How many of you easterners know protestants who are always bugging you to visit their churches? I'm in this predicament myself, and find it to be very uncomfortable. The person is pentecostal. Of course, I avoid saying yes or no, I just change the subject. If I said what is on my mind, it would be, "I will not worship in your church, because it is heretical, and cut off from the true Catholic and Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, so leave me alone, and go to your heretical service yourself." Obviously, I cannot say that. Any suggestions?

Dutch,

I sympathize very much with your first reaction BUt as you said, you cannot use that response.

What about the more generic "thank you for your invitation but i belong to a Church I am very happy with"

Perhaps you could invite them to your own church. They probably won't be prepared for that response and being protestant will most likely decline. This way the shoe is on the other foot.

Being a cantor, I usually mention that I have obligations to my own church first. Then I invite them to my parish. So far, it's been 100% declined offers with no repeat requests. Since the pentecostal/protestant invitor is usually trying to bring people into thier church, which is not any different than my asking them to visit my church, I ask the same of them and usually they understand after that.

Steve Petach

Dutch, go over the Symbol of Faith, the Nicean-Constantinopolitan Creed, with the Pentecostalists who invite you. Tell them that this is what you believe in a nutshell, although there is much more to Holy Tradition. Ask the Pentecostalists if they believe the same as you do (if they tell you the truth, you'll get a negative reply). Then politely but firmly explain to them that you can't worship with those who do not share the same Faith as you. And Pentecostalists, some of whom make their religion up as they go along, are clearly not in the Apostolic Tradition.

OrthodoxEast

Shlomo Orthodox Dutchman,
Have you thought about this as an opertunity to evangelize? I use to have a friend that was a fundementalist Baptist. He use to also invite me to his services, and I told him I would go if he went to mine.

I did not worship in his church, but I was able to gain great insight on how they distorted Catholic teachings. Further, by having him come to my Church I was able to teach him about the ancient foundations of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Further, I was by example able to show not only him, but those members of his congregation that I was not afraid of what they preached, because I had the truth written on my soul.

Poosh BaShlomo,
Yuhannon

Greetings!
Excuse me if I speak out of turn but if I remember correctly, Orthodox Dutchman lives in an area that does not have a convenient, staffed, nearby parish. Developing and maintaining a good, strong sacramental life must be incredibly difficult.

I agree the that reciprocal invitations are the absolute best idea, but for those pilgrims in the ecclesiastical wilderness we have to come up with something a little bit more practical.

I can't think of anything more practical at the moment!

However, O-D, if you would be interested in taking them to the nearby Ethiopian church you had mentioned once that would probably work for this purpose as an option, and you could go on to explain the Traditions, all they have in common, etc. and that you follow a tradition that is slightly different and no less valid.

God bless,
Michael

Dear Friends,

Just as I get under the skin of some Orthodox Christians for saying I'm already Orthodox (in communion with Rome), I like to get under the skin of Pentecostals by saying I already belong to the original "Pentecostal Church of the New Testament."

I point out the role of the Holy Spirit in the liturgy, the icons, Theosis etc.

I also point out that I was a former member of a neo-Pentecostal Catholic group before I was led to the fullness of revitatlized Eastern spirituality, holiness, and sanctification where we can praise and glorify Almighty God and thank the Lord for all He's done for us in sending down upon us the Might and Power of His Spirit to transfigure, transform and recreate the sinful souls of His weak servants made strong in His service by His Grace . . .

Get the picture?

Alex