Posts Tagged ‘Evangelism’
American Saints for Tomorrow
As Orthodox Christians we read the daily calendar and learn about the great saints of old. Martyrs and confessors by the thousands inspire us to live courageous lives for Christ. These names can feel ‘far off’ when we read them in the daily synaxarion. Some don’t even know we have American Saints that can inspire…
Read MoreRestoration with the Church
Just look around and you will find those who stepped away from the Church. They are family members, friends and even some koumbari (godparents) who decided to leave the Church. Ask them why, and you will hear all sorts of reasons. We may not agree with why someone walks away from the Church, but we…
Read MoreEpisode 400 – We Have a Job to Do
When Christ invited the first disciples to follow Him, He called them to a job. He called them to become fishers of men, to bring people into the Church. Today we are called by Christ to bring people to Christ. We are not just supposed to bring them into our community, but into Christ. The…
Read MoreThe Divine Standard
One of the things I’ve noticed recently about keyboard warriors is that they rarely live the message they proclaim. This is not limited to Christians. It seems lately that everyone is ready and willing to offer advice and demand behavior shifts to anyone and everyone who is ‘lucky enough’ to read the comment section. It…
Read MoreStop Talking and Start Walking
In the age of keyboard warriors, words have become increasingly important. We have firmly become a society that talks a good talk. We spend hours on social media in chat rooms and comment sections blasting the opinions and actions of others. We sit comfortably behind our screens and rise in the realm of self-importance. The…
Read MoreEpisode 398 – Only God can Quench Your Thirst
The world is thirsting for God. The Feast of Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit to guide the Church into the whole truth. We all have something in our life that we are chasing after, but we remain thirsty. Christ offers Himself as the source of rivers of living water if we believe.…
Read MoreThere are no Free Agents in the Church
It is not uniquely American, but very prevalent in American Christianity. It is a symptom of what is called non-denominationalism. It has become popular for anyone who wishes to establish a church and name himself or herself pastor. This was not always the case, nor should it be. In those days, Barnabas and Saul returned…
Read MoreBe Kind to Enemies
We ‘know’ it to be true. God commanded that we love our enemies. We also know this to be true. It can be really difficult to be kind to our enemies. We can love them by praying for them, but being kind to them requires a serious devotion to God that I’m afraid many of…
Read MoreA Church for All
As Orthodox Christians we proclaim to know and follow the true faith of Christ as given to the Holy Apostles. The faith that was kept by the Holy Fathers. The faith that, for many of us, was chosen for us by our parents and grandparents. The faith that has established the universe. Yet, still so…
Read MoreThe Battle Over Language
It isn’t enough that the various Orthodox jurisdictions in America argue over their ‘native’ language vs English in worship. In America we even argue over which English is best. I’ve heard it all my life. Do we call God, You or Thee? It might be hard to believe, but the fight over language is not…
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