We are not a living body that contains a soul

 We are a living soul that dwells within a body!

     

 Friday, August 31, 2007

                  

 

 

 

 

 

                                    The Church Grows!

 

 

In the book of the Apocalypse or the Revelation, St. John writes “to the seven churches in Asia”.  These churches are: the church in Ephesus, the church in Smyrna, the church in Pergamum, the church in Thyatira, the church in Sardis, the church in Philadelphia, and the church in Laodicea.

Thus we have some recognition of churches being orderly and of the same mind. There were others of course and we will discuss them later.

         The Impact of Christianity on History:

 

The first four centuries of the Christian era were among the most creative. The victory of Christianity over the persecutions was revolutionary for both the Roman Empire and the European civilization that was to follow. It was during this period that the Church achieved a certain self-identity and self-awareness, which has since become the norm for Orthodoxy. In the beginning, the Church was without a New Testament.

 

Scripture simply meant the Old Testament. Increasingly, the Church recognized the need to bring together all of the writings of apostolic origin or inspiration into a single canon. To this day, this collection of twenty-seven books still constitutes the total apostolic witness for the Church and is identical with our present day New Testament.

 

Thus we can say that the most significant events in the history of Christianity during this period was its transformation into a religion of two Testaments. These writings were acknowledged and received by the community of the Church because they coincided with its own Tradition and the witness of the Holy Spirit indwelling in its midst since Pentecost.

 

Christians, strictly speaking, lived solely by these Traditions decades before the content of the New Testament was determined. Scripture in the Orthodox Church is routinely interpreted within the context of Tradition. Father Georges Florovsky famously argued, “It is within this larger setting of the Church’s living memory (Tradition) that Scripture discloses its authentic message.”

 

I humbly hope and pray that you will accept this news with love and understanding. Reflect on its truth. Research it with an open mind in order to see the truth and if in fact any part of these letters that touches on any teaching that you are currently receiving and is shown to you to be true,

 

 

Then you will give up yourself, your pride, and your ego in this area and give it to the truth of Jesus Christ and change your life accordingly.

 

This is sent with the love of Christ for you from me.

 

As always, all comments and questions are welcome, send them to me at;

gary@newwarriorministries.com.

     

Monk Michael

A humble servant of Jesus Christ

 

 

 

 

 

On the Web at: http://www.newwarriorministries.com

Email: monkmichael@newwarriorministries.com

Phone: (803) 377-1244

Chester, SC

 

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