|
We are what you once were.
We believe what you once believed.
We worship as you once worshiped.
If you were right
then, we are right now.
If we are wrong now, you were wrong
then.
A Canonical Orthodox Church of World
Wide Orthodox
 A Monk's Wisdom!
Monastic Library † Teachings of the Fathers, Monks, and Saints
From St. Michael's Monastery of the American Orthodox Church
Where is your heart, in whom do you trust in these hard times the world is living in?
My friends, harsh times and hard living are not new to the world, at all times throughout history there have been hard times. Think about the dinosaurs, total extinction, this is hard times don't you think?
Noah's flood, this is the worst extermination of the human race that I
am aware of. The world which was created by God has fallen and is suffering
because of that fall. This does not take away from the beauty of God's
creation in the physical sense. It is the spiritual sense, the world system
that is condemned, there can never be a complete and Godly peace on earth
until Christ comes again.
It is up to us who believe to display the love of God while we are here so that those who do not believe may become believers. The world system works against Christianity, Jesus said; 'the world hates you because it first hated me'. In the Gospel of the Apostle John we read; John. 14: 28 You have heard that I said to you: I go away, and I come unto you. If
you loved me, you would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father: for
the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it comes
to pass: that when it shall come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will not now speak many things with you. For the prince of
this world cometh, and in me he hath not any thing.
We are to overcome the world system through the practice of our faith in
Christ regardless of our circumstances, this is the battle grounds, this
is where we prove our faith no matter what the outcome is for us here.
Remember the man Job, he was a man of God and loved by God, the richest
man known in the area in which he lived, in the space of less than one
hour the man Job lost everything, all of his children and grandchildren
were killed, all of his servants were killed, all of his cattle and sheep
were lost. Only he and his wife survived and then his wife turned to him
and said; 'why don't you just curse God and die'.
Job ended up covered in sores, living in the city dump covered in sackcloth
and ashes, his friends came to console him but only accused him of great
sins because of his predicament. In spite of any short comings Job may
have had and in spite of any error he may have held in his belief and trust
in God, he never gave up his belief and trust. He could not be forced or
cajoled or convinced to give up his faith.
Christians have been falsely accused, imprisoned, beaten and tortured,
fed to wild beasts for sport, impaled and lit on fire to light the paths
of the Romans, all of them who suffered these things never gave up their
faith. The world is no different today, Christians and non-Christians alike
suffer major loss in their life. You may be one of these.
The question for you is this; where is your faith? Is your faith in the
dollar that you seek or stand To lose? Is your love of the material things
that you stand to lose or have lost making you move away from God? It's
a good song to sing 'Onward Christian Soldiers' when we are in Sunday school
and it is a good song to teach our children.
But is that all that it is, a song? Did you stop singing it because times are tough? You must turn to the Christ Jesus harder than ever in these times, without pain and suffering there can be no growth, we must act as well, our actions help determine the outcome, God will not help those who are perfectly capable of helping themselves yet do nothing, Satan will close every door and window and seal up every crack to keep out the light from your life, it is up to you and me to seek out the light and recognize it when we see it, the true light of Christ no matter the circumstances.
A man was drowning in a flooded river, a fellow in a rowboat fighting the
flood to get to safety cried out to the man, hold on I'll come to get you,
the man said save yourself, I have faith in God, he will save me.
As he continued down river another man in a motor boat straining against
the current cried out, hold on I'll come to help you, the man again responded
the same, save yourself, I have faith in God, he will save me.
A helicopter spotted him and against the wind and driving rain they circled above the man and cried out, we'll drop you a lifeline, grab it and we'll pull you to safety. Again the man responded, no thanks, save yourself, I have faith in God, he will save me.
Finally the man drowned, when he arrived at the gates of heaven he was
greeted by St. Peter to let him in because he did indeed live a godly life.
The man was astonished that he had drowned because he had so much faith
so he asked St. Peter, what happened, my faith should have saved me?
St. Peter responded, I don't know what you want from us, we sent you two
boats and a helicopter, you refused all three.
Help comes from many places, you must recognize it when it arrives.
A man was drowning and he cried out to God to save him, God said back to
him, you just start swimming, let me take care of the rest. (An old Russian
proverb).
It is crucial that you do not lose your faith, pray, turn to God through
Jesus Christ, forgive all and get rid of all bitterness, this is the only
way to get through it all. This is the way of Christ and the way we are
taught to be. We must act according to the teachings and allow God to do
whatever He feels is necessary in all things. It is our own effort coupled
with complete faith in all things that will allow us to survive.
With this article I feel that I must tell this, even though I have not
mentioned this before I feel at this moment for this article I should lest
you think that it is easy for us in some ivory tower to say these things.
Over the past year we have lost two residences, there is no chapel, no
garden paths, no meditation areas, we have very old vehicles and a rented
place that will last until our unemployment runs out, we are still seeking
work throughout the country for us and for everyone that we know. This
has not shut the ministry down, there are forces that would like to do
so but by the grace of God we still exist to shed some light we hope and
to give some comfort to those who have lost everything as well.
People from all over the world write to us for prayer and advice, we cannot
for the sake of the name of Jesus stop being what we are, circumstances
by the grace of God have not shut us down.
You are not alone, if you need prayer or consultation do not hesitate to
call on us, we are all in the same position, do not give up your faith.
Early Church
Fathers
The Seven Oecumenical Councils.
Important Links:
Daily Scripture Reading
|
|
Some personal thoughts from the heart of Monk Michael.
Am I then become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? Galatians 4:16
Right Worship!
In the course of writing articles many things can occur when articles are responding to attacks or outbursts from others and the article is an attempt to help those of that particular mind-set understand, the fact is that if one person voices a concern there are thousands who also have that concern that never voice it.
Christianity is about the saving grace of Almighty God through the blood
and sacrifice of His Only-Begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.
It is through Christ that fallen man is able to re-unite with Creator God.
I will make this a clear statement; it is only through Christ that we may be re-united with the Father.
The church is one, the creed that was written before there were schisms and was accepted by the church as it stood in unity at the time says; "I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church". This is a simple fact, the word catholic does not mean Eastern, nor does it mean Melkite or Oriental or Roman.
Catholic:
[Middle English catholik, universally
accepted, from Old French catholique, from Latin
catholicus, universal, from Greek katholikos, from
katholou, in general : kat-, kata-, down, along,
according to; see cata- + holou (from neuter genitive of
holos, whole; see sol- in Indo-European roots).]
One church universal in belief, that is Catholic. Jesus Christ personally
prayed that we would be one, many people call themselves Christian yet
cannot even utter the word Catholic, such is their hatred.
1Jo 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother,
he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath
seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
Luk 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and
lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall
be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto
the unthankful and [to] the evil.
What part of the above words of Jesus Christ is difficult to understand?
There should be one church, not Eastern, Roman, Pentecostal, Baptist or
Lutheran, one church. These groups can call themselves what they will but
there must be commonality, no hatred, and an understanding of the truth.
The church was one in belief, there were cultural differences, there has
always been those who go behind even the apostles and try to undermine
the truth but the truth continued, there is that truth that is pre-schism,
pre-reformation. That is what we speak of here. Read it;
There are those Catholic and Protestant who ask the saints and Mary to intercede with prayer on their behalf, the idea is two-fold; the saints are already in heaven with the angels and Jesus and therefore are in a better position to intercede because there they are not in sin. The other part to this is that we sin constantly, in thought, word and deed, at any given moment we do not know what un-confessed sin stands between us and God, especially the sins of our own thought, and it is practically a guarantee that there is sin of the mind and the heart that is not confessed
when we decide to pray. Unless you are a Hesychast and pray continuously
in your mind, non-stop asking forgiveness, there is un-confessed sin in
your life. For this reason, many ask for the intercession of the saints.
This concept did not have it's origin in the very beginning, it came into
being a little later, there is an understanding of things that unfold in
time and there are things that are blasphemous that are brought in. The
concept of asking for intercession is not blasphemous.
We can find those verses in scripture that say to pray in the name of Jesus,
but we can also find ways in holy scripture to justify this intercessory
prayer. But since both can be derived from holy scripture one cannot say
that the other is evil. At the same time, whether one believes it or doesn't
believe it has no bearing on one's salvation, so , what exactly is the
issue? I see ecumenical services and communal dinners between those who
throughout the year claim that the other is using or worshipping in a manner
that is demonic. Think about it, if you are going to accuse someone of
being demonic, why are you going to share a communal supper with that person,
you cannot mix Christ and Satan, if you want true unity in the church then
you must have true understanding, Christ and Satan do not mix, the other
group is demonic or it is not, make a decision.
As far as Mary is concerned you must (if you even have any inkling of belief
that you are a Christian), understand the words spoken to her by the angel
Gabriel; "Hail, full of Grace". I challenge you and defy you to find these words attributed to any other human being at any time in the history of man as we know it. You will not find it, no man has ever been called by God or any being of heaven 'full of grace', this distinction is for Mary alone and no other. Unless you are completely callused towards the written word of God and care only for your own interpretation, you must understand the significance of this statement from Almighty God to Mary. On top of that you must also consider this;
The Ark of the Covenant housed the written word of God, anyone who was not worthy and who touched it would die instantly,This written word of God contained the Spirit of God in writing and it was sacred.
In order to house it God Himself gave specific instructions as to what
and how to build the house for the written word of God.
Exo. 25:10: The Holy Bible RSV Compare to
NAB
1"The LORD said to Moses, ... 9 According to all that I show you
concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall
make it.
23 "And you shall make a table of acacia wood; two cubits
shall be its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its
height.You shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a molding of gold around
it. And you shall make around it a frame a handbreadth wide, and a molding
of gold around the frame. And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and
fasten the rings to the four corners at its four legs. 27 Close to the frame the
rings shall lie, as holders for the poles to carry the table. You shall make the
poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, and the table shall be carried
with these. And you shall make its plates and dishes for incense, and its
flagons and bowls with which to pour libations; of pure gold you shall make
them. And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me
always. "And you shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The base and the
shaft of the lampstand shall be made of hammered work; its cups, its capitals,
and its flowers shall be of one piece with it; and there shall be six branches
going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it
and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it; three cups made
like almonds, each with capital and flower, on one branch, and three cups made
like almonds, each with capital and flower, on the other branch--so for the six
branches going out of the lampstand; and on the lampstand itself four cups made
like almonds, with their capitals and flowers, and a capital of one piece with
it under each pair of the six branches going out from the lampstand. Their
capitals and their branches shall be of one piece with it, the whole of it one
piece of hammered work of pure gold. And you shall make the seven lamps
for it; and the lamps shall be set up so as to give light upon the space in
front of it. Its snuffers and their trays shall be of pure gold. Of a talent
of pure gold shall it be made, with all these utensils. And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being
shown you on the mountain."
Notice the 'hammered pure gold' which is to be used, if Almighty God was
this concerned over the keeping of His written word, how much more concerned would He be for the womb that was to house
His Living Word, God in the flesh, the Only-Begotten Son of God, our Lord and
Savior; Jesus Christ? You must understand the place of Mary within humanity. If you are so callused towards the things that Almighty God Himself has so deemed worthy then I will tell you that you are in a bad place in Christ, you are walking a thin line of righteousness.
Again, you do not have to ask Mary or any saint for intercessory prayer,
it is not required but I tell you that there are many documented cases
throughout history of answered prayer in this manner, you do not have to
go there but you had better begin to understand why others do and to appreciate
the things and people that Almighty God has held as His chosen.
Lighting candles will not send you to heaven or to hell so again, what is the issue? Why the animosity? I'm serious, write to me and tell me what the issue with all of these things is so that we can discuss it. My personal issue with all of this is to those who vehemently oppose the practice and hate all who are a part of the church who practice it. Those who practice asking Mary and the saints to pray for them also pray in their worship on Sunday for all of humanity, including and especially those who hate them for asking saints to intercede and for lighting candles in memorial or worship. I can say that it is a rare group that does not ask for the saints or Mary to intercede for them,
that will pray Sunday after Sunday for the rest of humanity.
With those things said I am going to bring up the worship itself, the Holy
Scripture gives us an outline that is not followed by the vast majority
of all of the 'Bible Only' crowd. The 'Bible Only' is a misnomer, only
the parts that fit the philosophy are used and nothing else. You will never
have true unity in the church as Jesus Christ prayed until you begin to
search diligently and grow in understanding and truth, the worship service
is a clear example of this doing it my way instead of God's way. Study
and heed the scriptures or pay the price in the end.
Let's begin;
I Timothy 2; 1 I desire therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions,
and thanksgivings be made for all men: 2 For kings, and for all that are in high station: that we may lead a quiet
and a peaceable life in all piety and chastity. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus: 6 Who gave himself a redemption for all, a testimony in due times. 7 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle, (I say the truth, I
lie not,) a doctor of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
8 I will therefore that men pray in every place, lifting up pure hands, without
anger and contention. 9 In like manner women also in decent apparel: adorning themselves with modesty
and sobriety, not with plaited hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly attire, 10 But as it becometh women professing godliness, with good works. 11 Let the woman learn in silence, with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to use authority over the man: but
to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed; then Eve. 14 And Adam was not seduced; but the woman being seduced, was in the transgression. 15 Yet she shall be saved through childbearing; if she continue in faith,
and love, and sanctification, with sobriety.
Do you agree that this is Holy Scripture? If you do then do you obey it if you call yourself a Christian?
Look back at verse 1, does it not say that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men: 2 For kings, and for all that are in high station: that we may lead a quiet
and a peaceable life in all piety and chastity.
If this is Holy Scripture why is it not followed by so much of Christianity?
What about Paul's writings in the same book chapter 4?; 1 Now the Spirit manifestly saith, that in the last times some shall depart
from the faith, giving heed to spirits of error, and doctrines of devils,
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy, and having their conscience seared, 3 Forbidding to marry, to abstain from meats, which God hath created to
be received with thanksgiving by the faithful, and by them that have known
the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be rejected that is
received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 6 These things proposing to the brethren, thou shalt be a good minister
of Christ Jesus, nourished up in the words of faith, and of the good doctrine
which thou hast attained unto.
If you are honest you know that these things that are spoken against in
the passages above are a part of much of Christianity today. What did Jesus
say about following Him? John 8: 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews, who believed him: If you continue in my
word, you shall be my disciples indeed.
More from the Christ Jesus and Holy Scripture;
Jhn 15:10
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my
love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 2PE 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the
knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled
therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
Mat 5:23 Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, Mat 5:24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. (How can you present your offering at an altar that does not exist in your
place of worship)?
John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. 52 If any
man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give,
is my flesh, for the life of the world. 53 The Jews therefore strove
among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 54 Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh
of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you.
55 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life:
and I will raise him up in the last day.
Luke 4: 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he was brought up: and he went into the synagogue, according to his custom, on the Sabbath day; and he rose up to read.
Acts Of Apostles 13 14 But they passing through Perge, came to Antioch in Pisidia: and entering
into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, they sat down.
If Jesus and the Apostles did not forsake formal worship as seen starting
with the very first verse in this article, then why does so much of professing
Christianity today? What you have read in this letter regarding worship
is from the Bible that many claim to follow yet do not follow the established
worship of the church or the example set by Jesus Christ Himself.
If you choose to write poetry and sing personal songs to the Lord is this
wrong? Of course not, King David gave us the Psalms which do both but he
also participated in the worship established by Almighty God. Sing your
heart out.
If you stand behind the podium and read scripture and expound on it for
two hours and explain it and speak out against the evils on earth and tell
the congregation how they should live, is this wrong? Of course not, that
is the job of the preacher but so is leading the congregation in the proper
worship of Almighty God his job.
If you are walking along the street or out in the desert and break out
into a song or hymn of praise is this wrong? Of course not and this should
be done. Does it then exclude one from worship in the church because you
have stopped on the street to sing to God? NO, Almighty God instituted
a worship of Him that is not to be neglected.
But when you completely neglect the worship that was established by God
Himself, to Moses, the worship that Jesus Christ Himself participated in,
the worship that the Apostles carried on and taught to the gentiles and
has continued in the church for 2,000 years, when you completely neglect
that and do not care for the written word of God in that regard, then you
are neglecting the worship of Almighty God and bringing damnation onto
yourself.
If I do not tell you this then I am condemning myself and your guilt will
also be on me. Sing all you want, praise all you want, preach all you want,
but you better also start participating in the worship established by Almighty
God and you had better begin to understand the truth of the Eucharist,
without the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, there is no salvation, it is
scripture, live it, if not, your condemnation is on your own head.
St. John 14:
6 Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me. 7 If you had known me, you would without doubt have known my Father also:
and from henceforth you shall know him, and you have seen him. 8 Philip saith to him: Lord, shew us the Father,
and it is enough for us. 9 Jesus saith to him: Have I been so long a time with you; and have you not known me? Philip, he that seeth me seeth the Father also. How sayest thou, shew us the Father? 10 Do you not believe, that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The
words that I speak to you, I speak not of myself. But the Father who abideth
in me, he doth the works.
This is the teaching of the church, you must believe this in order to be
a Christian, I don't know how much plainer Jesus Christ can say it, I hope
that this will help you in your understanding, there is much work to be
done while we are yet still here and we as Christians need to be doing
it together as one mind.
May the Lord Bless you and keep you, may the Lord make His face to shine
upon you and be gracious unto you, may the Lord make His face to look upon
you and bring you peace: today, tomorrow and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Important Links:
Daily Scripture Reading
Write to us if you want to know more at;
monkmichael@newwarriorministries.com
or to the Metropolitan Archbishop Joseph Thaddeus who will take the time to help you for the sake of your soul, reach him at; thaddeus@apostle1.com
or Bishop Gregori of the St. John Maximovitch Theological Institute at: abouna@orthodox.com
|
