Church
Saint John the Forerunner
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOARCH): a neutral profile of what this congregation describes about its beliefs.
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41.7361° N, 87.8713° WOpen map →TraditionGreek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOARCH)About →
Sourcing statusTradition default
Beliefs on file1040 positions
Statement of faithNot on file
Where they stand
Each position below is labelled by how it was sourced, so you can weigh it for yourself.
VerifiedConfirmed by the church
From their statement of faithEstimated, not verified
Tradition defaultEstimated, not verified
Showing 66 of 1040 positions across 18 topics. Expand any topic to see the rest.
God & the Trinity55 positions
- Analogical LanguageStrongly affirmsTradition defaultHuman language about God is analogical: true but never capturing God univocally as it captures creatures.Estimated, not verified
- Apophatic PriorityStrongly affirmsTradition defaultWhat God is in himself is ultimately beyond human comprehension, so negative ("God is not...") statements are more reliable than positive ones.Estimated, not verified
Christ70 positions
- Assumed Fallen Human NatureStrongly rejectsTradition defaultChrist assumed a fully fallen human nature (subject to the effects of the Fall) in order to heal it from within.Estimated, not verified
- Assumed Unfallen Human NatureStrongly affirmsTradition defaultChrist assumed an unfallen, sinless human nature, untouched by original sin/corruption.Estimated, not verified
Sin & the fall54 positions
- Adams Sin Brought Physical DeathAffirmsTradition defaultPhysical death entered the human race as a consequence of Adam's sin; humans were not originally subject to death.Estimated, not verified
- All Sin Deserves Death EquallyRejectsTradition defaultEvery sin, however small, deserves God's condemnation/death: there is no class of sin that does not by nature merit it.Estimated, not verified
Salvation65 positions
- Assurance Of Salvation PossibleRejectsTradition defaultA believer can have a settled present assurance that they are saved.Estimated, not verified
- Atonement Heals Human Nature TheosisStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe atonement's deepest purpose is to heal and divinize human nature (joining humanity to God), more than to settle a legal account.Estimated, not verified
The Holy Spirit55 positions
- Anointing For Special MinistryAffirmsTradition defaultThe Spirit grants a special "anointing" empowering particular individuals for ministry beyond the common indwelling.Estimated, not verified
- Assurance Is Normal For BelieversRejectsTradition defaultSettled assurance of salvation is normal and to be expected for genuine believers in this life.Estimated, not verified
The Church75 positions
- Apostolic Succession Required For Valid MinistryStrongly affirmsTradition defaultA minister's ordination is only VALID if conferred by a bishop standing in apostolic succession.Estimated, not verified
- Apostolicity Is Doctrinal Not SuccessionalStrongly rejectsTradition defaultApostolicity consists primarily in fidelity to apostolic DOCTRINE, not in an unbroken chain of ordinations from the apostles.Estimated, not verified
Sacraments & ordinances73 positions
- Anointing For Healing PracticeStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe church should anoint the sick with oil and pray over them for healing (per James 5).Estimated, not verified
- Anointing Sick Is A SacramentStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAnointing of the sick with oil is a sacrament conveying grace, healing, and forgiveness to the seriously ill.Estimated, not verified
Worship & liturgy65 positions
- Altar Call InvitationStrongly rejectsTradition defaultA public invitation/altar call inviting people to come forward to receive Christ or rededicate is a fitting close to worship.Estimated, not verified
- Altar Oriented ArchitectureStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe worship space should be ordered around an altar/holy table as its visual and theological focus.Estimated, not verified
Last things43 positions
- A Literal Mark Of The Beast Is ComingAffirmsTradition defaultA literal future "mark of the beast" will be imposed as a condition of economic participation.Estimated, not verified
- Apocalyptic Prophecy Read Literally FuturisticallyRejectsTradition defaultThe prophecies of Daniel and Revelation should be read primarily as literal predictions of still-future events.Estimated, not verified
Scripture57 positions
- Authority Creeds SubordinateRejectsTradition defaultThe ecumenical creeds and confessions are authoritative only insofar as they faithfully summarize Scripture.Estimated, not verified
- Authority Holy Tradition OrthodoxStrongly affirmsTradition defaultScripture is rightly read only within Holy Tradition: the Fathers, councils, liturgy, and consensus of the Church.Estimated, not verified
Revelation, creation & science33 positions
- Adam Special Creation From DustStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe first human was specially and directly created by God from the dust, not biologically descended from earlier hominins.Estimated, not verified
- Angels Created BeingsStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAngels and other spiritual beings are part of God's created order, made by God.Estimated, not verified
Life & bioethics67 positions
- Abortifacient Contraception WrongStrongly affirmsTradition defaultMethods that can prevent implantation of an already-fertilized embryo (e.g., certain IUDs, emergency contraception) are morally equivalent to early abortion and impermissible.Estimated, not verified
- Abortion Gravely Wrong In PrincipleStrongly affirmsTradition defaultDeliberately ending a pregnancy by killing the unborn is in itself a grave moral wrong.Estimated, not verified
Sexuality & marriage53 positions
- Abortifacient Contraception WrongStrongly affirmsTradition defaultContraceptive methods that may act after fertilization (potential abortifacients) are morally wrong even if other contraception is permitted.Estimated, not verified
- Annulment Recognizes Invalid MarriageAffirmsTradition defaultSome unions that appeared to be marriages were never valid marriages, and the church can rightly declare them null (annulment).Estimated, not verified
Society & politics55 positions
- Active Nonviolent Resistance ObligatoryAffirmsTradition defaultChristians should actively resist injustice through nonviolent means (protest, civil disobedience, noncooperation), not merely abstain from violence.Estimated, not verified
- Almsgiving Is A Binding ObligationStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGiving to the poor is a binding moral obligation, not optional charity, and to withhold from the needy is a sin.Estimated, not verified
Angelology Demonology58 positions
- Angelic Fall Caused By PrideStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe angels fell primarily through pride: refusing subjection to God / seeking to exalt themselves.Estimated, not verified
- Angelic Fall Predates Human FallAffirmsTradition defaultThe angelic rebellion occurred before the fall of humanity, and the serpent's temptation issued from an already-fallen angel.Estimated, not verified
Anthropology55 positions
- Body Essential To PersonStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe body is essential to being a complete human person, not an accidental or dispensable container for the soul.Estimated, not verified
- Body GoodStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe material human body is intrinsically good as created by God.Estimated, not verified
Covenant Law Israel32 positions
- Abrahamic Covenant Foundational And OngoingStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Abrahamic covenant is foundational and its promises remain operative for the people of God today.Estimated, not verified
- Believers No Longer Under Laws CondemnationStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBelievers are entirely free from the law's condemning function but remain under its directing function.Estimated, not verified
- Ceremonial Law Fulfilled And AbrogatedStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe ceremonial/cultic laws (sacrifices, dietary rules, festivals, purity codes) are fulfilled in Christ and no longer binding.Estimated, not verified
- Church Is True Israel SupersessionStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe church is the true and continuing Israel, having inherited the covenant promises so that ethnic/national Israel has no distinct remaining covenant role.Estimated, not verified
- Civil Government Should Enforce Mosaic LawStrongly rejectsTradition defaultCivil governments today are obligated to enforce the moral and judicial laws of Moses, including their penal sanctions.Estimated, not verified
- Civil Judicial Laws Expired With IsraelStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe civil/judicial laws of Israel expired with the Old Testament nation and do not bind modern states except as their general equity informs justice.Estimated, not verified
- Covenant Conditional Can Be Broken By MembersStrongly affirmsTradition defaultMembers can break the covenant and forfeit covenant standing through unbelief or disobedience.Estimated, not verified
- Covenant Of Redemption Pactum SalutisRejectsTradition defaultBefore creation, the persons of the Trinity entered an eternal covenant of redemption (pactum salutis) in which the Son agreed to redeem the elect.Estimated, not verified
- Covenant Of Works With AdamStrongly rejectsTradition defaultGod established a pre-fall covenant of works (or "covenant of life") with Adam, conditioned on his obedience, such that Adam acted as a federal representative of humanity.Estimated, not verified
- Dual Covenant Jews Saved Apart From ChristStrongly rejectsTradition defaultJewish people remain in a valid saving covenant through the Mosaic/Abrahamic covenant and need not come to faith in Jesus to be saved.Estimated, not verified
- Feasts Festivals Still To Be KeptStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe biblical festivals (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, etc.) should still be observed by believers.Estimated, not verified
- Federal Headship Adam ChristStrongly rejectsTradition defaultHumanity is organized under two federal heads, Adam and Christ, whose representative acts are imputed to those they represent.Estimated, not verified
- Full Torah Observance For BelieversStrongly rejectsTradition defaultFollowers of Jesus, at least those of Jewish background, should continue to observe the full Torah (dietary law, festivals, Sabbath, circumcision).Estimated, not verified
- Future Mass Conversion Of Ethnic IsraelStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThere will be a future large-scale turning of ethnic Israel to Christ before the end ("all Israel will be saved").Estimated, not verified
- Gentile Believers Free From TorahStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGentile believers were never placed under the Mosaic law and are free from its specific obligations.Estimated, not verified
- Grace Frees From All Law KeepingStrongly rejectsTradition defaultBecause salvation is entirely by grace, the Christian is under no law and obedience to commands plays no necessary role in the believer's life.Estimated, not verified
- Infants Of Believers In The CovenantStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe children of believers are included in the covenant community and are proper recipients of the covenant sign.Estimated, not verified
- Levitical Sacrifices Permanently EndedStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Levitical sacrificial system has been permanently ended and fulfilled by the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ.Estimated, not verified
- Modern State Of Israel Prophetic SignificanceRejectsTradition defaultThe 1948 founding of the modern State of Israel has direct biblical-prophetic significance as a fulfillment of restoration promises.Estimated, not verified
- Moral Law Summarized In Decalogue PerpetualStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe moral law, summarized in the Ten Commandments, is perpetually binding on all people in all eras.Estimated, not verified
- Natural Law Universally BindingAffirmsTradition defaultA natural moral law, knowable by reason and binding on all people, underlies and confirms the moral content of God's revealed law.Estimated, not verified
- Noahic Covenant Basis For Common GraceStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Noahic covenant grounds God's ongoing preservation of creation and a sphere of common grace/common order for all humanity.Estimated, not verified
- Obedience Necessary Evidence Of FaithStrongly affirmsTradition defaultOngoing obedience to God's commands is the necessary evidence and fruit of genuine saving faith.Estimated, not verified
- Ot God And Nt God Same ContinuityStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe God and Scriptures of the Old Testament are fully continuous and authoritative for Christians, not a lower or superseded revelation to be set aside.Estimated, not verified
- Pedagogical First Use Civic RestraintStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe law serves a civil/political use to restrain evil and preserve order in society generally, apart from salvation.Estimated, not verified
- Permanent Distinction Israel And ChurchStrongly rejectsTradition defaultIsrael and the church are two distinct peoples of God with distinct programs and promises that are never merged.Estimated, not verified
- Physical Circumcision Still RequiredStrongly rejectsTradition defaultPhysical circumcision remains a required covenant obligation for the people of God (or at least for Jewish believers).Estimated, not verified
- Progressive Unfolding Of One PlanStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe biblical covenants (Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New) progressively reveal and advance one connected divine plan that culminates in Christ.Estimated, not verified
- Sharp Law Gospel DistinctionRejectsTradition defaultRightly dividing law from gospel (law as God's demand that condemns, gospel as God's gift that saves) is the central key to reading Scripture correctly.Estimated, not verified
- Third Use Normative Guide For BelieversStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe law has a positive "third use" as the normative guide for the grateful obedience of justified believers.Estimated, not verified
- Threefold Division Moral Civil CeremonialStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Mosaic law is rightly divided into moral, civil (judicial), and ceremonial categories, which have different applicability today.Estimated, not verified
- Two Kingdoms Church And Civil DistinctStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGod governs through two distinct kingdoms: the spiritual (church/gospel) and the civil (state/law/reason), which should not be collapsed into one another.Estimated, not verified
Mariology Saints75 positions
- All Believers Are SaintsRejectsTradition default"Saints" in the New Testament sense means all believers, not a special canonized class.Estimated, not verified
- Altar Relics Required Or ProperStrongly affirmsTradition defaultIt is fitting (or required) that altars contain the relics of saints.Estimated, not verified
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