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What Sunday Worship is REALLY all About

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!" And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6.1-4)

The majesty which Isaiah witnessed when he saw God being worshipped in Heaven was also expressed in the Temple which God commanded Moses to construct for His People to worship Him on Earth. For a better description of how Moses was commanded to construct the Temple, read Exodus chapters 25-28 all of which express the majesty of God.

This SAME majesty is expressed in Orthodox Christian worship. Golden candlesticks, incense, Altars, Thrones, Vestments, precious metals and stone are all integrated into Orthodox Christian worship for a reason – to prepare us for being in Heaven.

Many Protestant Churches today express quite a different atmosphere to their worship. Rather than the majesty of heaven, many Church services Sunday mornings “feel” more like a night club. Rather than bowing and reverencing the Altar of God, many Church services Sunday mornings lift up the human passions rather than the mantle of God. In fact many Christians validate this by using the expression “It felt awesome today in Church!” or “I get so lifted up when I go to Church!”

On the contrary Saint Paul and Saint John the Theologian had quite the different reaction to seeing God being worshipped in heaven, much the same as Moses and Isaiah.

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. (Revelation 1.17)

And I know such a man -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows --how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. (2 Corinthians 12.3-4)

The Orthodox Church has a centuries-long witness in the lives of countless holy men and women who have had visions of God, ALL OF WHOM express similar stories as we find the Holy Scriptures. So, if we are preparing as Christians to worship God in Heaven for all eternity, why would we not express that same majesty in our Earthly worship? Of course as Orthodox Christians, we do, are at least we should.

The trend in mega-Churches toward the night club atmosphere is obviously attractive to many in today’ entertainment culture, but does it REALLY prepare believers for what is coming for all eternity? If God taught that the way to salvation was in taking up our cross and denying ourselves, it would seem that Sunday worship would focus, not on what makes us FEEL good, but the awesome majesty of being in God’s presence. Would a believer, if they were in the presence of God, REALLY worry more about feeling good than bowing in reverence at the Altar of God?

When you come to Church on Sunday, please consider the REAL reason you are worshipping God. If you are focused more on how you “feel” rather than being in His Presence and glory, you may not be preparing yourself and your family for what is coming in Heaven. Don’t you want to be prepared?

Dogs are dogs; People are people

I have noticed a disturbing trend lately to characterize the behavior of different animals in human terms. I’ve been wanting to write this blog for some time now, but haven’t had the time to actually sit down and write it. I will begin with a quick disclaimer. I grew up as a dog owner. I loved my dog. I cried many tears when we put him to sleep after his long illness. It makes me sick when people mistreat animals by beating, starving, etc. So this blog IS NOT about condoning the mistreatment of animals. I limit my comments in terms of how our society is trending toward the humanizing of animals, and what I believe is a dangerour spiritual trend.

Here are some examples of the trend I’ve notice recently:

• Raju The Elephant Cries After Being Rescued Following 50 Years Of Abuse, Chains
• Study shows dogs can get jealous
• Pet Parents Pamper to the Extreme

I’ve been hearing terms such as pet parents and pet caretakers for several years, but (and it might be a false impression) it seems like an increasing coverage of stories in which animals are characterized with human emotions. Crying elephants, hugging and jealous dogs, it’s beginning to appear that animals are equal to humans. And that is the point of this post. Animals, which for the purpose of this blog will refer to NON-HUMAN animals, though they may appear to express human emotions, are nonetheless not human. So, why the strong urge to “see” human characteristics in animals?

Here are a few examples of what I believe expresses at least a portion of the reason.

• 10 Animals that Practice Homosexuality
• Do Animals Exhibit Homosexuality?
• Six “Uniquely” Human Traits Now Found in Animals

So why is this issue important for us as Orthodox Christians? If you have been a reader of my blog for any length of time, I believe “just about everything” is connected to our spiritual journey. According to an article “Why do we anthropomorphize?”  which cites the Association for Psychological Science, the author suggests,

“Various motivations may also influence anthropomorphism. For example, lacking social connections with other people might motivate lonely individuals to seek out connections from nonhuman items. Anthropomorphism helps us to simplify and make more sense of complicated entities.”

However, I have a different opinion. I often have a different opinion when it comes to interpreting “motivations” for various behaviors. For me, at least part of the reason for this behavior is evidenced in the fact that you seldom read the evidence of the opposite as positive news. When was the last time you read a scientific article which praises the “animal characteristic” found in humans? Allow me to be more specific. When was the last time you found a scientific survey which studied “Why do men fight to defend their territory” as a benefit to our understanding life?

It seems to me like there is an overwhelming desire to reflect only certain human characteristics in animals rather than animal characteristics in humans in order to establish a “more welcoming” atmosphere for such behaviors in humans. I don’t think it is a coincidence that the presence of homosexuality in animals far exceeds other articles. First, we are obsessed with sex. The second reason might have to do with what the article referred to as “lonely individuals to seek out connections” since homosexuals often find themselves as outcasts of society.

It seems to me that our fallen humanity’s desire for self pleasure is so strong, that we will not cease until we establish enough evidence that such desires are “just part of our animal heritage” rather than behaviors that should be frowned upon. I believe this is also related to why we choose only SOME characteristics.

I think there is another reason for this tendency. The more humans can create the impression that we are no different from the rest of the animals, the less we have to be responsible to God’s desire for us in our life. THAT is why I think this is important enough to blog at length on this. Anything that lends a false impression that we are exempt from God’s desire, takes us away from Him and is directly linked to the devil’s temptation that first lured Eve to ignore her obligation to God. This is our ancient fallen human struggle. As Saint Paul said,

For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. (Romans 7.15-21)

That is not to say there is no example of humans and animal, even wild animals, coexisting peacefully.

• Saint Mary of Egypt
• Saint Seraphim of Sarov

In both of these examples, it was the divine character of the saint which brought out the human peacefulness in the animal. This is quite different than that current trend. So if you wish to truly witness animals acting human compassion and love, then as Saint Seraphim said, “Acquire inner peace and a thousand around will be saved.” AND.....even the bears will sit peacefully with you. In the meantime, dogs are still dogs and people are still people.

Seeing God

When life presents us with blessings or even struggles, whether or not we experience them as opportunities to draw closer to God, depends completely upon the condition of our hearts. Do you see God in the blessings and struggles of your life? It just takes allowing God to heal your vision, and open your heart to His grace.

Jesus Reveals Himself Raised from the Dead

The Holy Apostle Thomas was not present when Jesus first appeared to the Apostles after the Resurrection. So eight days later, He appeared again, this time so that Thomas might believe. When Jesus appeared, He said, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” (John 20.27)

We all need a boost from God every now and then so that we can strengthen our faith in Him.  As we heard during the Resurrection Liturgy, the beauty of the entire story of Jesus Christ, from His birth through to His death and glorious resurrection, is that HE CAME TO US, and “As many as received Him, to them [that means us] He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1.12)

Some did not, and still do not, believe in His Gospel, and each person has the freedom to accept or to deny Him. But for those who DESIRE to believe, Jesus always appears in the fashion needed. St Thomas wasn’t the only one who needed physical proof, which is why Jesus didn’t remain separate from us in Heaven, but came to reveal Himself to us.

But for those of us living in 2014, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20.29) For us, we can take comfort in the words of Saint Paul, “He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by the Cephas [St Peter], then by the twelve. After that he was seen by over five hundred brethren at once.” (1 Corinthians 15.5-6)

No Thanks Hollywood, You Can Keep Your son of god

The new movie The Son of God opens in theaters today…

I make no secrets about my dislike for “the Hollywood agenda” when it comes to the moral direction our society continues to engage. But when it comes to movies about Jesus and His Church, I can no longer sit quietly under the guise of, “at least they’re talking about Jesus,” without offering a serious warning.

The Orthodox Church throughout history has fought courageously to maintain the truth about who we know Jesus Christ to be, as that truth was revealed by the Holy Spirit to the Holy Apostles. We have defended the truth of Orthodoxy down to single letters when the meaning of who Jesus was and is might be misunderstood by the faithful. We have maintained this truth, “once and for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1.3) through the holy and sacred tradition of the Church.

We would not sit quietly when Arius spoke falsely of Christ, and we cannot sit quietly when contemporary “theologians” under the guise of producing Hollywood blockbuster movies, as these movies are often times fictional representations of the Gospels and early history of the Church. This is nothing new, of course, as Hollywood has a long tradition of altering history for big screen for affect, while defending their actions in “the name of entertainment,” and warning viewers they are not responsible for educating our children.

I remember growing up being warned, “You can’t trust a movie with the facts. You have to read the book!” Teachers were, and probably still are, very good at forming questions that required knowledge of the book rather than just the movie. We can all think of movies where multiple characters from the book were blended into single portrayals on the big screen. So what makes us think this is not also happening when the Bible is produced on the big screen?

The reading of Scriptures is a crucial part of every Christian’s spiritual journey, but there are verses which don’t flow well, for the big screen. If movies were limited to just the written verses, the classic “Ten Commandments” would have been much shorter a movie and Charlton Heston would have been much less famous. I noticed the last time I watched the movie, (and I LOVE the movie) I had my Bible open. What was said in two verses in my bible was more than thirty minutes on the screen. How? Fiction and fantasy is the only way.

But it isn’t only the fictional additions that we must be concerned with. The Orthodox Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, has been interpreting the Holy Scriptures since they were first written (speaking specifically of the New Testament) and the Sacred Tradition requires us to “stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” (2 Thessalonians 2.15) We must be extremely careful anytime we hear the Holy Scriptures interpreted by anyone, including within the Church. Are the interpretations consistent with the Teachings of the Holy Apostles? Are they in line with the understanding of the Church Fathers, who themselves were loyal to the teachings of the Holy Apostles when they first sanctioned the Bible with Canonical Authority.

If you plan to watch this new movie about Jesus, or Noah opening March 28^th, then I caution you to sit with your spiritual father afterward about what the movie teaches. The visual impact of the movie will make it difficult for you to “forget” the incorrect teachings in favor of the Church, but prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit will help as well.

I suppose, from my vantage point, these two movies might comprise a new attack on the Church, since they are being released during the Great Lenten journey while we are seeking a closer relationship with God. Many will flock to the movie theater “seeking a deeper relationship” rather than finding it in the Church. What they are likely to find is partial truth and fantasy about a god who is not the same as The God who revealed Himself to the Church.

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 34 (Reflections on 1, 2, 3 John, Jude, and Hebrews)

Every year I participate in a special effort called the New Testament Challenge sponsored by a priest of the Orthodox Church in America. He encourages Christians to spend the Christmas Fast, also known as Advent) reading the entire New Testament as a preparation for Christmas. Each year I have done this, it has been blessing to me and I pray this year will be no different. As part of the New Testament Challenge, I endeavor to blog a bit about the reading for that particular day. I may miss a few, but I pray for those who follow this blog (NOW ALSO ON FACEBOOK) it will be a blessing.

Greed is a very old passion. It must have been, because Saint Paul was often reminding the faithful to

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13.5)

It is a good reminder this season for us to keep focused on what matters most in life, we are called to be children of God.

Until tomorrow…..Saint Paul’s advice is worth keeping!

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 33 (Reflections on Philippians and Colossians)

Every year I participate in a special effort called the New Testament Challenge sponsored by a priest of the Orthodox Church in America. He encourages Christians to spend the Christmas Fast, also known as Advent) reading the entire New Testament as a preparation for Christmas. Each year I have done this, it has been blessing to me and I pray this year will be no different. As part of the New Testament Challenge, I endeavor to blog a bit about the reading for that particular day. I may miss a few, but I pray for those who follow this blog (NOW ALSO ON FACEBOOK) it will be a blessing.

Saint Paul was a thoughtful and compassionate Church leader. His letters are filled with words of encouragement and advice to live a committed life in Christ. His letters are filled with logical arguments on the “uselessness” [my word] of remaining entrenched in the fleshly life.

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (Colossians 3.5-13)

Until tomorrow…..Saint Paul’s advice is worth keeping!

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 32 (Reflections on Luke 17-24)

Every year I participate in a special effort called the New Testament Challenge sponsored by a priest of the Orthodox Church in America. He encourages Christians to spend the Christmas Fast, also known as Advent) reading the entire New Testament as a preparation for Christmas. Each year I have done this, it has been blessing to me and I pray this year will be no different. As part of the New Testament Challenge, I endeavor to blog a bit about the reading for that particular day. I may miss a few, but I pray for those who follow this blog (NOW ALSO ON FACEBOOK) it will be a blessing.

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21.36)

When you hear of Biblical Signs, the temptation can be to read them as future telling, but a Biblical Sign is much deeper than just reading the future. When Jesus outlines the many things to look for so they can understand the “end times” and His return, He is planting an image for us, so that when we witness them happening, we will remember His promise. And why does He do this? Because we are weak. He knows we will grow impatient and begin to doubt His return. He knows we will fall to temptation and become lazy, comforting ourselves by believing He is delayed. He also knows that sometimes we need a firm reminder about the things that really matter.

Many believe we are currently living in the “end times” based upon the decline of morality. I’m not sure I disagree based upon what Jesus said.

As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. (Luke 17.26-30)

There is little doubt our society is experiencing a moral decline. We human beings seem to have a pattern of decline. Noah, Lot, the Jews at the time of Christ….and as Saint Paul teaches in Romans. “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the hosts of their hearts.” (Romans 1.24) Really only one question remains. If God has rescued His people just in time to save us from total destruction, beginning in the Garden, just how much further must we decline this last time before He returns? I’m not sure I want to find out.

Until tomorrow…..I suppose I’ll settle for trying to be as ready as I can, just in case it happens tonight.

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 31 (Catch Up! Part 2)

Every year I participate in a special effort called the New Testament Challenge sponsored by a priest of the Orthodox Church in America. He encourages Christians to spend the Christmas Fast, also known as Advent) reading the entire New Testament as a preparation for Christmas. Each year I have done this, it has been blessing to me and I pray this year will be no different. As part of the New Testament Challenge, I endeavor to blog a bit about the reading for that particular day. I may miss a few, but I pray for those who follow this blog (NOW ALSO ON FACEBOOK) it will be a blessing.

I continued with my “catch-up” today.

Day 26 – Romans 1-8

Saint Paul couldn’t make it any clearer for us. Our new life in Christ shouldn’t be a slave to our former passions, but united to a Godly life free of sin. Of course, since we are never truly without  sin, obviously Saint Paul is talking about the attempt to live a sinless life as he said.

Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7.13-25)

How can we give up so easily? It seems like we throw in the towel when it comes to our sinful passions. But Saint Paul’s advice is to challenge and comfort us at the same time. Since God came, “while we were yet still sinners” and we each are warring against sin not always successfully, then we should be comforted to know that God will forgive us. He already HAS forgiven us if we accept His forgiveness. And since He has forgiveness us, how can we not try harder to live as He desires for us to live? I’m sure you feel this same battle in your life, so we can all join Saint Paul’s words of praise, “I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Yes indeed.

Day 27 – Romans 9-16

Building on his advice to live a new life in Christ, Saint Paul reminds us that if we fail to live as we should, we will face the same judgment as the Jews. As they witnessed the Church being taken away from the, we will see the Church depart from us, although in actuality it will WE who have departed from the Church. We shouldn’t be so smug that we are members of the Church.

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 11-19-24)

I find this to be a problem in many “cradle” Orthodox raised in the Faith. As the Jews felt certain superiority because they were the “chosen ones” and the People of God, they failed to understand His intent to save the world. Likewise since we are already comfortable inside the Church as members, we often forget that our mission is to continue Christ’s saving work. But if we’re not careful, we will (as today’s Gospel reading during Liturgy pointed out – Luke 14.16-24) find ourselves OUTSIDE the Church.

Saint Paul thought it was God Himself who hardened the hearts of the Jews, so that the Gentiles could come into the Church. I sometimes wonder if the same thing is happening today with the cradle Orthodox Christians. If our Churches were full, which they unfortunately are not, there might not be an urgency to reach out and bring new people into the Church. Jesus said He wanted His Church full, so maybe He sends some away to make room for more. And if, as Saint Paul suggests, it is God who does the sending away, then His mercy is sufficient.

Day 28 – Luke 1-7

It never ceases – my awe of the Holy Scriptures. At this time in my life, age 44, I guess I have read the entire New Testament more than a couple dozen times, either from the pulpit during services, or in person as I am for the New Testament Challenge. YET, each passage STILL reaches me with profound respect.

Take for example, the opening verses of the Gospel of Luke,

Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. (Luke 1.1-4)

Not only does he write with complete certainty, but he writes for clarity’s sake. We know the Gospel of Mark had already been written, and Luke traveled with Saint Paul, so he was well versed with the Gospel. But being a physician, he desired for us to have clarity. He must have known that confusion leads to doubt, and doubt leads to faithlessness, and faithlessness leads to despondency, and despondency leads to death.

But the Gospel is for life, eternal life! And I am given new life every time I pick up the Holy Scriptures. Thank you Saint Luke; and thank you God.

Day 29 – Luke 8-16

Some people are just hard-headed. No matter how many miracles Jesus performed (and they witnessed), no matter how many times Jesus revealed their most inner thoughts; many could not bring themselves to accept Him as the Christ. I think the same thing happens nowadays. I wonder sometimes what WE would do if we were blessed to witness the things they witnessed. Jesus taught and healed PUBLICLY in the Temple and Synagogues and in the marketplaces. Some believed, while others refused to believe. And why did they not believe?

The only way for them to accept the Christ was to deny their own comfort and prestige. This was the basis for the challenge Christ offers,

Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it --  "lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, "saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' "Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? "Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14.25-33)

So…..do you believe?

Until tomorrow…..I’m finally caught up. Tomorrow we finish the Gospel of Luke.

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 30 (Catch Up!)

Every year I participate in a special effort called the New Testament Challenge sponsored by a priest of the Orthodox Church in America. He encourages Christians to spend the Christmas Fast, also known as Advent) reading the entire New Testament as a preparation for Christmas. Each year I have done this, it has been blessing to me and I pray this year will be no different. As part of the New Testament Challenge, I endeavor to blog a bit about the reading for that particular day. I may miss a few, but I pray for those who follow this blog (NOW ALSO ON FACEBOOK) it will be a blessing.

Well, I fell into the trap of getting busy. By way of confession, I haven’t been at my desk more than a couple hours this past week. So today, I’m using the “Catch Up” option for the Challenge. I will however endeavor to say a few things about each Challenge section.

Day 22 – 1 Corinthians 1-11

The Corinthians must have been a tough bunch, because Saint Paul continually urges them to leave their old lifestyle behind.  I suppose this can be comforting for us today – that we aren’t the only ones struggling to leave the worldly life behind – but one point I think stood out for today, especially considering all the so-called culture war talk as of late:

I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner -- not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person." (1 Corinthians 5.9-13)

With the recent publicity of a court case in Colorado, which forced a baker to make a wedding cake against his will for a same-sex wedding reception, these words by Saint Paul touched me. Saint Paul (and Christ for that matter) wants us to focus on OUR life and the life of OUR Church, rather than ‘Bible thumping’ our fellow citizens.

Day 25 – 1 Corinthians 12- 2 Corinthians

The Holy Scriptures can be confusing. The Old Testament, without the ‘point of view’ of the Risen Christ cannot be fully understood. Likewise, the New Testament, until the return of Christ, cannot be fully understood if we depend upon human logic. Saint Paul said,

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4.1-6)

It’s time to allow the Light of Christ to shine upon your reading the Holy Scriptures and leave worldly wisdom behind to embrace Godly wisdom.

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus. (2 Corinthians 1.12-13)

Until tomorrow…..I’ve more to catch up tomorrow….

Is Jesus Returning Soon or not?

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 20 (Reflections on 1 & 2 Thessalonians)

Every year I participate in a special effort called the New Testament Challenge sponsored by a priest of the Orthodox Church in America. He encourages Christians to spend the Christmas Fast, also known as Advent) reading the entire New Testament as a preparation for Christmas. Each year I have done this, it has been blessing to me and I pray this year will be no different. As part of the New Testament Challenge, I endeavor to blog a bit about the reading for that particular day. I may miss a few, but I pray for those who follow this blog (NOW ALSO ON FACEBOOK) it will be a blessing.

Two things, though interrelated, struck me as worthy of today’s blog while I was reading for the New Testament Challenge. The first, though not very profound, is that it seems Christians have ALWAYS struggled to live free of sin.

Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God  for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 4.1-8)

But while it may be true that Christians seem to have ALWAYS struggled with sins, especially sexual immorality, that does not mean that the early Church, and especially Saint Paul, did not consider these sins to worthy of stopping. In other words, just because everyone did it, didn’t mean the Church accepted it as “ok” or acceptable for the Christian life. To make this point extremely clear, Saint Paul said,

But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. (2 Thessalonians 3.13-15)

If the early Church had considered certain behaviors, such as sexual immorality and greed, as acceptable “just because” everyone struggled with those sins, There wouldn’t be as bold a warning against those who “didn’t obey” Saint Paul’s teaching. Of course we can’t ignore that the overall teaching of Saint Paul didn’t include perfection. He knew well that many would fall short. Rather, he emphasized the importance of the EFFORT and acknowledgment that certain behaviors were not appropriate for Christians.

This practice extended into the later centuries of the Church when Holy Canons were written to forbid Christians from pursuing certain professions because, by association, certain professions (acting for example) exalted a lifestyle not keeping true to Christian morals. We could, and I might suggest we will again soon, begin enforcing such prohibitions in the near future. How difficult is it to maintain Orthodox Christian morals WHILE being a Hollywood actor or Nashville, singer. There have always been, and will most likely be, professions in which Christians shouldn’t participate.

I find many contemporary Christians “endorsing” certain behaviors as non-sinful just because they have always existed. For a Christian to embrace sin because there has always been sin, would be suggesting that Christ did not call us to a higher moral standard, albeit when we fall along the climb.

The second thing that struck me today was the emphasis on the end times. It would seem that the Thessalonians were a bit preoccupied with the return of Christ, to the point of anxiety.

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2.1-4)

We know the early Church believed Christ would return within their lifetime, but here Saint Paul is reminding them that certain things must occur first. For me the most disturbing element is the, “falling away” that must come before Christ returns. The Church spends much energy in growing the Church, both personal spiritual growth as well as corporate Church growth. And yet, there is growing evidence that many Churches, and Orthodox Church are not exempt from this either, are declining in attendance and participation. Does that mean we are “in the falling away” and that Christ will return soon?

If it does mean that Jesus is coming quickly, at least maybe we will once again, as the early Church, live as if we will witness His return. Then, maybe, just maybe, we will take seriously our need for repentance and FINALLY get ready for Him.

Until tomorrow…..take an inventory of your moral compass and ask yourself, “Is my life what Saint Paul would approve?” If it isn’t, consider what you might put into action to correct it before it’s too late.

Feet

Today’s topic from the Preachers’ Institute for the 40 Days of Blogging Challenge is “Feet.” Feet really take a beating; they support you wherever you go. They help you run away from danger. They jump out of the way of spiders. And they don’t mind getting squishy why you cross the street after a wet snow storm. Feet are always with you, through thick and thin….and “these days” feet have it pretty good. In Biblical times, you know….the days without indoor plumbing…, feet had it much harder with all the extra “stuff” they had to step in every day. Think about this when you read this passage…

Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. (Luke 6.36-38)

I like to remind people of this reality when they hear this passage. I don’t think I have that type of love. Thankfully, I have not been tempted with that. God probably knows I would fall to that temptation. We never really think that God protects us so many times from things that would be a detriment for our spiritual journey. We don’t always recognize it, but He works overtime keeping us from temptations that are more than we can handle.

Saint Paul reminded us,

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10.13)

And how will you escape? With your FEET! See, they really are important. Next time you find yourself in the middle of a temptation you feel you can’t overcome, RUN to the nearest Orthodox Church, get down on your knees, and beg the Lord to save you. And He will….but you might have to get your feet dirty traveling along the road. But don’t worry, they can take it!

This post is written for the 40 Days of Blogging Challenge sponsored by the Preachers Institute. You may find other blogs participating in this challenge. I hope you enjoy this year’s Advent journey.

Take a Moment and Wonder

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 11 (Reflections on Acts 16-28)

Every year I participate in a special effort called the New Testament Challenge sponsored by a priest of the Orthodox Church in America. He encourages Christians to spend the Christmas Fast, also known as Advent) reading the entire New Testament as a preparation for Christmas. Each year I have done this, it has been blessing to me and I pray this year will be no different. As part of the New Testament Challenge, I endeavor to blog a bit about the reading for that particular day. I may miss a few, but I pray for those who follow this blog (NOW ALSO ON FACEBOOK) it will be a blessing.

Have you ever wondered how so many witnesses to Jesus and the early Church miracles could have refused to believe in Him and join the Church? I have. Have you ever wondered what it would take for the entire world to believe in Jesus and join the Church? I think I have. Have you ever wondered why YOU believed and joined (or remained in) the Church? I have.

Reading the closing chapters of Acts, and hearing of the back-and-forth of prison-release-prison-trial-attempted release-prison-death, it occurred to me that I have been Orthodox all my life and, save a few moments as a teenager when I asked, “What if it’s not all true,” I have never really doubted my faith in Jesus Christ. I haven’t always been the most “faithful attendee” while I was in college, but my faith has never really been challenged. So today I wondered why…

Taken at face value, the stories of Jesus and the early Church sound fascinating at first and doubtful if forced to comply with our miniscule understanding of the universe. People have many times challenged me to prove the veracity of the Bible, and I have always said, I didn’t have to prove it. It wasn’t a cop-out; rather it was what I felt in my heart. As long as I believe it, that works for me. But I also know that doesn’t work for everyone. If it did I’m sure Acts would have been written a bit different.

The Book of Acts, among other benefits, provides a glimpse into the heart and soul of the early Church. Apostles not seeing eye-to-eye; believing Jews not seeing eye-to-eye with non-believing Jews; “insider” Jews not wanting “outsider” Gentiles to have the same benefit of membership (so-to-speak) as themselves. And we haven’t YET gotten into Saint Paul’s pastoral letters yet to the Churches and certain leaders.

So I really shouldn’t be surprised today when I see so much turmoil and confusion among those who believe in Jesus Christ. I absolutely believe, and teach as objective history, that the Orthodox Christian Church is the original Christian Church, but I shouldn’t be surprised when other Churches claim to understand Jesus Christ differently. There is most defiantly historical precedence for that.

Are there other ways to understand Jesus Christ? I suppose there might be, but this one saying has kept me Orthodox this long….

“Good enough for the Apostles who walked and talked and ate and slept with Jesus, then good enough for me!”

Until tomorrow….take a moment and wonder why. I hope this will help with the answer.

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 5 (Matthew 13-18)

Every year I participate in a special effort called the New Testament Challenge sponsored by a priest of the Orthodox Church in America. He encourages Christians to spend the Christmas Fast, also known as Advent) reading the entire New Testament as a preparation for Christmas. Each year I have done this, it has been blessing to me and I pray this year will be no different. As part of the New Testament Challenge, I endeavor to blog a bit about the reading for that particular day. I may miss a few, but I pray for those who follow this blog (NOW ALSO ON FACEBOOK) it will be a blessing.

“Let us pray to the Lord, that we may be made worthy to hear the Holy Gospel.” This call, heard immediately prior to the reading of the Matins Gospel, has been on my mind the past few weeks. It is also said during Paraklesis, which we celebrate each Wednesday evening in Florence. My question is, “Aren’t we all worthy?”

Today’s readings for the New Testament Challenge begin with several parables from the Lord. When asked why the Lord teaches in parables, He said, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” (Matthew 13.11) I believe, taken in context of several other passages today, confirms that the Lord will not allow “just anyone” to understand His Gospel.

“But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (Matthew 13.16-17) “All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, ‘I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.’” (Matthew 13.34-35) “He who has ear to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 13.43)

If the Lord openly has declared that not all people will be honored with understanding His Gospel, we should be fervent in our prayers to “be made worthy to hear the Holy Gospel.” This has a double urgency, in my thoughts. If we HAVE been chosen by God to hear, and therefore understand, the Gospel, but we choose to ignore the message of hope, we are all the more in danger of eternal torment.

“The Son of Man will send out His angles, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness.” (Matthew 13.41)

Don’t you want to be worthy of hearing the Gospel? The flip side of the coin is that we will hear the word of God and not comprehend its blessings and continue to live in darkness until God chooses to shed His light on us. But even to this, though not a part of today’s readings, God has already prepared. “Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.” (Romans 9.18) If God has chosen to hide the truth from your heart, it is God’s will, and therefore Saint Paul comforts with these words of hope. BUT we should WANT to understand God’s word so that we can be saved. It would be our condemnation if He chooses to count us worthy to understand the Gospel, and we respond with unbelief! To quote Saint Paul, “Μη γένοιτο – Certainly not!” (Romans 9.14)

Until tomorrow….pray for worthiness!

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1.6

I wonder if you knew that the human gestation period (the time needed for complete development of the human body) is longer than nine months. I wonder if you knew that human babies, if they were in the womb for the entire gestation period, would be more than double their birth size? I KNOW you know that a human baby cannot survive without assistance immediately upon birth. Now you know why…For more information on this topic, please check out this article by Orthodox professor, Dr Daniel Buxhoveden, in which he compares the human gestation to that of the cosmic development.

HOMINID EVOLUTION AND THE BIRTH OF THE SPECIES

But I’m pretty sure this wasn’t what Saint Paul had in mind when he wrote these words to the Church in Philipi. Yet, we ARE still a work in progress, spiritually speaking that is. As I point out at almost every Baptism I am blessed to celebrate, we begin our spiritual journey in Christ at our Baptism, rather than complete our journey. I find too many who consider Baptism the “end of our faith journey” that brings to conclusion a period of study and evaluation (as if we have any right to evaluate the Truth), or at least that completes, for those “born into the Faith” the parents’ responsibilities of bringing the Children to Church. If you don’t believe me, consider the many, too many, after whose baptism takes place, do not allow their new life in Christ to have any affect in their daily life choices.

And yet, we are a work in progress. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4.16) This process of becoming like God, which we call Theosis, BEGINS at our baptism and is perfected by God at His Return.

If we could just remember that, while we are not quite finished becoming like God, that does not mean that we have any power to actually accomplish the work of perfection. St John Chrysostom makes a beautiful point in describing Saint Paul’s words. “See how he also teaches them to be unassuming. For since he had witnessed a great thing in them, that they may not feel as men are apt to do, he presently teaches them to refer both the past and the future to Christ.” (Homily 1 on Philippians)

Remember the process, and remember WHO IT IS who is accomplishing the great task in your perfection….and them let Him accomplish it. Then you can Live a New Life in Christ.

It doesn't matter where you've been; what matters is where you're going.

Saint Paul, arguably one of the greatest champions of Jesus Christ, began not merely as an unbeliever, but a strong persecutor of the Faith. In his own words he admits his atrocities. "For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it." (Galatians 1.13) If he had remained an unbeliever, there is no telling how many Christians he would have killed. But God had a plan for him to guide the Church rather than kill it. He has a plan for you too. You may have a checkered past. You may not be the most faithful Christian around. You not even think He wants you in the Church. You might, you aren't, but He DOES want you in the Church. You're not alone. St Paul didn't respond immediately either. He said, "I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me....then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days." (Galatians 1.16-18) The issue isn't whether or not you have always been faithful. God is calling you to repentance just as He called Saint Paul. Will you keep denying His call, or will you accept His invitation to begin a new life in Christ, where you can leave the old behind.