Book Review: Light from the Christian East: An Introduction to the Orthodox Tradition

Report by Tanya Smith (Pseudonym)

I chose this book because I wanted to have a better understanding of Orthodox beliefs and practices since it is the state religion in Russia. In addition, three students in our English club study Orthodox Theology. They refer to themselves as Christians and I wanted to have a better understanding of what they’ve been taught.
This book compares what the author believes is Christianity in the West (including both Catholics and Protestants) verses Christianity in the East. The statements made are often generalized and very wordy. At the beginning of the book it was difficult for me to read and stay focused on the author’s point; but toward the end I got used to the writing style and wordiness.
My first thought with this book is that it is about Christianity and, right from the start in the section on “Acknowledgements,” the author not once thanks the Lord or makes mention of Him. There are references to Bible verses throughout the book, but they are taken out of context and the author states that Eastern (Orthodox) tradition is what Christianity is all about.
History section: Author’s focus: “human reason led to the embrace of the truth” --he doesn’t speak of the Holy Spirit and/or God’s living and active Word. But he does say that Christianity spread as the people heard the message in their own language and as people were able to teach about Christianity not only in church but also in schools.
Author’s statements about Western reactions to Orthodoxy: Protestants think Orthodoxy is similar to Catholicism with view of Virgin Mary, saints, tradition, sacraments, monks and ecclesiastical hierarchy. Author thinks evangelicals are deficient in appreciation of history of church’s worship and in use of the historic liturgies and prayers of the church. (I was looking for the “What Jesus says” section but apparently his ideas were more important than what Jesus said about worship, salvation and prayer.) Author also says that in Eastern Christianity tradition is being proclaimed and that it is the traditional presentation that is important. The author goes on to say that Westerners view tradition as the enemy but author says tradition is what speaks to the church. (Nowhere in this book is a message of a new, changed life in Christ Jesus.)
Orthodoxy’s approach to doctrine: Author says the word “orthodox” means proper or right glory –so, Orthodoxy is that which gives proper glory to God. Eastern Christianity uses Orthodoxy to describe a style of life and worship that is faithful to the Christian message. (He doesn’t speak about the role of the Holy Spirit and isn’t clear what he means by the Christian message.) The author talks about knowing God as communing with Him, living in openness toward and wonder before Him. He speaks of living in mystical devotion to God as being the only path to knowing God –with an emphasis on not studying the Bible –since Truth is really beyond our grasp (which it is without the help of the Holy Spirit).
Talking about God: God is triune –Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But this book talks about God rather than Jesus as being central to Christianity –and the role of the Holy Spirit as our teacher is never mentioned.
Author really downplays the importance of Scripture in God revealing Himself to us. He says that the divine is where human minds cannot reach and leads the reader to the conclusion that God is a distant God and His Word is beyond our understanding. The author stresses personally experiencing God as love is not an individual experience. Rather, God administers His love for the people who are in the church. The corporate dimension of Christian experience is fundamental to Orthodox understanding of the experience of God’s love. (A trusting, one-on-one relationship with the Father is not part of Orthodox teaching.)
Creator and the Creation: Orthodoxy teaches that God remains incommunicable. He sustains His creation and it depends on Him for existence. The goal of creation is to be in communion with God. Jesus’ resurrection broke the power of death and liberated humanity from it and now leads His church to communion with God (author never defines His church but implies those who go to Orthodox church). ALL creation is reclaimed through the work of the Redeemer.
Humanity as created and fallen: “Orthodoxy has steered away from attempts to try to locate or pinpoint where the divine image resides in human beings.” According to Orthodoxy, the physical body of humans is a visible form that uniquely matches the invisible divine glory (although God has no body). Each person bears God’s image and is to grow into God’s likeness. The serpent offered a shortcut to the goal Adam and Eve were to achieve. The serpent offered them another way to be “like God”. Adam and Eve freely chose to become “like God” by a different path; they freely chose to disobey the divine command by going their own way. Adam and Eve foolishly expected to acquire likeness to God by disobedience to God. According to Orthodoxy, the human race does not share in or inherit the guilt of Adam’s sin –it only suffers from the effects of the sin. The idea in orthodoxy is that there is no imputation of Adam’s sin to his descendants –no one but Adam and Eve are guilty of their original sin. Eastern Christianity teaching says that death leads human beings to sin (that is, human beings sin because of death). They say that death is a heavy burden for humanity and as a result, they opt for what is temporarily satisfying rather than what would be conducive to everlasting life with God. However, Eastern Christian teaching also says that human beings are part of God’s created nature; and as God’s creation, “nature” remains good. Sin has no power to destroy what God has made or to alter his creation. According to Orthodoxy, human beings freely choose their own paths and when they choose wrong path, their relationships will be affected because of it (i.e. feeling hostility, alienation, resentment, aloofness etc. in relationships), BUT none of us bears or suffers from a depraved, corrupt or sinful human nature. Orthodoxy rejects the concept of depravity of human nature because human nature remains God’s handiwork; and as God’s creation, Orthodoxy accounts readily for the “good” done by those who do not profess faith in or see to obey God.
The Accomplishment of Salvation: Orthodoxy teaches that Christ’s death was payment for human sin so that all human beings are forgiven and accounted righteous in God’s sight. With the introduction of eternal life to human nature in Christ, humanity is no longer bound to death, as it had been since the fall of Adam and Eve. (Author never speaks of personal trust in Jesus and/or obedience playing a role) Christ became the guarantee of the fulfillment of God’s original creative purpose for all of creation –namely life with God forever. (Interesting thought to reiterate – sin leads to death and since Christ never sinned, He himself did not have to die). (Again, never speaks of new creation in Christ while still living on this earth)
The Application of Salvation: Orthodoxy emphasizes that it’s a trust in God’s mercy and grace to all for their salvation. Orthodoxy teaches that the conformity to the Son of God is not just an attitudinal or moral likeness in the inner person; BUT that the result of salvation will be a visible likeness Christ. The salvation accomplished by Christ sets creation anew on its divinely intended path –communion with God for the whole of creation, but for humanity, likeness to God as well. Another teaching of orthodoxy is that deification is the assured result of salvation. (“edification” is in the Bible but not “deification” –mixed up the “e” and “d”??). Says the work of the Holy Spirit is accomplished through the sacraments (baptism and Eucharist) and through the church. Says through baptism humans are united to Christ and are made children of God. So, Orthodoxy teaches that baptism applies salvation to us. Also, Orthodoxy teaches that the Eucharist is the “medicine of immortality” –the antidote we take in order not to die but to live forever in Christ. Says Christ implants Himself in us through the taking of the Eucharist. Says that only in the church and through the church are people made children of God. Says it’s not an individual thing. Author states that “individual righteousness is not enough for salvation”. Says salvation is not solitary but social. Says we cannot be saved in any other way than through the neighbor.
Coming from a Catholic background, I can see clear similarities with Orthodoxy –with the focus on man’s traditions and works. The author never talks about going to the priest for confession of sins as with the Catholics, but there are many similarities. It was interesting that the author never gave Biblical passages to clarify the Lord’s definition of “worship” and “salvation” –instead the author talked about worship and salvation being a church (corporate), not an individual, experience. There was never mention of the Holy Spirit’s role as our teacher when studying and applying God’s Word. The author clearly is defending the Orthodox religion and picks and chooses Scripture out of context to support his claims.