Sola Scriptura is Unbiblical

The Lord says He wants unity and no schism in His Church,
yet each “church” contradicts the others about doctrines and faith and works;
If I spent my life researching interpretations, I know I’d lose all hope,
Because with over 25,000 denominations, I’d be at the end of my rope.

I swear all this confusion is the work of Satan and his minions,
Because three people can read the same Bible and give you four opinions!
Now, for a while I thought the problem was most people just don’t study hard enough,
So I dove into lots and lots of books until I thought my mind was tough.

But then I realized that even brilliant people disagree,
and so my outlook started looking grim,
because even if they’re checking up on me,
who’s checking up on them?

“Sola Scriptura!” they all replied, as the cure to every woe . . .
“If you consult the Bible, and the Bible alone, you’ll learn all you need to know.”

So let’s test this theory with a real life doctrine like prayers for the dead . . .
are they evil, or are they good?
Yet, this Bible does not say whether I should pray for the dead,
While this Bible says that I should.

Faced with this critical doctrinal question, will Sola Scriptura crumble, or will it thrive?
Should I accept the Bible that has 66 books?  Or the Bible that has 75?

Now this is no small question of esoteric education,
especially for Christians who claim the Bible as their very Faith’s foundation;
The books found here, that are missing from here, contain prophecies of Christ,
encouragement to pray for the dead, and to give alms to rescue one’s life.

So should we accept these doctrines? or just cast them beneath our feet?
It depends which Bible is the true one, and which Bible is incomplete.
But this doctrinal point is just the place where Sola Scriptura fails.
This critical doctrinal question takes the wind right out of its sails . . .

For you can search the Bible from front to back, inside out and upside down,
Yet from Genesis to Revelation, a list of books cannot be found;
Protestants around the world have studied, searched, and inquired,
and to this day they all agree the Bible’s table of contents is not inspired.

So to answer this doctrinal question,
there are men’s opinions which Protestants quote,
But the Bible has not one chapter, not one verse,
to reveal which books the Holy Spirit wrote.

So it seems that maybe Protestants
are on a rather ironic mission;
They say their doctrines are based on the Bible alone,
yet their Bible is based on Protestant Tradition.

So the next time a Protestant asks you to become a “Sola Scriptura” guy,
Just ask him whether you should use your Bible or his . . . and why?

When he presents an argument not straight from Scripture,
you can invite him to cease his talks,
For if his faith leans on Church Tradition,
then it’s time for your friend to become Orthodox!

Repent. part deux

Second, repentance is endless.  Even Martin Luther got this one right, and demonstrated orthodox apostolic faith when he declared this as his first of 95 theses against the Roman Church “Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said repent, willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.”  Since God is holy, and sin is unholy, since God desires oneness with us, and sin separates us…there is only one way to reunion:  repentance… and since we sin often, daily in fact: our repentance must be endlessly constant but here is the really good news – so is God’s love – endless fatherly compassion, every prodigal’s dream.

“All the virtues, by the grace of God, may be perfected by man, but no one can perfect repentance, since we need repentance until our last breath, for we err in the twinkling of an eye.  Therefore repentance is interminable – and this is a good thing!  O how good God is!   Although we err as humans, we are sluggish to say “I have sinned”…but time flies, the years roll by, and we are drawing nearer and nearer to eternity.  We see this, yet a mental numbness has bound us until we (and I first) are thrown into hell!

In a world of values clarification, and of sensitivity training, and of political correctness this idea of hell,  sin and confession would be denounced vociferously in a heartbeat – as judgmental, mean-spirited, condemning and well – just not nice.  But the essence of our Orthodox faith is always counter to the culture:  for we know that in order to live one must first die.  Repentance is dying with Christ, a second baptism, a baptism of tears of contrition and sorrow, and as we plunge often into the depths of our tears, into the dark recess of the grave – we, like the icon of Pascha, find ourselves as Adam and Eve…whose hands are upraised and bodies are plucked out from death and the grave by Jesus Christ.  It is only in Satan’s playbook that repentance is considered a downer, bummer, and an archaic superstitious option… he, and he alone knows that repentance, like the Cross, is the instrument that smashes the gates of  hell and opens the way to paradise… our repentance must be daily, weekly monthly, yearly…endless and why not?  For what it offers us what we need most…grace – a second chance – a new beginning.  Let us sincerely repent, let us confess frankly and in detail.  Let the tribunal of God and His decision preoccupy us continuously and let us say: “I wonder, shall I be saved or shall I face the torments of hell?”  May it be that none of us regrets the chance to repent in this life, as we stand at the gates of the life to come…only to have them barred from us… imagine the sorrow when we realize what we could have had for eternity if we would have but humbled ourselves in the present.  Lord have mercy.  May it never be.

Finally, repentance is good.  So very, very good.   It is a gift unlike any gift we have ever been given, or will ever be given.  It is life, peace, health, visitation and salvation rolled into one.  We are seated in darkness and repentance opens our eyes to the Light.  We place ourselves in the region and shadow of death…and yet, through repentance Light dawns…it is not by coincidence that our place of confession and repentance is in that corner… right next to the laver, the font, the source of our rebirth through baptism as infants…and now as adult infants we go to that self-same space and rebirth and regeneration happens again and again…  I especially love it when after kneeling for the blessing my larger posterior bumps into the font and rattles both me and it…!  It’s as if the Lord is saying “Hey you, don’t forget what happened here!”  and  come back again real soon…   

I close with this.  May the Spirit of God, and the loving admonition of our priests and confessors, and may our consciences always serve as the voice of Christ beckoning us to come home again… for here, and especially there you are always welcome… always, no matter what.  The door is open, a chair is at the table for you, for me, for everyone…for we are sons and daughters… and what son or daughter is ever denied a place at dinner?

“I pray that all of us will awaken, light our lamps, and with a vigilant eye wait patiently for the Lord to come, so that we may enter into the resplendent bridal chamber of eternal bliss, the festival of the bright angels, to chant with them the resurrection canticles, which will elevate us to divine ascents!  Then – oh then – we shall fully realize what a great work it is to compel us in everything and that our superiors did well to push us, and grieve us, for we shall say: “Behold, what we see now!  Then our thanks to God will have no limits…  so…

Let us not lose our time in vain.     Rather….let us repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.

You Lost Me LIVE Events!

Repent. part one.

“…the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned…and from that time Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand…”

Wherever the Kingdom of Heaven is – there is repentance.  We cannot have the one without the other.  Never.    Consider its importance – of all the words, thoughts and ideas that our Lord could have shared with us in his first sermon on earth – The WORD uses His very first words to clearly teach us the most important reality of our faith:  Repent.  Return.  The basic idea of “repent” is fairly simple.  It means turn around, change your mind, heart, spirit, and actions.  Herein lies the struggle; although its meaning may be simple the attainment of it is not.  Repentance is necessary, simple and difficult… all at the same time.  It is good and right only eight days into this new civic year, on the Sunday after Theophany, at the beginning of twelve long months of life, living and activity that the Church gives us a needed reminder – a precious gift today – a resolution truly worthy of making and keeping – Christ gives us the KEY that unlocks everything, the only door that opens to us the gates of paradise , the one essential necessity to experience the fullness of faith, and true joy – today we are given the way, the truth and the life in one simple command:  repent.

Today I’d like to share three short reflections on repentance; but first a very important disclosure and confession: of what I am about to speak – I fail miserably.  I am no expert; neither am I an example or model, for I’m a sinful man and struggle mightily about the very thing of which I am about to speak to you today – but like you; we all can flee to the feet of holy and pious elders who do repent well who can enlighten us and encourage us – and together we can listen and learn and see the path the saints have walked and we can tread in those same footprints – and as Father reminds us: we are damned on our own in isolation, but saved in community…so we turn to holy saints who show us the way… especially Elder Ephraim

So here are the Three variations on One theme – all essential – each one a tremendous gift and blessing  to us: First, Repentance is non-negotiable…  second Repentance is endless… finally Repentance is a gift… in fact it is ‘the’ gift  – best of all gifts.   So… non-negotiable, necessary… essential.

“To fall and be injured is human, since – even if a man’s life lasted for only one day – his mind is inclined to evil from his youth.  But to fall and remain fallen is not human.  Repentance recreates man; it was given to us to cure the soul after baptism.  If it did not exist, rarely would a person be saved.  That is why, the virtue of repentance is unending as long as man is alive, for only the perfect do not err.  Every time you see your thoughts reproaching you for some sin, immediately take the medicine: repent, weep, confess and behold, you return to your former & better state…

Repentance is absolutely essential. Why?  Because it restores the separation that we create between us and our Father.  Repentance is necessary for who among us is without sin?  Who among us never thinks an ill thought, or commits a hurtful act, or loves God with all of our mind, heart, body and soul?  Who?   There is none – none who are righteous and yet – God in his foreknowledge and tender Fatherly goodness has made a way for us to reunion, to restoration, to redemption… today His Son, Jesus says clearly “Do you want to experience the Kingdom of Heaven, right here, right now…in all of its fullness?  Then come to Me … repent.

Wisdom in Perilous Times.

Divine Wisdom ( Sophia ) with the Father- painting by Michelangelo

Thinking about wisdom these days.

Who is the wise man?  What is the evidence of a wise nation? 

Is it…

Debt and more debt?   Waging war for gain?  Antagonizing other nations?  Imperialism?  Meddling, prying, and forcing ‘our way’ on others?  Borrowing without repaying?  Spending that which you do not have?  Promising one thing, and delivering another?  Serving yourself, instead of serving others?  Being willing to attack versus a willingness to listen?  

None of these is wise.  None is wisdom.  All of this is foolish. Every morning this year, as part of my daily rule of prayer, I am praying the Proverbs… 30 proverbs, 30 days… seeking to understand wisdom – hoping that wisdom will seep into me and find a home.  What are proverbs?  “…to know wisdom and instruction, and to understand the words of discernment…”  “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and there is good  understanding in all who practice it…”

Day 4 of 2012… Proverbs chapter four – words that are wise, and imagine if all men would listen and obey? 

My son give heed to my word and incline your ear to my words, that your fountains may not fail you; Guard them in your heart.

For they are life  to those who find them, and healing for all their flesh, Keep your heart with all watchfulness.  For from these words are the issues of life.  Put away from yourself a crooked mouth, and remove unrighteous lips far from you.  Let your eyes look straight forward, and let your eyelids assent to righteous things.  Make straight paths for your feet and direct your ways aright.  Do not turn aside to the right or to the left, but turn your foot from an evil way.  For God knows the ways on the right hand, but those on the left are perverse; and He shall make your paths straight, and guide your steps to peace.   Let the word become firmly planted in your heart:

Love it, and it will keep you.  Secure it, and it shall exalt you.  Honor it, that it may embrace you, and give your head a crown of graces, and cover you with a crown of delight…”

God grant us, grant me, grant our national, civic, and spiritual leaders wisdom.  Calm and cool heads.  Humble and contrite spirits.  Gentle, merciful and ambassador spirits… God help us to seek first to understand – then to be understood.  Help us to be merciful, that mercy might be shown to us… 

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and a mortal who sees discernment for the profits gained by wisdom are better than the treasures of gold and silver and wisdom is more valuable than precious stones – and nothing evil will withstand her.

+anaphora

 

Important and Urgent.

To be a free citizen in a constitutional Republic is a gift.  A blessing.  God Himself if the author of Liberty and Freedom for all creatures.  In America, we face a very important election this year.  I am writing about it every day here. Many of us are convinced that this is really our last shot to return to virtue, morality, constitutionality, and fiscal sanity.  Sometimes I say, “Don’t worry about politics, government… it’s all a waste…”  and at other times, like now, I am tempted to put all my energy and effort into helping pro-Constitutional candidates like Ron Paul in office; but neither desire  is correct in itself.  It’s never good to be too inflamed only with the things of culture and society, and yet it is also not good to be indifferent to our responsibility to engage in civic discourse and citizenry.

What matters is balance – and what wins in the end is a vision to eternity.

Electing good Libertarian/ Constitutional candidates is important in our nation and at times can be urgent… like right now.  But it is only pursuit of holy things that earns the moniker of  ”important and urgent…” 

From my reading today with Elder Ephraim…

Do not forget your goal, my child.  Look into heaven and see the beauty that awaits us.  What are the present, earthly things?  Aren’t they but ashes and dust and a dream?  Don’t we see that everything here is subject to decay?  Whereas the things above are everlasting, the kingdom of God is endless, and blessed is he who will dwell in it, for he will behold the glory of His divine face..

My child, do not forget that  we are in this world only temporarily and that our life dangles by a thread and that all the desirable things in the world are vain.  So, whoever despises the vain things of the world – in other words, does not passionately desire them – will participate in the eternal good things.

So, when we have this knowledge of the truth, naturally we shall turn the eyes of our soul at every moment towards eternal life, towards the heavenly Jerusalem, where the choirs of angels chant godly canticles of ineffable sweetness and wisdom.  Oh, my children, how much glory your souls will have when after death they ascend to the heavens and are numbered with the angels in heaven!

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New Year.

A new year.

A new beginning.

There is no better way to begin than with a good word from a holy Father, Elder Ephraim.  May we go with God, and for God, in this coming year.    I find this particularly meaningful at the beginning of a new civic year, when so much uncertainty about the future lies before us – as is often the case when we sit at the feet of monastics, we get a sense of calmness, serenity, peace and tranquility… even in the midst of a world going mad.

Everything will pass and will end as if it had never existed, whereas works done in God will remain with the soul that worked them so that the worker may reap eternal life from them.  Blessed are the spiritual philosophers of God, who give away transient things and store up eternal things, so that when they depart, they will find their treasures in God’s treasury with accrued interest.  Blessed are they who clean their hearts from the weeds of sin and cultivate the good seed, for the time will come for them to reap sheaves of eternal life.  Blessed are they who sow tears with spiritual fasting, that is, always hungering and thirsting for good works, for they will reap eternal joy!

No matter what this new year may bring – having our eyes and hearts set on eternal things – and leaving the transient things to God’s care will bring us the most peace.

+ anaphora

 

A Walk With Ephraim.

On January 1, 2012 I will begin an odyssey of spiritual adventure - ‘walking with Elder Ephraim’ of the Holy Mountain – Athos in Greece and now St. Anthony’s Monastery in Arizona.  What inspired me to take this journey under the indirect ‘tutelage’ of this holy elder is my intention of understanding from a true spiritual father how Orthodox faith becomes Orthodox practice… to learn from monastic holy fathers is a most profitable way to receive the guidance needed to repent and strive to walk the path of holiness in an unholy world.  Elder Ephraim’s writings in the book “Counsels from the Holy Mountain” will be my guide, striving to imagine that the words that he used for countless thousands of other people and monastics might somehow be a word and blessing to me.

Knowledge is fleeting. 

Wisdom is eternal…. and it is Holy Wisdom that we must all seek.

So how did I come about this idea? 

Recently I began to think about the coming year 2012.  Some say it will be a very hard one mercilessly difficult as the world and governments continue to stumble and fall, in fact some predict it will be the last year of all civilization, and yet others say everything is going to be just fine… don’t worry about it.  For the Orthodox Christian we live in the moment, neither fearing the past or the future, but living in repentance and in humble confidence in our Lord’s victory over the only real enemy – death.   In Christ we are at peace and in peace.

But I said “How could I best redeem the gift of time this coming year – what would be the very best way to invest my energies and efforts?”  “What would be worthy of giving myself to? “  Certainly one of the biggest presidential elections in our nation’s history is before us, and I realized how ill-informed and unprepared I am to engage in our processes of democracy and freedom by the electing our national and local leaders… so one day amidst all of the noise emanating from the political parties I heard the very simple and yet sobering common sense message of Ron Paul… and I said, “What would it look like if I spent the year studying him, and seeking to understand his call for a return to conservative Constitutionalism – just walking with him?”   I think I’ll do that.

And a new blog was born “Walking with Ron”.    Each day of 2012 I will reflect on what I am learning from Congressman Paul, and posting my reflections online.

And since my Orthodox faith is far more important and valuable to me than politics I want to do the same with Elder Ephraim, for I am both a citizen of Heaven and yet a citizen of this Republic… and I must honor God faithfully in both cases… as a child of God and as a son of Liberty.

Learning from wise men, one in a political realm, one in the spiritual realm is how I will spend my new year… may God have mercy on me and grant me wisdom and understanding.

+ anaphora

The Mission of the Orthodox Church

What is the mission of the Church?  What is the Orthodox Church all about?    What would you say?   How would you answer this?  This past Saturday while doing some work on a project at a local food pantry  a person asked “So what is the Orthodox Church?”   Great question – and this post provides a very good answer.

Our mission is to attain the Kingdom of God, and to draw all those around us—even the whole world—into that same Kingdom. To be ‘missionary’, then, is to live our lives in such a manner that these two things are possible, and more than simply possible: that they actually take place.

The Orthodox Church has been granted the faith, doctrine and teachings of Christ, His apostles, and millions of God Bearing fathers and mothers over 2 millenia -  this is our heritage – our gift.   But along with this gift comes the responsibility of actually doing something with it; for at the great reckoning in the end we will bear even more accountability since we have been given the fullness of the faith – the pearl of great price.

So, “What are we to use our lives to accomplish?”   What is the most important work we can give ourselves to?

Below is an excerpt from a wonderful article by Monk Irinei that you can read completely here.

The Mission of the Orthodox Christian: The Salvation of the Soul

The ‘mission’ and aim of the Christian life is the salvation of our souls and bodies, and the attainment of the Kingdom of God. This is first and foremost, and above all else.

It is for this that the Father sent His only-begotten Son, our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, into the world; it is for this that He offered Himself and sent the life-creating Spirit—that we who are fallen and broken, suffering and crippled by sin and death, might rise up by His power and attain to the life He has fashioned for us, abiding eternally with Him in His heavenly Kingdom.

We must not forget this! Yet one of the things I feel it important to remind you of today is that the work of Christian mission does often forget this, and we and you as Orthodox Christians must stalwartly resist this tendency to forget what is truly the purpose of our every Christian activity, especially our missionary work.

Our aim is not to help the people around us find a more fulfilling life; it is not to help them discover better worship; it is not to help them locate and become part of a more satisfying community. Our mission is to help them find the Kingdom of God, to overcome their sin by His power, to be transformed into the life of His blessedness.

This is our mission as Orthodox Christians; and for this reason, it is neither a popular or easy one in the world today. I want you to recognise this. To be a missionary requires struggle, and a confident boldness.

To fulfil this mission, we must proclaim boldly and without hesitation:

• that there is but one God, not the many Gods, ideologies and spiritualities that the world likes to foster today;
• that this one God is our God, who ‘does great and wonderful things’, and He alone is true and the Truth, and not that endless variety of truths and wisdoms the world embraces around us;
• that there is such a thing as sin, that there is right and there is wrong, there is good and there is bad and it can and should be identified as such—even if the world might call this ‘judgemental’;
• and, perhaps most importantly: that there is a way out of sin—namely, the Life in Christ that is the mystery of His Church.

Our mission is to attain the Kingdom of God, and to draw all those around us—even the whole world—into that same Kingdom. To be ‘missionary’, then, is to live our lives in such a manner that these two things are possible, and more than simply possible: that they actually take place.

+anaphora

The Heart of the Matter

The essential and undisputed center of Orthodox faith, and the very life of the Holy catholic and apostolic Church is the Holy Trinity.  Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  One God – Three persons, one in Essence and undivided.  The Trinity is what separates Orthodox Christian faith apart from all other systems and beliefs that ever have been, and ever will be.  The unoriginate God who transcends time and space, has mercifully revealed Himself to all creation: a Unity in Trinity, a Trinity in Unity.  The essence of true sacrificial obedient community whose ultimate purpose is love; whose singular desire is communion with us – oneness – salvation – paradise.

Without this clear teaching.  Without faith in this essential truth there is no hope.  Life is senseless for there is no history, identity and ultimate purpose for each day and every event of our lives.  The Orthodox Church stands on 20 centuries of teachers and faithful saints who have clearly articulated for us this essential truth and has given us directives to guard and keep these boundaries safe from false teachers.  Among the most beautiful expositions of the Holy Trinity is from our father among the saints, St. John of Damascus.

On The Holy Trinity by St. John Damascene

We believe in Father and Son and Holy Ghost;
one Godhead in three hypostases;
one will, one operation, alike in three persons;
wisdom incorporeal, uncreated, immortal, incomprehensible,
without beginning, unmoved, unaffected, without quantity,
without quality, ineffable, immutable, unchangeable, uncontained,
equal in glory, equal in power, equal in majesty, equal in might, equal in nature,
exceedingly substantial, exceedingly good,
thrice radiant, thrice bright, thrice brilliant.

Light is the Father, Light the Son, Light the Holy Ghost;
Wisdom the Father, Wisdom the Son, Wisdom the Holy Ghost;
one God and not three Gods;
one Lord the Holy Trinity discovered in three hypostases.

Father is the Father, and unbegotten;
Son is the Son, begotten and not unbegotten, for He is from the Father;
Holy Ghost, not begotten but proceeding, for He is from the Father.

There is nothing created, nothing of the first and second order, nothing lord and servant;
but there is unity and trinity
- there was, there is, and there shall be forever -
which is perceived and adored by faith -
by faith, not by inquiry, nor by searching out, nor by visible manifestation;
for the more He is sought out, the more He is unknown, and the more He is investigated, the more He is hidden.

And so, let the faithful adore God with a mind that is not overcurious. And believe that He is God in three hypostases, although the manner in which He is so is beyond manner, for God is incomprehensible. Do not ask how the Trinity is Trinity, for the Trinity is inscrutable.

But, if you are curious about God, first tell me of yourself and the things that pertain to you. How does your soul have existence? How is your mind-set in motion? How do you produce your mental concepts? How is it that you are both mortal and immortal? But, if you are ignorant of these things which are within you, then why do you not shudder at the thought of investigating the sublime things of heaven?

Think of the Father as a spring of life begetting the Son like a river and the Holy Ghost like a sea, for the spring and the river and sea are all one nature.

Think of the Father as a root, and of the Son as a branch, and the Spirit as a fruit, for the substance in these three is one.

The Father is a sun with the Son as rays and the Holy Ghost as heat.

The Holy Trinity transcends by far every similitude and figure. So, when you hear of an offspring of the Father, do not think of a corporeal offspring. And when you hear that there is a Word, do not suppose Him to be a corporeal word. And when you hear of the Spirit of God, do not think of wind and breath. Rather, hold you persuasion with a simple faith alone. For the concept of the Creator is arrived at by analogy from His creatures.

Be persuaded, moreover, that the incarnate dispensation of the Son of God was begotten ineffably without seed of the blessed Virgin, believing Him to be without confusion and without change both God and man, who for your sake worked all the dispensation. And to Him by good works give worship and adoration, and venerate and revere the most holy Mother of God and ever-virgin Mary as true Mother of God, and all the saints as His attendants.

Doing thus, you will be a right worshiper of the holy and undivided Trinity, Father and Son and Holy Ghost, of the one Godhead, to whom be glory and honor and adoration forever and ever. Amen

+anaphora

Santa Nicholas

December 6 – is the Feast and Commemoration of Saint (Santa) Nicholas.  The Orthodox Christian bishop whose entire life was a simple sign of goodness, love and benevolence to the poor or anyone who was in need.  It amazes me, and yet it does not amaze me, how the real story of this real man has been somehow hijacked over the centuries turning him and his legacy into a commercial financial pop icon/business called “Claus” and black Friday ‘holidays’.   The main message of this new secular feast is  “What do YOU want little boy… or girl… or man or woman…?”  How far we have fallen.  St. Nicholas is the story of a man who gave to others who were too poor to have anything.  We on the other hand go into debt to give ourselves things we cannot afford and do not need.  Christmas is not about buying ourselves, or others gifts.  It is about taking from our abundance and providing something for those who have little or nothing at all.  What a radical concept.  What a complete departure from what we know today as ‘black Friday’.

Here is a nice and concise commentary on the life and message of Nicholas.  One that we can all seek to emulate.

Sad as it is to see St. Nicholas transformed into the red-suited Santa Claus of the secular winter “holidays,” it is easy to understand why the holy bishop has become so closely connected with the festival of Christ’s birth. The stories about the saint, fabricated and embroidered in Christian imagination over the ages, in various times and places, all tell of the simple faith and love of the man known only for his goodness and love.

The extraordinary thing about the image of St. Nicholas in the Church is that he is not known for anything extraordinary. He was not a theologian and never wrote a word, yet he is famous in the memory of believers as a zealot for Orthodoxy, allegedly accosting the heretic Arius at the first ecumenical council in Nicaea for denying the divinity of God’s Son. He was not an ascetic and did no outstanding feats of fasting and vigils, yet he is praised for his possession of the “fruit of the Holy Spirit… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22-23). He was not a mystic in our present meaning of the term but he lived daily with the Lord and was godly in all his words and deeds. He was not a prophet in the technical sense, yet he proclaimed the Word of God, exposed the sins of the wicked, defended the rights of the oppressed and afflicted, and battled against every form of injustice with supernatural compassion and mercy. In a word, he was a good pastor, father, and bishop to his flock, known especially for his love and care for the poor. Most simply put, he was a divinely good person.

Like God and like Jesus, St. Nicholas was genuinely good. Real goodness is possible. For, to quote the Lord again, “with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26). A human being, even a rich human being who believes in God, can be genuinely good with God’s own goodness. “For truly I say to you, says the Lord, “if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed… nothing will be impossible to you” (Mt 17:20-21).

The Messiah has come so that human beings can live lives which are, strictly speaking, humanly impossible. He has come so that people can really be good. One of the greatest and most beloved examples among believers that this is true is the holy bishop of Myra about whom almost nothing else is known, or needs to be known, except that he was good. For this reason alone he remains, even in his secularized form, the very spirit of Christmas.    – Father Thomas Hopko

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Orthodoxy is…

If being a Christian in our present cultural ethos is becoming more and more difficult to do; then living as an Orthodox Christian is even more daunting… if one obviously embraces the full scope and teaching of Holy Tradition and actually lives  the Orthodox life.   As an Orthodox Christian I do not say these things to either gain sympathy, pity, nor to pat myself on the back because by doing all of these ‘things’ we are somehow ‘better’ or superior Christians.  In fact, we are only doing what we have been created to do, accomplishing those things that are given to us as gifts… yes, gifts are hard things.  

Being Orthodox is a way of life.  A very different life than the life we see on CNN and reality TV.   It really  is not a religion.  It’s not a denomination.  Being Orthodox in a non-Orthodox world is hard, difficult, and daunting – but it is Life, and Health, Peace and Salvation exactly because of its demands and difficulty.  We follow our Christ who reminds us daily that if He suffered and was persecuted  that we too would follow this path as well, and that if He was rejected by men, we would be likewise. 

I want to introduce you to Abbot Tryphon pictured here of All Merciful Savior Monastery on Vashon Island in the Puget Sound of Washington state.  An Orthodox monk, and former Lutheran pastor who came to Orthodoxy an number of years ago (his journey is fascinating).   Please, if you can (and you should), read his daily post called Morning Offering, and listen to his daily podcast at Ancient Faith Radio.  He is a godly, humble and gifted spiritual priest and monk.  Here is a sample of what I was saying above.  Orthodoxy, and the path of Christ is never easy… but it is always good.

Living our Orthodox Faith in a Multi-Cultural Society by Abbot Tryphon

Orthodoxy by its very nature is a demanding path, one that requires her faithful to fully embrace a lifestyle that is in opposition to the world about us. The many periods of fasting and the practice of standing for our services are just two things that set Orthodoxy apart in our world. In an age when so many embrace religions that require little or no standard of belief, Orthodoxy is a faith that holds to ancient dogmas and ways of worship that are virtually unchanged in two thousand years.

Our multi-cultural societies have radically changed the face of many countries throughout the western world, with immigration introducing many foreign religions into societies that were previously monolithic in religious tradition. Many countries in Western Europe and North America are now seeing the spread of Orthodoxy as never before, along with the introduction of Islam. This, together with the spread of secularism and atheism, has changed the religious map of many countries.

These changes have made the practice of our faith more difficult since western societies no longer culturally support the open practice of Christianity. No longer do we see the expression of Christianity in the public forum, with the exception of Orthodox countries, prominently being a part of the societal fabric. Many people are even experiencing pressure to keep their faith a private affair, so as not to offend others by being “too religious”. With pluralism dominant in the work place and social settings, any display of our faith can be frowned upon.

This may work for some, but for a serious Orthodox Christian this is problematic. How do we live Orthodoxy as our faith demands if we live it in a vacuum, shuttling it off as a private fare practice only on Sundays? If we are truly to “put on Christ” and be transformed by the healing resources that are available by living a committed Orthodox faith, we can not allow ourselves to live “Orthodoxy Lite”.

Orthodoxy cries out to be lived, experienced, practiced! If we call ourselves Orthodox while rarely attending services, ignoring the fasting regulations, hiding our one icon in a bedroom, never making the sign of the cross in public, praying a blessing over our meal only when alone or with family, we are not practicing Orthodox Christians.

We must be bold in our faith. As a monk who wears my monastic garb everywhere, I can tell you it has a powerful impact on people. Even when sitting among friends who are not religious, I always bless my food. If I see a police car, fire truck or aid car pass by in downtown Seattle, I raise my hand in blessing, for I want my God to keep them safe, and I want whomever is in need of their help to receive it. I wear a cross around my neck not only because I am a priest, but because I am a Believer.

I am not afraid to be public about my faith in Jesus Christ, for my faith demands it of me. Christ told His disciples that if they denied Him before men, so too would He deny them before His Father in heaven. Orthodox Christianity cries out to be lived publicly. Our very salvation demands it!

 

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Theological ‘math’

Addition or Subtraction. 

That’s really the issue in theology isn’t it?  It’s the simplest way possible to explain how we all got here theologically (the reason behind the 42,000 denominations of Christianity today), for it can be truly said that when the Roman Church, the Bishop and the Church founded in the city of Rome, broke away from the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church in the 11th century… the biggest result was ‘addition’.  Rome added to the Nicene Creed, the teachings, dogmas, and doctrines of the received sacred apostolic tradition and thus divided, or separated itself from Christ’s one Body, the one church confessed in the Creed.  And yet, as is almost always the case, the pendulum then swings wildly back in the other direction.  As a knee jerk reaction 500 years later, a German Monk named Martin, along with other  ’reformers’, overreacted in the opposite manner… by taking away from the sacred tradition – deleting, subtracting, rejecting, ignoring…and removing faith, practice, doctrine, and apostolic tradition; throwing the proverbial ‘baby out with the bath water’.   Both addition and subtraction are death to the true faith, to the faith once delivered for all by the apostles.

Addition.  Subtraction…. and yet there is the ‘middle way’ the better way … The Orthodox Way.   A path of fervent and faithful adherence to the faith passed down from the apostles,  through 2,000 years to this present day neither adding or subtracting the fullness of the faith, but knowing, living, and passing on this sacred trust to the next generations unsullied and unchanged.  The more things change - the more the Apostolic  faith and church stay the same… neither adding to, nor deleting from the received fullness of faith from our fathers and mothers.  

So what is this 2,000 year old Apostolic Faith?  What does the Orthodox Church continue to believe, confess, practice, proclaim and defend?    Read here….

Here is a practical example, evidence of the ‘addition’ and/or ’deletion’ of faith:  Mary, the Mother of God, the Theotokos.  The Orthodox honor her, and call her blessed…as the Bible clearly instructs us to do, and as the church has done for millennia.   Yet in Roman Catholicism non-apostolic dogmas such as the immaculate conception, and the co-redeemer status of Mary (mediatrix) are added.   In Protestantism, Mary is almost always deleted, forgotten, minimized, ignored, and perhaps brought out once a year for the annual Christmas Pageant Extravaganza whereas in Orthodoxy the Mother of God is remembered always, in every liturgical service, and in 4 major Feasts throughout the church year.

To pray it is to be free, and to give honor to her who gave birth to Him who is the Savior of our Souls.  This is a prayer that gives peace.  A prayer of beauty.  This version which I include below is the traditional Orthodox prayer to the Theotokos, adding the final phrase “Holy Mary, Mother of God… pray for us…”  from the Latin, West, Roman tradition.  To simply prove that not everything in the Roman West is wrong.  For who among us would not want the Mother of God to pray for us, now, and at the hour of our death?

What pleases God most is not our divisions.  He weeps over them.  But the call to unity is ever fresh, ever new, always available.  But the unity is a call back to the beginning before there was addition and subtraction… a call that every person must study and consider to be truly honest with whatever they presently believe or practice. 

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee, O Virgin Theotokos.

Blessed art Thou among women, and Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb – Jesus – for thou hast born the Savior of our Souls.

Holy Mary – Mother of God – pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

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Hesychia

All Merciful Savior Orthodox Monastery on Vashon Island, Washington Home of Abbot Tryphon

God is Heard in the Silence of the Heart

The very heart of Orthodox monasticism is found in hesychia, that is, keeping stillness.The hesychast denies in order to affirm. Based on Christ’s injunction in the Gospel of Saint Matthew to “go into your closet to pray”,  in tradition has been the process of retiring inward by ceasing to register the senses, in order to achieve an experiential knowledge of God.Saint Issac the Syrian says it is better to acquire inner purity than to convert the whole world of heathens from error. The Venerable Issac is not discounting missionary work, but simply saying that unless we acquire a peaceful heart, nothing else can be accomplished.

In this world filled with noise, we must make time for silence, for God speaks to us in the silence of our heart. This seeking after silence is not world-denying but world-embracing.

 

Abbot Tryphon.

 

To follow more of the Abbot’s writing and podcasts visit: The Morning Offering.

 

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Orthodox Relevancy

Who says the Orthodox Church isn’t relevant?  

We have priests and bishops bearing light sabers, along with Monastic Abbots who just so happen to like Apples.

 

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The things that matter…

It’s Fall. 

It’s Friday. 

It’s Sunny in Michigan. 

The world might be ‘melting’ down; but our God is good and He loves mankind.  That never changes.

The Cross

September 14… the feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross of Christ…

The Cross is the weapon of righteousness that dispels all darkness.  Defeats all satanic attacks.  Provides life to anyone who embraces it, picks it up, and carries it.  For we glory in the Cross of Christ for indeed it is the very wisdom of God.  Fear not the chaotic and insanely crazed times in which we live.  These birth pangs of unrest are a sign… things are moving exactly as our Lord foretold.  Do not fear.  Do not fret.  Do not worry.  Join yourself to Christ’s Body, the Church, find hope, solace, and strength within Her for anything and everything that is coming, and that will come.

An Explanation of the Traditional Orthodox Three-bar Cross

(also called the Eight-pointed Cross)

Worshipping the crucified Lord are two flying angels, with the inscription between them: “Angels of the Lord” (in Slavonic: Ангели Господни). In some depictions of the Cross the Angels are bearing an image of the Holy Trinity, but traditions vary in allowing this; usually the Angels are simply holding towels, indicating their position as messengers who serve the Lord and who wait on Him.

Through the Cross came our Salvation. We are constantly reminded that Christ died for us when we see the Image of the Cross (depicting the crucified Lord), and we are reminded that He rose from the dead when we behold the Image of Christ “Not made by hands” (Slavonic: Нерукутвореному образъ) on the towel (depicting the Lord risen frem the dead).

The top bar of the Cross is the title-board which Pilate ordered to be hung in mockery over Christ’s head. On this board was inscribed: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” in Hebrew, Greek and Latin (abbreviated to the Greek initials ‘INBI’, or the Latin initials ‘INRI’ in the Western tradition). This has been replaced with the Christian inscription: “King of Glory” (Slavonic: Царь славы), placed below the knees of the angels. [Note that while the use of the inscription 'І.Н.Ц.І.' does not usually appear in the Russian tradition, examples of its occurrence are occasionally found on newer Russian Crosses.] On the title-board is inscribed the initials ‘IC XC’, being the first and last letters of Christ’s name in Greek (Greek: Iisous Khristos; Old Rite Slavonic: Ісоусъ Христосъ; New Rite Slavonic: Іисусъ Христосъ). In addition, just above Christ’s arms we see the inscription: ‘NIKA’, which in Greek means: “He conquers” or “He is victorious.” [Frequently, especially on the Greek and New Rite Russian prosphora seal, we see these last two inscriptions together with the simple two-barred Cross: 'IC XC NI KA', meaning: "Jesus Christ is victorious" (i.e., over death and sin). Note that in the proper Orthodox tradition the Saviour does not wear a crown of thorns (as in the Western tradition), nor is He portrayed alive on the Cross, nor in any aspect of suffering, but in a state of humble and peaceful repose, with inclined head. Also note that His feet are nailed with two nails.]

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Life is Blessedness

 

St. Barsanuphios of Optina

Life is blessedness, and not simply because we believe in blessed eternity; but here on earth life can be blessed, if we live with Christ  – fulfilling His holy commandments. If a man is not tied to earthly goods, but will in all things rely only on God, will live for Christ and in Christ, then life here on earth will become blessed.

St. Barsanuphius of Optina +1913

Hail Mary – Blessed are you

In honor of Mary – the ever virgin Mother of our God – the Theotokos (God bearer) whose holy feast of Dormition we are about to celebrate, and whose fast we are keeping at present.  More honorable than the cherubim, more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, who without corruption gave birth to God the word, true Theotokos we magnify you.   Holy Mary, with all the saints, pray for us.

The Virgin-Mother is, as it were, the sole border connecting the created and the uncreated Divine Essence… And all who see God also recognize her as the place [containing] the Uncontainable. And all who lift up praise unto God also sing her praises after God. She is the reason for and blessing of those who came before her, and the gift and giver to those present and intercessor for those in eternity. She is the basis of prophets, beginning of apostles, confirmation of martyrs, and foundation of teachers. She is the glory of those on earth, the joy of those in Heaven, the adornment of all Creation. She is the beginning, the spring and root of hope prepared for us in the Heavens, the hope that we might all be vouchsafed by her prayers for us, to receive Jesus Christ our Lord, in glory born of the Father before all ages, and in latter days incarnate of her.

St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessaloniki 1347-1359

Obedience

“To obey is better than sacrifice…”    “Let this cup pass, but nevertheless, Thy will be done…not mine…”

Again, and again, what I take away from the holy writings of the Church and the Bishops who lead Her is this: be faithful – even though you’ll be unpopular.  Culture rejected and killed Christ for His teaching, and perhaps us as well, “for if they hated Me, they will also hate you because of Me…”  Certainly the goal of the Church is not to intentionally or purposefully alienate, or condemn, or despise anyone – for we are all sinful, needy, and desperately in need of daily confession and grace and the balm of forgiveness given freely in the Sacraments of the Church.  We must all repent daily (even hourly) believe, receive grace and return like the Prodigal son to his loving Father.   Likewise we confess that every person is a person of extreme value and worth since each of us is created in the very image of God – and this image and dignity is to be defended from conception to natural death.  But what inspires me in the Churches directive as noted below by Bishop Jonah is this:  clear biblical teaching, with no apologies, with the ultimate goal of giving each person who reads and submits to it – the gift of all gifts: life, health, peace, and salvation… in short freedom from the bondage from sin, death and  the devil – through repentance “a changed mind and changed direction.”  New life.  Peace and contentment for those who take up the cross and follow.

When, in obedience, we humble ourselves and conform our lives to the teachings of Christ, as He gave them to His apostles and Church – who in turn, gave them to Bishops, their successors, we see the beautiful unity and continuity of the Church.  We witness the oneness of catholicity in the Church, in that ‘catholic’ means “according to the whole” i.e. ”fullness” “lacking nothing” – the teaching embraced universally around the world.

May God grant us the strength and the faith to uphold and to live out the ideals contained in these beautiful teaching of marriage, family, sanctity of life and sexuality… all good gifts from our good God.  Gifts that we will be accountable for one day as we stand before Him in the judgment.

The continuation of a letter from Metropolitan +Jonah Archbishop of Washington Metropolitan of All America and Canada.

Our life in Christ is constituted by repentance. If we are to be faithful Christians, we must be constantly turning toward God, away from our sins and passions, realizing the seriousness of our sin in a spirit of repentance, and striving to change our lives. We cannot approach the Holy Mysteries without living a life of repentance, and examining our consciences and confessing our sins. When we have fallen, we repent, and try to stop our sinful behavior. Otherwise, we risk communing unto judgment and condemnation. This discipline of the Christian life leads to salvation, enlightenment and the healing of our souls. We must be faithful to that discipline of life, if we are to call ourselves Orthodox Christians.

In light of the above, what Orthodox Christian in good conscience would dare to approach the chalice containing the lifegiving Holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Our Lord, while refusing to acknowledge, confess, and eradicate from his or her life sins against authentic Christian marriage, including fornication, homosexual activity, or adultery? Which sexually active couples co-habiting without the Orthodox sacrament of marriage can expect the Church to bless their unholy union and welcome them to the life- giving Holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Our Lord, unless they find separate accommodations and cease their fornication and get married in the Church?

We are all called as Christians to live a life of chastity, pleasing to the Lord, married or single. If we are Christians we are all called, whatever our attractions or past habits, to the same saving discipline that will heal our souls. Otherwise we are living in hypocrisy, a living death; just as when we judge others struggling with their sins. This has been delivered to us from the Apostles and Holy Fathers, and remains unchanged to this day. The Orthodox teaching on chastity and Christian marriage is a fundamental element in Christian life and discipline. We are called to conform our lives to the Church and its disciplines, not alter the teachings of the Church to fit either a cultural fad or our own passions. Where we stand against the prevailing cultural trends, we must stand fast, because we know that obedience to the Church’s teaching leads us to communion with God and eternal life; and disobedience leads to alienation from God, spiritual death.

As the Lord proclaims in the Gospel of St. Luke, “Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required. . .” (Luke 12:48, RSV). We Orthodox Christians have been granted eternal life as a free, unmerited divine gift. Virtuous struggle against sexual temptations is hardly too much for the Lord to ask of us. The Lord honors the genuine intent of those who, with humility and repentance, so struggle, even as He judges those who, moved by a spirit of pride and defiance, persist in the spiritual delusion that unnatural or unholy sexual activity can be blessed. I have already instructed the clergy of our Archdiocese to honor their ordinations by acting in full accordance with our uncompromising Orthodox moral tradition. I expect all of us faithful to honor our baptism and unique calling as Christians.

These teachings are not onerous, but rather, part of the light yoke and easy burden of being a faithful follower of Jesus Christ.

With love in Christ,

+Jonah
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada

+ Anaphora