My knee jerk, shortest answer to your question is simply no, punishment is not a precursor for forgiveness for this is forcing God to react to my action.
The draw of orthodoxy was two fold. There can be only one truth and one true church, that leaves Catholicism and Orthodoxy. No other church makes that claim. Invisible Church theology is unconvincing and unbiblical. That is the easiest one.
I wouldn't say being left to personal opinion was the draw for this shades towards individualism which I maintain is antithetical to Christianity, but this could be somewhat subjective. I would say, don't become divisive with others until it is necessary to do so with one's dogma, because it is in communion with others we find salvation. This is why I don't understand or accept at this present time those who would say our differences are inconsequential because if they are, the Church would not be separated. This is aimed at the relation between Protestant groups also not just Catholic - Orthodox. Perhaps more importantly, for myself, you and others in our culture. Don't be afraid of dwelling in Paradoxy and Mystery for that is Where God "is" and where He is encountered. If we humanly define God, paradoxically, He is no longer God. Orthodoxy holds a relational view of salvation that is unlike anything in Western Christianity. The closest parallel is the Charismatic movement, I would believe.
God created us with 5 senses, sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste, all to be used in worshipping Him. I believe that we are to encounter God with all five senses. I further believe worship thusly done is true biblical worship. This can be found in throughout the OT, Hebrews, and Revelation. I would maintain that the biblical worship described is preserved most fully in the Orthodox Church.
I commend Catholics for still embracing this, but for the Protestant, their Christianity is all "in the head". I would say that too is because of their Catholic roots as a result of a scholastic approach to Theology.
As an example. Did you know that some of the Church Fathers, and you can find this in theological writings to this day addressing a hypothetical situation.....
IF Adam would never have sinned Christ would still have become incarnate to unite humanity to divinity in an elevation of communion in fulfillment of the high priestly prayer that we all 'may be one'? I can't imagine hearing a Protestant uttering such words or thinking such thoughts.
The draw of orthodoxy was two fold. There can be only one truth and one true church, that leaves Catholicism and Orthodoxy. No other church makes that claim. Invisible Church theology is unconvincing and unbiblical. That is the easiest one.
I wouldn't say being left to personal opinion was the draw for this shades towards individualism which I maintain is antithetical to Christianity, but this could be somewhat subjective. I would say, don't become divisive with others until it is necessary to do so with one's dogma, because it is in communion with others we find salvation. This is why I don't understand or accept at this present time those who would say our differences are inconsequential because if they are, the Church would not be separated. This is aimed at the relation between Protestant groups also not just Catholic - Orthodox. Perhaps more importantly, for myself, you and others in our culture. Don't be afraid of dwelling in Paradoxy and Mystery for that is Where God "is" and where He is encountered. If we humanly define God, paradoxically, He is no longer God. Orthodoxy holds a relational view of salvation that is unlike anything in Western Christianity. The closest parallel is the Charismatic movement, I would believe.
God created us with 5 senses, sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste, all to be used in worshipping Him. I believe that we are to encounter God with all five senses. I further believe worship thusly done is true biblical worship. This can be found in throughout the OT, Hebrews, and Revelation. I would maintain that the biblical worship described is preserved most fully in the Orthodox Church.
I commend Catholics for still embracing this, but for the Protestant, their Christianity is all "in the head". I would say that too is because of their Catholic roots as a result of a scholastic approach to Theology.
As an example. Did you know that some of the Church Fathers, and you can find this in theological writings to this day addressing a hypothetical situation.....
IF Adam would never have sinned Christ would still have become incarnate to unite humanity to divinity in an elevation of communion in fulfillment of the high priestly prayer that we all 'may be one'? I can't imagine hearing a Protestant uttering such words or thinking such thoughts.
Hopefully, your battery can be resurrected within 40 days.(A little Ash Wednesday humor.)
Before you go too deep into the thesis/antithesis part, I get the procedural situation.
My evolving sense of it, and this might be what drew you to Orthodoxy (or part of it), is that within the overall framework, more is left to personal opinion. Orthodoxy rejected "fire" because it wasn't necessary to the core belief. If someone believes fire is involved, that's fine, but it isn't doctrinal.
I guess my question is, then, more specific. As an issue of dogma, is punishment a precursor for forgiveness? And yes, I can sense my Protestant brethren preparing a retort along the lines of Christ's sacrifice on the cross was sufficient punishment for all of our sins that we either chose or were predestined to commit.
I would only say that often the most effective punishment is self-imposed. I am truly sorry for my transgression, so I want to make it up to you/Him. In the salvation sense, it simply means that there is some downside to sin, a consequence to actions that are counter to God's will.
