of what happens when you don't actually read it: Psalm 119: 129 Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

@ChristandGuitar Discerning between the RCC and the EO as to who is the true continuation of the Apostolic Church is admittedly difficult and requires much study. But Protestantism is not at all in that conversation and has a 0% chance of being the true church (or even part of the true Church)

Both the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church claim to be the 'one true Church' founded by Christ. They both trace themselves to the same apostles and Church Fathers up through the Great Schism of 1054 - yet they mutually anathematized each other and still do to this day. They can't both be right. If the evidence is essentially identical, doesn't that mean that the 'one true Church' claim fails for both? What’s the actual standard that decides this? I would argue that it's Scripture - and Scripture is what leads me to believe that both claims are false.

@juanrey35939541 @MichaelS1453 @AL_J82 Read the Book “Early Icons” totally has changed the landscape on this question, showing that icon veneration was there in the earliest centuries of the church

@MichaelS1453 @AL_J82 Having an icon is not veneration. Where is there evidence that Christians venerated icons pre Nicea? There is none. Stop coping.

What we've seen taken place the past 7 days within the Orthodox community online is clear example of what happens when you reject Sola Scriptura. Christians, don't put your Bibles down, no matter how much they mock you.

@sanderson1611 @C2Antiquity We arnt appealing to an absence of evidence. Just the opposite, we are pointing out that the entire church believed that baptism saves, as evidenced by the consistent testimony of all the fathers! That’s positive eveidence, we are challenging you to provide a counter example.

@C2Antiquity Absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence.

East Orthodox Church is Trash

@CovenantReform2 @ChristandGuitar So no one was Christian from 787 AD till the 1600s? since image veneration is part in the rubrics of our Sunday worship, and this was way before 787. My Church has proclaimed Christ for 1500 years before your sect was created. You have no business telling me I’m not a Christian

@ArgentoGle83147 @ChristandGuitar Your self-serving broke with the tradition of the early church when it accepted pagan practices in 787. It is medieval. You're an idolater, not a Christian. If you want to become a true Christian, you'll have to believe in Jesus, not the self-serving sect.

In the midst of this sudden influx of Eastern Orthodox awareness, this fantastic video by Gavin Ortlund is extremely relevant. While we, on paper, can distinguish between "worship" and "veneration," in practice, the human heart has a hard time. If someone is bowing down to or kissing icons, what is the actual human position that prevents us from slipping into idolatry? We would be better off keeping ourselves from idols (1 John 5:21) rather than play with fire. Worship God alone (Luke 4:8). The orthodox church is not a lot different than the roman church in this regard - they both claim to be the "one true church" by which all salvation comes through. But they can't even get this simple doctrine right, historically or theologically.

@CovenantReform2 @ChristandGuitar Protestantism didn’t exist until 16th century. Your particular Johnny-come-lately version of Protestantism is even younger than that. So don’t call my Orthodox Church a sect. And if veneration or images is idolatry, then idolaters are entering the kingdom of God before you

@ArgentoGle83147 @ChristandGuitar No, it is not. Just repeating falsehoods doesn't make the falsehoods come true. It specifically says not to make an image of anything and bow to or otherwise "serve" (i.e., venerate) it. It prohibits what your self-serving sect does.

@LizzieMarbach @ProLife_Gigi So why is it ok that Luther and the other reformers believed in it but anyone today is viewed as ignorant or a bad Christian/non-christian

@ProLife_Gigi They allowed the teaching they were raised in to influence their thinking on this topic, yes.

There is no way for any honest person to read the gospels and come away believing Mary was a perpetual virgin. 🤷🏼‍♀️

@hsifdlog135246 @bannedpastor No we do not believe that “everyone is god”. Rather, we believe that the grace that God infuses in us, is His own uncreated divine energy. We make a distinction between the essence of God (which is unknowable) and His energies which he bestows on us which makes us like He is.

@bannedpastor Is Orthodox like "New Age"? Or does it take a leaf from Hinduism? (If I recall, Hinduism teaches that "Brahman" is "Atman." Which means that everyone is 'god'. That's like their ultimate realization or something like that.)

Orthodox “theosis” is a false gospel

@CovenantReform2 @ChristandGuitar The context is false gods because the 1st commandment is “You shall not have any gods before me” But m under your logic you could never reverence any object. is it idolatry to kiss a picture of someone? What about pledging to the flag? Or kneeling before a plain cross?

@ArgentoGle83147 @ChristandGuitar No, it's not. The context is exactly what it says: do not venerate any images. You can't depict Jesus because you don't know what He looks like.

@CovenantReform2 @ChristandGuitar Actually we do have a good idea of what he looks like from our tradition. If you choose to reject those depictions that is on you. How can you even pray to Jesus the God-man with no idea of what he looks like? Are you suggesting that praying to a mental image is idolatry too?

@CovenantReform2 @ChristandGuitar the context is worship of false gods not saints of the true God. Plus the reason was “because you saw no form of the Lord” but now that we have seen his form in Jesus Christ, we can depict and honor his image. The saints are in His IMAGE so we can depict and honor them as well.

@ArgentoGle83147 @ChristandGuitar They break the 2nd commandment by bowing to images.

@LifeTips919 @Jorge_Merle @ChristandGuitar The saints are infused with the divine energies, and partake of the divine nature. So it’s not idolatry or worshiping someone other than God because the saints have become God. When we pray to the saints we ARE praying directly to God, aided also by the saint’s own human prayers

@Jorge_Merle @ChristandGuitar Is there more value in giving all your honor and glory to God, making Him your central focus, or splitting your time between honoring dead saints and worshipping God? Which option would produce more Christian fruit? Honoring imperfect people or a Holy God?

@Acts17David I would agree with those who suggest Fr. Stephen De Young, he is a pretty cool guy. I would also recommend his book the religion of the apostles. Also, St John Damascene “exposition of the Orthodox faith” Also, Robert Spencer is Greek Orthrodox you should talk to him too

Three questions for Orthodox Christians: (1) Who would you recommend for a livestream laying out the POSITIVE CASE for the Eastern Orthodox Church being the True Church? (I mean someone who would actually do an effective livestream about this, not someone too busy or too annoying.) (2) What video/lecture (20-60 minutes) do you think does the best job laying out the positive case for the Eastern Orthodox Church being the True Church? (3) What book (preferably 150-200 pages, classic or modern) do you think lays out the strongest case for the Eastern Orthodox Church being the True Church?

@autocorrect2_0 Calling you a “broad” is rude Calling you a “whore” is totally unacceptable But calling you “dumb” could be acceptable if you legit said a series of dumb things.

Unpopular opinion: I should be able to generally criticize any Christian denomination without a single member of that denomination calling me a “dumb broad” or a “stupid whore” If I kick a nest of “Christians” and that’s what happens, I’ve actually kicked a nest of Reddit atheists in Christian suits.

@AL_J82 Because you’re 1) viewing this in the most uncharitable light instead of first trying to see the rationale before rushing to judgement 2) focusing on the few examples of donations/fees and implying that all EO churches do this even though the majority say that this doesn’t happen

Orthodox are mad at protestants for reading baptism fees that were listed by the Orthodox on their own websites. Make that make sense.

@Redi1886 @annaofbrunswick No usually people on both sides are doing bad stuff are just because of the passions, but men across denominations are sick of sermons calling out men’s bad behavior but not calling out women. They are also sick of being called predators simply for actively looking for a wife

@ArgentoGle83147 @annaofbrunswick I see your point, but I have a genuine question, as I am not involved in these online discussions or spheres as much (I only saw it trend twice on X): are women using orthodox theology to act immodestly and misrepresent the church?

I’m an Orthodox woman. I was told, literally a few days ago, totally out of the blue, by a guy in my parish circles to “shut up and raise my hand before speaking.” This was in the context of him flirting with me for days and not understanding I wasn’t interested. Guys… Lol

@soupcanarchist If there are guys in the parish actually doing bad stuff. Then yes warn the women about them. But a devote Orthodox man seriously looking for a wife is not a predator. I know personally that had I not been deliberate in finding a wife I would still be single

As the Godmother of many women in their early 20s at my parish, we see how you wife hunters talk about women. And we tell our daughters...

@Redi1886 @annaofbrunswick It will fall on deaf ear unless equal time is given to call out feminism, immodest dress, and encourage Orthodox women to make themselves available to the men at their parish. But many priests will get immediate pushback and subversion by the women of the parish if they do this

@ArgentoGle83147 @annaofbrunswick Hopefully, church leaders will begin speaking out about this issue, guiding those with a misguided mindset back to the right path.

@farmingandJesus @ConfessorMaximo What’s the big deal about this? Money is needed to keep the lights on and it’s a joint effort for all involved. $500 per year isn’t that much. There are 52 weeks in a year that’s $10 every Sunday. Obviously a person who was truly poor would not be turned away

Most ortho and romanist men (on this app) don’t respect Christian women. The proof is in the posts. You guys are so disrespectful to women it kinda comes off closet 🏳️‍🌈