The distraction of conspiracy theories

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It is spiritually destructive if we allow ourselves to be distracted by the delusions created by conspiracy theories. When we allow the thrall of conspiracy theories to fill us with fear, anxiety, and mental turmoil, we become distracted, and the peace of mind and heart become impossible. The Christian life is meant to usher us into the Kingdom, and into communion with God, where true knowledge and understanding are to be found.

For pastors and archpastors, awareness of the dangers that confront the flock may be necessary in order to guide and protect the flock. But much of the fear, confusion, anxiety and distraction, even desperation, that can spring from delving into conspiracy theories, is not spiritually healthy. It can become an addictive substitution for a health spiritual life, and keep us from the task of the Christian, which is to, ‘turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it’ as is written in the psalms.

Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

Prayer Request
Please pray for the safety of Abbess Markella and the nuns of the Monastery of the Life Giving Spring, in Dunlap, CA. They have been evacuated to Fresno, due to wildfires. Please pray that the Lord will spare their beautiful monastery, together with Saint Nicholas Ranch, from the ravages of this massive fire.

Coming soon: the Video Edition
Thanks to the generosity of my readers, we are only $463.65 short of the needed funds for the purchase of the video recording equipment. You can contribute towards this project by sending a check to All-Merciful Saviour Monastery, PO Box 2420, Vashon Island, WA 98070. Or, you can donate through PayPal by visiting my blog: https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/morningoffering/

Saturday September 12, 2015 / August 30, 2015

15th Week after Pentecost. Tone five.

Sts. Alexander (340), John (595), and Paul the New (784), patriarchs of Constantinople.
Repose of Venerable Alexander, abbot of Svir (1533).
Translation of the relics (1724) of St. Alexander Nevsky (1263).
Uncovering of the relics of St. Daniel, prince of Moscow (1652).
New Hieromartyr Peter priest (1918).
New Hieromartyr Paul priest and Virgin-martyr Elizaveta and Martyr Theodore (1937).
New Hieromartyr Schema-archimandrite Ignatius (Lebedev) of St. Peter’s Monastery (1938).
Hiero-confessor Archpriest Peter Cheltsov of Smolensk (1972).
Venerable Christopher of Palestine (6th c.).
Venerable Fantinus of Calabria (9th c.).
Synaxis of the Serbian Hierarchs: Sts. Sava I (1235), Arsenius (1266), Sava II (1271), Eustathius I (1285), James (1292), Nicodemus (1325), and Daniel II (1338), archbishops; Sts. Ioannicius II (1354), Spyridon (1388), Ephraim II (1395), Cyril (1419), Nicon (ca. 1439), Macarius (1574), Gabriel I (1659), patriarchs; and St. Gregory (1012), bishop.
Venerable Bryaene of Nisibis (318).
St. Eulalius, bishop of Caesarea (4th c.).
Sixteen Monk-martyrs of Thebes (Greek).
Six Martyrs of Melitene (Greek).
St. Sarmata of The Paradise (Greek).
Hieromartyr Felix and Martyrs Fortunatus, Septimius and Januarius (Greek).
St. Fiacrius of Brogillum (670) (Gaul).
Translation of the relics of St. Guthlac. Hieromonk of Crowland.

Scripture Readings

1 Corinthians 4:17-5:5

17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

Immorality Defiles the Church

5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Matthew 24:1-13

Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple

24 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

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2 thoughts on “Distractions

  1. We are praying for the Life Giving Springs Monastery & asking for everyone’s prayers for us here in Amador & Calaveras County. It is the Butte fire out of control burning 65,000 acres so far. We here in Jackson, CA are engulfed with the smoke. Fire is only around 20mi away. We are praying for rain & a miracle. Please pray for us also!
    Always enjoy for daily blog. Thank you.

  2. Very true. Though we must not be lulled to sleep either and forget the ultimate conspiracy: Hell. To affirm that there are myriad invisible beings of preternatural powers that labor night and day to destroy us for all eternity is surely the conspiracy theory of conspiracy theories. Yet it is true and a central dogma of our faith.

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