Public FaceBook Discourse

To all of my FaceBook friends- especially my fellow Orthodox Christians: FB is not a private chat room. Please use wisdom in your discourse. Asking about, discussing, or commenting on personal details about another individual is NOT appropriate and borders on gossip and rumor mongering. If you must discuss such things, use the private message feature. In this way your sin is just between one other and not instantly spread to countless others. Pray for me, a sinner.

Has God Ever Spoken Directly To You? Part Two

Should anyone forbid that God is as near to us as our breath? Should anyone forbid that He knows us better than we know ourselves and that every hair on our head is numbered? Should anyone forbid that the Holy Spirit is given to lead us into all truth, not only corporately but individually as the Spirit wills in our lives? Should any one forbid that "we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us...?" Should anyone forbid that "They that worship him must worship him in spirit AND in truth?"

So, has God ever spoken directly to you? If not, then you must ask if you are truly in the faith and have truly received the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Jezabel assails the church today- accusing those who would walk in intimacy- in friendship with the Holy Spirit, of being in prelest and deception. Truly, it is this false voice that is prelest and deception and would rob each Orthodox believer from a walk of faith endued with the  dunamis power of God. This false voice would relegate believers to only that which can be touched, tasted, smelled and reasoned. It would deny the supernatural elements of our faith. For the faith of our fathers is not natural- but super-natural.

Now, we are not talking about the doctrines of the faith or that which is unchangeable, nor the canons which are the guideline to conduct and church polity. These, too, are God speaking to the whole of the church throughout time. But, how does God speak to you personally? How does he lead you? How does he make you understand, give you insight in to a matter, show you whether something be of God or of the enemy? How does He draw you into intimacy with him?

"Believers receive knowledge of God by means of various and diverse signs, by hidden illusions, by reflections, by images, by hidden and inexpressible workings, by divine revelations, by dim flashes, by the contemplation of the purposes of creation, and by many other ways through which the faith of the believer is increased day by day and ascends to the love of God.

This is not all. Moreover, God also informs believers as He did the apostles, by the sending down and the presence of the Holy Spirit. They are enlightened more perfectly and are taught by the illumination, because God is uncreated and eternal and beginningless and incomprehensible.

Those to whom it is vouchsafed to be believers are able to think and to know and to state all knowledge and science and every word of wisdom and every word of hidden knowledge, indeed even the working of miracles and the gift of prophecy and diverse kinds of tongues and interpretation of tongues, helps and administrations of cities and peoples, and the knowledge of future blessings and the achievement of the Kingdom of Heaven, sonship and to be clothed in Christ and to know the mysteries of Christ and to know the mystery of His dispensation and simply-all things such as unbelievers are unaware of- these things are taught only by means of the Spirit.

What can be more unclean, do tell me, than to try to teach the things of the Spirit without the Spirit? What can be more vile than to fail to repent and cleanse oneself, and yet discuss the things of the Spirit with would-be knowledge and to desire to dialogue on theology and wisdom in the natural only? Because if he were not to have committed any other sin (something impossible), this alone would make him deserving of eternal damnation, because 'Every one that is proud in heart before the Lord is unclean' (Prov. 16:5)." [Saint Symeon The New Theologian- Theological Chapters 1, 195] 

Has God Ever Spoken Directly To You? Part One

Can Lay Persons Be As Holy As Clergy?

In my Journey To Orthodoxy I have heard, more than once, a reference to an idea that "only monks" can achieve certain things or that certain gifts of the Spirit or virtues are only attainable by those cloistered away in some cave, or by only priests or bishops. Brethren, do you not see what a false idea this is? Do you not see that such an unorthodox position is to thwart the power of Holy Spirit to equip His saints to do the work of the church?

"If you do away with tears, you eliminate purification. There is no one saved without catharsis, no one blessed by the Lord, no such one shall see God.

It is possible brothers, for all men and not only for the monks, for the lay persons to repent constantly and to weep and pray to God, and to secure all virtues. That this is true is attested also by John Chrysostom, the great pillar and doctor of the church, in his discourse on the fiftieth psalm of David where he states that it is possible for a person not only to have a wife and children and many servants and to hold much property and have mundane cares, but also to weep daily and to pray and repent, and to attain the perfection of virtue and to receive the Holy Spirit and become God's friend and to enjoy His vision.

O wonder of it all! That man is united to God both spiritually and physically, since the soul cannot be separated from the mind, neither the body from the soul, but man by virtue of this union, becomes essentially trihypostatic by grace, a god by grace, consisting of body and soul and the Holy Spirit of whom he partakes and is filled- a divine offspring out of the divine Spirit.

What can I say to those who love to be renowned and love to become priests and bishops and abbots, yet desire to entertain alien thoughts and assert that they are worthy of the trust of forgiving and binding sins?

When I see that they understand none of the necessary and divine things, neither do they teach them to others nor guide them to the light of knowledge, what else is this but what Christ said to the scribes and the pharisees: Woe unto you, scribes, for you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves and you hindered those who were entering?"  [Saint Symeon The New Theologian]

Taming The Tongue 2

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?…

3:1-12 We are taught to dread an unruly tongue, as one of the greatest evils. The affairs of mankind are thrown into confusion by the tongues of men. Every age of the world, and every condition of life, private or public, affords examples of this. Hell has more to do in promoting the fire of the tongue than men generally think; and whenever men's tongues are employed in sinful ways, they are set on fire of hell. No man can tame the tongue without Divine grace and assistance. The apostle does not represent it as impossible, but as extremely difficult. Other sins decay with age, this many times gets worse; we grow more froward and fretful, as natural strength decays, and the days come on in which we have no pleasure. When other sins are tamed and subdued by the infirmities of age, the spirit often grows more tart, nature being drawn down to the dregs, and the words used become more passionate. That man's tongue confutes itself, which at one time pretends to adore the perfections of God, and to refer all things to him; and at another time condemns even good men, if they do not use the same words and expressions. True religion will not admit of contradictions: how many sins would be prevented, if men would always be consistent! Pious and edifying language is the genuine produce of a sanctified heart; and none who understand Christianity, expect to hear curses, lies, boastings, and revilings from a true believer's mouth, any more than they look for the fruit of one tree from another. But facts prove that more professors succeed in bridling their senses and appetites, than in duly restraining their tongues. Then, depending on Divine grace, let us take heed to bless and curse not; and let us aim to be consistent in our words and actions. [Mathew Henry Commentary]

Heresy Hunting

In our effort to hold fast to the things we were taught either by world or letter, the true doctrines of the faith, let us realize that there is a difference between being an apologist for the truth and being a heresy hunter. We are not called to root out heretics! We are called to hold fast to the truth. This may require speaking and confronting, but we must take great care that public dialogue does not deteriorate to sinful discourse, conjecture, rumor mongering, and accusation. This is also harmful to the church!

"Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell."

To The Antiochians

A timely message at this moment of decision. For all Antiochian Bishops, Priests, and Laymen...

Please read: Why we Left Where We Went- our decision to the leave the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese.

http://journeytoorthodoxy.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-we-leftwhere-we-went.html

Laymen Who Evangelize

Thoughts On Evangelism In The West

Do we get so caught up in church battles that we forget that our battle is for the souls of men? Are we more concerned with pleasing a personality rather than presenting the person of Christ to a lost world? I am still amazed when I find Orthodox people who are so consumed with the rudiments of the faith, their own personal "holiness" that they ignore Christ's commission to us to GO into the world and preach the gospel... Our churches/missions should certainly welcome local Orthodox Christians who find us - and those who leave the World Churches - but we, like Christ, must be about our Father's business- as the Apostles and saints before us- to take the gospel of Christ to a perishing world- to the unbeliever, the Protestant, the cultists. In the West we have a unique tool. Why do we not make use of radio? Why do we not make use of T.V.? Is it too Western? Not Orthodoxish enough? Smacks of Protestantism? Do we refuse to acknowledge the effectiveness of a form of communication just because someone else got there first or because that's not how they do it in the East? The media is today's street corner, today's marketplace. "How will they hear without a preacher?" People must know that the original church exists, before they can even consider stepping into a liturgy, where we all know that the purest evangelism occurs- in the life of worship. It seems all we do is talk to each other. We must change from an inward people to an outward people. The One, Holy. Catholic and Apostolic Church is not an elitist club. Our message should not be "prove yourself worthy or sincere before approaching the Holy Church." Our message should be "Come unto me ALL you who are weary and I will give you rest."

The Usurper

The United States of America, the bastion of religious freedom and liberty, is under attack from within. The New World Order has taken root and a battle for control of the very soul of the nation ensues. Be aware, speak out and prepare for persecution- Christians are the targets in this ever-increasing spiritual battle. Christians are being slaughtered across the planet and are still the most persecuted people in the world. Hand-in-hand with the One World Order, is the One World Religion as seen by the imminent union of the World Orthodox and Roman Catholic Hierarchy.  The usurper, Barack Obama, aka Barry Soetoro, raised Islamic and trained a Communist, is aiding and abetting this effort. Rise up oh men and women of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 

Straight Questions- Crooked Answers- Conversations With a Protestant

I recently had a FaceBook conversation with a Protestant (Baptist background) whom I know well. This photo was posted and the jokes ensued. I found it illustrative, however, of a systematic wandering from the Faith of our Fathers and took the opportunity to point out a few things. Protestant heels were dug in and a non-productive exchange ensues. Here is that exchange:

ME: Illustrates why there are so many "truths" in Protestantism- so many interpretations leading to so many denominations. Illustrates clearly the problem with the Protestant practice of Sola Scriptura. So many versions written with an individual's commentary included giving us their interpretation of what the Bible means. Scofield was one of the first. His version spread through all of the English- speaking West with the the belief in a Pre-tribulation rapture theory ( the secret snatching away of the saints years prior to Christ's return). An un-scriptural eschatology that was never heard of in the church before 150 years ago. Read the "Early Church Fathers" (google it) to see what what was believed by ALL of the Church-everywhere, at all times- for the first 1000 years- that is the faith- that is the truth. 1 Timothy 3:15 tells us where that truth may be found. The CHURCH is the "pillar and foundation of all truth." The church gave us the Bible, the bible didn't give us the church. If the Orthodox church met in counsel and determined what was to be in the Bible, why can they not be trusted to say what it means? The Orthodox Christian Church is the original pre-denominational church established by Christ and His disciples. It is still here today and predates Protestantism by 1600 years. "To be deep into history is to cease to be Protestant."

POSTER: The church is you and me. Not going to put my faith in a mans word apart from inspired scripture. Would be the same argument you used in this comment against commentary. The priesthood of the believer and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and scripture alone is my stay. Commentary should always be weighed against the Word and so should the comments of any preacher or teacher. But this does not mean don't preach and teach. Man is fallible. The Holy Spirit is not.

ME: Man is fallible but you trust each individual man to hear the Holy Spirit correctly concerning what the Bible means? Then how do you know the "Scripture" is infallible if man is so fallible? Where did the Bible come from? It didn't just fall out of the sky- leather bound. The visible church headed by bishops with names, gave it to us 400 years after the church was established.. The Holy Spirit "inspired" them- the bishops- the unified, Spirit breathed group-not individuals-to know what were true and what were spurious. That's why we don't have a book of Thomas today. It was floating around at the time along with others. That's why we used the Septuagint version of the scriptures that Christ quoted from and not the Hebrew preferred translation from which the Protestant Bible is translated. Once again--a question that still goes unanswered: If you can accept the authenticity of the scriptures so readily, why can you not accept the authority of the visible church that gave them to you--the original Orthodox.

POSTER: Because the Holy Spirit is not fallible and scripture says he is the one that reveals truth to the heart. Jesus said he knew what was in the heart of man and did not put his trust in them. Pilate asked what is truth. Jesus had already answered that. "I am the way the truth and the life and no one comes to the father except through me"... Not a visible church or group of men who are fallible. That's why the scripture is for . It does not contain the word of god. It is the word of god.

ME: Says He revealed truth to the church- not individual members but a body- His body. The church IS HIM- His Body. Back to this...where did you get your Bible? This is not a theological question but a historic one, so "well God gave it to us" is platitude. Where did you get the Bible you believe in? How did it come about? In what historic context? Who was involved and how did they have the authority to say what the Bible contains? Why are these questions so offensive? Should not all who profess Christ have a ready answer for this? It was a group of men- you dismiss them, but why? On what basis? You accept what they gave you as authentic but discount them in every other way. Why? We know that God chose a group, the Apostles, to breath His authority into. Those Apostles chose others to be their successors- Bishops- with the laying on of hands- which imparted the same Spirit/authority to govern the church, that Christ gave them. These Bishops met together in counsel seven times over several centuries. (see the 7 Ecumenical Counsels) This is historic fact. Being so, one must prove when and where this changed. It did not. The original churches are still in the same place- Alexandria, Constantinople, Jerusalem, Rome, Antioch- and now beyond, still governed by Bishops. The Apostle's bodies still kept in some of these Churches. "To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant." Protestantism- the new Coke.

POSTER: Nope.

POSTER: The ones Jesus choose while he was here were enough and fulfilled their purpose. We weren't to build legacies for anyone as Jesus tried to teach them when they wanted to build a monument to Elijah and Moses . We are a royal priesthood. The veil was torn from top to bottom an entrance I to his presence is individual and does not need the permission or dispensations. Of earthy priest. The cross and the resurrected Christ made that happen. Now we go boldly to the throne.Galatians is a good read about standing fast to liberty and not to out yokes of bondage around your neck or be subject tot the traditions of men. So again here I stand. Is Certain he has me and will keep me. I am a priest of he gospel and respect others but I know who saves and keeps. I just spread the word. Not searching for another foundation. I already have assurance. Certainly no man is going to be placed above what Christ has already done. That is a snare. I choose to be free in The Lord And the power of his might.

ME: Free in Lord". All men are equal ""priests" and each gets one vote? No one gets to rule over anyone else? This is called democracy. The church is not a democracy but a theocracy with hierarchy. It is patterned after heaven that also has a hierarchy and an angelic order of rule. Even the demons have this order. The church was established in the same order: "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." The Apostles purpose was to establish this order. Only then was their purpose fulfilled. This order is what has preserved the truth for 2000 years. Protestantism left that rule and now is in doctrinal disarray, every one adhering to whatever they feel the Holy Spirit says to them. They live in deception and teach the doctrines of demons. Some more than others. True liberty is found only when lived out within the life of this church which is not built on the tradition of men, but on the Tradition of the Apostles. "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."

POSTER: Nope. Your interpretation is not accurate and is legalistic bondage and not sustainable by comparative scripture. Of course I could point you to scripture to support that but have found this forum not productive. So as in the past I choose not to. You have chosen your path. If you are truly happy in it then you shouldn't have to keep trying to engage me in theological debate. Not interested. Your search will bring you full circle. I'm don't desire the conversation. I'm not on the walk with you. I am not between two opinions. In Christ alone I put my trust. I choose liberty not legalism. Just read scripture. The Holy Spirit will bring you to truth and final peace. Trying to convince me is pointless because I'm not going to exchange liberty for chains. Love you.

ME: This is not a theological debate. No theology being discussed here. Ecclesiology is the topic- church history. Whenever I see something posted that flies in the face of history and does not follow logically I engage the poster in a question, like "Where did you get your Bible?" or "Who founded your denomination"? Seems like non-debatable questions but the answer to such to often reveals a gaping hole in someone's belief system or education...and is met with resistance and viewed as threatening. The picture posted seems to be a joke or a misplace wrapper, but in actuality, I have seen the authors of such Bibles with unique Bible notes autographing copies for the buyers at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention and the Evangelical Publisher Association. This is a product of an ideology that is 1000 years separated from the original ecclesiology of the Church. Isn't it relevant to know from where you get your faith and to be able to give a ready answer and not platitudes? The reason the "Where did you get your Bible" question is difficult is because pursuit of the answer leads one to discover that Orthodox Bishops gave them their Bible. The more troubling discovery that follows is that they do not belong to the Church that gave them their Bible, and they are hard pressed as to why. I did come full circle and found the original church waiting for me to enter. I did , and so should all. It is the One, holy, catholic and apostolic church- the Orthodox Church.