Letter to the Editor: My Pastor Left and Joined the Eastern Orthodox Church!

Dear Ones at Lighthouse Trails:

 I truly appreciate all the research work you have been doing, much of which is hard to find elsewhere.

Have you looked into the Eastern Orthodox Church and its influence on the evangelical churches?

Our church’s pastor recently resigned and turned to Eastern Orthodoxy, leaving our Chinese speaking congregation without a pastor. He and his family have been attending an EO church since then. I am a friend with the pastor’s wife and had had several conversations with her before and after the pastor’s resignation. I was attempting to point out the errors of the EO church. That effort was proven in vain. She is now fully on board with EO as well.  

What is more saddening and puzzling is, as I later learned, that this pastor’s turning to EO was not alone. A few of his seminary school mates made similar moves, converting from evangelical to either Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodox. One thing I can think of is that EO is very mystical and thus may be appealing to my ex-pastor who was a Buddhist for decades before becoming a Christian. Anyway, I would love to hear your research findings on this topic. 

When my now-previous pastor’s sermon, in which he preached on the perpetual virginity of Mary and praying to dead saints, alarmed the congregation, I suspected his turning to Eastern Orthodox and began looking into the matter. I watched a video on Hank Hanegraaff’s (“Bible Answer Man”) conversion to EO, which I found helpful.

Your article is very insightful [see an excerpt below – from 2017). The Eucharist being instrumental in Hanegraaff’s conversion concurred with what I saw in my ex-pastor’s. The mentioning of the Eucharist, along with the emphasis on theosis, kept appearing in his preaching for several months before his final disturbing sermon. 

In Christ, Dee

LT Comments:

In 2017, Lighthouse reported on Hank Hanegraaff’s conversion to the Eastern Orthodox Church. Below is an excerpt of that article:

 It is no surprise to Lighthouse Trails that Walter Martin’s successor Hank Hanegraaff (host of the Bible Answer Man) has converted to the Orthodox Church (which is a bridge between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism). Several years ago, we saw something like this coming because of Hanegraaff’s embracing of Rick Warren, Richard Foster, and other ecumenical contemplative figures.

Hanegraaff admits that the Eucharist was instrumental in his conversion. According to the Catholic Church, the Eucharist is “the real Presence” of Christ in the sacraments which blasphemously contradicts Hebrews 10:10-12, recrucifying Christ. Many in the Orthodox Church embrace this view of the Eucharist as well, though they may reject the term “transubstantiation.”1

Hanegraaff, a Reformed preterist, has also provided a platform for anti-Israel figure Stephen Sizer.

Something to consider: Romans 11 gives a stern warning to Gentiles not to become puffed up or arrogant against the Jews. When a proclaiming Christian turns his back on Israel and the Jews and becomes puffed up as Romans 11 describes, is it possible that the Holy Spirit departs, and if that happens, a replacement would be sought. This is where contemplative mysticism comes in to play. We find it interesting that many who embrace contemplative spirituality also reject Israel and the Jews as having any significant role from God’s point of view.

Proclaiming Christians who have turned against Israel saying that the church has replaced Israel should take heed and realize they have put themselves in great peril and at risk of becoming apostate.

Given the large audience of followers that Hank Hanegraaff has, we expect his conversion [to the Orthodox Church] will lead many to follow suit in converting out of Protestantism.

A 2008 article from Way of Life ministries describes some important facets of Eastern Orthodoxy:

• “Orthodoxy refers to that branch of sacramental Christianity which broke off from the Roman Catholic Church in 1054 A.D.”
• “Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy both claim direct descent from Christ and the Apostles.”
•  “In addition to rejecting the papacy, with its doctrines of supremacy and infallibility, Eastern Orthodoxy rejects purgatory and the doctrine of indulgences. Like Roman Catholicism, Orthodoxy has a consecrated priesthood and seven sacraments which only the priests have authority to perform–baptism, anointing, communion, penance, holy orders, marriage, and holy unction (Handbook of Denominations in the United States, 9th ed.). Infants and adults are baptized by threefold immersion. Sacraments are believed to be channels of grace, as contrasted to the New Testament ordinances of baptism and the Lords Supper which are simple memorials rather than actual means of grace. Orthodoxy practices the mass or the “Holy Eucharist” [eucharist means praise] whereby Christ supposedly is sacrificed anew and the bread and wine of the “eucharist” becomes the actual body and blood of Christ. Orthodoxy worships Mary as the Mother of God. Prayers are offered for the dead, who also are believed to pray for those on earth. Justification is attained through faith and works.”
• “Orthodoxy preaches a false gospel. According to Orthodox teaching, baptism (even of infants) is the means whereby an individual is born into Christ and becomes a Christian.”
• “The Orthodox Church also advocates prayers to and for the dead, and the false, wicked idea that the living can aid in the salvation of the deceased through good works. [The Eastern Orthodox church]  holds the same basic set of false beliefs as the Roman Catholic Church from which it broke away in the ninth century. . . . The Eastern Orthodox churches are members of and form an influential block within the World Council of Churches. In recent years steps have also been taken to reconcile the Eastern Orthodox with the Roman Catholic Church. In 1965 Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I formally lifted the excommunications of 1054.”(source)

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Endnote:

1. https://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/worship/the-sacraments/holy-eucharist.

Related Information:

(2017) “‘Bible Answer Man’ Hank Hanegraaff Leaves Evangelicalism, Joins Eastern Orthodox Church”

(2018) Letter to the Editor: My Former Baptist Pastor Went From Spiritual Formation Into the Orthodox Church

(2021) “Francis Chan’s Dangerous Path to “Unity” and a Eucharistic Christ”

Lent and Contemplative – A Likely Match

(photo from istockphoto.com; used with permission)