Handmaiden50 wrote:Another question regarding Scripture. Do Orthodox believe that God "speaks to us" (i.e. as an impression on our hearts) personally through Scripture when you read it?
Hypothetical situation: If I am am going through a difficult time in my marriage and in my daily reading of the Psalms one day I happen to be reading Psalm 27 and read the verse:
Psalm 27:14
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and let thy heart be strengthened: yea wait on the Lord. (LXX, Brenton's)
Do I interpret this to mean that the Lord is encouraging me to wait on Him while I'm in struggling in my marriage? (This would be how an Evangelical Protestant would interpret the verse - making it personal to them)
Orthodox Christians believe that the Church is the one who interprets the Holy Scriptures. That is why the Apostles and those who followed them, the Bishops, would explain the scriptures to the people in the form of homilies and encyclicals.
However, we are to take encouragement from reading the scriptures. For example, Psalm 27:14 is encouraging us to have courage and be strong in the Lord, no matter what our problems are. We all struggle with sin, whether it be our own sins or those of others because we live in a fallen world.
If one were to have serious marriage problems, then a priest or an Elder or Eldress who is known for spiritual wisdom should be sought. Sometimes priests give homilies and touch on marriage problems. Several have mentioned that if a person is being abused verbally, mentally, and/or physically, then they need to leave that relationship either temporarily or permanently. However, some abusing spouses can be helped through the ministry of a priest and encouraged to attend meetings for alcoholics, gambling, and/or drug problems, which are usually behind such abuse.
