The tradition of wearing beards and long hair The wearing of a beard and long hair by Orthodox clergy, when it is possible, is based on the desire to physically resemble Christ, and ultimately that this physical resemblance takes on the spiritual resemblance of Christ’s humility, which must be the
Category: The Morning Offering
Living our lives in total commitment Christianity is a religion of asceticism, instructing us to store up our treasures in heaven, where the benefits have eternal value. Throughout the New Testament we read of the importance of struggle, where focus on the acquisition of a humble and contrite heart is
We were created with freewill One of the primary differences between Islam and Christianity has to do with the basic view of the nature of God. Islam teaches total surrender to a god who demands submission. There is no invitation to enter into a relationship, freely, nor is there room
Correcting the sins of others by demonstrating God’s love The use of force in the correction of those who are living in opposition to the laws of God is often a temptation for Christians, yet it must be remembered that the sins of others is better corrected by lovingly demonstrating
Becoming empathetic allows us to see through the other persons eyes When we become empathetic we are able to build bridges between ourselves and those who are unlike us, but perhaps members of our extended family, or individuals who work with us. When we are empathetic, we learn to avoid
More than acquittal and justification Salvation can not be explained in legalistic terms of acquittal and justification, for salvation is much more than simply being forgiven and getting into heaven. The close tie between faith and works, when it comes to the Orthodox view of salvation, is not about being
When we are the occasion of another man’s disdain Because we are all brothers and sisters, we are responsible for the way we impact others. Often we are entirely innocent, yet by our very existence we become a source of great irritation and anxiety for other people. The only way
The Ship that is the Church The nave of every Orthodox temple is symbolic of the image of the Church as being a ship. As the waves of passions confront us and threaten to hurtle us against the rocks, it is good to remember that as long as we remain
When we experience the “dark side” of the Church For those who have experienced what has been called the “dark side” of the Church, the struggle to remain faithful to the Orthodox Faith can seem daunting. The dark side is the result of the sinful, fallen nature of all of
Acquiring righteousness is not a part time job Teachers and parents routinely remind children of the importance of refraining from giving in to peer pressure, knowing that good behavior can often be undermined by the desire to fit in with their friends and school mates. We adults need to remember