Longstanding tradition must be bolstered by something outside of ourselves that also lies outside of the traditions of men.
Recent headlines have spotlighted a growing trend: young men leaving American Protestant churches for Eastern Orthodoxy. These articles highlight figures like Father Josiah Trenham of Riverside, California, whose popular YouTube channel addresses contemporary issues with an Orthodox theological perspective. Trenham's apologetic approach appeals to those who feel disenfranchised, particularly young men seeking clarity and stability.
But what's driving this exodus? When asked, these young men reveal common themes behind their conversions, which include:
- A Perceived Over-Emphasis on Emotion: Many say their childhood churches felt overly emotional and feminine, leaving them alienated as men. Specifically, the rapidly changing roles of men and women in churches have made them feel like there is relevant space within Orthodoxy for their participation.
- Constant Change: Changes in church services, or at the very least, a lack of clear historical depth when it comes to things like worship styles and the roles of women in the church have created a sense of instability.
- Lack of Moral Clarity: These men perceive Protestant churches as wavering or unclear on moral issues like homosexuality, cohabitation, abortion, and the use of porn.
The Allure of Orthodoxy
In contrast, Eastern Orthodoxy positions itself as a steadfast alternative. Its appeal lies less in doctrinal differences and more in its consistent traditions. In many of the videos I've watched from Father Trenham, his theology sounds like most conservative American churches. He emphasizes choosing Christ over various sins and vices, spending personal time in prayer and Scripture, and handing your life over to Christ.
One of the only major differences would be his strong emphasis on the sacraments, particularly the Lord's Supper. However, for those with Lutheran ears tuned to the distinction between law and gospel - you may pick up on various renditions of "The gospel but." This occurs by teaching the Christian life as an internal and external movement of sacrifice in body, mind, and soul toward God. Orthodoxy emphasizes prayer, sacramental worship, and moral living. While all of these are good and beneficial parts of the Christian life, they are taught in such a way that the centrality of the law's accusing office disappears, and the gospel is spoken of as an empowering or enabling force toward the human will.
Unfortunately, this theology is a confusion between law and gospel. And I would argue that the draw of Orthodoxy at large is rooted not in distinguishing its doctrine from broader American evangelical doctrine but in marketing Orthodoxy as unchanged: in its worship, style, and morals. This steadfastness offers confidence and security for young men navigating a world that feels increasingly unstable.
However, this narrative often rests on certain assumptions or misrepresentations:
- Protestantism is Declining Because of Change: Critics argue that Protestantism has a culture of constant change, which undermines its authority and leads to decline. While constant change may be a fair critique of some Protestant churches, it is not a predestined error of the Reformation. The Lutheran Reformation was not about the need for change but the need for the truth of the gospel to be preached once again.
- Orthodoxy's Truth Lies in Its Longevity: This assertion claims that Orthodoxy's traceable lineage confirms its authenticity. However, this view misses the "ad fontes" principle of the Reformation, which demonstrated that the Church must be driven back to its oldest source: Scripture. Church traditions, even with age, can and do make mistakes. When errors arise, we must return to the Word of God and its everlasting, unchanging truth.
- Protestants Are Anti-Tradition: Starting with Luther, Protestants are often accused of rejecting tradition wholesale. This ignores vast portions of Reformation history and overlooks the fact that Lutherans, in particular, changed only those practices that were contrary to Scripture, continue to use historic liturgical worship, and have made unparalleled contributions to Western hymnody.
The Church's True Foundation
The steadfastness of Orthodoxy is attractive. The longstanding traditions and ancient aesthetic offer a sense of authenticity and assurance that the Orthodox church cannot be moved by culture or personal preference. Yet, longstanding tradition must be bolstered by something outside of ourselves that also lies outside of the traditions of men. To be anchored in the full assurance of the truth, we must return to the one source of faith that is truly unchanging: the Word of God. Scripture proclaims that God's will, Word, and promises endure forever:
- "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (Rev. 22:13)
- "Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…" (Eph. 1:4-5)
- "The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the Word of the Lord remains forever." (1 Peter 1:24-25)
- "In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began." (Titus 1:2)
This unchanging Word is the Church's foundation. It doesn't require adaptation to remain relevant. The gospel itself is the power of God for salvation (Rom. 1:16)—not because we make it appealing, but because it proclaims Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins.
The Danger of "Relevance"
Efforts to make the gospel "relevant" risk undermining its power. Certain Orthodox personalities and apologists online are capitalizing on the situational relevance of their movement. In some ways, this sudden shift of young men to orthodoxy risks making their connection to church personal preference. Yet the pure promise of the gospel is not rooted in temporal relevance. Relevance implies that the gospel must fit human preferences or cultural trends, rejecting the truth that faith is created solely by the Holy Spirit through the Word. Where the gospel doesn't seem to take root, it's not because it lacks relevance but because human hearts are bound by sin. The Church's mission is not to adapt the message but to faithfully proclaim it.
A Call to Faithfulness
For Protestant churches, the answer to the challenges raised by those leaving is not to mimic Orthodoxy. Churches should not hastily change to chase demographics. Instead of resting our appeal on tradition and practices alone, we must emphasize that when such things remain unchanged, they do so in service to the proclamation of the eternal Word of God.
Lineage extends beyond external ceremonies; the steadfast Word of the gospel is handed down from one redeemed sinner to the next, generation to generation. This gospel preaching should be the focus of everything we do, supported by the rich traditions of liturgy and hymnody.
Moments like these serve as a wake-up call. The Lutheran Reformation was never about constant change. Instead, reformation is a return to the unchanging, unyielding promises of God. Churches should reflect on their recent history and consider carefully before making changes to worship style, music, or structure.
Instead of relying on the relevance of our church practices, we must have the confidence to hold course to the proclamation of God's Word as the church's foundation.
The lesson from these Orthodox conversions is clear: Outsiders are not always alienated by your traditions or because your church's beliefs are old. Sometimes (and ironically), longstanding traditions might even attract newcomers to your church's doors. But instead of relying on the relevance of our church practices, we must have the confidence to hold course to the proclamation of God's Word as the church's foundation, even as the world and its preferences shift. As members of the body of Christ, we are called to proclaim with confidence that the Word of the Lord endures forever.
The church's liturgy, sacraments, and preaching serve one purpose: to deliver the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ.
Young men - along with all people - who seek steadfastness will find no greater foundation than the proclamation of Christ's death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins. It is the unchanging good news that speaks to every generation, offering the ultimate stability: the promise of eternal life in Christ.
Let us remain faithful to this call, trusting in the power of the gospel to create faith, sustain the Church, and endure forever.
