NECESSITY OF TRUE DOGMAS AND UPRIGHT LIFE

 NECESSITY OF TRUE DOGMAS AND UPRIGHT LIFE

  As Orthodox Christians, we are constantly exposed to the teaching of the divine dogmas, especially each time we recite the Holy Creed and its dogmas: “I believe in one God . . . the Virgin birth, the incarnation, the crucifixion and suffering, the death and burial, the Resurrection, the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, the heavenly Father and Holy Spirt and Lord Jesus Christ, the Trinity in one essence. 

  Orthodox Christians must all believe the same thing and  be dogmatically correct, for it is only in Orthodoxy that the dogmas, given us by God to keep and preserve, and they are the truths which distinguishes Orthodoxy from heterodoxy. They include dogmas declaring Christ as both God  and man, having  a divine and human nature and two wills. They include our belief  in  One God the Father Almighty,  in one Lord Jesus Christ  and the Holy Spirit, The Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and not from the Son. We believe that the Logos and the Spirit are coeternal with the Father who alone is unoriginate. These are critically important Orthodox dogmas. St. Nicolai Velimirovoc says:

   “If the dogma of faith seems to you to be tough food, you must first try to fulfill Christian moral dogma, and then the understanding of the dogma of faith will be revealed to you. The inquisitive examination of high things, without the effort to rectify one’s life, is of no use whatever.  At one time as group of Egyptian monks was considering Melchisedek, and were unable to come to any clarity about the mysterious personality of the ancient king and high priest. They invited Abba Copres to their place of assembly and questioned him concerning Melchisedeck.  Hearing this, Copres smote himself on the mouth three times and said: ‘Woe  to you Copres!  You have set aside that which God has ordained for you to do, and you investigate that which He does not require of you’  The monks were filled with shame and dispersed." 

            For Consideration , Prologue of Ochrid Vol.1 p59:

   We should all know and understand all dogmas concerning the Trinity, the Incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, for without correct dogmas our faith is in vain, Christ is the truth who came down from heaven and we must all be lovers of truth, and haters of lies.   St. John Chrysostom clarifies the relationship of dogmas and behavior and the need for both.

 The Saint writes: ‘If we hold true dogma and give no thought to our conduct, we shall find this of no use; and also if we give thought to our conduct and neglect true dogma, we shall receive nothing useful to our salvation.  If we wish to be delivered from Gehenna and obtain the kingdom, we must be adorned from both sides, with both true faith and uprightness of life.’