Know thyself. The Christian understanding of self-knowledge is substantially different from that of the world. The Christian call is not one of egocentric self-fulfillment or self-gratification. The danger of a quest to “know thyself” outside the bounds of revealed truth manifested in Christ Jesus is that, to some degree or another, it has elements of …
Tag: Christian
Is Christ Faithless? Examining Protestant Ecclesiology
Is Christ Jesus faithless? Or is He eternally faithful? How does one's view of the Church reflect on the faithfulness of Christ? Proper Ecclesiology (theology of the Church) has always been vital to true Christianity. A staple doctrine of modern Protestantism teaches that the Church (using this word generally) fell into relative darkness sometime after …
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Not for Cowards
When clear matters of the faith are blatantly assaulted, every sober-minded Orthodox Christian is called to stand up and make a courageous answer. There exists a pseudo-humility. This false idea turns humility and meekness into spinelessness and cowardice, in which a person is unable to address anything at all. All such a one can do …
A New Charisma in the Early Church
In the town of Phrygia, central Asia Minor, about the year 160AD, a man named Montanus claimed to be “seized” by the Holy Spirit. He began to receive “special” messages, “speak in tongues,” “prophecy,” and so forth. Two women “prophetesses” soon join him: Priscilla and Maximillia. According to a Protestant/Charismatic/Emerging Church history scheme, about 300AD …
The Charisma of the Age: An Orthodox critique of the Charismatic Movement
The modern world is not "secular" by chance. It is also the result of a great religious formation. I have made the case elsewhere that the secular world is actually “religious” in its manifestation, and I hold to it. In this article, I will be using “secular” and “religious” in their typical modern juxtaposition. One …
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Heavenly Revelation: the Foundation of Christian Worship
Why Orthodox Christianity? Through the deafening din of the modern age, Orthodoxy may appear as just another voice in the babble, and just another flavor choice on the “what would I like today” buffet. (To clear something up from the start, Orthodoxy Christianity is not a denomination. Denominations are the result of the Protestant Reformation …
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Firsthand Reflection
I have just returned from a two and a half week trip to Ukraine. Although the trip entailed personal factors, one of my goals was to acquire a firsthand experience of the ongoing situation in Ukraine, specifically regarding the Church. To this end, I was blessed to have the opportunity to speak with some of …
Aspirations of Global Dominion
Those who read my blog know that a theme that I revisit on a frequent base is that of the events transpiring in Ukraine. These events have many long years of development. Although there are many aspects to the events there, I have focused mainly on the implications with regard to Orthodox Christianity. The Orthodox …
With Whom Will I be Left?
Of great relevance to contemporary issues is the following incident from the life of Archbishop Theophan of Poltava of blessed memory. Such an incident gives guidance to lovers of truth in the midst of certain unstable situations. An evident example is the current situation in Ukraine (which affects America too) and the establishment of a …
The Prodigal’s Lament
The tears leave a stain Upon my filthy cheeks; My head hung low with pain, Drives my knees to the earth. I've squandered all You gave, Your riches and my worth; With Your gold, I did pave My very path into the mire. Everything You gave, I let blow away Like dark ashes …
The Inkless Pen 