Posts Tagged ‘truth’
Making God a Liar
It always makes me laugh inside when someone comes for Holy Confession and begins, “I don’t really any sins to confess, but I know I’m supposed to come for confession.” On the one hand, we all know the need for Holy Confession. On the other hand, to think we don’t have any sins to confess…
Read MoreThe Church and State
As Americans we live by the standard of separation of church and state. This uniquely American ideal has its benefits for sure. Historically, though, the Orthodox Church has not been free of civil interventions, and today is only the most recent example. Today the Church commemorates Saint Photios the Great, Patriarch of Constantinople. His life…
Read MoreSalt Accents the Truth
I have always loved to cook. Since I was a small child, I would make my way to the kitchen to learn what ingredients worked and what ingredients did not work. I was always confused why people added salt to cakes and cookies. They never tasted ‘salty’ but I knew the salt was in there.…
Read MoreProtectors of Truth
We live in a multi-cultural and secular world. In practical terms, that means we are surrounded by people who do not believe nor live as we live. In spiritual terms, it means there are many who work tirelessly to teach us to distrust and leave the Church. Some even work against the Church from within…
Read MoreEvery Question has a Motive
We live in a society that seems to feed on negativity. Turn on any cable news program and reporters and panels are constantly trying to trap people into making statements they will later regret. It is done mostly with politicians, but I have noticed lately that nobody is immune to this treatment. Even young athletes…
Read MoreBe Orthodox or Not
A disturbing trend recently has been for people to ‘argue’ about what the Church teaches. I understand non-Orthodox not agreeing with our teachings. They would be Orthodox if they agreed, naturally. What is disturbing is when professing Orthodox Christians would ‘rather’ choose non-Orthodox teachings and argue ‘their’ Church is wrong. Admittedly the Church hasn’t done…
Read MoreBe True to Who You Are
We go to Church and say our prayers. We smile and are courteous to those in the pews next to us. Then comes the end of Divine Liturgy when the priest says, “Let us go forth in peace.” We exit the front doors of the Church, only to return to the life we had before…
Read MorePredestination
What if I were to tell you I believed in predestination? Would you call me a heretic? Would you say I have abandoned the ancient faith? Maybe you would say I finally fell over the sola scriptura cliff. Of course, none of these accusations would be true. The truth would be that we are required…
Read MoreWhy we Need the Church
It is no secret we live in a self-oriented and self-justified society. We are the masters of our own destiny, or so we think. I hear it all the time. “I don’t need anyone to tell me what the Bible means.” This very phrase is totally without meaning. If you are reading the letters of…
Read MoreLearn the Way of God More Accurately
In a society that lifts individuality and promotes self-reliance, it can be difficult to promote the Orthodox Church as the true Church. Since just about everyone can read, unlike the ancient days, everyone has received the gift of being able to read the Holy Scriptures on their own. The problem is, they don’t stop at…
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