Here’s one example.
What Does the Gospel Accomplish?
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Clerical Dress and American Worship
This might not be a very popular post …
Schmemann began his book For the Life of the World with the phrase “Man is what he eats,” quoting the German philosopher Feuerbach. In a similar fashion (wait for the pun), I believe that “man is what he wears.”
Yes, friends, the way we dress matters. It shapes and transforms the way we think, the way we work, the way we act and – most importantly for the Christian – the way we worship. While the rationalism of our Enlightenment culture might deny the effects of “matter” (you know, earthy stuff), simply denying the reality of something doesn’t make it true. Everyone knows that when you dress professionally, you are more productive and focused at work, and that dressing in a casual manner actually reduces productivity and the mental faculties of the average person – these are widely accepted viewpoints, it seems. In a similar way, surrounding yourself with certain decorations or trappings can affect the way one thinks and acts, as well. Aesthetics matter.
A Way that Seems Right – A Meditation on St Mark of Ephesus
It would be safe to say that receiving the approval of others is highly desired among most people today.
This applies not only in one’s “personal life” (if one actually has one) but also in their “professional life,” where the careful manipulation and posturing of relationships can be the “key to success,” so to speak. The scariest part about this is that when we begin to segment our lives along such boundaries (personal and professional), the lines between these aspects of our life become blurred and things begin to overlap.
While it may be considered clever and even acceptable to manipulate people in a professional environment in order to be “successful” (for example, “buddying up” with the right executive or senior employee in a company in order to leverage that relationship for career advancement, even if that means doing things or being in situations a Christian should not), most people would hopefully agree that in your “personal life,” people are to be treated fairly and as you would wish to be treated – with honesty, love, dignity and respect. Unfortunately, however, the lines are blurred and we are now manipulating everyone around us and simply “using people” for personal gain. Things like truth take a backseat in such meanderings and it is easy to see how this lifestyle can cause a person to degenerate to the point of pure selfishness. We live only for ourselves, and we only seek that which is a benefit for ourselves in this life. It is the very disposition that reached for the prized fruit of Eden and took a big bite.
To Destroy Augustine
“To destroy Augustine, as today’s critics are trying to do, is to help to destroy also this piety and love for Christ – these are too ‘simple’ for today’s intellectuals (even though they also claim to be ‘pious’ in their own way). Today it is Augustine; tomorrow (and it’s already begun) the attack will be on the ‘simple’ bishops and priests of our Church. The anti-Augustine movement is a step towards schism and further disorders in the Orthodox Church.”
Fr Seraphim Rose, The Place of Blessed Augustine in the Orthodox Church, p. 100
What to Read as an “Orthodox Inquirer”
As a follow up to my previous post, I thought it might be helpful to provide a “recommended reading” list for those who are at varying points on their journey to the Orthodox Church.
This list won’t necessarily be objective or even a “perfect” list that will be helpful to everyone, irrespective of their background, experiences, etc. However, for those who are, 1. Somewhat familiar with basic theological concepts and the Scriptures, and, 2. Coming from a Protestant background, these are the things I would personally endorse (at least as a starting point).
As a disclaimer, I should emphasize that beyond reading some helpful books and other ancient works, actually experiencing Orthodox prayer and worship (so far as the non-Orthodox can experience it) is absolutely essential. In other words, one should be regularly attending services at an Orthodox parish, be in communication with and under the careful, spiritual guidance/oversight of an Orthodox priest and also regularly engaged in a prayer rule (even if it is just as simple as the Trisagion prayers or the Lord’s Prayer every day).
Without these elements, you are just “puffing up” and wasting your time. You will, by no means, actually understand or begin to experience the fullness of the Orthodox Church. In fact, you might even be calloused against it, and the Evil One will likely try to use this experience (separated from the Life of the Church) to arouse doubt, suspicion and animosity with regards to the ancient Faith (from which you may never recover). Approaching the Orthodox Church is not a merely intellectual endeavor – it requires the nous and the devotion of one’s heart (the whole self).
Book Review: “Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy”
I normally don’t think about this sort of thing in great detail, but since I’m presently spending time with a catechumen on a regular basis, I’m developing a “mental list” of the top 10 or so books one should recommend to an inquirer of the Orthodox Faith. This book is one of those 10, and it might even be in the top five.
Fr Andrew Stephen (Damick) is the protos of an Orthodox parish in Emmaus, PA and has a series of podcasts (available here) on various Orthodox topics – most of which are particularly helpful for those outside of the Orthodox Church or relatively new to it. His book Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy (available here and here) is an expansion and codification of one of those podcast series by the same name.
I Love Religion
I’m glad that Fr Andrew replied to this silly video – it saves me a lot of trouble.
Regardless, a key here is that simply saying “All I need is Jesus, not religion” is the most complicated religion of all, for all it does is pose an infinite amount of follow-up questions: Which Jesus? Who is Jesus? What did he do? Why do I need him? How do I live for him? etc.
Tim Tebow and the Saints
The recent Tim Tebow fascination and hysteria (among evangelicals, especially) is a reminder of the fact that most Americans (especially American, evangelical Christians) are held captive by Iconoclasm.
As C.S. Lewis once pointed out, when there is no king or monarch to venerate (honor), people will seek out celebrities and even deviants to hold up as worthy of honor. This, of course, explains the American fascination (voyeurism) with regards to celebrities (TMZ, Entertainment Tonight, People magazine, etc.) as well as “reality television” – a most horrendous form of entertainment where literally anyone can be venerated for simply pretending to live their day-to-day lives in front of a television camera.
Becoming a Christian
There are few things more exciting for an Orthodox Christian than to see someone they know become interested in the Orthodox faith and to seek to unite themselves to the ancient Church of the Apostles – in other words, to “become a Christian.”
It is during these times, when I’m speaking with an inquirer or catechumen (as I also once was, not too terribly long ago), that I am especially re-invigorated in my own personal relationship with Christ and His Church. It brings back a host of memories (both positive and negative) as well as the blessed opportunity to discuss the faith openly with a captive and rather interested audience.
Of course, when speaking to a friend that is interested in the Orthodox faith, the topic of how to “become a Christian” (or “convert,” if you will) is one of utmost importance. It is to this topic that I will devote this short post.
Against “Super-Correctness”
“‘Traditionalism’ is not the same thing as the real traditional outlook.”
René Guénon, Crisis of the Modern World
“Fanaticism hinders a man’s understanding, but true faith gives it freedom.”
St. Macarius of Optina
The Gospel According to Tobit
The Book of Tobit is no less than the venerable and Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ.
By this, I mean that it tells the story of a Father sending His only Son into the world to redeem a bride, saving her from the curse of death. In addition to this, we are treated with some of the best parental advice ever given, a theology on angels (specifically, Archangels), a prelude to Christ’s sermon on the Mount of Olives, and much, much more.
As a result, it is not at all surprising that the anti-Christian Jews would have this book stricken from their Scriptural canon. It proves too much; it shows too much; it makes plain that the Gospel is true and that Jesus of Nazareth – the one they had murdered – was the Messiah; the prophesied “Anointed One” of Israel.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God – Born in a Cave
“But when the Child was born in Bethlehem, since Joseph could not find a lodging in that village, he took up his quarters in a certain cave near the village; and while they were there Mary brought forth the Christ and placed Him in a manger, and here the Magi who came from Arabia found Him.”
St Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter 78
Putting the “Mass” Back into Christmas (and Other Bumper Sticker Ideas)
I’ve seen a lot of rather lovely blog posts, articles, etc. from fellow Orthodox Christians these days regarding the Christmas holiday season.
Of course, living in America (or the secular West in general) during Christmas season means having to endure countless references to an elven “Santa” figure – a mythical product of Evangel-o-Deistic-Protestant-Capital-ism where one of the Church’s most holy, upright and Godly Saints is turned into an enduring symbol for capitalism and materialistic consumption – Lord, have mercy!
In addition to this, we must also endure the predictable rants of evangelicals as they lament over the usage of phrases like “Happy Holidays!” instead of “Merry Christmas!” as well as “Xmas” on Twitter.
God is a Fire
“God is a fire that warms and kindles the heart and inward parts. And so, if we feel in our hearts coldness, which is from the devil – for the devil is cold – then let us call upon the Lord, and He will come and warm our hearts with perfect love not only for Him, but for our neighbor as well. And from the presence of warmth the coldness of the hater of good will be driven away.”
St Seraphim of Sarov, Spiritual Instructions
The Miracle of Mount Tabor
Some of you will remember Archbishop Nikolai of the Patriarchal Jurisdiction who was bishop in this area a long time ago. When I was visiting him one time, he told me how it was when he was an archimandrite in the Middle East a very long time ago. In those days, he always had to go to Mount Tabor to serve the Liturgy on this feast-day [Feast of the Holy Transfiguration (Aug. 6/19)].
Jesus Didn’t Perform Miracles
“At that time, as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David.’ When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then he touched their eyes, saying, ‘According to your faith be it done to you.’ And their eyes were opened.”
Gospel According to St Matthew, Chapter 9
I can remember hearing this passage over and over again as I grew up, all the while thinking “look at this miracle Jesus performed!”
Jesus didn’t perform a miracle in this passage. Miracle implies that this was something super-natural or out of the ordinary – something not according to normalcy; not according to plan, so to speak.
However, the healing of pain, sickness, disease and all infirmity is inextricably linked with the Gospel itself. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a Gospel of resurrection and triumph over death. “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death; And upon those in the tomb, bestowing life.”
