By Sergius Reid

There are a large number of Protestants where I work, as there are anywhere in North America, and many of them have come to know me as a Christian. Therefore, we often have discussions in which they tell me about the freedom, inspiration, and correctness of their religion. I have listened to their descriptions for many years, and have come to the conclusion that, if all they say is true, I could never be a Protestant. I do not have the necessary moral qualities, whether natural or acquired.

All Protestants, I have found, are very intelligent. They have a naturally quick mind and insight, which is not found among the Orthodox. When shown any passage in scripture, the Protestant is ready in an instant to interpret it. The Orthodox person would often be unsure of its meaning. I, myself, have often disappointed the Protestants I was talking with by saying I did not know the meaning of a given passage. That I would offer to look it up in John Chrysostom, or Theophylact, or St. Bede, only made the matter worse. I am not smart enough to be a Protestant.

The Protestants are very confident; they look down on my hesitation. This self-assurance is a hallmark of their faith. They do not hide their light under a bushel. In fact, the newly- converted Protestant, from the first day in his new faith, is so full of enthusiasm that he is ready to interpret scripture to one and all. I am not confident enough to be a Protestant.

They are a universally patient people. They will sit each week through their church services, neither expecting, nor asking for any change. Myself, I appreciate the variety of the Orthodox services. During Lents, I attend presanctified liturgies and the reading of the Great Canon, the Bridegroom Service and the Lamentations. At other times, there are molebans, panikhidas, canons, vigils, and many other services. I appreciate the opportunities of Lents, and the excitement of feast days. The Orthodox Church calendar gives a beautiful cycle to the year. The Protestants say to me, ``the birth of Mary, the death of St. John the Baptist, the Baptism of Jesus -- you don't need these things.'' Maybe they don't, but I do. The icons, candles, incense, bells -- they do without them also. For me it seems that we ``pull out all the stops'' in returning to God parts of His own creation, and worship Him with everything we have. It makes the services more rich and beautiful and, I am sure, the angels rejoice with us. But, the Protestants ask me, ``Is it not possible to worship God without these?'' I suppose it is, but I am not patient enough to be a Protestant.

They are a courageous people. At different times of the year I go to have eggs blessed, or oil, fruit, flowers, water, salt, wheat, wine, bread, my house, and even myself. I want everything blessed by the Church. The Protestant accepts that all of creation was blessed by the coming of Jesus, and so there is no need for these things either. They accept the world as it is, without fear, but I am not brave enough to be a Protestant.

The Protestants are individualists. They rely on no one else, and would never trouble another person with their problems. I often do, however. I turn to the great Christians who have gone before me, and are now fully with God, and ask for their help. I pour out my spiritual needs, and my weakness, and beg for their intercession. I'm a wimp, I know. But, when I look around the church at my fellow Christians, and at the images of those who have succeeded at this struggle, I see that I am not alone, and I know that I cannot be saved by myself. I need help, and am not self-reliant enough to be a Protestant.

The Protestants have natural holiness and inspiration. They pray as they see fit, and need no direction. If they wish to fast, they determine how and when. But usually they realize that they do not need this either. I cling to the Church's traditional prayers. These ``approved'' prayers, written by the Church's great Saints, assure me that my theology has not drifted into vulgar or heterodox understanding. In this way I do not neglect to pray for my departed parents, or for monastics, or my spiritual father, or for those sick, or persecuted, or traveling, etc. Then I have solid models on which to base my personal prayers. But it does not come naturally to me. I am not virtuous enough to be a Protestant.

There are so many other virtues which I could list, but I am going on too long. I will just name one more. The Protestants are much more tolerant than the Orthodox. While we would say that the one Church founded by our Lord Jesus Christ was the Orthodox Church, and anyone outside of it, irrespective of his many virtues, has placed himself outside the ark, the Protestants allow for a great variety of opinions. They do not accept the Orthodox views, naturally, but within Protestant circles, they allow for a most wonderful variance. One can easily find Protestant churches, which teach completely opposite theologies, and yet each is accepted as equally valid and true. If one accepts Jesus and renounces all traditions, all else is incidental. To me this makes no sense -- because I am intolerant.

And so, it seems that I am too ignorant and sinful to be a Protestant. All I can do is acknowledge my frailty and continue to labour with myself. But if I ever succeed and become perfect, I know the Protestants will be there to welcome me.