>>11276
>You should be skeptical of the greek orthodox church. They are rife with corruption, cozy with liberal politicians
By "Greek Orthodox Church" the anon meant 'a place of worship of the true God near the place he lives'. The Body of Christ, on the other hand, is the One Holy, Universal and Apostolic Church, the Orthodox Church. It is neither Greek, nor Hebrew, nor of any other nationality on Earth because There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3:28)
>Martin Luther and evangelical protestantism has the answer you need, because it's the answer from the Bible. Luther was overwhelmed with anguish as a sinner under God's judgment until he found the answer that salvation is by faith, "sola fide".
The Catholics believe in a God who has commanded some rules to determine who will be admitted in the heaven and who won't be. A bad person who follows the rules will go to heavens (for example a bad person who buys his absolution). But if someone has not followed the rules, then he is condemned by God for eternity.
The Protestants believe in God who condemns for eternity a good person who doesn't believe in Christ and admits in the heavens a bad person who says he believes in Christ and salvation by faith only.
Both conceptions are ethically objectionable, but more importantly they both are utopia and impossible. Look at the people around you and see how much suffering is caused by sins. Hatred, depression, strive for vanity, lack of compassion, ignorance, etc. If you place all these people with their passions in the heavens then the heavens will become hell.
The Orthodox do not believe in God who has sent his Son to be killed so that he can be satisfied by the blood of his son and allow sinners in the heavens. We believe in God who has sent his Son to be killed so that we may be healed from our sins. Salvation means healing and restoration of our union with God. If you are healed from your sins and united with God, then the heavens are inside you. The Kingdom of God does not come with observation! Neither will people say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’. For behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:20-21)
The Catholics go to a sick person, make some measurements and say something like "your health is not good but satisfactory" or "you are terminally ill".
The Protestants go to a sick person and say to him "you are healthy if you believe you are healthy".
The Orthodox go to a sick person and give him a medicine.
> You are saved by faith, not of works, and if you confess your sins he is faithful and just to forgive your sins.
But the confession of your sins is work. Moreover, if confession of your sins is all that you need, then there would be no need for the Bible to have over 1000 pages.
There is a dead faith which does not save (James 2:26). And there is also a living faith, full of grace which is enough for the salvation (the true 'sola fide'). This living faith is not faith in words but light and union with God, actualization of the things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1), acquaintance with the one true God in three persons and him whom he has sent, Jesus Christ with two natures and two wills.
