Have people forgotten?

"Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15.10)

With all the ranting about terrorism and bombing them back to oblivion, I can't help but wonder if people have forgotten this truth from God. 

What is the cost of following Christ?

Gospel Reading: Luke 14:25-35 - At that time, great multitudes accompanied Jesus; and he turned and said to them, "If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a 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 encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and asks terms of peace. So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill; men throw it away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

As we continue on our “Advent” journey to Christmas to welcome the King of Kings into our hearts, we can’t forget to calculate the cost first. Are we willing to leave everything behind to follow Him in to Heaven? In the coming weeks the Church will ask us to spend more time in prayer, reading the scriptures, fasting, going for Holy Confession, serving the poor, and learning to place Him first in our lives. Being and Orthodox Christian in today’s America, especially during the so-called Holiday Season, offers an excellent opportunity to place God first.

Our society celebrates the “Holiday Season” for many weeks of shopping, parties, parades, banquets, and more shopping for gift exchanges. HOWEVER.....the Church asks us to spend the same weeks preparing for Christmas. We will celebrate AFTER Divine Liturgy on Christmas. It won’t be easy politely rejecting invitations to Christmas parties so we can attend Great Vespers on Saturday evenings. It won’t be easy fasting in an office filled with holiday desserts. It won’t be easy, but it will be worthwhile. It is the cost of being Orthodox Christian in America. Now you know the cost....are you willing to join the journey?

A New Start

Each year, the Church invites us to embark upon a journey toward the Nativity many call “Advent”. The very next day, [that’s today] the Church commemorates the Feast of Saint Matthew with the Gospel message, “For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Matthew 9.13) Repentance is the start of every new journey, and we are blessed to take advantage of the opportunity for a fresh start each year during “Advent” as a preparation for Christmas. Frankly that is just one of the blessings of the Church Calendar as the cycle repeats itself each year. Each year is a chance for a new start.

Yesterday I preached about being addicted to sin. You may watch the sermon here.  I spoke about the truth that every addict awakes in the morning wanting to kick the addiction. This morning it occurred to me that “Advent” is another “morning” when we can get a new start. It gives us another chance to rededicate our life to Christ and welcome the Nativity (in just 39 days) with a new outlook, no longer a slave to the sin that captures our hearts daily.

Have a blessed fast.

Addiction

The Church is filled with them; people who live sinful lives
and then arrive Sunday morning acting like angels. It turns many people off
from “religion” and even more from attending Church on Sunday mornings. It is
common to hear the excuse, “I have no intention of changing my behavior, so
instead of being a hypocrite I just stay home.” What if everyone in Church
wasn’t a hypocrite but an addict? What if instead of enjoying their sinful
lives, people in Church on Sunday morning awoke every day committing to the
Lord they would change, but by NOON had already fallen into their old habits?
What if everyone were addicted to sin? And then.....what if YOU understood YOU
weren’t better than anyone else, and 
addicted to sin just like everyone else. You could finally be a love
your neighbor as yourself.

And who is my Neighbor?

The Gospel tells of a certain lawyer who “stood up and tested” Jesus trying to trick Him. He asked a question many of us ask either directly or in the secret of our prayers, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10.25) Our contemporary society seems to be preoccupied with this question. In hospital waiting rooms every day, family members of terminally ill patients are asking doctors, “What can we do to save his life?” Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each year, mostly during the last few months of life trying to achieve eternal life, or at least prolong death indefinitely.

The answer Jesus offers to us is not at all what we might expect. Following a dialogue with the lawyer and offering the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus says, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10.37) What exactly are we supposed to do? The Good Samaritan was the only one who actually went TO the dying man and co-suffered with Him, while all the others kept their distance. It was the Good Samaritan whom Jesus defined as our “neighbor” – turning upside down the hypocrisy of the lawyer. In order for us to have eternal life, we must go up close to those who are suffering and bear their suffering along with them.

The Samaritan “went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care o him.” (Luke 10.34) This was not at all what the lawyer had in mind when he proudly asked, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10.29) presuming he had no equals, and that he was above the others. Eternal life was not something he would do for himself, but what he would do for others. So the next time you find yourself asking what can be done so you can live longer, consider the answer....and then go out and co-suffer with someone in need.

We can Live Through the Pain

Many ask, “If God doesn’t give us more than we can handle,
the why do people starve to death?” This very popular question is based upon a
misunderstanding about God’s love. God doesn’t give us struggle. He allows
things to run their natural course. God does promise, and the Gospel bears
witness, that when we remain united to God in faith and humility, we will
always be able to endure the pain and suffering. We will be able to handle
anything even death itself if we remain united to God in prayer, faith,
humility and peace.

Humility is the Center of Salvation

An important Jewish leader had begged Jesus Christ to come to his home because his twelve year old daughter was very sick. Jesus agreed and, surrounded by a huge crowd of followers, was on His way to the house when He was interrupted by devout and humble woman. This woman, sick for twelve years, believed with all her heart, that if she just was able to reach out and touch Jesus, she would be healed. Unlike Jairus the Jewish leader, she didn’t beg Jesus. She didn’t even want anyone to know she was there to be healed. In fact you could say she was sneaking up to Him to be healed, and would have just walked away after she was healed if she could.

This is exactly what she tried to do when Jesus cried out, “Who touched Me?” (Luke 8.45) Still trying to remain unknown, even though she had been miraculously healed, she kept herself hidden until Jesus insisted, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me." (Luke 8:46) Meanwhile, Jairus twelve year old daughter died from her illness and his servants had come to tell him, "Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher." (Luke 8.49) Jairus was content to step away and return home when Jesus stopped him, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well." (Luke 8:50)

The humility of both Jairus the Jewish leader and the unnamed woman are at the center of the Gospel story. Jesus healed many thousands of men and women during His earthly ministry. Why would the Gospel take the time to tell us of these two particular women? There must be something more that Saint Luke wanted us to learn than just that Jesus has the power to heal. The story is about the humility of two faithful followers of Jesus Christ. In both cases, it wasn’t about the power of God, but their humble faith. “Be of good cheer.....do not be afraid....” (Luke 8.48, 50) were the words of God for these humble servants. When we are humble, there is no need for sorrow and fear.

Using the Government to feed and cloth the poor doesn't make you a better Christian

I have a question for those who want free college education.....are you willing to teach for free? For those who want free health care...are you willing to cure for free? For those who want free public transportation....are you willing to drive for free? For those who want a free school lunch program....are you willing to grow, harvest, clean, cook, serve and clean afterward for free? There are many examples throughout Church history, such as the Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian who the Church honored this past Sunday, who DID cure for free. Many HAVE taught for free in the name of Christ. Using the government to educate, cure, feed and house people doesn't make you a better Christian. Loving people outside your door enough to do it yourself makes you a better Christian.

We Must Love Others First Before We Can Learn to Love Ourselves

You’ve heard it said that you must learn to love yourself
before you can love others. I disagree. Loving yourself in only self-love, and rarely
leads to loving others. In the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazaros, we hear of
a man who loved himself so much, he never recognized that the poor man outside
his door needed compassion. Even in death the rich man couldn’t pass beyond his
love for himself as he called, “Father Abraham have mercy on me and send Lazaros
that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue.” (Luke
16.24) It is only when we love others that we can finally learn to love
ourselves as God desires.

Your Salvation is Outside Your Door

In the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazaros (Luke 16.19-31), Jesus tells of an opportunity for salvation that goes unnoticed by the rich man. Day after day he stepped out his door passing over his salvation, an unnamed and unknown poor man “desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.” (Luke 16.21) Day by day the rich man was sealing his fate for an eternity of torment and grief, while the fate of the poor man rested firmly in the bosom of Abraham. Both men died, and both men met their fate.

Just outside your door, if you are choose to notice, is your salvation waiting for you. Every time you step out your front door is an opportunity to meet your salvation face to face. The rich man in the parable was so focused on his own comfort that he didn’t even know the name of the man lying across his front steps. When you step out your door you leave behind the comfort of home, but you also leave behind the chains of torment and grief. Every person you meet, rich or poor, is your opportunity for salvation.

Your salvation isn’t about rich or poor. It isn’t about names. It is about bread crumbs and dogs. It is about being able to see the person just outside your door, not as a burden or inconvenience but with compassion and love. Salvation is about love.

Don’t Pick the Pigs over the People

When Jesus healed the man with legion demons, He used a
heard of pigs from the nearby town for the demons to enter. We all remember the
story; the pigs went running off the cliff and died. The town folk, not wanting
to lose the investment of the pigs, could not bear to see their resources taken
away from them, just for some poor demoniac. They were so greedy; they chased
Jesus away from their town. Many times, we find ourselves chasing Jesus away by
refusing to allow Him to use OUR resources for the ministry of His Church. We
would rather see the Church limp along; barely able to keep the doors open than
to go without cable television. This story isn’t just about healing a demoniac;
it is about stewardship, and whether we pick the pigs over the people.

Don’t Allow your Greed to Send Christ Away

After Jesus cast out legion demons from someone, the demons entered a heard of swine. As a reaction to having the demons enter, the entire heard ran off a cliff and drown. The demons were so violent and oppressive, the swine just couldn’t handle the presence of so many demons. Demons have a nasty effect on people, but there is always a limit to their abilities.

During the exorcism prayers of every baptism, the Church recalls this Gospel story, as the demons are cast out of the new infant or adult who is seeking to join themselves to Christ. The demons are obligated to obey the Church and depart, just as they were obligated to depart from the young man in Gospel. So if demons have been cast out of our lives at our baptism, why does the Church offer this Gospel story? In the story, the man from whom the demons were cast out glorified God, but the same cannot be said for the owners of the swine, and the town folk.

“Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.” (Luke 8.37) For the town folk, it was easier for them to witness the young man completely tormented by demons, than to lose the money they had invested in the swine. They had grown comfortable with their fellow citizen being tormented, but could not tolerate losing their investments. They had become so greedy; the presence of God was more of a torment for them than the torment of demons on their fellow human being. 

Put Your Trust in the Church

In a world with more than 43,000 denominations of
Christianity, it is ever more crucial that we learn to discern the truth among
the many partial truths spoken in the name of Jesus Christ. The Orthodox
Christian Church, loyal to the truth as taught by the Holy Apostles, has been
the caretaker of the wholeness of the truth for more than 2,000 years. Jesus
Christ said, “He who hears you hears Me.” When we hear the voice of the Church,
we hear Jesus Christ. If you truly desire to live united to God, then put your
trust in the Church.

He Who Hears the Church, Hears God

Words are nothing if they are not spoken with authority, and authority is given, not taken. In the Gospel of Luke we hear Christ give authority to the Church to speak and preach on His behalf. Jesus said, “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.” (Luke 10.16) Then the seventy apostles whom Jesus had sent out to preach the Kingdom in advance of His Passion, returned saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” (Luke 10.17) The mission of the Seventy was to prepare others to encounter God. They healed the sick, they cast out demons, they spoke on behalf of God. Despite all these blessings the Seventy experienced, Jesus said, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10.19-20)

The mission of the Church has not changed in two thousand years. Jesus Christ has given the Church authority over the power of the enemy. He who hears the Church, hears God, and He who rejects the Church, rejects God. He has given the Church authority, not so people could rejoice in earthly blessings, but that their names (OUR NAMES) might be written in Heaven. This responsibility is taken very seriously by the Church, which is why our teachings MUST BE loyal and consistent with the teachings and way of life of the Holy Apostles, to whom Jesus first gave the authority. This is what we mean when we say, “One Holy Catholic and APOSTOLIC Church” in the Creed. The way of life and teachings of the Church are the same as the Apostles.

The words spoken by the Church are for our benefit, not for earthly blessings, but that our names are written in heaven, and they are words spoken with authority given directly from God. It was Jesus Christ who said, “He who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.” Do you want to hear God, listen to the Church!

Pluck Out the Thorns from Your Heart

Using the Parable of the Sower (Luke 8.5-15), Jesus taught
that there are four conditions of the heart. Either the heart is hardened and
the Word of God cannot penetrate, or the heart is shallow and the roots cannot
grow deep, or the heart is filled with thorns which chock the heart, or the
heart is rich fertile soil which produces fruit a hundred fold. Most of us
spend most of our time surrounded by thorns, so God has given us His Church to
assist with plucking the thorns from our heart. Without proper care, our heart
will never grow deep roots and produce the fruit of faith, but by using the
life of the Church you can pluck out the thorns from your heart and produce
fruit a hundred fold for the glory of God. 

True Diversity Requires True Tolerance

I was recently appointed to serve for one year on a "Faith and Values Advisory Board" for our local newspaper. We meet once each month to discuss life in the community and how people of faith might be "view the issues" facing our community. This month was my first column, and I thought I would share it with my fans here as well.... I pray my words are a source of comfort and hope to anyone in our city who might read them....and you never know......by God's grace maybe someone will be inspired to Live A New Life In Christ by the column.

For the past four years I have been blessed with the opportunity to participate on a diversity panel along with several religious leaders from the Pee Dee area. The panel is part of the Building Bridges program sponsored each spring by the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Each of the four years, I was asked to speak about what was needed to build bridges of diversity for the greater community, and each of the four years, I have responded with the same answer. “We need to be OK with allowing each other to be who we genuinely are.” The reality of being genuine requires something that, quite frankly, goes against our immediate impulse.

(continue reading...)

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Are the flood waters of life beating you down?

As I celebrated our weekly Wednesday Orthros/Matins this morning, I was especially thankful to God for keeping our community families safe during the recent flooding. The Gospel for this morning was especially appropriate to the past week...

Luke 6:46-49, 7:1 "The Lord said, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? Every one who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep, and laid the foundation upon rock; and when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But he who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation; against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." After he had ended all his sayings in the hearing of the people he entered Capernaum."

We are thankful that our homes are safe, and the storm is behind us. Many noticed possible weaknesses in their properties, and will make improvements to ensure flooding is less damaging during the next storm.......but what improvements are we making to protect our soul for the DAILY storms that face our soul?

If you are interested making improvements to your soul for the storm, find your local Orthodox Christian Church and begin attending services, Bible Studies, and community gatherings as soon as you can.

Simply Because We Want to Love

Jesus said, “Just as you want men to do to you, you also do
to them likewise.” (Luke 6.31) Jesus also said, “But if you love those who love
you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.”
(Luke 6.32) God doesn’t want us to love simply because He said so; He wants us
to WANT to love. When we are forced into love, it isn’t love at all, but an
obligation. Sinners love those who love them because they want something in
return, but we are called to be better than sinners. We are called to love
simply because we want to love. It’s better that way.

Why is Love Such a Challenge?

When Jesus gave us the Golden Rule, He gave us something much more than a commandment. He gave us a challenge. It seems Christ knew that we enjoy a challenge. He said, “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.” (Luke 6.31-32) With these words Jesus challenged us to look at others as if we are looking in a mirror, and that is a great challenge.

Because of our fallen nature, we tend to look at others with a sense of comparison. “At least I don’t look like that.” “At least I don’t behave like that.” “At least I’m smarter and richer than that.” When was the last time we looked at someone else, as if we were looking at ourselves and said, “I know they are struggling with something nobody else knows.” “I know they feel like they can’t seem to catch a break.” “I know they just want us to trust them.” The point is, we all struggle with living our Christianity according to God’s commands. The only true comparison is “which” sin we have committed that someone else has not. We all sin, so why place our right to be loved ahead of anyone else?

Christianity was not the first to understand the concept of treating others the way we want to be treated, but that is the easy part. The challenge – what makes the rule ‘golden’ – is to place ourselves in someone else’s situation and love them. The challenge – what Christians are uniquely called to live – is to love even whom we think we know to be the most sinful. Sin is sin, and nobody is without sin – except God – so why not love. Are you up for the challenge?