Sabbas wrote:
...that just wouldn't be there if I had made up my own rules.
And that is what people lack today. They try to conform God to their ways, instead of changing their ways to conform to God's plan.
Rather in trying to be humble and follow the Church is where the benefit was derived.
That is a very concise observation. The holy fathers(by the guidance of the Holy Spirit) established the rules of fasting. And the personal acceptance of following it, with humilty, is the start of a spiritual fast. This starts with food, but the holy fathers teach about personal conduct too.
But, don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about following the hierarchs that are leading us to ecumenism. I'm talking about the true Orthodox hierarchs, who should be the example, for us all.
There are many "Orthodox" hierarchs who believe that fasting is a choice of will. But, they don't establish it as a rule of conduct. Would a coach tell his athlete that he can eat french fries and pizza everyday? NO! He would tell him that it will cause damage to his performance.
So why is it so difficult for the hierarchs to tell their laity that fasting is a necessary function in the faith to God? It's a spiritual function, which is certainly more important to the outcome of our lives than the physical. But, an atheist athlete will consider his fasting more important than a so-called Orthodox person who feels like he's being pressured into fasting.
I hope I am not nor have been judgmental but let us look at what happened when the Roman Patriarchate apostasized. The Fasting rules quickly changed and made no sense like chickens being declared aquatic animals so that people could eat them during Lent!
How did they explain that?
