Rev Bill

During the past two decades, mainline and evangelical scholars have rediscovered the creative relevance of the Christian East, with its insistence on the authority of the first 500 years of Christian teaching and practice

The above is a quote from an interesting article at the Christianity Today web site. It seems that there is a new interest among some evangelical Protestants in the Eastern Orthodox churches and traditions. Some are saying the 21st cntury may see a renewed emphasis on the Eastern Orthodox churches and traditions.

The article gives several reasons for why the Eastern Orthodox churches may be appealing:

(1) Personal transformation stories
(2) Faithful scriptural interpretation
(3) The multicultural nature of orthodoxy
(4) Well-established doctrinal boundaries
(5) Ecumenical roots reclaimed
(6) Rise of a new ecumenism

I confess that I have not given much thought to this — but I can see the appeal of the points listed above — especially points 2 and 4. Whether this will lead to a renewed emphasis on the Eastern Orthodox churches and traditions — or to a renewed emphasis on faithful scripture interpertation and doctrinal boundaries within Protestant traditions — remains to be seen.

You can read the article here.

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