Why Are Christians Responding to the Rise of Orthodox Christianity?

The Quiet Rise of Orthodox Christianity

In recent years, a surprising movement has gained momentum: the rise of Orthodox Christianity, especially among Western Christians.


Whether through viral YouTube videos of Orthodox liturgies, podcasts hosted by former Protestants, or converts like Hank Hanegraaff (the “Bible Answer Man”) making headlines for joining the Eastern Orthodox Church, many are asking:

Why are so many Christians responding to—and even converting to—Orthodox Christianity?

This shift isn’t just a passing trend. It’s a sign of deeper longings among believers in an age of spiritual confusion, cultural upheaval, and theological division.

In this post, we explore:

  • What Orthodox Christianity actually is
  • Why Christians are drawn to it
  • What’s missing in many modern churches
  • What Protestants can learn without compromising the gospel

What Is Orthodox Christianity?

Orthodox Christianity—often called Eastern Orthodoxy—is one of the oldest branches of Christianity, tracing its heritage back to the apostolic age and the early church fathers.

It officially split from Roman Catholicism in 1054 A.D. during the Great Schism, and it remains rooted in ancient traditions like:

  • The Divine Liturgy (especially the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom)
  • Veneration of saints and icons
  • A theology shaped by the early ecumenical councils
  • A sacramental and mystical view of salvation (called theosis)

The Orthodox Church emphasizes continuity with the ancient church, beauty in worship, and holistic transformation into the image of Christ.


The Surge: Why Are Christians Paying Attention?

 1. Disillusionment with Modern Evangelicalism

Many evangelical Christians are growing weary of:

  • Celebrity pastors and scandals
  • Shallow, performance-driven worship
  • Doctrinal confusion or theological minimalism
  • Church models that feel more like marketing than ministry

Orthodoxy, by contrast, offers a slow, sacred, ancient approach to Christianity that feels timeless and unshaken by cultural trends.

 2. A Hunger for Sacredness and Mystery

Orthodox Christianity does not attempt to explain away every mystery in neat theological categories. Instead, it embraces mystery in its worship and theology.

In a world dominated by information and instant gratification, many Christians crave:

  • Stillness and reverence
  • Transcendence in worship
  • A God who cannot be fully understood or controlled

 3. Historical Depth and Continuity

Orthodoxy connects believers directly to the early church—its teachings, writings, and liturgical practices. For those tired of constant “new church movements,” Orthodoxy offers the unchanging faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3).

This is especially appealing in a generation that prizes authenticity and roots.

4. The Beauty of Worship

Orthodox churches are known for their:

  • Icon-filled sanctuaries
  • Chanted liturgies
  • Incense, processions, and ancient prayers
  • Emphasis on communal participation over performance

For Christians burned out on LED lights, fog machines, and “church as a concert,” Orthodoxy provides an aesthetic and spiritual return to beauty.

5. Holistic View of Salvation (Theosis)

Instead of focusing only on legal forgiveness of sins (as in some evangelical models), Orthodoxy teaches that salvation is a lifelong transformation into Christlikeness.

This idea of theosis (union with God) appeals to believers who want a more embodied, lifelong discipleship, not just a ticket to heaven.


Key Converts Making Headlines

  • Hank Hanegraaff, the “Bible Answer Man,” shocked many when he joined the Orthodox Church in 2017
  • Jonathan Pageau, an Orthodox iconographer and public thinker, has attracted a large Christian audience online
  • Rod Dreher, author of The Benedict Option, converted to Orthodoxy and writes frequently about its cultural relevance
  • Peter Gillquist and a group of former Campus Crusade for Christ leaders brought over 2,000 evangelicals into Orthodoxy in the 1980s


Are Evangelicals Converting or Just Listening?

Not all evangelicals are converting to Orthodoxy—but many are learning from it.

Podcast downloads, YouTube channels, and Orthodox books are drawing in:

  • Protestant theologians seeking ancient voices
  • Charismatics seeking liturgical depth
  • Young Christians seeking reverence and beauty

You don’t have to convert to appreciate the richness of Orthodoxy.


What Are the Concerns?

While Orthodoxy has much to offer, not all responses are without caution.

1. Doctrinal Differences

  • Orthodox Christians reject key Protestant doctrines like Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide (faith alone)
  • They hold to apostolic succession, a different understanding of justification, and additional Scriptures (the Deuterocanon)

2. Potential for Over-Romanticizing

Some Protestants may idealize Orthodoxy without fully understanding its challenges:

  • Ethnic divisions in some Orthodox churches
  • Long and rigorous catechism process
  • Complex theological terms and practices

3. Icons and Veneration

Orthodox Christianity uses icons for prayer and veneration—not worship. However, many Protestants find this practice difficult to reconcile with the Second Commandment.


What Can Evangelical and Protestant Churches Learn?

Even without converting, churches can draw valuable lessons:

 1. Recovering Beauty in Worship

We don’t need icons to recover beauty. But we can:

  • Slow down our services
  • Incorporate reverent prayer
  • Embrace Scripture readings, silence, and symbol

2. Teach Church History and the Early Fathers

Most evangelicals know little about Athanasius, Chrysostom, or Basil the Great. These voices deepen our faith and connect us to the global Body of Christ.

 3. Balance Word and Sacrament

Orthodoxy’s sacramental theology challenges us to value:

  • The Lord’s Table
  • Baptism as a covenant, not just a symbol
  • Tangible expressions of grace

4. Emphasize Holiness, Not Just Conversion

Many modern churches focus on decision-making—Orthodoxy focuses on formation. The call is not just to believe, but to be transformed over a lifetime.

Ancient Faith in a Modern World

The rise of Orthodox Christianity is not a rejection of Christ—it’s a cry for more of Him.

Christians are tired of the shallow, the trendy, and the man-centered. They are hungry for:

  • A church that looks like the early church
  • A God who is holy and mysterious
  • A faith that transforms, not just informs

Whether or not one converts, the Orthodox tradition is waking up the Western church to something we’ve long forgotten:

God is holy. His church is sacred. And Christianity didn’t begin in the 20th century.


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