So, What's With The Beard and Long Hair?

In the midst of my Journey To Orthodoxy, I find my self being redefined. In a word: I am changing. In another word: It is theosis. Inclinations of the heart are difficult to express in words, but simply put, I have become inclined not to shave nor trim my beard or hair. It is an abandonment of sorts, of the image that I have traditionally presented to the world around me. My thought was that by allowing my facial hair and head hair to grow that the self that I promoted would be hidden to the extent that I would be less likely to depend on it. Ironically, I have found that the long term influence of the western culture has provoked those who have known the clean cut, professional Nathan, to take notice of me-my opposite desire and intent. I have experienced some strong reactions from a few. A recent visit with my extended family in Arkansas was met with honest questions unsolicited advise and some insults. "So why'd you grow the beard?" "If you cut your hair and beard you might be able to get a better job. You look awful. Awful!" A prophet is not welcomed in his own town, especially a former Baptist turned Orthodox. If my entertaining strange doctrines and practices were not enough, now my physical appearance is being altered! I'm sure that my visit provided my family with a welcomed supply of food for the fodder but being in my fourth year of Orthodoxy, I am somewhat accustomed to my family's consternation of my new faith.

I was not accustomed, however, nor did I expect a particular reaction by a parishioner at church. She has been Orthodox many years and is a leader in the church. I became sorrowfully aware by her actions that tenure of Orthodoxy doesn't guarantee a complete or untainted understanding of the faith and traditions we hold. The parishioner's reaction to me was stunning and degrading. She approached me as I was talking to our godly priest emeritus, who is also bearded, yanked on my beard and made reference to us trying to "look like Santa Claus." Being that this was the first full beard I have ever grown, it was a new feeling for me. I don't ever remember feeling so violated. I was speechless as was the priest. What is one to say to such disrespect? By God's grace one does not say what one might. A man's beard is a sign of God's glory on him just as is a woman hair. The woman's ignorant act was akin to me yanking on her hair. I am able to allow for the fact that this woman is a convert to Orthodoxy and is part of a predominately convert Church, thus there are a few holes in her Orthodoxy.

Orthodoxy is not western. Orthodoxy does not and should not automatically conform to the culture around it. Only that which needs to conform is conformed. The culture of long hair and beards for men is not one of them. It is canon. It has purpose. It has history. It has reason. It is holy. It is a sign of the glory of God on his people. It is this that the woman yanked on. It is this that others despise when they criticise, make light of or reject as an oddity, the beard or long hair of an Orthodox man. Such a look for Orthodox men has been written about, confirmed and practiced by the church as a whole and is relevant in any culture. It would benefit all Orthodox people and non-orthodox family members of those on their Journey To Orthodoxy, to understand the sanctity of this practice so as to show due respect to this element of what the Church practices. Anyone on a JTO is already wrought with undiscovered paths, disciplines, rejection and difficult soul wrenching. The absence of soul wrenching provoked by insensitive observers would be a welcomed thing.

JTO Reader Update

As we head into the Christmas season 2008 JTO would like to express sincere thanks to all who have passed this way this year. From all across the world, the JTO forum allows us to learn, grow, discuss, repent, and just simply spend time. Our common thread is our desire for truth and He is the way the truth and the life. Thanks for continuing to join me on my Journey To Orthodoxy and for allowing me to join you on yours. I look forward to many days ahead and please take time to use the "comment" feature at the bottom of each article. I want to hear your reflections. Here are the latest stats of our visitors from across the world:

Current Country Totals From 22 Nov 2008 to 12 Dec 2008

United States (US) 296
Canada (CA) 34
United Kingdom (GB) 11
Germany (DE) 5
Israel (IL) 4
Bulgaria (BG) 4
Greece (GR) 4
Australia (AU) 4
Sweden (SE) 3
Spain (ES) 2
South Africa (ZA) 2
Russian Federation (RU) 1
India (IN) 1
Malaysia (MY) 1
Netherlands (NL)1

God Bless All,
Nathan Lee Lewis, JTO

Happy Thanksgiving

May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob richly bless all of creation all around the world on this day of Thanksgiving-2008.
Nathan Lee Lewis
JTO

Five day JTO reader total:

United States (US) 78
Canada (CA) 8
Germany (DE) 2
Russian Federation (RU) 1
United Kingdom (GB) 1
Bulgaria (BG) 1
Spain (ES) 1
Greece (GR) 1
India (IN) 1

So You Want To Be A Prophet?

And He himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Eph. 4:11

And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then worker of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:28

So you want to be a prophet?

"The mind is a deceitfully wicked thing. Who can know it?" 

The battle of the mind to know the thoughts of God and to adequately discern them is a treacherous and torturous endeavor. Some dreams and visions come with instant understanding as to their meaning and implications. Those which are foretelling of events, however, are not always fully understood as to their timing. I learned early and painfully not to presume upon what I don't know, especially on the timing or fulfillment of a certain prophecy. Some visions or dreams I have received have sat for decades with still no understanding as to their timing or meaning. Those early years of discovery have built in me an intense sense of caution. One pivotal moment of understanding came to me in a time of prayer. The Lord gave me instant and intuitive understanding that He did not reveal all things to me in order for me to speak them nor was it my responsibility to implement what I saw nor to move a people to respond appropriately. It was a word of relief. The word of the Lord is His and he will vindicate.

A prophet sees into the heavens and glimpses the mysteries of God. Some of the things he sees are made clear and are for the Kingdom of God in this time. God has something to say so he speaks through a human instrument.

There are no new doctrines, truths or revelations.

There are only specific and general directions to individuals groups or nations to accomplish His will and counter the devises of the enemy. Not all the prophet sees is to be spoken. He must learn the difference. He eventually finds that "secret place" of God. The mind and workings of God are a fearful thing and one must learn quickly what an awesome thing it is that He entrusts such to men and women. In my times of faithlessness and burdens of life I have, shamefully, wished and even pleaded with God to remove this gift of prophecy from me.

"Lord may I please have the gifts of Helps or Service?"

To know the sins of man, the impending peril of a people and to often have a word of knowledge containing specific details of a sinful or foreboding situation, is burdensome.

"Lord why do you show me these things?"

In these questions I have sinned. Christ Himself "learned through the things He suffered".

He has shown me the same grace and patience.

The preparation of a prophet is long and difficult. He must have no leaven. He must be pure and undefiled. He must have died to self. He must hate his own life and be willing to lose it for the sake of Christ. The preparation alone is enough for some to wish for death. If death doesn't come, they run and hide in a cave. In this they sin. Such is the strength of the human will and the sinful flesh. It does not want to submit to a life of depravity, conflict, threats and self-sacrifice as is the life of a prophet. Prophets are not particularly popular or well liked. They are maligned, stoned, driven off and murdered. They are born for a purpose and into the time for which God would have them speak.

"As for the Prophets, whether they be bishops, priests, professors, monastics, or lay people, our only prayer can be that they are inspired by God and not themselves (not to mention other possible spirits), and that we be ready to hear and obey their voice when they are sent to proclaim God's Word to us." Very Reverend Thomas Hopko

The prophet is peculiar and sometimes does apparently peculiar things. They fast when it is not called for. They give peculiar names to their children. They pierce their ears or wear strange clothes or let their hair grow to lengths that are culturally out of sync. They will set out on a hike without knowing their destination. They are not easily satisfied by the regular amenities of life. They are not given to fulfilling others expectations. Their life is a display of signs and symbols and it is a rare thing to be understood by others. They will never be accused of being normal. It is profoundly true for the prophet that

"In Him we live and move and have our being."

Outside of that there is no life and there is certain untimely death.

I cringe, and in fact, am angered by those who would use prophetic gifts to posture and present themselves to others for notoriety or to gain stature as a spokesman for God. They clamor for the acclaim of man and indeed that is all they get. They cause spiritual destruction and a falling away. They give vague predictions and personal insights and when elements of what they say come true they are empowered to say, "See I predicted that." They ignore the many elements of their words that were false or heretical and their followers hold them to no account.

A prophet of God gathers no followers.

They devise new escape-clause-doctrines that ignore the Biblical mandate which says, if a prophet speaks that which does not come to pass or is heretical then he is a false prophet and must be put to death.

One inclination of a purified prophet of God is that he often hopes for a way that He will not have to fulfill what God is asking of him.

"Father if it be thy will let this cup pass from me."

He may pray and reason with God in that secret place but he eventually says,

"Not my will but thine be done."

The prophet knows full well that to stand against dominions and powers, to point a finger at a King or a Bishop, is done so at his own physical peril. Recipients of a prophet's word will either repent or react. Kings have swords and Bishops have edicts, but the prophet knows that God has the power over his eternal destiny. Thus a prophet fears what no man can do to him.

"For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."

And death does indeed come, sooner or later, as God wills. So you still want to be a prophet?

Truth Is Often Hidden In "Plane" Sight

Come out of your comfort zone. Truth is often hidden from the masses and only those with eyes to see can see.

..."narrow is the gate and a hard road that leads to life,
and only a few find it."

Lies and deceptions are often so blatant that they who perpetrate them wave them before your eyes and attempt to redefine what you are seeing. For example: Did you think terrorists flying airplanes brought down the twin towers on 9-11?

What else in your belief system have you readily accepted as fact? Are you failing to see where the church is because of what you have been told is true? Are you just accepting what has been waved in your face since birth? Don't start with your conclusions and attempt to defend them. Start at the original source and work forward. "To be deep in history is to cease to be protestant"

"Ask Questions. Be Informed."

"For you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free."

Does "Christian Music" Have A Soul?

I was shopping with one of my five daughters today. While in the car she put in one of her CD's proclaiming it to be a "Christian Rock Band". I told her there was no such thing as a Christian Rock Band.

"Does a Rock Band have a soul? Does it die and go to heaven? There are Christians who are in a band, but that does not make what they do Christian."

I spent many years as a worship leader. In the Evangelical Charismatic world, that entails leading a band with all the frills, musicians, singers, songwriters, rehearsals, sets, audiences, recordings and the like. It is quite a world and there is money to be made. Living in Nashville, I have had a chance to see the spent lives of various Christan artist/entertainers who couldn't quite make it in the business. I also see the successful artists around town in the restaurants and such. The Christian music and the country music world go hand in hand here. There is no difference. People are people. There may be music artists who are Christians but being a musician does not make you a Christian no matter what kind of music you perform. It especially does not qualify anyone to be idolized. Be careful whom you idolize, look up to or put on a pedestal, lest your faith be dashed when you see the real essence of their character.

Bishop Antoun To Visit Tennessee

JTO welcomes the visit of His Grace Bishop Antoun of the Self Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. His Grace will spend time at Saint Ignatius Orthodox Church in Franklin, Tennessee. He will celebrate the liturgy and be honored at a luncheon to follow on November 16th, 2008. All are invited to come and meet with our pastor and receive his blessing and words of wisdom.

Short Biography of Bishop Antoun

Born: Damascus, Syria, January 17, 1931.
Educated:

• St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, NY (M.Div., 1962)

Ordained:

• Deacon, October 28, 1951, by Patriarch Alexander III
• Priest, May 29, 1960, by Metropolitan Antony Bashir
• Archimandrite, August 3, 1969, by Metropolitan Philip Saliba
• Bishop, January 9, 1983, by Metropolitan Philip Saliba

Ministry:

• Diocesan Bishop, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (Jan. 9, 1983- 2004 ); assigned by Metropolitan Philip to Engwood Chancery.
• Diocesan Bishop of Miami and the Southeast (2004- present): assigned by Metropolitan PHILIP to the Englewood Chancery.
• For more: Click HERE
  

Pray For President-Elect Barack Obama

I invite all JTO readers to pray for President-Elect Barack Obama as he leads the United States in this most difficult time in our history. I echo President-Elect Obama's words to those who did not support him during the election. He will be the president of all Americans. Choose prayer rather than criticism and allow our sovereign God to work his will and way in this nation. Prophesy if you must and criticize if it is warranted, but remember, the Kingdom of God will prevail and all nations and leaders will one day bow before the throne of God. God is still in control and Christ will come again.

The Commenter's Commentary

I received another wonderful scriptural exposition from "The Commenter", my Church of Christ brother. He once again lists scriptures of which there is no contest. The subject was The Church. The scriptures he lists are pure and unadulterated. I find it interesting that The Commenter suggests the use of Strong's Concordance to assist the Bible Student (Who is Mr. Strong and from where does he get his authority?) I must assume that The Commenter is giving credence to the idea that individuals alone cannot adequately interpret the scriptures without some foundational source. The question remains and The Commenter has yet to address it, what is your source of biblical interpretation? Who gets to say what truth is- what do the scriptures mean and can they be adequately interpreted without at least giving the Early Church Fathers a vote? If Mr. Strong, other modern commentaries and Commenter's own interpretations are valid sources for understanding faith and doctrine, would not more so the Early Church Fathers who knew and walked with the Apostles? The Commenter includes his own commentary with the scriptures. At first glance I can find no fault in his scriptural commentary, however, he errs in his summation and shows a lack of understanding of history when he says,

"I feel sure that as the Holy Spirit guided the Apostles into all truth, we have all that we need to know about His church. These wonderful blessings can only be had by going back, back, back…, back behind the Reformation movement-back behind Romanism, back behind orthodoxism, or any other “ism” that gets in the way, all the way back to the day of Pentecost, which was the inauguration of New Testament Christianity. "

Orthodoxy IS that Church birthed out of Pentecost. Commenter's suggestion that one can go "back behind Orthodoxism" suggests erroneously that Orthodoxy was a later invention. The use of the word Orthodox in relation to the Church of the Apostles came about early in the Church to distinguish between the Church of the Apostles and heretics.

"It was in the early centuries of the Church's existence, while fighting to safeguard the true doctrines of Christ, that the Christian Church officially took on the name "Orthodox." The word Orthodox literally means "straight teaching" or "straight worship," being derived from two Greek words: orthos, "straight," and doxa, "teaching" or "worship."

Here is Commenter's treatment on The Church. It is worth reading. Read it or scroll past for final thought.

"The Church (the Kingdom of Heaven, The Body of Christ, The House of God, The Bride of Christ) The word “church” is found in the New Testament about 77 times. The word “churches” appears about 37 times. “The church” is found about 66 times and “The churches” about 19 times. The word “church” may have reference to the entire Body of Christ or a congregation in a particular location. “The churches” may have reference to several congregations in a particular area or among a particular people. “My church” designates belonging to Christ as does “churches of Christ”. “Church of God” or “churches of God” shows ownership. Anyone can use Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, or pages 227 and 228 of The Englishman’s Greek Concordance of the New Testament by George V. Wigram and arrive at these conclusions for himself and have a most profitable study. Matthew 16:18-20 is a wonderful introductory paragraph for this study. In those Verses Jesus makes several promises and the Passage I want to use is Verse 18: “And I also say to you that you are Peter (petros, rock), and on this rock (petra) I will build my church, and the gates of Hadeas shall not prevail against it.” In that promise Jesus would (future) be the builder; Jesus would build His (ownership) church; Jesus would build His church (singular); The foundation would be the petra, the rock-bed truth Peter had confessed, and the gates of Hades would not prevail against it. All of this is found in one verse, Verse 18, and in all references to the church throughout the New Testament none will be in conflict with this wonderful verse.Not long before Jesus ascended back to the Father we read: “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.” (Matt. 28:16). These are eleven of the twelve Jesus chose as His Apostles. (Matt. 10:2-4). These men had accompanied the Lord Jesus beginning from the baptism of John. (acts 1:21,22). They had heard His doctrine, witnessed His miracles, behalf His benevolence, and seen His mistreatment. Although after His arrest “the disciples forsook Him and fled.” (Matt. 26:56), they were never the same after His empty tomb.While the eleven disciples were at the mountain “Jesus came and spoke to them saying ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age’”. (Matt. 28:18-20) He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mark 16:16). Jesus also said “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47)The record of the apostles doing what Christ commanded them to do is found in the Book of Acts. Peter stood up with the eleven and began preaching the Gospel. (Acts 2:14-35). Peter continued, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, ’Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and youo shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’ (Acts 2:36-39). And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ’Be saved from this perverse generation.’ Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine, and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.’ (Acts 2:40-42). ’praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47).” Thus Christ’s church (the church of Christ) had its beginning. And what a simple procedure the Lord used in building His church. The Gospel was preached, those who believed it repented and were baptized for the remission of their sins. They were saved and “the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47) The Book of Acts is a history of the beginning of the church as the Body of Christ as a whole and of the church in Jerusalem in particular. Also, Acts is a history of the beginning of several congregations in different locations and among different people. Acts 5:11 states that “great fear came upon all the church.” Acts 8:1 says “at that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” “As for Saul, he made havoc of the church.” (Acts 8:3). “Therefore, those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word.” (Acts 8:4) In Acts 9:31 Luke, the historian writes: “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.” For a whole year Barnabas and Saul “assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” (Acts 11:26). “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. (Acts 12:5) When Barnabas and Saul “had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” (Acts 14:23). Concerning Paul’s activities Luke records, “From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.” (Acts 20:17).Ephesians 5:25 is a powerful reminder of Christ’s love for the church: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.” And to those elders at Ephesus Paul admonished “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28). Paul tells us that God “put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Eph. 1:22,23). And he reminds us that the church is to make known the manifold wisdom of God. (Eph. 3:10) Paul exclaims “to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph. 3:21). Paul proclaims that “Christ is head of the church; and He is the savior of the body.” (Eph. 5:23), and that “the church is subject to Christ.” (Eph. 5:24).In all the times “the church” is mentioned nothing is said or no questions are asked about “which church” or “what faith”, etc., do the writers have in mind. The reason being that was well understood. All that was written leaves no doubt as to who built the church, who purchased it and with what, who the head is, what the church is, and any other question that could come up. It was just “the church”. How clear and simple and easily understood the Lord arranged it. Satan’s primary objective was to muddy the waters and keep it that way. As Paul was writing to the Ephesians he said: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Eph. 4:4-6). Peter wrote, “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” (2 Peter 1:3). I feel sure that as the Holy Spirit guided the Apostles into all truth, we have all that we need to know about His church. These wonderful blessings can only be had by going back, back, back…, back behind the Reformation movement-back behind Romanism, back behind orthodoxism, or any other “ism” that gets in the way, all the way back to the day of Pentecost, which was the inauguration of New Testament Christianity. No wonder Jesus said, “Because narrow is the gate and difficult (confined) is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matt. 7:14). But since Jesus is “the way” (John 14:6) by following Him I plan to make it. That is my Journey. The Commenter"

For The Commenter, all of my Church of Christ friends and others who give sincere honor to the Word of God and to His Church I encourage you to not be ignorant of history by ignoring 2000 years of those who have faithfully held and interpret the scriptures and died to defend the faith of the Apostles. Please take time to study the following three articles. Warning: They may ruin your religion.

Which Came First-The Church or the New Testament? Click Here

Finding The New Testament Church Click Here

Scripture and Tradition Click Here

Note To Self

[From the words of St. Simeon the New Theologian]

"Unless you are humbled, brother, and unless you are under submission, afflicted and dishonored; unless you are despised and slandered; unless you accept to become as one of those who are obscure, foolish, base and down-trodden; unless you are shunned by all men and regarded as one of those who are reprehensible and begging in the squares and byways of the city, how, do tell me, can you become alienated from your own will?

God has commanded that we endure all thee things that come our way for a testing and for experience, not for testing and experience but for catharsis of our souls. In spite of this fact, we do not desired to suffer these things, but, instead, the reluctance to endure them lives within us which is the earthly mind of the flesh.

How then can we become dead? In no way. If we do not become dead to the world and to the things of the world, how can we live the life which is hidden in Christ, not having become dead for God? How can we behold God dwelling within us as light, as St. Symeon* said (*St. Symeon was his namesake and his spiritual father) ? In no way, brother. Let no one deceive you.

But you are saying that it is foolish to follow the blessed Symeon and it is shameful to imitate his actions? Then imitate Christ our God. Endure sufferings yourself for your own salvation, as he suffered for you. As you know, they called him a demonized, a deceiver, a glutton and a winebibber. They said: "You have a demon" (John 7:20), and again: "Behold a man gluttonous, and winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners" (Matt. 11:19)

These things even our blessed father, St. Symeon, heard in our behalf or rather for us. Furthermore you can hear again concerning the Lord being bound and dragged as a murder and criminal and standing before Pilate as one who is base, receiving a slap from the servant, being thrown into prison and being taken out of prison, led by the soldiers who bear sticks and then handed over by the people to Pilate who said: "Take ye him and crucify him" (John 19:6).

Understand how he was rendered in their midst- He Who is above all the Heavens and Who holds all things in His hand: scourged, flogged, maligned, abused and led to the praetorium-He Who is beyond the sight of all creation and even of the Seraphim, undressed and tied to a post, receiving forty full stripes, indicating the death sentence.

Then, what? He was dressed in a purple mantle scoffingly and He was struck on the head and asked, "Who is he that struck you?" He was crowned with thorns, bowed down and scoffed, spat at and did hear what sarcastically was uttered? "Behold the King of the Jews" (Mark 15:26). He was dressed again with his own garments, tied with a rope by the neck and led to death, and then carrying the burden of His own cross, when He came to the place where the cross was set, He was deserted only by His friends and disciples; after this, He was again divested of His garments, lifted up with His hands and feet and nailed to the cross by the soldiers and left to hang; He was offered gall to drink and was pierced with a lance and blasphemed by a thief, scoffed at and heard: "He who destroys the temple and three days raises it up again, save yourself and come down from the cross," and again, "If you are the Son of God (Matt. 27:40), come down from the cross and we will believe in you".

Thus after suffering these things, and having given thanks, he prayed for those who put him to death, and gave up his soul into the hands of His Father."

Note to self: All is fine if all is not fine.