(most recent spiritual update on February 7, 2012 - 362,765 characters including spaces on this page)
TO THOSE SEEKING THE TRUE TEMPLE OF CHRIST, WHICH IS WITHIN OURSELVES:
Primary spiritual witnesses are Traditional Orthodox Christians, particularly of the early Church but included are some spiritual works by non-Orthodox Mystics and Protestant Reformers which seem inspired and consistent with the True Church of the heart where the Holy Spirit dwells within us.
This page is continuously updated with testimonies of martyrs and other witnesses for the glory of the Lord.
For those who seek specific categories with multiple articles within each, please go to the bottom of this immense page, easily done by holding down "ctrl" at the same time hitting "end" and then scroll (go) up to the following categories which are listed in their order of appearance:
Iconography (n = number of articles, n = 20)
NOTICE OF OCTOBER 19, 2011:
Recently, I became a partner member of THE REFORMATION SOCIETY of South Africa (Dr. Peter Hammond, Director, Cape Town). Accordingly, my future homilies and articles will concentrate even more on the needed personal commitment to Jesus Christ of every real Christian. Our change inwardly must 'trump' merely outward ceremonial aspects of Christianity. The Holy Spirit works in the hearts of all true believers. Listen to Him and follow in the footsteps of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Be prepared to suffer and pay even the ultimate price. Try to avoid polemical disputes with others by looking within ourselves first and holding our tongues. Yet, be constant in your faith, stand and deliver but, remember, standing and delivering for the Lord requires we turn the other cheek. The 'weaker' we appear to this world (that of the devil), the stronger we are in Christ. Christ came for the poor in spirit, the downtrodden, sinners all, not for the righteous. If the world hates us, we know we must be doing something right!
I am renouncing my priesthood in Orthodoxy and will continue as what I might call a pastor-at-large preaching the Gospel, nothing less, nothing more. All my preaching is done first of all with me in mind, and then, to and for others. I.e., all of us are spiritual works in progress, including, most certainly, me.
Thank you for continuing to visit this spiritual website.
May the Lord bless your reading and guide you in applying His commandments/instructions every day of your lives. Begin with working on humility and the denial of self. God will do the rest if you let Him into your lives.
In Christ,
Pastor Photios
St. James the Just of Jerusalem Spiritual Center
SPIRITUAL TIDBITS
Dr. Martin Luther (1483-1546), THE BONDAGE OF THE WILL
[inserted on February 7, 2012]
Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892), Compiler of A PURITAN CATECHISM (with proofs)
[inserted on February 2, 2012]
GOD'S LOVE IS 'SO PRECIOUS THAT YOU WILL DIE FOR IT'
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. preached a sermon entitled "But If Not" at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church, on November 5, 1967. He was 38 years of age when he gave this homily, and he was assassinated on April 4, 1968. He had the strength of conviction for the Lord that we all must have. He was martyred for Christ because he never wavered in loving Him and putting Christian principles into practise. Here is a very relevant closing excerpt from it (the entire sermon is also appended as it has been preserved orally on the Internet BUT IF NOT):
SO PRECIOUS THAT YOU WILL DIE FOR IT
"I say to you this morning, that if you have never found something so dear and so precious to you that you will die for it, then you aren't fit to live. You may be thirty-eight years old, as I happen to be, and one day, some great opportunity stands before you and calls upon you to stand up for some great principle, some great issue, some great cause. And you refuse to do it because you are afraid. You refuse to do it because you want to live longer. You're afraid that you will lose your job, or you are afraid that you will be criticized or that you will lose your popularity, or you're afraid that somebody will stab you or shoot at you or bomb your house. So you refuse to take the stand. Well, you may go on and live until you are ninety, but you are just as dead at thirty-eight as you would be at ninety. And the cessation of breathing in your life is but the belated announcement of an earlier death of the spirit. You died when you refused to stand up for right. You died when you refused to stand up for truth. You died when you refused to stand up for justice.
Don't ever think that you're by yourself. Go on to jail if necessary, but you never go alone. Take a stand for that which is right, and the world may misunderstand you, and criticize you. But you never go alone, for somewhere I read that one with God is a majority (emphasis supplied). And God has a way of transforming a minority into a majority. Walk with him this morning and believe in him and do what is right, and he'll be with you even until the consummation of the ages. Yes, I've seen the lightning flash. I've heard the thunder roll. I've felt sin breakers dashing, trying to conquer my soul, but I heard the voice of Jesus saying, still to fight on. He promised never to leave me alone, never to leave me alone. No, never alone. No, never alone."
Quoted from its insertion in THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
[inserted on January 30, 2012]
Jan Huss (1369-1415), his classic on THE CHURCH [1411]
[inserted on January 15, 2012]
FAMOUS MISSIONARIES & EXPLORERS OF AFRICA
Comments by Pastor Photios:
Christians, as well as all others, should benefit from reading the biography of Scot David Livingstone and the article on the man who found him in Africa, Welshman Henry Stanley. Their exploits are legendary but completely true. Theirs was a different time from ours, where one's word was his bond and agreement could be finalised by a handshake. Duty was carried out with courage fit for the Hollywood screen. These two wonderful adventurers personified perseverance and love for their neighbours, i.e., love for everyone. Today, perhaps more than ever before, courageous Godloving and fearing missionaries are needed both within one's own country and in far away lands such as Africa, still exotic and dangerous as always. Indeed, a spiritual revolution has been going on in Africa now for many years, which makes American Christianity appear quite quite tepid by comparison.
I include countries where we normally live to emphasise that being a missionary for Christ is very much needed in the so-called 'advanced' societies, e.g., those of the West. The United Kingdom is a former shadow of itself not only as a world power but more importantly spiritually and morally, where during the twentieth century and continuing into the twenty-first Christ is continually mocked. This is particularly so in secularist England proper (similar mocking is also now underway in the United States under the umbrella of 'political and social correctness'). In fact, the way events are going in England may eventually bring Islam into 'power' unless the Brits wake up and return to Jesus. The same can be said of Continental Europe. At the present time, the England that spawned some of the greatest evangelists in the western world, e.g., George Whitefield, John Wesley, George Fox and the great preaching of Charles Spurgeon , is wallowing in the flesh of this world and in dire need of another Christian revival, as is the faltering giant of God's work, the United States of America. So, let us 'wake up' and carry the banner for Christ in our own backyards whilst simultaneously taking His glorious message to foreign areas. I.e., let's spiritually clean up our own hearts and houses!
But remember we can do nothing on our own to gain our salvation. God is sovereign, meaning He is in total charge. Let us pray that He brings forward a new wave of Christian evangelism within our hearts and the hearts of all humanity everywhere. It is His call, not ours; we are here to obey Him, not dictate His terms. All of us, including this writer, need to keep this in mind!
Two Articles:
(1) DR. DAVID LIVINGSTONE (1813-1873) - SCOTTISH MISSIONARY AND EXPLORER
Dr. Peter Hammond, THE REFORMATION SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA
(2) HENRY MORTON STANLEY (1841-1904)
If you have the interest, spirituality and determination (including "guts") to become a missionary, carefully consider going to South Africa and preparing yourself for God's work with Dr. Peter Hammond, Director, Frontline Fellowship (there is a good reason for this title). Here is his information, including the Application Form for missionary training, which can be downloaded:
Frontline Fellowship, MISSIONARY TRAINING PROGRAMME
[inserted on January 9, 2012]
George Whitefield (1714-1770), England's greatest evangelist and most dynamic preacher responds to John Wesley, who had gone astray on the doctrine of election:
A LETTER FROM GEORGE WHITEFIELD TO THE REV. MR. JOHN WESLEY ("No, dear Sir, you mistake!")
See this article for a description and discussion of their dispute:
[inserted on January 1, 2012]
St. Athanasius (297-393), ON THE INCARNATION
[inserted on December 30, 2011]
John Calvin (1509-1564), COMMENTARY ON ROMANS
[inserted on December 30, 2011]
St. John Chrysostom (347- 407), HOMILY ON THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST
[inserted on December 25, 2011]
Reverend Erlo Stegen, South African Missionary to the Zulus, REVIVAL AMONG THE ZULUS
Pastor Photios: A spiritually amazing account of this dramatic revival among the Zulus. After 12 years of spiritual drought, the Holy Spirit 'took charge' of the Zulu missionary development.
Some Info on Rev. Stegen: Christians for Truth, CHRISTIAN NEWS 15 DECEMBER 2011 60 INCREDIBLE YEARS OF MINISTRY
[inserted on December 24, 2011]
Dr. Peter Hammond, Director, Frontline Fellowship, Cape Town, South Africa, THE DAY OF THE COVENANT
Remember, though, that God does not do evil, others do. He many times uses the evil actions of human beings for good. Otherwise, Saul would never have become the Apostle Paul. He was a chief persecutor of Christ's disciples until his momentous conversion. Zulus today have experienced and are still undergoing tremendous Christian revival. Who would have thought it a hundred or so years ago?
Let's all pray that God removes the current evil South African government and brings forth another sweeping revival in His Name. God chose to change the Afrikaners' hearts and bring about the fall of Apartheid in South Africa. Now the new tyrants are as bad or perhaps even worse than the old. Please, Lord, if it pleases You, change the hearts of the current evil folk to do your Will!
[inserted on December 16, 2011]
R.L. Dabney (1820-1898), THE FIVE POINTS OF CALVINISM
[inserted on December 15, 2011]
Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892), JESUS OUR LORD, sermon no. 2806, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Newington, April 1, 1877
"The Church of God, in a very special manner, calls Jesus 'our Lord,' for there is not, and there cannot be any head of the Church except the Lord Jesus Christ. It is awful blasphemy for any man on earth to call himself Christ's vicar and the head of the church, and it is a usurpation of the crown rights of King Jesus for any king or queen to be called the head of the church, for the true Church of Jesus Christ can have no head but Jesus Christ himself. I am thankful that there is no head to the church of which I am a member save Jesus Christ himself, nor dare I be a member of any church which would content to any headship but his. You may put some other interpretation upon the title; but if it means what is meant, in Scripture, by the term 'the Head of the Church,' it is an infringement of the crown rights of the King of kings and Lord of lords. The true Church of Christ keeps that title for her Lord alone, and will not own another head. Nobody can make new laws for the true Church of Christ. You know that parliament makes laws which tell which way you shall turn when you say your prayers, and what clothes you shall put on, and I know not what beside; but that is a poor parody of the true Church which submits to such lordship as that. If I were a member of a church whose laws were made by a parliament that might consist of Jews and Gentiles atheists and skeptics, I would be out of it as quickly as I could. There is no lawmaker for the Church of God but Jesus Christ himself, and no one can take his place, and no one will be allowed to take it when the Lord wakes up his people to be loyal to what is written in this blessed Bible. This is our Statute-book, and we acknowledge no other but that which King Jesus has given us. 'To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.'"
For the entire sermon see JESUS OUR LORD
Comments by Pastor Photios:
John MacArthur, in his excellent book, SLAVE, cites convincing spiritual proofs that Jesus and no other is the sole head of the Church; see, particularly, Chapter Four, THE LORD AND MASTER (Part 1) and THE LORD AND MASTER, (Part 2), (Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2010), pp.55-81. MacArthur cites the arrogance of Rome in this way with a formidable source: "The arrogance inherent in (emphasis supplied) the papal system was such that Luther remarked, 'I am persuaded that if at this time, St. Peter, in person, should preach all the articles of Holy Scripture, and only deny the pope's authority, power, and primacy, and say, that the pope is not the head of all Christendom, they would cause him to be hanged (emphasis supplied). Yea, if Christ himself were again on earth, without all doubt the pope would crucify him again (emphasis supplied).'" SLAVE, citing Luther on pp. 65-66.
MacArthur also cites the summary of Charles H. Spurgeon in another of his sermons, "THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH," no. 839, in which Spurgeon points out most tellingly that no pope could be head of the Church because popes die: "No, these popes die and how could the church live if its head were dead? The true (emphasis supplied) Head ever lives and the church ever liveth in him." (Ibid., p. 67.)
[inserted on December 12, 2011]
South African Evangelist Andrew Murray (1828-1917) WITHIN or THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU
[inserted on December 10, 2011]
DEPEND ON HIM
Gerhard Tersteegen (1697-1769), German Pietist & Mystic, January 14, 1746:
"May Jesus, himself, by His Spirit, guide us into the way of all truth! (John xvi. 13.) For we are like foolish children, who when left to themselves, continually err from the way, and cannot depend upon yesterday's light. Methinks I become daily more foolish and ignorant, and am therefore astonished that I am still good for anything, or do anything in a proper manner. But experience will teach us, that an unceasing dependence on our internal guide, will lead us entirely right, although it may not appear to us to be so; and that we soil and spoil everything, when we do not rely wholly (emphasis supplied) upon Him, and are desirous of guiding ourselves by our own light and wisdom."
(See LIFE AND CHARACTER OF GERHARD TERSTEEGEN: WITH EXTRACTS FROM HIS LETTERS AND WRITINGS (1832))
[inserted on December 4, 2011]
THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS FAST APPROACHING: BE PREPARED FOR INSULTS TO CHRIST BUT RESPOND WITH KINDNESS AND ASK THE LORD TO FORGIVE THEM
As America slides further and further into paganism, true Christians should prepare themselves for the upcoming direct and indirect blasphemies against Christ. Some may seem like 'little things' but these amount to a lot many times. They reflect the disturbing trends going on in the world's center of freedom. It has become quite fashionable to ridicule our Lord but at the same time 'pride oneself' in being quite tolerant of other religions or all kinds of weird groupings. The President of the USA omits God from a Thanksgiving function. Evangelical Christians are snubbed for the 9/11 National Cathedral event, but nonChristian representatives were invited - outrageous!. Christians are under fire for wearing small crosses around their necks and, in some cases, being prohibited from doing so. It is becoming almost taboo for us to mention Christ's name in public. Nominal Christians, those millions in this country whose faith is an inch deep but 3,000 miles wide (thus, they really aren't Christians at all, certainly not when you consider that Christ requires us to walk His narrow path through His narrow gate to Him), are silent about this ongoing discrimination against the Lord Jesus Christ. They do Him a tremendous injustice. Remember, God will not be mocked. He is also a jealous God and rightly so. The sole way to salvation is through our Lord Jesus Christ . There is no other way:
"Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (St. John 14:6)
Scripture is clear. What about it do we not understand?
Throughout this country (and the decadent western world), Christ is being defamed, particularly at this time of year. Greetings for the 'Holiday' season replace Christmas, and perish the thought that any reference to the birth of Jesus should be made. I have not seen any ad on TV which connects Christ's nativity with the 'holiday' season. This is completely unacceptable. Are you this kind of heathen? Do you agree with people like the folk today in Rhode Island who have substituted the generic 'holiday' for Christmas? Apparently, they feel that any reference to Christ (for those of you who are unaware perhaps, Christ is within the word Christmas, how very strange since the event is only about Him!) is 'intolerant'. Rhode Island, in an area of the country where the greatest Christian pilgrims and refugees from religious persecution came - how sad...
Do your part in fighting this blasphemy against Christ. You can begin by greeting everyone not with "Have a good day" but, rather, with "May Jesus bless you this Christmas" or, simply, "God bless you". In addition, don't tell anyone "Good luck". God is sovereign and thus almighty. He planned everything, so Faith has no luck in it. God is in charge. In God's overall scheme of divine things, His will and work are supreme, not subject to error. God does not fumble or drop the ball. He does not make mistakes of any kind.
May God bless us all and give us strength to fight for Him against the heathen world that a lot of current America seems to be embracing.
In Christ,
Pastor Photios
[inserted on December 1, 2011]
THE TIM TEBOW SAGA: AN EXAMPLE AND LESSON FOR ALL OF US
For those of you unaware of current events, Tim Tebow is a former Heisman Trophy winner in football. He now plays in the National Football League for the Denver Broncos. He is a fine young Christian man, who gets flack from his NFL colleagues and some of the general public for his quite public stance for Jesus. He has the unmitigated gall to stand up for Christ in the midst of America's heathenism today! Well, now, shame on him, how could he subject the rest of us to hearing him praise Jesus when he scores a rushing touchdown, completes a touchdown pass and when his team wins a game? He stands out in this regard. Only a few NFL players are so inclined, Kurt Warner, the former football great, being one of them, a fine decent Christian man. As recently as the 1950s, this type of standout, separated man for Christ would have received widespread praise for his praise of the Lord. But the 50s was the last decade of American religious strength and Christian separatism. It's been all downhill since and is escalating out of control.
Now I will suggest to young Tim that he might consider standing up for Jesus not so much in a way that can be misconstrued as a 'show' but in a private way, within himself. We are to go into our 'closet,' to engage the Lord privately:
See the Lord's words in His Sermon On The Mount:
"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." (St. Matthew 6:5)
"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet (emphasis supplied), and when thou has shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." (St. Matthew 6:6)
It is obvious that Tim is quite sincere, but though we are not to hide the light of Christ let our love for Him shine through in the way we treat our neighbours, including our enemies. Let the example of our lives be witnessed by others, who will then realise the wonder that is Christ and be led to ask the Holy Spirit to change themselves from within as young Tebow has been.
I do have a humble suggestion for Tim Tebow: he should reconsider his prayers re the secular game of football and redirect his effort to praying to God for his neighbours and our enemies for Him to help them by intervening in their hearts and changing them from within to follow Him. I.e., perhaps Tim Tebow should not consider that the game of football is a proper item, specifically the question of winning or losing in that secular game, to ask God's help in:
Hear the Lord, again in His Sermon On The Mount:
"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking". (St. Matthew 6:7) This means we are not to ask for things of this world, which is of the devil, not Christ. We pray foolishly when we ask God "for such worldly things as fame, wealth, or victory". (Blessed Theophylact, THE EXPLANATION OF THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW, [Chrysostom Press, House Springs, MO], p. 57.)
A lot of us, I am confident are 'sick and tired' of seeing many of the young NFL players drop down on one knee and make the sign of the Cross after scoring a touchdown, looking up to the sky, some gesticulating apparently to God, 'thank You'! Winning or losing in the game of football is not on God's list of acceptable petitions to Him. This, I know, will be difficult for the American secular culture to accept, much less understand... (smile) Anyway, Tim, stand up for Christ certainly, don't let His name be blasphemed, but concentrate on being His example without necessarily putting on a show. After all, prayer can be in our closet, meaning in private, between the Lord and us.
Potential ministry for you, Tim, in the football arena: become a missionary to your football colleagues, teammates and to the football industry and society in the fight against the widespread usage of steroids in the sport! Other areas would be the sexual sins committed by successful football players, 'hosing the Ho's', hanging out at strip joints, euphemistically called "Gentlemen's Clubs" in Texas (a real gentleman would not be caught dead in one of these), participating in any way in pornography; and, in particular, Tim, you could be an ambassador to the game to rid it at any level of all child molesters! There's plenty of the Lord's work around, Tim, and it's much more spiritually important than winning or losing a commercial game!
May the Lord continue to guide you in His service.
In Christ,
Pastor Photios
[inserted on December 1, 2011]
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY COMMENTARY ABOUT AMERICA'S DEBT TO GOD AND HIS MESSENGER, JOHN CALVIN; ARGUABLY, CALVIN, NOT WASHINGTON, IS THE REAL FATHER OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Comments from Pastor Photios:
Unfortunately, the America of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is spiraling downward into a paganism probably more evil and malignant than ancient Rome. Current America drastically needs a new revival like the one led by the Protestant Reformers, in particular that of one who has been called the 'real' Father of America, John Calvin, against the evils of the Papacy and those nations carrying out its bloody edicts, such as the infamous Spain in the sixteenth century! We have degenerated from a God-fearing, God-loving people into the present apostasy of a country wallowing in its own immorality, filth and blasphemy against the Lord, being, apparently, fully convinced of its own 'secular righteousness,' and committed to the devilish political correctness/euphemistically-labeled tolerance, but, in truth, intolerance to Christians, which is fast becoming United States policy and procedure. Jesus is being further barred from our classrooms and office and factory workplaces, His name is not to be mentioned in public (governmental) events under the guise of 'unconstitutionality;' the growth of Christian enemies, atheists, Gnostics, witches and all other forms of demonic occult groups is in full swing; Harry Potter is idealised to a point of almost demonic worship, while at the same time lenience and the utmost courtesy and license are extended to Saudi Arabia to build their mosques, madrassas and expand across America spreading their anti-Christian word amongst us when, in fact, Islam has no respect for Christianity and the central values of democracy, which were derived from God through the writings and influence of the transplanted Frenchman John Calvin of Geneva.
Just last week, our President appeared at a function re Thanksgiving and deliberately left out any reference to God. He told the parties assembled "Good luck" instead. This is the first time such an omission has been made at that function. What an insult to our Lord. God will deal with America's rebellion against Him in due course, in His own time and pleasure because He is sovereign!
Our television shows are rife with soft to medium pornography, smutty jokes of the bathroom kind, news and weather 'anchorwomen' with their breasts half hanging out of outfits looking more like a streetwalker's clothes than proper television personality attire, female 'talk' hostesses or members of a trio sitting crosslegged with their skirts up to their upper thighs, crossing and uncrossing their legs occasionally to give the perverts a buzz. On so-called comedies or drama shows, "crotch shots" are many times shot first, one supposes so that the cretins watching these events will remain glued to their chairs. Each new show seems to just have to have a resident homosexual in a starring role, (sometimes more than one) and there is a clear purpose behind these shows to attempt to legitimise and justify as normal behaviour what God finds to be abominable sin. "Normal" - what a joke - homosexuals make up less than or equal to 1% of the American population. So the other 99% has to suffer this disgusting chain of events! Now they 'demand' to be 'married'! A blasphemy against the marriage between man and woman of the Scriptures. The American family is in deep decline, one parent families are becoming close to the 'norm'. Living together seems to be in the process of replacing marriage under God. Some ministers ignore the widespread fornication going on, i.e., sin going on in their congregations. Hard hitting Gospel messages are rare. In short, we have replaced God with the prince of this world, the devil. At the end of the day, so to speak, America will hear from our Lord and, unless we change our ways, the news won't be good!
What do we need? First, we should acquaint ourselves with the great America of yesterday, the America of God as seen through the eyes of our Calvinist forefathers. Do you know that two-thirds of the American colonists at the start of the Revolutionary War were staunch Calvinists? I append below some compelling evidence of these matters for your consideration. John Calvin was the real Father of our American genius, and he owed everything he had to His Lord Jesus Christ. His was a religious zeal and fire encapsulated within a highly spiritual man of God. To this we must return or be forever lost. It will be God's call whether we survive much longer or fade away like old soldiers...
The following is from Chapter XXVIII, CALVINISM IN HISTORY in Loraine Boettner's (1901-1990) classic THE REFORMED DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATION (1932) :
[CALVINISM IN AMERICA & CALVINISM AND REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
7. CALVINISM IN AMERICA
When we come to study the influence of Calvinism as a political force
in the history of the United States we come to one of the brightest
pages of all Calvinistic history. Calvinism came to America in the
Mayflower, and Bancroft, the greatest of American historians,
pronounces the Pilgrim Fathers “Calvinists in their faith according to
the straightest system.” [184] John Endicott, the first governor of the
Massachusetts Bay Colony; John Winthrop, the second governor of that
Colony; Thomas Hooker, the founder of Connecticut; John Davenport, the
founder of the New Haven Colony; and Roger Williams, the founder of the
Rhode Island Colony, were all Calvinists. William Penn was a disciple
of the Huguenots. It is estimated that of the 3,000,000 Americans at
the time of the American Revolution, 900,000 were of Scotch or
Scotch-Irish origin, 600,000 were Puritan English, and 400,000 were
German or Dutch Reformed. In addition to this the Episcopalians had a
Calvinistic confession in their Thirty-nine Articles; and many French
Huguenots also had come to this western world. Thus we see that about
two-thirds of the colonial population had been trained in the school of
Calvin. Never in the world’s history had a nation been founded by such
people as these. Furthermore these people came to America not primarily
for commercial gain or advantage, but because of deep religious
convictions. It seems that the religious persecutions in various
European countries had been providentially used to select out the most
progressive and enlightened people for the colonization of America. At
any rate it is quite generally admitted that the English, Scotch,
Germans, and Dutch have been the most masterful people of Europe. Let
it be especially remembered that the Puritans, who formed the great
bulk of the settlers in New England, brought with them a Calvinistic
Protestantism, that they were truly devoted to the doctrines of the
great Reformers, that they had an aversion for formalism and oppression
whether in the Church or in the State, and that in New England
Calvinism remained the ruling theology throughout the entire Colonial
period.
With this background we shall not be surprised to find that the
Presbyterians took a very prominent part in the American Revolution.
Our own historian Bancroft says: “The Revolution of 1776, so far as it
was affected by religion, was a Presbyterian measure. It was the
natural outgrowth of the principles which the Presbyterianism of the
Old World planted in her sons, the English Puritans, the Scotch
Covenanters, the French Huguenots, the Dutch Calvinists, and the
Presbyterians of Ulster.” So intense, universal, and aggressive were
the Presbyterians in their zeal for liberty that the war was spoken of
in England as “The Presbyterian Rebellion.” An ardent colonial
supporter of King George III wrote home: “I fix all the blame for these
extraordinary proceedings upon the Presbyterians. They have been the
chief and principal instruments in all these flaming measures. They
always do and ever will act against government from that restless and
turbulent anti-monarchial spirit which has always distinguished them
everywhere.” [185] When the news of “these extraordinary proceedings”
reached England, Prime Minister Horace Walpole said in Parliament,
“Cousin America has run off with a Presbyterian parson.”
“The Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon, a native of Scotland and a lineal
descendant of John Knox, was, in the revolutionary time, president of
Princeton College, and was the only clerical member of the
Revolutionary Congress. He, as might be expected, earnestly and
eloquently supported every measure adopted by Congress for securing
independence. When the important moment came for signing the
Declaration, and some of the members were hesitating to affix their
names to it, he delivered an eloquent appeal, in which he said: ‘That
noble instrument upon your table, which insures immortality to its
author, should be subscribed this very morning by every pen in the
house. He that will not respond to its accents, and strain every nerve
to carry into effect its provisions, is unworthy the name of a freeman.
For my own part, of property I have some, of reputation more. That
reputation is staked, that property is pledged, on the issue of this
contest. And although these gray hairs must soon descend into the
sepulchre, I would infinitely rather they should descend thither by the
hand of the public executioner than desert at this crisis the sacred
cause of my country.’” [186]
History is eloquent in declaring that American democracy was born of
Christianity and that that Christianity was Calvinism. The great
Revolutionary conflict which resulted in the formation of the American
nation, was carried out mainly by Calvinists, many of whom had been
trained in the rigidly Presbyterian College at Princeton, and this
nation is their gift to all liberty loving people.
“The Principles of the Republic of the United States,” says Schaff,”
can be traced through the intervening link of Puritanism to Calvinism,
which, with all its theological rigor, has been the chief educator of
manly character and promoter of constitutional freedom in modern
times.” [187]
The testimony of Emilio Castelar, the famous Spanish statesman, orator
and scholar, is interesting and valuable. Castelar had been professor
of Philosophy in the University of Madrid before he entered politics,
and he was made president of the republic which was set up by the
Liberals in 1873. As a Roman Catholic he hated Calvin and Calvinism.
Says he: “It was necessary for the republican movement that there
should come a morality more austere than Luther’s, the morality of
Calvin, and a Church more democratic than the German, the Church of
Geneva. The Anglo-Saxon democracy has for its lineage a book of a
primitive society–the Bible. It is the product of a severe theology
learned by the few Christian fugitives in the gloomy cities of Holland
and Switzerland, where the morose shade of Calvin still wanders . . .
And it remains serenely in its grandeur, forming the most dignified,
most moral and most enlightened portion of the human race.” [188] We
feel like asking Castelar how a fountain so bitter could send forth
such sweet waters.
Says Motley: “In England the seeds of liberty, wrapped up in Calvinism
and hoarded through many trying years, were at last destined to float
over land and sea, and to bear the largest harvests of temperate
freedom for great commonwealths that were still unborn.” [189] “The
Calvinists founded the commonwealths of England, of Holland, and
America.” And again, “To Calvinists more than to any other class of
men, the political liberties of England, Holland and America are due.”
[190]
The testimony of another famous historian, the Frenchman Taine, who
himself held no religious faith, is worthy of consideration. Concerning
the Calvinists he said: “These men are the true heroes of England. They
founded England, in spite of the corruption of the Stuarts, by the
exercise of duty, by the practice of justice, by obstinate toil, by
vindication of right, by resistance to oppression, by the conquest of
liberty, by the repression of vice. They founded Scotland; they founded
the United States; at this day they are, by their descendants, founding
Australia and colonizing the world.” [191]
In his book, “The Creed of Presbyterians,” E. W. Smith asks concerning
the American colonists, “Where learned they those immortal principles
of the rights of man, of human liberty, equality and self-government,
on which they based their Republic, and which form today the
distinctive glory of our American civilization? In the school of Calvin
they learned them. There the modern world learned them. So history
teaches,” (p. 121).
We shall now pass on to consider the influence which the Presbyterian
Church as a Church exerted in the formation of the Republic. “The
Presbyterian Church,” said Dr. W. H. Roberts in an address before the
General Assembly, “was for three-quarters of a century the sole
representative upon this continent of republican government as now
organized in the nation.” And then he continues: “From 1706 to the
opening of the revolutionary struggle the only body in existence which
stood for our present national political organization was the General
Synod of the American Presbyterian Church. It alone among
ecclesiastical and political colonial organizations exercised
authority, derived from the colonists themselves, over bodies of
Americans scattered through all the colonies from New England to
Georgia. The colonies in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it
is to be remembered, while all dependent upon Great Britain, were
independent of each other. Such a body as the Continental Congress did
not exist until 1774. The religious condition of the country was
similar to the political. The Congregational Churches of New England
had no connection with each other, and had no power apart from the
civil government. The Episcopal Church was without organization in the
colonies, was dependent for support and a ministry on the Established
Church of England, and was filled with an intense loyalty to the
British monarchy. The Reformed Dutch Church did not become an efficient
and independent organization until 1771, and the German Reformed Church
did not attain to that condition until 1793. The Baptist Churches were
separate organizations, the Methodists were practically unknown, and
the Quakers were non-combatants.”
Delegates met every year in the General Synod, and as Dr. Roberts tells
us, the Church became “a bond of union and correspondence between large
elements in the population of the divided colonies.” “Is it any
wonder,” he continues, “that under its fostering influence the
sentiments of true liberty, as well as the tenets of a sound gospel,
were preached throughout the territory from Long Island to South
Carolina, and that above all a feeling of unity between the Colonies
began slowly but surely to assert itself? Too much emphasis cannot be
laid, in connection with the origin of the nation, upon the influence
of that ecclesiastical republic, which from 1706 to 1774 was the only
representative on this continent of fully developed federal republican
institutions. The United States of America owes much to that oldest of
American Republics, the Presbyterian Church.” [192]
It is, of course, not claimed that the Presbyterian Church was the only
source from which sprang the principles upon which this republic is
founded, but it is claimed that the principles found in the Westminster
Standards were the chief basis for the republic, and that “The
Presbyterian Church taught, practiced, and maintained in fulness, first
in this land that form of government in accordance with which the
Republic has been organized.” (Roberts).
The opening of the Revolutionary struggle found the Presbyterian
ministers and churches lined up solidly on the side of the colonists,
and Bancroft accredits them with having made the first bold move toward
independence. [193] The synod which assembled in Philadelphia in 1775
was the first religious body to declare openly and publicly for a
separation from England. It urged the people under its jurisdiction to
leave nothing undone that would promote the end in view, and called
upon them to pray for the Congress which was then in session.
The Episcopalian Church was then still united with the Church of
England, and it opposed the Revolution. A considerable number of
individuals within that Church, however, labored earnestly for
independence and gave of their wealth and influence to secure it. It is
to be remembered also that the Commander-in-Chief of the American
armies, “the father of our country,” was a member of her household.
Washington himself attended, and ordered all of his men to attend the
services of his chaplains, who were clergymen from the various
churches. He gave forty thousand dollars to establish a Presbyterian
College in his native state, which took his name in honor of the gift
and became Washington College.
N. S. McFetridge has thrown light upon another major development of the
Revolutionary period. For the sake of accuracy and completeness we
shall take the privilege of quoting him rather extensively. “Another
important factor in the independent movement,” says he, “was what is
known as the ‘Mecklenburg Declaration,’ proclaimed by the Scotch-Irish
Presbyterians of North Carolina, May 20, 1775, more than a year before
the Declaration (of Independence) of Congress. It was the fresh, hearty
greeting of the Scotch-Irish to their struggling brethren in the North,
and their bold challenge to the power of England. They had been keenly
watching the progress of the contest between the colonies and the
Crown, and when they heard of the address presented by the Congress to
the King, declaring the colonies in actual rebellion, they deemed it
time for patriots to speak. Accordingly, they called a representative
body together in Charlotte, N. C., which by unanimous resolution
declared the people free and independent, and that all laws and
commissions from the king were henceforth null and void. In their
Declaration were such resolutions as these: ‘We do hereby dissolve the
political bands which have connected us with the mother-country, and
hereby absolve ourselves from all allegiance to the British crown. . .
. ‘We hereby declare ourselves a free and independent people; are, and
of right ought to be, a sovereign and self-governing association, under
control of no power other than that of our God and the general
government of Congress; to the maintenance of which we solemnly pledge
to each other our mutual cooperation and our lives, our fortunes and
our most sacred honor.’ . . . That assembly was composed of
twenty-seven staunch Calvinists, just one-third of whom were ruling
elders in the Presbyterian Church, including the president and
secretary; and one was a Presbyterian clergyman. The man who drew up
that famous and important document was the secretary, Ephraim Brevard,
a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church and a graduate of Princeton
College. Bancroft says of it that it was, ‘in effect, a declaration as
well as a complete system of government.’ (U.S. Hist. VIII, 40). It was
sent by special messenger to the Congress in Philadelphia, and was
published in the Cape Fear Mercury, and was widely distributed
throughout the land. Of course it was speedily transmitted to England,
where it became the cause of intense excitement.
“The identity of sentiment and similarity of expression in this
Declaration and the great Declaration written by Jefferson could not
escape the eye of the historian; hence Tucker, in his Life of
Jefferson, says: ‘Everyone must be persuaded that one of these papers
must have been borrowed from the other.’ But it is certain that Brevard
could not have ‘borrowed’ from Jefferson, for he wrote more than a year
before Jefferson; hence Jefferson, according to his biographer, must
have ‘borrowed’ from Brevard. But it was a happy plagiarism, for which
the world will freely forgive him. In correcting his first draft of the
Declaration it can be seen, in at least a few places, that Jefferson
has erased the original words and inserted those which are first found
in the Mecklenberg Declaration. No one can doubt that Jefferson had
Brevard’s resolutions before him when he was writing his immortal
Declaration.” [194]
This striking similarity between the principles set forth in the Form
of Government of the Presbyterian Church and those set forth in the
Constitution of the United States has caused much comment. “When the
fathers of our Republic sat down to frame a system of representative
and popular government,” says Dr. E. W. Smith, “their task was not so
difficult as some have imagined. They had a model to work by.” [195]
“If the average American citizen were asked, who was the founder of
America, the true author of our great Republic, he might be puzzled to
answer. We can imagine his amazement at hearing the answer given to
this question by the famous German historian, Ranke, one of the
profoundest scholars of modern times. Says Ranke, ‘John Calvin was the
virtual founder of America.’” [196]
D’Aubigne, whose history of the Reformation is a classic, writes:
“Calvin was the founder of the greatest of republics. The Pilgrims who
left their country in the reign of James I, and landing on the barren
soil of New England, founded populous and mighty colonies, were his
sons, his direct and legitimate sons; and that American nation which we
have seen growing so rapidly boasts as its father the humble Reformer
on the shore of Lake Leman.” [197]
Dr. E. W. Smith says, “These revolutionary principles of republican
liberty and self-government, taught and embodied in the system of
Calvin, were brought to America, and in this new land where they have
borne so mighty a harvest were planted, by whose hands?–the hands of
the Calvinists. The vital relation of Calvin and Calvinism to the
founding of the free institutions of America, however strange in some
ears the statement of Ranke may have sounded, is recognized and
affirmed by historians of all lands and creeds.” [198]
All this has been thoroughly understood and candidly acknowledged by
such penetrating and philosophic historians as Bancroft, who far though
he was from being Calvinistic in his own personal convictions, simply
calls Calvin “the father of America,” and adds: “He who will not honor
the memory and respect the influence of Calvin knows but little of the
origin of American liberty.”
When we remember that two-thirds of the population at the time of the
Revolution had been trained in the school of Calvin, and when we
remember how unitedly and enthusiastically the Calvinists labored for
the cause of independence, we readily see how true are the above
testimonies.
There were practically no Methodists in America at the time of the
Revolution; and, in fact, the Methodist Church was not officially
organized as such in England until the year 1784, which was three years
after the American Revolution closed. John Wesley, great and good man
though he was, was a Tory and a believer in political non-resistance.
He wrote against the American “rebellion,” but accepted the
providential result. McFetridge tells us: “The Methodists had hardly a
foothold in the colonies when the war began. In 1773 they claimed about
one hundred and sixty members. Their ministers were almost all, if not
all, from England, and were staunch supporters of the Crown against
American Independence. Hence, when the war broke out they were
compelled to fly from the country. Their political views were naturally
in accord with those of their great leader, John Wesley, who wielded
all the power of his eloquence and influence against the independence
of the colonies. (Bancroft, Hist. U.S., Vol. VII, p. 261.) He did not
foresee that independent America was to be the field on which his noble
Church was to reap her largest harvests, and that in that Declaration
which he so earnestly opposed lay the security of the liberties of his
followers.” [199]
In England and America the great struggles for civil and religious
liberty were nursed in Calvinism, inspired by Calvinism, and carried
out largely by men who were Calvinists. And because the majority of
historians have never made a serious study of Calvinism they have never
been able to give us a truthful and complete account of what it has
done in these countries. Only the light of historical investigation is
needed to show us how our forefathers believed in it and were
controlled by it. We live in a day when the services of the Calvinists
in the founding of this country have been largely forgotten, and one
can hardly treat of this subject without appearing to be a mere
eulogizer of Calvinism. We may well do honor to that Creed which has
borne such sweet fruits and to which America owes so much.
8. CALVINISM AND REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
While religious and civil liberty have no organic connection, they
nevertheless have a very strong affinity for each other; and where one
is lacking the other will not long endure. History is eloquent in
declaring that on a people’s religion ever depends their freedom or
their bondage. It is a matter of supreme importance what doctrines they
believe, what principles they adopt: for these must serve as the basis
upon which the superstructure of their lives and their government
rests. Calvinism was revolutionary. It taught the natural equality of
men, and its essential tendency was to destroy all distinctions of rank
and all claims to superiority which rested upon wealth or vested
privilege. The liberty-loving soul of the Calvinist has made him a
crusader against those artificial distinctions which raise some men
above others.
Politically, Calvinism has been the chief source of modern republican
government. Calvinism and republicanism are related to each other as
cause and effect; and where a people are possessed of the former, the
latter will soon be developed. Calvin himself held that the Church,
under God, was a spiritual republic; and certainly he was a republican
in theory. James I was well aware of the effects of Calvinism when he
said: “Presbytery agreeth as well with the monarchy as God with the
Devil.” Bancroft speaks of “the political character of Calvinism, which
with one consent and with instinctive judgment the monarchs of that day
feared as republicanism.” Another American historian, John Fiske, has
written, “It would be hard to overrate the debt which mankind owes to
Calvin. The spiritual father of Coligny, of William the Silent, and of
Cromwell, must occupy a foremost rank among the champions of modern
democracy …. The promulgation of this theology was one of the longest
steps that mankind has ever taken toward personal freedom.” [200]
Emilio Castelar, the leader of the Spanish Liberals, says that
“Anglo-Saxon democracy is the product of a severe theology, learned in
the cities of Holland and Switzerland.” Buckle, in his History of
Civilization says, “Calvinism is essentially democratic,” (I, 669). And
de Tocqueville, an able political writer, calls it “A democratic and
republican religion.” [201]
The system not only imbued its converts with the spirit of liberty, but
it gave them practical training in the rights and duties as freemen.
Each congregation was left to elect its own officers and to conduct its
own affairs. Fiske pronounces it, “one of the most effective schools
that has ever existed for training men in local serf-government.” [202]
Spiritual freedom is the source and strength of all other freedom, and
it need cause no surprise when we are told that the principles which
governed them in ecclesiastical affairs gave shape to their political
views. Instinctively they preferred a representative government and
stubbornly resisted all unjust rulers. After religious despotism is
overthrown, civil despotism cannot long continue.
We may say that the spiritual republic which was founded by Calvin
rests upon four basic principles. These have been summed up by an
eminent English statesman and jurist, Sir James Stephen, as follows:
“These principles were, firstly that the will of the people was the one
legitimate source of the power of the rulers; secondly, that the power
was most properly delegated by the people, to their rulers, by means of
elections, in which every adult man might exercise the right of
suffrage; thirdly, that in ecclesiastical government, the clergy and
laity were entitled to an equal and co-ordinate authority; and fourthly
that between the Church and State, no alliance, or mutual dependence,
or other definite relation, necessarily or properly existed.” [203]
The principle of the sovereignty of God when applied to the affairs of
government proved to be very important. God as the supreme Ruler, was
vested with sovereignty; and whatever sovereignty was found in man had
been graciously granted to him. The scriptures were taken as the final
authority, as containing eternal principles which were regulative for
all ages and on all peoples. In the following words the Scriptures
declared the State to be a divinely established institution: " Let every
soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but
of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God. Therefore he that
resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God; and they that
withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. For rulers are not a
terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldst thou have no fear
of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise for the
same: for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that
which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he
is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil.
Wherefore ye must needs be in subjection, not only because of the
wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause ye pay tribute
also; for they are ministers of God’s service, attending continually
upon this very thing. Render to all their dues; custom to whom custom;
fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor," Romans 13:1-7.
No one type of government, however, whether democracy, republic, or
monarchy, was thought to be divinely ordained for any certain age or
people, although Calvinism showed a preference for the republican type.
"Whatever the system of government,' says Meeter, "be it monarchy or
democracy or any other form, in each case the ruler (or rulers) was to
act as God’s representative, and to administer the affairs of
government in accordance with God’s law. The fundamental principle
supplied at the same time the very highest incentive for the
preservation of law and order among its citizens. Subjects were for
God’s sake to render obedience to the higher powers, whichever these
might be. Hence Calvinism made for highly stabilized governments."
"On the other hand this very principle of the sovereignty of God
operated as a mighty defense of the liberties of the subject citizens
against tyrannical rulers. Whenever sovereigns ignored the Will of God,
trampled upon the rights of the governed and became tyrannical, it
became the privilege and the duty of the subjects, in view of the
higher responsibility of the supreme Sovereign, God, to refuse
obedience and even, if necessary, to depose the tyrant, through the
lesser authorities appointed by God for the defense of the rights of
the governed." [204]
The Calvinistic ideas concerning governments and rulers have been ably
expressed by J. C. Monsma in the following lucid paragraph:
"Governments are instituted by God through the instrumentality of the
people. No kaiser or president has any power inherent in himself;
whatever power he possesses, whatever sovereignty he exercises, is
power and sovereignty derived from the great Source above. No might,
but right, and right springing from the eternal Fountain of justice.
For the Calvinist it is extremely easy to respect the laws and
ordinances of the government. If the government were nothing but a
group of men, bound to carry out the wishes of a popular majority, his
freedom-loving soul would rebel. But now, to his mind, and according to
his fixed belief,–back of the government stands God, and before Him he
kneels in deepest reverence. Here also lies the fundamental reason for
that profound and almost fanatical love of freedom, also the political
freedom, which has always been a characteristic of the genuine
Calvinist. The government is God’s servant. That means that AS MEN all
government officials stand on an equal footing with their subordinates;
have no claim to superiority in any sense whatever For exactly the same
reason the Calvinist gives preference to a republican form of
government over any other type. In no other form of government does the
sovereignty of God, the derivative character of government powers and
the equality of men as men, find a clearer and more eloquent
expression." [205]
The theology of the Calvinist exalted one Sovereign and humbled all
other sovereigns before His awful majesty. The divine right of kings
and the infallible decrees of popes could not long endure amid a people
who place sovereignty in God alone. But while this theology infinitely
exalted God as the Almighty Ruler of heaven and earth and humbled all
men before Him, it enhanced the dignity of the individual and taught
him that all men as men were equal. The Calvinist feared God; and
fearing God he feared nobody else. Knowing himself to have been chosen
in the counsels of eternity and marked for the glories of heaven, he
possessed something which dissipated the feeling of personal homage for
men and which dulled the lustre of all earthly grandeur. If a proud
aristocracy traced its lineage through generations of highborn
ancestry, the Calvinists, with a loftier pride, invaded the invisible
world, and from the book of life brought down the record of the noblest
enfranchisement, decreed from eternity by the King of kings. By a
higher than any earthly lineage they were heaven’s noblemen because
God’s sons and priests, joint heirs with Christ, kings and priests unto
God, by a divine anointing and consecration. Put the truth of the
sovereignty of God into a man’s mind and heart, and you put iron in his
blood. The Reformed Faith has rendered a most valuable service in
teaching the individual his rights.
In striking contrast with these democratic and republican tendencies
which are found to be inherent in the Reformed Faith we find that
Arminianism has a very pronounced aristocratic tendency. In the
Presbyterian and Reformed Churches the elder votes in Presbytery or
Synod or General Assembly on full equality with his pastor; but in
Arminian churches the power is largely in the hands of the clergy, and
the laymen have very little real authority. Episcopacy stresses rule by
the hierarchy. Arminianism and Roman Catholicism (which is practically
Arminian) thrive under a monarchy, but there Calvinism finds its life
cramped. On the other hand Romanism especially does not thrive in a
republic, but there Calvinism finds itself most at home. An
aristocratic form of church government tends toward monarchy in civil
affairs, while a republican form of church government tends toward
democracy in civil affairs. Says McFetridge, "Arminianism is
unfavorable to civil liberty, and Calvinism is unfavorable to
despotism. The despotic rulers of former days were not slow to observe
the correctness of these propositions, and, claiming the divine right
of kings, feared Calvinism as republicanism itself." [206]]
[inserted on November 28, 2011]
Dr. Ian R.K. Paisley (Legendary Preacher of Northern Ireland) on the Papacy's fetish - VIRGIN WORSHIP
[inserted on November 25, 2011]
Tidbits by Pastor Photios on CALVINISM:
In Calvinism, Christ's atonement operates to "save only the elect"; Jesus said "Ye did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go out and bear fruit." (John 15:16) In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul stated: "According as He hath chosen us in Him before (emphasis supplied) the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love; Having predestinated (emphasis supplied) us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will." (1:4,5) True believers in Jesus Christ can consider themselves the 'elect'. Those elected are saved, being regenerated and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Some, then, are not saved. But it is still possible under Calvinism for the greater part of humanity to be saved, just some will not be. Calvinism "limits the extent"of the atonement because the Lord did. Jesus and the Apostles constantly refer to "His people". He came to save His people, not the world. There is no injustice in this at all; if you believe in Him you are entitled to be assured that you are of the 'elect'. If you do not want to be His, why should you complain that others are or are not? God chooses who He chooses at His pleasure. He is sovereign thus His decisions are not subject to dispute or review. God offers salvation only on the terms of perfect obedience of His Law, the standard He required of Adam. God is not willing to offer salvation on lower terms, by accepting a lower standard of our obedience. He doesn't offer any standard other than perfect obedience to the law.
The sinless Jesus Christ on the Cross made a full satisfaction for the sins of His people (the elect):
"Divine justice demands that the sinner shall be punished, either in himself or in his substitute. We hold that Christ acted in a strictly substitutionary way for His people (emphasis supplied), that He made a full satisfaction for their sins, thus blotting out the curse from Adam and all their temporal sins; and that by His sinless life (emphasis supplied) He perfectly kept for them the law which Adam had broken, thus earning for His people the reward of eternal life. We believe that the requirement for salvation now as originally is PERFECT OBEDIENCE (bold in original), that the merits of Christ are imputed to His people as the only (emphasis supplied) basis of their salvation, and that they enter heaven clothed only with the cloak of His perfect righteousness and utterly destitute of any merit properly their own (emphasis supplied). Thus grace, PURE GRACE (bold in the original), is extended not in lowering the requirements for salvation but in the substitution (emphasis supplied) of Christ for His people. He took their place before the law and did for them what they could not do for themselves. This Calvinistic principle is fitted in every way to impress upon us the absolute perfection and unchangeable obligation of the law which was originally given to Adam (emphasis supplied). It is not relaxed or set aside, but is fittingly honored so that His excellence is shown (emphasis supplied). In behalf of those who are saved, for whom Christ acted, and in behalf of those who are subjected to everlasting punishment, the law in its majesty is enforced and executed (emphasis supplied)."
[See the free e-book by Loraine Boettner, THE REFORMED DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATION
Those elect, effectually called and sanctified by the Holy Spirit working within us, will be saved even if they temporarily deviate into sin:
"Those who have fled to Jesus for refuge have a firm foundation upon which to build. Though floods of error deluge the land, though Satan raise all the powers of earth and all the iniquities of their own hearts against them, they shall never fail; but, persevering to the end, they shall inherit those mansions which have been prepared for them from the foundation of the world. The saints in heaven are happier but no more secure than are true believers here in this world. Since faith and repentance are GIFTS (bold in the original) of God, the bestowing of these gifts is a revelation of God's purpose to save those to whom they are given. It is an evidence that God has predestinated (emphasis supplied) the recipients of these gifts to be conformed to the image of His Son, i.e., to be like Him in character, destiny and glory, and that He will infallibly carry out His purpose. No one can pluck them out of His hands. Those who once (emphasis supplied) become true Christians have within themselves the principle of eternal life, which principle is the Holy Spirit; and since the Holy Spirit dwells within them they are already potentially holy (emphasis supplied). True, they are still exercised by many trials, and they do not yet (emphasis supplied) see what they shall be, but they should know that that which is begun in them shall be completed to the end, and that the very presence of strife within them is the sign of life and the promise of victory (emphasis supplied)." (Id., Chapter XIV THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS, pp. 182-183.)
Loraine Boettner (1901-1990), 'just a layman' (smile) was a very spiritual man of God. His 440 page work (above) is well worth the read, study and application in our daily lives.
[inserted on November 24, 2011]
Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892), UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION
[inserted on November 22, 2011]
Dr. Peter Hammond, South African Evangelist & Director, Frontline Fellowship,
THE BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS OF CALVINISM
[inserted on November 20, 2011]
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
"What will it matter a hundred years hence whether we fed on the fat of the land or the poorest of fare, whether we were dressed in silks and satins or the cheapest of garments? But it will matter everything whether or not we fed on the Lamb and were clothed with the robe of His righteousness!" (emphasis supplied)
A.W. Pink (1886-1952), THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT , Chapter Thirty-Three, whilst commenting on Matthew 6:25
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?"
[inserted on November 9, 2011]
GOD CANNOT BE MOCKED!
Dr. Peter Hammond, South African Evangelist & Director, Frontline Fellowship, PRAYING FOR JUSTICE
Courageous South African Evangelist Peter Hammond defends the 'politically-incorrect' Psalms. All namby-pamby so-called pastors and misguided parishioners take note and right your wayward ship or suffer the consequences!
[inserted on November 9, 2011]
OUR VIRTUAL 'DESERT' LIES WITHIN US
Comments by Pastor Photios with citation of South African evangelist Andrew Murray:
We Christian believers who endeavour to walk the road of perfection of our Saviour Jesus Christ must turn inward to our hearts where the Holy Spirit dwells and follow His loving direction. Humble ourselves and be nothing before the Lord! Note the most spiritual words by
ANDREW MURRAY (1828-1917) in his THE INDWELLING SPIRIT (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers, 2006), Chapter 31, Be Filled With The Spirit, pp. 282-283
"God loves to appear in a humble, unlikely state, to be clothed in the garment of humility, which He expects (emphasis supplied) his children to love and wear. 'The kingdom of heaven is like a seed': Only faith can know what glory there is in its smallness. Likewise was the dwelling of the Son on earth and so the indwelling of the Spirit in the heart (emphasis supplied). He asks that we believe in Him when we see and feel nothing. Believe that the fountain that springs up and flows forth in living streams within you (emphasis supplied), even when all appears to be dry. Take time to retire into the inner chamber of your heart, and from there send up praise and offer worship to God in the assurance of the Holy Spirit within. Take time to be still (emphasis supplied) and realize His presence; let the Spirit himself fill your spirit with this most wonderful truth: He dwells within you (emphasis supplied). Not first in the thoughts or feelings, but in the life-deeper than seeing and feeling, is His temple, His hidden dwelling place (emphasis supplied). When once faith knows that it has what it asks, it can afford to be patient and abound in thanksgiving even where the flesh would murmur. Faith trusts the unseen Jesus and the hidden Spirit. It can believe in that tiny, unlikely seed. It can trust and give glory to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think, and can strengthen the inner man (emphasis supplied) just when all appears weak and ready to faint. Believer, don't expect the fullness of the Spirit to come in a way that your human reasoning devises, but as the coming of the Son of God without form or comeliness, in a way that is folly to human wisdom. Expect the divine strength in great weakness (emphasis supplied); humble yourself to receive the divine wisdom that the Spirit teaches; be willing to be nothing (emphasis supplied), because God chooses 'the things that are not to bring to nothing the things that are.' You will learn not to glory in the flesh but in the Lord. In the deep joy of a life of daily obedience and childlike simplicity, you shall know what it is to be filled with the Spirit (emphasis supplied)."
The kingdom of God is within us. No amount of outward display of religious activity such as attendance at a building, or a certain place, or mere rote recitation of a liturgy can replace the absolute necessity that we begin inwardly and follow the Holy Spirit acting within us. In prayer, we can retreat to our desert within us, our closet, place of privacy where we can meet with our Saviour on a personal basis in the Person of the Holy Spirit. We can pray anywhere and should. Thus, there is no need to go physically anywhere except within ourselves. Although we should admire the spiritual commitment of the desert monks of the fourth century, remember we also carry Christ within our hearts and He is the Church, not merely a designated structure or complex organisation. Christ is the sole way to salvation, and our belief in Him forms the basis upon which the cleansing road to sanctification progresses whilst we are here on earth.
[inserted on November 7, 2011]
CHARLES H. SPURGEON (1834-1892), THE TREASURY OF DAVID
[inserted on November 5, 2011]
A.W. PINK (1886-1952), WHY FOUR GOSPELS?
[inserted on November 5, 2011]
Frontline Fellowship, Cape Town
Comment by Pastor Photios:
DON'T LET YOUR OFFSPRING 'TRICK OR TREAT' IN CELEBRATION OF HALLOWEEN! IF YOU DO, YOU HAVE BLASPHEMED THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHICH, WITHOUT REPENTANCE, IS UNFORGIVABLE!
A True Christian description of this demonic 'celebration'. No Christian should treat this lightly. Parents, straighten up the home, don't take your kids out on October 31st to blaspheme the Lord, which is what this 'holiday' does! Clergy, give your homily/sermon this week on the evils of it! Collaterally, don't sell pumpkins on the church premises or elsewhere! Everyone, don't give the misguided children any so-called treats. Either don't answer the door when they knock; or, smile and in a kind, yet firm, way tell them you don't 'celebrate' something so spiritually alien to Christ Our Lord! If they ask why not, simply refer them to their parents and gently close the door.
Parents again, similarly, don't allow your children to read Harry Potter and other demonically-oriented tales! For those who still don't believe in demons and thus not in God, see today's (October 29, 2011) article by William Peter Blatty, author of THE EXORCIST entitled THE EXORCIST'S' SECRET MESSAGE.
Clergy, if you don't agree with the contents of the article HALLOWEEN AND THE BIBLE, you probably don't agree with the Holy Scripture cited. If so, then perhaps your best bet is simply to leave the ministry, no sense in the blind leading the blind!
The Frontline Fellowship article recommends as an alternative celebrating Reformation Day, a very constructive idea. A lot of us probably never think about the tremendous positive impact it has had on individual freedom and responsible government. America would never have become the "land of the free" without its impact. [I realise this may not be a popular alternative for our Roman Catholic neighbours (smile)!]
[inserted on October 29, 2011]
JOHANN ARNDT (1555-1621), GERMAN LUTHERAN, MYSTIC, AND FORERUNNER OF PIETISM
'There is no more convenient place for you than that what has been indicated: you should move there and begin to read the Holy Bible, with a discussion of the various deeds of God that it presents. And always, morning and night, study it and Arndt; you should only skim other books. And sharpen your mind and your will with respect to what is good; and await the call of God, whether and when God summons you, and thus remain at peace.'8
Hence St. Tikhon placed Arndt directly after the Bible and higher than all 'other' books. " (See the article inserted below on October 22, 2011 by Pavel Khondzinskii entitled “Two Works about True Christianity: St. Tikhon of Zadonsk and Johann Arndt”)
Here is Johann Arndt's Chapter XIX from TRUE CHRISTIANITY, Book III
OF INWARD PRAYER, AND OF THE USE OF THE LORD'S PRAYER
Ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba,
Father.—Rom. 8:15.
As God operates eminently in humble souls; so the Holy Spirit
particularly works in them the gift of filial prayer. Without the
Spirit of God there is no true prayer; for he it is that cries and
groans in the soul, being, as it were, its life. Rom. 8:26; Gal.
4:6. For as the soul is the life of our body, so is the Spirit of God
the life of the soul, being the source of all its spiritual life and
strength. This Holy Spirit is also the witness of our adoption and
regeneration; and he who knows how to use these as he ought,
relying, by faith in Christ and love of the Holy Spirit, upon the
eternal love of his heavenly Father, will ask for, and receive
great and heavenly gifts. For so great is the love, so abundant the
goodness of God, that he can deny nothing to his children, who
ask in faith. But as even faith and prayer are the work and gift
of God, so we must daily apply ourselves to Him for the same.
Hence arises the true internal prayer of the heart, from a true
conversion and inclination of our souls and affections to God.
This inward prayer pierces the heavens, whilst a man walking
in the steps of his Saviour, freely and cheerfully takes up his
cross and follows him; not like Simon the Cyrenian, who bore,
indeed, the cross, but it was because he was compelled to do it.
Matt. 27:32. So great is the love of God, that he does not stay
for our prayers; but comes forth freely to meet us, and courts
our friendship, entreating us to ask pardon for our sins, and to
practise the same love towards our neighbors which he shows
towards us. Happy is he, who truly knows, understands, and
meditates on this boundless love of God in Jesus Christ. Such a
man prays more effectually in his heart, than if he used the most
perfect form of words. One single meditation or devout sigh
offered up to God by Jesus Christ, in faith, love, and devotion, is
more acceptable to God, than all the parade of external worship.
2. The whole life of a Christian ought to be spent in the
exercise of love, and in the imitation of his crucified Lord. He
properly is a Christian, who does all things from a principle of
divine charity, and is transformed by it into the nature of Christ.
And can God deny anything to so dutiful, loving, and obedient
a child when he prays? No, surely. But that we might know
how and for what we ought to ask, Christ has taught us the
Lord's Prayer, a prayer full of petitions for the most exalted
blessings. Can there be a greater good than the kingdom of God?
For he himself is his own kingdom, extending to all rational
creatures. So that when we pray, “Thy kingdom come,” we
pray that God would please to bestow Himself upon us, with
all the riches and blessings of his presence. In this kingdom,
therefore, God is our Father, manifesting his paternal love and
faithfulness to his children, by erecting his kingdom in us, that
therein he may perfect his most noble work in us, expressed in
this petition, “Hallowed be thy name;” which is done when the
dignity and excellency of the divine name and nature are more
deeply discovered in the soul.
3. In this kingdom, which is within us (emphasis supplied), he works his own
will, without any impediment. And so his “will is done in earth,”
namely, in us, “as it is in heaven,” that is, in God himself.
Hence we understand, that what God desires to bestow, and has
commanded us to pray for, is nothing less than Himself. This was
the promise that he made to Abraham, “I am thy shield, and thy
exceeding great reward.” Gen. 15:1. Moreover, our Heavenly
Father gives us “our daily bread;” that is, he appropriates all his
creatures to our use, testifying thereby the greatness of his love
towards us. For the heart that is truly devoted to God, and in
which he freely executes his own will, is capable of receiving
the fulness of his grace and blessings. So great are the goodness,
love, and mercy of God, that he can deny us nothing that is
necessary either for the body or the soul; and he best knows our
necessities. For this end he is daily setting our sins and miseries
before our eyes, teaching us to abase ourselves before him, and to
pray: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass
against us.” For so compassionate is God, that he freely offers us
forgiveness of sins, and teaches us how to ask it from the heart;
that thereby we may be assured, that he is more ready to forgive,
than we are to ask it; and that we may thence learn to exercise the
same kindness towards our neighbor, that He exercises towards
us. For they that are truly the children of God, exclude no man
from their charity, or from the love of God. They have nothing
more at heart, than the glory of God, the increase of his kingdom,
and the salvation of all men. By this acknowledgment of sin,
and petition for pardon, the Christian is taught, that in his natural
state he is without God and his kingdom; void of comfort, poor
and miserable. And, therefore, he is taught to pray, “Lead us not
into temptation,” by which the devil endeavors to draw us from
the will and kingdom of God; but that he would “deliver us from
evil,” that is, from our own evil will and corrupt nature, which
hinder the accomplishment of God's will, and the erecting of his
kingdom in us, and deprive him of the honor due unto his name.
“For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and
ever. Amen.” Whilst we receive these as coming from him alone,
they still continue to be his. But if we do not ascribe them to
Him alone, we exclude ourselves from his kingdom, his power,
and his glory, not worthily sanctifying his name, nor obeying his
will. And hence it follows, that we also are out of his kingdom,
and so have no title to remission of sins and deliverance from
evil.
[inserted on October 28, 2011]
J. GRESHAM MACHEN
Comment by Pastor Photios:
Although this homily was delivered to seminarians at Princeton in 1929, it has even greater spiritual significance to all of us, today, in the closing months of 2011. Its content will speak for itself.
[inserted on October 27, 2011]
CHRIST LEADS US TO SALVATION ALONG THE NARROW WAY:
"Our Lord Jesus Christ spent His earthly life in the greatest humility, subject to constant hardship and maltreatment, persecuted, slandered and libelled by His enemies who finally condemned Him to a shameful death with common criminals. The way of salvation which leads to eternal life is narrow and hard. It is appointed both by our Lord's holy example and by His holy teaching. The Lord foretold to His disciples and followers that in the world, that is, during their earthly life, they would have tribulation, that the world would hate them, that they would be persecuted and killed. The Lord compared the position of His disciples and followers in the midst of vicious humanity to the position of sheep among wolves. From this it is clear that sorrow and suffering are appointed by the Lord Himself for His true slaves and servants during their life on earth. What is appointed by God it is impossible to prevent by any human being, by any kind of wisdom, or prudence, or forethought, or care."
St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) (1807-1867), in his classic, THE ARENA, Chapter 29, p. 94.
[inserted on October 23, 2011]
TRUE CHRISTIANITY
TWO WORKS ABOUT TRUE CHRISTIANITY: ST. TIKHON OF ZADONSK AND JOHANN ARNDT
by
Pavel Khondzinskii
[inserted on October 22, 2011]
ENGLAND'S GREATEST PREACHER/EVANGELIST GEORGE WHITEFIELD (1714-1770) ON
THE INDWELLING OF THE SPIRIT, THE COMMON PRIVILEGE OF ALL BELIEVERS
BIOGRAPHY OF GEORGE WHITEFIELD
SELECTED SERMONS OF GEORGE WHITEFIELD (59)
[inserted on October 22, 2011]
CONCERNING THE SWORD: A Hutterian Apologia of 1577
[inserted on October 22, 2011]
SIMPLICITY IN THE 'GUILELESS CANDOR OF CHILDHOOD' BEFORE GOD IS THE WAY:
"Every age has its own characteristics. Right now we are in an age of religious complexity. The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart. The shallowness of our inner experience, the hollowness of our worship, and that servile imitation of the world which marks our promotional methods all testify that we, in this day, know God only imperfectly, and the peace of God scarcely at all.
If we would find God amid all the religious externals we must first determine to find Him, and then proceed in the way of simplicity. Now as always God discovers Himself to 'babes' and hides Himself in thick darkness from the wise and the prudent. We must simplify our approach to Him. We must strip down to essentials (and they will be found to be blessedly few). We must put away all effort to impress, and come with the guileless candor of childhood. If we do this, without doubt God will quickly respond."
A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) The Pursuit of God (1948 - Kindle Locations 151-158).
Comment by Pastor Photios:
These spiritual remarks are even more valid today in 2011 than they were in 1948. Our "religious externals" today are much more dangerous than they were in Pastor Tozer's time of writing "THE PURSUIT OF GOD". Some examples of major problems now are the penchant for megachurches, (the larger they are generally the more heretical [heterodox using the politically correct term, smile] they will be), calling churches by other more 'inoffensive' (more politically correct, i.e.,
less Christian terminology to further the view that the meeting is really not that Christian and many times this is absolutely true) names to fulfill a worldly purpose, allowing heretical views from the pulpit and instruction classes promoting homosexuality as a way of life, conducting or otherwise supporting same-sex 'ceremonies' or 'blessings' of such abominable sins, supporting the so-called 'right' of a woman to kill her baby within her womb, allowing a forum for and/or actually 'preaching' from the pulpit the view that Christ is not the sole way to salvation, agreeing with secular scholars that Christ is not Divine, similarly disputing the Virgin Birth, the Resurrection and the Ascension of Christ; and, of course, let us not forget the usage and manipulation of the mass media including the Internet to label all others as non-Christians who disagree with their worldly unChristian ways. Added to these problems currently is the growth of support, either overt or covert, for 'toleration' of Islamic teachings and opinions in the secular schools whilst at the same time disallowing the same for Christians. In short, surely we must be near to Christ's return. Praise the Lord, it can't be too soon!
No one can predict when He will return, of course, but we know He is coming. Let's prepare ourselves inwardly for His return by following the Holy Spirit's spiritual direction, Who dwells within the believing heart. Let's come to Christ with the innocence of a baby and commit ourselves completely to Him. Our commitment needs to be entire and only to the Triune God. Jesus' Sermon on the Mount is an excellent place to begin our inward journey along His Royal Path. Prepare to suffer as He did for us on the Cross. Nothing less is expected of us.
In Christ,
Photios+
[inserted on October 3, 2011]
Pastor Photios: RATIONALISM VS THE TRUE FAITH OF OUR HEARTS
FIERY MISSIONARY DR. PETER HAMMOND OF SOUTH AFRICA : WHY DOES GOD NOT STOP ALL THE SUFFERING?
Dr. Peter Hammond
Dr. Hammond is as spiritually tough as they come. All his works I have read are punches right in the 'face' of the Evil One! Google his name and you will see what I mean.
His website is Frontline Fellowship
[inserted on September 30, 2011]
TRUE GODLINESS
by
Gerhard Tersteegen (1697-1769), German Pietist:
Recommendation by Pastor Photios:
It should be spiritually beneficial to read TRUE GODLINESS in tandem with the article immediately below.
[inserted on September 28, 2011]
"ORGANISATION" OVER THE CENTURIES HAS SUCCEEDED IN DEVIATING US FROM THE TRUE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD: LOOK INWARD AS OUR REMEDY:
"To sum up, my feeling is briefly aimed therein that one must seek Jesus in one's heart as the only true foundation of salvation and the heart must be completely purified through the true living faith in Jesus. In case it is wished to perform in true singleness of heart also those outward actions which the first Christians did in addition of these inner unmovable bases, I cannot consider this a mortal sin, if one only remains in impartial love toward those who cannot feel in their minds this necessity for those outward acts. The freedom of Christ suffers neither force nor laws."
Ernst Christoph Hochmann von Hochenau (1670-1721), Radical Pietist
"That which the Holy Spirit ordained for the faithful was written outwardly. All believers are united in it, for the Holy Spirit teaches them inwardly (emphasis supplied) just as the Scriptures teach them outwardly.... Therefore, when a believing person whose inner ears are opened reads the Holy Scriptures outwardly, he will hear as the Lord Jesus intends His teaching to be understood. He hears that which the apostles want to express in their writings. He will also be impelled, through his inner hearing, to true obedience which makes him obey even in outward matters. Outwardly, he reads the Scriptures in faith and hears the inner word of life which gives him strength and power to follow Jesus."
Alexander Mack (1679-1735), also a Radical Pietist, founder of the Brethren Movement but more inclined to the church as an organisation as long as it was faithful to the ordinances of Christ in the New Testament period than Pietist Hochmann. The latter was more disposed to experience Christianity individually.
The two quotes above were taken from Vernard Eller's KIERKEGAARD AND RADICAL DISCIPLESHIP 4
Comment by Pastor Photios:
Throughout Christian history church organisations have a tendency to mimic this world not that of Christ's (His is not of this world), the results being bloodbaths and massacres that so violate the spirit and truth of Our Saviour. At the same time, less violent, but more subtle perhaps, compromising of the true Gospel by such organisations seeking power and wealth jettisons the spiritual commandments of Christ for a more flexible, indeed, heretical view of Christianity. No ecclesial grouping, including holy Orthodoxy, has been immune from such blasphemy. Self, pride, vanity, have taken center stage in organised churches and continue to do so. Humility, the linchpin of Christ's teaching, many times is ridiculed as weakness and pride in one's own accomplishments in this world, not one's spiritual worth within his or her heart, replaces God.
In these nominally Christian (at the most) groupings, striving for the things of this world such as money, status, power, dominance over the poor in spirit (the latter who are blessed, remember!) take center stage over things of the heart. We counsel our children incessantly about choosing the just right career to maximise their earnings and opportunities. But when was the last time, you, as parents, sat down with your children and spoke to them as Christ would, stressing to them that what matters in this world for Christians is how strong our faith is in the Lord. Is it strong enough, to the point where we will sacrifice our lives as He did for us rather than abandon Christ; that we know God by how we deal with others, others being our neighbours, that we love our enemies, however difficult this may be to do in actual practise. Remember, that any person can change and come to Jesus Christ. Saul, one of the greatest of persecutors, became the Apostle Paul. A modern day example came up on the Fox Network last night. It involved the faith of an interestingly named Machine Gun Preacher, legal name, Sam Childers. The report indicated that he had begun life in a desperate state, becoming a drug user, dealer, violent dude and all around 'bad hombre'. Yet, God came into his life and turned him around. Now he is known far and wide as a true missionary to the orphaned children of Southern Sudan and that beleaguered area of the world, rescuing children from enslavement. Actor Gerald Butler plays his role in the new film "Machinegun Preacher" just released on September 23rd of this year. At the moment, it is in limited release only in New York and Los Angeles (is that because these two places need it the most?), but if it is eventually released to a wider audience, let's all try to see it. Childers was interviewed by Fox and is quite a guy obviously. Yet, had Jesus not turned around his life, he would probably either be dead or in prison for life. If you are nearer to the way he was before experiencing Christ, you can change right now! Just do it and the Holy Spirit will guide you through all the pitfalls. No problem!
Clerics, Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestants, in particular, 'bishops' often demonstrate more 'worldliness' than selflessness. They talk about being 'elevated' in terms of promotion with the attendant 'status' they presume it carries. But Jesus came for the lowly sinners, the poor in spirit, not the righteous. Jesus wore no finery, nor did James the Just or any of the other apostles. Jesus rode on a donkey, a lowly animal. The Bishop of Rome wears elaborate expensive jewelry and frilly 'outfits' and the hierarchy in Orthodoxy love their vestments and mitres, etc.
Q: Ever hear of a modern bishop who voluntarily surrendered his bishopric? Don't some of them at least think of rank as a sinecure, something to which they are entitled? Not all, mind you, but...
Q: Whatever happened to the central message of Christianity - suffering as He suffered for us?
Q: Why does one grouping throw out the 'spiritual' tyrants (e.g., Protestants reacting against the evils of Rome, replacing it with Lutheranism, the Reform of Calvin Etc.) and then, the new guys on the block become the state church and begin to persecute other religious sects in a similar manner and in some cases even worse than was committed by Rome?
Q: Isn't the problem here the organisation? Isn't it perhaps time to go into our hearts and work on ourselves and stay away from the infected organisation(s) that like to claim the only true faith but their own hierarchy and members many times 'talk the talk but don't walk the walk'?
The Kingdom of God is within us. The Holy Spirit indwells in us and guides our way. This is all we need. Throw ourselves on God's mercy and let Him do with us what He will. By all means, obey Christ's commandments, but, arguably, you need to change inwardly first. When you do, obedience to His commandments will come because of your love for Him; correspondingly, adherence to the true doctrine(s) of Christ follows because the Holy Spirit is your rudder on the Ship of Christ.
May the Lord bless all of us along our spiritual journey to Him!
Pastor Photios
[inserted on September 27, 2011]
NOT MORE THAN ONE BAPTISM AND IT MUST SIGNIFY OUR BELIEF IN THE HOLY TRINITY
"So then, as our Lord died once for all, we also must be baptized once for all, and baptized according to the Word of the Lord, 'In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.'... But those who were not baptized into the Holy Trinity, these must be baptized again.... The baptism then into Christ means that believers are baptized into Him. We could not believe in Christ if we were not taught confession in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For Christ is the Son of the Living God, Whom the Father anointed with the Holy Spirit.... Christ taught His own disciples the invocation and said, 'Baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit'."
by Saint John of Damascus (c. 676-749)
Furthermore:
"Now we are baptized into the Holy Spirit because those things which are baptized have need of the Holy Trinity for their maintenance and continuance, and the three subsistences cannot be otherwise than present, the one with the other. For the Holy Trinity is indivisible (emphasis supplied)." [Ibid.]
Comment by Pastor Photios:
If a purporting Christian grouping professes Christ but not the Holy Trinity, it is not Christian at all.
[inserted on September 20, 2011]
MYSTIC AND QUAKER FOUNDER GEORGE FOX ON THE DIVINE LIGHT OF CHRIST
"Now the Lord God opened to me by His invisible power that every man was enlightened by the Divine Light of Christ, and I saw it shine through all; and that they that believed in it came out of condemnation to the Light of life, and became the children of it; but they that hated it, and did not believe in it were condemned by it, though they made a profession of Christ. This I saw in the pure openings of the Light without the help of any man; neither did I then know where to find it in the Scriptures; though afterwards, searching the Scriptures, I found it. For I saw, in that Light and Spirit which was before the Scriptures were given forth, and which led the holy men of God to give them forth, that all, if they would know God or Christ, or the Scriptures aright, must come to that Spirit by which they that gave them forth were led and taught.
On a certain time, as I was walking in the fields, the Lord said unto me, 'Thy name is written in the Lamb's book of life, which was before the foundation of the world': and as the Lord spoke it, I believed, and saw in it the new birth. Some time after the Lord commanded me to go abroad into the world, which was like a briery, thorny wilderness. When I came in the Lord's mighty power with the Word of life into the world, the world swelled and made a noise like the great raging waves of the sea. Priests (ed:those who are paid to preach) and professors (ed: nominal Christians), magistrates and people, were all like a sea when I came to proclaim the day of the Lord amongst them, and to preach repentance to them.
I was sent to turn people from darkness to the Light, that they might receive Christ Jesus; for to as many as should receive Him in His Light, I saw He would give power to become the sons of God; which power I had obtained by receiving Christ. I was to direct people to the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures, by which they might be led into all truth, and up to Christ and God, as those had been who gave them forth.
Yet I had no slight esteem of the holy Scriptures. They were very precious to me; for I was in that Spirit by which they were given forth; and what the Lord opened in me I afterwards found was agreeable to them. I could speak much of these things, and many volumes might be written about them; but all would prove too short to set forth the infinite love, wisdom, and power of God, in preparing, fitting, and furnishing me for the service to which He had appointed me; letting me see the depths of Satan on the one hand, and opening to me, on the other hand, the divine mysteries of His own everlasting kingdom.
When the Lord God and His Son Jesus Christ sent me forth into the world to preach His everlasting gospel and kingdom, I was glad that I was commanded to turn people to that inward (emphasis supplied) Light, Spirit, and Grace, by which all might know their salvation and their way to God; even that Divine Spirit which would lead them into all truth, and which I infallibly (ed: see fn 48 - by this he does not mean any man's infallibility 'but rather the infallibility of the Spirit, in union with which a man may know that he pleases God') knew would never deceive any."
George Fox (1624-1691), THE AUTOBIOGRAPY OF GEORGE FOX
Comment by Pastor Photios:
George Fox seems similar to both St. John the Baptist and St. Paul. His wanderings throughout England, Scotland and Wales and continual struggles and strife, with rampant persecutions and jailings, whilst preaching the call to holiness as Christ did, his living with little food at time and none at others, sleeping rough, being beaten by the treacherous hypocrites who pursued him throughout his journeys, should remind all of us that we are meant to suffer as Christ did. George Fox was a resolute spiritual man; it was thought that when he said "verily" this was to mean that nothing could deviate him from whatever his spiritual resolve then was for Jesus Christ.
We, all of us, need a lot of George Fox in us. His spiritual courage and determination in the face of all the odds he confronted in his travels are reminiscent of the persecutions of the ancient Church martyrs. Many thought he was a prophet as, apparently, he did. Read this work and experience his pain as well as his exhilaration in preaching Christ up and down the country. Then work on your call to holiness; after all, the Kingdom of God is within you (Lk 17:21). The Lord's Kingdom is other-worldly, not of this world, which is of the devil. The kingdom of the Lord is always here, it is within us. Blessed Theophylact, writing for the collective witness of the ancient Orthodox Church states:
"The kingdom of God is always present for him who desires and wills it. When a man's disposition and way of life are like that of an angel, most assuredly this is the kingdom of God. For God indeed is said to rule as King when nothing worldly meddles in the governing of our souls and when in every respect we live not of this world. This manner of life we have within us, that is to say, we have it within us when we desire and will it. We do not need to wait a long time, or until our departure from this life; instead, faith and a God-pleasing life which accompanies faith are very near to us. The Apostle said the same thing: The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the word of faith (Rom. 10:8). To have faith, and, together with faith, to walk in a manner of our calling, is indeed something within us." THE EXPLANATION BY BLESSED THEOPHYLACT OF THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE (tr. from the original Greek by Fr. Christopher Stade, Chrysostom Press, House Springs, MO, 1997), Chapter 17, p. 226.
May the Lord strengthen our resolve to stand in the breech for Him as did Mystic Quaker George Fox and all the martyrs of His Church.
[inserted on September 20, 2011]
FIERY MISSIONARY DR. PETER HAMMOND OF SOUTH AFRICA ON THE EVIL OF SLAVERY:
SLAVERY TODAY AND SETTING THE CAPTIVES FREE
Dr. Peter Hammond
Dr. Hammond is as spiritually tough as they come. All his works I have read are punches right in the 'face' of the Evil One! Google his name and you will see what I mean.
His website is Frontline Fellowship
[inserted on September 20, 2011]
A CALL FOR AMERICANS TO WAKE UP AND COME TO JESUS BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
Comments by Pastor Photios:
True Christians are not to engage in idolatry. How do we measure up to this absolute requirement? Not well at all. We manufacture idols to 'worship' and pursue in lieu of, as substitutes for, the way of Christ. American idolatry takes the principal form(s) of the "self," "me first," "me," or perhaps even "me, never you"! What has happened to God in our society, which, incidentally, was founded on Christian principles? How often do we hear the name "Jesus" aloud in any other way than as a form of swear word?
Contemporary America, following the lead, apparently, of wimpy secular Europe, marches to the drum of this world, that of the Evil One. In the main, our leaders have no stomach for the meek and humble, yet all powerful Jesus. In this stance, they parrot the faithlessness of the Jews who waited (and are still doing so) for their antiChrist. They were waiting for a physical, not spiritual warrior, a heroic non-Christian Constantine the Great type.
Teaching Christianity in our public schools is generally not allowed, but several cases lately in the USA suggest that a quite different standard is to be applied to non Christians. Unbelievable, isn't it? The nation of true freedom, where millions of oppressed peoples have jammed our borders and continue to do so in flights from their ruthless regimes across the world, is perhaps not quite as trustworthy for such future streamings of freedom-seeking people, particularly, when it is becoming clearer and clearer that we have lost our way and no longer value our Godgiven freedoms as our great forefathers did.
A vocal Christian is a true one in the sense that all Christians are required not to stand mute about their allegiance to Christ, but, rather, to stand and deliver the true Faith to others. If you appear on a local or national television show, and, in reply to a question about the sanctity and meaning of marriage, you defend the biblical principle of marriage within God's context of a man and a woman, you will be immediately vilified by the media and other 'representatives' of this world, Satan's, not Christ's.
If you openly declare yourself to be a born again Christian and furthermore support the right to life as Jesus and His Church have always done (thus you oppose abortion for the willful murder that God says that it is - See my homily ABORTION IS WILLFUL MURDER!), you will be subject to great ridicule and accusations of, again, what else other than 'intolerance'. The multi millions of murdered babies means nothing compared to the fictitious woman's right to choose. In True Christianity, no one has the 'right' to murder an innocent baby in the womb.
What kind of pathetic self-seeking society have we become? We are busy substituting the idolatry of self interest for the true wisdom and moral fiber of Christ's Way. Our present Christianity bares little resemblance to the Way of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The next time you get a 'hankering' to abort your child or commit any other sin or sins, ask yourself "What Would Jesus Do?" And if you doubt that Jesus Christ is Who He said He was and all its spiritual ramifications, immerse yourself in the Gospel of John, the most spiritually spellbinding of the Gospels. When you do, you will come across the following Scripture:
"And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto Him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me (emphasis supplied) (John 14.4-6)."
Our Lord is stating His sole authority to bring the disciples to the Father. Blessed Theophylact, writing for all the true Fathers of His Church summarises what He meant by these words:
"Christ reveals the way and destination, and shows that it is simple to come with Him: 'I am the way, and I am going to the Father. Follow Me and you will surely ascend to the Father as well. I am also the truth, so be assured that I am not deceiving you. Furthermore, I am the life, not even death can prevent you from reaching the Father. Take courage, therefore: by Me, every man cometh unto the Father. There is NO (capitals supplied) other way to get there except by Me. I have SOLE AUTHORITY AND POWER (capitals supplied) to bring you to the Father, and I promise that you will indeed reach Him.' (Bl. Theophylact continues:) Learn from this, O reader, that the Son is equal to the Father. On a different occasion, Jesus testified that we are led to Him by the Father: No man can come to me except the Father ... draw him [Jn. 6:44]. And now He declares that He leads us to the Father. This shows that the Father and the Son are EQUAL IN POWER AND SHARE A SINGLE DIVINE ENERGY (capitals supplied). When you follow the path of active virtue, Christ is the way. When you practice divine contemplation, He is the truth. But many have done both yet failed to obtain life. Either they practiced virtue in order to impress men (and so received their reward in this life), or they became conceited about their knowledge of doctrines and strayed from the right path. Therefore, to the way and the truth- the paths of active virtue and divine contemplation - the Lord adds life. Ignoring the deadly praise of men, let us follow the path and adhere to the doctrines leading to Him Who is life immortal. "
Blessed Theophylact, THE EXPLANATION OF THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN (translated from the original Greek by Fr. Christopher Stade), Volume IV in the series: Blessed Theophylact's Explanation of the New Testament, (House Springs, MO: Chrysostom Press, 2007), Chapter Fourteen, 4-6, pp. 224-225.
About the author:
"The author of this remarkable commentary is an eleventh century Byzantine churchman of great learning and piety, who served in Constantinople as a royal tutor, archdeacon, renowned preacher of the Gospel, and assistant to the patriarch. About the year 1090 A.D. he was sent to the distant city of Ochrid, the capital of the Bulgarian kingdom, to serve as archbishop of the Bulgarian Church. It was there, in the southwestern Balkans, that he wrote these commentaries, restating in clear and profound language that which has always and everywhere been taught by the Church concerning the meaning of the Gospels and Epistles (emphasis supplied)." [Ibid., INTRODUCTION, p. 1.]
What America needs now are millions and millions of hearts in revival for Christ. Narrow is the way to Him. You can't get to Him via the broad path, no matter how much rationalising you do about it. Christ is the sole route to salvation. If you reject Him, He will reject you. Think about it and then change your way of life, come to Him in humility, repent, ask His forgiveness, do all this in the way a child would, innocently, trusting in the Lord to show you His Way. Then live your life day by day struggling and suffering for Him as He did for you on the Cross. Be prepared to give your life for Christ. Make these decisions NOW. Your eternal life depends on it.
May the Lord bless America and bring her children back to the right path.
In Christ,
Pastor Photios
[inserted on August 20, 2011]
A CHILLING CONTRAST TO THE MESSAGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST:
RELIGIOUS KILLINGS IN INDONESIAN SMALL TOWN
[inserted on August 11, 2011]
IN 2011, SINNERS (I.E., ALL OF US) DESPERATELY NEED THE EVANGELISTIC SPIRITUAL GIFTS OF ENGLAND'S GREATEST PREACHER, GEORGE WHITEFIELD (1714-1770)
Bp. J.C. Ryle, GEORGE WHITEFIELD & HIS MINISTRY
[inserted on August 2, 2011]
THERE IS A MOTHER'S LOVE AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE ARE THOSE WHO MURDER
"Now the strongest human love that we know of is a mother's love . Many things will separate a man from his wife. A father may turn his back on his child; brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies; husbands may desert their wives; wives, their husbands. But a mother's love endures through all. In good repute, in bad repute, in the face of the world's condemnation, a mother loves on, and hopes that her child may turn from his evil ways and repent. She remembers the infant smiles, the merry laugh of childhood, and the promise of youth. Death cannot quench a mother's love; it is stronger than death."
D.L. Moody (1837-1899), THE OVERCOMING LIFE, The Way to God, Chapter 1, Love that Passeth Knowledge (Bridge-Logos, Alachua, FL, 2007), p. 196.
Comments from Pastor Photios:
The famous American Evangelist D.L. Moody wrote the above in about 1884. We can all see how things have changed in 2011 - and not for the better. Today, millions of 'mothers' have murdered their children within their wombs by participating in the abominable sin of an abortion. Shame on those who have done so. You should fall down on your knees, repent of your actions and pray to the Lord for forgiveness. Then you should strongly consider being a spiritual soldier for your forgotten and legally discriminated against victims. Regardless of secular legalisation of such a monstrous crime, God's position is crystal clear - abortion is willful murder and obviously a terrible sin. If you do not repent, you all are going to hell.
See my homily ABORTION IS WILLFUL MURDER!
[inserted on July 31, 2011]
OBEDIENCE UNTIL DEATH (Philippians 2: 8)
"To determine to be obedient unto death is a strength in the young Christian. It is at once the beauty and the glory of Christ. A share in His obedience is the highest blessing He has to give. The desire for and the surrender to it are possible to even the youngest believer."
See Andrew Murray (1828-1917), THE PRACTICE OF GOD'S PRESENCE 7-in-1 Anthology, Book Seven: The Blessings of Obedience, Chapter 5 (Whitaker House, New Kensington, PA, 2000), p. 538.
Comments from Pastor Photios:
Are we all obedient enough to physically die for Our Lord Jesus Christ as He died for us? Is there anything that average Americans, other than our courageous soldiers in harm's way as this is written, believe is worth dying for? What do we really believe in anymore in this world? I use "this world" as the secular one of the Devil as opposed to what is not of this world, Our Lord's.
Well, such martyrdoms in America are more common than one would suppose although not widespread. For example, a few years ago in Pennyslvania, a shooter committed a massacre against the peaceloving forgiving Amish people. One of the young girls confronted the attacker and told him to shoot her instead of another young person. So, he brutally shot her. She died a martyr for Christ regardless of her Amish background- surely we can all agree with this assertion? In another case I know about from my area of the country, two young people in love were accosted by a shooter and the man was shot to death as he knelt and prayed to the Lord (then the woman was brutally raped):
He died for Jesus Christ without rejecting Him. She suffered in agony an indignation that will haunt her for the rest of her days, but, in her own way, she was also martyred for Him.
Martyrs for Christ abound in areas of Christian persecution in this world, where His people who teach only meekness and humility in service to Him are hunted down like dogs, tortured mercilessly, women gang raped-then killed, some beheaded or hacked to death with machetes or other instruments of evil, and children massacred. Yet, these simple people never reject Christ. They go to their physical deaths but to their spiritual glory with God's name on their lips.
As the secular American culture continues to spit out all that is good, innocent and, in particular, Christian principles and behaviour, there may come a time when such evil persecutions begin here. It is not a very long step from legal and cultural discrimination to duress and subtle or more obvious 'Final Solutions' for devout Christians. Will our obedience to God stand and deliver if and when that time comes?
As we pray tonight privately to Our Lord, remember to add words of submission in obedience to Him unto death, promising complete surrender and yielding of ourselves to Him. He will respond and protect our souls. Jesus was obedient to His Father unto death on the Cross. As His Followers, we must be obedient unto death in the Faith, like the young man kneeling in prayer to the Lord seconds before his life was snuffed out by an evil act...
[inserted on July 30, 2011]
THE TRUE CHRISTIAN ROAD TO KNOWLEDGE IS A CONTINUING STRUGGLE AS WE DIRECTLY COMMUNE WITH THE HOLY TRINITY
"There is only one way to knowledge, the one which God has marked through the centuries. It is not a way of syllogisms but a way of life, because truth is not a system of philosophical theories but a personal existence: I am the Way, the Truth, the Life.
But in order for one to walk this road, it is not sufficient to say and believe that one is a Christian. Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Something else is necessary: the lifelong struggle of the Christian, and that is purity of heart, which renders man worthy to receive the illumination of the Holy Spirit. All the moral and ascetic struggles of Christianity are aimed at this purity of the heart (emphasis supplied), with the purpose of the indwelling of the Holy Trinity in man. Whoever loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him and make Our abode with him.
This direct communion with the Holy Trinity, this contact with divinity, the revelation of God, is knowledge. It alone (emphasis supplied) enlightens man. It gives him to understand what God is and His creation."
Lay Orthodox Theologian Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros, in his classic AGAINST FALSE UNION (St. Nectarios Press, Seattle, WA, 1978, Second Edition, Revised Appendix , 2000), Chapter Two, XXI., THE LIGHT, pp. 40-41.
[inserted on July 28, 2011]
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HIS CHRISTIANITY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO IMPROVEMENT, SO INNOVATORS (I.E., FALSE TEACHERS) 'HANDS OFF!'!
"The Christian religion, like its Founder, first of all, is complete, harmonious, and all-embracing. There are no deficiencies in it, and it is not subject to improvement. It is (emphasis supplied) ideal. Only the Christian himself is subject to improvement, without limits. The ideal of his perfection is endless. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (Matt. 5: 48)."
Professor I.M. Andreyev (Catacomb True Orthodox, 1894-1976), ORTHODOX APOLOGETIC THEOLOGY, (St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, Platina, CA, 1995) The Essence of Christianity, pp. 159-160.
[inserted on July 24, 2011]
THE SPIRITUAL EFFECT OF HUMILITY
"It isn't enough to separate yourself from the world's ways. You must also allow humility to be formed within (emphasis supplied) you". Separation from the world means turning away from external things. When humility is formed in you, then you will turn away from your own self-nature. ... Put aside your self-interest, and simply let God's will unfold around you. Everything He does for you is for your own good."
Abp. Fenelon (1651-1715), French Mystic and friend of Madame Guyon, for which he paid a heavy price, THE SEEKING HEART, Volume 4, Library of Spiritual Classics, SeedSowers Publishing, Jacksonville, Florida, pp. 46-47.
[inserted on July 11, 2011]
A FATHER OF THE TRUE CHURCH, LIBYAN PRIEST AND ABBOT, WHO WAS A PERSONAL FRIEND OF ST. MAXIMOS THE CONFESSOR:
" Hardship and humility save the soul and free it from all the passions."
St. Thalassios in THE PHILOKALIA, Volume II (compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Makarios of Corinth) [Faber and Faber Limited, London, Paperback Edition first published in 1990], Third Century, # 72, p. 323.
[inserted on July 5, 2011]
HYPOCRITES
WHAT ABOUT HYPOCRITES IN THE CHURCH?
Dr. Peter Hammond
Dr. Hammond is as spiritually tough as they come. All his works I have read are punches right in the 'face' of the Evil One! Google his name and you will see what I mean.
His website is Frontline Fellowship
[inserted on July 5, 2011]
GUTENBERG EBOOK OF TRUE CHRISTIANITY BY JOHANN ARNDT (Books I-IV, 920 pages) :
[inserted on July 1, 2011]
DON'T JUST ADMIRE CHRIST: BE A FOLLOWER- HIS DISCIPLE! (a much different matter)
"It is well known that Christ consistently used the expression 'follower.' He never asks for admirers, worshippers, or adherents. No, he calls disciples. It is not adherents of a teaching but followers of a life Christ is looking for.
Christ understood that being a 'disciple' was in innermost and deepest harmony with what he said about himself. Christ claimed to be the way and the truth and the life (Jn. 14:6). For this reason, he could never be satisfied with adherents who accepted his teaching – especially with those who in their lives ignored it or let things take their usual course. His whole life on earth, from beginning to end, was destined solely to have followers and to make admirers impossible.
Christ came into the world with the purpose of saving, not instructing it. At the same time – as is implied in his saving work – he came to be the pattern, to leave footprints for the person who would join him, who would become a follower. This is why Christ was born and lived and died in lowliness. It is absolutely impossible for anyone to sneak away from the Pattern with excuse and evasion on the basis that It, after all, possessed earthly and worldly advantages that he did not have. In that sense, to admire Christ is the false invention of a later age, aided by the presumption of 'loftiness.' No, there is absolutely nothing to admire in Jesus, unless you want to admire poverty, misery, and contempt.
What then, is the difference between an admirer and a follower? A follower is or strives to be what he admires. An admirer, however, keeps himself personally detached. He fails to see that what is admired involves a claim upon him, and thus he fails to be or strive to be what he admires.
To want to admire instead of to follow Christ is not necessarily an invention by bad people. No, it is more an invention by those who spinelessly keep themselves detached, who keep themselves at a safe distance. Admirers are related to the admired only through the excitement of the imagination. To them he is like an actor on the stage except that, this being real life, the effect he produces is somewhat stronger. But for their part, admirers make the same demands that are made in the theater: to sit safe and calm. Admirers are only all too willing to serve Christ as long as proper caution is exercised, lest one personally come in contact with danger. As such, they refuse to accept that Christ’s life is a demand. In actual fact, they are offended at him. His radical, bizarre character so offends them that when they honestly see Christ for who he is, they are no longer able to experience the tranquillity they so much seek after. They know full well that to associate with him too closely amounts to being up for examination (emphasis supplied). Even though he 'says nothing' against them personally, they know that his life tacitly judges theirs.
And Christ’s life indeed makes it manifest, terrifyingly manifest, what dreadful untruth it is to admire the truth instead of following it. When there is no danger, when there is a dead calm, when everything is favorable to our Christianity, it is all too easy to confuse an admirer with a follower. And this can happen very quietly. The admirer can be in the delusion that the position he takes is the true one, when all he is doing is playing it safe (emphasis supplied). Give heed, therefore, to the call of discipleship!"
Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) [zealous Christian who through his writings and life challenged himself and all others to truly follow Christ], PROVOCATIONS SPIRITUAL WRITINGS OF KIERKEGAARD, Part II, TRUTH AND THE PASSION OF INWARDNESS, Chapter 23, Followers not Admirers, pp. 85-86.
“Copyright
2007
by
Plough
Publishing
House.
Used
with
permission.”
[inserted on June 26, 2011]
THE REQUIRED WAY TO UNION WITH GOD
"For no man ever yet came to the fountain of living truth, but by the way of humility and poverty of spirit, arising from a knowledge of his utter unworthiness. He that understands this, will never think contempt, reproaches, poverty, or the cross, either bitter or irksome to him. Yea, rather with the holy apostles, he rejoices that God has thought him worthy to suffer shame for His name (Acts 5:41), so that God in his glory may enter into his soul in his misery. Hence the truest and safest way of coming to a union with God, is that of deep humility and true poverty of spirit."
Johann Arndt, TRUE CHRISTIANITY, BOOK III., Chapter V. # 1.
[inserted on June 20, 2011]
Fr. Dr. Photios, OUR SPIRITUAL LADDER LIES WITHIN US!
[inserted on June 15, 2011]
Dr. Peter Hammond, Director of Frontline Fellowship in South Africa,
Dr. Hammond is as spiritually tough as they come. All his works I have read are punches right in the 'face' of the Evil One! Google his name and you will see what I mean.
His website is Frontline Fellowship
[inserted on June 4, 2011]
FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT CHRIST'S RESURRECTION
"When we believe that Jesus rose from the dead and lives, we win for ourselves eternal life. He arose and is alive for our sake. But whoever imagines that Christ is dead and did not rise from the grave has no life in him. Indeed, by thinking this he confirms and ensures his own eternal death and corruption (emphasis supplied)."
Blessed Theophylact, THE EXPLANATION OF THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN (translated from the original Greek by Fr. Christopher Stade), Volume IV in the series: Blessed Theophylact's Explanation of the New Testament, (House Springs, MO: Chrysostom Press, 2007), p. 303.
About the author:
"The author of this remarkable commentary is an eleventh century Byzantine churchman of great learning and piety, who served in Constantinople as a royal tutor, archdeacon, renowned preacher of the Gospel, and assistant to the patriarch. About the year 1090 A.D. he was sent to the distant city of Ochrid, the capital of the Bulgarian kingdom, to serve as archbishop of the Bulgarian Church. It was there, in the southwestern Balkans, that he wrote these commentaries, restating in clear and profound language that which has always and everywhere been taught by the Church concerning the meaning of the Gospels and Epistles (emphasis supplied)." [Ibid., INTRODUCTION, p. 1.]
[inserted on June 4, 2011] [inserted on May 27, 2011]
EMPTINESS MUST PRECEDE THE FULLNESS OF THE SPIRIT
Photios: The Holy Spirit dwells in each of us and guides us in God's love, the new commandment by Jesus in the New Testament that we are to love each other as Christ loves us:
"Remember, the first condition of filling is emptiness. What is a reservoir but a great hollow space-an emptiness-prepared, waiting, thirsting for the water to come. Any true abiding fullness of the Spirit is preceded by emptying. 'I sought the blessing long and earnestly,' said one, 'and I wondered why it did not come. At last I found it was because there was no room in my heart to receive it.' In such emptying there are various elements involved: a deep dissatisfaction with the 'religion' we have had until now. A deep consciousnesss of how much there has been of wisdom and work of the flesh. A discovery, confession, and giving up of all in life that has been kept under our own management, in which self has had control, of all in which we had not thought it necessary that Jesus be consulted or pleased. A deep conviction of our inability and utter helplessness to grasp or claim what has been offered. And finally a surrender in poverty of spirit to wait on the Lord for His great mercy and power. According to the riches of His glory, He will strengthen us by His Spirit in the inner (emphasis supplied) man. We need a great longing, thirsting, waiting, praying without ceasing, for the Father to fulfill His promise and to take full possession of us.
Together with this, we need the faith that accepts, receives and maintains the gift. It is through faith in Christ and the Father that the divine fullness will flow into us. Of the same Ephesians to whom the command was given 'Be filled with the Spirit,' Paul said, 'In Christ, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.'"
Andrew Murray, THE INDWELLING SPIRIT (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2006) [previously published as THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST], pp. 280-281.
[inserted on May 26, 2011]
NOTICE FROM PHOTIOS:
In my spiritual journey, it has become clear to me that I cannot remain within Orthodoxy as it has developed in the twentieth and twenty first centuries: hierarchical, many times despotic and institutionally narrowminded and meanspirited as well as major parts of it having diverged from the True Orthodoxy of the Scriptures, Tradition, and the Fathers into cesspools of ecumenism, the latter a heresy which would make Arianism seem relatively tame by comparison. The hierarchical 'problem' seems spiritually insurmountable. Hardly any so-called traditional jurisdiction recognises other traditional Orthodox ones. 'Fights' continually break out 'at the top' of hierarchical pyramids between self-climbers on the way, apparently, to secular, not spiritual, glory, jousting for being the 'top dog,' 'leader of the pack' so to speak, emphasising accumulating titles and 'progression' from bishop to archbishop to metropolitan etc (being 'elevated' it is called). Some jurisdictions have high ratios of clergy to parishioners - put mildly. In some areas of the world, buying one's bishopric etc. is widespread. Some national hierarchies cooperate with their secular 'masters' in destroying Orthodox who might wish to actually follow the narrow path to salvation. Catacomb Orthodox who rather recently in Russia emerged from the catacombs are finding, or will so discover, that they probably need to retire again to the catacombs. Dissidents are dealt with sometimes even with murder, beatings, destruction of Church buildings and usage of the pathetic legal system to 'control' the true believers or non-believers.
The clergy, particularly the hierarchy, are a most significant problem. The 'deification' of these false teachers by the many times unaware and unsuspecting parishioners, as relatively few as there may be, is somewhat nauseating as well as the deference stressed at times on the word "father" in addressing clergy. This is a problem more acute in Roman Catholism than in Orthodoxy, but Orthodoxy has it also. If our priests were celibate (a somewhat laughable term in the Roman church in many cases today), we would have a multiple of the current problems.
The Internet is replete with websites and blogs where many many meanspirited discussions go on and on ad nauseum, many times, if not almost exclusively dwelling on jurisdictional disputes. Each seems sure his or her jurisdiction is the only 'canonical' one (canonical seems to be almost a dirty word in the contexts within which it is used to debase and humiliate other people and their views on these sites).
The first thing you are asked by a person in another jurisdiction is "Who is your bishop?", as if the answer determined the legitimacy of your group. No one has ever asked me if I am a true Christian, if I love the Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart and soul. No one has ever asked me if the Holy Spirit dwells (lives) within me. These are, apparently, Protestant subjects to them, but they are not; they are Scriptural and from the Lord's mouth.
All in all, I think it best I move on toward the end of my spiritual journey here on earth as a nonaffiliated (officially) pastor. I consider myself to have become, in reality, an Orthodox Pietist, greatly influenced by the writings of not only the wonderful Traditional Orthodox Fathers but also the very spiritual Johann Arndt, German Mystic and Pietist, whose classic TRUE CHRISTIANITY inspired St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, and the writings of Evangelical Pietist Andrew Murray of South Africa. I have labeled myself an Orthodox Pietist because some developments in Pietism had the weakness of minimising the dogmatic truths of True Christianity. Dogma fought for by the saints should be supported and adhered to per the Nicene Creed and the conciliar witness of the true Fathers of Holy Orthodoxy in the First Seven Ecumenical Councils, but our primary work must be on ourselves, inwardly, in our hearts, where the Holy Spirit dwells and will support us as we struggle to transform ourselves into Christ's image. After all, it is possible to know everything about Scripture, the Councils, the Fathers, the Liturgy and be a bishop and still not even be Christian. The struggle within 'trumps' external matters, but the latter are still extremely important, just not as important as the former. It is within the heart that our true salvation lies.
I will follow and stress Scripture more than some do currently in orthodoxy, or as it appears to me anyway.
I guess I really am a Mystic/Protestant with an Orthodox bent or Orthodox with a Mystic and/or Protestant flair. But in any event I am searching for a more congenial intensely spiritual environment and the orthodoxy as practised by the contemporary patriarchates and in the diaspora is not it.
Currently, I am listed as a retired Orthodox priest with full faculties within a True Orthodox jurisdiction. My bishop is a fine person and a good friend of mine. I do not give his name or the jurisdiction's to minimise possible harassment by e-mail and other modes by some meanspirited folk.
I will continue to add to the content of this website regularly. You might have noticed that part of the entries during the past few months have included spiritual witnesses from the past within Mysticism (including German Lutheran Mystic Johann Arndt and even Roman Catholic Mystics such as Madame Guyon and Michael de Molinos), Pietism (including John Wesley) and conservative Protestantism as well as from the saints of The Philokalia, in particular St. Maximos the Confessor.
I will continue to preach as an ordained pastor, primarily through my website.
You can contact me at fr.photios@tx.rr.com if you wish to make any comments.
[inserted on May 19, 2011]
TRUE BELIEFS IN AND OF THEMSELVES ARE NOT ENOUGH!
"4. But as a general account of this will not be sufficient
for the simple and unlearned, to bring them to this fundamental
knowledge of themselves, I shall therefore descend to a more
particular explication, asking them, at the same time, to attend
to the 'Five Parts' of their Catechism, and to understand how
these are not to remain without them, but must be within them.
First, therefore, thou believest that God delivered his law upon
Mount Sinai, written upon two tables of stone; and that this law
is the will of God, which thou art obliged to obey. You do
well to believe this. But this faith profiteth not, unless God
himself write his law in your heart (Jer. 31:33), and accomplish
his will in you. Now this can never be effected, unless, having
now become a Christian, you dedicate your whole heart to God,
and offer up your will to him, that His will may be fulfilled in
you. The royal prophet David, who well knew the dignity and
necessity of this divine operation, employs especially the whole
119th Psalm in earnest prayers to God, that he would vouchsafe
to guide and govern him according to his law and testimonies,
that so this heavenly work might not by any means be hindered
in him. Further, you believe that Christ is your righteousness,
your life and salvation. 1 Cor. 1:30. You do well to believe this,
'for other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is
Jesus Christ' (1 Cor. 3:11): 'Neither is there salvation in any
other; for there is none other name under heaven given among
men, whereby we must be saved.' Acts 4:12. Yet, remember that
you must have Christ within you; that is, you must lay hold on
him inwardly by faith, and make him, both as to his Person and
office, your own. For if Christ be thine, it follows that all things
which are God's are also yours; and that if he had ten thousand
worlds and kingdoms full of righteousness and blessedness, yet
by faith all are thine. For the righteousness of Christ is greater
than all these. So in like manner, though the guilt of ten thousand
worlds lay upon thee, yet should it not be able to hurt thee. This
then is the treasure which thou must have within thee, as our
Lord tells us, 'The kingdom of God is within you' (Luke 17:21):
that is, 'righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.'
Rom. 14:17.—Thou believest that Christ is the eternal Word of
the Father; that he is the true life and light of man. John 1:4.
Thou believest aright. But then, thou must take care, that this
Word speak in thee, that this light shine in thee, that this life live
in thee. For unless thou hast this inward treasure in thy soul, and
art united to Christ by a living faith, everything else shall avail
thee nothing. Again, thou thinkest thyself obliged by duty and
interest, to pray to God, to give him thanks, and to praise his
name (Psalm 92:1, 2), and in this thou judgest right. But take care
that Christ himself pray within thee, and the Holy Spirit groan
within thee (Rom. 8:26); for as he is 'the Spirit of grace and of
supplications' (Zech. 12:10), so, in order to make thy prayers
effectual, it is necessary that he also pray in thy heart, the temple
of spirit and truth. John 4:23. If this be not done, thy prayers are
all of little avail.—Thou believest that in Baptism thou receivest
remission of sins, the new birth, and adoption as a child of
God. Thou believest aright. But unless thou find in thyself the
fruit of baptism, the new birth, the unction of the Spirit, and
divine illumination, thy baptism shall avail thee nothing.—Thou
believest, according to the words of St. Matthew (Matt. 26:26),
that in the external Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, thou receivest
the true, essential body and the blood of Christ. Thou believest
aright. But if thou dost not also eat it inwardly and spiritually,
thou wilt not only lose all the benefits of that institution, but dost
also eat and drink condemnation to thyself. 1 Cor. 11:29.—Thou
believest that Christ was the true Lamb of God offered for us
upon the cross. John 1:29. Yet consider: What good can this do
thee, unless the same Lamb of God become the daily food and
nourishment of thy inward man? 1 Cor. 5:7. It appears, therefore,
that thy treasure ought to be within thee, and that unless thou
seek it there, thou shalt never find it (emphasis supplied)."
Johann Arndt (1555-1621), TRUE CHRISTIANITY, Book III., #4
[inserted on May 17, 2011]
THE 'LOWEST' PATH LEADS TO THE HIGHEST SPIRITUAL LIFE
"Brothers and sisters, here is the path to the higher life: down, lower down! This was what Jesus always said to the disciples who were thinking of being great in the kingdom, and of, sitting on His right hand and His left. Do not (emphasis supplied) seek or ask for exaltation; that is God's work. See to it that you abase and humble yourselves, and take no place before God or man but that of servant. That is your work. Let that also be your one purpose and prayer. "God is faithful" (I Cor. 1: 9). Just as water always seeks and fills the lowest place, so the moment God finds men abased and empty, His glory and power flow in to exalt and to bless, He who humbles himself (this must be our one care) will be exalted (this is God's care). By His mighty power and in His great love, He will do it.
People sometimes speak as if humility and meekness will rob us of what is noble and bold and manlike. Oh, that everyone would believe that this is the nobility of the kingdom of heaven! If they would only understand that this is the royal spirit that the King of heaven displayed, that this is God-like, to humble oneself, to become the servant of all! This is the path to the joy and the glory of Christ's presence ever in us, His power ever resting on us.... As the meek and lowly One, He will come in and dwell in the longing heart."
Andrew Murray, (1828-1917), THE PRACTICE OF GOD'S PRESENCE, Book Two: Humility, Chapter 4 (Whitaker House, U.S.A., 2000), pp. 134-135.
[inserted on May 17, 2011]
THE KINGDOM OF GOD THE FATHER IS PRESENT IN US: HOW?
"92. The kingdom of God the Father is present in all believers in potentiality; it is present in actuality in those who, after totally expelling all natural life of soul and body from their inner state, have attained the life of the Spirit alone and are able to say, 'I no longer live, but Christ lives in me' (Gal. 2: 20).
93. Some say that the kingdom of heaven is the way of life which the saints lead in heaven; others that it is a state similar to that of the angels, attained by those who are saved; others that it is the very form of the divine beauty of those who 'wear the image of Him who is from heaven' (I Cor. 15: 49). In my judgment each of these views is correct. For the grace of the kingdom is given to all according to the quality and quantity of the righteousness that is in them (emphasis supplied)."
St. Maximos the Confessor, THE PHILOKALIA, Volume Two, Faber and Faber Limited, London (Paperback Edition, 1990), #92 and 93, p. 161.
[inserted on May 14, 2011]
IT IS WHAT IS INSIDE THAT TAKES SPIRITUAL PRECEDENCE IN OUR QUEST FOR SALVATION
"In the things of God, a tender conscience and surrendered will are more than the highest intellect."
Andrew Murray (1828-1917), THE HOLIEST OF ALL (Updated Edition, Whitaker House, U.S.A., 2004), pp. 213-214.
[inserted on May 13, 2011]
BEING HUMBLE, HOLY AND LOVING GOD UNCONDITIONALLY 'TRUMPS' MERE READING AND/OR STUDYING ABOUT HIM; HE DWELLS WITHIN US THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT; THE TEMPLE WITHIN BECKONS US TO LOVE CHRIST AND DENY THE WORLD IN OUR SEEKING OF SALVATION THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHOSE KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD!
"It is a notion too prevalent at this day,
that men are very good Christians, if by reading or discourse they
have attained to some kind of intellectual knowledge of Jesus
Christ. This is that which generally passes under the name of
Divinity, which the generality take to be nothing but a science,
or a set of doctrines or opinions to be learned only in theory,
not regarding the other most noble powers of the soul, namely,
the will and the affections. But all these must be consecrated to
God in Christ; and when thou hast done this, thou mayest assure
thyself that thou art entirely dedicated to him. For there is a wide
difference betwixt the understanding by which we know, and the
will or affections by which we love the Lord Jesus. Our love may
be perfect, though our knowledge be not so. To know Christ with
our understanding, and yet not to love him, is nothing worth; on
the other hand, it is infinitely better to love him, than merely to
be able to dispute and discourse about him. Eph. 3:19. Let us
learn, therefore, so to seek Christ with our understanding, that
we may also love him with the entire strength of our will. By this
we may be assured that we know him truly, if our knowledge
be productive of love. Otherwise, we may be said, indeed, to
find him and know him, but it will be to our condemnation.
So our blessed Lord tells us, 'Not every one that saith unto
me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.' Matt.
7:21. Moreover, there are two ways of obtaining wisdom and
knowledge. The one consists in reading and discussion; the
other in prayer and charity. The one makes us learned, the other
holy. And between these there is a great difference. If men be
learned, and not lovers of God, they breathe nothing but pride
and arrogance; but if holy, they are humble, and think meanly of
themselves. If thou take the first method, thou wilt never find
thy internal treasure; if thou take the latter, thou canst not be
disappointed. Such is the argument of the Third Book.
4. And now, how glorious, how noble, and happy a thing is it,
that our chief and most valuable treasure, that is, the kingdom of
God, is not to be sought without, but to be found within us, that
we continually carry it about with us, hidden from the world, and
that neither the world nor the devil can rob us of it; and that this
is not to be obtained by profound learning, skill in languages,
or variety of books, but by a devout and humble spirit. Here
then let us exercise our greatest care and diligence, and turn our
thoughts inward to that hidden, celestial, and eternal good, that
divine, that incomparable treasure. Why do we spend our time
and pains in the pursuit of external comforts, whilst so great a
treasure as the kingdom of God, with all its blessings, lies within
us? For in our heart and soul is the true school of the Holy Spirit,
the true habitation of the Holy Trinity, the very temple of God
(1 Cor. 6:19), the true house of prayer, wherein he desires to be
worshipped 'in spirit and in truth.' John 4:23, 24. For though
God by his universal presence is in all things, though not included
in them (Isa. 66:1), but after an incomprehensible manner filling
heaven and earth; yet in a particular and proper sense, he dwells
in the soul of the enlightened Christian, taking up his seat and
habitation there, as it were in his own image and similitude. Here
he operates in a way suitable to himself, answering and aiding
every groan and sigh of the devout soul. For how is it possible
that He should deny anything to him with whom, and in whom
he lives? In a word, there is nothing more pleasant and agreeable
to divine love, than to communicate itself to all that unfeignedly
seek it.
5. In order to this, however, the soul must be at rest, which
it never can be till disengaged from the world. This even some
heathens were sensible of, and accordingly one of them tells us,
'that the soul is incapable of wisdom till it is composed and
at rest.' There is a fine passage in St. Cyprian to this purpose.
'This,' says he, 'is the true rest and security of the soul, when the
man, being delivered from the storms and tempests of the world,
raises his heart and eyes unto God, and endeavors to be like him.
By this he comes to understand, that all which the world calls
beautiful and valuable, is truly hidden in his own soul, so that
he neither expects nor desires anything from without. O celestial
treasure, to be delivered from the chains and fetters of this world!
O chief and boundless good, not to be obtained by any labor of
ours, nor by our interest with the great men of this world; in
short, not to be gained by our industry and study; but solely and
entirely, by the grace and favor of God. For as the light of the
sun proceeds from itself, the day breaks from itself, the fountain
flows from itself, the rain falls from itself, and waters the earth;
so the Holy Spirit descends freely into that soul, which has raised
itself from the world unto God.'
6. These words of St. Cyprian express a great truth, and are
a sort of epitome of this Book. In a word, this turning inwards
of the soul, very often gives us a view of the inward treasure
of our souls, though but for a moment. And one such moment
is better than heaven and earth, and all the creatures. Hence
St. Bernard truly observed, 'that he who has once learned to
descend into himself, to seek the face of God, and taste the
sweetness of his presence in the inmost recesses of the heart,
will think it more tolerable to suffer even the pains of hell for
a season, than, after having tasted the sweetness of this divine
exercise, to return again to the pleasures, or rather, to the lusts
and wearisome gratifications of the world and the flesh, arising
from the insatiable cravings of the inferior appetites.' In short,
such a soul not only feels the highest happiness, by finding in
itself the presence of God; but also the deepest misery, in being
deprived of it. By this the true Christian is fully instructed, that
by dying to the world, he lives in God, as the fountain of life; and,
on the other hand, that the more he lives to the world, the more he
dies unto God: that the soul which is dead to the world, truly lives
unto God, and is his joy, or, as the Song of Solomon expresses
it, is better than the taste of wine, or the smell of all spices (Cant.
4:10); while on the other hand, the hearts of worldly men are but
sour grapes, as the grapes of Sodom, which are as gall, and their
clusters are bitter. Deut. 32:32. The soul that is dead to the world,
may be discovered by these tokens. It resigns its own will to
the will of God in all things; it suppresses self-love; it mortifies
the desires of the flesh; it avoids worldly pleasures; it esteems
itself as the meanest of all, and is not apt to judge or censure a
neighbor. Such a one refers all his injuries and wrongs to the God
of righteousness, to whom vengeance belongeth; he is not puffed
up with the applause of men, nor grieved by their revilings; in a
word, he bears everything with patience and without repining. A
noble instance of this resigned temper we have in king David (2
Sam. 23:15-17), when he poured out before the Lord the water
of the well of Bethlehem, after which he had so earnestly longed,
and which three mighty men of his host had brought for him at
the hazard of their lives. This was an action of great self-denial;
for he would not gratify his desires by tasting that for which three
men had ventured their lives.
7. Herein consists the true perfection of the Christian life.
For perfection is not, as some suppose, a sublime, spiritual kind
of relish for heavenly enjoyments; but it is the denying our own
will, the contempt of the pleasures and profits of this life, the
acknowledging our own vileness, constant resignation to the will
of God, and unwearied love and unfeigned compassion for our
neighbor. In a word, it is that degree of love, which, allowing
for human infirmities, thinks of nothing, seeks nothing, desires
nothing but God. This is that true Christian virtue, true liberty,
and true peace, which consists in overcoming the flesh and
fleshly desires, as will appear in this Third Book, and as thou
wilt learn from thine own experience, if thou wilt apply the
truth. For which great end, I pray that divine grace may descend
both upon the reader and writer, that it may please God to begin,
strengthen, and perfect his good work in us, to the praise and
glory of himself. Amen."
Johann Arndt (1555-1621), TRUE CHRISTIANITY, Book III., Preface, See #s 3-7.
[inserted on May 4, 2011]
AVOID CONDEMNING OTHERS!
"Those who correct others should watch for the Holy Spirit to go ahead of them and touch a person's heart. Learn to imitate Him who reproves gently. People do not need to see God condemning them, they must realise within themselves that they have done something wrong. Do not be heavy-handed lest people see God as a judgmental ogre. When you become outraged over a person's fault, it is generally not 'righteous indignation' but your own impatient personality expressing itself. Here is the imperfect pointing a finger at the imperfect. The more you selfishly love yourself, the more critical you will be. Self-love cannot forgive the self-love it discovers in others. Nothing is so offensive to a haughty, conceited heart as the sight of another one."
'Renegade' Abp. Fenelon (1651-1715), THE SEEKING HEART, Volume 4, Library of Spiritual Classics, SeedSowers Publishing, Jacksonville, Florida, p. 53.
[inserted on April 29, 2011]
THE CHALICE OF CHRIST
by St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) [inserted on April 22, 2011]
FEW WILL BE SAVED, LET'S BE WITHIN THE FEW!
Anglican Bishop J.C. Ryle (1816-1900), FEW SAVED!
[inserted on April 22, 2011]
PREPARE FOR THE COMING INTENSIFICATION OF PERSECUTION OF CHRIST'S TRUE FOLLOWERS!
Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, PREPARING FOR THE UNDERGROUND CHURCH [Invaluable information for us as we enter the last days - we need this advice from one who suffered for 14 years under Communist tyranny. The days of Christian persecution are coming to America. Are you ready to die for Christ? If not, why? Didn't He do so for us? Isn't that what Pascha/Easter is all about?] [inserted on April 16, 2011]
CONCENTRATE ON SPIRITUALLY CHANGING ONESELF!
"There is no coming to the exalted felicity of the kingdom of God, but by the low valley of humility and self-denial."
German Mystic Johann Arndt (1555 –1621), TRUE CHRISTIANITY, Book III., Chapter V. # 2. [Read at The Project Gutenberg EBook of True Christianity by Johann Arndt]
[inserted on April 13, 2011]
RECONCILIATION IS THROUGH CHRIST, NOT MOHAMMED
"While Islam demands that its followers comply with the Islamic law of the Qur'an and ahadiths, the message of Christianity portrays a freedom from the Mosaic Law via the New Covenant with God through faith in Jesus Christ and His saving work of the cross. Mohammed freed no one, but Jesus Christ frees all who will accept His redemptive sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary."
James F. Gauss, ISLAM & CHRISTIANITY A REVEALING CONTRAST(an excellent read) (Bridge-Logos, Alachua, Florida, 2009), p. 203.
[INSERTED ON APRIL 5, 2011]
UPWARD TOWARD INWARD: THE NARROW WAY TO ETERNITY
"C H A P. IV.
1. Many continue long under this Declension. 2. Confirmed by the Author's Experience. 3. His Recovery from it, by a clearer discovery of the narrow way to Life. 4. The Soul ascends by retiring inwards towards it's Center, descends by moving outwards. 5. The Soul's Progress described. 6. Death the only way to Life.
(w) Isaiah i. 19.
(x) Gal. v. 7.
1.MA N Y Souls stick long in this Condition, before they make a new advance towards Perfection, usually much reflecting upon their former work of Conversion, as the chief Basis of their Comforts: And though sometimes they look forwards, and desire (w) growth, yet that desire of growth is so weak that it terminates in itself short of effectual accomplishment; and though they sometimes begin, yet their endeavours are (x) nipt in their first Blossoming, and they themselves cast back into wonted Deadness, and so they come to run in a Circle, without getting ground of their Corruptions.
2. And I confess, I was long detained in this State, without any clear evident progress towards Eternity: And though I grew much in Knowledge and mystical Notions of the Life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ, and of our Conformity to his Example; yet not in the Power of his Cross, and Death, working the same in my Nature.
(y) 1Tim. ii. 11.
(z) Rom. viii. 13.
(a) Mat. vii. 13.
(b) Luke xiv. 33.
(c) 1Peter ii. 21.
(d) 1Cor. xv. 49.
(e) Matt. xviii. 3.
(f) I exclude not the Soul nor the resurrection Body, for they both ( vested with this Image) shall arrive at Immortality, and possess Heaven,
1Thes. iv.17.
3. But afterward I came to a clearer sight of the Narrow Way which leads to Life Eternal, and of the necessity of our exact (y) Conformity to Christ's Sufferings and Death, to bring us unto his Life, and Resurrection: And that every degree of Life must come through a degree of Death; and the New-Man (z) spring up by continual decay of the Old. And though I saw This before, yet not so distinctly and effectually, as now. Here likewise I was more powerfully convinced of the (a) Straitness of the Pilgrim’s Path, which leads through the Visible and Invisible Worlds, into the third Heaven: Every step being to be made through Death and Resignation; and that the Soul could not attain perfect Bliss, but through a Death to (b) all things, which it came to love through the Fall. For as the Soul entered into Selfishness, so it must come out of it, casting away all that cloathing it is covered with, through Lust: And as it descended from Paradise into the Spirit of the World, and the Kingdom of the Devil, so it must re-ascend out of the Spirit of the World, and the Kingdom of the Dragon, through the Root (c) of fallen Nature into the Bosom of Abraham. Here I saw what a real Progress the Soul must make from the External into the Internal from thence into the Eternal: And as it descended so it must ascend; and as it fell by a gradual Change of the Will into Lust and Earthliness, so it must Rise by (d) a gradual renewal of the Soul, from Lust into Divine Love. Here I saw nothing without us could advantage, but as it was apply’d, to make a real change within. For (e) except we turn, and become as Children, we cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. It must be a Transmutation, and Metamorphosis of the Soul from the Image of the Earthly into that of the Heavenly. Nothing can ascend into Heaven, but that which came from Heaven, even the true (f) Image of God; the Earthly being predestinated to destruction: For Earth it is, and unto Earth it must return.
(g) Isaiah lxvi. 1.
4. Now the motion of the Soul through the Gate of Death towards Life Eternal, is the motion of a Spirit, which is to be looked upon as ascending or descending, as it comes nearer or removes further from God the Center, as Bodies ascend or descend in relation to their Center, by their tending toward or fromward the Visible Heavens. Upward therefore to a Soul, is Inward; Outward is Downward. The Center is the Highest, the Circumference the lowest. God is in the Center being the most Inward; Matter in the Circumference, being most Outward; (g) yet God is in the Outward, as his footstool, but in the most Inward, as his Throne; filling both, though in both, not manifest alike. In the Inmost, he shows himself wholly in the Love; in the Outmost, in Love and Wrath, Life and Death, Generation and Corruption: But in the Inward dark World, altogether in Death, Darkness, and Wrath; as in the Inmost, all in Light and Life.
5. Therefore our Progress is from the Outward, through the Inward to the Inmost. The Outward is the place of Good and Evil, and as to its corrupt State, the Kingdom of the Beast. The Inward is two-fold, either the Dark or Light World. The Dark, is the Kingdom of the Dragon, the Center of Evil and Wrath; The Light World is the Paradisiacal Sphere, or that Garden of Eden, which is also situate in its Mesopotamia, or betwixt the two great rivers of Wrath and Love. The first of which is called (h) The Lake of Fire, burning with Brimstone; the last, Rev. 22 A pure River of Water of Life, clear as Chrystal, which proceeds out of the Throne of God, and of the Lamb. The Inmost, is the eternal Sanctuary, or true eternal Tabernacle of God, and that spiritual Land of Peace, where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all the glorified, departed Saints live and inhabit.
(h) Rev. xix. 20. 5.
6. But none can ever reach This, but through the perfect Death; and as we die daily, so we rise nearer it, Death giving us a gradual passage towards this Eternal Kingdom of Life.
And is it so, that Death must waft us ore,
Thomas Bromley (1629-1691), The W A Y to the S A B B A T H of R E S T: O R T H E SOUL'S PROGRESS in the NE W - B I R T H., Chapter IV (some italics left out for a more convenient reading)
[inserted on April 4, 2011]
ST. GREGORY OF NYSSA - THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD, NOT THREE
"§14. He proceeds to discuss the views held by Eunomius, and by the Church, touching the Holy Spirit; and to show that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are not three Gods, but one God. He also discusses different senses of 'Subjection,' and therein shows that the subjection of all things to the Son is the same as the subjection of the Son to the Father.
Thus much with regard to his profanity towards the Son. Now let us see what he says about the Holy Spirit. 'After Him, we believe,' he says, 'on the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth.'
I think it will be plain to all who come across this passage what object he has in view in thus perverting the declaration of the faith delivered to us by the Lord, in his statements concerning the Son and the Father. Though this absurdity has already been exposed, I will nevertheless endeavour, in few words, to make plain the aim of his knavery. As in the former case, he avoided using the name 'Father,' that so he might not include the Son in the eternity of the Father, so he avoided employing the title Son, that he might not by it suggest His natural affinity to the Father; so here, too, he refrains from saying 'Holy Spirit,' that he may not by this name acknowledge the majesty of His glory, and His complete union with the Father and the Son. For since the appellation of 'Spirit,' and that of 'Holy, are by the Scriptures equally applied to the Father and the Son (for 'God is a Spirit451 (S. John iv. 24),' and 'the anointed Lord is the Spirit before our face452 (Cf. Lam. iv. 20 in LXX.),' and 'the Lord our God is Holy453 (Ps. xcix. 9.),' and there is 'one Holy, one Lord Jesus Christ454 (Cf. the response to the words of the Priest at the elevation the Gifts in the Greek Liturgies.)' lest there should, by the use of these terms, be bred in the minds of his readers some orthodox conception of the Holy Spirit, such as would naturally arise in them from His sharing His glorious appellation with the Father and the Son, for this reason, deluding the ears of the foolish, he changes the words of the Faith as set forth by God in the delivery of this mystery, making a way, so to speak, by this sequence, for the entrance of his impiety against the Holy Spirit. For if he had said, 'We believe in the Holy Spirit,' and 'God is a Spirit,' any one instructed in things divine would have interposed the remark, that if we are to believe in the Holy Spirit, while God is called a Spirit, He is assuredly not distinct in nature from that which receives the same titles in a proper sense. For of all those things which are indicated not unreally, nor metaphorically, but properly and absolutely, by the same names, we are necessarily compelled to acknowledge that the nature also, which is signified by this identity of names, is one and the same. For this reason it is that, suppressing the name appointed by the Lord in the formula of the faith, he says, 'We believe in the Comforter.' But I have been taught that this very name is also applied by the inspired Scripture to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost alike. For the Son gives the name of 'Comforter' equally to Himself and to the Holy Spirit455 (S. John xiv. 16); and the Father, where He is said to work comfort, surely claims as His own the name of 'Comforter.' For assuredly he Who does the work of a Comforter does not disdain the name belonging to the work: for David says to the Father, 'Thou, Lord, hast holpen me and comforted me456 (Ps. lxxvi. 17.),' and the great Apostle applies to the Father the same language, when he says, 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who comforteth us in all our tribulation457 (2 Cor. i. 3–4.)'; and John, in one of his Catholic Epistles, expressly gives to the Son the name of Comforter458 (1 S. John ii. 1.) (The word is in the A.V. rendered 'advocate.'). Nay, more, the Lord Himself, in saying that another Comforter would be sent us, when speaking of the Spirit, clearly asserted this title of Himself in the first place. But as there are two senses of the word pa?a?a?e??459 (From which is derived the name Paraclete, i.e. Comforter or Advocate.),—one to beseech, by words and gestures of respect, to induce him to whom we apply for anything, to feel with us in respect of those things for which we apply,—the other to comfort, to take remedial thought for affections of body and soul,—the Holy Scripture affirms the conception of the Paraclete, in either sense alike, to belong to the Divine nature. For at one time Paul sets before us by the word pa?a?a?e?? the healing power of God, as when he says, 'God, Who comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus460 (2 Cor. vii. 6.'); and at another time he uses this word in its other meaning, when he says, writing to the Corinthians, 'Now we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God461 (2 Cor. v. 20.).' Now since these things are so, in whatever way you understand the title 'Paraclete,' when used of the Spirit, you will not in either of its significations detach Him from His community in it with the Father and the Son. Accordingly, he has not been able, even though he wished it, to belittle the glory of the Spirit by ascribing to Him the very attribute which Holy Scripture refers also to the Father and to the Son. But in styling Him 'the Spirit of Truth,' Eunomius’ own wish, I suppose, was to suggest by this phrase subjection, since Christ is the Truth, and he called Him the Spirit of Truth, as if one should say that He is a possession and chattel of the Truth, without being aware that God is called a God of righteousness462 The text reads, 'that God is called righteousness,' but the argument seems to require the genitive case. The reference may be to Ps. iv. 1.); and we certainly do not understand thereby that God is a possession of righteousness. Wherefore also, when we hear of the 'Spirit of Truth,' we acquire by that phrase such a conception as befits the Deity, being guided to the loftier interpretation by the words which follow it. For when the Lord said 'The Spirit of Truth,' He immediately added 'Which proceedeth from the Father463 (S. John xv. 26),' a fact which the voice of the Lord never asserted of any conceivable thing in creation, not of aught visible or invisible, not of thrones, principalities, powers, or dominions, nor of any other name that is named either in this world or in that which is to come. It is plain then that that, from share in which all creation is excluded, is something special and peculiar to uncreated being. But this man bids us believe in 'the Guide of godliness.' Let a man then believe in Paul, and Barnabas, and Titus, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, and all those by whom we have been led into the way of the faith. For if we are to believe in 'that which guides us to godliness,' along with the Father and the Son, all the prophets and lawgivers and patriarchs, heralds, evangelists, apostles, pastors, and teachers, have equal honour with the Holy Spirit, as they have been 'guides to godliness' to those who came after them. 'Who came into being,' he goes on, 'by the only God through the Only-begotten.' In these words he gathers up in one head all his blasphemy. Once more he calls the Father 'only God,' who employs the Only-begotten as an instrument for the production of the Spirit. What shadow of such a notion did he find in Scripture, that he ventures upon this assertion? by deduction from what premises did he bring his profanity to such a conclusion as this? Which of the Evangelists says it? what apostle? what prophet? Nay, on the contrary every scripture divinely inspired, written by the afflatus of the Spirit, attests the Divinity of the Spirit. For example (for it is better to prove my position from the actual testimonies), those who receive power to become children of God bear witness to the Divinity of the Spirit. Who knows not that utterance of the Lord which tells us that they who are born of the Spirit are the children of God? For thus He expressly ascribes the birth of the children of God to the Spirit, saying, that as that which is born of the flesh is flesh, so that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. But as many as are born of the Spirit are called the children of God464 (With this passage cf. S. John i. 12, iii. 6; Rom. viii. 14; 1 S. John iii. 3.). So also when the Lord by breathing upon His disciples had imparted to them the Holy Spirit, John says, 'Of His fulness have all we received465 (S. John xx. 21, and i. 16.).' And that 'in Him dwelleth the fulness of the Godhead466 (Col. ii. 9.),' the mighty Paul attests: yea, moreover, through the prophet Isaiah it is attested, as to the manifestation of the Divine appearance vouchsafed to him, when he saw Him that sat 'on the throne high and lifted up467 (Is. vi. 1.);' the older tradition, it is true, says that it was the Father Who appeared to him, but the evangelist John refers the prophecy to our Lord, saying, touching those of the Jews who did not believe the words uttered by the prophet concerning the Lord, 'These things said Esaias, when he saw His glory and spoke of Him468 (S. John xii. 41. The 'older tradition' means presumably the ancient interpretation of the Jews.). But the mighty Paul attributes the same passage to the Holy Spirit in his speech made to the Jews at Rome, when he says, 'Well spoke the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet concerning you, saying, Hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand469 (Cf. Acts xxviii. 25, 26. The quotation is not verbal.), showing, in my opinion, by Holy Scripture itself, that every specially divine vision, every theophany, every word uttered in the Person of God, is to be understood to refer to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Hence when David says, 'they provoked God in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert470 (Cf. Ps. lxxviii. 40.),' the apostle refers to the Holy Spirit the despite done by the Israelites to God, in these terms: 'Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness; when your fathers tempted me471 (Heb. iii. 7.),' and goes on to refer all that the prophecy refers to God, to the Person of the Holy Ghost. Those who keep repeating against us the phrase 'three Gods,' because we hold these views, have perhaps not yet learnt how to count. For if the Father and the Son are not divided into duality, (for they are, according to the Lord’s words, One, and not Two472 (S. John x. 30) and if the Holy Ghost is also one, how can one added to one be divided into the number of three Gods? Is it not rather plain that no one can charge us with believing in the number of three Gods, without himself first maintaining in his own doctrine a pair of Gods? For it is by being added to two that the one completes the triad of Gods. But what room is there for the charge of tritheism against those by whom one God is worshipped, the God expressed by the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost?
Let us however resume Eunomius’ statement in its entirety. 'Having come into being from the only God through the Only-begotten, this Spirit also—' What proof is there of the statement that 'this Spirit also' is one of the things that were made by the Only-begotten? They will say of course that 'all things were made by Him473 (Cf. S. John i. 3),' and that in the term 'all things' 'this Spirit also' is included. Our answer to them shall be this, All things were made by Him, that were made. Now the things that were made, as Paul tells us, were things visible and invisible, thrones, authorities, dominions, principalities, powers, and among those included under the head of thrones and powers are reckoned by Paul the Cherubim and Seraphim474 (Cf. Col. i. 16; but the enumeration varies considerably.): so far does the term 'all things' extend. But of the Holy Spirit, as being above the nature of things that have come into being, Paul said not a word in his enumeration of existing things, not indicating to us by his words either His subordination or His coming into being; but just as the prophet calls the Holy Spirit 'good,' and 'right,' and 'guiding'475 (The last of these epithets is from Ps. li. 14 (p?e?µa ??eµ??????, the 'Spiritus principalis' of the Vulgate, the 'free spirit' of the English version); the 'right spirit' of ver. 12 being also applied by S. Gregory to the Holy Spirit, while the epithet 'good' is from Ps. cxlii. 10.)' (indicating by the word 'guiding' the power of control), even so the apostle ascribes independent authority to the dignity of the Spirit, when he affirms that He works all in all as He wills476 ( Cf. 1 Cor. xii. 11.). Again, the Lord makes manifest the Spirit’s independent power and operation in His discourse with Nicodemus, when He says, 'The Spirit breatheth where He willeth477 (S. John iii. 8.)' How is it then that Eunomius goes so far as to define that He also is one of the things that came into being by the Son, condemned to eternal subjection. For he describes Him as 'once for all made subject,”enthralling the guiding and governing Spirit in I know not what form of subjection. For this expression of 'subjection' has many significations in Holy Scripture, and is understood and used with many varieties of meaning. For the Psalmist says that even irrational nature is put in subjection4784 (Ps. viii. 7, 8.), and brings under the same term those who are overcome in war479 (Ps. xlvii. 3.), while the apostle bids servants to be in subjection to their own masters480 (Tit. ii. 9.), and that those who are placed over the priesthood should have their children in subjection481 (1 Tim. iii. 4.), as their disorderly conduct brings discredit upon their fathers, as in the case of the sons of Eli the priest. Again, he speaks of the subjection of all men to God, when we all, being united to one another by the faith, become one body of the Lord Who is in all, as the subjection of the Son to the Father, when the adoration paid to the Son by all things with one accord, by things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth, redounds to the glory of the Father; as Paul says elsewhere, “To Him every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father482 ( Cf. Phil. ii. 10, 11, a passage which is apparently considered as explanatory of 1 Cor. xv. 28.).' For when this takes place, the mighty wisdom of Paul affirms that the Son, Who is in all, is subject to the Father by virtue of the subjection of those in whom He is. What kind of 'subjection once for all' Eunomius asserts of the Holy Spirit, it is thus impossible to learn from the phrase which he has thrown out,—whether he means the subjection of irrational creatures, or of captives, or of servants, or of children who are kept in order, or of those who are saved by subjection. For the subjection of men to God is salvation for those who are so made subject, according to the voice of the prophet, who says that his soul is subject to God, since of Him cometh salvation by subjection483 (Cf. Ps. lxii. 1 (LXX.)., so that subjection is the means of averting perdition. As therefore the help of the healing art is sought eagerly by the sick, so is subjection by those who are in need of salvation. But of what life does the Holy Spirit, that quickeneth all things, stand in need, that by subjection He should obtain salvation for Himself? Since then it is not on the strength of any Divine utterance that he asserts such an attribute of the Spirit, nor yet is it as a consequence of probable arguments that he has launched this blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, it must be plain at all events to sensible men that he vents his impiety against Him without any warrant whatsoever, unsupported as it is by any authority from Scripture or by any logical consequence."
St. Gregory of Nyssa, AGAINST EUNOMIUS, Book II, #14
[INSERTED ON APRIL 2, 2011]
Spanish Mystic Michael Molinos, THE SPIRITUAL GUIDE (e copy - 1688 English translation)
[inserted on April 2, 2011]
LIBERTY IN CHRIST
"'If the Son make ye free, ye shall be free indeed.' When the man of sin is destroyed, and
the new man established in the soul, it finds itself in perfect liberty. As a bird let loose
from its cage, the soul goes forth, unfettered, to dwell in the immensity of God. The
natural selfish life restricts the soul at every point; and even God, the great I am, is
unseen, or deprived of his glory.
When Paul asked, 'Who shall deliver me from this body of death?' he added, 'I thank
God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.' That is, when by the grace of God, the new man is
established in my soul, I shall be delivered. And, subsequently, when deliverance came,
he cried out in transport, 'I live, and yet not I. Christ liveth in me!' He was now no more
occupied of himself, but let Jesus Christ live and act in him; he was animated by him, as
the body is of the soul. If another soul animated our body, the body would obey this new
soul; it would become the moving-spring of its operations. Thus Jesus Christ becomes the
life of the new man. And what can be more free, more enlarged, than the soul of Jesus?
His nature is divine, eternal, boundless. Alas! to what a narrow point does self reduce us!
Who that looks at the freedom and expansion of the soul, as it puts on the new man,
Christ Jesus, will not crush the reptile self to the dust, that the life of God may again, as
in its first creation, animate the soul?
This liberty is as the eagles' wings, of which the prophet speaks, which carries the soul on
high. The dove that lighted on Jesus, was an emblem, not only of innocence, but of
freedom,—of liberty of spirit to soar and dwell in God. May it please God to give you an
experience of this liberty. Quit self, and you will find the freedom and enlargement of the
All in All."
Madame Guyon (1648-1717) in her LETTERS
OF
MADAM GUYON
[inserted on April 2, 2011]
WHAT DOES GOD LOVE THE MOST?
"God loves not the believer who does the most, nor who feels the most, nor who thinks the most cleverly and best, nor even that one who shows the greatest love, but He loves him who suffers (emphasis supplied) the most."
Spanish Mystic Michael Molinos, THE SPIRITUAL GUIDE (first published in 1675) (Sargent, GA, U.S.A.: The Seedsowers Christian Books Publishing House, 1982), p. 41.
An outstanding recommendation for this book was issued in the Papal Decree of 1687. The following is written on the front cover of the book:
"Anyone found in possession of this book will be excommunicated.
Such a decree by what many might consider AntiChrist Headquarters ("ACH") against a work so sparklingly spiritual as this one should compel us to read and reread this practical masterpiece. It does focus on our inner spiritual state as does the entire Orthodox Christian Faith, the Faith of Christ and His Followers. Hear what the great Greek Lay Theologian Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros states for the fathers of the True Church:
"What is the profoundest characteristic of Orthodox life, the quintessential characteristic of Orthodox piety, the sign of authentic Orthodoxy as well as a premise of the true faith? It is turning inward."
[inserted on April 1, 2011]
French Mystic Madame Guyon's interpretation of the Book of Revelation, CHRIST OUR REVELATION (1683) (107 pages)
Spiritual Dynamite!
[inserted on April 1, 2011]
A SPIRITUAL LESSON FROM A NON-CHRISTIAN ON HOW TO TREAT YOUR 'ENEMIES'!
"When the Master came to 'Akka there lived a certain man from Afghanistan, an austere and rigid Mussulman (ed: Muslim). To him the master was a heretic. He felt and nourished a great enmity towards the Master and roused up others against him. When opportunity offered in gatherings of the people, as in the Mosque, he denounced him with bitter words.
'This man,' he said to all, 'is an imposter. Why do you speak to him? Why do you have dealings with him?' And when he passed the Master on the street he was careful to hold his robe before his face that his sight might not be defiled.
Thus did this Afghan. The Master, however, did thus: The Afghan was poor and lived in a mosque, he was frequently in need of food and clothing. The Master sent him both. This he accepted, but without thanks. He fell sick. The Master took him a physician, food, medicine, money. These, also, he accepted, but as he held out one hand that the physician might take his pulse, with the other he held his cloak before his face that he might not look upon the Master. For twenty-four years the Master continued his kindnesses and the Afghan persisted in his enmity. Then at last one day the Afghan came to the Master's door, and fell down, penitent and weeping, at his feet.
'Forgive me, sir!' he cried. 'For twenty-four years I have done evil to you. Now I know that I have been in the wrong.'
The Master bade him rise and they became friends."
THE SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA (1844-1921), WISDOM OF THE MASTER (INTRODUCTION BY EDITOR STEVEN SCHOLL), (Ashland, Ordegon: White Cloud Press in association with Kalimat Press, Los Angeles, 1997, Paperback), pp. 9-10.
Comment by Photios, St. James The Just True Orthodox Spiritual Center:
The Master was the son of the founder of the Bahai religion. From the age of eight years, he spent long years in captivity with his father before being released at the age of 64. His course of life on earth closely resembles the humility of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; yet he was not a Christian.
Are we anywhere near the spiritual witness of this man? If not, why not? Because how he treated the Afghan Muslim is expected, indeed demanded, of all True Christians. The humility and love he showed all people through his life (he spent many of his last years in the United States) never wavered. He returned spite and persecution with the most powerful weapons in our spiritual armour, love/ humility. He was truly Christlike. As we are required to be. His life should be a witness to us all, and we should be ashamed if we do not even try to emulate it since his actions were no doubt Christlike.
We have no excuses.
May the Lord bless us with His grace to get our houses in order!
[inserted on March 30, 2011]
HUMILITY, SELF AND SALVATION
Humility is the foundation of our salvation, without it we cannot enter Christ's kingdom.
"Humility is the key-not a false humility that is often displayed by cultural Christians who actually relish the praise and recognition of others for the smallest acts of charity, but an authentic humility that is so deeply rooted that it is almost oblivious to what others think about what we do. This humility seeks not to be noticed. It pursues a quiet oblivion. Love and humility are the marks of one who has learned not to seek the favor of men but rather the favor of God as their motivating principle. It is a principle that is so independent of what people think that it forms a perfect contrast to European selfishness, Stoical pride, and to Cynical brutality. It is a reflection of the very character of Christ Himself (emphasis supplied)."
[William Wilberforce (b. 1759), REAL CHRISTIANITY (published in 1797,:revised and updated by Dr. Bob Beltz, Regal Books, Gospel Light, Ventura, California, 2006), p. 95.]
Our task is to deny self by our humility and faith in the Lord. Salvation is not a point in time; rather, a process of spiritual growth in which we continually strive to bring ourselves to perfection in His image. The Holy Spirit indwells in us and provides spiritual leadership for us all. But we have to do more than simply believe. The fruit of our faith must flower and provide evidence of good works emanating from our true faith. No external institution is enough. The key lies within ourselves, in the heart, which must soften with the light of Christ and inwardly transform us into "little Christs"!
We must abandon ourselves on this epic spiritual journey into the Lord, surrender ourselves to the Spirit of Christ, and do things in His Spirit, not in ours:
"This shows how necessary it is to renounce ourselves and all our [self-] activity, to follow Christ, for we cannot follow Him if the source of our activity is not His Spirit. Now that His Spirit may gain entrance, it is necessary that our own [spirit] should be surrendered to it. 'He that is joined unto the Lord,' says the apostle Paul, 'is one spirit.' And David said it was good for him to draw near unto the Lord, and to put his trust in him. What is this drawing near? It is the beginning of [divine] union [between you and Christ] (emphasis supplied)."
[Madame Guyon (b. 1648) EXPERIENCING UNION WITH GOD THROUGH INNER PRAYER & THE WAY AND RESULTS OF UNION WITH GOD (Revised in modern English by Harold J. Chadwick, Bridge-Logos, Orlando, Florida, 2001), p. 121.]
We must love Him as He loves us, unconditionally. Our inner transformation is vital to our growth in Faith; yet it does not negate the Divine importance of Holy Scripture and Dogma. E.g., if we deny the divinity of Christ, we are not Christians no matter how "good" we otherwise are. Our faith must be in the Lord within the context of the Holy Trinity. A denial of the Incarnation is blasphemous. The virtue of humility is the "precious stone" that is the foundation for entry into the Lord's kingdom:
"I shall tell you something strange, but do not be surprised by it. Should you fail to attain dispassion because of the predispositions dominating you, but at the time of your death be in the depths of humility, you will be exalted above the clouds no less than the man who is dispassionate. For even if the treasure of those who are dispassionate consists of every virtue, the precious stone of humility is more valuable than them all: it brings about not only propitiation with the Creator, but also entry with the elect into the bridal chamber of His kingdom (emphasis supplied)."
[ St. Theognostos, ON THE PRACTICE OF THE VIRTUES in THE PHILOKALIA, Volume Two (Faber and Faber Limited, London, first published in 1981, paperback edition 1990), p. 373.]
Photios+
St. James the Just True Orthodox Spiritual Center
[inserted on March 18, 2011]
SERVING GOD...
"Truly there is no other way of serving God, except by that which he himself works in our hearts: so that to serve God, is nothing else but to serve our neighbor, and to do him all the offices of Christian love and humanity which we are
able to perform."
Johann Arndt, TRUE CHRISTIANITY, Book I., Chapter XXVI., #3 (Project Gutenberg, e-book) [inserted on March 13, 2011]
WE NEED WORKS OR RIGHTEOUSNESS, NOT MERE WORDS!
"God may be called and actually is the Father by grace only of those whose will and disposition have been reborn in the Spirit through the practice of the virtues. By means of this birth they bear in their soul and manifest in the virtues the imprint of God their Father. Through their way of life they make those who see them glorify God by reforming themselves, and so they provide an excellent pattern of virtue for others to imitate. For God is glorified not by mere words but by works of righteousness, which proclaim the majesty of God far more effectively than words (emphasis supplied)."
St. Maximos the Confessor, THE PHILOKALIA, Volume Two (London, Faber and Faber Limited, paperback edition 1990), pp. 256-257. [St. Maximos the Confessor (580-622) is one of the Orthodox Church's greatest saints, who despite having his tongue "plucked out" and right hand cut off never deviated from the Faith, see an Introductory Note on him, ibid., pp.48-51.]
[inserted on March 3, 2011]
"CHRIST REIGNS IN PURE HEARTS"
"Christ constructs for Himself in every soul a throne, which He adorns with great magnificence, to become the place of His abode as well as of His repose and eternal delights. He does this after having bought us with His blood and sanctified us by His grace, that he may reign in us as a sovereign. For, as God reigns in Jesus Christ, in the same way Christ reigns in pure hearts, where He finds nothing that either resists or is offensive to Him (emphasis supplied). In this way, He is appointing us a kingdom and making us partakers of His royal state, as His Father had appointed Him a kingdom (see Luke 22:29) and shared His glory with Him."
Madame Guyon (1648-1717), SONG OF THE BRIDE (previously published as SONG OF SONGS), Chapter 3, Surrendering the Will (New Kensington, PA, Whitaker House, 1997), p. 81.
[inserted on March 3, 2011]
"AND FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT"
"There are but a few who are truly meek and gentle, who never overcome evil with evil, but overcome evil with good. It is they who are athirst for God and continually panting after a renewal in His likeness. How thinly are they scattered around the Earth whose souls are enlarged with love to all mankind. How scarce are those who love God with all their strength, and have given Him their hearts, and desire nothing else in heaven or on Earth. How few are those lovers of God and man, who spend their whole strength in doing good to all men. How few are the ones who are ready to suffer all things, even death itself, to save one's soul from eternal death ." (all emphases supplied)
John Wesley, THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT Classic, (Bridge-Logos, FL, 2010), p. 264. Madame Guyon (A.D. 1648-1717) was a French mystic, whose spiritual writings rocked the hierarchy's primarily externally-based world of works. "Neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you (St. Luke 17:21)" [inserted on February 12, 2011]
ST. JAMES THE JUST ON OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THIS WORLD
"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."
(St. James 4:4)
[inserted on February 5, 2011]
BEWARE OF FALSE TEACHERS
"Rarely are their assaults on the truth open and head-on attacks. Instead, they prefer to work underground, drilling little holes in the foundations of truth itself. They do this by suggesting subtle redefinitions, by making crafty modifications, or by suggesting that contemporary Christianity needs to reimagine, update, or simply jettison some supposedly obsolete doctrine. They usually try to sound as innocuous as possible while planting as many doubts as they can. Those doubts are like sticks of dynamite in the foundation holes they have drilled. They are actually working toward the wholesale demolition of the entire structure.... False teachers and doctrinal saboteurs inside the church have always confused more people and done more damage than open adversaries on the outside.... From the very start of the church age, all the most spiritually deadly onslaughts against the Gospel have come from people who pretended to be Christians-not from atheists and agnostics on the outside."
John MacArthur, THE TRUTH WAR (Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN), 2007, pp. 80, 81, 82-83.
[inserted on February 4, 2011]
SIZE
The larger the parish the greater chance of heresy; for why is it so "popular," if not to parrot the world? [inserted on February 4, 2011]
Photios+
SOMETHING FOR THE FALSE TEACHERS TO THINK ABOUT
'CULTURE' MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH EVIL
Those most 'cultured' sometimes become very susceptible to evil, e.g., the Nazis/SS who could quote and appreciate Wagner, other opera composers, and fine art, whilst at the same time 'enjoying' their lampshades made from Jewish skins.
Photios+ [inserted on February 1, 2011]
BE GUILELESS AS A CHILD AND RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD!
Perhaps it is really true that those closest to God are the simple folk or simply children: "Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them." (St. Mark 10:14-16)
Photios+
[inserted on February 1, 2011]
SPIRITUALLY GUARD THE WAY YOU LIVE
"The question will not be how we talked and what we professed, but how we lived and what we did. Let no man deceive himself on this point. If anything is certain about the future, it is certain that there will be a judgment; and if anything is certain about judgment, it is certain that men's 'works' and 'doings' will be considered and examined in it (John 5:29; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:13). He that supposes works are of no importance, because they cannot justify us, is a very ignorant Christian. Unless he opens his eyes, he will find to his cost that if he comes to the bar of God without some evidence (emphasis supplied) of grace, he had better never have been born."
Bishop J.C. Ryle (1816-1900), in his classic and vey well received HOLINESS (Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, MA), 2007, p. 29. [inserted on February 1, 2011]
"THE PEARL OF ETERNITY" (is within you), an excerpt from THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER, by William Law [1686-1761] [inserted on January 27, 2011]
The goodness of God breaking forth into a desire to communicate good, was the cause and the beginning of the Creation. Hence it follows, that to all eternity, God can have no thought, or intent toward the creature, but to communicate good; because He made the creature for this sole end, to receive good.
The first motive toward the creature is unchangeable; it takes its rise from God’s desire to communicate good; and it is an eternal impossibility that anything can ever come from God as His Will and purpose towards the creature, but that same love and goodness, which first created it: He must always will that to it, which He willed at the creation of it.
This is the amiable nature of God. He is good, the unchangeable, overflowing fountain of good, that sends forth nothing but good to all eternity. He is the love itself, the unmixed, immeasurable love, doing nothing but from love, to every thing that He has made; requiring nothing of all His creatures but the Spirit and fruits of that love, which brought them into being.
Oh, how sweet is this contemplation of the riches of divine love! With what attraction must it draw every thoughtful man, to return love for love to this overflowing fountain of boundless goodness? What charms has that religion which discovers to us our existence in, relation to, and dependence upon this ocean of divine love! View every part of our redemption, from Adam’s first sin to the resurrection of the dead, and you will find nothing but successive mysteries of that first love, which created angels and men. All the mysteries of the Gospel are only so many marks and proofs of God’s desiring to make His love triumph, in the removal of sin and disorder from all nature and creature.
Wherever you go, whatever you do, at home, or abroad, in the field, or at church, do all in a desire of union with Christ... and look upon all as nothing but that which exercises and increases the spirit and life of Christ in your soul. From morning to night keep Jesus in your heart, long for nothing, desire nothing, hope for nothing, but to have all that is within you changed into the Spirit and temper of the Holy Jesus. Let this be your Christianity, your church and your religion.
For this New Birth in Christ thus firmly believed, and continually desired, will do everything that you want to have done in you. It will dry up all the springs of vice, stop all the workings of evil in you, it will bring all that is good into you, it will open all the Gospel within you, and you will know what it is to be taught of God. This longing desire of your heart to be one with Christ will soon put a stop to all the vanity of your life, and nothing will be admitted to enter into your heart or proceed from it but what comes from God and returns to God: you will soon be, as it were, tied and bound in the chains of all holy affections and desires, your mouth will have a watch set upon it, your ears would willingly hear nothing that does not tend to God, nor your eyes be open but to see and find occasions of doing good.
In a word, when this faith has got both your head and your heart, it will then be with you as with the merchant who found a Pearl of great price; it will make you gladly to sell all that you have, and buy it. For all that had seized and possessed the heart of any man, whatever the merchant of this world had got together, whether of riches, power, honor, learning, or reputation, loses all this value, is counted but as dung, and willingly parted with, as soon as this glorious Pearl, the New Birth in Christ Jesus, is discovered and found by him.
This Pearl of Eternity, first of all, is the Light and Spirit of God within you, which has hitherto done you little good, because all the desire of your heart has been after the light and spirit of this world. Your reason and senses, your heart and passions, have turned all their attention to the poor concerns of this life, and you are a stranger to this principal of heaven, this riches of eternity within you. For God is not--cannot be--truly found by any worshippers but those who worship Him in Spirit and in truth; so this light and Spirit, though always within us, cannot be found, felt, or enjoyed, but by those whose whole spirit is turned to it.
Secondly, this Pearl of Eternity is the wisdom and love of God within you. In this Pearl of the Serpent-bruiser, all the Holy nature, Spirit, tempers, and inclinations of Christ, lie as in a seed, in the center of your soul. Divine wisdom and heavenly love will grow up in you, if you give but true attention to God present in your soul. Such only are priest and prophets--those who have God in themselves. Hence, there have been in all ages, even among the most illiterate, both men and women who have attained to a deep understanding of the mysteries of the wisdom and love of God in Christ Jesus. It is not art or science or skill in logic, but the opening of the divine life in the soul that can derive true understanding of the things of God.
Thirdly, this Pearl of Eternity is the church, or temple of God within you, the consecrated place of divine worship, where alone you can worship God in Spirit and in truth. In Spirit, because your spirit is that alone in you which can be united and cleave unto God, and receive the working of His divine Spirit upon you. In truth, because this adoration in Spirit is that truth and reality of which all outward forms and rites, though instituted of God, are only the figure for a time. But this worship is eternal. Accustom yourself to the holy service of this inward temple. In the midst of it is the fountain of living water, of which you may drink and live forever. There the mysteries of your redemption are celebrated, or rather opened, in life and power. There the supper of the Lamb is kept; the Bread that came down from Heaven, that gives life to the world, is done, and known in real experience, in a living sensibility of the work of God on the soul. When once you are well grounded in this inward worship, you will have learned to live unto God above time and place. For every day will be Sunday to you, and wherever you go you will have a priest, a church, and an altar along with you.
Fourthly, this Pearl of Eternity is the peace and joy of God within you. But this can only be found by the manifestation of the life and power of Jesus Christ in your soul. Be where you will, either here or there, if you live to your own will, to the pleasure of your lusts, appetites, senses and passions, and in conformity to the vain customs and spirit of this world, you are dead while you live--the seed of the woman is crucified within you, Christ can profit you nothing, you are a stranger to all that is holy and heavenly within you, and utterly incapable of finding the peace and joy of God in your soul.
How can you discover this riches of eternity treasured up within you? All depends upon your right submission and obedience to this speaking of “Go” in your soul. Stop therefore all self-activity, listen not to the suggestion of your own reason, run not on in your own will, but be retired, silent, passive and humble attentive to this new risen Light within you.
Open your heart, your eyes and ears to all its impression. Let it enlighten, teach, frighten, torment, judge, and condemn you as it pleases. Turn not away from it, hear all it says, seed for no relief out of it, consult not with flesh and blood, but with a heart full of faith and resignation to God, pray only this prayer: that God’s kingdom may come, and His will be done in your soul. Stand faithfully in this state of preparation, thus given up to the Spirit of God, and then the work of your repentance will be wrought in God, and you will soon find that He that is in you, is much greater that all that is against you.
TRUE CHRISTIANITY REQUIRES A LIVING FAITH
"For true
Christianity consists, not in words, nor in any external show, but
in a living faith, from which proceed fruits meet for repentance,
and all manner of Christian virtues, as from Christ himself. For
as faith is hidden from human view, and is invisible, it must be
manifested by its fruits; inasmuch as faith derives from Christ all
that is good, righteous, and blessed."
Johann Arndt, German Mystic
[inserted on January 19, 2011]
THE TRAGEDY IN ARIZONA [inserted on January 11, 2011]
Our hearts cry out for the victims of this heinous crime. May the Lord have mercy on their souls and provide His grace for the injured and relatives involved. Let us pray for them all, including the perpetrator whom we Christians must also consider our neighbour even if he is our enemy.
Photios+
[THE AMISH EXAMPLE OF FORGIVENESS: to be read in conjunction with the Arizona spiritual message above]: Fr. Photios (W), WE CAN LEARN A LOT FROM THE AMISH ABOUT 'FORGIVENESS' [inserted on January 13, 2011]
Also see Fr. Photios (W), TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK: JESUS IS SERIOUS ABOUT IT! [inserted on January 14, 2011]
JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY
Jesus saith to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by Me. [St. John
14:6]
It couldn’t be any clearer than that! [inserted on January 1, 2011]
SPIRITUAL ADVICE FROM THE DIDACHE (about 100 A.D.)
"It is the way of persecutors of good people, of those hating truth, loving a lie, not knowing the reward of righteousness, not adhering to what is good but for what is evil, from whom gentleness and patience are far away, loving worthless things, pursuing reward, having no mercy for the poor, not working on behalf of the oppressed, not knowing him who made them, murderers of children, corrupters of God's creation, turning away from someone in need, oppressing the afflicted, advocates of the wealthy, lawless judges of the poor, utterly sinful. May you be delivered, children, from all these things!" [inserted on January 10, 2011]
MORALITY AND DOGMA ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED
The Gospel's moral teaching "is inseparable from its dogmatic doctrine". Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky, The Old Testament in the New Testament Church, Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, New York, 1992, p. 11 [inserted on Jamuary 16, 2011]
NO DIVINE RIGHT OF UNIVERSAL AUTHORITY FOR THE BISHOP OF ROME
Rene-Francois Guettee, THE PAPACY (a must read)
Excerpt:
"HISTORY shows us that the Fathers and Bishops, during the first eight centuries, have given to Holy Scripture the same interpretation that we have just set forth. If the Bishop of Rome had by divine right enjoyed universal authority in the Church, if, as the successor of St. Peter, he had been the vicar and representative of Christ, the necessary centre of the Church, there is no doubt that these prerogatives would have been recognized by Christian antiquity, the faithful guardian of the Faith and of Divine Institutions. Though the Church suffer, after the lapse of ages, some decline on her human side, that is to say, in the men that govern her, and form part of her, it will not be assumed that this decay appeared at the outset. It is natural and logical to go back to the beginnings of an institution to become acquainted with its true character; it is there we find the necessary starting-point from which to trace its development, its progress, or lapses, age by age. If we prove that the primitive Church did not recognize in the Bishop of Rome the authority which he now assumes, that this authority is only an usurpation dating from the ninth century, it must necessarily be concluded, that this authority is not of Divine origin, and that consequently, it is the duty of every Church and all the faithful to protest against it, and combat with it.
"Now we can affirm, after deep and conscientious study of the historical and doctrinal remains of the first eight centuries of the Church, that the Bishop of Rome has no ground for claiming universal authority, that such authority has foundation neither in the Word of God nor the laws of the Church."
THE PAPACY, p.17
[inserted on December 19, 2010]
A PRAYER BY ST. JOHN OF KRONSTADT
"How good Thou art, Lord, and how near art Thou to us - so near that we may always converse with Thee, be comforted by Thee, breathe through Thee, be enlightened by Thee, find peace in Thee, obtain spiritual breadth in Thee. Lord! teach me simplicity of love for Thee and my neighbour, so that I can be ever with Thee, that I may ever find peace in Thee. Lord! grant that I may not for a single moment have fellowship with the most abominable, most evil enemy the Devil, neither by malice, nor pride, nor envy, nor avarice, nor by love of gain, nor gluttony, nor impure thoughts, nor blasphemy, nor despondency, nor falsehood, nor by anything sinful. Grant that I may ever be wholly Thine."
Saint John of Kronstadt, ON PRAYER (extracts from his writings), Father John's Prayers, Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, N.Y., 1994 (third printing), p. 72 [inserted on December 16, 2010]
LOOKING 'INWARD' IS THE KEY
"One should therefore emphasize that the divine means of Word and sacrament are concerned with the inner man. Hence it is not enough that we hear the Word with our outward ear, but we must let it penetrate to our heart, so that we may hear the Holy Spirit speak there, that is, with vibrant emotion and comfort feel the sealing of the Spirit and the power of the Word. Nor is it enough to be baptized, but the inner man, where we have put on Christ in Baptism, must also keep Christ on and bear witness to him in our outward life. Nor is it enough to have received the Lord's Supper externally, but the inner man must truly be fed with that blessed food. Nor is it enough to pray outwardly with our mouth, but true prayer, and the best prayer, occurs in the inner man, and it either breaks forth in words or remains in the soul, yet God will find and hit upon it. Nor, again, is it enough to worship God in an external temple, but the inner man worships God best in his own temple, whether or not he is in an external temple at the time."
Philipp Jakob Spener, Pia Desideria ("Pious Wishes")
THE HOLY FATHERS' SPIRITUAL IMPORTANCE TO TRUE CHRISTIANITY
Fr. Seraphim (Rose), THE HOLY FATHERS
WHO IS THE TRUE ISRAEL AND DOES IT INCLUDE THOSE WHO HAVE ABANDONED THE FAITH?
"We must never forget that the Fathers of the Church considered themselves to be the true spiritual children of Abraham, that the Church considered itself to be the New Israel... (and when we speak of Israel we mean the true (emphasis supplied) Israel, the spiritual sons of Abraham, those who have the faith given by God to His chosen people, not those who have abandoned this faith. The real sons of Abraham are the Church of Christ, and not those carnal descendants, the Jewish race)."
Blessed Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros, THE RIVER OF FIRE, in VI & VII, respectively, 1980. [inserted on December 10, 2010]
THE MAIN CHARACTERISTIC OF THE TRUE FAITH
"What is the profoundest characteristic of Orthodox life, the quintessential characteristic
of Orthodox piety, the sign of authentic Orthodoxy as well as a premise of the true faith?
It is turning inward." [inserted on November 30, 2010]
Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros
Johann Arndt was a German Lutheran mystic (1555-1621), whose TRUE CHRISTIANITY is a spiritual masterpiece. St. Tikhon of Zadonsk (1724-1783), one of the greatest Orthodox saints, thought highly of Arndt's TRUE CHRISTIANITY and recommended to a nobleman that he read the Scriptures first and then Arndt:
DECLARE OURSELVES IN ALL SINCERITY AS UNWORTHY OF OUR LORD'S FAVOUR!
"The contempt of ourselves is the first step to obtain acceptance with God : and nothing more draws the eyes of Heaven upon us, to favour us, than this self-abasement. Whosoever then is desirous to find grace and mercy, let him declare himself in his own judgment unworthy, altogether unworthy of them ; and let him account himself as one that is nothing. But whosoever seems something to himself, is not yet wretched enough nor humbled enough in his own opinion ; and consequently not capable of divine grace ; whereupon St. Paul says, 'if any man esteem himself something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.'"
Johann Arndt, TRUE CHRISTIANITY, Book I, Chapter XIX, The Wise Poor Man, p. 157.
WITHIN THEE
"But since the world, which thou art to strive against, is not without thee, but within thee, it follows, that it is also to be conquered not without, but within thee."
Johann Arndt,
JOHANN ARNDT QUOTES [inserted on January 18, 2011]
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORKS OF FAITH
"Faith without works is dead (James 2:26), and the works of faith are love, peace, long-suffering, mercy, humility, rest from all works (as God Himself rested from His works), bearing of the Cross, and life in the Spirit. Only such faith can be considered true. True faith cannot be without works; one who truly believes will unfailingly have works as well."
St. Seraphim of Sarov, SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTIONS, LITTLE RUSSIAN PHILOKALIA (St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, Fourth Edition, 1996), Vol. I, No. 4. FAITH, p. 25.
OURSELVES
Don't look at others to see if they have changed themselves. Our concentration must be upon ourselves, our interior, our hearts. You and I must throw ourselves upon God's mercy. We need to love Our Lord as He loves us, totally, with absolute spiritual commitment, not the nominal, lukewarm Christianity that is infected with the secularism of the Devil. Difficult as it is, we should approach Christ with childlike love and devotion. Never be ashamed of your love for the Lord. Shout His name from every rooftop, reminding all within the range of our voices that Jesus Christ is the sole route of salvation and He will return in His Second Coming to square all spiritual accounts. How will He find you and me spiritually? When He reviews the evidence in our cases, will He be satisfied that we have 'walked the walk as well as talked the talk'? Will we have changed our hearts, softened them in consideration of our neighbours? Will there be evidence of our love for our enemies as well as our friends and casual acquaintances? In other words, will our faith in Christ have borne fruit, the fruit of following the Lord's commandments as well as believing in Him? Belief alone is not good enough; after all, the Evil One believes. Our Lord's Way is narrow, not broad. The world will hate us as it hates Him. We must suffer with Him as we take up the Cross and journey toward His Kingdom, which is not of this world. Are we 'too late' to spiritually soldier for Jesus? No, we can change our lives to follow Christ as we live out our temporary existence in this world. But NOW is the time, not later, to 'get with it'!
Photios+
FINDING YOUR WAY TO LIFE
St. Maximos the Confessor:
"If you wish to find the way that leads to life, look for it in the Way who says, 'I am the
way, the door, the truth and the life' (John 10:7; 14:6), and there you will find it. Only let
your search be diligent and painstaking, for 'few there are that find it' (Matt. 7:14) and if
you are not among the few you will find yourself with the many."
THE CHURCH DOES NOT JUDGE 'OTHERS'
"Inasmuch as the earthly and visible Church is not the fullness and completeness of the whole Church which the Lord has appointed to appear at the final judgment of all creation, she acts and knows only within her own limits; and (according to the words of Paul the Apostle, to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 5. 12) does not judge the rest of mankind, and only looks upon those as excluded, that is to say, not belonging to her, who exclude themselves. The rest of mankind, whether alien from the Church, or united to her by ties which God has not willed to reveal to her, she leaves to the judgment of the great day. The Church on earth judges for herself only, according to the grace of the Spirit, and the freedom granted her through Christ, inviting also the rest of mankind to the unity and adoption of God in Christ; but upon those who do not hear her appeal she pronounces no sentence, knowing the command of her Saviour and Head, 'not to judge another man's servant' (Rom. 14. 4).
Alexei Khomiakov (1804-1860), THE CHURCH IS ONE
RECOMMENDATION: DO AWAY WITH MANDATORY CELIBACY
Considering the sexual and psychological harm that pedophiles, homosexuals and occasional heterosexual fornicating priests have done to children and other parishioners, it may be time to seriously entertain abolishing 'so-called celibacy' in the Orthodox Church hierarchy whilst simultaneously requiring bishops to be married. I say 'so-called celibacy' because the Roman seminaries are magnets for practising homosexuals. As this is written, the Romans are in the sexual morass again in Germany, a situation which may in the end create even more longlasting problems for the current Bishop of Rome [See German Priests' Sex Abuse Scandalizes Church]. Orthodoxy has had and still has similar problems although perhaps not on such a scale as the Romans. Still, why not excise the sexual cancer NOW even if it is a bit too late? Don't worry about past practise in this circumstance. Just do it and throw yourselves on the mercy of Christ! Your parishioners will love you for it! What do you think? Photios+
Leo Tolstoy was a tremendous literary giant and generous humanitarian. But he was steeped in rationalism, the embryo of all heresies. He 'preached' the moral perfection of Christ's Sermon on the Mount; yet, he didn't believe that Christ is divine. Much of the Church's institutions and dogmas, he openly despised. He became carried away with his own reason and logical powers to the exclusion, apparently, of all divine revelation. He was excommunicated by the Russian Orthodox Church. In many ways, he was an enigma, but he appears to have been sincere in his beliefs as coloured by his rationalism as they were. One thing we should ponder though is Tolstoy's serious concern about passive resistance to violence as opposed to the institutionalised Church's often overt and/or tacit acceptance/support of, in particular, war. Is aggregate violence (war) Christlike? Think about this as you read the Sermon on the Mount and all of the Lord's sayings. Photios+
"Christians and the world are as different as heaven and earth. The world is world and remains world and acts like the world, and all the world is one world. The Christian, however, is called out of the world and is required no longer to conform to the world (Jn. 15:[19]; 2 Cor. 6:[14-18]; Rev. 18:[4]; Rom. 12:[2]), no longer to be its consort (Eph. 5:[6-7]), no longer to walk in its disorderly confusion (1 Pet. 4:[1-6]), no longer to pull its yoke (2 Cor. 6:[14-18]). “Concerning the Sword”: A Hutterian Apologia of 1577, p. 37.
Fr. Dr. Photios (W), FORGIVENESS
THE 'REAL' AUTHORITY IN CHRIST'S TRUE CHURCH:
"The Holy Spirit is the authority in the Church and not the hierarchy. Whoever has the Holy Spirit has the authority even if he be the lowliest garbage man. He can put a thousand hierarchs in their place. No one can question him but he can question everyone. If the hierarchs excommunicate that man, their excommunication descends on their own heads because whosoever cuts off the Holy Spirit cuts himself off from Life. In Orthodoxy, the significance lies not in agreeing with the hierarchs but in agreeing or disagreeing with the organs of the Holy Spirit, the holy Fathers (all emphases supplied)."
Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros, THE TOUCHSTONE, The Authority, pp. 18-19.
The following article provides incontestable spiritual proof that neither a heretical bishop nor a heretical spiritual leader (elder/staretz) is to be obeyed. Both are anathema. Obviously, since we are to avoid even angels who preach a different gospel, the same duty would apply to hierarchy, clerics and even monks of elder status. We owe allegiance to the Divine Truth and have the right to deny obedience to any who falsify the Gospel and the teachings of the Gospel according to the Fathers of the True Church. See this inspiring spiritual article: MUST WE OBEY WHEN OUR SPIRITUAL FATHER DOES NOT UPHOLD THE ORTHODOX WAY OF LIFE?
FR. DR. PHOTIOS (W), SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR OF ST. JAMES THE JUST TRUE ORTHODOX SPIRITUAL CENTER BECOMES NONJURISDICTIONAL AND 'BISHOPLESS'
October 3, 2009
Fr. Photios:
After long deliberation and prayerful thought, I have decided to 'go it alone' in my Orthodox ministry. I will continue to bring the works of the Fathers of the True Orthodox Church to the readers of this site but am divorcing myself from the institutional structures of any and all jurisdictions of this contemporary world. I will continue to write homilies on a periodical basis. However, my homilies will never form a large part of the whole since it is Jesus Christ and the real Fathers of the Church that I am spiritually determined to share with all viewers.
I renounce all rankings and self-glorifying activities, which seem to have had a heavy hand in deviating people, including spiritual leaders, from the simple Christianity of Christ in today's world. I will retain my ministry and be called simply "pastor" or "father".
I will follow the Undivided Church of the first thousand years (until 1054 A.D.) and the True Orthodox Fathers following, in particular through the end of the nineteenth century plus the Orthodox Fathers of the twentieth who have not capitulated to secularism, ecumenism, personal greed, vice and/or deviant sexual behaviour.
May the Lord bless this movement toward following His Divine Truth (in a somewhat different manner) and any and all of us who wish to do down this path toward the Orthodox ideal of deification in Christ's energies throwing ourselves upon His grace and pleading for His mercy.
Jesus is our Bishop and all titles 'above' bishop are, in fact, not above in that sense. Many of the present spiritual and personal problems of the Church and its clergy stem from the struggling and striving not for the true spirit of Our Lord so as to become "Little Christs," but rather seem to be of this world.
To Others:
Non-believers/Protestants/Roman Catholics - if you are seeking Our Lord and His seamless Truth, start with reading Holy Scripture, Holy Tradition And the Fathers of the True Church along with the First Seven Ecumenical Councils as in THE RUDDER (PEDALION). Then follow your heart as you change inwardly. Perhaps then you can be beacons of light for not only yourselves but your compatriots in finding and following His Divine Path!
In Christ,
Photios +
COMMENT
Many converts seeking Orthodoxy have "joined up" with the contemporary ecumenist groupings in the United States. It is a shame. They do not receive the traditional ethos of True Orthodoxy and seem to end up being High Church Methodists/Episcopalians with expensive vestments. They're a long long way from the true Orthodoxy of Lay Theologians Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros, Alexei Khomiakov or Ivan Kireyevsky. They seem to "shudder" at the thought of The Rudder and usually despise the Old Calendarists, who they view as simply schismatics/sects. They see this world as "an opportunity" and attempt to walk its line, using compromises as a bargaining tool. Brethren, keep away from their doors. As the Fathers state below, it is far better to not have a bishop than to be "under" a false one. Ecumenists deny The Creed and thus take themselves out of True Orthodoxy. The West must return to the True Faith of the East to be saved!
"WE FOLLOW THE UNDIVIDED CHURCH OF THE FIRST SEVEN ECUMENICAL COUNCILS." (More "puffery" than truth many times!)
Often on the Internet you can run into sites where a jurisdiction 'puffs its wares' and claims to follow the Church of Christ, the Apostles and the True Fathers. But does it really? Many times on inquiry or through investigating further the other party turns out to be mostly talk and little, if any, Orthodox follow through. E.g.,
... "We choose the way of fidelity to the true Faith and not the 'modern way.' We choose faithfulness to the true Church with all Her canons and dogmas which have been received and confirmed by the local and universal Councils. We choose the holy customs and traditions, the spiritual riches of that faith transmitted complete and entire to us from the Holy Apostles, the Holy Fathers of the Church, and the Christian heritage of our venerable ancestors. This alone is the faith of the true Orthodox, distinct from the counterfeit 'orthodoxy' invented by the Adversary. We receive only the Apostolic Faith, the Faith of the Fathers, the Orthodox Faith." Abp Averky's article was published in 1968. Only the spiritually blind could fail to see how even more imperative True Orthodoxy is needed in today's (2009) hedonistic-gross ecumenism New Age, which is powered by the Evil One's usage of his prime tool of evil - rationalism. (6) they love to quote ecumenists but rarely cite the Holy Fathers To date, I have discovered no such group claiming to accept and follow the Undivided Church of the First Seven Ecumenical Councils that actually does. Now add in the ecumenism of the rest of the modernistic orthodox and one can see there are few True Orthodox in this world. Brethren, stick to the True Orthodoxy of the first 19 centuries. Even if few are left at His Second Coming, it will have been expected:
TEMPORARY BISHOPLESS ORTHODOXY
Imagine that you are unable to find a true bishop in today's unspiritual shopping market culture (not a big imaginative stretch required). Pray to the Lord that He extend His mercy to you if you or your spiritual grouping (1) disassociate yourselves from any or all jurisdictions, whether modernistic or Old Calendarist, but make a truly genuine effort to follow Christ and the Fathers' interpretations of Scripture and Tradition as revealed by the Lord to the Apostles and conciliarly agreed by the true Fathers and/or confirmed by the undivided Church of the First Seven Ecumenical Councils;
What should one call this development?
Why not try "FREE TRUE ORTHODOXY;" or, perhaps "TRUE ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS - NONJURISDICTIONAL"? Independent of all contemporary jurisdictions in this world of secular ecumenism.
Is it spiritually wrong not to follow a false/pseudo-bishop? No, our answer lies, of course, in the Fathers, who hold that it is worse to stay and follow a false bishop than to plunge on without any hierarchy. This would be true no matter how long we were to be bishopless:
Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros, quoted in his biography "OUR FRIEND... SLEEPETH": ...
"Having direct experience and knowledge of the self-styled 'orthodoxies', the legalistic mentality, scandalous recriminations, mutual defrockments, and the frequent schisms that abound among the combatant old-calendar hierarchies of Greece, the parish (ed: Dr. Kalomiros' parish) stayed away from all of them. It chose 'the better portion' and followed the Church’s sacred and ancient practice--if a true Orthodox bishop is not accessible or clearly discernible, a parish or a local Church ought to commemorate 'every episcopacy of the Orthodox' or simply 'our Archbishop', but no name. Christ is their bishop according to His promise that where two or three are gathered in His name and worship in Spirit and truth, He will be in the midst of them. Several communities in Greece and the U.S. today do the same thing. After the calendar change in 1924, the Greek Old Calendar Church existed for twelve years without any bishops. (When it gained bishops, it lost its unity.) And St. Athanasius the Great says, 'As we walk the pure and lifebearing path, if our eye scandalizes us, that is, the mental one and not the sensory one, let us pluck it out. For example, if the bishop or priest, who are the eyes of the Church, comport themselves badly and scandalize the people, they must be removed. It is better to gather without them in a house for prayer than to be cast with them as with Annas and Caiaphas into the fire of Gehena.' (MPG 35,22) In 379, St. Gregory the Theologian arrived in Arian-held Constantinople as the new archbishop and found the tiny Orthodox flock 'bishopless' because the city had belonged to the Arian heresy for forty years." (ibid.)
If you are in this kind of circumstance where your 'bishop' is preaching or participating in ecumenism or other heresies, you have a decision to make; either for Christ, or the prince of evil. The Fathers support your retreating to your homes and holding services or elsewhere either 'priestless' and/or 'bishopless,' assuming both are following the evil of this world (ed: the world of the prince of evil) and not that which is not of this world, the latter being the Way of Christ. The Holy Spirit is authoritative, not the hierarchy: "The Holy Spirit is the authority in the Church and not the hierarchy. Whoever has the Holy Spirit has the authority even if he be the lowliest garbage man . He can put a thousand hierarchs in their place. No one can question him but he can question everyone. If the hierarchs excommunicate that man, their excommunication descends on their own heads because whosoever cuts off the Holy Spirit cuts himself off from Life. In Orthodoxy, the significance lies not in agreeing with the hierarchs but in agreeing or disagreeing with the organs of the Holy Spirit, the holy Fathers (all emphases supplied)." Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros, THE TOUCHSTONE, The Authority, pp. 18-19.
SPIRITUAL ITEMS
Bishop Alexander's Orthodox Booklets, BLESSED THEOPHYLACT, Archbishop of Bulgaria, THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, Chapters 5 through 7
Jesus Prayer & Hesychasm (n = 23)
Orthodox Benedictine Reading Sources (n = 23)
Short Biography of St. James the Just
Ascetically Speaking (compilation of the holy Fathers' testimonies for Christ, n = 243 testimonies/sayings in 67 pages)
Christ the Cornerstone (n - 80)
Topical Homilies by Fr. Photios on Orthodox Dogma, Praxis and Saints' Lives (n = 71)
Church (Julian) Calendar Homilies by Fr. Photios (n = 71)
Archives (Features) (n = 200)
Archives 2 (n = 302)
Links - [includes The Septuagint, Greek English New Testament, Authorised King James Version of 1611, Canons of the Holy Fathers [with interpretations from The Rudder (Pedalion)], Canons of the First Seven Ecumenical Councils [with interpretations from The Rudder (Pedalion)], Canons of the Regional Synods [with interpretations from The Rudder (Pedalion)], Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. XIV - The First Seven Ecumenical Councils
Divine Liturgies (n=20)
and
Permanent Orthodox Articles (n = 65, a wealth of materials preaching the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ)
Spiritual Director
This is widely believed to be his greatest theological work. Luther stood with John Calvin and other Reformer pioneers on man's utter helplessness in sin and the Sovereignty of God in grace. This is, indeed, a spiritual masterpiece. Consider it very carefully within your own spiritual context. Remember, God will not be mocked, and He is jealous. So His sovereignty is no laughing matter. Indeed, He is deadly serious about it.
Director,
FRONTLINE FELLOWSHIP:
"Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"
All of us should pray for our own inner revival. Pride must be abandoned, self denied, sins confessed, and all prayers addressed to Him as if we were children again.
Lord, we relish the fact that we are your slaves, do with us as You will!
(Comment by Pastor Photios: Out of the terrible slaughter of lives, God used evil as He sometimes does to effect His agenda: that of coming to Christ. Before the Battle of Blood River, there were no Zulu Christians: As Dr. Hammond states: "Only after the Battle of Blood River (ed: 16 December 1838) did hundreds, and then thousands, of Zulus come to Christ.".... "After the final defeat of the Zulu military, in the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, Zulus came to Christ by the hundreds of thousands. Today there are millions of Zulu Christians.")
Jesus is the sole head of the Church. It is blasphemous to say otherwise:
Phillipsburg, New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1932, (paperback), cited in Chapter XII, LIMITED ATONEMENT, p. 154; see this chapter overall and Chapter XI on UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION. The book is comprehensive as well as spiritually uplifting and strives to answer "The question which faces us then, is, Has God from all eternity foreordained all things which come to pass? If so, what evidence do we have to that effect, and how is the fact consistent with the free agency of rational creatures and with His own perfections?" (Ibid., INTRODUCTION, p. 9.)]
(a sermon delivered on Sabbath morning, September 2, 1855)
Please read this in tandem with the article by Dr. Peter Hammond immediately below.
One of the Orthodox Church's greatest saints, St. Tikhon of Zadonsk (1724-1783) highly regarded his spiritual masterpiece TRUE CHRISTIANITY and recommended it to an inquirer:
"Arndt’s book was very well known to St. Tikhon, who indeed valued it very highly. His letters contain a reference that leaves not the slightest doubt in this regard. As St. Tikhon wrote to an unidentified young nobleman in St. Petersburg:
Zhurnal Moskovskoi Patriarkhii, 2004, no.2: 62-73
[Article IV of the Great Article Book]
Director
Frontline Fellowship
[He studied the writings of the Early Church Fathers and compiled the extremely well-received Classic on Christian doctrine], AN EXACT EXPOSITION OF THE ORTHODOX FAITH, Post Nicene Fathers, Schaff Edition Volume IX (tr. by The Rev. S.D.F. Salmond, Principal of the Free Chuch College, Aberdeen, 1898.), BOOK IV, Chapter IX., Concerning Faith and Baptism.
Director
Frontline Fellowship
Director
Frontline Fellowship
WHEN ALL MEN SPEAK WELL OF YOU
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (St. John 13: 34)
Yet, we must be empty before we can be full of the Spirit. This fullness does not occur instantaneously but is a process. South African Pastor Andrew Murray (1828-1917) states:
[See Nikitas Stithatos in THE PHILOKALIA, Volume IV (Paperback Edition), Faber and Faber Limited, London, 1998, pp. 115-116:
"God looks not at the outward form of what we say or do, but at the disposition of our soul and the purpose for which we perform a visible action or express a thought. In the same way those of greater understanding than others look rather to the inward meaning of words and the intention of actions, and unfalteringly assess them accordingly. Man looks at the outward form, but God looks on the heart (emphasis supplied) (cf. I Sam. 16: 7)."]
...
"All the outward teaching and knowledge of the words of the prophets and of Christ must give way to the inward speaking of Christ in the soul by the Holy Spirit (emphasis supplied)."
We cannot refuse it!
The Sea of Nature, to the Heavenly shore?
Then bring thy Boat, blest Death, that thou and I
May sail together towards Eternity.
A sweet Companion thou wilt be to me,
Till I imbosom’d am in Unity."
BEING SELECTIONS OF HER RELIGIOUS THOUGHTS AND
EXPERIENCES, TRANSLATED AND RE-ARRANGED
FROM HER PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE
By P. L. UPHAM (1858)
Papal Decree 1687"
Here as the holy Orthodox Fathers interpret, Christ shows that he favours the "guileless by saying, 'For of such is the kingdom of God.' See that He did not say that the kingdom of God is 'of these', but 'of such as these'; that is to say, the kingdom of God belongs to those who by labour and struggle have acquired that guilelessness which little children have by nature (emphasis supplied).... Therefore whoever accepts the preaching of God as a little child, that is, without any doubts or unbelief, enters into the kingdom of God, and into those good things which he has even now accepted by faith." (Blessed Theophylact, for the Fathers of the Church in his Explanation of The Holy Gospel According to St. Mark, (Chrysostom Press Translation), 1993, 2nd printing 1997, pp. 84-85.
However, he must pay society's price for such despicable behaviour.
Let us also refrain from jumping to conclusions about what caused this violent rampage. There will be a tendency to blame the low level spiteful commentaries of parties along the political spectrum. Perhaps there are some grains of truth in this, but first examine ourselves from a Christian perspective. As the father head of the household, do you live a Christian example? As the nurturing mother, do you also provide a spiritual role model for your daughter and sons; or, do you share similarities with the mom who hired a hitman to bump off the mother of her teenage cheerleader aspirant daughter's chief rival to affect the competition outcome?
Men, do we believe in settling disputes with violence or threats or do we openly support it on the theatre screen as well as the home tv? Do we use words like "target" something or someone politically. Do we openly show our hostility toward different ethnic groupings in front of our children? Do we teach our children Christian ethics? I.e., do we involve ourselves directly in our children's lives? To not do so is to abandon our familial and spiritual duty. If we do, shame on us!
Let's control our rage and leave the prosecution to the proper secular authorities. Do not harass the perpetrator's parents. Observe and accept the Amish example (see link immediately below) and have consideration for them in their grief as well.
Don't be bitter, be Christlike, no matter how difficult the circumstances may be. The Lord expects nothing less from each and everyone of us.
SURE GUIDE TO TRUE CHRISTIANITY [inserted on December 7, 2010]
"However, Arndt’s book was very well known to St. Tikhon, who indeed valued it very highly. His letters contain a reference that leaves not the slightest doubt in this regard. As St. Tikhon wrote to an unidentified young nobleman in St. Petersburg:
'There is no more convenient place for you than that what has been indicated: you should move there and begin to read the Holy Bible, with a discussion of the various deeds of God that it presents. And always, morning and night, study it and Arndt; you should only skim other books. And sharpen your mind and your will with respect to what is good; and await the call of God, whether and when God summons you, and thus remain at peace.'8 Hence St. Tikhon placed Arndt directly after the Bible and higher than all 'other' books." (quote from “Two Works about True Christianity: St. Tikhon of Zadonsk and Johann Arndt”
Pavel Khondzinskii
Zhurnal Moskovskoi Patriarkhii, 2004, no.2: 62-73)
May the Lord bless us to avoid procrastination, which could be spiritually fatal.
THINK ABOUT WAR: ISN'T IT ABOUT TIME TRUE CHRISTIANS WHO MUST BELIEVE IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT REJECT IT (WAR) AND TAKE UP PASSIVE RESISTANCE AGAINST EVIL WHILST SHOULDERING THE CROSS? [Also see Pacifist Christian Ministries]
TRUE CHRISTIANS MUST REJECT THE WORLD, WHICH IS GOD'S ENEMY!
(ed: live Christ's, not the world's way!)
Worldlings live according to the flesh, which rules them. They believe no one is around to observe; therefore they need the sword in their realm. Christians live according to the Spirit, which rules them. They believe the Lord is watching, that he is attentive; therefore they do not need the sword among themselves.
The Christians’ victory is 'the faith which overcomes the world' (1 Jn. 5:[4]). The world’s victory is the sword with which it conquers.
To Christians is given an inner joy; they have joy in their hearts, holding to the unity in the Spirit through the bond of peace (Jn. 14:[15-27]; Eph. 4:[3]). The world has no peace; by sword and coercion alone it attempts to keep outward peace.
The Christian has patience, as the apostle writes: 'Since therefore Christ suffered, . . . arm yourselves likewise with the same mind.'51 (1 Pet. 4:1.) The world arms itself for the sake of revenge; it fights.
The Christian who can suffer everything for the sake of God is the most honorable. The world considers most dutiful the one who can defend himself with the sword against everyone else.
To sum up: Friendship with the world is enmity52
with God (Jas. 4:[4]), and whoever desires to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
will be up continuously [inserted on January 27, 2010]
(1) their hierarchy are married (against the 6th Ecumenical Council, Canon XII)
(2) they support and take part in ecumenistic spiritual activities, joint prayers and concelebrations with those outside the faith of the first 1054 years (they don't really accept the 'mind' of the Fathers of the Undivided Church; they can't imagine there is one truth although The Church Is One) [see Alexei Khomiakov, THE CHURCH IS ONE]
(3) they do not acknowledge the spiritual importance of the true Fathers' interpretations of Scripture within Tradition; some even seem not to even know what THE RUDDER (PEDALION) is, tragic since it stands second only to the Holy Scriptures in the Undivided Church that they profess they follow; others are openly critical of the true Church's use of it, comments such as you can keep your Rudder, and I'll keep my own view of whatever matter is on the table - blatant Protestantism - comments that place more importance on contemporary relationships with "real people" than the Fathers as set out in THE RUDDER, the Fathers being referred to at times as "our favorite authors"
(4) they cringe at the idea that one is either Orthodox or not, that if one is outside the true faith, all he or she needs to do is come to the true Faith; they recognise really the heterodox as within the true Church, here believing in the "branch theory" that everyone has a relative piece of the Christian pie
(5) many times they make rude comments about the "True Orthodox" and give us their individual opinions on the matter such as "In reality, 'true orthodoxy' is encountered and hammered out in relationship." Apparently, to this person True Orthodoxy is subject to our relationships with others, this party uses small "o" to indicate that he really does not individually believe in anything such as True Orthodoxy - the Holy Fathers do, see how important it is in Archbishop Averky's assessment (for the Fathers) in TRUE ORTHODOXY:"If we expect to withstand the world, it is first necessary to understand it and keep sensitively in mind that in this present age all that which carries the most holy and dear name of Orthodoxy is not in fact Orthodox. Rather, it is often 'A fraudulent and usurped Orthodoxy' which we must fear and eschew as if it were fire. Unlike this spurious faith, True Orthodoxy was given and must be received without novelty and nothing must be accepted as a teaching or practice of the Church which is contrary to the Holy Scriptures and the dogma of the Universal Church."
(7) they talk a lot about love of their fellow man but never extend it to the traditional Old Calendarist, whom they despise
(8) many times they speak on their websites about the "need" for unity, this demonstrates their lack of Orthodoxy since within True Orthodoxy is unity; those outside it are not in the True Church; yet, the Church welcomes them in if they will accept and follow the Fathers of the Undivided Church as Patriarch Jeremiah the II offered to the Lutheran Scholars of Tubingen in the 16th century pursuant to their queries to him: they of course in the end after three comprehensive spiritual responses from him decided to remain on their heretical course. He had pointed out the errs they were in compared to the witnesses of the Holy Fathers, but their lack of humility was too much for them. To this day, the Lutherans remain outside the true Church splintered into a large number of Lutheran fellowships, almost all being spiritually estranged from the other Lutheran groupings. A few of these are not in communion with any of the rest of the Lutherans. If they were the true 'Lutheran' Orthodox (which do not exist), that would be another case, but they are not, being, in fact, more heretical than the ones Patriarch Jeremiah replied to in his "Three Answers"; the Lutherans are within the 22,000 to 23,000 "denominations" existing today, which have been 'created' by offspring of the Reformation.
(9) and, finally (although we could go on and on and ...) one hierarch of a group claiming to follow the Undivided Church of the First Seven Ecumenical Councils, after I had written him citing only the True Fathers of the Church doubted whether we were working from the same Scripture. (I was 'working from' the Holy Fathers' interpretations of Scripture/Tradition, the original King James Version of 1611 and The Septuagint.)"CHURCH NUMBERS DO NOT MATTER
St. Athanasius the Great
'Even if Christians faithful to tradition are reduced to a handful, they are the ones who are
the true (emphasis supplied) Church of Jesus Christ.'"
(2) specify a bishop/archbishop from the Church Triumphant as your hierarch, one known for constant unflinching Orthodoxy in the face of glaring apostasy [e.g., St. Photios the Great, Jeremiah II, the illustrious, or bishops of the Post-Bolshevik Revolution True Catacomb Christians to name only a few of thousands];
and
(3) dedicate your lives to inward spirituality and outward good works flowing from faith of all that the above require of you.
"What do the Fathers tell us to do under such circumstances? They tell us that a bad shepherd is worse than no shepherd at all:
'It is better to be led by no shepherd than to be led by a bad one; he who is led by no one has many times been in danger and has many times been saved, but he who is led by a bad shepherd is always in danger and led to perdition...If it regards the faith, quit him and depart--not only if he is a man, but even if he is an angel from heaven!' (St. John Chrysostom)
'It is better to leave those who do not believe correctly than to follow them and be of one mind with them wrongly, and to be joined to them but . separated from God.' (St. Meletius)
'The shepherd is a heretic? Then he is a wolf. Depart from him in leaps and bounds and pray not to be tricked into going near him, no matter how peaceful he may appear.” (St. Photius).'"
will be up for six months [inserted on August 1, 2009]
From the Convention of Orthodox Clergymen and Monks April 2009
A CONFESSION OF FAITH
AGAINST ECUMENISM(Those who agree with this Confession are invited to send an e-mail stating "I agree with the Confession of Faith against Ecumenism, and subscribe to it" to the e-m address given, palimpce@otenet.gr
will be up for six months!
[inserted on May 31, 2009]
the commentary of the true Fathers of the Church
will be up continuously, [see the other continuous link immediately below regarding where Bl. Theophylact's Explanations of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John currently can be obtained.]
[inserted on April 9, 2009]
"Better five faithful than fifty unfaithful, because my church is not in quantity, but in quality. He who truly loves Christ will endure everything for His sake. He is that gold which is hidden from the eyes of men."
Bishop Gennadius (Sekach), whilst in the Catacombs
"We are sheep, but we are reasoned-endowed sheep; therefore, we have a right to speak. As for shepherds, the Good Shepherd has forewarned us that many of them are robbers and thieves who do not enter by the gate. The rational sheep follow the good shepherd 'for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of strangers' (John 10:4-5).
Ecumenism is the voice of strangers. Ecumenistic shepherds, as much as they wish to appear to be Orthodox in order to deceive, are in reality 'wolves in sheep's clothing, working the destruction of the sheep' (cf. Matt. 7:15, Acts 20:29). The sheep of Christ recognised with whom they were dealing and removed themselves far from the false shepherds in obedience to the ordinance of Christ, the Apostles, and the Fathers. And the camp of the wolf-like shepherds derisively called them 'old calendarists,' as the Christians derisively were called 'Nazarenes' in another age. 'This people who knoweth not the law!' But they forgot that the 'weak things of the world, and the despised hath God chosen (emphasis supplied) to confound the wise' (cf. I Cor. 1:27). The Orthodox, the true Orthodox were always the small (emphasis supplied) flock, always derided, always persecuted. But the Lord said, 'Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom' (Luke 12:32). What were the first Christians in the eyes of (emphasis supplied) the Hebrews who did not believe, that is, for the vast majority? What were they in the eyes of the heathen who boasted of their worldly wisdom? Ask your conscience and it will respond:
'They were like the old-calendarists of today'."
Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros, THE TOUCHSTONE, The Small Flock, p. 13.
"The Holy Spirit is the authority in the Church and not the hierarchy. Whoever has the Holy Spirit has the authority even if he be the lowliest garbage man. He can put a thousand hierarchs in their place. No one can question him but he can question everyone. If the hierarchs excommunicate that man, their excommunication descends on their own heads because whosoever cuts off the Holy Spirit cuts himself off from Life. In Orthodoxy, the significance lies not in agreeing with the hierarchs but in agreeing or disagreeing with the organs of the Holy Spirit, the holy Fathers (all emphases supplied)."
ibid. The Authority, pp. 18-19.
[A few years ago, I had a rather disagreeable dispute over an important spiritual point with a so-called Orthodox hierarch. The holy Fathers in THE RUDDER were quite clear on the issue; and, it was one which had been accepted by the universal Church over 1400 centuries. Finally, he said dismissively 'Well, you take your Fathers, and I'll take _______ (his view).'
THE RUDDER is second only to the New and Old Testaments in authority:
'This Handbook, in effect, is next after the Holy Scriptures a holy Scripture, and next after the Old and New Testaments a Testament... This book, it may be said, is replete with the everlasting bounds set by our Fathers, and the laws which endure forever and which are above all external and imperial laws of the Digests, of the Institutes, of the Codes, and of the Novels for the latter were issued by mere emperors, whereas the former were laid down by Councils, ecumenical and regional, through the Holy Spirit, and emperors ratified them. This book is truly, as we have entitled it, the Rudder of the Catholic Church, which when thereby steered, conveys the sailors and passengers in it, those in holy orders, I mean, as well as laymen, safely to the unruffled haven of the Kingdom above.'
The Rudder, p. Li.
One, including a hierarch, who not only disregards but rejects the Fathers of THE RUDDER takes himself out of the Church.]
("Let them keep the buildings, we will have the Faith!"
St. Athanasios the Great)
Photios +
Use below translator for many languages including Russian:
SOME THOUGHTS FOR ALL OF US:
ECUMENISM: THE DEVIL'S ULTIMATE TRAP
"People in our age, therefore, do not believe in anything but in
their own pleasurable pastimes. But, in order to have pleasurable
pastimes, the peaceful co-existence and cooperation of all peoples
is absolutely essential in order to insure the procurement of material
goods. In order for this to be realized, all boundaries must fall.
Religions, ideologies, and nations must unite. Every cause of war,
battle, and counter-opinion must cease to exist. The policy of co-existence,
the ideas of a United States of Europe, Masonic syncretism,
the Ecumenical Movement, the hope for a world-wide state, are expressions of man's
inordinate thirst for undisturbed pleasurable living.
Ecumenism teaches that the truth is nowhere to be found. It is
the assassination of the hope that has lived in the heart of man
from time immemorial. It is the rejection of Truth and its supplantation
with man-made truths. These man-made truths, of necessity, must make concessions,
one to another, for the common good.
Ecumenism is the last and most perfect trap that the devil
has set for mankind and his most terrible, underhanded attack
against the Church of Christ. It is that poison which paralyzes the
soul and renders it incapable of believing, of seeing the light, incapable
even of thirsting for the truth. It darkens the mind of the
Orthodox Christian and affects him, so that instead of loving the
sick and laboring to cure the illness, he ends up loving the very
sickness; instead of loving the heretic, he ends up loving his heresy."
Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros, THE TOUCHSTONE, p. 6.
TRUE LOVE FROM THE MURDERED TO THE MURDERER
An account by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, heroic imprisoned minister, as in Orthodox
Heritage, Message of the Month (March 2003)
"At my right hand was an Orthodox priest by the name of Iscu. He was Abbot of a
monastery. This man, perhaps in his 40's, had been so tortured he was near to death. But
his face was serene. He spoke about his hope of heaven, about his love of Christ, about
his faith. He radiated joy. On my left side was the Communist torturer who had tortured this priest almost to death.
He had been arrested by his own comrades.
Then I saw a miracle. I saw the agonizing priest calling two other prisoners. And leaning
on their shoulders, slowly, slowly he walked past my bed, sat on the bedside of his
murderer, and caressed his head - I will never forget this gesture. I watched a murdered
man caressing his murderer! That is love - he found a caress for him.
The priest said to the man, 'You are young; you did not know what you were doing. I
love you with all my heart.' But he did not just say the words. You can say 'love,' and it's
just a word of four letters. But he really loved. 'I love you with all my heart.'
Then he went on, 'If I who am a sinner can love you so much, imagine Christ, Who is
Love incarnate, how much He loves you! And all the Christians whom you have tortured,
know that they forgive you, they love you, and Christ loves you. He wishes you to be
saved much more than you wish to be saved. You wonder if your sins can be forgiven.
He wishes to forgive your sins more than you wish your sins to be forgiven. He desires
for you to be with Him in Heaven. He is love. You only need to turn to him and repent.'
In this prison cell in which there was no possibility of privacy, I overheard the confession
of the murderer to the murdered. Life is more thrilling than a novel - no novelist has ever
written such a thing. The murdered - near to death - received the confession of the
murderer. The murdered gave absolution to this murderer.
They prayed together, embraced each other, and the priest went back to his bed. Both
men died that same night. It was Christmas Eve. But it was not a Christmas Eve in which
we simply remembered that 2000 years ago Jesus was born in Bethlehem. It was a
Christmas Eve during which Jesus was born in the heart of a Communist murderer."
HOW TO CONQUER WRATH IN ANOTHER
"A man who is wrathful with us is a sick man; we must apply a plaster to his heart - love; we must treat him kindly, speak to him gently, lovingly.
St. John of Kronstadt
MULTIPLE WITNESSES REPORT THE HOLY VIRGIN APPEARED IN SOUTH OSSETIA
19 August 2008, 14:12
Moscow, August 19, Interfax - Many residents of Tskhinvali saw the Holy Virgin during the most violent battles, Bishop Georgy (Pukhate), head of the Alania Diocese acting in the territory of South Ossetia and not recognized in the Orthodox world.
"She was seen in long garments. She mournfully passed along the streets. She was seen in the evening and at night in places of most violent and cruel battles. Militiamen realized, the Holy Virgin didn't leave the city to save it from total destruction. She came to help us," Bishop Georgy said in his interview published on Tuesday by electronic paper Utro.ru
He confessed that when some residents told him they had seen the Holy Virgin on the first war days, he "yielded to a temptation" and decided that people "were hallucinating from fear and horror."
"But when many residents and policemen from various parts of the city described the same phenomenon, it couldn't be a hallucination," Bishop Georgy said.
The Alanian Diocese was established in South Ossetia in 2005. The Diocese is subordinated to "Synod in Resistance" of the so-called True Orthodox Church of Greece.
HOW DOES CHRIST MANIFEST HIMSELF?
"The child Jesus born within us advances by different ways in those who receive Him in wisdom, in age, and in grace. He is not the same in every person, but is present according to the measure of the person receiving Him. He shows Himself according to each one's capacity.
St. Gregory of Nyssa
DON'T LOSE HOPE
"...if you have not yet received the gift of self-control, know that the Lord is ready to hear you if you entreat Him with prayer and hope.
St. John of Karpathos
HE WHO HAS THE LOVE OF CHRIST
"He who has love in Christ must observe the commandments of Christ. The binding power of the love of God - who is able to set it forth? The radiance of His beauty - who can voice it to satisfaction? The sublimity to which love leads us is unutterable. Love unites us with God; love covers a multitude of sins, love endures everything, is long-suffering to the last; there is nothing vulgar, nothing conceited, in love; love creates no schism; love does not quarrel; love preserves perfect harmony. In love all the elect of God reached perfection, apart from love nothing is pleasing to God. In love the Master took us to Himself. Because of the love which He felt for us, Jesus Christ Our Lord gave His Blood for us by the will of God, His body for our bodies, and His soul for our souls."
St. Clement of Rome
WHAT IS THE POINT OF FAITH WITHOUT APPROPRIATE DEEDS?
"It is pointless for someone to say that he has Faith in God if he does not have the works which go with Faith. What benefit were their lamps to the foolish virgins who had no oil (Matt. 25:1-13), namely, deeds of love and compassion?
St. Gregory Palamas
ST. JAMES THE JUST, FIRST BISHOP AND SON OF ST. JOSEPH, JOURNEYED TO EGYPT WITH HIM, THE BABE LORD AND THE EVER-VIRGIN MOTHER OF GOD:
"In the left-hand corner [Editorial comment: of the multiple icons of 16 scenes in the icon of THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST (XVIIth century)] are the wise men riding to worship the Saviour, led by an angel with the star in his hands. Below them, in a kind of pavilion, the Mother of God sits on a golden throne, on Her lap the Divine Child, to Whom the wise men are offering gifts. On the other side of the icon, to the right of the Saviour's manger, the angel appears to the wise men in a dream, warning them not to return to Herod (Matt. ii, 12). Above this scene are the wise men departing by another way. Below the adoration of the wise men, we see the angel appearing to Joseph, ordering him to flee to Egypt (Matt. ii, 13). On the opposite side is the flight into Egypt of the Mother of God with the Child and with Joseph accompanied by his son, the future Apostle and first bishop of Jerusalem, James (emphasis supplied)..."
Leonid Ouspensky and Vladimir Lossky (tr. by G.E.H. Palmer and E. Kadloubovsky), THE MEANING OF ICONS, p.162.
[Editorial note: This wonderfully spiritual book on Orthodox icons is a marvelous way to study not only Holy Scripture but Holy Tradition.]
A VARIETY OF SPIRITUAL COMMENTS FROM DR. ALEXANDRE KALOMIROS IN HIS REMARKABLE TRUE ORTHODOX WORK, AGAINST FALSE UNION. This classic cannot be spiritually recommended too highly. Every Christian or 'wannabe' should have a copy. He breathes and devoutly threads the 'mind' of the Fathers of the Undivided Church throughout the pages! Fr. Photios+
I have taken his spiritual comments from Chapter Two, XVI., CONTEMPORARY IDOLATRY
"A frightening antinomy characterizes the Europeans: [Editorial note- read this as also including Americans and all people committed to following secularism first, and maybe, just maybe, the Lord, He many times not even a distant second choice.]: it is the antithesis between the inward and outward man. The European appears to be one thing, but is really something else. He lives and moves in the falsehood of compromises. His entire culture is a collection of conventional lies to which he has adapted himself. He is extremely egocentric, but he conducts himself with absolute amd almost exaggerated courtesy.
[Editorial note: You see how this turns around the Truth of Christ. Man thinks he can become God on his own. This is the Evil One's work in 'this world,' Reject him!]
"The ideal of the European is identical with the ideal of Lucifer. Deep down, it is the same contempt for the goodness of God, the same insult against His love, the same revolt and estrangement from His providence, the same ingratitude, the same desolate path which, instead of leading upward as man thinks he is going, leads to the abyss of death."
[Editorial Note: The emphasis on man in this world jeopardises one's salvation. To be blunt, salvation is impossible unless man comes to his spiritual senses and places God first. This requires a dramatic change in direction and a willingness to struggle and suffer. If the world hates us, so what? The world will hate us as they hated our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Relish their hatred but, at the same time, be merciful to those who hate you for what you are. Pray for them. They can always change until their end on this earth. In the meantime, let's all get our spiritual ships in order for His coming again!]
...
THE MEANING OF 'ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC & APOSTOLIC'
"The Church is called One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic; because she is one, and holy, because she belongs to the whole world, and not to any particular locality; because by her all mankind and all the earth, and not any particular nation or country, are sanctified; because her very essence consists in the agreement and unity of the spirit and life of all the members who acknowledge her, throughout the world; lastly, because in the writings and doctrines of the Apostles contained all the fulness of her faith, her hope, and her love."
Blessed Alexei Khomiakov, Doctor of the Church (considered by many so to be), in his classic THE CHURCH IS ONE, One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic. THE CHURCH IS ONE
ONE WHO TAKES SCRIPTURE, TRADITION OR WORKS SEPARATELY AND BASES HIS BELIEF IN THE CHURCH ON IT ALONE REJECTS THE CHURCH!
"Every one that seeks for proof of the truth of the Church, by that very act either shows his doubt, and excludes himself from the Church, or assumes the appearance of one who doubts and at the same time preserves a hope of proving the truth, and arriving at it by his own power of reason: but the powers of reason do not attain to the truth of God, and the weakness of man is made manifest by the weakness of his proofs. The man who takes Scripture only, and founds the Church on it alone, is in reality rejecting the Church, and is hoping to found her afresh by his own powers: the man who takes tradition and works only, and depreciates the importance of Scripture, is likewise in reality rejecting the Church, and constituting himself a judge of the Spirit of God, who spake by the Scripture. For Christian knowledge is a matter, not of intellectual investigation, but of a living faith, which is a gift of grace. Scripture is external, an outward thing, and tradition is external, and works are external: that which is inward in them is the one Spirit of God. From tradition taken alone, or from Scripture or from works, a man can but derive an external and incomplete knowledge, which may indeed in itself contain truth, for it starts from truth, but at the same time must of necessity be erroneous, inasmuch as it is incomplete (all emphases supplied)."
Khomiakov, ibid., Scripture and Tradition.
SCRIPTURE KNOWS NO LIMITS!
"But there are no limits to Scripture; for every writing which the Church acknowledges as hers is (emphasis supplied) Holy Scripture. Such pre-eminently are the Creeds of the General Councils, and especially the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed. Wherefore, the writing of Holy Scripture has gone on up to our day, and, if God pleases, yet more will be written. But in the Church there has not been, nor ever will be, any contradictions, either in Scripture, or in tradition, or in works; for in all three is Christ, one and unchangeable."
id.
THE CHRISTIAN ALPHABET
"There are two kinds of learned and wise men: some study in schools from books, and a great many of them are less intelligent than the simple and unlettered, since they do not know the Christian alphabet; yet they sharpen the mind, they correct and adorn words, but they do not wish to reform their hearts (emphasis supplied). Others who study in prayer with humility and diligence and are enlightened by the Holy Spirit are wiser than the philosophers of this age; they are devout and holy and beloved of God; although these do not know the alphabet, they well comprehend everything; they speak simply, crudely, but they live beautifully and auspiciously. These, O Christians, emulate."
St. Tikhon of Zadonsk [+1783], cited by Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky) of Kiev and Galich [+1936] in his WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORTHODOXY AND WESTERN CONFESSIONS? (first published in 1911 in St. Petersburg)
CHRISTIAN MORALITY VERSUS THE "WEST"
"Thus, the Lord commands us to forgive - but Western morality calls for revenge and bloodshed; the Lord demands that we humbly think of ourselves as great sinners - but the West puts self-esteem above all; the Lord calls us to rejoice and be glad when we are persecuted and cast out - but the West seeks the 'restoration of honour'; for the Lord and His Apostles pride is a demonic sin but for the West it is nobility.
Metropolitan Anthony, ibid.
THE NATURE OF THE TRUE CHRISTIAN FAITH
It is "a personal struggle for gradual self-perfection".
Metropolitan Anthony, id.
"Christianity is an ascetic religion, a teaching on gradual liberation from the passions, on the means and conditions of gradual acquisition of virtues, conditions both internal, that is, personal struggle, and external, that is, dogmatic tenets and grace-filled Mysteries, all having one purpose: to heal human sinfulness and lead us to perfection." (emphases suppled)
Metropolitan Anthony, id.
THE FIRST PROTESTANTS
"In this the Latinists are completely wrong. They themselves are rationalists, and yet they accuse others of rationalism; they themselves were Protestants from the first moment of their falling away, and yet they condemn the spontaneous rebellion of their rebellious brothers. On the other hand, while they have every right to return the accusation, the Protestants are unable to do so because they themselves are no more than developers of the Roman teaching. The only difference is that they have adopted it to suit themselves."
Blessed Alexei Khomiakov, ON THE WESTERN CONFESSIONS OF FAITH
AUTHORITY IS FOREIGN TO THE TRUE CHURCH!
"No - the Church is not an authority, just as God is not an authority and Christ is not an authority, since authority is something external (emphasis supplied) to us. The Church is not an authority, I say, but the truth - and at the same time the inner life of the Christian, since God, Christ, the Church, live in him with a life more real than the heart which is beating in his breast or the blood flowing in his veins. But they are alive in him only insofar as he himself is living by the ecumenical life of love and unity, i.e., by the life of the Church. Such is the blindness of the Western sects that, up to now, not one of them has understood how radically the ground on which they stand differs from that on which the original Church has been standing from earliest times, and on which she will stand eternally."
Khomiakov, ibid.
THE CHURCH CANNOT BE FOUND IN RATIONALISM
"Such is the teaching of the Ecumenical Orthodox Church, and I say boldly that no one will find in it the seeds of rationalism.... Whoever seeks beyond (emphasis supplied) hope and faith for any guarantee of the spirit of love is already a rationalist. For him the Church, too, is unthinkable, since he is already, in his whole spirit, plunged in doubt."
Khomiakov, id.
WHO IS THE TRUE ISRAEL AND DOES IT INCLUDE THOSE WHO HAVE ABANDONED THE FAITH?
"We must never forget that the Fathers of the Church considered themselves to be the true spiritual children of Abraham, that the Church considered itself to be the New Israel... (and when we speak of Israel we mean the true (emphasis supplied) Israel, the spiritual sons of Abraham, those who have the faith given by God to His chosen people, not those who have abandoned this faith. The real sons of Abraham are the Church of Christ, and not those carnal descendants, the Jewish race)."
Blessed Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros, RIVER OF FIRE, in VI & VII, respectively, 1980. THE RIVER OF FIRE
HOW DID THE DEVIL SLANDER GOD?
"He used 'theology'. He first introduced a slight alteration in theology which, once it was accepted, he managed to increase more and more to the degree that Christianity became completely unrecognizable. This is what we call 'Western theology'."
RIVER OF FIRE, ibid., II.
WHAT IS WESTERN THEOLOGY'S PRIMARY CHARACTERISTIC?
"Did you ever try to pinpoint what is the principal characteristic of Western theology? Well, its principal characteristic is that it considers God as the real cause of all evil (emphasis supplied)."
RIVER OF FIRE, id.
RAISED FROM THE DEAD BY PRAYER
[Editorial Comment: Christ many times operates through strangers/unbelievers. Please see St. John of Kronstadt below "REMEMBER THE LORD IS WITHIN STRANGERS!" This spiritual occurrence could well be the Lord's wondrous doing because, after all "only God could stop decomposition and reunite the soul and body of a man four days dead. Announcing to His disciples the death of Lazarus, the Saviour says, 'And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent that ye believe' (John xi, 15). As on Mount Tabor He showed His glory to His disciples in His Transfiguration, lest they be tempted when they saw Him crucified, so here also, on His way to voluntary death, He shows Himself a 'Vanquisher of death', raising a man four days in the grave, to strengthen thereby faith in His Divine omnipotence and give a pledge to His disciples of His future Resurrection, and to all people - of the general resurrection of the dead. 'Since the first fruits of general resurrection is the Resurrection of Christ, by raising Lazarus the Lord gave an assurance of His own Resurrection'. Therefore, this miracle was performed not only for the disciples, but also for the people, as testifying to the future fate of all mankind and proof of the general resurrection of the dead. And to prevent any doubts in those who were not present and could not witness the miracle, it is reproduced in all details in the Gospels and in the icon." Leonid Ouspensky and Vladimir Lossky, THE MEANING OF ICONS, THE RAISING OF LAZARUS icon, Russsian, XVIth century, p. 176. PERHAPS IN THIS FLORIDA CASE THE LORD IS REMINDING US OF HIS POWER, HIS COMING AGAIN AND THE GENERAL RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD!]
SHOULD A TRUE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN ENGAGE IN 'DISCUSSIONS' ON SO-CALLED ORTHODOX CHAT-ROOMS?
Suggestion:
DO YOU BELIEVE IN CHRIST?
A recent survey found that 29% of Orthodox Christians do not believe in God. Unbelievable! But if so, they aren't Christians, are they? If you are one of these, repent now and start anew down the Royal Path to deification in His energies! It is not too late, but it will be if you die before repentance.
THE 'MIND' OF THE FATHERS KNOWS NO CONFLICT
"What was it that above all struck me in the works of the Fathers of the Orthodox Church? It was their harmony, their wondrous, magnificent harmony. Eighteen centuries, through their lips, testified to a single unanimous teaching, a Divine teaching!"
St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) [cited Orthodox Christian Information Center]
'SCIENTIFIC' THEOLOGIANS OF THIS WORLD TRANSMIT UNBELIEF NOT THE TRUE FAITH!
"Todays theologians have become scientists, like the doctors, chemists and engineers, because by presenting themselves as such they will be honored by the world. And they go to Europe, the place of spiritual darkness, to receive a degree. They stuff their heads with a multitude of ungrounded and vain philosophies, and come to our land to transmit their unbelief instead of the Faith.... They do not enter into the Heavenly Kingdom, and hinder others from entering, as our Lord has said. Their punishment is that they do not see any of the wondrous things that are seen by believers, and hence they lack contrition and are cold. They are separated from God and His Kingdom, because they love the glory of men, instead of the glory of God (Semeion Mega, A Great Sign, 1962, pp. 16-17)."
Blessed Photios Kontoglou, cited by Constantine Cavarnos in his MEETINGS WITH KONTOGLOU
ARE WE SPIRITUALLY SHALLOW?
A recent survey result suggested American 'religion' is "3000 miles long and three inches deep". How sad, but true! Obviously, due in large part to heretical ecumenism. Let's not follow the crowd awaiting the antichrist. Dive into your Orthodoxy and discover its immeasurable depth!
SPIRITUAL DELUSION RESULTING IN BLASPHEMY
"As an example of a book written in the state of delusion called opinion, we cite the following:
'When Francis was caught up to heaven,' says a writer of his life, 'God the Father, on seeing him, was for a moment in doubt as to whom to give the preference, to His Son by nature or by His son by grace - Francis.'
What can be more frightful or madder than this blasphemy, what can be sadder than this delusion!"
St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) commenting on a writer of a book on the life of Francis of Assisi in THE ARENA, (translated from the Russian by Archimandrite Lazarus), Holy Trinity Monastery, 1997, p. 40.
A CRITICAL READ - INFALLIBILITY!
INFALLIBILITY AND VALID COUNCILS - "Not only are ecclesiastical councils, or even the whole Church, infallible when they think and judge in accordance with the divine law which declares or reveals the divine will, but every member even of the Church is likewise infallible when he thinks and judges in accordance with the Holy Scriptures. Nevertheless, this infallibility is mainly an attribute of the divine law, of the Holy Spirit, by coming into agreement with which a man comes into communion with His thought and judgment and becomes infallible. Again, wherever there is infallibility, there also is validity. Hence it is to be concluded that those Councils are valid and command respect in the Church whose decrees when judged by the infallible law of the Holy Scriptures and of tradition are found to be consonant and similar and to vary therefrom neither in the direction of an excess nor by way of a deficiency in the least manner whatsoever. Their dogmas bear an obligatory character, and are obligatory upon all the Church. Accordingly, these Councils are called infallible and God-inspired."
THE RUDDER, pp.xv-xvi.
INVALID COUNCILS - "But those Councils, on the other hand, whose decrees when judged by the criterion of the Holy Scriptures and of tradition are found to depart from and to differ from Scripture and of tradition are not conceived in Holy Spirit, but in a Satanical spirit, regardless of whether they have been convoked by or composed of bishops or patriarchs or popes, or whether they have been sanctioned by imperial edicts." ibid., p. xvi.
WHAT COUNCILS THEN ARE VALID? - "When judged by this infallible principle the seven holy Ecumenical Councils are found to have been in all respects God-inspired and infallible and valid. Their dogmas, moreover, are recognized in the Church and in her theology as a criterion for later conciliar decrees, which in the course of the life of the Church naturally arise and are invested with the same validity and have the same authority as the dogmas and doctrines embodied in the Holy Scriptures." id.
[For a somewhat fuller discussion, see CONCILIARITY, CANONICAL HIERARCHY & INFALLIBILITY]
TRUE CHRISTIANS DON'T FOLLOW THE MARKETPLACE
"Thus, as briefly as possible I have set forth for you our love of wisdom, which is dogmatical and not dialectical, in the manner of the fishermen and not of Aristotle, spiritually and not cleverly woven, according to the rules of the Church and not of the marketplace."
St. Gregory the Theologian (of Nazianzus)
SPIRITUAL STANDING OF THE RUDDER (PEDALION) SECOND ONLY TO
THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS
"This Handbook, in effect, is next after the Holy Scriptures a holy Scripture, and next after the Old and New Testaments a Testament... This book, it may be said, is replete with the everlasting bounds set by our Fathers, and the laws which endure forever and which are above all external and imperial laws of the Digests, of the Institutes, of the Codes, and of the Novels for the latter were issued by mere emperors, whereas the former were laid down by Councils, ecumenical and regional, through the Holy Spirit, and emperors ratified them. This book is truly, as we have entitled it, the Rudder of the Catholic Church, which when thereby steered, conveys the sailors and passengers in it, those in holy orders, I mean, as well as laymen, safely to the unruffled haven of the Kingdom above."
The Rudder, p. Li.
PATRIARCH JEREMIAH IN HIS THIRD ANSWER TO THE SPIRITUALLY-DELUDED LUTHERAN SCHOLARS OF TUBINGEN
"Therefore, we request that from henceforth you do not cause us more grief, nor write to us on the same subject if you should wish to treat these luminaries and theologians of the Church in a different manner. You honor and exalt them in words, but you reject them in deeds. For you try to prove our weapons which are their holy and divine discourses as unsuitable. And it is with these documents that we would have to write and contradict you. Thus, as for you, please release us from these cares. Therefore, going about your own ways, write no longer concerning dogmas; but if you do, write only for friendship's sake. Farewell."
Jeremiah, Patriarch of Constantinople
Protonotarios Theodosios
George Mastrantonis, AUGSBURG AND CONSTANTINOPLE, p. 306. [Nevertheless, the somewhat full of themselves Lutherans just had to write again...]
AMISH GRACE & MARTYRDOM
"He said, 'I'm angry at God and I need to punish some Christian girls to get even with Him.'... He then turned to the girls: 'I'm going to make you pay for my daughter.' One of two thirteen-year-olds in the room quickly assumed leadership of the younger girls, doing everything she could to help them. Realizing he planned to kill them, she said, 'Shoot me first,' hoping to save the others and fulfilling her duty to watch over the little ones in her care." [She died there that day as well as four others.] The massacre at Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, October 2006, see the book Amish Grace by Kraybill, Nolt, Weaver-Zercher, John Wiley & Sons, 2007, pp. 25-27.
AVOID PRIDE
"But I will confess that I am somehow suspicious of the Greeks. They have no lack of zeal or freedom (the two great reproaches brought against them by the Latins); but they cannot get rid of a dangerous inheritance from Antiquity. They are Christians, but they are, perhaps, unconsciously too proud of their having been useful to the Church; Christianity belongs too much to their national history, and their hearts are not completely free from a certain un-Christian aristocratic feeling which makes them look down on other Christian nations, though
Orthodox, as their inferiors. This feeling is akin to the one that has given rise to the Latin usurpation. Though being checked by a deeper understanding of the true doctrine, it cannot go the whole lengths it has gone in the West, yet it is not completely conquered; and it gives the Greeks that unbending stubbornness and that unamiable disposition which you have noticed and experienced."
Eighth Letter to William Palmer from Alexei Khomiakov
REMEMBER THE LORD IS WITHIN STRANGERS!
"Remember that the Lord is in every Christian. When your neighbour comes to you, always have great respect for him, because the Lord is in him, and often expresses His will through him. 'It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure' (Phil. 2:13). Therefore, do not grudge anything to your brother, but do unto him as unto the Lord; especially as you do not know in whom the Lord will come and visit you; be impartial to all, be kind to all, sincere and hospitable. Remember that sometimes God speaks even through unbelievers, or disposes their hearts towards us, as it happened in Egypt when the Lord gave Joseph favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. (Gen. 39:21)."
St. John Kronstadt
'CORRECTNESS' IS NOT THE ESSENCE OF ORTHODOXY
"The significance of the Catacomb Church does not lie in its 'correctness'; it lies in its preservation of the true spirit of Orthodoxy, the spirit of freedom in Christ."
DEFINITION OF HUMILITY
"Humility is constant forgetfulness of one's achievements."
St. John Climacus
GOD SENDS US SUFFERING AS A SPIRITUAL MEDICINE, NOT A PUNISHMENT!
"The suffering and misfortune that the Lord allows to fall on the righteous is not the work of evil but a medicine, both for the righteous themselves and for those around them who understand that their suffering is sent from God for their good.
Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich
GOD'S FIELD IS INDESTRUCTIBLE!
"Today the tares are very many and the ears of wheat very few, but the field is God's field, and in spite of the variety of tares, the wheat remains the same from generation to generation, from seed to seed, the same as that first wheat which the Holy Spirit planted in that same divine field on the day of Pentecost." Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros, AGAINST FALSE UNION, p. 23.
COMPROMISE WITH HERETICS?
"The Fathers did not enter into discussions with heretics. They confessed the truth and refuted their claims without courteousness and compliments. They never arrived at mutual understandings with heretical 'churches'. Their dialogue was always public and had a view to the salvation and edification of souls. The Orthodox Church did not converse with 'churches' of the heretics. It was not a discussion of the Church with churches, but a dialogue between the Church and souls who had lost their way. The Church does not discuss, for she does not seek. She simply gives - because she has everything." Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros, AGAINST FALSE UNION, p. 6.
"Christ does not ask for debaters, but for confessors. The truth which He taught us is not the kind that is debatable."
Kalomiros, ibid.
And so it happened that the Communist torturer who had tortured this priest nearly to
death had been tortured nearly to death by his comrades. And he was dying near me. His
soul was in agony. During the night he would awaken me saying, 'Pastor, please pray for me. I can't die, I
have committed such terrible crimes.'
"And if there is not deeply-rooted malice against us within him, but only a temporary fit of anger, you will see how his heart, or his malice, will melt away through your kindness and love - how good will conquer evil.
"A Christian must always be kind, gracious and wise in order to conquer evil by good."
Many residents of Tskhinvali saw the Holy Virgin during the shelling, the local bishop claims
"He comes either as an infant, or a child advancing in age, or as one fully grown after the example of the cluster. Christ is never seen with the same form upon the vine, but He changes His form with time - now budding, now blossoming, now mature, now ripe and finally as wine.
" Thus the vine holds out a promise with its fruit. It is not yet ripe for wine, but it awaits maturity. Meanwhile it does not lack in any delight, for it gladdens our sense of smell instead of our taste with its expectation of the future; by its fragrance of hope it sweetens the soul's senses.
"A faith firm in a grace we hope for becomes a delight for us who wait in patience."
"Understanding the Lord's will, then, do not be discouraged because of your inability to practice asceticism, but strive all the more to be delivered from the enemy through prayer and patient thanksgiving.
"If thoughts of weakness and distress force you to leave the city of fasting, take refuge in another city (cf. Matt. 10:23) - that is, in prayer and thanksgiving."
"What good did calling Abraham his father do to that rich man frying in the unquenchable flame for his pitilessness towards Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)?
"What use was his apparent obedience to the invitation to that man who had failed to acquire through good works a garment fitting for the divine wedding and the bridechamber of immortality? He was invited and approached because he clearly believed, and he sat down alongside those holy guests, but when he was convicted and put to shame for being clothed in depraved habits and deeds, he was mercilessly bound hand and foot, and cast into hellfire, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 22:11-14)."
In the 'underdeveloped' countries where the people still lack the finesse of culture, everyone more or less expresses his inner world with some freedom and simplicity which you cannot find in Europe. Their manners are coarse, but the people are more genuine. In Europe this is considered a lack of culture and spiritual development.
In this way, the constant game of hypocrisy has come to be regarded as culture, where the white-washed tombs are full of stench, and the outside of the cup always cleaned for the sake of the appearance to the people (emphasis supplied).... The sentiments they nurture for people are inferior to the love they have for their dogs....
This is the European. Whatever religion he thinks he might have, deep down his religion is the worship of the idol 'man'. The European has ceased to see the image of God in man: he sees only the image of himself.... This inward will of man to believe in his own divinity, together with the fact of his submission to the demonic powers, is the basis of every (emphasis supplied) form of idolatry."
The lowest Russian beggar, or even a half-believing native, a recent convert who has yet completely parted with his pagan practices, can tell good from evil better than the moral authorities of the thousand-year old Western culture, a dismal mess of the shreds of Christianity with the delusions of antiquity."
No. What is to be gained by such dialogue? Everything has been revealed by Christ, and the Fathers are our custodians of His Ship, whose Rudder guides us spiritually and protects us from life's dangerous shoals and fast currents. Read the Scriptures and the Fathers along with the accepted Orthodox Councils. Then adapt your life accordingly. That's all you need.
Go to Orthodoxy's true sources and drink from Its inexhaustible spiritual well! Then you will have no time to engage in such vacuous discussions that many times permeate the Net's chat-rooms.
Issued in the year 1581, June 6
Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose) in the Introduction to RUSSIA's CATACOMB SAINTS by I.M. Andreyev, St. Herman of Alaska Press, 1982, 650 pages
[still out of print it is believed]
[But see the internet copy Ivan Andreyev, RUSSIA'S CATACOMB SAINTS]
The suffering that comes from the attacks of evil spirits on man, or as a consequence of sin, is evil. But the suffering that God allows to fall on men, in order to cleanse them completely from sin, pluck them out from under the devil's tyranny and bring them close to Himself - this purifying suffering neither comes from evil nor is in itself evil, but is from God and for the good of men.
'It is good for me that Thou hast afflicted me; that I might learn Thine ordinances' (Ps. 118:71), says the discerning King David."
Iconography
n= 20 spiritual articles/links on Orthodox Iconography
Jesus Prayer & Hesychasm
n= 23 spiritual articles on the Jesus Prayer & Hesychasm
True Orthodox Benedictines - Statement of Faith/Orthodox Benedictine Reading Sources (n= 23)
A Short Biography of St. James the Just
Christ the Cornerstone
[Orthodox Spiritual Links (n= 80)]
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU BOOKMARK THIS
PAGE AS A RESOURCE YOU CAN RETURN TO FOR MORE INFORMATION.
(PRESS ctrl-D TO BOOKMARK THIS PAGE NOW.)
Sir Lancelot C. L. Brenton's translation of THE SEPTUAGINT WITH APOCRYPHA (in Greek and English, Hendrickson Publishers)
THE GREEK-ENGLISH NEW TESTAMENT,
THE AUTHORISED KING JAMES VERSION BIBLE (WITH APOCRYPHA) OF 1611
CANONS OF THE HOLY FATHERS [WITH INTERPRETATIONS, FROM "THE RUDDER (PEDALION)"]
CANONS OF THE FIRST SEVEN ECUMENICAL COUNCILS [WITH INTERPRETATIONS, FROM "THE RUDDER"]
CANONS OF THE REGIONAL SYNODS [WITH INTERPRETATIONS, FROM "THE RUDDER (PEDALION)"]
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. XIV,
THE FIRST SEVEN ECUMENICAL COUNCILS .
ADDED TO BUT ARTICLES ARE NEVER REMOVED
Sir Lancelot C.L. Brenton's translation of THE SEPTUAGINT WITH APOCRYPHA, (in Greek and English, Hendrickson Publishers)
AUTHORISED KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE OF 1611 (Old & New Testaments plus the Apocrypha)
CANONS OF THE HOLY FATHERS (with interpretations from THE RUDDER)
CANONS OF THE SEVEN ECUMENICAL COUNCILS (with interpretations from THE RUDDER)
CANONS OF THE REGIONAL SYNODS (with interpretations from THE RUDDER)
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. XIV
THE FIRST SEVEN ECUMENICAL COUNCILS
THE GREEK-ENGLISH NEW TESTAMENT
THE WORKS OF JOSEPHUS
THE DIDACHE (late first century)
EUSEBIUS, THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
THE SHEPHERD OF HERMAS
(Lightfoot translation)
ST. JOHN OF DAMASCUS, AN EXACT EXPOSITION OF THE ORTHODOX FAITH
PATRIARCH JEREMIAS II, THE THREE ANSWERS
to the Lutheran Scholars of Tubingen in the 16th century
ST. ATHANASIUS, THE INCARNATION OF THE WORD OF GOD
CATECHISM OF ST. PHILARET (DROZDOV) OF MOSCOW
AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE MONKS ON MT. ATHOS (DECEMBER, 2006)
ABOUT THE GREATEST HERESY OF ALL - ECUMENISM -
AND THE PERSECUTION OF GOD-FEARING MONKS
Protopresbyter Fr. Michael Pomanansky, ORTHODOX DOGMATIC THEOLOGY
ST. BASIL THE GREAT, ON THE HOLY SPIRIT
ST. PHOTIOS THE GREAT,
MYSTAGOGY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
ST. IGNATIUS (BRIANCHANINOV),
ON PRACTICING THE JESUS PRAYER
Fr. Dr. Photios (W), THE FILIOQUE CLAUSE: ITS USAGE IS HERESY - NO DOUBT ABOUT IT!
Fr. Dr. Photios (W), THIS WORLD AND THAT WHICH IS NOT OF THIS WORLD
Fr. Dr. Photios (W), THE 'REBEL' NUNS OF SHAMORDINO: THEY SHAME US ALL!!
Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, PREPARING FOR THE UNDERGROUND CHURCH
[Invaluable information for us as we enter the last days - we need this advice from one who suffered for 14 years under Communist tyranny. The days of Christian persecution are coming to America: be ready! Russians: Return to the Catacombs! Your 'freedom' is illusory!]
ST. GREGORY THE GREAT OF ROME, SECOND DIALOGUE (LIFE OF SAINT BENEDICT OF NURSIA)
ALEXEI KHOMIAKOV, THE CHURCH IS ONE
DR. ALEXANDRE KALOMIROS, THE RIVER OF FIRE
DR. ALEXANDRE KALOMIROS, AGAINST FALSE UNION
DR. ALEXANDRE KALOMIROS, THE TOUCHSTONE
THE VENERABLE BEDE'S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF ENGLAND
ENCYCLICAL OF THE EASTERN PATRIARCHS, 1848
THE WORKS OF ST. JOHN CASSIAN
OLD JORDANVILLE PRAYERBOOK
CONVERSATION OF ST. SERAPHIM OF SAROV WITH NICHOLAS MOTOVILOV
ST. INNOCENT OF ALASKA, THE WAY INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
Hieromonk Patapios, A TRADITIONALIST CRITIQUE OF THE ORTHODOX FAITH
ALEXEI KHOMIAKOV, ON THE WESTERN CONFESSIONS OF FAITH
THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS, EARLY CHURCH FATHERS, ANTE-NICENE FATHERS, VOL. I
THE PILGRIMAGE OF ETHERIA
ST. VINCENT OF LERINS, EXCERPTS FROM HIS A COMMONITORY
FREE MASONRY COMPARED TO CHRISTIANITY
ARCHBISHOP CYPRIANUS OF CYPRUS, THE APHORISM AGAINST FREE MASONRY (FEB 2, 1815)
Patrick Barnes, THE NON-ORTHODOX
(The Orthodox Teaching on Christians Outside of the Church)
PATRIARCH JEREMIAS II & OTHERS
IN COUNCIL, THE SIGILLION OF 1583
PATRISTICS MASTER LIST
CONFESSIONS OF ST. PATRICK
Miriam Lambouras, THE MARIAN APPARITIONS: DIVINE INTERVENTION OR DELUSION?
Maturshka Katherine Swanson, JOURNEY TO MEDJUGORJE
THE MARTYRDOM OF POLYCARP
THE PROTOEVANGELIUM OF JAMES (THE JUST)
ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM'S HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF ST. JOHN
ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM'S HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF ST. MATTHEW
VARIOUS WRITINGS OF ARCHBISHOP AVERKY OF BLESSED MEMORY
Fr. Seraphim Rose, HOLY FATHERS OF ORTHODOX SPIRITUALITY
(Part I: The Inspiration and Sure Guide to True Christianity Today
Part II: How to Read the Holy Fathers
Part III: How not to Read the Holy Fathers)
ST. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM, THE MYSTAGOGICS: FIVE POST-BAPTISMAL CATECHETICAL ORATIONS
Fr. Dr. Photios (W), NUMBERS MEAN NOTHING: RETREAT TO THE CATACOMBS!
Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, WITH MY OWN EYES
Ludmilla Perepiolkina, Dr. Phil., ECUMENISM - A PATH TO PERDITION
Rene-Francois Guettee, THE PAPACY (a must read)
Fr. Dr. Photios (W), DEVELOP OUR OWN 'VIRTUAL CATACOMBS'!
BROTHER JOSEPH: A MAN CHOSEN BY THE VIRGIN MARY
(keeper of the Wonder-working Iverian icon of Montreal and one martyred in blood)
Fr. Dr. Photios (W), CONCILIARITY, CANONICAL HIERARCHY & INFALLIBILITY
Ivan Andreyev, RUSSIA'S CATACOMB SAINTS
45 chapters in English, book still out of print, a must read!
A WORD ABOUT DONATIONS We do not solicit or accept any. This site is entirely free!