24.12.2015 01.10.2015

·Комментарии к записи The Basics of spiritual life, based on the writings of st. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) отключены

[«faith vs good deeds»]

For the commemoration of St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, April 30/May 13

Icon of St. Ignatius Brianchaninov with life.
Icon of St. Ignatius Brianchaninov with life

The essence of any religion is contained in the spiritual life, which is its most sacred side. Any entrance into this life demands not only zeal, but also knowledge of the laws of spiritual life. Zeal not according to knowledge is a poor helper, as we know. Vague, indistinct conceptions of this main side of religious life lead the Christian, and especially the ascetic, to grievous consequences; in the best case to fruitless labors, but more often to self-opinion and spiritual, moral, and psychological illness. The most widespread mistake in religious life is the substitution of its spiritual side (fulfillment of the Gospel commandments, repentance, struggle with the passions, love for neighbor) with the external side — fulfillment of Church customs and rites. As a rule, this outward zeal without inward makes a person a «saint satan» — a prideful Pharisee, a hypocrite rejected by God. Therefore it is necessary to know the basic principles of spiritual life in Orthodoxy.
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29.09.2015

·Комментарии к записи Finding the New Testament C h u r c h отключены

[«the Church vs 2500 churches»]

Written by Jon E. Braun

Edited by Igumen Alexander (Mileant)

Content:

Introduction

IN CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIANITY there is a heightened awareness of a need for a personal knowledge of Christ. This has been evidenced by such phenomena as the Jesus Movement and charismatic renewal. Most thinking Christians have come to realize something else is needed, the rediscovery of the historic Church.

Often, in heated reaction to dated and dead Protestant liberalism, we have heard evangelical preachers say, «All you need is Jesus!» Such statements often get rave reviews, but just a little thoughtful reflection quickly shows such a simplistic religion to be shallow and unfulfilling. More and more, that kind of reasoning is being tempered with a renewed emphasis on the whole impact of the Incarnation, the coming in the flesh of the Son of God. If all we needed was Jesus, why would Jesus have promised, «I will build My Church…» (Matthew 16:18) ?Читать полностью

28.09.2015

·Комментарии к записи Scripture and Tradition отключены

[Scripture/Bible vs Tradition]

By Raymond L. Zell

  • The Bible says once someone accepts Christ, he can never lose his salvation. All true Christians have eternal security.
  • The Bible says it is possible to fall away from grace. Even believers can turn away from God and be forever lost in their sins.
  • The Bible says homosexuality is a perversion of God’s moral law and a deviation from natural human behavior.
  • The Bible says homosexuality is morally acceptable, it is a life-style as viable as any «traditional» concept of marriage or family.
  • The Bible says long ago God predestined some men and women to everlasting life, and some to everlasting judgment. We are not free to accept or reject His salvation.
  • The Bible says God Himself does not know who will choose Him. Salvation is a matter of free will. The decision is entirely up to us.
  • The Bible says Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God the Father, sharing fully in His divinity, and indivisibly united with the Holy Trinity.
  • The Bible says Jesus Christ is a created being. He is superior to the angels, but not eternal and not of the same nature as the Father.
  • The Bible says we should no longer use the terms «Father» and «Son» in relation to God. They are merely symbolic and were meant to be replaced with less sexist terminology.

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