Ethiopian Christians testimony??

[walter1234]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m_JtyDkHR8&feature=related


Who is Memehir Girma ? Is he really an Oriental orthodox Priest/ Eastern orthodox priest?? Are the miracles that he performed approved by any canonical Orthodox Church??

I am Protestant and I want to ask one more question. This video says ' Miracle of The Blessed Virgin Mary   in Ethiopia Orthodox Tewahedo Church'. Why do you call all these miracles as 'miracle of The Blessed Virgin Mary ' , but not ' miracles of God '??

[bytania]

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-627906

Here is an interview with Memhir Girma on CNN I report to give you a little more information about him. He is an exorcist that is currently serving in one of the biggest parishes in the Capital of Ethiopia. I have had a chance to meet him on several occasions and witnessed his miracles. He is one of the most controversial figures in Ethiopian orthodox because the nature of miracles he 'perform' however what he does is approved by the Ethiopian orthodox Church. His teachings are also transmitted through the radio every saturday here in Washigton DC area.

[orthonorm]

Not to take away from the "story" but I had to laugh at the not vetted by CNN bit.

We live in the world of The Facebook Journal for better and worse.

[HabteSelassie]

Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Not to take away from the "story" but I had to laugh at the not vetted by CNN bit.

We live in the world of The Facebook Journal for better and worse.

This is unfortunately true.  So much of even decent journalism has fallen under the spell of quoting social media from the internet, while every user on the internet since 1996 has known that upwards of 37% of the non-porn raw data (which alas is probably just a small fraction of the all the bandwidth today) on the internet is unabashed trolling

stay blessed,
habte selassie

[walter1234]

Miracle of The Blessed Virgin Mary in Ethiopia Orthodox Tewahedo Church

I am a protestant. The above quoted sentence really confuse me. As what I know, Virgin Mary is the most honored saints in orthodox church. Orthodox christians honor mary, but not worship her. She is not God.Only Father, Son , Holy spirit is our God.

However, in this video and website, I see this sentence---- e.g. Miracle of The Blessed Virgin Mary in Ethiopia Orthodox Tewahedo Church. I want to ask two questions:

1)God is the one who give power to Memehir Girma to cast out demon.God is the one who perform the miracle and deliver the Ethiopian through Memehir Girma. Why do the orthodox christians say" miracle of Bless Virgin Mary" rather than" Miracle of God"??

2)Why do you give all glory to Mary, but not give all glory to Trinity God??

[Hiwot]

Hi Walter, those are good questions  generally speaking most protestants struggle with how the orthodox Christians venerate and honor the  Mother of God and all the other saints. So your question is very much welcome because although it is based on a misunderstanding of what the orthodox believe and how they worship, we do understand  and respect what you are guarding against, i. e. Idolatry and blasphemy against God. I say this with sincerity, I respect a serious seeker who is after the Truth. The First Commandment is a serious commandment  its truth fundamental to our Faith. That there is only One God.


To address the specifics of your question now with the limited time I have right now, the miracles of the Blessed Virgin Mary refer not to St. Mary being God, but that by her hand God does many miraculous signs and wonders, due to the holiness of her life and the powerful favor her prayer has before her Son our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.


How do we even know of St.Mary ? We know the Blessed Virgin because of her son, in Israel there were many who were called Mary, none of them are remembered or honored like her, why? Because none of them are the Birth Giver of God in Flesh, She is the Mother of the Living, one given to us by Christ from the Cross. Behold thy mother! So there is incredible devoted Love for her in our hearts, in imitation of Christ her beloved Son, and our Lord we seek to obey and love her with the love of a child to his mother and she in turn always tells us to listen to Him as she has done in Canna. Her life the best example of obedience to God, humility, purity, and devotion to God, perseverance in suffering, Love unwavering, etc. we are all called to imitate because by imitating her we imitate Christ. She is the perfect example of what we are ALL called to become i.e. become God bearers!

The language used is not new, it is an Orthodox Tradition, to talk that way with the given understanding that all miracles are done by God, and that He does them by the hand of His Saints.

Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. Acts 2:43

The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. Acts 5:12

13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. James 5:13-18[/b]
There are multiple examples from scripture, we say David slayed Goliath, but it was God who did that, so many examples of the like, your mother carried you in her womb but it was God who carried you both. What becomes idolatry is when one ascribes adoration of the Creator to the created which says that the created is a creator. So if it was not for our adoration and worship of her son, we would not have known of her, all her glory steams from the glory of God who bestows glory and honor to his saints. Even more so to his mother. The glory of the seraphim, the cherubim, all the archangels is but a shadow compared to her glory she remains higher than all creation in her glory, and lower than God. As we love to call her “ metihete fetari , meli’elte fituran’’ / lower than God and higher than all creation/


So in giving honor to those deserving of honor, we honor God himself who is the source of their honor.
As to your second question, unless it is a case of lost in translation, all Glory is given to God who is Glorified in His Saints. When I say I thank Mary for this, I am not speaking in contradiction as if Mary is Christ, no, I am indicating by whose willing hands my God who helped me Chose to Act. The prayer of the saint is powerful, and God acts in cooperation with the human who is praying for whatever it is the human is praying according to God’s wisdom.so by the hand of St. Mary God’s healing power touches  and heals our infirmity. If someone rescues you from being hit by a car you will say so and so saved me that day, but you are not saying that so and so is God, because in the end it is God who saves you. the spiritual life is as real to us the faithful who believe in the communion of the Saints, we love to say thank you to our saints for the love they show towards us, and we Love to thank God for the Loving Favor he shows towards his saints in granting their  prayers on our behalf , saying: Glory be to God who is Glorified in His Saints. Amen.

So I would say Walter my brother, its wonderful you are asking questions, its one step to understanding the usage of these  seemingly contradictory yet complimentary languages, and get used to what is a given assumption in the wordings of those phrases we use  i.e. that God is at the heart of all things, so you may not get the wrong idea about the Orthodox who are quite zealous  in defending and living out the First Commandment.

Hope that helped a bit , if not  please continue to ask with specifics and God willing I will make time to reply the best I could as soon as I could.
In Christ,
Hiwot.

[walter1234]

The teaching and understand of Gosepl, hell, judgment, God's wrath,righteouness , grace, love is very attracted  to me. The  God that orthodox church believes is better, kinder and more loving than Protestant's one.

Until now, I only struggle with the problem of icons, intercession prayers and the veneration to Virgin Mary and saints.

[Ansgar]

Don't worry Walter, many people here have gone through that.

[HabteSelassie]

Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

The teaching and understand of Gosepl, hell, judgment, God's wrath,righteouness , grace, love is very attracted  to me. The  God that orthodox church believes is better, kinder and more loving than Protestant's one.

Until now, I only struggle with the problem of icons, intercession prayers and the veneration to Virgin Mary and saints.

That good of you to be honest with your struggles. In Orthodox these issues have even come up internally, and many heretical splinter groups have been iconoclasts or have challenged the Virgin Mary or the Saints openly.  It is not a new feeling, but it is supposed to push us closer to God. Think about this for a second, why exactly is it that you are uncomfortable with these things? Is it the way you were taught in your church before or raised? What I am saying is to think about how much of is it actually based on your reading of the Scriptures or is it based on what other folks have taught you.  The real question we and anyone dealing with iconoclasm (for example in the Tewahedo Church we have icons which would make Eastern Orthodox quit offended) is that what is the basis, is it your own convictions or is it the teachings and ideas of another?

stay blessed,
habte selassie

[walter1234]

Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

The teaching and understand of Gosepl, hell, judgment, God's wrath,righteouness , grace, love is very attracted  to me. The  God that orthodox church believes is better, kinder and more loving than Protestant's one.

Until now, I only struggle with the problem of icons, intercession prayers and the veneration to Virgin Mary and saints.

That good of you to be honest with your struggles. In Orthodox these issues have even come up internally, and many heretical splinter groups have been iconoclasts or have challenged the Virgin Mary or the Saints openly.  It is not a new feeling, but it is supposed to push us closer to God. Think about this for a second, why exactly is it that you are uncomfortable with these things? Is it the way you were taught in your church before or raised? What I am saying is to think about how much of is it actually based on your reading of the Scriptures or is it based on what other folks have taught you.  The real question we and anyone dealing with iconoclasm (for example in the Tewahedo Church we have icons which would make Eastern Orthodox quit offended) is that what is the basis, is it your own convictions or is it the teachings and ideas of another?

stay blessed,
habte selassie

I am a protestant.All these teachings are come from Protestant. Protestant believe in bible alone. And according to the bible, nobody made an intercession prayer in old or new testamony.Thus, protestant believe intercession prayer is a tradition which is not biblical.

THe protestant Chrisitian never use icons as well. Icon is just the same as idols. They believe God is the spirit.We should not use an icon to represent God.

Protestant Christians also believe that Virgin Mary is just a servant of God, like you and me. We should not give too much honor to her, or call her 'Mother of God', 'The Queen of Heaven', etc. I think this video/ the pastor in this video can show how most Protestant Christians view on Virgin Mary,e.g.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLmWiQ4sJ8A        

[dhinuus]

I am a protestant. All these teachings are come from Protestant. Protestant believe in bible alone. And according to the bible, nobody has made an intercession prayer in old or new testamony.Thus, protestant believe intercession prayer is a tradition which is not biblical.

In 1 Timothy 2:1-3 we read:

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,  for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

So in the bible we are asked to make intercessions; and not only that St. Paul is telling us that it is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.
In Gospel of St. John 11:25-26 we read:

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

We take this seriously.     So the saints who believed in Him , theough they are dead (physically) are still alive. So we seek and offer intercessions of our fellow believers and saints who are fully alive in the Lord in the spirit,  irrespective of the status of their body (body may be alive or dead).
I send you this following link earlier; have you read it?
https://sites.google.com/site/syrianorthodox/home/articles/intercession-prayer

[walter1234]

I am a protestant. All these teachings are come from Protestant. Protestant believe in bible alone. And according to the bible, nobody has made an intercession prayer in old or new testamony.Thus, protestant believe intercession prayer is a tradition which is not biblical.

In 1 Timothy 2:1-3 we read:

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,  for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

So in the bible we are asked to make intercessions; and not only that St. Paul is telling us that it is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.
In Gospel of St. John 11:25-26 we read:

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

We take this seriously.     So the saints who believed in Him , theough they are dead (physically) are still alive. So we seek and offer intercessions of our fellow believers and saints who are fully alive in the Lord in the spirit,  irrespective of the status of their body (body may be alive or dead).
I send you this following link earlier; have you read it?
https://sites.google.com/site/syrianorthodox/home/articles/intercession-prayer

Yes, I have read it.

[HabteSelassie]

Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

I am a protestant.All these teachings are come from Protestant. Protestant believe in bible alone. And according to the bible, nobody made an intercession prayer in old or new testamony.Thus, protestant believe intercession prayer is a tradition which is not biblical.

THe protestant Chrisitian never use icons as well. Icon is just the same as idols. They believe God is the spirit.We should not use an icon to represent God.

Protestant Christians also believe that Virgin Mary is just a servant of God, like you and me. We should not give too much honor to her, or call her 'Mother of God', 'The Queen of Heaven', etc. I think this video/ the pastor in this video can show how most Protestant Christians view on Virgin Mary,e.g.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLmWiQ4sJ8A        

Again did the Bible tell you this or did someone else interpretation of the Bible? The Bible is quite literally FILLED with intercessory prayers and petitions, by priests, by prophets, by sinners and saints alike! In the Old Testament there were Icons, there were the Cherubim who overshadowed the Ark of the Covenant, there were the bells and flowers, there was the Ark itself, and indeed the Tabernacle/Temple was an Icon of Heaven.  To call icons "idols" is a very significant accusation, one which I can understand  your confusion but which nonetheless is really more of an emotional charged hyperbole than any matter of Scriptural based analysis.  Again, you just quoted a link from some pastor, and I think that is getting to my point.  Why trust pastors and preachers opinions and interpretations? What are your OWN feelings exactly? Work on that first, don't let Bible-thumping talking heads dictate your Faith and experience with God.  If there are folks too busy telling you what you shouldn't do rather than what you should, perhaps these folks are on the wrong page?


By the way, just a thought, but I noticed you are quoting the Bible as authority.  Could you please explain to me the origin and historiography of the Bible exactly? Where does the Bible come from in the first place?

stay blessed,
habte selassie

[dhinuus]

Dear Walter,
Out of curiousity, what branch of Protestant church are you coming from?
Anglican/Episcopal ? Lutheran ? Methodist ? Presbeterian ? Baptist ? Petecostal ?

Also were you raised by Protestant parents right from birth? or did you have your own conversion experience and convert to become a Protestant ?

I think, sharing that info , will help us understand better where you are ideas are coming from.

Thanks..

[Gebre Menfes Kidus]

Hi Walter, those are good questions  generally speaking most protestants struggle with how the orthodox Christians venerate and honor the  Mother of God and all the other saints. So your question is very much welcome because although it is based on a misunderstanding of what the orthodox believe and how they worship, we do understand  and respect what you are guarding against, i. e. Idolatry and blasphemy against God. I say this with sincerity, I respect a serious seeker who is after the Truth. The First Commandment is a serious commandment  its truth fundamental to our Faith. That there is only One God.


To address the specifics of your question now with the limited time I have right now, the miracles of the Blessed Virgin Mary refer not to St. Mary being God, but that by her hand God does many miraculous signs and wonders, due to the holiness of her life and the powerful favor her prayer has before her Son our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.


How do we even know of St.Mary ? We know the Blessed Virgin because of her son, in Israel there were many who were called Mary, none of them are remembered or honored like her, why? Because none of them are the Birth Giver of God in Flesh, She is the Mother of the Living, one given to us by Christ from the Cross. Behold thy mother! So there is incredible devoted Love for her in our hearts, in imitation of Christ her beloved Son, and our Lord we seek to obey and love her with the love of a child to his mother and she in turn always tells us to listen to Him as she has done in Canna. Her life the best example of obedience to God, humility, purity, and devotion to God, perseverance in suffering, Love unwavering, etc. we are all called to imitate because by imitating her we imitate Christ. She is the perfect example of what we are ALL called to become i.e. become God bearers!

The language used is not new, it is an Orthodox Tradition, to talk that way with the given understanding that all miracles are done by God, and that He does them by the hand of His Saints.

Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. Acts 2:43

The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. Acts 5:12

13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. James 5:13-18[/b]
There are multiple examples from scripture, we say David slayed Goliath, but it was God who did that, so many examples of the like, your mother carried you in her womb but it was God who carried you both. What becomes idolatry is when one ascribes adoration of the Creator to the created which says that the created is a creator. So if it was not for our adoration and worship of her son, we would not have known of her, all her glory steams from the glory of God who bestows glory and honor to his saints. Even more so to his mother. The glory of the seraphim, the cherubim, all the archangels is but a shadow compared to her glory she remains higher than all creation in her glory, and lower than God. As we love to call her “ metihete fetari , meli’elte fituran’’ / lower than God and higher than all creation/


So in giving honor to those deserving of honor, we honor God himself who is the source of their honor.
As to your second question, unless it is a case of lost in translation, all Glory is given to God who is Glorified in His Saints. When I say I thank Mary for this, I am not speaking in contradiction as if Mary is Christ, no, I am indicating by whose willing hands my God who helped me Chose to Act. The prayer of the saint is powerful, and God acts in cooperation with the human who is praying for whatever it is the human is praying according to God’s wisdom.so by the hand of St. Mary God’s healing power touches  and heals our infirmity. If someone rescues you from being hit by a car you will say so and so saved me that day, but you are not saying that so and so is God, because in the end it is God who saves you. the spiritual life is as real to us the faithful who believe in the communion of the Saints, we love to say thank you to our saints for the love they show towards us, and we Love to thank God for the Loving Favor he shows towards his saints in granting their  prayers on our behalf , saying: Glory be to God who is Glorified in His Saints. Amen.

So I would say Walter my brother, its wonderful you are asking questions, its one step to understanding the usage of these  seemingly contradictory yet complimentary languages, and get used to what is a given assumption in the wordings of those phrases we use  i.e. that God is at the heart of all things, so you may not get the wrong idea about the Orthodox who are quite zealous  in defending and living out the First Commandment.

Hope that helped a bit , if not  please continue to ask with specifics and God willing I will make time to reply the best I could as soon as I could.
In Christ,
Hiwot.

Excellent answer Hiwot. God bless you!

By the way, do you have an opinion about this Exorcist Priest? I am not familiar with him. Can you tell us what you know about him?


Selam

[Severian]

--Subscribed--

[walter1234]

Dear Walter,
Out of curiousity, what branch of Protestant church are you coming from?
Anglican/Episcopal ? Lutheran ? Methodist ? Presbeterian ? Baptist ? Petecostal ?

Also were you raised by Protestant parents right from birth? or did you have your own conversion experience and convert to become a Protestant ?

I think, sharing that info , will help us understand better where you are ideas are coming from.

Thanks..

I come from charismatic church. I think it is quite similar to the Petecostal. It focus on the gift of holy spirit, spirit in tongue( Tongue praying , tongue worship), the work and power of holy spirit, restoring the miracles that happen in Bible ,e.g Book of Acts .

[walter1234]

As I come from Charismatic church, I have seen many famous charismatic leadesrs performing "Miracle". However, most of them do not have good fruit. Some of them have poor sexual life, often speak false prophecies which never come to pass. Most of them are very rich and have a luxurious life.  


How is the fruit of Memehir Girma??Does he use his gift that God give him to make money? Does he have a luxurious life??

[Ergib]

performed approved by any canonical Orthodox Church??

Approved by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

do you have an opinion about this Exorcist Priest?

I hope to meet Memehir Girma someday. According to my Spiritual Father, he is truly gifted in healing and the miracles done by him are real.

[Gebre Menfes Kidus]

performed approved by any canonical Orthodox Church??

Approved by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

do you have an opinion about this Exorcist Priest?

I hope to meet Memehir Girma someday. According to my Spiritual Father, he is truly gifted in healing and the miracles done by him are real.

Thank you dear Ergib!


Selam

[Deborah]

The teaching and understand of Gosepl, hell, judgment, God's wrath,righteouness , grace, love is very attracted  to me. The  God that orthodox church believes is better, kinder and more loving than Protestant's one.

Until now, I only struggle with the problem of icons, intercession prayers and the veneration to Virgin Mary and saints.

This podcast by Fr. Peter Gillquist on Intercession of the Saints helped make sense of the issues for me.
http://ancientfaith.com/specials/episodes/fr._peter_gillquist_-_intercession_of_the_saints

God bless and guide you in your search for truth.

Deborah

[walter1234]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqgqoXYPz7U&playnext=1&list=PLCB65446E9B336C8D&feature=results_video
http://www.blazingfireministries.org/ethiopia.html
 

I have just realized that one of famous charmastic leader ---- Todd Benalty went to Ephiopian and did the healing and deliverance before.  

Did anyone here gone to the conference which Todd Benalty held in Ephiopia? Is there any difference between the miracles that Todd Benalty performs and Memehir Girma performs?

[walter1234]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN-KGa_j-jg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noFXhUCDhPg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAY8lt0UdcQ&feature=relmfu


I cannot listen and understand Epthiopian language.

Can anyone tell me what was Memehir Girma talking about in this sermon(e.g spiritual hard talk)?Can anyone tell me what is the content of this sermon( spiritual hard talk)? What did he teach in this hard talk?

What had happened before this spiritual hard talk?Why did he hold this spiritual hard talk suddenly?

What Memehir Girma did seems quite similiar to today's Charismatic Church.  What is the difference between Memehir Girma 's miracles and the miracles that today's Charismatic Church perform?

[walter1234]

No comment...

What had happened before this spiritual hard talk?Why did Memehir Girma  hold this spiritual hard talk suddenly?What did Memehir Girma  teach in these hard talks?

Can any Ethiopian answer me the above question?

Answering them with a few words is ok!!

[Ergib]

The talk is mostly about Protestant/Pentecostals who claim that they are filled with the Holy Spirit, but speak like the devil. They talk down at our church, saints and question St. Mary’s ability of supplication. He then compares them with Elizabeth; how she spoke when she heard Mary's greeting….

[HabteSelassie]

Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

The talk is mostly about Protestant/Pentecostals who claim that they are filled with the Holy Spirit, but speak like the devil. They talk down at our church, saints and question St. Mary’s ability of supplication. He then compares them with Elizabeth; how she spoke when she heard Mary's greeting….

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.  And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does[a] not slumber.
..and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

2 Peter 2:1-3, 10-12

Indeed Protestantism in Ethiopia is a particular nuisance because the biggest gripe and deception about Pentecostals, Lutherans, and Protestants in Ethiopia is to scoff, disregard, and defy the authority and dignity of the Orthodox Church.  It is the Saints the belittle, the reverend clergies they scoff, the intercession of Our Lady which they insult, and the Real Presence of the Holy Communion by which they even deny our very Savior Jesus Christ.  I was asked by HappyLutheran is Protestantism lawless? Yes, especially in Ethiopia.  While we don't fully understand Father Girma's methods, if he in fact promotes the Church I am in favor of this message.  To many Ethiopians are beginning to disrespect and defy their heritage of Orthodox Christianity in favor of the fraud of Ethiopian Pentecostalism, which deceives Orthodox Christians using Hislop fallacies about the Tradition.  I have no personal qualms against Protestants, its when they directly challenge, disrespect, or cross into the Church territory that I get anxious about. Let them have their own beliefs, but keep their "evangelism" (I use that as a euphemism) to their own communities, and stay out of the Church yards with their degrading pamphlets, manipulative speeches,  and outright bribery.

stay blessed,
habte selassie
 

[Gebre Menfes Kidus]

Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

The talk is mostly about Protestant/Pentecostals who claim that they are filled with the Holy Spirit, but speak like the devil. They talk down at our church, saints and question St. Mary’s ability of supplication. He then compares them with Elizabeth; how she spoke when she heard Mary's greeting….

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.  And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does[a] not slumber.
..and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

2 Peter 2:1-3, 10-12

Indeed Protestantism in Ethiopia is a particular nuisance because the biggest gripe and deception about Pentecostals, Lutherans, and Protestants in Ethiopia is to scoff, disregard, and defy the authority and dignity of the Orthodox Church.  It is the Saints the belittle, the reverend clergies they scoff, the intercession of Our Lady which they insult, and the Real Presence of the Holy Communion by which they even deny our very Savior Jesus Christ.  I was asked by HappyLutheran is Protestantism lawless? Yes, especially in Ethiopia.  While we don't fully understand Father Girma's methods, if he in fact promotes the Church I am in favor of this message.  To many Ethiopians are beginning to disrespect and defy their heritage of Orthodox Christianity in favor of the fraud of Ethiopian Pentecostalism, which deceives Orthodox Christians using Hislop fallacies about the Tradition.  I have no personal qualms against Protestants, its when they directly challenge, disrespect, or cross into the Church territory that I get anxious about. Let them have their own beliefs, but keep their "evangelism" (I use that as a euphemism) to their own communities, and stay out of the Church yards with their degrading pamphlets, manipulative speeches,  and outright bribery.

stay blessed,
habte selassie
 

Amen.



Selam

[Severian]

Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

The talk is mostly about Protestant/Pentecostals who claim that they are filled with the Holy Spirit, but speak like the devil. They talk down at our church, saints and question St. Mary’s ability of supplication. He then compares them with Elizabeth; how she spoke when she heard Mary's greeting….

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.  And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does[a] not slumber.
..and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

2 Peter 2:1-3, 10-12

Indeed Protestantism in Ethiopia is a particular nuisance because the biggest gripe and deception about Pentecostals, Lutherans, and Protestants in Ethiopia is to scoff, disregard, and defy the authority and dignity of the Orthodox Church.  It is the Saints the belittle, the reverend clergies they scoff, the intercession of Our Lady which they insult, and the Real Presence of the Holy Communion by which they even deny our very Savior Jesus Christ.  I was asked by HappyLutheran is Protestantism lawless? Yes, especially in Ethiopia.  While we don't fully understand Father Girma's methods, if he in fact promotes the Church I am in favor of this message.  To many Ethiopians are beginning to disrespect and defy their heritage of Orthodox Christianity in favor of the fraud of Ethiopian Pentecostalism, which deceives Orthodox Christians using Hislop fallacies about the Tradition.  I have no personal qualms against Protestants, its when they directly challenge, disrespect, or cross into the Church territory that I get anxious about. Let them have their own beliefs, but keep their "evangelism" (I use that as a euphemism) to their own communities, and stay out of the Church yards with their degrading pamphlets, manipulative speeches,  and outright bribery.

stay blessed,
habte selassie
 

Amen.



Selam

Amen!

I wish I could make that my signature!

[walter1234]

Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

The talk is mostly about Protestant/Pentecostals who claim that they are filled with the Holy Spirit, but speak like the devil. They talk down at our church, saints and question St. Mary’s ability of supplication. He then compares them with Elizabeth; how she spoke when she heard Mary's greeting….

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.  And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does[a] not slumber.
..and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

2 Peter 2:1-3, 10-12

Indeed Protestantism in Ethiopia is a particular nuisance because the biggest gripe and deception about Pentecostals, Lutherans, and Protestants in Ethiopia is to scoff, disregard, and defy the authority and dignity of the Orthodox Church.  It is the Saints the belittle, the reverend clergies they scoff, the intercession of Our Lady which they insult, and the Real Presence of the Holy Communion by which they even deny our very Savior Jesus Christ.  I was asked by HappyLutheran is Protestantism lawless? Yes, especially in Ethiopia.  While we don't fully understand Father Girma's methods, if he in fact promotes the Church I am in favor of this message.  To many Ethiopians are beginning to disrespect and defy their heritage of Orthodox Christianity in favor of the fraud of Ethiopian Pentecostalism, which deceives Orthodox Christians using Hislop fallacies about the Tradition.  I have no personal qualms against Protestants, its when they directly challenge, disrespect, or cross into the Church territory that I get anxious about. Let them have their own beliefs, but keep their "evangelism" (I use that as a euphemism) to their own communities, and stay out of the Church yards with their degrading pamphlets, manipulative speeches,  and outright bribery.

stay blessed,
habte selassie
 

Pentecostals in Ethiopia challenges the authority ,dignity and the teaching of the Orthodox Church.In spiritual hard talk, Father Girma showed which Church/teaching is true through his speech and the power  that God give to him. Do you mean it?

[Severian]

Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

The talk is mostly about Protestant/Pentecostals who claim that they are filled with the Holy Spirit, but speak like the devil. They talk down at our church, saints and question St. Mary’s ability of supplication. He then compares them with Elizabeth; how she spoke when she heard Mary's greeting….

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.  And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does[a] not slumber.
..and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

2 Peter 2:1-3, 10-12

Indeed Protestantism in Ethiopia is a particular nuisance because the biggest gripe and deception about Pentecostals, Lutherans, and Protestants in Ethiopia is to scoff, disregard, and defy the authority and dignity of the Orthodox Church.  It is the Saints the belittle, the reverend clergies they scoff, the intercession of Our Lady which they insult, and the Real Presence of the Holy Communion by which they even deny our very Savior Jesus Christ.  I was asked by HappyLutheran is Protestantism lawless? Yes, especially in Ethiopia.  While we don't fully understand Father Girma's methods, if he in fact promotes the Church I am in favor of this message.  To many Ethiopians are beginning to disrespect and defy their heritage of Orthodox Christianity in favor of the fraud of Ethiopian Pentecostalism, which deceives Orthodox Christians using Hislop fallacies about the Tradition.  I have no personal qualms against Protestants, its when they directly challenge, disrespect, or cross into the Church territory that I get anxious about. Let them have their own beliefs, but keep their "evangelism" (I use that as a euphemism) to their own communities, and stay out of the Church yards with their degrading pamphlets, manipulative speeches,  and outright bribery.

stay blessed,
habte selassie
 

If I were the leader of an Orthodox Christian country I think I would advocate passing a law which banned such Protestant "evangelism" under the penalty of sentencing in jail for disrupting peace and scandalizing the minds of the faithful.

But, maybe I'm just being too zealous...

What do you all think?

[WeldeMikael]

It's never that easy I'm sure... 

By "persecution" it would reinforce the feeling that they are the true Church (maybe by "persecutions") , and in the same way maybe more evangelism. And you'll be labeled as extremist by other countries, right ?

[Severian]

It's never that easy I'm sure... 

By "persecution" it would reinforce the feeling that they are the true Church (maybe by "persecutions") , and in the same way maybe more evangelism. And you'll be labeled as extremist by other countries, right ?

Dubai forbids proselytism and they are very moderate. Just because I would forbid Protestants from publicly spreading and expressing their false religion does not mean I would inhibit them from practicing it in the privacy of their homes and parishes.

One of the main reasons I am so against Protestant evangelism is because of the deceitful tactics their missionaries use. If an Orthodox Christian wants to abandon the true faith in exchange for godless heresy, then so be it. But let them make that choice on their own after an honest look at the evidence, and without the treachery and lies of the evangelicals. I am not saying all Protestants are like that, I am talking about the fundamentalists (e.g. Jack T. Chick).

[dzheremi]

Dubai/UAE or any other Muslim-majority country is not an example to look toward. We want to be able to proselytize the true Orthodox faith, so others will of course want a similar privilege. To deal with heretics and liars should not be hard if we are on our guard against their heresies and know them well. The trouble is a lot of people don't, so someone will tell them the new "right" doctrine, and they might not be strong enough to resist it. If you put the energy and dedication into evangelism and proper catechesis, then you will arm the people through that to resist the later, invariably false attempts to tear down the church by its enemies, and you won't need to ban them as a result. I don't think you need to look too far even on this very board to find ex-Protestant missionaries who thought they would be converting Orthodox only to be converted by them. I myself once participated in Protestant missions (though I was never very committed to any particular Protestant doctrine, it was just what I was raised in and I didn't know any better), but...well, it's amazing what can happen when you're allowed the freedom to work out what you actually believe in.

[Nicene]

So why are they acting like pentacostals and other protestant groups that have this sort of estatic emphasis?

[WeldeMikael]

Is Charismatic movement popular ?

[Ergib]

Just like any Orthodox Christian fathers, this priest uses Holy water, cross and prayers to cast out bad spirits. I thnink he needs a very good videographer so that people can see the entire process of the healings....

One of my friend went to Ethiopia to see him…I will try to update you when she returns.

[walter1234]

It is better to have English word/translation at the bottom of the videos

[walter1234]

Just like any Orthodox Christian fathers, this priest uses Holy water, cross and prayers to cast out bad spirits. I thnink he needs a very good videographer so that people can see the entire process of the healings....

One of my friend went to Ethiopia to see him…I will try to update you when she returns.

Have your friend come back? What is his experience on Ethipia? What is his view on Memehir Girma and his miracles?

[Ergib]

Have your friend come back? What is his experience on Ethipia? What is his view on Memehir Girma and his miracles?

Unfortunately, she hasn’t met with him yet. The demand for Memehir Girma is so high. Hopefully she will be healed when she returns in a month or two.

[walter1234]

Have your friend come back? What is his experience on Ethipia? What is his view on Memehir Girma and his miracles?

Unfortunately, she hasn’t met with him yet. The demand for Memehir Girma is so high. Hopefully she will be healed when she returns in a month or two.

So, Did your friend get healed finally?

[nina2]

lets love each other as Jesus loved us.

[ninawonde]

I have never seen anywhere in the bible where the apostles were doing exorcism in the name of Mary.  Mary was a holly woman that was chosen by GOD to bring JESUS in flesh to this world.  THAT IS IT! She carried the seed of Adam and she herself needed a savior to cleanse her from the sin that she inherited from Adam.  The only one that can cleanse that for all humans is JESUS CHRIST, the son of God. He did that by shedding his blood on the cross and by paying the price of death so that we may have ETERNAL LIFE.  Yes the apostles did miracles and they were saints, but they did it because Jesus Christ gave them power through the Holy Spirit.  THEY HAVE NO POWER OF THEIR OWN. 

Now all of the apostles are humans like you and me and they say it themselves in the bible.  They always say in the book of Acts once they perform a miracle in the name of Jesus, to give all the glory to Jesus Christ.  So they can’t intercede for us once they are dead because Jesus was doing the miracles through them in the first place.  Once a person dies, they go to heaven or hell.  THAT IS IT! They are not omnipresent (can't be everywhere at once) and can't intercede for us.  The apostles died and went to heaven.  They are not here around us or hearing our prayers.  Only God the father, son and the holly spirit can do that for us

 
 
Now, what Memhir Girma is doing is a trick to take people away from the POINT OF CHRISTIANITY. Which is that; “to give people eternal life, Jesus Christ came on earth and died for us on the cross, and those that believe in him, will never perish but have eternal life”. (John 3:15). He came for each one of us and we must have a personal relationship with him AND ONLY HIM so that he can live in us through the Holy Spirit.  THAT IS IT! Memhir Girma is taking people away from the true gospel to that of Mary who herself said to listen to Jesus during the miracles in Galilee. 

1)      Mary didn’t stay a virgin forever and had children other than Jesus.

•Matthew 1:24-25 - "And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took as his wife, and kept her a virgin UNTIL she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus."

•Matthew 12:46-47 - "While He was still speaking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. And someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You."

•Matthew 13:55 - "Is not this the carpenters son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?"

2)      God is AGAINST using idols (like the painting of God, Jesus or Mary) to aid us in worshipping him.  Memhir Girma is using the painting of Mary to do healing which is not biblical.  God said in Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. Jesus said we must worship God in spirit and in truth.  “For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth John 4:24.  And also since he is a spirit we can’t paint him or his son.  We must connect our spirit to that of God when we pray not to icons or idols. 

 
 
 
 
So I rebuke what Memhir Girma is doing in the name of JESUS CHRIST.  The only one that can heal is JESUS CHRIST.  THANK YOU.

[Ansgar]

You have a lot to learn about Orthodox theology my friend.

[PeterTheAleut]

You have a lot to learn about Orthodox theology my friend.

ninawonde also has a lot to learn about the Bible, I'm afraid.

[walter1234]

Doing these time and space taking Faith Healing Services and being over crowded with such a large mass, Won’t this affect your private and family life?

Priest/Exorcist Girma : My private life is only for prayer. The rest would all be fulfilled by the Will of God. After my Faith Healing programs , I spend my time in prayers and taking the Holy Communion frequently, because the way to defend devil is when you have Lord inside you, so it is by taking the Holy Communion that the devil is won and you get strengthened. Because He said “I am the bread of life.’’

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-627906

Faith Healing program?

Faith healing is the doctrine which is created by the Charismatic Christianity. Memhir Girma also believe in faith healing ?

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OrthodoxChristianity.net > Moderated Forums > Orthodox-Other Christian Discussion > Orthodox-Protestant Discussion (Moderator: PeterTheAleut) > Topic: Ethiopian Christians testimony??