When I was a Prot. Pastor at our church playing the sad but hopeful piano loop in the background then making a emotional case of "Christ took...the punishment for ALL our sins. All he asks is for u to only accept him & gain ever lasting life. He wants to have a relationship w/ u

Then it would all start...one person would go up to the stage (not alter cause that is religion not a relationship) get down on their knees and start weeping or raising their hands smiling etc etc. then before you know it 10 to 40 plus ppl depending on congregation size join up.

You can tell newcomers are moved, but slightly disturbed by the event. They know that their is a spark of truth to what they are saying, but ultimately they have rejected papism and so they can't realistically see any other way.

They stay at the Church for many years or bounce around from church to church trying to find one that itches that deep seeded truth they desire.

They are happier and find some spiritual satisfaction, but they can't escape the nagging feeling that it is just surface level tripe.

Eventually, something happens. Whether personal, or within the church, or some tragic event. They have their world shakened and their faith they held onto doesn't have any answers and all they can offer is the pastor give another one of those emotional sermons and sad piano music

They feel a bit better, but now that feeling that ITCH that is driving them insane is much bigger. They have no idea why, but they feel like they need to find what is causing this itch. The nagging feeling that their is something deeper that God is leading them to. "What is it?!"

They begin to really church bounce attending various denominations and churches. Watch sermons & debates on utube. They do anything they can do find that itch. Some might even dabble in other religions for short periods, but something draws them back to the truth of Christianity.

Some may even become rabid atheists after going through disappointment after disappointment their pride and anger making them reject the very God they know exists.

yet some will persevere in their search.

Then finally they find something. Whether history, a priest, a friend, a utube video, or..just the heavenly chants/music of the E. Orthodox Church.

For the first time they feel the itch scratched! They ask themselves "what IS THIS!"

"Is this what I've been searching for?"

They begin to dive in deep and learn everything consuming everything they find the history, theology, doctrine, and most importantly the worship of the liturgy and theosis to be finally....cohesive and true.

Some have hard time putting down their previous hyper individualism.

Yet despite their reservations they can't help, but keep going. Some cannot overcome their pride and submit tot he will of Christ's Church and his teachings. We pray that Lord will have mercy.

This is the all to common story for many converts. NEVER let someone tell us we "haven't looked into the arguments" or "we are just brainwashed" etc etc.

NOTHING could be further from the truth. Many of us have gone through hell to find the Church.

The reasons we are zealous and passionate is cause finally that itch has been scratched and we want to tell others what we have found..

Protestants will try and appeal to our pride or individualistic nature from coming from often individualistic mindsets.

The RCs will try and appeal to our pride. Pointing to western civilization and loyalty to our ancestors (same argument pagans make).

They grow frustrated when all we do is laugh cause we searched and searched all these arguments before. They never ultimately satisfied us spiritually.

If this was AT ALL compelling to you please tag a friend who is searching also. Please retweet. May you all Go in peace and ask any Orthodox in comments we would all love to talk to you about it.

#Orthodox #orthotwitter #Christian (add any hashtags you want).