Armenian Apostolic, Coptic, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Syriac & Malankara Syrian Churches
The millions of believers that comprise Oriental Orthodoxy have sought to preserve “the faith which was once delivered to the saints.” They have rightly rejected many of the errors accepted by Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox that crept in over the centuries following the death of Yahushua. Nevertheless, some of the doctrines held by the various Oriental Orthodox Churches are inconsistent with Scripture.
Following are some of the errors found in Oriental Orthodoxy:
- The First Council of Ephesus declared it “unlawful for any man to bring forward, or to write, or to compose a different Faith as a rival to that established by the holy Fathers assembled with the Holy Ghost in Nicæa.” The problem with such a statement is that error had already crept into early Christianity. All who believe they have “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth” are in danger of becoming “Laodicean”: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods [spiritual knowledge], and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17) The warning to flee Babylon is to all, including the Oriental Orthodox Churches. To automatically reject everything different from what was established at the Council of Nicæa, closes the mind to any further light Heaven may reveal.
- Oriental Orthodox Churches teach confession of sin to a human confessor. This places fallible man in the position of the Father and the Son who alone can forgive sins for They alone are sinless. Scripture states: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) Yahushua urged, “He that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” Confession is not to be made to any fallible human being.
- Oriental Orthodox Churches venerate Mary, the Theotokos, and other saints. While certainly it is good to emulate and be inspired by “so great a cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1-2), Scripture invites all to bring our joys, needs, fears, burdens and desires and lay them at the feet of the eternal Father. Nowhere does Scripture ever teach that prayers are to ascend to any human. In fact, Yahuwah repeatedly urges all to call upon His name.
- Oriental Orthodox Churches reject the errors of later creeds, but accept the error of the Trinity. The doctrine of a triune godhead contradicts Scripture, which states: “Hear O Israel, Yahuwah our Eloah is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4) A three-in-one godhead comes directly from paganism. The Bible makes plain that Yahushua, while born of a virgin, is a human being - not a diety.
- Oriental Orthodoxy is very strict in their observation of Lent, some believing that the correct observance of Lent nullifies the previous year’s sins. Such a belief contradicts Scripture that: 1) forbids the pagan observance of Lent, which originated as weeping for Tammuz; and, 2) teaches salvation is a gift, “not of works, lest any man should boast.” (See Ephesians 2:8-9.)
- Oriental Orthodox Churches teach that the redeemed will inherit Heaven. Scripture, however, teaches the immortality in the earth made new is the reward of the saints.
- Oriental Orthodox Churches believe in transubstantiation – that the real and actual flesh and blood of Yahushua is present in the Eucharist. This belief dishonors the very one they seek to honor because it effectually denies the efficacy of Yahushua’s death on Calvary by re-crucifying Him with every communion. Scripture rejects any suggestion that Yahushua should be offered as a sacrifice more than once:
Nor yet that He should offer Himself often, . . . For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once . . . hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Yahushua was once offered to bear the sins of many. (See Hebrews 9:24-28.)
Yahuwah invites all Oriental Orthodox believers to lay aside their ancient errors and traditions, and accept Scripture alone as the standard of truth.
