Conversion to Orthodoxy

Probably the primary thing to really take into account for everyone who embraces Orthodoxy is that they do so at a certain time in accordance with God's time and God's plan. And everything that happened to them, and every good thing that was revealed in their previous experience, or their previous portion of their walk through life is a good thing, and is to be cherished and treasured. I remember one time going to one of the seminaries (this was probably close to twenty years ago), and I met a young man who was a recent convert to the Orthodox Church. He came from one of the mainline Protestant denominations, and he had absolutely nothing good to say about them, and it was already irritating to hear his condemnation when talking about former delusion and what not. Finally I had to ask him, I said, "Did you become Orthodox in order to hate people?" It was an ultimate question, and he was rather taken aback. I said, "Because that's all I hear from you, and there's something wrong about that. God put you in that former delusion, as you put it, but for a purpose so that now also having been led to something fuller -- a full expression of the life in Christ, and of a fullness of the Gospel -- you can look back and also be of help to other people who are struggling. And therefore take everything that was good from that former experience, and have it baptized along with you; have it chrismated. This is Orthodox tradition." -- Archbishop JOB, A message to converts to the Orthodox faith.