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This book has been written for three purposes. First, to provide the Orthodox reader with a competent overview of the history of Protestantism and its major traditions, from its beginnings in the 16th century to the present day. This overview relies heavily upon the Reformer s own words as well as the creeds of various Protestant faiths, in order to avoid misrepresentation and caricature. Second, to acquaint Orthodox and non-Orthodox readers with a narrative of the historical relations between the Orthodox East and the Protestant West. Finally, to provide a summary of Ortho- dox theological opinion on the tenets of Protestantism.

Rock and Sand Archpriest Josiah Trenham Fr Michael Monos Nitsa McClatchey 9781939028365 Books

Rock and Sand: An Orthodox Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teaching, by Fr. Josiah Trenham is a very good start on what I hope are more books to come in this same vein. Rock and Sand is in many ways very insightful and helpful. I write this review as a former Protestant and agree with the substance of Fr. Josiah's appraisal of the Reformers and Protestant tradition as a whole. The Reformation movement and its Churches, and their petulant offspring, remain today, as then, ultimately, as to their theological claims, incoherent and self defeating. As to their claim to the Apostolic inheritance, illegitimate.

First of all Fr. Josiah is a very good writer. The narrative recap of each of the major Protestant Reformers was nicely written in my opinion. That takes up roughly ¾ of the book. He weaves in critique here and there in the historical narrative, showing the inconsistencies and quite honestly, hypocrisies of the Reformers, despite their best intentions. It strikes me that in each case the Reformer ended up as his own 'Pope' wielding authority and making decisions just as grave as the Pope whom they condemned. But that is what happens when love for the Body of Christ is not really guiding actions and the dialectic of action/reaction is. Protestants can say "the truth was at stake" as much as they want, but St Paul subsumes 'truth' within the fold of love when he says 'love rejoices in the truth'. Truth is important, but only as a scalpel in the hand of love. As I have heard it said, "Love without truth is seduction. Truth without love is destructive." The Reformers fell to what we all at times fall to: a faultfinding spirit - with its concomitant sin: self love, vainglory and pride. It is a particularly devastating cycle to get into which reflects the Lord's admonition "judge not lest you be judged. For as you pass judgment so that same judgment will be passed to you." And so the Reformers, thinking they were reforming the church rather deeply disfigured it blinded by a faultfinding spirit and blindness with regard to their own sins. Instead of teaching the world how to love by laying down their lives in the manner of our Lord, and of his Apostles, they thought, as many of us think, even in the Orthodox Church, "we can do it better". Ahhh. But that is surely foolishness. That is simply a rationalization to avoid laying our lives down by taking up the cross of our Lord and Master Teacher Jesus. We claim to be disciples = learners, of Him, of "the Way". Behold the fruit of self love, pride and vainglory. When will we ever learn?

Fr. Trenham notes the many inconsistencies. I fleshed one of them out (above). His critiques are peppered throughout the narrative shedding some light that perhaps many of us who have been traditioned in Protestant communities have failed to see. It is difficult to watch the reality of the situation unfold and especially difficult to take in the indisputable facts: the Reformers are, in reality, acting with no less presumption in their shepherding of their 'flocks' than the Pope whom they despise. What in fact they did was to 'cut off their nose to spite their face' and 'cut out their legs from under themselves'. There were errors in the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, but instead of laboring in love for their correction, the Reformers became of the mind that they could 'do it better.' Rock and Sand shows without a doubt just how wrong they were - and the Western world has lived with the fallout ever since. The Reformation, despite all the protestations of Protestants, is quite clearly a repudiation of our Lord's prayer and desire that we might all "One" as he is in the Father, and the Father is in him, as he and the Father are One - with the result that, as Jesus prays, "the world may believe that you have sent me". O the ingenuity of self love and pride masquerading as a servant to help God get things done. But as Samuel said to King Saul, "To obey is better than sacrifice." A directive that I find rather as difficult at times as the Reformers apparently did.

The last ' of the book consists of an appraisal of Protestant doctrine. For the most part I thought it was well done. I found the section on the filioque the most unsatisfying. I felt he should have brought the Scriptures to his aid, which he didn't. That left me puzzled a bit. The most clear affirmation of the procession of the Spirit from the Father alone is John 15:26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father . . ." Fr. Trenham mainly marshals doctrinal arguments from tradition and the writing of St. Photius. While I don't disagree with what Fr. Trenham wrote, it would have more gravitas, in my opinion, if the arguments made were rooted in Scripture as well.

His critique of the Protestant doctrine of the many 'Sola' slogans of the Reformers and particularly of 'Sola Scriptura' is quite good. He points out the utter irony of claiming that Scripture alone solves the problem of error - for them particularly the errors they saw in the Roman Catholic Church, while at the same time actually CHANGING what the Scripture says in order to conform to their own prejudices: 'Sola Fides' (by faith alone) being an example. Fr. Josiah rightly shows that one cannot prove FROM SCRIPTURE the doctrine of 'sola Scriptura'. Scripture is the core and touchstone of what the Orthodox call 'Holy Tradition'. And 'Holy Tradition' is the environment, or the ethos, if you will, the phronema - mindset/perspective - that enlightens us to interpret the Scripture rightly. One only experiences Holy Tradition in the Church of Jesus Christ and his Apostles, and one can only interpret the Scripture faithfully from within the One Catholic and Apostolic Church. This is easily understandable if one simply looks at their own family culture, or ethos and use of language, manner of expressing their view of themselves and the world around. If your family left a text full of your families peculiar rules and traditions, it is very likely that many of them would not be understandable by those on the outside of your family, some even if you tried to explain your families customs and traditions. Sometimes the only way to understand is by living them oneself.

A few times I felt a few statements had a tinge of triumphalist sentiment. Perhaps some would disagree. I can only say how a few passages came off to me. It seems to me that so often we, the Orthodox, have such confidence of our truthfulness in contrast to others that we slip into a rather boasting posture. I find this so saddening its hard to put in words. That we know the truth certainly has nothing to do with us, our intelligence, or our worthiness, and everything to do with the kindness and mercy of God. Having said that, I wouldn't say that is the general tenor of the book. Not at all.

I was very grateful that Fr. Trenham dedicated a whole chapter to the "Orthodox appreciation of Protestant Virtues". In the chapter he very graciously and generously affirmed their "high value of the text of Scripture", their "zeal for missionary work", their "deep and costly commitment to Christian education" and their "aggressive commitment to cultural engagement with Christian values". I agree with him on every point. I've experienced each of these personally. I find that Protestants generally take Jesus' words to be salt and light in their world much more seriously. Too often we seek to push 'Orthodoxy' on others. It seems to me that we should be sharing the love of Christ with others without shame as Saint Paul wrote, "I preach Christ and him crucified" with hearts full of the love of Christ. As St. Paul testified of his own motive for action - "the love of Christ constrains me". How many of us can say that in our interaction with those who are our neighbors and friends outside of the Apostolic inheritance of the Faith, that we are "constrained" by "the love of Christ" to serve them and minister to them the healing presence of Christ, the meek and lowly One?

I found the 4 appendices very helpful for understanding how the Orthodox have responded to Protestants in previous interactions. Fr. Josiah occasionally touched on this in his narrative as well.

In conclusion I found myself very encouraged and enlightened. I very much enjoyed Rock and Sand. I think everyone would benefit from reading the narrative on the Reformers. Some might find the sections on doctrinal critique a bit hard going if they are unfamiliar with the more intimate details of Orthodox doctrine. Thank you Fr. Josiah for your labor in bringing this book to print. I hope it will inspire more works in the same vein so that more might come into the fold of the Church of Christ which is "the Pillar and ground of the Truth" - the "truth as it is in Jesus" - who find themselves "blown to and fro by every wind of doctrine". May the Lord grant us all his peace.

Product details Paperback 420 pages Publisher Newrome Press LLC (March 16, 2015) Language English ISBN-10 1939028361

Tags : Rock and Sand [Archpriest Josiah Trenham, Fr. Michael Monos, Nitsa McClatchey] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. This book has been written for three purposes. First, to provide the Orthodox reader with a competent overview of the history of Protestantism and its major traditions,Archpriest Josiah Trenham, Fr. Michael Monos, Nitsa McClatchey,Rock and Sand,Newrome Press LLC,1939028361,Religion & Spirituality Christianity
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Rock and Sand Archpriest Josiah Trenham Fr Michael Monos Nitsa McClatchey 9781939028365 Books Reviews

This book has been a pleasant surprise. I've read a number of books about Protestantism, or conversion stories from Protestantism, or the differences between Orthodoxy and Protestantism, etc., so I wasn't going to buy this. For some reason I did, and I'm happy I did. I'm only a third of the way through and have enjoyed Archpriest Trenham's writing, writing style, directness, and the well put together information. It's very informative and I've learned a great deal. The reading is easy, clear and enjoyable. It's not overly burdensome. I even like the smaller size of the book and the layout of the pages, which add to visual ease of reading. One reviewer preferred the book "Orthdoxy and Heterodoxy" by Fr. Damick. That is a very good book but I found the writing style more difficult--therefore, I ended up reading only what interested me, rather than the entire book. That's no doubt more a reflection on me rather than the book. Rock and Sand is nicely written and packed with historical information. I also appreciate the kind manner in which the Archpriest points out what the Orthdox Church considers errors on the part of Protestant theology and practice. Thus far, it appears to be done with brotherly love and sadness. One reviewer felt the book to be polemic/critical. I don't have that sense at all. It would be great neglect and error on the part of Archpriest Trenham NOT to teach his flock.
This is an amazing book.

As a 30 year old I remember talking (= arguing) to Protestants and realising how ignorant I was of their history and theology. Many, many books and twenty years later I have learned a lot about the Reformation and its theology. If only this book had existed then! It would have saved me a lot of time and money. I read Catholic history books that disparaged the Reformation and Protestants that praised it in order to sort out bias and propaganda. There was no Orthodox interpretation of these events that I was aware of.

All I have learned has been confirmed by Father Trenham's book. He knows his stuff and knows where the unsavoury aspects of the Reformation and the Reformers (and the counter-Reformation Popes) lie. He blows the lid off the scandals that have been forgotten as the beautiful myth of a Reformation against a corrupt Roman Catholic Church that restored 'pristine' Christianity was created. As the book is well referenced Father Trenham points out his sources clearly to anyone who doubts what he says.

Father Trenham gives a concise and accurate overview of the various individuals (Luther, Zwingli and Calvin) and the various movements (Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anglicanism, Anabaptism, the Counter-Reformation and American Folk Religion). As I am not American I found the section on American folk religion to be the most interesting.

What did I learn?

- Martin Luther supported the bigamy of his protector, Philip of Hesse! (page 40)

- Zwingli had a secret girlfriend who he married in 1524 when she was pregnant with his first child! (page 82)

- Guillaume (William) Farel married a 17 year old girl when he was 69 years of age! (page 121)

- Calvin was never ordained by anyone! Ever! (page 137)

There is plenty more!

The extras in this book are fantastic. In the appendix is the Confession of Dositheos, endorsed by the Council of Jerusalem in 1672, gives clear Orthodox responses to the challenges of Reformation theology (pages 317- 363). I hope its inclusion gives it the wide audience it deserves. The inclusion of two letters by Saint Raphael of Brooklyn on Anglican/Orthodox relations is something new to me (pages 365 - 380). I will treasure these writings from this new Father of the Church.

I recommend this book to any Orthodox who wishes to learn about the Reformation! I also recommend it to Protestants interested in Orthodoxy! It is so affordable you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Rock and Sand An Orthodox Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teaching, by Fr. Josiah Trenham is a very good start on what I hope are more books to come in this same vein. Rock and Sand is in many ways very insightful and helpful. I write this review as a former Protestant and agree with the substance of Fr. Josiah's appraisal of the Reformers and Protestant tradition as a whole. The Reformation movement and its Churches, and their petulant offspring, remain today, as then, ultimately, as to their theological claims, incoherent and self defeating. As to their claim to the Apostolic inheritance, illegitimate.

First of all Fr. Josiah is a very good writer. The narrative recap of each of the major Protestant Reformers was nicely written in my opinion. That takes up roughly ¾ of the book. He weaves in critique here and there in the historical narrative, showing the inconsistencies and quite honestly, hypocrisies of the Reformers, despite their best intentions. It strikes me that in each case the Reformer ended up as his own 'Pope' wielding authority and making decisions just as grave as the Pope whom they condemned. But that is what happens when love for the Body of Christ is not really guiding actions and the dialectic of action/reaction is. Protestants can say "the truth was at stake" as much as they want, but St Paul subsumes 'truth' within the fold of love when he says 'love rejoices in the truth'. Truth is important, but only as a scalpel in the hand of love. As I have heard it said, "Love without truth is seduction. Truth without love is destructive." The Reformers fell to what we all at times fall to a faultfinding spirit - with its concomitant sin self love, vainglory and pride. It is a particularly devastating cycle to get into which reflects the Lord's admonition "judge not lest you be judged. For as you pass judgment so that same judgment will be passed to you." And so the Reformers, thinking they were reforming the church rather deeply disfigured it blinded by a faultfinding spirit and blindness with regard to their own sins. Instead of teaching the world how to love by laying down their lives in the manner of our Lord, and of his Apostles, they thought, as many of us think, even in the Orthodox Church, "we can do it better". Ahhh. But that is surely foolishness. That is simply a rationalization to avoid laying our lives down by taking up the cross of our Lord and Master Teacher Jesus. We claim to be disciples = learners, of Him, of "the Way". Behold the fruit of self love, pride and vainglory. When will we ever learn?

Fr. Trenham notes the many inconsistencies. I fleshed one of them out (above). His critiques are peppered throughout the narrative shedding some light that perhaps many of us who have been traditioned in Protestant communities have failed to see. It is difficult to watch the reality of the situation unfold and especially difficult to take in the indisputable facts the Reformers are, in reality, acting with no less presumption in their shepherding of their 'flocks' than the Pope whom they despise. What in fact they did was to 'cut off their nose to spite their face' and 'cut out their legs from under themselves'. There were errors in the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, but instead of laboring in love for their correction, the Reformers became of the mind that they could 'do it better.' Rock and Sand shows without a doubt just how wrong they were - and the Western world has lived with the fallout ever since. The Reformation, despite all the protestations of Protestants, is quite clearly a repudiation of our Lord's prayer and desire that we might all "One" as he is in the Father, and the Father is in him, as he and the Father are One - with the result that, as Jesus prays, "the world may believe that you have sent me". O the ingenuity of self love and pride masquerading as a servant to help God get things done. But as Samuel said to King Saul, "To obey is better than sacrifice." A directive that I find rather as difficult at times as the Reformers apparently did.

The last ' of the book consists of an appraisal of Protestant doctrine. For the most part I thought it was well done. I found the section on the filioque the most unsatisfying. I felt he should have brought the Scriptures to his aid, which he didn't. That left me puzzled a bit. The most clear affirmation of the procession of the Spirit from the Father alone is John 1526 "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father . . ." Fr. Trenham mainly marshals doctrinal arguments from tradition and the writing of St. Photius. While I don't disagree with what Fr. Trenham wrote, it would have more gravitas, in my opinion, if the arguments made were rooted in Scripture as well.

His critique of the Protestant doctrine of the many 'Sola' slogans of the Reformers and particularly of 'Sola Scriptura' is quite good. He points out the utter irony of claiming that Scripture alone solves the problem of error - for them particularly the errors they saw in the Roman Catholic Church, while at the same time actually CHANGING what the Scripture says in order to conform to their own prejudices 'Sola Fides' (by faith alone) being an example. Fr. Josiah rightly shows that one cannot prove FROM SCRIPTURE the doctrine of 'sola Scriptura'. Scripture is the core and touchstone of what the Orthodox call 'Holy Tradition'. And 'Holy Tradition' is the environment, or the ethos, if you will, the phronema - mindset/perspective - that enlightens us to interpret the Scripture rightly. One only experiences Holy Tradition in the Church of Jesus Christ and his Apostles, and one can only interpret the Scripture faithfully from within the One Catholic and Apostolic Church. This is easily understandable if one simply looks at their own family culture, or ethos and use of language, manner of expressing their view of themselves and the world around. If your family left a text full of your families peculiar rules and traditions, it is very likely that many of them would not be understandable by those on the outside of your family, some even if you tried to explain your families customs and traditions. Sometimes the only way to understand is by living them oneself.

A few times I felt a few statements had a tinge of triumphalist sentiment. Perhaps some would disagree. I can only say how a few passages came off to me. It seems to me that so often we, the Orthodox, have such confidence of our truthfulness in contrast to others that we slip into a rather boasting posture. I find this so saddening its hard to put in words. That we know the truth certainly has nothing to do with us, our intelligence, or our worthiness, and everything to do with the kindness and mercy of God. Having said that, I wouldn't say that is the general tenor of the book. Not at all.

I was very grateful that Fr. Trenham dedicated a whole chapter to the "Orthodox appreciation of Protestant Virtues". In the chapter he very graciously and generously affirmed their "high value of the text of Scripture", their "zeal for missionary work", their "deep and costly commitment to Christian education" and their "aggressive commitment to cultural engagement with Christian values". I agree with him on every point. I've experienced each of these personally. I find that Protestants generally take Jesus' words to be salt and light in their world much more seriously. Too often we seek to push 'Orthodoxy' on others. It seems to me that we should be sharing the love of Christ with others without shame as Saint Paul wrote, "I preach Christ and him crucified" with hearts full of the love of Christ. As St. Paul testified of his own motive for action - "the love of Christ constrains me". How many of us can say that in our interaction with those who are our neighbors and friends outside of the Apostolic inheritance of the Faith, that we are "constrained" by "the love of Christ" to serve them and minister to them the healing presence of Christ, the meek and lowly One?

I found the 4 appendices very helpful for understanding how the Orthodox have responded to Protestants in previous interactions. Fr. Josiah occasionally touched on this in his narrative as well.

In conclusion I found myself very encouraged and enlightened. I very much enjoyed Rock and Sand. I think everyone would benefit from reading the narrative on the Reformers. Some might find the sections on doctrinal critique a bit hard going if they are unfamiliar with the more intimate details of Orthodox doctrine. Thank you Fr. Josiah for your labor in bringing this book to print. I hope it will inspire more works in the same vein so that more might come into the fold of the Church of Christ which is "the Pillar and ground of the Truth" - the "truth as it is in Jesus" - who find themselves "blown to and fro by every wind of doctrine". May the Lord grant us all his peace.