Human Logic vs Divine Command – The Ultimate Conflict

Ever since Adam and Eve, human beings have been conflicted. Do we please our own ego, or listen to the command of God? It may seem like a pretty straight forward choice. I don’t know anyone who claims to be a Christian (and some who don’t) who would actually choose to disobey God when faced with the question straight on. But every day, we choose our ego over God’s command.

Seen from another point of view, human logic seems quite sufficient. Who is willing to offer assistance to another person without some sort of return favor? We are trained to withhold our assistance until “some deal” is accomplished that benefits our needs. The common expression “two-way-relationship” is rooted in the idea that we “willingly” offer assistance to those who “willingly” offer their assistance (or payment) in return. But is this concept consistent with the command of God?

Jesus says, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? Love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return.” (Luke 6.32-35) There is the ultimate conflict. Do we follow human logic or divine command?

The choice is simple and has its eternal rewards, but most Christians will choose human logic every time. What choice will YOU make?

A Year of the Lord – Liturgical Bible Study – Session 4

First Sunday of Luke - Calling of the Disciples

This series combines the witness of the Bible and Orthodox worship. The biblical readings prescribed for the Orthodox liturgical year are meaningfully related to the holy days and seasons of the Church calendar. Our weekly Bible Study this year will take on a new direction as we look to the Church calendar of Feasts and Fasts to our the Biblical readings for those events help to shape our spiritual life and relationship with Jesus Christ. Each week will include a practical component to be applied in our daily lives.

Only one more week to support Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

Every now and then I like to remind my "loyal fans" about a great opportunity to support Orthodox Christian charities AND a local "at-home business" for my devoted wife, Presvytera Vassi. V's Cardbox donates 10% of all sales to specific Orthodox Christian charities. This month's charity is Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. Visit the online store NOW and support Orthodox businesses.

www.shop.vscardbox.com

Don’t YOU Want a Pure Soul?

At one time, immediately after our Baptism, our soul was pure as the brand new white baptismal garment we were clothed in, but over time sin has soiled and smudged our soul. Over time, our choices in life leave behind residue, like dirt, that must be cleansed by God. Once we have been cleansed by God, however, what choices do we make to keep our soul clean? Jesus asks us, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8.36) Many times, we make choices that bring smudges that soil our soul. Too often, we place more care for our white clothes than for our immortal soul. The message of the Holy Cross to deny ourselves and follow Christ, is an invitation to turn away from the choices that leave dirt on our soul in favor of a way of life Christ has established in His Church, to remain pure. Even with the best intentions there are times when sin again leaves its residue on our soul. But rather than giving up and “living in sin,” it is our chance the come for Holy Confession to have our soul purified once again, giving us another chance to remain pure. Each and every time we sin, we are able to return to God and His Church and seek forgiveness and have our soul purified.

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Liturgical Bible Study - Session 3 - Feast of the Holy Cross

This series combines the witness of the Bible and Orthodox worship. The biblical readings prescribed for the Orthodox liturgical year are meaningfully related to the holy days and seasons of the Church calendar. Our weekly Bible Study this year will take on a new direction as we look to the Church calendar of Feasts and Fasts to our the Biblical readings for those events help to shape our spiritual life and relationship with Jesus Christ. Each week will include a practical component to be applied in our daily lives.

If only we could do it like we used to do it….

Every person, every family, every business, every Church, faces the same dilemma. We look at the past and wonder why things have to change. The past is something we know and are proud of, especially when we recognize past accomplishments. There comes a time, though, when “the way we did it before” just won’t result in the same accomplishments of the past. There comes a time when we have to venture into the unknown, and try something new, in order to experience success.

Four men experienced just such a day while they were fishing. They had worked all night, using the same techniques that had resulted in “a good catch” so many times before. The only problem was, this time there was no catch, not one fish. Then a respected teacher named Jesus came and said, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” (Luke 5.4) The leader of the fishing crew said, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” (Luke 5.5) We know the rest of the story…..they caught so many fish, that their nets were almost breaking and they had to call their partners to bring another boat to help haul in the catch.

Sometimes we have to trust in God enough and admit that we might not always know the best way to accomplish something, or as was the case with the fishermen, what used to work in the past, might not work anymore to accomplish the same results. Sometimes (most times really) we have to accept that OUR way is RARELY the best way to achieve results. We will only experience “a great catch” when we try it God’s way. Something to think about….

Maybe we Should Wear White More Often

After our baptism, we were completely clothed in white. This tradition has been maintained since the earliest days of Christianity. In case you didn’t know “why” we are clothed in white, it is to represent the purity of God’s new creation PRESENT WITHIN US at the time of Baptism and Chrismation. Unfortunately, most of us never consider the white gown after the reception is over.

When we wear white, whether at our baptism reception or in the public square, we are constantly aware, sometimes to the point of craziness, of ever little speck and ever little smudge we see. Many refuse to wear white for this very reason. In fact, we would NEVER participate in anything that we know would make our white garments dirty. An accident is one thing…..but nobody allows their white garments to get dirty on purpose.

So why aren’t we as cautious about our souls? Isn’t our soul worth more to us than our seersucker suit? Jesus said, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8.36) Maybe if we remembered our souls were clothed in white, we would be more careful with the choices we make and the activities we do. Maybe we should wear white more often…

We Condemn Ourselves

The message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is simple. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3.16) Jesus went further to say, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3.17) Then where is condemnation? We bring it on ourselves by loving darkness and the ways of the world rather than the ways of God. Again Jesus said, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3.19) The way of the Cross is the way of life. The life of the Church is the way of the Cross. We must remain focused upon and believe in the Cross of Christ in order that our eternity will be salvation rather than condemnation.

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A Year of the Lord – Liturgical Bible Study - Session 2

This series combines the witness of the Bible and Orthodox worship. The biblical readings prescribed for the Orthodox liturgical year are meaningfully related to the holy days and seasons of the Church calendar. Our weekly Bible Study this year will take on a new direction as we look to the Church calendar of Feasts and Fasts to our the Biblical readings for those events help to shape our spiritual life and relationship with Jesus Christ. Each week will include a practical component to be applied in our daily lives.

A Year of the Lord – Liturgical Bible Study - Session 1

This series combines the witness of the Bible and Orthodox worship. The biblical readings prescribed for the Orthodox liturgical year are meaningfully related to the holy days and seasons of the Church calendar. Our weekly Bible Study this year will take on a new direction as we look to the Church calendar of Feasts and Fasts to our the Biblical readings for those events help to shape our spiritual life and relationship with Jesus Christ. Each week will include a practical component to be applied in our daily lives.

Blessed are Those who hear the word of God and keep it!

Sometimes, it isn’t the words we hear which become the lesson from the Lord, but what we do with those words. September 8^th EVERY year is the commemoration of the Nativity of the Theotokos, one of the Great Feasts of the Church. In fact, it is the first great feast of the New Year which should set the tone for our annual spiritual journey. During this Feast, we normally hear the Gospel lesson of “Martha and Mary” found in the Gospel According to Luke, (Luke 10.38-41, 11.27-28) in which Jesus direct our attention TWICE to the hearing of the Word of God.

Today, tough, is different in the Church calendar, because it is also the Sunday before the Feast of the Cross, the second Great Feast of the Church celebrated on September 14^th. On this day the Church prescribes the Gospel According to John, in which we hear the most quoted passage of Scripture, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3.16)

It isn’t by chance the readings are established in this way. On the Feast of the Theotokos, Jesus reminds us that while honoring His Mother is good, it is more blessed to hear His word and keep it. The truth of the Cross of Christ, and it’s life-giving reality in the salvation of the entire world, must never be passed over. “For God did not come into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3.17)

What is the Word we hear? “He who believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3.15) Now you have heard the Word; it’s time to begin keeping it!