Go offline with the Player FM app!
Frankenstein Christianity (Buffet Style) vs Ancient Faith | Or A Cop and A Priest Walk Into a Cafe
Manage episode 508939183 series 3473394
“I’ve built my own faith from spare parts.”
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Our guest calls it “Frankenstein Christianity”—picking what feels good, discarding what doesn’t. After years of debates and burnout, he unplugged from church, Bible studies, and Christian content altogether… until one unexpected YouTube video on Orthodox church architecture broke through. For the first time, he saw a faith that engages all five senses—where every line, light, icon, and hymn points to Christ.
Hosted by Jeremy Jeremiah, Mario Andrew, James St. Simon, and special guest Eddie G.
Then came his first Divine Liturgy: the “spiritual punch” of incense, the priest turning to ask the people’s forgiveness, and the ancient exchange—“Christ is in our midst.” “He is and ever shall be.”
He wept: “These people believe Jesus is really here. Why haven’t I been like this?”
Along the way, the so-called “problem areas” (Mary, icons, censers, traditions) snapped into focus. Torn from their purpose they can look foreign; rooted in the Incarnation, they become signposts to the living God. Orthodoxy doesn’t bend to modern preferences—it invites us into ancient, Christ-centered worship that has remained steady for centuries.
In this episode you’ll hear:
How “Frankenstein Christianity” gives way to received, embodied worship
Why faith + works in James 2 describes a living, grace-energized faith
What the Church means by theosis (2 Peter 1:4)—and why it’s not “earning” salvation
How Mary, icons, and tradition function as Incarnation theology, not add-ons
Practical first steps toward a stable rule of prayer (Scripture, Psalms, Jesus Prayer)
Who this is for:
Christians weary of performative spirituality, Protestants curious about the apostolic faith, and anyone wondering if the ancient path might be what your soul has been searching for.
Subscribe to Cloud of Witnesses for more conversations where ancient faith meets real life.
Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdh
Please prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnesses
Find Cloud of Witnesses Radio on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok
Please leave a comment with your thoughts!
Chapters
1. Introduction and Support Message (00:00:00)
2. Beginning of Prayer Journey (00:02:03)
3. The Humility in Orthodox Prayer (00:07:51)
4. From Argumentative to Seeking Truth (00:11:36)
5. Sacred Architecture Revelation (00:17:18)
6. First Orthodox Liturgy Experience (00:22:20)
7. Christ at the Center of Everything (00:26:09)
8. Closing Remarks (00:29:09)
117 episodes
Manage episode 508939183 series 3473394
“I’ve built my own faith from spare parts.”
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Our guest calls it “Frankenstein Christianity”—picking what feels good, discarding what doesn’t. After years of debates and burnout, he unplugged from church, Bible studies, and Christian content altogether… until one unexpected YouTube video on Orthodox church architecture broke through. For the first time, he saw a faith that engages all five senses—where every line, light, icon, and hymn points to Christ.
Hosted by Jeremy Jeremiah, Mario Andrew, James St. Simon, and special guest Eddie G.
Then came his first Divine Liturgy: the “spiritual punch” of incense, the priest turning to ask the people’s forgiveness, and the ancient exchange—“Christ is in our midst.” “He is and ever shall be.”
He wept: “These people believe Jesus is really here. Why haven’t I been like this?”
Along the way, the so-called “problem areas” (Mary, icons, censers, traditions) snapped into focus. Torn from their purpose they can look foreign; rooted in the Incarnation, they become signposts to the living God. Orthodoxy doesn’t bend to modern preferences—it invites us into ancient, Christ-centered worship that has remained steady for centuries.
In this episode you’ll hear:
How “Frankenstein Christianity” gives way to received, embodied worship
Why faith + works in James 2 describes a living, grace-energized faith
What the Church means by theosis (2 Peter 1:4)—and why it’s not “earning” salvation
How Mary, icons, and tradition function as Incarnation theology, not add-ons
Practical first steps toward a stable rule of prayer (Scripture, Psalms, Jesus Prayer)
Who this is for:
Christians weary of performative spirituality, Protestants curious about the apostolic faith, and anyone wondering if the ancient path might be what your soul has been searching for.
Subscribe to Cloud of Witnesses for more conversations where ancient faith meets real life.
Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdh
Please prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnesses
Find Cloud of Witnesses Radio on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok
Please leave a comment with your thoughts!
Chapters
1. Introduction and Support Message (00:00:00)
2. Beginning of Prayer Journey (00:02:03)
3. The Humility in Orthodox Prayer (00:07:51)
4. From Argumentative to Seeking Truth (00:11:36)
5. Sacred Architecture Revelation (00:17:18)
6. First Orthodox Liturgy Experience (00:22:20)
7. Christ at the Center of Everything (00:26:09)
8. Closing Remarks (00:29:09)
117 episodes
All episodes
×Welcome to Player FM!
Player FM is scanning the web for high-quality podcasts for you to enjoy right now. It's the best podcast app and works on Android, iPhone, and the web. Signup to sync subscriptions across devices.