The Strange World of Orthodoxy

Richard Hollerman

(First, we want to apologize for a more legitimate expression of Orthodoxy. In one respect, we are referring to all expressions of this religion but on the other hand, we have two particularly in mind. So just now we want to let you know of this disclaimer.)

We know that many may be confused about the title that we have given to this article. In what way is religion strange? In what way is it confusing? How should we look on religion and our relationship to it?

This is what we mean. Consider this. According to Operation World (Seventh Edition, edited by Jason Mandryk), Russia now has some 56,000,000 members in the Russian Orthodox Church. Additionally, there are about 886,000 Ukrainian Orthodox and certain others. Then, as we turn to the Ukraine, we find 16 million in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 2,758,000 in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and 3,692,000 in the Eastern-rite Catholics besides some others.

We know that some may accuse me of being ignorant but we wonder…. As you know, there has been a massive war in that part of the world. Vladimir Putin and his military have invaded the Ukraine led by Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But wait a minute. According to what we have seen above, there are some 56 million Russian Orthodox members in Russia and some 16 million in the Ukranian Orthodox Church. Why aren’t the Russian and the Ukranian Orthodox churches together in this?

We realize that both of these Orthodox churches are false ones. They are not true to God’s Word and they fail to really heed God and His inerrant Word. We realize that both of these denominations do not follow the will of God in many ways. If you have visited Orthodox churches (as I have) you will see how far removed they are from God’s Word and how much they violate Christ’s will.

Regardless of all of this, we wonder very much about the “religion” of these devoted but wrong people. Granted that they fail to submit themselves to God’s will, one would think that both Orthodox churches (from Russia and from the Ukraine) would see things as one and agree to be together. One would think that with all of the icons and priests and rituals, they would be united and be willing to help the other. But no, these cruel Russian soldiers are willing to bomb, kill, murder, destroy their next-door neighbor!

Let’s remember that the Lord Jesus told His disciples to love each other (John 15:9-12).  Christ’s followers are to love each other under all circumstances (see John 14, 15, 16, and 17). In fact, they are to lay down their lives for their brothers and sisters in the faith. Is this something that we see happening in Russia and the Ukraine? Not at all!

We find the Russian forces (under Vladimir Putin) killing, butchering, maiming, obliterating, murdering, and destroying solders (and civilians) in the Ukraine! Apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, and all sorts of businesses and work places have been destroyed. Does this mean that we are “for” the Ukrainians? Not at all. They are false teachers who follow a false way. But we wholeheartedly say that their enemies are committing atrocities!

Sadly, we know that all of these people in a very short time will be held accountable for these sins. Scripture says, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and this is true. Thus, we earnestly plead with all of these people to repent and come to God through Christ Jesus. This is the only way that they can be forgiven. And this is the only way of peace! Jesus said, “In Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulations, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). As we find peace in Christ Jesus, we can have peace with each other!