Part 1 Chapter 1: Entry to the Way of the Cross

尼古拉前执事 · Wed 23 February 2005 11:42 pm

Reader Benjamin · Post by **Reader Benjamin** » Mon 14 March 2005 8:29 pm

I like this, it helps me to remember that everything Physical has a spiritual reflection, or more properly the physical is a reflection of the Spiritual. It is a good start.

Tessa · Post by **Tessa** » Tue 15 March 2005 2:40 pm

I like this, "through His salvific suffering the Lord redeemed man from the trials and sorrows he brought on himself by not obeyeing God's commandments, changing them into a means of attaining eternal blessedness for the believing Christian..."

What I have seemed to notice with contemporary mainstream American (Protestant) Christianity is that they heavily believe in God's "favor". In other words, they are God's chosen and that's why they have 2 cars, a big house, and lots of "stuff" (as George Carlin once put it). People that don't or people that suffer are being almost "punished" by God. Sometimes it seems as though they forget that, "We must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22)

In Christ,
Tessa

Schultz · Post by **Schultz** » Tue 15 March 2005 4:36 pm

I think our dear sister Tessa has hit what I'm sure many of us find odd in modern day Protestantism, especially of the American Evangelical flavor. I've seen so many televangelists and their not-so-famous-counterparts talk about the "blessings of God" that come in the form of wealth or even just earthly comfort. I don't think even the founders of their respective religions would think in such a way; much of what they were angry and rebellious about was such worldly wealth and how it was used!

This chapter most definitely serves to remind us that we must, as pointed out, reach the Kingdom of God through much tribulation. It always amazes me when people think that being a Christian is supposed to be easy. Christ Himself said it was not so, and it wasn't as just an aside, but one of the very foundations of His teachings!

TomS · Post by **TomS** » Tue 15 March 2005 9:59 pm

Stavrophila cites many passages from the Old Testament when she calls upon the Lord to show her the way. Similarly, Evangelicals cite the books of the Old Testament to support the idea that God blesses and rewards those in this world who follow his commandments. The Old Testament is full of passages of kings and others who were given their earthly riches because they followed God. As a general rule, the only time worldly riches were taken away was because God was punishing/teaching.

Are you all saying that Christ come to change that? That Chrisitians are not rewarded and blessed in this world if they follow the Lords commandments? Is not God the same, today and forever?

Do we have a book for the "winners" of the world (the Old testament) and a book for the "losers" of the world (the New Testament)?

Joshua F · Post by **Joshua F** » Wed 16 March 2005 1:22 am

TomS wrote:
As a general rule, the only time worldly riches were taken away was because God was punishing/teaching.

Isn't this the case in the New Testament as well?

Reader Benjamin · Post by **Reader Benjamin** » Wed 16 March 2005 7:31 am

This book is about taking up our cross and following Christ. The prosperity of the world could be a cross to bear for some, but it is not the focus of the book to say riches or poverty is good. The book is about bearing our own sufferings, WHAT EVER THEY MAY BE, patiantly as our cross that we bear in order to follow Christ Jesus our Lord.