Julianna wrote:We've all got our excuses and we've all known what's the right thing to do too.
Sometimes that's just hard. Such's the life in Christ.
Right, it's hard to live in the world and make responsible choices; sometimes we just want to run away from our problems by pretending everything is black and white.
anastasios
Disclaimer: Many older posts were made before my baptism and thus may not reflect an Orthodox point of view.
Please do not message me with questions about the forum or moderation requests. Jonathan Gress (jgress) will be able to assist you.
Please note that I do not subscribe to "Old Calendar Ecumenism" and believe that only the Synod of Archbishop Kallinikos is the canonical GOC of Greece. I do believe, however, that we can break down barriers and misunderstandings through prayer and discussion on forums such as this one.
A certain young man came to Jesus, and knelt down to Him, and said, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" And He said to him, "Why callest thou Me good? No one is good, except One: God. But if thou art willing to enter into life, keep the commandments." He saith to Him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "'Thou shalt not murder; thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not bear false witness [Ex. 20:15, 13, 14, 16]; "'be honoring thy father and thy mother [Ex. 20:12]'; and, 'thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself [Lev. 19:18].'" The young man saith to Him, "All these I kept for myself from my youth; what lack I yet?" Jesus said to him, "If thou art willing to be perfect, go and sell thy possessions, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and keep on following Me."
It's pretty black and white to me. We don't need tv. Following the tv isn't following Christ.
Anastasios,
I believe you one time said that Met. Hierotheos was one of your favorite authors (or that one of his books was one of your favorites). Why haven't you picked up any of his wisdom and applied it then? The little jabs you so often use against traditionalists could be just as equally applied to Met. Hierotheos. It's amazing how "black and white" sounding his books are in some places. I guess he gets that from following those black and white sounding desert monks. It is perhaps the keystone of modernism to make morality into a muddy endeavor (so as to bring about an innovative moral and ascetical code--forsaking the divine canon), and to make history and theology into things easily grasped, or at least crystal clear to the formally trained theologians. Thus, the same patriarch can wish to abolish fasting, and yet turn his back on the traditional calendar of the Church. Thus, a Patriarch can hatefully falsely label his brothers as schismatics, but at the same time bring about communion with groups long condemned. These are but two examples of the new modernism (for modernism takes place in every age). Regardless of your claims to being a traditionalist or having many traditionalist positions or attitudes, the above modernistic mentality describes you to a letter.
Sorry if that sounds harsh, I just really think you totally miss the whole point of some ascetic things because you've been so mesmerized by the spell of modernism. The one discussion about showers and monastics over at OC.net is a perfect example of this. It never occurs to modernists that monks would want to be despised, or even to have a reason to ridicule their own selves. It never occurs to them that someone might actually want certain shortcomings apparent to those around them, so that those around them would either avoid them or mock them. Modernists read Tito Colliander say "persecute yourself" and they nod their heads, but they have no real comprehension (even if they've read the lives of the saints) what that means. If they did understand what it meant, and it's divinely inspired nature, then they would cease to be modernists and ecumenists as they would see these things for the shams that they are.
Justin,
I just don't know how to respond to you guys anymore. You all are trashing TV but you spend hours on the internet. What's the difference? Both are boxes with screens that project visual images and cut you off from real communication with other human beings.
I don't even feel like responding to your post accusing me of raging modernism. When have I ever defended Pat Meletios's change of the calendar or attempts to abolish fasting? I think both were stupid actions.
A modernist, by the way, is someone who denies the reality of Scripture and tradition, not someone that disagrees with customs of a certain era of the Church. You apply that term too broadly.
I enjoy Met Hierotheos but I don't think he is infallible.
I stand by my assertion that monks should not be dirty. Call it modernist, I call it respect for our body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Also, a stronger point is, I don't care WHAT the monk wants for himself, being despised or what not. What I care about is bringing others to Christ and pushing people away is not going to bring others to Christ. Let him not bathe 364 days of the year when in the monastery but if you go outside into the world you better be ready for it to bring the message of Jesus Christ and the Good News of Salvation.
I don't understand what you think a professional theologian is. Could you explain what you mean by this--again, you throw around the catch phrases you read on orthodoxinfo.com, and I think you do it without much reflection.
anastasios
Disclaimer: Many older posts were made before my baptism and thus may not reflect an Orthodox point of view.
Please do not message me with questions about the forum or moderation requests. Jonathan Gress (jgress) will be able to assist you.
Please note that I do not subscribe to "Old Calendar Ecumenism" and believe that only the Synod of Archbishop Kallinikos is the canonical GOC of Greece. I do believe, however, that we can break down barriers and misunderstandings through prayer and discussion on forums such as this one.
Julianna wrote:A certain young man came to Jesus, and knelt down to Him, and said, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" And He said to him, "Why callest thou Me good? No one is good, except One: God. But if thou art willing to enter into life, keep the commandments." He saith to Him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "'Thou shalt not murder; thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not bear false witness [Ex. 20:15, 13, 14, 16]; "'be honoring thy father and thy mother [Ex. 20:12]'; and, 'thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself [Lev. 19:18].'" The young man saith to Him, "All these I kept for myself from my youth; what lack I yet?" Jesus said to him, "If thou art willing to be perfect, go and sell thy possessions, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and keep on following Me."
It's pretty black and white to me. We don't need tv. Following the tv isn't following Christ.
You can't take quotes out of context. Jesus knew that that man was a slave to his possessions so he told HIM to leave them. He didn't tell Joseph of Arimethea (a super rich guy) to leave his possessions because Joseph used his wealth generously. This analogy simply does not apply to your case.
anastasios
Disclaimer: Many older posts were made before my baptism and thus may not reflect an Orthodox point of view.
Please do not message me with questions about the forum or moderation requests. Jonathan Gress (jgress) will be able to assist you.
Please note that I do not subscribe to "Old Calendar Ecumenism" and believe that only the Synod of Archbishop Kallinikos is the canonical GOC of Greece. I do believe, however, that we can break down barriers and misunderstandings through prayer and discussion on forums such as this one.
