When Evangelical Zeal Meets Ancient Christianity: A Conversation Between Friends

What happens when two long-time friends—one a passionate evangelical content creator, the other a devout Eastern Orthodox Christian—sit down inside a church filled with ancient icons to talk about faith, history, and what it means to follow Jesus? In this compelling and heartfelt dialogue, David Latting and Ben Langlois (Orthodox Luigi) offer something rare: a conversation marked by both conviction and deep mutual respect.

Though they come from very different traditions, David and Ben’s friendship sets the tone for an honest, disarming exchange. David opens up about his spiritual journey—how intense theological debates with Muslims drove him to investigate church history, and how walking through ancient cathedrals awakened a hunger for something deeper than modern formulas. In a moment of raw vulnerability, he describes being moved to tears during an Orthodox liturgy, even while remaining rooted in his Protestant community. “I want to break that wall,” he says, referring to the misconceptions that often prevent evangelicals from seriously engaging with Orthodoxy.

Ben responds not with defensiveness, but with clarity and grace. He explains Orthodox Christianity’s understanding of apostolic succession, the theological meaning of icons as “windows into heaven,” and how salvation is seen not as a one-time event, but a lifelong process of becoming more like Christ. His insights are never presented as a challenge to Protestant faith, but as an invitation to consider the historical richness of the early Church.

Together, David and Ben reflect on the hunger many Christians feel today for worship that is Christ-centered, reverent, and historically rooted. They share a mutual concern about the rise of personality-driven church culture and discuss how liturgical structure and ancient rhythms offer spiritual depth that many young believers are longing for.

What makes this conversation so meaningful isn’t just the exchange of ideas—it’s the way both men keep Jesus at the center. They demonstrate how friendship, humility, and shared love for the gospel can bridge even deep theological divides.

Whether you’re Protestant, Orthodox, or simply curious about the richness of Christian tradition, this conversation invites you to reflect more deeply on your own faith journey. Could exploring the ancient paths of the Church help you walk more closely with Christ?

Find an Orthodox Church near you today. Visit https://www.antiochian.org/home

Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdh

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