Author: Robert Arakaki

Christmas 2019

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  Today the invisible Nature doth unite with mankind from the Virgin. Today the boundless Essence is wrapped in swaddling clothes in Bethlehem. Matins – Sunday After Christmas   Dear Folks, 2019 has come and gone like a blur.  Although I’ve been busy with other things, I remain committed to this blog.  Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Robert Arakaki    

Orthodoxy on Your Radar Screen

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For years Orthodoxy was invisible on the American religious landscape. Few people paid attention as they drove past Orthodox churches with exotic ethnic names on their way to the more familiar Protestant or Roman Catholic churches services. Odds are high that Orthodoxy was not on your radar screen. However, that has changed. Over the past several decades, American Christianity has undergone massive changes. The implosion of liberal mainline Protestantism, the introduction of…

David Rockett’s Journey to Orthodoxy

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  Folks, David is the silent partner behind the OrthodoxBridge blog. After writing a draft of a blog article, I will send it over to David. He then gives me his thoughts on the content, phrasing, and tone of the article. Over the years, David has been to me a beloved older brother, trusted advisor, and valuable ministry partner. His wise counsel and perspective has helped make the OrthodoxBridge effective in speaking…

An Orthodox Response to Michael Reeves’ “Eastern Orthodoxy: An Evangelical Assessment”

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  Protestant conversions to Orthodoxy are attracting the attention of Evangelicals, prompting their leaders to examine it and critique it. Recently, Michael Reeves, President of the Union School of Theology in London, gave a presentation on Orthodoxy. His Evangelical credentials are impressive. He has served as a minister at All Souls Church, Langham Place, in London and has served as Head of Theology for the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship.  [Source] Prof.…

Remembering the Good Thief

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  A skeptical reader wrote in response to my article “Evidence for Christ’s Descent into Hell”: How do you get around the statement of Christ to the thief on the cross ? Was that a lie or do you think Christ did not know where he was going? In all four Gospels we are told that Jesus was crucified along with two other men (Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27-28; Luke 23:32, 39-43; John…

Preparing for Lent

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  The Orthodox Church prepares for Lent by observing a series of Sundays, each with a particular theme. On the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, the Orthodox faithful hear one of Jesus’ well known parables and are urged to reflect on the importance of repentance for our spiritual recovery. One way we learn the meaning of repentance is through the hymns and prayers of the Church. One especially powerful prayer sung in…

Aniconism Versus Iconoclasm?

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  CS Comments on “John Carpenter – Round 2” Folks, I received a comment from CS in regards to my recent article: “Responding to Rev. John Carpenter – Round 2.”  In light of the number of questions he asked and the length of my answers to his questions, I made the decision to post both as a separate blog article.  You may find the original comment here. To assist the reader, I…