To my Christian brothers and sisters
You may not think proselytizing is a problem. You may think it is a good thing but you are not looking at the ramifications behind this.
I am Greek Orthodox, in other words, fall under Eastern Orthodox. We kneel when we pray, eat bread and drink wine for communion. Should I have the power to tell someone else they are not worthy if they do not? Christians can't even agree on the Creed
The Church has widely used the Nicene Creed since the fifth century. In some liturgical churches, for example the Episcopal/Anglican Churches, it is recited every Sunday. In others, the Nicene Creed is alternated with the Apostles’ Creed for Sunday worship, although the Apostles’ Creed is more often used at Baptismal services. The Eastern Orthodox tradition uses only the Nicene Creed. While most non-liturgical Protestant churches prefer the shorter Apostles’ Creed, none would object to the doctrines the Nicene Creed summarizes. It is the only creed accepted by all three major branches of Christendom: Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox. -Dennis Bratcher, ed.
We believe in one God the Father, the Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and of all that is, seen and unseen. (visible and invisble)
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, (eternally) begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being [substance] with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen
http://www.crivoice.org/creedsearly.html
I visit many churches and often remain silent when even the Lord's prayer is said because I am not sure what words they will use. I remain silent when they the Creed is said because of the same reason. I do not want to offend anyone nor do I want to demand the right to say the Creed as I know it in their church.
The Major Denominations:
Roman Catholic - The Roman Catholic Church denomination is the largest Christian group in the world today with more than a billion followers constituting about half of the world's Christian population.
Eastern Orthodox - Approximately 225 million people worldwide are Orthodox Christians.
Protestant - There are approximately 500 million Protestants in the world.
In a 2002 study conducted by the Pew Research Council, 53 percent of Americans identified themselves as Protestant Christians. There are approximately 500 million Protestants in the world. {1}
"Protestantism" is less a denomination than a general branch of Christianity encompassing numerous denominations and a wide theological spectrum ranging from conservative to liberal.
Protestantism originated in the 16th century Reformation, and most modern Protestant denominations can trace their heritage to one of the major movements that sprung up in the 16th century. Presbyterians are indebted to John Calvin and Reformed theology, as well as to John Knox and the Church of Scotland. Anglicans and Episcopalians trace their heritage to the Church of England that resulted from King Henry VIII's break from the authority of Rome. Evangelicalism (and to a slightly lesser degree, Methodism) is indebted to Pietism, a 17th century Protestant movement emphasizing a holy life, individual study of the scriptures, and better training of ministers.
Protestant denominations differ in the degree to which they reject Catholic belief and practice. Some churches, such as Anglicans and Lutherans, tend to resemble Catholicism in their formal liturgy, while others, like Baptists and Presbyterians, retain very little of the liturgy and tradition associated with the Catholic church.
In common with Catholic and Orthodox Christians, Protestants adhere to the authority of the Bible and the doctrines of (t)he early creeds. Protestants are distinguished by their emphasis on the doctrines of "justification by grace alone through faith, the priesthood of all believers, and the supremacy of Holy Scripture in matters of faith and order." {2} Most Protestant churches recognize only two sacraments directly commanded by the Lord - baptism and communion - as opposed to the seven sacraments accepted by the Catholic Church.
Should it be up to someone else to tell me my faith is not equal to their's even though the Greek's were the first converts to follow Christ out of the gentile world St. Paul preached to? No, I have no such right and I do not want to have it. Yet this is going on everyday. Should I have the right to refuse to help anyone unless they convert? What would you think of me if I walked away from someone in need simply because they did not appreciate the authority of my faith?
If you say the Protestant faith is the right one then which branch are you talking about? That is what religious freedom protects. It is not about Christian vs Christian vs everyone else. It is protecting the equal rights for you to go to the church you want and everyone else having the same right to go or not depending on their own beliefs. There are Jewish/Hebrew Chaplains and there are Muslim Chaplains just as there are Christian Chaplains. They are supposed to take care of the troops according to the beliefs of the troops and yes, take care of the spiritual needs of all of them no matter what they believe as humans in spiritual crisis. Chaplains are supposed to practice as non-denominational responders to the needs of others and not their own desires for converts.
Yesterday I wrote how I wish there were more Chaplains in the military and that we saw more of Christ in their mission to help the troops heal from what is asked of them. This is not about getting rid of Chaplains in the military. It is about getting more of them to remember what they are there for and answering the call they received from God to be there for the troops in need. We need more of them because the need is so great. Suicides and attempted suicides scream for their spiritual guidance especially when PTSD is spiritual warfare.
I pray you read the following with an open mind and while you do ask yourself how you would feel if a Chaplain told your son or daughter their faith was not good enough or they were suffering because they didn't believe in the right doctrine. What if they did not consider themselves part of any organized religious group at all but still said they believed in God and Christ? This happens all the time with our young. What if they said they only believed there was something out there but were not sure what that "something" is? Would you want them forced into it?
In Place of Mental Health Care, Are Some Troops Being Evangelized?
William Astore
Writer, Professor, Retired Lt. Colonel, Air Force
Posted: August 10, 2010
Yesterday, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) and Veterans for Common Sense sent a startling letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. It alleged that the military has sent some psychological casualties to chaplains for counseling, rather than to mental health care professionals for diagnosis and treatment. In a few cases, the letter alleges, chaplains sought to provide comfort through evangelism. In essence, it seems wounded and disturbed troops were encouraged to put their trust in Jesus: that He would provide for them if only they accepted Him.
General George S. Patton Jr. was fired during World War II for slapping soldiers with PTSD. Assuming the MRFF letter is correct, are we prepared to fire chaplains for seeking to alleviate PTSD and other disorders with a healthy dose of scripture and heartfelt appeals to Jesus?
read more here
In Place of Mental Health Care
