David Feliciano and “Orthodoxy Is For Everyone”
My friend, David, who has been very instrumental in my family’s progress into Orthodoxy, has a post worth reading called, “Orthodoxy Is For Everyone.”
I was with him during the time he initially began exploring Orthodoxy and I had the privilege of attending his and Nicole’s Chrismation service. At the time, I believed I was following God’s calling as an evangelical pastor, so I wasn’t really offended by David’s conversion. I believed that he had his calling and I had mine. Sure he may have believed that he was entering into the fullest expression of the Church and Faith. But I had the surety of my calling. What I didn’t realize then, but do realize now, is that I needed to take a few more turns in my own journey with Jesus to prepare me to enter Orthodoxy. Somehow, Jesus used my obedience to my sense of calling to prepare for where I am today.
And while I haven’t been received into the Orthodox Church yet, I want to echo David’s words:
“My own experiences and beliefs about this living and ancient faith/tradition is that it IS for everybody. It is only foreign in the sense that it is radically Christian and holy, and I believe that it truly is the fullness of the gospel (i.e., the fullness of Jesus’ message and tradition).”
Oh, and Thank You, David, for embodying this radical Christianity and helping us to enter this wonderful Faith.
Christ is Risen!
Thank you! I hope that I can help as much as you all have helped me. I certainly wasn’t alone on this journey. You all have been at least as instrumental along my own journey.