Frequently asked questions:
In this page you will find answers in some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the Greek Evangelical church and the Greek Evangelical faith in general.
Are there any differences between Jehovah Witnesses and you? Do you have the same belief system or not?
There is absolutely no association between the Greek Evangelical church and Jehovah Witnesses.
JWs don’t believe in any of the fundamental and non-negotiable creeds of the Christian church, such as the Unity and Oneness of the Holy Trinity.
JWs believe that Jesus is in reality the archangel Michael, the supreme created being, which comes in contrast with so many verses that show clearly that Jesus IS God. (gospel of John 1:1,14, 8:58, 10:30 to mention only a few of them).
JWs deny the Trinity, they believe that Jesus is a creation and that the Holy Spirit is not a person but the “power of God”. JWs reject the notion of Christ paying for our sins on the cross. Instead they believe that Jesus’s death paid for Adam’s sin. They also reject a number of other fundamental creeds of the Christian faith as stated in the Nicene/Constantinople creed, a creed which is accepted by the three main doctrines of Christianity – Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant.
Unfortunately their teachings are full of falsifications. Despite that though their followers blindly accept them.
We also feel the need to stress that The Greek Evangelical church has nothing in common with other groups like Masons, Mormons and any other similar sect and heresy.
Why does that Greek Orthodox church consider the Greek Evangelical church, heresy?
The official Greek Orthodox Church doesn’t consider the Greek Evangelical church as heresy. The Greek Orthodox Church is active in the World Council of churches. The Greek Evangelical Church is also part of that council, alongside many other churches from around the world. The World Council of Churches is an Ecumenical Christian effort to promote the unity of Christians.
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/church-of-greece
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/about-us
The World Council of Churches, consists of 340 churches, of which 157 are members and this organization overall represents over 550 million Christians living in more than 100 countries. It was founded on the 23rd of August 1948 and one of its founding members was the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Greek Orthodox church of Greece and the Greek Orthodox church of Cyprus.
Despite all of the above though, it is true that as far as everyday life is concerned, the Greek Orthodox Church will consider as heresy, any theology which doesn’t match theirs. We, on the other hand, believe that the only measure by which one can be found as heretic or not, is the word of God; the Holy Bible. Any addition or taking off from it, is the only reason for someone to be found as believing in heresy.
Why do you call yourselves Evangelicals?
Because it’s all about the “evangelion” which means the gospel – the good news.
Mat 9:35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.
Mar 1:15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Do you believe that in order for somebody to be saved, that person needs to convert to being Evangelical?
No, we don’t believe that. We don’t believe that salvation comes by registering to the books of any specific church or denomination, rather than in having a genuine and personal faith and trust in the salvation coming from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We believe that we are accountable to our Creator and one day when we will find ourselves before Him, it will make no difference whether we are registered to a church or not. However what really counts is a personal and genuine faith in the work and the person of Jesus Christ.
How does a person get saved?
A person is saved:
1/ by acknowledging it’s dead spiritual state – a sick person needs to admit that needs help before calling for the doctor to come – and
2/ by accepting the Lord’s life-saving intervention to mankind, who sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross, in order to pay for our sins and grant us eternal life.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Joh 3:16-17
Eph 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10
Why should I come to the church?
There are many reasons. Only 2 of them are: the preaching of the gospel and the praising to the Lord. Also meeting with ordinary people who want to come closer to God and praise His name.
Is entrance free for all?
Of course! All are welcome!
Mat 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
When did the Evangelical church first appear?
The Evangelical church dates back to the Reformation movement which swept across Europe on the 16th century. This is reason for many to question the authenticity of the Evangelical church, as it seems to be disconnected from the early Christian church, which seems like a reasonable question at first, although those who say this, overlook the fact that the Reformation movement’s message did not appear for the first time in history during this time. The concept, on which the Reformation was based, is the return to the essence of the gospel and the simplicity of the early Christian church community. So, the apostolic succession is not a matter of history but of theology and of being true to the good news of the gospel.
The founding of the Greek Evangelical church is marked by the first publication of the newspaper “Astir tis Anatolis” (Eastern Star) in 1858. (Astir tis Anatolis is still published to this day as a monthly magazine). Shortly after that time many Greek Evangelical churches were founded both in Greece and Asia Minor.
How can somebody be Greek without being Greek Orthodox?
Well, it can happen! We recognize the contribution of the Greek Orthodox Church to Greece and Hellenism. However we want to be acknowledged as law abiding citizens who serve our military service, pay our taxes and care for our country. It’s worth mentioning that the first female Greek medical doctor was the daughter of the pastor of the Evangelical church Mihalis Kalapothakis!
Why don’t you have religious icons in the church?
It’s not about the icons themselves but their use. If someone is to believe that the icon itself is something that has divine power and deserves to be worshiped then this is idolatry and comes in complete contrast with the word of God:
Exo 20:4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,
Do you believe in Virgin Mary?
We honor the mother of the Lord. We respect that she was chosen as a special vessel to carry the Son of God and be used in God’s plan. However we don’t worship her, or consider her equal to God. Therefore we don’t pray to her but we address our worship, praises and prayers to the only one who deserves it – the Trinitarian God.
There is no need for any other mediator to God than Christ.
Mary herself puts things in the correct order.
Joh 2:5 His mother (Virgin Mary) said to the servants, “Do whatever he (Jesus Christ) tells you.”
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 1Ti 2:5
Do you believe in saints?
Equally as we said for Virgin Mary, we honor them and we thank God for their example. However all the glory and honor belongs to the Lord. Our prayers are addressed directly to the Father who has given us the right to be called His sons and daughters aka SAINTS!
We need to remember that saints are all the people who have been cleansed by the blood of Christ and sanctified by God’s power; and have not been sanctified by themselves, their works and their efforts. Therefore all the glory belongs to the one who sanctifies His people!
As we read in the word of God:
1Pe 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Col 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
If you have any more questions or if you just want to contact us then please click here and fill out the appropriate form with your name, e-mail and message and we will get back to you as soon as we can. God bless you!