Will It All Be for Nothing?

Did your mentors waste their time on you?
All of us stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. We owe a debt to the parents, mentors, teachers, and friends who helped shape us into who we are today. God placed each of them in our lives, imperfect as they are, to help form us into the Christlike servants He calls us to be.
For mentors who follow Christ, their greatest desire isn’t just to see you succeed. They long to see you walk with God, love truth, and impact others with that same truth. They want you to keep running and to pass the baton of faith to others who will keep running after you.
But was it all a waste? Were you a good investment of their time? The truth is, once that baton is passed, your mentors can’t run the race for you. You must run for yourself.
In Philippians 2, after urging the believers to live out their salvation with humility, to do all things without complaining, and to shine as lights in a dark and crooked world, Paul tells them to “hold fast to the word of life.” Then he adds an honest reason behind that challenge: “That I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain” (v.16).
Of all the trials Paul faced, prison, persecution, and the threat of death under Nero, his greatest fear wasn’t suffering—It was that his work in their lives might be in vain. He worried that the believers he had poured into would drift from their faith, wasting the investment of his labor, tears, and prayers. Even while chained in prison, Paul’s concern wasn’t for himself. It was for the Philippians’ perseverance. Would they keep shining? Would they keep holding fast to the Word of life?
There are many reasons to honor Christ with our lives, all flowing from our desire to glorify God above all else. But this one is worth remembering: people have invested in you. Parents, pastors, mentors, and friends have prayed, taught, encouraged, and guided you. Will their investment be wasted?
How can we make sure it isn’t? Here are several practical admonitions:
  • Make and stick to a personal commitment to follow Jesus through your whole life (Matthew 16:24; Joshua 24:15). It’s not enough to say, “My parents believed this” or “My pastors and church leaders believed this.” Following Jesus must be your own, personal commitment. Prioritize time with God, seek to know Him personally, and come to love Him as your own.
  • Get real about sin (Hebrews 3:13; James 1:14-15; 2 Timothy 2:22). One of the most obvious ways a mentor’s investment can be wasted is if we are disqualified in the race through sin. Be on guard against spiritual apathy, lust, sins of addition and vice, and entertaining yourself to death. Flee those youthful lusts that war against your soul. Recognize temptation and take it seriously before it hardens your heart.
  • Value appropriate loyalty (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 2 Timothy 1:3-5). I’ve watched many men and women, as they’ve grown in maturity, completely dismiss their mentors and even bash them. While we may develop our own convictions and sometimes disagree with those who invested in us, it is never appropriate to belittle or undermine them. Remember: when you disrespect an authority in your life, you also undermine the example you set for those who follow you. Celebrate the lessons they’ve taught you, thank them for their influence, and speak positively of them. The way you honor your spiritual mentors serves as a model for how others should honor theirs.
  • Set spiritual goals for your life (2 Peter 3:18; Philippians 3:12-14). We are called to grow in maturity, discipline, and Christlikeness. Don’t wander aimlessly; set goals and pursue them intentionally for God’s glory. Attempt great things for Him, and set achievable steps that stretch you spiritually.
  • Join and serve the church (Ephesians 4:11-16; Hebrews 10:24-25). Being part of a local church places you in the current of necessary growth for your entire life. It provides teaching, fellowship, accountability, opportunities to serve others, and occasions to share the Gospel. It also exposes you to loving rebuke and encouragement—all vital for a faith that endures.
  • Intentionally pass on the faith to others (2 Timothy 2:2). Your mentors didn’t just give you a gift to hold onto—they handed you a baton to pass on. Be intentional about sharing your faith with others: younger believers, friends who are far from God, and even your own family or children. Let the investment made in you continue to bear fruit as you disciple and encourage the next generation.
May we each take what we’ve been given and invest it in others. As Paul told Timothy, “The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

So, Is Orthodoxy Theologically Wrong?

In many of the most important areas, yes.

While Orthodoxy differs from Catholicism in structure and emphasis, it ultimately shares many of the same foundational theological problems.

1. Orthodoxy Rejects Scripture Alone as Final Authority.

Orthodoxy teaches that authority comes from both Scripture and “Holy Tradition.”

While they affirm the inspiration of the Bible, they also teach that Scripture must be interpreted through:

  • Church fathers
  • Ecumenical councils
  • Church liturgy
  • Historical tradition

In practice, this means the church becomes the final interpreter of truth.

That directly conflicts with the sufficiency and clarity of Scripture.

The Bible teaches that Scripture is sufficient to equip the believer for every good work:

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God… that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” — 2 Timothy 3:16–17

Church history is valuable, but it is not infallible. Scripture alone is God-breathed.

2. Orthodoxy Holds to a Faulty View of Salvation.

This is the biggest issue.

Orthodoxy does not teach justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Instead, salvation is viewed as a lifelong process of participation in God through sacraments, repentance, fasting, obedience, and spiritual transformation (“theosis”).

While Orthodoxy rightly emphasizes transformation and sanctification, it confuses sanctification with justification.

The Bible teaches that sinners are declared righteous before God entirely because of Christ’s righteousness credited to them by faith.

Orthodoxy instead blends faith and works into the basis of acceptance before God.

That is not a small disagreement. That is the heart of the Gospel.

3. Orthodoxy Elevates Tradition Beyond Scripture.

Orthodox theology relies heavily on church tradition and historical continuity.

But one of the major problems is inconsistency.

Even within Orthodoxy, there are disagreements over how binding various councils, traditions, and practices actually are.

For example, some historical Orthodox councils strongly defended the veneration of icons—even pronouncing curses on those who rejected them—while modern practice is often softer and less consistent.

This creates an unstable authority structure.

If tradition is infallible, which traditions count? Which councils are binding? Which church fathers are definitive?

Ultimately, Orthodoxy ends up selectively appealing to history in ways that can become inconsistent and subjective.

4. Orthodoxy Contains Serious Doctrinal Problems.

Orthodoxy also teaches doctrines and practices that go beyond Scripture, including:

  • Prayers connected to Mary and the saints
  • Sacramental salvation
  • Veneration of icons
  • Mystical teachings about the afterlife
  • A priestly mediation system

Some Orthodox traditions even teach concepts similar to “toll houses,” where souls are examined after death regarding their sins and spiritual condition before entering God’s presence.

These ideas simply are not grounded in clear biblical teaching.

Is Orthodoxy the same as Catholicism?

No.

There are real differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism.

Orthodoxy rejects papal supremacy, has a different structure of church authority, and differs on certain doctrinal details.

But despite those differences, both systems ultimately place authority outside Scripture and both reject justification by faith alone.

That means the core Gospel issue remains.

The Real Solution Is Not Formality—It’s Biblical Truth

Many people are running toward Orthodoxy because they correctly recognize problems in modern Christianity:

  • Shallow teaching
  • Consumer-driven worship
  • Emotionalism
  • Casualness toward God

Those concerns are often legitimate.

But the answer is not to run toward a system that adds layers of tradition and obscures the Gospel.

The solution is to return to Scripture.

The Bible is sufficient, clear, authoritative, and enough for the church today.

True reverence does not come from incense, candles, or ancient rituals alone. It comes from rightly seeing God through His Word.

“Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” — Hebrews 12:28

Reverent worship flows from a right understanding of who God is—not merely from atmosphere or formality.

Final Thoughts

Orthodoxy is attractive because it offers history, beauty, transcendence, and seriousness in an age of instability and superficiality.

But sincerity, beauty, and antiquity are not enough.

Every church, tradition, and theological system must ultimately be tested by the Word of God.

And wherever any system departs from the Gospel of grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, we must lovingly but clearly say that it is wrong—no matter how ancient or impressive it may appear.

Resources to Learn More

  • 9 Marks Pastor’s Talk — 2-part episode on Eastern Orthodoxy
  • The Story of Christianity: Volumes 1–2 by Justo L. Gonzalez