Protestant Pastor discovers the truth of Orthodoxy!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 มิ.ย. 2024
- #Orthodoxy #Reformation #churchhistory
We are met with Pastor Scott Klaudt the Pastor of Zootown Church who early in 2024 went viral on TikTok and other social media platforms for exposing the seeds of the Protestant Reformation. Where is he at now? What are the implications for his congregation? We discuss this and more today on The Transfigured Life.
0:00 - Intro & Background
6:00 - How Pastor Scott started doubting Protestantism
14:50 - Pastor Scott opinion on certain protestant beliefs
18:00 - Sola Scriptura
23:00 - How/when were you expose to the Early Church Fathers?
28:55 - How has your megachurch Church handled this transition?
32:05 - How did you view of worship change?
43:12 - What's next for you?
48:17 - Closing thoughts
Thanks for all the wonderful comments and for those who will begin praying for Pastor Scott and Zootown Church. To help clear up any confusion for some that are thinking through the implications of this unique situation of "Grey area". (And be prepared for more grey throughout the ages as Orthodoxy continues to EXPLODE in the West!)
We want to make it clear. The Eucharist can only be celebrated in the Orthodox Church. Pastor Scott is down to earth and doing the best with how he's been instructed so be patient and pray for him and his family. He's being advised by clergy and we leave the rest in the hands of God. Thanks for all the feedback.
Christ is in our midst. ☦️
Well said Father. We’re doing our best
Isn’t it a reader’s service? I’m in Sicily, Italy. I’ve reverted to reader’s service and televised/streamed/zoom church, even the ultra traditionals shut churches and downsized their communing of the sick, infirm, housebound, diaspora, and community gatherings. We were all obediently priestless, Russian Old Believers ~another grey example, phalanxes up and did reader’s services as Community. He has a covenant with his community, like husbands to their families, it’s honorable to captain the ship together.
Abraham brought his entire household in.
I’m sure Pastor Klaudt from my first few seconds in to the video clearly discerns ego and humility and order.
Praying for him and his family and community.
Bear n mind my time zone and eastern hemisphere is easier to keep simple as priestless readers service because I’ve had some lapses of oops, wrong day.
In fact I use my old believer books. And friends send me antidoron (much like the priestless old believers kept until death bed administration by the elder).
We orthodox have a little grist in the mill, glorious blessings and crosses have been given to us over the years - the evangelical orthodox Christians from the Campus Crusade for Christ and the Christ the Saviour Brotherhood from the Holy Order of Mans. We went tooth and nail on them and others. Maybe we’re part of their and our cross and struggle to assimilate in new siblings, but, sometimes it can draw flame wars if not blood
I just looked up Fr Andrew Jarmus and FOSTR. Chancellor of the Bulgarian diocese.
I need to contact the Bulgarian diocese for fostr ministry. I don’t know if he can hook me up here, but I’ll be posting this to my American diaspora friends and emailing the program for prayers, counsel, and suggestions.
www.bdoca.org/fostr.html
I do wonder how much Orthodoxy is increasing in places like the US. I was reading up on these sorts of statistics and found that Eastern Orthodoxy in the US between 2010 and 2020 lost around 15% of its members.
@@MrBattlestar10That’s because cradles are leaving in droves and converts don’t have a super high retention rate from what I understand. The Orthosphere has definitely created a lot of buzz online and has sparked major interest, there’s no doubt. How that translates to real life though, I’m not entirely sure. I’m on my way out of the Orthodox Church sadly after only 5 years. I’ve loved my experience for the most part but after discovering some theological and historical blunders I’m starting to become convinced that none of the major traditions have a pure and full hold on the Truth of Jesus.
The fact that people leave for various reasons isn't that surprising if you know your history and have been a part of any church for any lengthy period of time. It happens all throughout history. The local churches have had their blunders, big ones too, but theres repentance and reconciliation that happens all the time.
The Holy Spirit appears to have led me to Orthodoxy. Lord willing I shan't depart.
I turned 66 last month, and I was born into evangelical Protestantism. Late in life I walked away, converted to Eastern Orthodoxy (Antiochian) and never looked back ☦️
Similarly, I converted from Protestantism to Orthodox at age 54. Orthodoxy for oldsters!
Amin. Was Lutheran until I was 57.
I used to be a Baptist
I was Catholic
I’m a former Presbyterian pastor and now Orthodox. I have no regrets!
Pastor Scott should go visit father Deacon Dr ananias in Montana
What happened ? I’m asking out of a sheer interest.
I had grown increasingly disillusioned with Protestantism and Reformed theology in particular. When I left my pastorate I began reading the Church Fathers and early church history and finally went to an Orthodox Church service. At my first service I knew I was home.
@@tsriccido you still pastor there?
I’m former Pentecostal and now Orthodox. Zero regrets.
My wife of almost 22 years divorced me when it was all said and done. I’m being chrismated on Holy Saturday (May 4th) after being Protestant for 50 years. Stick to the Truth no matter the cost. Lord have mercy. ☦️
I have a God Son who seems to be going through the same thing... His wife wants nothing to do with his new Church or the people in it as she blames him for placing obstacles between them. Pray for Athanasios and his wife to overcome. Congratulations on your Chrismation. AXIOS!!!! (ask your spiritual father what that means)
Congrats brother.
May God be with you Sir. Welcome home & Thank you for your service.
The Church is the Pearl of Great Price. We have to be willing to give up everything to get it. Christ divides. I’m sorry that happened. Many years to you and Glory to Jesus Christ!
Sorry she cannot accept your change. May God help you both and your family xxx
I'm a former Protestant Pastor and now Orthodox I rejoice to hear these kinds of movements happening. I wish I had discovered the OC earlier in my life.
I think all of us converts wish we had discovered the Church long before we did.
Amen
I'm a convert as well
converted seven years ago
Christ revealed Himself to us at exactly the right time, brother. But I know what you mean. A lot of wasted time spinning your wheels. And I can't imagine being a pastor, and having that epiphany, when everything shifts, and you realize that potentially what you taught was wrong, or skewed. I'm certainly not trying to assume you mistaught (I don't know you) but I could see how that could be a possibility.
One thing I wanna say to everyone is, I’m really appreciative of everyone’s opinions even the critiques. It’s good for my ego. But I also want to say I’m doing my best, and I also have 800 people that I’m pastoring so please give us grace, patience, and prayers.
Praying for you! I too was a Calvinist, I converted a few years ago
God bless you Scott, hang in there!
Your journey seems a lot like Fr Peter Gillquist's. Awesome to see you've read his book.
Wow, you are so "close" Scott! Only an 8 or 9 hour drive due south! For those Eastern folks, driving an hour or two somewhere is quite normal for us Western prairie folk.
God bless you Scott. Your copping a lot of flak here, but I believe you should stay focused on the relationship and guidance with your spiritual father. That’s the Orthodox way.
Many are being drawn to the Faith in America during these last days. All the glory to God. Praise be to the Holy Trinity. ☦️
Absolutely. The further these other "churches" depart from the faith and become more and more worldly?? More people are starting to look for answers and they're finding it in Orthodoxy. I'm working thru it as we speak
The struggle and suffering of someone converting from Protestantism to Orthodoxy is sometimes hard to bear. I was a Roman Catholic for 30 years and wasn’t practicing for about 5 when I started attending Protestant churches with my wife and kids. Most of the next 13 years spent in the Baptist Church. Nobody gave me any hard time when I left Roman Catholicism. But, just as Scott said, leaving Protestantism is the opposite. I pray one day my whole family joins me.
I've had hard time leaving RC. All our Catholic friends left us, even many family members distanced themselves.
Any sect you leave has the potential to alienate and ridicule you when you leave.
@@pero33403 I recommend the site Catholic Answers. Pax
@@IAMFISH92obviously. But Not the point.
@@Brody-Aleksander I mean, it’s kind of the point though, right? OP was relating anecdotal evidence about his experience leaving RCC vs. Protestantism. I’m just stating that what he says has been many’s experience but from the opposite side, myself included.
WOW!!! ❤ My wife and I joined the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1998, and I still consider myself a recovering protestant. I told my wife last week that as a protestant I always truly felt like a sinner in the hands of an angry God. 😢
“Recovering Protestant”😂😂😂 I can relate brother period up until a year and a half ago. I was in the Evangelical/southern Baptist DIY church I’m still learning I have not been cremated but three weeks ago a protest asked me stop coming to church. My comment to them was “I’m done with Protestantism. I’m never going back.” Yes it’s hard switching over from protest, and the way of thinking in the west to orthodoxy from the east and I keep finding myself slipping back into my thinking as a protestant
@@t-bonet-bone713oh, dear t-bonet, I HOPE you haven't been CREMATED!!!
I KNOW you mean CHRISMATED, but that word startled me for a moment!.
Blessed PASCHA to you.
And blessed reception into the Church when your time comes..
☦💝📿💝☦
Im former protestant. I went to my second divine liturgy last Sunday, and to be honest. It's the best decision I've made!
I love understanding scripture more, reading books on the fathers and saints of the church.
I could feel in my heart that i was home☦️
GLORTY TO GOD! Welcome home brother. find that fattest lamb so we can feast!!! May God bless and protect you on your journey to Orthodoxy.
@@spartanastas5560 thank you brother! I will do😊
Bro, finding this man for an interview was a genius move. Only 15 minutes in so far, but just had to applaud that. When he explained all the sickness and attacks his family is going through by saying, "Protestants love to blame the devil for everything, so I'm just gonna go with that", I thought, man I like this guy already haha.
I loved hearing your story brother, glory to God in the highest ☦️ thank you for sharing your testimony with us
@@Donk3y-K0ng Good to hear from you brother! I hope you're doing well.
Thanks homie
Hey man! It’s awesome running into you on another video. Your testimony heavily influenced my journey into orthodoxy, and I am now a catechumen! Thank you so much man☦️
@@biggiesmall4817 Glory to God! That's the best kind of news my brother, thanks for sharing that with me. The Lord is doing big and exciting things in the Church in America right now. Glad to know you're part of it!
Praying Scott becomes a catechumen to Holy Orthodoxy. Amen Αμήν Amen
"When people always ask me why I went Orthodox...I just say, "I grew up. I grew up."
So simple, yet so powerful. Loved hearing about his journey! Glory to God🙏☦️
Thanks!
@@ScottKlaudt not sure if you've got any remaining stumbling blocks left but if you're looking to cement the protestant door shut behind you, I've got a number of videos on my channel you may find useful and edifying; if not for yourself, then for those in your circle whose eyes you're seeking to open. Also as a fellow truth seeker at heart who was on a decade long journey toward Holy Orthodoxy, you may find some comfort in my testimony :)
May our risen Lord continue to bless and guide you, brother!
th-cam.com/play/PLqhjJ813ZM-96vE8xB7z5A7ClRaKpMtrP.html&si=ieZIQO2CcTxUkJZH
@@ScottKlaudt not sure if you've got any remaining stumbling blocks left but if you're looking to cement the protestant door shut behind you, I've got a number of videos on my channel you may find useful and edifying; if not for yourself, then for those in your circle whose eyes you're seeking to open. Also as a fellow truth seeker at heart who was on a decade long journey toward Holy Orthodoxy, you may find some comfort in my testimony :)
th-cam.com/play/PLqhjJ813ZM-96vE8xB7z5A7ClRaKpMtrP.html&si=ieZIQO2CcTxUkJZH
May our risen Lord continue to bless and guide you, brother!
@bottomoftherabbithole hate to say it but after looking into it, this situation is scandalous to the Orthodox faithful. This pastor has now gone on a Roman Catholic podcast stating that he got a Roman Catholic priest in trouble for communing him and then boasted that one other hand he has been given permission to do a Eucharistic liturgy by an Eastern Orthodox priest and bishop. His takeaway from this was that the Orthodox are more open to this stuff I.e. full blown ecumenism than Roman Catholics are. God forbid! On this same show, he then went on to argue against the practice of closed communion citing Jesus eating with sinners. How can a pastor who has been mentored for over a year by an Orthodox priest not understand closed communion or think he somehow can offer the Eucharist to his congregation without apostolic authority? This ecumenism spiritually harms everyone involved.
@@contraheresy those are absolute lies.
I too have been moved to the Orthodox Church over the last couple of years. Orthodoxy has been able to answer every question I've had about protestant doctrine.
Scott is in similar place I was. I am former reformed 5 point calvinist myself. My journey to Orthodoxy was 3 years of catechism and unlearning a lot of theological baggage and abandoning my intellectual pride.
Scott. If you are reading this hit me up I would love to chat sometime. Im under Moscow Patriarchate Korean Orthodox church.
Moscow Korean? Are you in South Korea? If so, Isn't that against the canons to have a Moscow Korean Orthodox Church?
@spartanastas5560 what?
No Korean diocese under the MP. Japanese Orthodox church is also autonomous under Moscow.
@@spartanastas5560dude, no. Learn basic Church history. Have you never noticed America has non OCA churches...
True, these were the questions which haunted me. God THIS used to convert me to Orthodoxy Church. I asked Pastors these questions but only made them angry. Lost many so-called friends that I had for years. But grateful to God and his mercy toward me. I was ruffled for a time during my conversion with many trials that came our way. But settling in. No regrets...
It’s sad how many Protestants will grip to Sola Scriptura but don’t even practice loving their neighbor when you don’t adhere to their false and emotional based presuppositions. Lord have mercy ☦️
Stay Strong... the next 3 years are going to be a bumpy ride in America... enough to make people lose their faith. Stay strong, and keep praying.
@@spartanastas5560 Why do you say that?
@@FaithfulComforter I know some Saints who have had revelations about what is going on... since Covid began when He reposed. All of his prophesies are falling into place. WWIII will begin when Israel attacks Iran directly... America is going to go through some very tough times. So pray and prepare for 6 months of famine in the US. Another saint also mentioned that planes may be grounded in May... we'll see.
@FaithfulComforter the Faith is increasingly going to be tested, especially from within !
Former Baptist here en route to becoming Orthodox. Attending services, told the Fr. I want to begin catechism, attending Vespers and Divine Liturgy. My journey is so similar to Scott’s. After attending several Orthodox Liturgies, I knew this was Gods church. Then, I began reading…”I began with The “Deification of Man”, and then I knew for sure, my search was over.
May the Holy Spirit lead Scott and his congregation to the fullness of the church!!! His passion for reaching Protestants is so beautiful….interesting how to figure it all out.
❤
When he said that Father Jarmus is his father I felt that. Coming from Mormonism I thought I would never say this: I love my priest! I love having a spiritual father. After walking away from Mormonism with broken trust, I am so thankful and blessed to have a priest like mine who has not only restored that trust, but it’s now trust based in the true Gospel of Christ.
Glory to God! Welcome home Brother.
ive been praying for Zootown Church for a couple months now, i have so much hope for them!!! 🙏
This may be the best channel on TH-cam for inquirers.
Roots of Orthodoxy is pretty top tier as well.
We need to pray for pastor Scott and his flock! Glory to Christ for all things! ☦️
Oh wow this is new! Glory to God!
Ive been searching for the true original faith for 20 years and arguably 30 years. Once I found Orthodoxy the search was over. It was like indiana jones finding the holy grail moment for me. How I converted no clue, all of Christianity converges at Orthodoxy. It was like all the pieces came together and I haven’t looked back.
Father Son and Holy Bible actually summed up my issues with Protestantism. You can’t claim that the Church is in error when Christ said the gates of hell will never prevail.
Introduce a word/concept fallacy and claim the Church is invisible and made up of the believers / elect _(nowhere to be found in the Bible, there goes sola scriptura)_
Protestantism sucks
My wife is from Kalispell and we went to visit her parents about 2 years ago as catachumen after growing up Protestants. We went to a small Orthodox Church out there and the experience was beautiful.
Montana? I used to work with the Chick-fil-A there! Small world!
St. Hermans? I worship there, a wonderful parish for converts!
@ksong777 that's it! We were welcomed with open arms. The head priest is Greek, I believe. We go to a Greek parish in Denver and we made a few friends there too.
As a former Lutheran, now Orthodox, it hurts but its simply the Truth. The Reformation did nothing but call out the evils within the Latin church. But, there were faithful Latins doing the same at the time. If their writings had hit the printing press instead of Luther's, I doubt so much of the terrors within Europe would not have happened in the following centuries.
I love all my Protestant family, even though they are very concerned and angry with me.
They feel they can insult my faith, or at least throw side jabs, and then if I try to simply explain something they wont let me speak. I've had to stop talking about Jesus with my own family..... not even theology or church, simply Jesus because apparently I dont even know Him enough to go that far.
So weird that they were thinking I'd be a pastor one day but now believe I know nothing.
It's a entirely seperate religion, and theirs is a false once used by Enemy... I know people say _"the biggest lie or trick the devil ever pulled was that he doesn't exist"_ *but I'm thinking that might be 2nd to the lie / trick of Protestantism*
One, not once*
Praying for Pastor Scott! Maybe one day to be Father Scott : ). It is a wonderful thing to discover Christ's Church. I pray you bring many of your congregation with you as well.
- A former Protestant now Orthodox Christian
Not Scott, hopefully Fr Chrysostom.
I love the approach he is taking re: his own conversion. We have so many Protestant pastors converting to Orthodoxy and there is no reason why we shouldn’t give them the space and tools to lead their congregants with them into the Church.
This is all that needs to be said, perfect. I'm mind blown by the people telling him what he should and shouldn't do as if they were his Spiritual Father not some faceless YT rando... Tho I suspect it's mostly EO LARPers not actual Church Members
@@Brody-Aleksander I'm a baptized Orthodox convert and an altar server; I.e. definitely not a LARPer. However, I do agree with a few of the critical comments. Not that Scott shouldn't listen to the priest whose direction he is under, but rather that this interview might mislead and scandalize some people. Especially the parts about not believing the infallability of the Scriptures, being given permission by an Orthodox bishop to baptize people, and even being given a "Liturgy" to celebrate. Perhaps he misspoke or simply needs catechisis.
God bless his journey, regardless.
@@CosmicMystery7 I was clearly mistaken thank you for taking this time to write the comment and share these thoughts both for me and for others to read thanks for your patience
He described perfectly why I left reformed Protestantism.
My spiritual mentor is Fr. Andrew Jarmus, too, via the FOSTR program he started through his church! FOSTR = Fellowship of St. Theophan the Recluse and it's principally for those who are inquirers who aren't anywhere near an Orthodox church. Fr. Andrew started with 25 people in FOSTR and now it's up to 300! We are going through the OCA catechetical material and we meet 2x/month via Zoom. Fr. Andrew sends us meditations every day along with the daily readings. Fr. Andrew is a blessing!!!
Can you send me a link to Fostr, please?
@@Kaytee-miow here is the link.
God bless you in your journey towards the one True Church! ☦️
@@kasiosseijuro8494 I've been home longer than you've been born ... In Christ 1988, looking for the Faith 1989 - 95, Home to Orthodoxy 1996.
Glory to God: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Thanks for the link.
@@kasiosseijuro8494 where link??
@@Kaytee-miow Praise God! My mistake sister.
The biggest obstacle for me wasn’t converting, it was accepting that few of my protestant friends and family would come to accept what I accepted. They think its “my opinion vs theirs”. The best advice I got was to live orthodoxy and not try to preach it. I know a bit but not an expert of course, so it’s best to work on my own faith and understanding. God bless everyone on this journey
First of all, I'm not a Priest. I was born into Orthodoxy 50 years ago. One thing I've learned is that you only convert by living the example. People like to feel as if they came up with the solution. So show them the results and they will see the answer to their problems. Glory to God.
💎🔑
@@spartanastas5560well said
Wonderful! Definitely going to find and watch his sermon from the intro! I’m a Protestant inquiring into orthodoxy, despite my wife’s objections. Pray for me, and my family as The Lord leads us.
❤
God’s mercy endures forever!
There is a great series of interviews done by a priest Scott mentions by the name of Father Josiah Trenham.
These are called “Rock and Sand” titled after his book by the same name.
Those two interviews alongside an interview Fr Josiah had with a channel called “Gospel Simplicity” will be fruitful for any Protestant inquiring into Orthodoxy.
His book is amazing as well.
God bless you as you move towards Truth! ☦️
Wow man. I know that in between spot can be soul crushing at times.
May God give you peace, patience, and strength.
This is very exciting to hear! May God strengthen you! -Fr. Kirill Sokolov, Chancellor, Diocese of the West.
The Orthodox church needs to make it a bigger effort to reach out to disaffected Portestants and catechism properly. Praying.
This was excellent! So cool to have seen the initial viral clip and then get to hear more of the background story. Excited for your journey!
??? im not sure what he believed as a protestant, but the things he is saying like "what protestants mean is... my interpertation is right". or what they believe is... "you dont have to do anything and jesus is fire insurance". and so many things he says is creating a huge strawman to say that "protestants believe..." he is dead wrong on so many things... he should stick to telling what he beleived and what he got wrong rather than saying that "this is what protestants believe."
Lots of us Orthodox were protestant and what he described jibes with our upbringing in prot churches so... yeah
Our non denominational church converted over twenty five years ago and lost 70% of the membership in the process. It’s difficult. Missoula has a Greek Orthodox Church that my daughter attended while in school, Father Rob who baptized two of my three grandchildren. The third is scheduled soon as they live three hours away.
Orthodoxy is the one and true church. The one and only church God established and promised to preserve until the end of times. Glory be to God ❤
Resonated so much with this one. I was one of those Protestants whose church at the time started doing a series on “practicing the way of Jesus” and introducing the early church practices, the Real Presence etc. I am now Orthodox. Curious how these pastors are able to pick and choose Orthodox practices and still remain Protestant though. They’re just building their own church- not participating in Christ’s body in any real way.
Well I think they want to prepare 600 people to come along with him and leadership on this journey.
I find it really off actually the more I think about it. He said there’s an Orthodox Church in his town but he doesn’t seem to have any connection with it. Has he even been to Divine Liturgy?
@@sugarloaf10 Yes. He has been in touch with all local parishes and is working with Bishop and Clergy to slowly bring them in.
@@sugarloaf10 he said he’s on the path and under guidance of a priest. He said if it wasn’t for his situation he’d be Orthodox already. It’s important to give him grace. Priests are already directing him.
@@sugarloaf10He also said they did baptisms and some were confused about the three submersions…what church are you baptizing them into? Why are people not going to the nearby Orthodox Church he mentioned? It has to be a challenging position to be in as a pastor of a very large church.
Wow. Scott needs to read “Becoming Orthodox” by Fr. Peter Gilquist. Their experience of evangelical pastors bringing their congregations to Holy Orthodoxy will be inspiring and helpful. Scott also needs to know that you don’t just start believing the right things, and then you’re Orthodox. He MUST be baptized and received into THE canonical One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. You can’t just pretend to be Orthodox, or they will be missing the fullness of grace that is only available in THE Church.
Well, I just listened to Luther’s question near the end, where this point is addressed. NVM. God bless all Inquirers ☦️☦️☦️
"Coming Home" as well since it's about protestant pastors becoming Orthodox.
He says near the beginning that he did
He's under the care of an Orthodox Bishop and Priest. He just needs to listen to what they advice him to do, which is what he is doing.
I agree! Fr Gilguist is exactly the right person for this.
I commend his patience and obedience. I started my journey towards Orthodoxy in 2020 as well, and I couldn't wait to take the plunge and join the church.
This video blew my mind! I absolutely loved it Luther.
So lovely
After my conversion to Christ in 1988, every visit to every church body did not fit until I found myself in an Orthodox temple in 1994 ... I was received in 1996. Finally my soul was HOME and new every morning. Glory to God!
Im a former pentecostal and my family and i are now catechumen at our local orthodox church. Last sunday they got to the part of the service that asks the catechumen to leave and head to the entrance room of the church. We were practically standing shoulder to shoulder because there were so many of us there. I think the Holy Spirit is calling a lot of us home to the orthodox church as many of us are done with laser show, Bible punting, new age infused christianity. If anyone is on the fence, i just recommend visiting a sunday liturgy to see for yourself.
You have only gone from one fake church and Godless deception right into another fake church and Godless deception. Repent, get away from the apostate church and learn what the truth, the gospel, and the Christianity of the Bible actually is.
@@AVoiceCryingintheDesert-tq4vw thanks for your opinion. May the Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us sinners
@@user-wz5gc2td9s ,...I did not give you any opinion, I gave you the truth for your edification. You are completely steeped in deception. Repent!
@@AVoiceCryingintheDesert-tq4vw
Truth is objective.
Truth is not a thing.
Truth is a person.
Jesus Christ.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
(John 14:6)
Who He is matters and what you believe about Him is important because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
The sacred scriptures bear witness that there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one body, (Ephesians 4:5), One Gospel, which St. Paul specifies is not a Gospel he was taught by men, but was revealed to him by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and there is NO other. If anyone preach another gospel, whether it be St. Paul himself or an angel from heaven, the Holy Scriptures say let him be accursed by God or anathema in Greek. (Galatians 1:6-12). Finally, according to the testimony of St. Jude, this one faith has been delivered unto the saints ONCE AND FOR ALL. (Jude 1:3)
Only one faith abides by these standards laid out according to the testimony of the Apostles.
Holy Orthodoxy.
Given that Protestantism did not emerge until the 1500s and Roman Catholicism has been inconsistent and changing or inventing dogma since the time of the Great Schism, the conclusion is not difficult to draw.
You bear no connection to the Church which truly is the Body of Christ and the pillar and ground of Truth.
According to the writings of St. Paul,
1 Timothy 3:15
“but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
You are in the very apostasy you speak of and deceived by the spirit of the age.
May God bless you and lead out of spiritual relativism and into Truth. ☦️
People in the U.S. are starting to wake up to the truth of Orthodoxy. Praise be to God!
What a great story! Love and prayers to the Zoo Chirch and other pastors out there fighting the good fight! ❤❤❤
God bless you Scott. I attended Emmaus Bible College and became Orthodox during that time. It was so hard and I can really relate to your feeling that once you convert, people just won't listen anymore. It's true. I have had friends who I've kept up with from my college days interested in different points, but never seriously considering the Church.
Your light shining upon the hill is a testimony to many of the True Revelation of Jesus Christ to all mankind. I pray that God will use you and what you have built to the upbuilding and salvation of this nation. May we all repent and truly worship the Resurrected Christ in His Glory and experience the Uncreated Light. May the Most Gracious Lord bless all us sinners with His Presence as before in paradise.
@Scottklaudt
Thank you for the encouragement
❤🎉👌💎🔑👏💯🏆
I pray that Scott finds the courage to forgive his Protestant ancestors, for his own sake. I had to follow that command in obedience myself a couple years ago. I drug my wife and 5 children out of our Baptist church in pursuit of Orthodoxy. It has been a very emotional journey.
I'm really starting to understand why Orthodox parishes want to hang on to their eastern culture. As an American, I get why the rest of the world finds us obnoxious. Even when we find the truth and admit we are wrong, we have to be annoying and self-centered about it.
I am thankful for the priests and parishes who support inquirers coming in calling church fathers "dudes".
Looking forward to this!!!
God bless this man 🙏
I was a protestant pastor for 10 years and protestant for 40 years - and am now a reader in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Glory to God. More and more people are waking up everyday. I was once a protestant until I decided to read a bit about church history and it was like every single belief system I had got destroyed.
Jesus is in control of his church and now that the world knows him it is time to return to the one true church
Light from the Christian east is excellent.
I rarely hear this one mentioned, but I thought it was fantastic. I think I read it 3 times when I was an inquirer.
New to me. thanks
All great stuff. This strengthens my desire to wait for God to bring me into Orthodoxy.
Why wait though? God wills for us to come to his church, we have to allign our will with his and take the steps to do so
Glory to God. Thank you for posting this interview.
Incredible interview, and Lord have mercy on Pastor Scott and I pray he is led into the fullness of the faith and that thousands more follow right behind him.
Book recommendations for you, Scott (this should have you set for quite a while):
- All Generations Will Call Me Blessed: St Philaret of Moscow
- The Longer Catechism of the Eastern Orthodox Church: St Philaret of Moscow
- Sermons on the Spiritual Life: St Philaret of Moscow
- Acquiring the Mind of Christ: Archimandrite Sergius Bowyer
- On the Incarnation: St Athanasius
- Life of St. Anthony of Egypt: St Athanasius
- Rock and Sand: Fr Josiah Trenham
- Against Heresies: Iranaeus of Lyons
- The Sayings of the Holy Desert Fathers: St Palladius
- The Catechetical Lectures of St. Cyril of Jerusalem
- Nihilism: Fr Seraphim Rose
- Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future: Fr Seraphim Rose
- God's Revelation to the Human Heart: Fr Seraphim Rose
- The Soul After Death: Fr Seraphim Rose
- Religion of the Apostles: Orthodox Christianity in the First Century: Stephen De Young
- The Fifty Spiritual Homilies: St Macarius the Egyptian
- Red Book (Essays on Theology and Philosophy): Jay Dyer
- Meta-Narratives-Essays on Philosophy and Symbolism: Jay Dyer
- The Ladder of Divine Ascent: St John Climacus
- Time and Man: Georgios L. Mantzarides
This list is epic! I hope he sees it and reads, at least, 20% of these books.
Thanks brother!
Thank you!
Origen and Clement of Alexandria are my new best friends. Praying the psalms all day is transformative.
Careful with Origen. He has been anathematised by the Holy Orthodox Church.
Great interview!!
It’s amazing that this guy is seeing the truth of Orthodoxy and having the opportunity to share it, I feel like you guys should do a video with his priest or at least release a clarification video because maybe he’s just confused but he seemed to be saying he’s celebrating liturgy and attempting preforming sacraments without a priest, which I think is going to confuse a lot of people
Like it’s definitely fine he’s in between and may take awhile to convert with his people, but it definitely sounded like there is some messiness and confusion which might be inevitable right now as they transition but what about all the people listening to this who are gonna assume they can start celebrating liturgy and preform sacraments without being connected to the church?
Not trying to be a downer on exciting things that are happening in this pastors life but in his livestreams he’s saying that Eucharist is truly present at their church, he’s wearing a pectoral cross and blessing people with the sign of the cross,
I just think you guys should address your thoughts on that so everyone’s clear
I was going to ask the same thing. I watched one of his livestreams and the Eucharist segment really confused and didn't sit right with me.
My thoughts exactly.
Yes it’s confusing to say the least… his church seems like a sanctioned catechism class ? Does he not want to give up the show completely?
Should should should, I'd be careful shoulding all over at Priests like that. *could* might be more appropriate.
If you have specific concerns related to your life maybe write to the Priests yourself, if not what are we doing here? Seeking trivia knowledge to be informed by?
I came from a similar background to Scott. This was a great interview, may God bless him and his church's journey. ☦️
Former protestant pastor here, now Orthodox. Thank God!
The key for myself was humility. I needed to humble myself before the Holy Fathers and Saints of the faith. Maybe-just maybe-the knew something I didn't, or were far more intelligent and wise than myself or that I was giving them credit for.
My greatest stumbling block was the Holy, Ever-Virgin Theotokos. I had previously believed and taught that perhaps what the early Christians believed to be the glorified Mary was a demonic deception, perhaps the demon that had previously presented itself as Ishtar/Inanna/Astarte/Ashera-the same goddess in different cultures-who was worshipped as the "Queen of Heaven." I genuinely believed that this same demon had managed to hoodwink the early Christians and preserve its worship. Lord, have mercy!
This changed, thank God, after I read Fr. Stephen deYoung's _The Religion of the Apostles,_ and the chapter on Mary as the Queen Mother to Jesus, the Son of David and King of the Jews, in the same vein as the Queen Mothers of Judah, beginning with Solomon and Bathsheba. I validated everything he said with the Holy Scriptures. Then, by God's grace, it all fell into place!
Most Holy Theotokos, forgive me and pray for me, a sinner!
You're a lucky man, Scott. Fr. Andrew Jarmus is an exceptional Christian educator. Prayers for you and your congregation.
Thank you. This helped me tremendously.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. ☦
I think the hardest thing about leaving my protestant church is leaving my community of friends. My husband and I got married in that church. Not only that, I've been persecuted by my husband for my faith. He's not even willing to listen to me. God brought me back to the Catholic church, through reading 1 Cor about the bread and wine being the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. It's so wonderful! It's lonely, but I have Christ and He has plan for my family.
I remember in one of the talk of father Josiah in one of his video. "We must read the scripture in the lense of the Church. "
Glory to God!
Let me preface my comments by stating that I mean absolutely no disrespect at all. Fr. Jonathan is a wise man, and has visited my own parish before. And glory to God that more are discovering the Faith.
However, this interview is going to be incredibly scandalous to a lot of folks. Some are going to come away believing that we Orthodox do not hold the Scriptures as infallible (we absolutely do). Some are going to come away thinking they can start their own quasi-Orthodox parish outside of Communion with the Church. This is precisely what Luther did...
I hate to be incredulous, but I find it almost impossible to believe an Orthodox bishop gave his consent to let a layman who isn't even an Orthodox Christian yet baptize people willy nilly and consecrate the Holy Gifts (the latter is impossible).
God bless his efforts nonetheless, no matter how misguided. Hopefully God uses it for good and more are brought into Communion with Him.
Your statement reflects my own disappointment with the lack of discernment in this interview. It's clear that Scott's zeal is letting him be a bit too hyperbolic against his former delusion. This is something common to many converts, but most don't air that zeal so publicly, or rather, most don't have the opportunity. They eventually temper into more precise language as they grow.
And in terms of the "liturgy" that Archbishop Alexander provided. I imagine that it's some sort of type for a real Orthodox Liturgy. The pastoral reasoning could be to get the congregation comfortable with the idea of liturgy and eucharist, for an eventual parish conversion. Plenty of former Anglican Churches have followed a similar path. As they were converting as a parish, they continues to serve their own liturgy as a preparation for the real thing. But it's certainly not a real Divine Liturgy, and what is being offered is certainly not the True Eucharist. I'm not sure how much I like the idea. Even if it does bear fruit, this is something that should have not been revealed publicly. Much like a penitent shouldn't be talking about the prescriptions of their spiritual Father with the general public, this obedience that Scott has received for his congregation is personal, and not a model for others.
@@nikolaibreckenridge2287I'd be careful to assume it was archbishop Alexander who furnished the liturgy. I might have to listen again, but I don't think that's what he said. He said he got it from _a_ bishop.
Abp. Alexander oversees the South of the U.S., and the Bulgarian Diocese within the OCA. I don't see how it would be appropriate for Abp. Alexander to provide a liturgy to a church outside of his diocese. And he probably knows that, and probably didn't. But that's just speculation on my part.
@@nikolaibreckenridge2287 I imagine they are essentially praying a reader's typika service, since they don't have a priest serving.
Looking at their website is a bit disheartening as well. No mention of any of this stuff.
Fr. Andrew Jarmus is the Chancellor of the OCA Bulgarian diocese, and Archbishop Alexander is his Bishop. I believe I heard him say that Fr. Andrew gave him a liturgy text to use from his Bishop. But perhaps I misheard.
Let the church handle this complicated and delicate situation with patience and economia.
31:20 I can relate deeply with this. There were things I believed and/or questioned while in Protestantism that I couldn’t express like “How can a book written by men be the ultimate authority?”
Woah that intro though! 😎
Simply amazing !!!! God bless !!!
Thank you.
Reminds me of Father Peter Gillquist who brought his flock to Orthodoxy. John 3:16 does NOT say, God was so "wrathful, ticked off"; it does say God so Loved.
As a life-long Protestant I have always known and been taught that Jesus is God! We all know He said, “I AM”! Never in my life heard otherwise! NEVER in my life has anyone EVER taught nor implied that Moses’ words were equal to Jesus’ words! What in the World? Ugh!
This is so edifying! Thank you for having Pastor Scott on the podcast!!
I’ll be 60 soon and grew up Lutheran and like so many others fell away from it and Christianity in my 20s. And now in my 50s I discovered Orthodoxy and true Christianity through the Jordan Peterson - Jonathan Pageau gateway. My life would have been so different if I had known in my 20s what I know now. But having never experienced true Christianity before makes it so joyous now. Praise God!
Praying for you in Butte Scott☦️
Former Presbyterian myself on the journey into the church. Although Presbyterians are usually intelligent people, they are completely and utterly divorced from ancient historic teaching of the church.
EQ > IQ would be a ground breaking class for calvinists/presbyterians/reformed adherers.
God bless that man. Such courage, and sacrificing himself for his congregation's souls.
That’s super nice
Dude is modeling a path thru the bush. So great to see
These videos are helping me SOOO much! I am a 70yr old Pentecostal background woman who is really being drawn STRONGLY toward Orthodox beliefs…I am buying books like crazy, watching videos like this and Googling all the info I can!!! I can’t seem to get enough of this wonderful pathway….Thanks for your words & God bless!🙏❤️
That's amazing news! So happy to hear that. Have you had the chance to visit a local parish? 😊☦️
Glory to God!
I believe you would enjoy the book “The Orthodox Way” by Timothy Ware.
I once was a Pentecostal myself and certainly will pray for you, Sylvia.
God bless you as you move towards Truth! ☦️
Do not have a Parish near me and am disabled….but praying and trusting God for direction🙏❤️🙏
Definitely have the book “The Orthodox Way” by Ware on my list!!!❤️🌹 Thank you for your prayers🙏❤️
I converted to Orthodoxy at 18. I was forced to go to a mega church early on in my life. I began asking some what difficult theological questions to my youth pastor at the time and was basically told to shut up, believe what he was preaching even though it countermanded the Bible or I was going to hell. I began studying church history and discovered Orthodoxy. Converted at 19. Now I'm 40 and I've never looked back.
Glory to God
Has he been ordained? It's good that he's enlightened his church but what authority does he have to employ orthodox practices without ordination?
Thank God Scott!
This entire situation has me really hesitant, especially the “Eucharist services” and “baptisms” that are apparently happening at this church.
I can’t fathom how or why any Orthodox authority (bishop or priest) would recommend a Protestant to continue to mass baptize people without the correct Orthodox rite of baptism…? This just creates massive confusion in my opinion especially with the ongoing raging debate about baptism/chrismation.
I understand the sentiment that is seemingly restated over and over of “take it slowly” but from the sounds of it, Scott’s been fairly convinced for 5 years now…? At what point is “taking it slowly” worth depriving himself and his congregation of the spiritual gifts of Christ and His church? Because certainly whatever “Eucharist” is being given is not the real presence.
I say all of this from behind a keyboard with no idea what’s happening behind the scenes and the struggles this church community is going through, but the last thing EO needs especially in America is a pseudo-dox Protestant hybridization.
Either way God bless this community and best wishes moving forward
My thoughts are the same. I was surprised Fr. Jonathan didn't push back on that point.
Glory to God brother!
Thanks be to God...He does all things well!!
Scott I'm up in plains I would love to have lunch with him I'm an orthodoxbrother who goes to annunciation Greek orthodox church in Missoula. I'm an x PCA licensed intern .
Father Rob!
What does he mean by he was given a liturgy for the Eucharist, I don’t exactly understand what that means
I take this to mean, he was given permission to read out a portion of what the priest says during the Eucharist. Maybe from the readers service?
He’s a pastor of a Protestant Church still if I understand correctly.. I think that’s what he meant by it..
I think it was a mistake. I can't see any Bishop recommending such a thing.
When I realized the Word of God is Christ I could never read the Bible the same.
When Protestants accuse Orthodoxy of worshipping Icons, this is what I tell them.
Protestants worship icons as well, and I can prove it to you. What is the Bible made up of? Chapters.
What are the chapters made up of? Paragraphs.
What are paragraphs made up of? Sentences.
What are sentences made up of? Words.
What are words made up of? Letters.
What are letters? They are icons that have a sound assigned to them so that when you place them together, you can sound out the letters to pronounce and read the words, sentences, paragraphs, chapters and the rest of the Bible. All of these icons put together create the image of God… An Icon of God. So you worship icons… just like the Orthodox.
A superb interview. May God bless your efforts. I will be praying for you and your church. You’re moving in the right direction. You’re intelligent yet humble. A necessary combination. I see a long beard and liturgical robes in your future.🤞🏼
God bless you, Scott.
Lord as you know and as you will have mercy!!
God bless your, brother!
GLORY TO GOD
Welcome to all my ex Protestant brothers and sisters. One of the first thing I learned was that tears if repentance are near constant companions, as well as joyful tears. Sorrowful joy, if that makes sense.
Yeah it make sense, I just wonder if I'm not just emotionally unstable. It feels deeply prelesty when I frame it any other way for my own experiences
@@Brody-Aleksander- Right there with you brother. I don’t really think it’s emotional instability. The Holy Spirit is a powerful force. Especially for us fallen humans. And examples all through the Bible of people falling on their faces before God. As this is only appropriate. I truly believe at this point that anyone who has genuinely been touched by the Holy Spirit is constantly in a state like this. Like he said. Joyful tears. Sorrowful joy. It’s disarming. A little troubling. But it’s pure and true.
@@KRRR820 but why do I cry my face off at Liturgy then go back to my sinful ways after
God bless this man. Such an interesting interview. I left Calvinist Evangelicalism about 7 years ago and became Catholic. It’s sure been difficult, but God has made it worth it.
Fantastic discussion
12:19 I’ve been a Protestant for years over the past couple of years I started to learn more on how to defend our faith because of the growing muslims in my city. Since they have approached once and I wasn’t ready. A month ago I prayed for God to show me what church he wants me in. I can’t explain it but everything is pointing to Orthodox. God bless you all my brothers and sister in Christ ✝️☦️