A word on Theosis
Russ continues:
I would argue that the eastern rite with its doctrines of theosis and infused (not imputed) righteousness, to name just two, greatly compromise this "completeness". The eastern rite is lacking much; it is not complete. Protestantism, for all that it lacks, does not lack these essential things as the eastern churches do.Theosis.
When taken superficially Theosis seems quite malignant, when taken as the Orthodox teach, Theosis is not much different than a Protestant view of Glorification.
The orthodox take very seriously and emphasize with great care the union between the saint and Christ. They argue that just as the Second Person of the Trinity is Hypostatically joined to Flesh, so too, we are joined to God and will partake in Him (II Peter 1:4). This is what they call theosis, or deification.
When one takes a look at the Scriptural support for such an idea, it quickly deflates a lot of the common Protestant responses. Take the words of 2 Peter 1:4
"Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."(Most translations render "participate" as "partake").Consider Christ's own words in a prayer to Jehovah as found in John chapter 17:
So it seems that the idea of "partaking" in the Godhead through the gracious act of Christ unifying Himself with us is not foreign to Scripture after all. This unity with God, and partaking in the Divine nature is what the Orthodox teach in Theosis.
20 "I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word,
21 that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,
23 I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me." (emphasis mine)
Strange to Western ears, yes. Strange to Protestant ears, yes. Strange to Christian ears? I don't think it ought to be.
Posted by jeremy stock at April 3, 2002 10:16 PM