Saturday, May 23, 2026

Saturday Lagniappe: The Challenge of Eastern Orthodoxy


The Challenge of Eastern Orthodoxy: Comparing Evangelical and Eastern Orthodox Theology
The Eastern Orthodox Church has held an allure among Evangelical Protestant Christians for some time and continues to do so to the present day. In 1990 the Evangelical world was stunned when Frank Schaeffer, the son of the well-known Christian apologist and philosopher Francis Schaeffer converted to Eastern Orthodoxy.[1] In 2017, Hank Hanegraaff of the radio program The Bible Answer Man, converted to Eastern Orthodoxy.[2] A disturbing headline came out in 2024 by Rikki Schlott entitled, “Young men leaving traditional churches for ‘masculine’ Orthodox Christianity in droves.”[3]

On a personal and pastoral level, I have been contacted by a number of people belonging to Evangelical churches who have raised concerns that members of their own families converted or were in the process of converting to Eastern Orthodoxy. But before we ask ourselves “why is this happening?” and “what can be done?” we first must become familiar with the theology of Eastern Orthodoxy—and why it is dangerous. This article is by no means exhaustive, but in what follows, I will deal with some of the most important points of Eastern Orthodox belief, especially as they differ from evangelicalism.[4]

The Burge Report: Boomers Can’t Save Us Forever: The Hard Truth About Church Demographics
In this episode, we break down Ryan Burge’s demographic analysis of American Protestant churches and the uncomfortable math behind membership decline. Using age-distribution data across major denominations, Burge argues many churches aren’t stable—they’re simply being “buoyed by the Baby Boomers.” With modal ages in the late 60s, shrinking numbers of young adults, and fewer children in the pipeline, many groups are approaching a demographic tipping point. Decline won’t be gradual; it will feel slow and then sudden. Unless leaders plan now, some denominations could lose 30–50% of their adult members over the next couple of decades. The message is clear: this isn’t a theological or programmatic problem. It’s an actuarial problem, and the clock is already ticking.

ACC Members Discuss Hopes for Meeting
Anglican Communion News Service has gathered the expectations of five members of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC). None of the published remarks mention the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals.

Nevertheless, the webpage devoted to the 19th meeting of the ACC mentions the Proposals multiple times, including pre-event briefings focusing on the Proposals’ underlying theology.

England’s cathedrals remain vital civic and spiritual ‘beacons’ despite mounting pressures – report
A major new report examining the role of England’s Anglican cathedrals is being unveiled this week at Bristol Cathedral, where hundreds of delegates from every Anglican cathedral across England have gathered for a four-day national conference focused on the future of cathedral life in modern Britain.

The conference, which opened on Monday, brings together 380 cathedral representatives, church leaders, academics and cultural figures to discuss the findings of Living Stones - a new report published by Theos examining the spiritual, cultural, social and economic significance of England’s 42 Anglican cathedrals.

Albert Mohler Says Woman Answering Sermon Questions on Church Podcast Is a ‘Problem’
Dr. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, believes that a woman appearing on a podcast alongside other church staff members and pastors to answer questions related to the church’s sermons is a “problem.”

Don’t Overlook Adult Children of Divorce
Gray divorce now accounts for 36 percent of all divorces, and the unseen carnage is the adult children.

What the Bible Really Says About Apostasy
Can someone commit apostasy? Walking away from salvation is an important question facing the church in light of our entry into a post-Christian world, one where increasing numbers are claiming to have once been Christians and now claim to be “nothing.” This rise of the nones raises not only cultural questions, but also theological ones. How should we view a newly minted “none”?

The Aging Pastorate: Sam Rainer on the Looming Pastoral Retirement Crunch (Ep 128)
“If you are intentional on the front end and create a process for your church, then you're leading them.”

Comparison Makes Your Ministry Heavier
If you want to make ministry heavier than it already is, start comparing your ministry to others. That trap rarely shows up all at once. It slips in quietly. You hear a gifted preacher and think, I wish I could communicate like that. You watch another church gain momentum and wonder why your ministry’s growth feels slower. You see somebody else’s influence grow and you start questioning the value of your own assignment. Paul says it plainly: “When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12 NIV). Comparison is not a small issue. It will wear you out.

'Time for a temporary moratorium': US citizens, state officials sound alarm on AI data centers
As the United States races to build thousands of new data centers to power artificial intelligence (AI), rural communities and state officials in Texas and beyond are sounding alarms over the strain on local resources and infrastructure.

With more than 1,500 new facilities in various stages of development nationwide. Texas leads with around 140 new projects, closely followed by Virginia with 136, according to a Pew Research survey published in April.
Also See: The Rise of Techno-feudalism
How to Share Your Faith Without Being Pushy
Evangelism has become a curse word, and we want nothing to do with it.

So my question to you as a Christian is this: Are you going to perpetuate, ignore or change that image?

As a Christian, you have to pick one.

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