Category Archives: Orthodoxy

Mary in Ecumenical Perspective

Posted on April 18, 2013 by John Armstrong

I mentioned yesterday that I attended two seminars at the National Workshop on Christian Unity (NWCU) in Columbus, April 8–11. The second was titled: “Mary in Ecumenical Perspective.” It was taught by one of the leading liturgical scholars in North … Continue reading →

Posted in American Evangelicalism, Church History, Church Tradition, Creeds, Liturgy, Missional-Ecumenism, Orthodoxy, Patristics, Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, The Church, The Future, Unity of the Church | 14 Comments

Through Love We Are Joined With God

Posted on August 9, 2012 by John Armstrong

Yesterday I wrote of how hypostasis and persona are integrally connected with our being saved. They are also a vital part of how we learn to live by the Spirit and produce the fruit of the Spirit, not the sins … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Theology, God's Character, Orthodoxy, Patristics, Spirituality | 1 Comment

The Love of God and Our Spiritual Transformation

Posted on August 8, 2012 by John Armstrong

Galatians 5 refers to the acts of the human flesh, that is the acts that come from our sinful nature. Here is how Paul puts it: 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Theology, God's Character, Orthodoxy, Spirituality | 1 Comment

How Then Shall We Be Saved?

Posted on August 7, 2012 by John Armstrong

For much of my life I thought “being saved” meant accepting Jesus in a moment of faith. Those who were saved had done this faith act/decision and those who were not saved had not yet done it. “Are you saved?” … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Theology, Gospel/Good News, Orthodoxy, Spirituality | 1 Comment

How Gnostic Is the God-Within Movement?

Posted on June 25, 2012 by John Armstrong

Ross Douthat, as I stated last Friday, believes that modern American Christianity has been co-opted by ancient Gnostic ideas. But his argument is actually better developed than that of many pop-evangelical apologists who make the same claim but with very … Continue reading →

Posted in American Evangelicalism, Church History, Current Affairs, Mysticism, Orthodoxy, Religion, Spirituality, The Church, The Future | 1 Comment

The God Within

Posted on June 22, 2012 by John Armstrong

“The God Within” is the title of chapter seven in Bad Religion, New York Times columnist and Catholic author Ross Douthat’s important new book. Douthat suggests that if there is a representative religious pilgrim for our time it is magazine … Continue reading →

Posted in American Evangelicalism, Church History, Current Affairs, Mysticism, Orthodoxy, Religion, Spirituality, The Church, The Future | 13 Comments

The Tragedy of Syria: Christians in the Crossfire

Posted on March 23, 2012 by John Armstrong

If you watch or follow American news, from the left or the right, you hear continual calls for our government, working with the United Nations, to engage militarily with the Syrian government in support of the rebels in that nation. … Continue reading →

Posted in Islam, Kingdom of God, Orthodoxy, Religion, The Church, The War on Terrorism | 1 Comment

Poustinia: Encountering God in Silence, Solitude and Prayer

Posted on December 7, 2011 by John Armstrong

Before I found the book, Poustinia: Encountering God in Silence, Solitude and Prayer, I confess that I had never heard of Catherine Doherty. She was a remarkable lady who sought to translate Eastern Christian insights (sometimes called “desert spirituality”) into … Continue reading →

Posted in Mysticism, Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, Spirituality | Leave a comment

Bishop Kallistos Ware: “The Center of the Christian Message”

Posted on July 18, 2011 by John Armstrong

A few months ago Christianity Today editor David Neff did an interview with Orthodox Bishop Kallistos Ware. This interview is now available online. Bishop Ware, who is from Great Britain, was an Anglican before he entered the Orthodox Church as … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ/Christology, Evangelism, Missional-Ecumenism, Orthodoxy | Leave a comment