What about non-Orthodox Christians?
Saint Silouan the Athonite was once traveling by train with an archimandrite who was a zealot quick to correct others about the True Faith. Coming upon a group of traveling Roman Catholics, Saint Silouan’s traveling companion proceeded to tell them that they must become Orthodox because their faith was without grace.
The saint asked him if it were indeed a fact that the Roman Catholics believed that Christ was true God, and that He was present in the Eucharist. The saint asked was it not true that these Catholics believed in the Trinity, and venerated the Holy Virgin and the relics of the saints. The archimandrite answered yes to all the questions. Saint Silouan responded that of all humanity’s faiths we must know that we have perhaps more, but not to judge those who are not Orthodox. We must rejoice in the knowledge of what they do have. The saint told him that we should not be filled with such pride as to think we have the right to judge, correct or teach others.
This does not mean that we see the Church as divided, or that the Orthodox Church is anything less than the Church Christ founded. What it does mean is that we do not allow ourselves to think we have the right to correct or teach anyone. We must honor other peoples beliefs and not give in to the prideful stand that we have the right to teach or correct them. The truth that is found within Orthodoxy must be shared by living our faith in love, not in judging or correcting others. Truth, where ever it is found, is Orthodox Truth. If other religions embrace some of these truths that are Orthodox, we must rejoice and give thanks for what they do have.
People who love God and are trying to live holy lives pleasing to Him, according to the knowledge they have been given, are to be respected. They may not have the fullness of Apostolic Truth, but if they are believers in God and are trying to live a life pleasing to God, we must give thanks to Christ for what they do have. They have God as their Father, just as do we. They can have the Church as their Mother only if they see in us the difference Orthodoxy has made in our lives. Being arrogant in our evangelism does nothing to express the truth of Orthodoxy and makes us nothing more than a pushy salesman at the door.
That arrogant archimandrite would better have shared the beauty of Orthodoxy had he embraced those Roman Catholics as fellow disciples of Christ. Then they would have seen Christ in him and known that Orthodoxy was a faith centered in love.
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photo: The ferry dock in Tacoma, with Vashon Island off in the distance. Note the rainbow!
Friday November 13, 2015 / October 31, 2015
24th Week after Pentecost. Tone six.
Fast. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
Apostles Stachys, Amplias, Urban, Narcissus, Apelles, and Aristobulus of the Seventy (1st c.).
Martyr Epimachus of Pelusium, who suffered at Alexandria (250).
New Hieromartyr Priest John Kochurov of Chicago and St. Petersburg (1917).
New Hieromartyr Leonid (1918).
New Hieromartyrs Vsevolod, Alexander, Sergius, Alexis, Basil priests, Hieromartyrs Anatolius, Euphrosynus amd Martyr James (1937).
New Hieromartyr Innocent (1938).
Venerables Spyridon and Nicodemus the Prosphorabakers of the Kiev Caves (1148).
Venerable Maura of Constantinople (436).
Venerable Anatolius, recluse of the Kiev Caves (12th c.).
New Martyr Nicholas the New of Chios (1754) (Greek).
Venerable Foillan, Irish monk-martyr (655) (Neth.).
Martyr Quentin of Rome (3rd-4th c.).
St. James, bishop of Mygdonia (4th. c.).
Commemoration of the Martyrs of Tbilisi slain under Jelaluddin (1227) (Georgia).
Martyr Epimachus the Roman and his companion Gordian (361-363) (Greek).
Martyrs Stephen, Barnabas, Trophimus, Dorymedon, Cosmas, Damian, Sabbas, Bassa, Abraham, and others with them (Greek).
Martyrs Seleucius and Stratonica his wife, myrr-gushers (Greek).
Scripture Readings
1 Thessalonians 5:9-13
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Various Exhortations
12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
1 Thessalonians 5:24-28
24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Luke 11:23-26
23 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
An Unclean Spirit Returns
24 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”
Well, compared to the first Christians, there are no Christians now at all. The first ones were not venerating Mary, they did not have uniforms, they did not go around with Bibles, they had no similar complex doctrine and they were not part of a very organized religion. Actually, till present Christianity owes many of its directions to the directions given by Roman emperors and its elite. The high price of mixing with pagan beliefs has been paid. No wonder organized, pastoral religion is on decline.
If you bothered to study the Early Church Fathers, you would know the folly of your words, dear friend.
Dear friend, please just ask yourself, in the heart of hearts, the following question: What would Christ approve of present doctrine and practices? Which ones would pass the test?
What’s your take?
I consider you smart enough to know the answer. Very little would pass the test. The present version is light years far from the original one. You don’t need people’s approval–you need GOD’s approval.
Again, read the Church Fathers. They gave us the Canon of the Scripture, and our understanding of the teachings of Christ can not be known unless understood through the Mind of the Church. Enough said, as I don’t want to enter into a debate with you. This is not the place for it. God bless your journey.
Father bless!
Thank you for sharing this anecdote. It is the perfect antidote for over-eager apologetics.
Thank-you in deed for this story! I think it can be applied to all who believe that Jesus is the way the Truth and the life, when we encounter those who believe he is only one of many ways. Being pushy and arrogant about our “correct” faith will not follow in the footsteps of our suffering humble Savior. I heard on the radio today a statement that could apply here. “If the heart for God is right, the ritual is right. If the heart is wrong, the ritual will not change it. Only the Holy Spirit can.
Just like we all have our unique gifts, appearances, voices, lifestyles, the ones who are trying to follow Jesus however way they are able, will all reveal Jesus in different ways. A child looks and acts differently as it grows, and so has the Christian journey in this world.
I always find it troubling when someone degrades the current state of the true Church by believing we have lost what was from the beginning as though The Holy Spirit has not guided the Body of Christ throughout the ages. Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy
Sadly, I agree. However, if you want God’s approval, I would postulate we as a Church and as a Christian body have seen His love and “approval” manifest itself thousands of times throughout the centuries through the miracles of the saints and the glory of miraculous icons, even onto this day. If we are not so loved by the Father who sent His only begotten Son to save us, to what end would we be allowed to be witnesses of this Grace? That would be an answer to such denigration and humble reminder for our responsibility and Christians before God.
Thank you Father
Your story
and your words particularly
exude true warmth and love.
again, you hit the nail on the head with your 3rd paragraph of today’s Morning Offering.
However, not long ago, I had a dear friend who visited my Orthodox church be told by a Orthodox priest, when he found out my visitor was Lutheran, that ‘ I’ts not your fault that you are part of that religion.”
My close friend said…” .I really feel welcome in your Orthodox Church. ”
I have never heard a pastor or a priest of another religion make comments of the Orthodox faith in a negative way as I have had Orthodox priest do that in their sermons or general comments.
I find this to be very sad. How counterproductive to the whole concept of evangelizing for the faith, that this priest would utter such words. Lord have mercy.
Thank you for addressing this issue, Father. I had asked this question when you inquired about suggestions for blog topics, so it feels particularly nice to see that you either consciously or subconsciously responded. As always, it is refreshing to have your perspective… As we share the same eyes on this, it is nice to know that I am in alignment with some expressions of Orthodoxy in man. All too often do I hit a hard wall of pride and rejection with the suggestion of meeting our non-Orthodox brothers and sisters with thanksgiving and love. To me, their rejection is nothing but a proud and hypocritical disaster for the witness of Christ. I would rejoice to see more humility within our ecumenism.
This is a real encouragement, God bless.
thanks for your response to my comments, Father Tryphon
I am commenting late…but I was just remembering what happened when I was chrismated. I converted from the Congregational church, and the priest who chrismated me spoke about how I was brought up in the Christian faith by loving parents who had me baptized with water and loved me and taught me well, laying a strong foundation, but that I was now entering into the fullness of the faith. It was a beautiful way to show respect for my family and my previous religious life. Thank you for this post!
A wise priest, indeed!