W4T (Word for Today) – ασυλία – immunity

Commonly used in political or legal terms, this word has also become very popular in the recent reality TV shows where immunity is earned as a reward for some type of challenge. The “winner” of immunity can’t be voted off the show and therefore is safe from elimination. If only our spiritual life were that easy! In the REAL reality show of life, such immunity doesn’t exist. We are never immune to temptation from the devil to veer off the path of righteousness. On TV the cast member with immunity normally behaves “knowing” he/she is safe from elimination. I think sometimes we live our Christianity that way, which is, I suppose, the understanding behind “once saved, always saved” which the Orthodox Church, being consistent with the Ancient Church doesn’t subscribe to.

Saint Paul said:

And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in."Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? (Romans 11.17-24)

Stop living like you have immunity, and start living like you can be voted off the show….