ORTHODOXY – PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Part Fourteen

THE LAW THAT GOVERNS THE ENTIRE CHURCH

     When Christ asked His disciples, whom do me say that I am, Peter, enlightened by the Father replied: “You are the Christ the Son of the living God.” The Lord blessed Peter, saying: “Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my Father who is heaven. And I say unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  The Father starts the work, and reveals the fundamental truth, laying the foundation stone of the edifice, as it is written: “Behold, I lay in Sion a choice stone, a cornerstone, and he who believes on him shall not be confounded.” Peter received his confession from rhe Father and this confession is the rock upon which the holy Church is built, being its chief dogma: “You are the Christ, Son of the living God.”

     The Son continues the building by means of the Mystery of the Eucharist, and with His own Body and Blood, like clay, puts together and cements the stones of the edifice. The Holy Spirit guides the Church, binding and loosening, approving or disapproving those who are accepted and those who are rejected. For the “keys to the kingdom of heaven”, which Christ promised to Peter, are the directive authority of the Holy Spirit who rules and guides the holy Church through Peter and those like him. The authority and power to bind and loose are what is referred to as the governing law of the Church. These laws govern the Church and lead it to its destiny.  The Son sends down the Holy Spirit from the Father, as is written: “When the Comforter comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of me” (John 15:26). The Son imparts the Holy Spirit and its directive authority on those he chooses, saying: “And He breathed upon them saying, Receive Holy Spirit. Whoever’s sins you remit, shall be remitted to them, and whoever’s sins you retain, they shall be retained.” Also: “Whatsoever you lose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  This power and authority is distributed through the apostles and bishops to those who are worthy.  This governing law remains in the Church as a guide to those in authority.

     The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of truth by Christ, for He guides the faithful into all truth, which is always in harmony with the right Logos of God, the truth who came down from heaven, as He says: “The Holy Spirit will testify of me.” Nothing that the Logos has uttered will be overlooked but the Spirit will testify to everything, for He is all-knowing. Christ says: “He shall not speak of himself, but whatever He shall hear, that shall He speak, and He will show you the things to come. He shall glorify me, for He shall receive of mine and shall show it unto you.” There is perfect agreement with the Spirit’s testimony concerning all that He said and did. 

     The popes of Rome with their invented claims of authority and infallibility have no clue as to the Holy Spirit’s function in the Church. Christ is indeed the head of the Church, divine and human as is His Church. But He established the Holy Spirit to be its mentor and guide, reminding all the faithful of what Christ has said and done, knowledge which the Holy Spirit preserves perfectly. To bind and to loose in Holy Spirit means to forbid and prevent whatever is opposed to the laws laid down by Christ, and to permit whatever is not contrary to these laws. It also means to reprimand sinners in a manner that their sins deserve, and to pardon them when they are sorry and repentant before God.

ORTHODOXY – PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Part Thirteen

THE EUCHARIST 

THE BOND BETWEEN GOD AND MAN

     The Eucharist has always been the basis for divine worship. Iniquity and sins had separated man from God as well as introducing death, however the virtue and righteousness of Christ has reconciled man and  the holy Eucharist is the bond between God and man!

     Iniquity and sin were committed by the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, who acted contrary to the law and will of God. Christ the Son of God, who is the New Adam, always acted in accordance with the law, and although he was faultless and righteous yet he was unjustly put to death under the law.  However, this unjust death on the Cross became the total overthrow and loss of authority of the devil and his demons.  Christ suffered everything including insults, mockery, slander, spitting, scourging and crucifixion.  They were entirely unaware that the Lord Christ voluntarily submitted to His Passion and death for the purpose of  destroying their illicit authority and the power of the wicked devil who from the beginning had tyrannized the first man and his descendants, in his  rebellion against God.

     According to the divine law whatever was unjustly taken from a wronged person must be returned manifold. Christ’s life was unjustly taken from Him although He was sinless, and therefore was not legally subject to death. And the lives of all  men who ever existed or will exist, are not equal to the life of Christ which is infinte. Under the law, the Lifegiver bestows life upon all those who come to Him in faith and love, and keeping His commandments they gain eternal which is man’s greatest and infinite treasure.   Sadly, although eternal life is offered to all men, relatively few show interest because the pleasures and attractions of this material world holds them tightly in its grips. And wicked unbelief has gripped their hearts.

     The Lord’s death on the Cross, says St. Paul, is proclaimed through the mystery of the Eucharist. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes”

     This assertion signifies that the mystery of the Eucharist commemorates the propitious sacrifice on the Cross, and that the commemoration shall continue until the second coming of the Lord. 

     The celebration of the Mystery and the propitious sacrifice of the Cross are one as the Lord himself said, when He celebrated the first Mystery saying: “This cup is the New Testament in my blood,” that is, this cup contains my blood by which the New Testament is confirmed and the relations between God and man subsist. Accordingly if the true body and the true blood of the Lord lies upon the altar of the Christian Church, exactly as upon the Cross, both sacrifices are essentially one and they although they differ with respect to mode and place, or rather, there is one sacrifice, extending from Golgotha exists in every place, subsisting in the eyes of the Lord until the end of the world. If this be so, and the sacrifice of Eucharist is identical with the propitious sacrifice on the Cross, it follows that it is because thereof that there subsists a relation and connection between God and man, and that the Mystery is the basis of divine worship; for without this Mystery we are unable to  worship God or commune with Him.

ORTHODOXY – PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Part Twelve

 Benefits, Good Effects In A Christian Community

     When individuals change for the better they likely will gradually influence others to do the same; this could become the initial beginning of a community society formed of like-minded men.  In a society composed of those who practice righteousness and good behavior according to Christ’s laws.  Among the few first occurs homogeneity, second concord, third friendliness, fourth equality, fifth freedom. These attributes taken together define the well being of the resultant society. Such a community will by it nature be a free and good society. Brethren who are of the same mind or unanimous have a natural friendship toward each other, always seeking to do good to one another, being equal in honor nor will one brother exalt himself over another. Under such conditions genuine freedom exists for no brother will attempt to tyrannize another and seek to deprive him of his freedom, but will prefer to live with him in harmony and peace. Christian society or community alone is perfectly true because it abounds in all social attributes. All other societies are pseudo-societies and are by nature wicked, vicious and self-destructive.

     The rule of Christian society or community is that it works in accordance with Christian justice which prevails among its members. Christian society is righteousness and demands that each member conduct himself righteously towards the brethren of Christ, just as Christ did towards each one of us. By what He suffered, and in His great goodness Christ bestowed on each of us the greatest benefactions possible. 

     Thus each of us are obliged to return these benefactions with like deeds and sufferings to Christ in the person of His brethren. Christ will judge us in the last day as He said: “Come you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him. saying, Lord when did we see you hungry and fed you?  Or thirsty and gave you to drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in? or naked and clothed you?  Or when did we see you sick or in prison and came and you?  And the King will answer, and say unto them, Amen, I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it unto one of these least of my brethren, you have done it to me. And these shall go away to everlasting punishment; but the righteous will go into everlasting life.” 

     Christian justice expects us to do good to all the brethren of Christ, just as each of us enjoys the  goodness of Christ. Remember, insofar as we have done it to the brethren of Christ, we do it to Christ and failing to do good to one’s benefactor is an injustice. That is why they are called just who do good to Christ in the person of His brethren, and unjust those who slight them. But who are the brethren of Christ that are under the protection of Christian justice? There are some who erroneously say that it is the poverty-stricken persons and beggars of the streets, which refer to the words of Christ, but this is not so, for Christ never suggested that such persons were His brethren and equal with His disciples.

     He clearly identified the identity of His brethren while he was teaching in a certain house. "At that time, disciples came and informed Christ that His Mother and brethren were outside waiting to see Him. Here is the Scriptural account:  “Your mother and your brethren stand outside desiring to see you. And He answered  and said unto them: My mother and brethren are those who hear the word of God and do it.”  And the will of the Father is this: That people recognize Christ  as His beloved Son and listen to His voice.  According to this condition all who keep the fundamental law of the Church, whether rich or poor, all being members of the Christian society who believe in Christ hearken to His words and do them are brethren of Christ. And everyone that wishes to listen to Christ is told by Him: “Inasmuch as you did it to one of these my brethren you did it to me." It is a false teaching, contradicting the teaching of  Christ helped by all who claims, that all men in the word are equal brothers.  

     In a Christian society or community, all members are equal with one another, and the first thing necessary in such a community is to satisfy the physical needs of all its members that there will be none of them in want of anything. Everyone will work not only to take care of himself but also to help the brethren where necessary.  The Lord himself will also add His  blessings to such work by increasing the supplies available to the community. Owing to accidents such as wrecks, fires, diseases, deaths of relatives or acquaintances and the like, during such times who among the well-to-do will scornfully tolerate seeing in their brethren, Christ hungry or thirsty, naked or suffering any other such ill? All will hasten gladly and eagerly to take care of Christ in the person of His suffering brother. In doing good they will be grateful to the one they have favored with an opportunity to do good to Christ in the person of His brethren.

     No one will tolerate seeing Christ hungry or thirsty or naked or suffering or any other such ill. Christian justice does not tolerate, some who wallow in luxury while others are in need, but it wishes all to be in self-sufficiency. It attains this aim, first by obliging all Christians to be industrious and sober, second, the well-to-do should help out the needy, not under compulsion, but out of love for Christ and His brethren. A rich Christian will not use his wealth for the purpose of illicit pleasures and revels, because a Christian life finds true pleasure and delight in the Lord and the Holy Spirit. On the contrary, after supplying his own needs according to what is just and proper, he will give his surplus towards the deficiency of other, that there might be equality in all things amongst all.  All the brethren, seeing these actions, will rejoice and glorify God who inspires them.            

ORTHODOXY – PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Part Eleven

THE POWER IN THE EUCHARIST

       The Eucharist is the divin living food so beneficial to our souls, it also makes our bodies noble and beneficial, doing only good works to others. Our body is the inseparable companion of the soul and is necessary for our various functions of both soul and body. If the body has a wicked disposition it can do harm to the soul, but if it has a good disposition, it will prove beneficial to the soul. Thus the body can be the cause of much distress or of great benefit to the soul. The old man sinned and submitted to the desires of the body resulting in mortality instead of immortality. For sin entered the world through eating what was forbidden by the divine law. Now the divine food gives man the strength to avoid sin and keep the entire law of God which results in eternal life. Sin also brought on fear of death, and it is this fear of death that Christ has changed into the death of death or immortality.  Adam and Eve hid from Lord because of sins, but eating the divine food and doing the divine work, we approach the Father with a new hope and love.

     Adam the first man was told to eat everything except from a certain tree, “for if you eat from that tree you will certainly die.”  But Jesus Christ commands the new men to eat: “Take and eat my body and drink my blood and you will never die.”  Eating and drinking contrary to the divine law arouses in the soul fear, shame, flight, condemnation and death. But eating according to the divine law is results happiness in the soul who is living in righteousness, courage, propriety, frankness, justification, and thus gaining eternal life. When a sinner changes and does right he does not remain a sinner but becomes a son. The Eucharist is offered to sons and daughters with the words “take eat”; and all who eat lawfully and keep the commandments enter the path of life everlasting.              

        
    The power in the mystery of the Eucharist is best comprehended by remembrance of Christ, who He is and all that He did out of love for us, for He emptied himself and became obedient to death even death on the Cross. The remembrance of how Christ, being by nature God, descended to earth and became also a man, that I being by nature a man, might ascend to heaven and become a god.  Christ suffered the greatest of all things evil that I might enjoy the greatest good of all things good, which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man. He humbled himself so that I might be exalted.  He suffered dishonor that I might be honored. He underwent hardships, afflictions, sorrows and pain, that I might find relaxation, joy, exhilaration and happiness. He died that I might live. He became a poor man without figure or beauty, that I might become a blissful god invested with honor and glory.

     But I am mentioning what He did for me, and should remember Christ not only for what He did for me, but for himself for He is exceedingly good and worthy of our love. The love of Jesus Christ is similar to a wound in the heart of those who love him. The salve and dressing  applicable to this wound is to heed every word and keep every commandment, for He alone is worthy of our love. Christ says: “All things whatever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets. Let us accept Christ’s commandments with enthusiasm for they will help us to achieve our goal of deification.

ORTHODOXY – PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Part TEN

DOING WHAT THE GOSPEL LAW COMMANDS

      We have mentioned that the work of faith and that of God are one, the beginning of faith being the recognition of Christ as Son of the Living God, and the end is  obedience to His voice. But work cannot be accomplished without food, and no one can do the work of God, which is the law of righteousness, without the food that is bestowed upon them for this purpose by God himself.  Work and food in both the ordinary and Christian mode of living are in the same way and depend on the same law. Work is done for the sake of food. Food further strengthens the man for the sake of accomplishing work.

     For our food the Lord feeds us with the Body and Blood of Christ as He has instructed, available only in the Divine Eucharist of our precious Orthodox Faith. He who eats the food of God receive strength to execute the Father’s will which is the law of righteousness. Without the divine food performance of the divine work is not possible.  However, He who eats the food of God can quite easily perform the task of fulfilling righteousness. This is what Christ says: “He who eats by body and drinks my blood abides in me and I in Him. And he who abides in me and I in Him bears much fruit and  “without me you can do nothing” 

     It is Christ’s desire that we become holy as He is holy and perfect as His Father in heaven is perfect, and He makes this apparent difficult task very possible, for this constitutes the work and Christ supplies himself as the necessary perfect food and drink. As if He has said: I expect all those who believe in me to achieve a great task, and to become righteous and perfect just as my heavenly Father is righteous and perfect; but great is the power also with which I will strengthen them, and make them able to do what is commanded. I will afford them my Body and Blood for him to eat and drink. That when they have been strengthened by the divine power residing therein, they shall be able to perform the will of my Father and fulfill all righteousness just as I have done. I will be in them and they with me, they will be enabled to do all things.

ORTHODOXY – PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Part Nine

THE LAW CHRISTIANS MUST OBEY (B)

     “You have heard that it has been said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say unto you, love your enemies; bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you.  That you may be children of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and unjust. For if you love them that love you what reward do you have? Do not publicans do the same? You, therefore, be perfect even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.”  God’s negative laws inflict punishment on transgressors, but His positive laws rewards and recompenses those who serve them. So while violations, without repentance, will result in punishment, doing good according the Christ’s commandments will results in rewards.

     Christ first laid down the negative laws which inflict punishment, such as Be not angry without good cause, do not use vituperation, do not blaspheme, do not commit adultery, either by looking or in illicit marriage, do not swear at all. Do not resist evil, neither have recourse to courts of law. Then Christ lays down the law of goodness, commanding Christians to do good even to their enemies, imitating the heavenly Father, who causes His sun to shine on good and evil alike, and rains upon the just and the unjust. Loving those who loves  us will gain no reward, for it is only paying back what is equal and just.

     A perfect penalty and a perfect reward are not possible in this present life, so they are provided for in the future, the present time is the time to conform to the teaching of the Gospel and look to a reward. It is therefore wise for every man who has good sense to live in conformity with the Gospel law.  Some will say the fulfillment of the perfect law is impossible to man, and what is impossible should not be attempted. This is absurd and false because it traduces God as acting absurdly and will only come from the mouth of fools. God cannot make a law that is absurd or not possible as this would foolish in our judgment and God is not foolish nor can He be, for He is our Lord and Creator, who establishes only what is to our benefit.

ORTHODOXY – PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Part Eight

THE LAW CHRISTIANS MUST OBEY

     Whoever has faith in Christ has made a good beginning which needs to be brought to fruition. Faith in Christ without works, as James the Apostle says, is dead. The works are accomplished by hearkening to and carrying out all that the Son commands, for He speaks what His Father wills, thus we all need to listen and obey. Christ speaks as follows: “You have heard that it was said to them of old time, you shall not kill; and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment, and whoever shall say to his brother Raca, shall be in danger of the council; but whoever shall say you fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”

     The law of Moses subjected murderers to the penalties of justice. Christ’s legislation differs by forbidding  the lesser behavior that leads to murder, such as anger, insult and blasphemy forbidding and penalizing these things preventing the crime of murder. To be guilty of these lesser things must be shown as being related to the potential crime, for example, all types of anger do not lead to murder. Also whoever called his brother raca ( similar to “worthless” or “good for nothing”) makes him liable before the council,” and possible condemnation. 

The Gospel Laws established by Christ are for those who believe in Him and strive to keep His commandments as members of His Church. All Orthodox Christians are brothers and sisters of Christ and what they do to each other is done to Christ who said: “Amen, Amen, I say unto you as you have done to the least of these my brethren you have done it to me” (Mat.25:40). Therefore a Christian unreasonably angry with another is also unreasonably angry with Christ. He who calls his brother a fool, knowing him to be the brother of Christ, evidently calls Christ a fool. And he who calls Christ a fool blasphemes against the Holy Spirit. For whoever is a fool is a fool because of his folly, and folly indicates a spirit of foolishness and senselessness. That means he has called the spirit in Christ a spirit of folly. Christ was maligned by the Pharisees and said: “whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit., it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world nor in the world to come” (Mat. 12:32).

     “Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled with your brother and then come and offer your gift. When you know your brother has been wronged go to him and be reconciled then offer your gift.” Not just remembering our own ill feelings toward a brother, but also those of him towards us, requires us to seek reconciliation with him.

ORTHODOXY – PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Part Seven

FAITH GENERATES NECESSARY GOOD WORKS

     When the Jews heard Christ command them not to work for the food that perishes but for the food that endures unto everlasting life, they asked him what they ought to do in order to do the work of God?  Jesus told them: “This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent.” He makes it clear that faith in Christ is the work of God leading to eternal life. But why does Christ refer to faith in Him as being work?

     Our souls believe when we accept with certainty that what is being said is to be taken just as said.  This certitude is what is called faith. However the soul does not act  unthinkingly but goers through the process of work within itself, comparing, judging and reasoning. Thus believing is indeed work, not physical but mental work, where the soul distinguishes between truth and falsehood, always seeking and accepting truth. This work is most difficult and intense for the soul is drawn to the good teaching of Christ and is also drawn away by the evil and worldly enticements which surround it on all sides. 

     The souls of men continually seek happiness and reject sorrow and sadness whenever possible, for happiness is a continually desirous human goal for which men always reach but few find. Happiness can never be found in the pleasures or works of this world no matter how benevolent they may seem. Giving alms to the poor, feeding the hungry, showing kindness to strangers, are good works for which the world offers its thanks. But if they are done for worldly praise and self-aggrandizement they are without any value in Christ’s eyes. Because He is the source of everything good, the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end of all things and is so preached. He saves those who know him and perform works in His name, and consigns to fire those who remain ignorant of Him.

ORTHODOXY – PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Part Six

Living The Orthodox Christian Life

     The everyday lives of all men are basically the same, working, feeding and maintaining the human body. Food is usually acquired by farming or working and purchasing.  If we are healthy we do not forget to eat for it is well known that you must eat in order to stay alive and we prefer life to death. and eat most every day. Every man alive preserves his precious life by working, acquiring and using the things which are helpful to his body. Life can be seen as work for the purpose of acquiring and utilizing those things which support life.

      Common life’s main objective is feeding and maintaining the body; Christian life aims at feeding and perfecting the soul leading to eternal life in the kingdom of God. Christian life accomplishes its objective by means of mental and spiritual work in the imperishable Spirit of God.  Common life maintains the body which will perish but on Christian life raises the soul into the eternal kingdom. Christian life provides the means to ascend through spiritual food and drink and proper garments for the soul, all of which are provided by our Lord and Savior Christ.

     Man is destined to become the perfect image and likeness of God and accomplishes this by faith in Jesus Christ and good works with membership in His holy Church. It is the greatest of  honors far superior to any other honor to be a human being, for we are created in the image of God destined to become the image and likeness, and this involves struggling to become holy like God the Father!  This is the aim and objective of our Christian life imposed upon us by the order of Christ who says: “Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give you; for Him it is whom the Father has certified” (John 6:27). Christ clearly teaches us not to work for the food of the body alone, but much more so for the food of the soul, not for the food that perishes but for the food that leads to everlasting life.

ORTHODOXY – PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Part Five

The Great and Final Judgment

     Everything that God creates and forms is good and perfect and it could be no other way. He has His perfect plan for the entire universe which He created and He confided His plan to us in these words: “Let us create man in our own image and according to our likeness.”  Every human being in the world is welcome to take advantage of the generous offer of God. He sent His Only-begotten Son Jesus Christ into the world to teach and inform us what we are offered by God. More, He came into the world and voluntarily suffered crucifixion in order to effect our salvation and through the Cross we are saved. We have the freedom to accept or reject God’s wonderful offer, but we are also warned of the day of the great and final judgment, wherein each of us will be judged by Jesus Christ. We  will saved by our faith and judged according to our works, for faith is evident by works.

      The entire race of man is subject to our Creator’s perfect law, whether they agree or disagree.  Our Lord encourages us to accept and work toward our eventual destination and threatens us with punishment if we reject to conform and follow His law.  The reward for faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and keeping His commandments is everlasting life, but the penalty for rejecting Him and His commandments is everlasting condemnation. 

     Those who deny the future judgment, everlasting life and everlasting punishment also deny the existence of the perfect law which expresses the perfect volition of the perfect being – God. But when they deny the perfect volition of God they also deny the existence of God, and then hold that the principle of creation and beginning of the universe is the work of non-being matter or some other blind and brute force acting at random.

     The fools disregard the harmony and order of heaven and earth.  Using their minds they call themselves learned and think that they are thoughtful in what they say. Yet they foolishly assert that  the principle of all things is  mindless and senseless.  They deny the justice of God, and yet if they become victims of injustice, they protest in the name of justice!

     Such insanity prevails today throughout many schools of the West; and they foolishly praise it as being some sort of exceptional wisdom, yet they do not give their attention to the law of God, nor do they take any notice of the wrath that threateningly hangs over their heads. God, being righteous will continue to do His part. He made a law, and stated His will to all the nations to which it was possible to state it; subsequently He will also judge the nations according to the law stated in the fixed day of judgment, and woe to them who have disregarded it and not behaved in accordance with the law!

ORTHODOXY – PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Part Four

The Basic or Fundamental Law of the Church

     What is a law?  Usually it is the will of a ruler or rulers to those under them. Laws are usually sanctioned with rewards or penalties. This gives force to the law and good reason for its observance. It is impossible to begin conceive the human race without necessary laws. The first law to be made by a ruler or a state is called the basic or fundamental law, without which the state could not exist. Thus the will of God for those ruled by Him for the edification of the Church, and sanctioning a reward or penalty, is called a law. The first law made by God for His Church is called its fundamental law. With this law the Church continues to exist, without it would be reduced to nothing. The fundamental law of the holy Orthodox Church is this: “It is the duty of every human being to recognize Christ the crucified as His beloved Son, as the right and perfect Logos or Word of the perfect Mind, and to listen to what He says." 

     Everyone who accepts and submits to this law is set on the path to salvation and eternal life and can be saved, while those who reject this law are on the road leading to perdition and eternal death. This cannot be taken lightly as the law is real, the reward is exceedingly great and the punishment is exceedingly torment.

     This fundamental law of the Church was made effective at the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River, for after His baptism and at the same time as the Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove, the Father cried out from heaven: “This is my beloved Son in whom I have well decided; listen to Him.” John the Baptist believed by the people to be a prophet, preached and showed this same fact to them. Also on Mt Tabor at the Transfiguration of Christ, the same voice spoke from within the cloud, saying: “This is my beloved Son in whom I have well decided; listen to Him.”

     And this voice says Peter in his second epistle: “which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount.” That is the reason why after the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, he reminded the Jews: “For Moses truly said unto the fathers:  A prophet shall the Lord your God raise you of your brethren like unto me, Him shall you hear in all things whatever he shall say unto you. And it shall happen, that every soul who will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from among the people” (Acts 3:22-23).

ORTHODOXY – PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Part Three

Members in the Church

     Many of us attend regular church services, especially  Divine Liturgy on Sundays and on some Feast Days, but why and is that all there is? What does it mean to be an Orthodox Christian and members of the Church? Is everyone that goes to church really worshiping the true God in heaven?  Can we distinguish between true Christians and those who are not. Just attending church does not make us into Christians although it does contribute.  However, there are, according to God’s law, three attributes that distinguish true Christians, being faith, holiness, and justice. In order to possess these virtues  one must possess the Holy Spirit. Thus a true Christian contains Holy Spirit and before men  he confesses that Christ is the Son of the living God.

     The virtue of faith is the firm belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God. The virtue of holiness means that we struggle to live without sin and obey every commandment of the Gospel. Sinlessness is possible to those who desire to do God’s will, for He makes it possible. The virtue of justice is practiced when we deal with all men in fairness and honesty in accordance with the Christian law.

     A true Christian is a vessel of the Holy Spirit, and confessing Christ, he behaves in conformance with the will and law of God, keeping his soul free from all contamination of flesh and spirit. Those who are destitute of these things will be excluded from the kingdom and bridal chamber of Christ, for He says: “Whoever therefore shall confess me before men, I too will confess before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever shall deny me before men, I too shall deny before my Father who is in heaven” and “he that believes not on the Son is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.”  These words of Christ makes it evident that God cannot approve us if we are without faith, making faith an essential attribute of a Christian, who also must confess the true Faith.

     Concerning the gift of the Holy Spirit and the sanctification of the soul, St. Paul says: “Now if any man does not have the spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” Also: “But as many as are led by the Spirit of God; they are sons of God” (Rom. 8:9-14).  That is why St. Paul upon coming to Ephesus and finding disciples there, said to them: “Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? And they said to him: We have not so much as heard that there is a Holy Spirit. And he said unto them, unto what then were you baptized? And they said, unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, Truly John baptized into the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on Him who should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with languages and prophesied.” It is evident that no one can be considered a Christian who has not received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and that every Christian is baptized in Holy Spirit in order to become holy and a member of the Church of Christ. For this reason it is written: “Follow holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” 

     Concerning the virtue of justice (righteousness), Christ says: “Not everyone that says to me Lord, Lord shall enter in the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name have cast out demons? And in your name have done many wonderful works? And then I will reply unto them, I never knew you; depart from me you workers of iniquity” (Mat. 7:21-23).

      It has been shown that in every Christian these virtues are present, faith with full knowledge, holiness, and justice necessary for membership in Christ’s Church. These three attributes correspond to the three persons of the Holy Trinity. The Son requires faith, the Holy Spirit requires holiness, and the Father requires justice. Everyone of us can acquire these three virtues by obeying the laws that God has handed to the Church, which we will deal with in Part 4 of this series.

ORTHODOXY – PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Part Two

The Church's Attributes

     The Church is described in our sacred Creed as being one, holy, catholic, and apostolic and it will prove to be beneficial to review what these terms mean to all of us in the Church.. 

The Church bears the name apostolic because of having received it’s basic teaching directly from the holy apostles. Being apostolic is critically important for it means that the Church was established with the apostolic tradition both written and verbal. The Lord established this, saying to the apostles: “Go, therefore and teach all nations. baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you;  and lo, I am with you always, even unto the close of the age” (Mat. 28:19-20). So The Church preserves and teaches the pure teaching of the apostles which they had received from Jesus Christ. No other Church is genuinely apostolic except Christ’s holy Orthodox Church.

     The Church bears the name catholic because it is for all people and nations, as the new testament. The Church of Christ is called catholic because it is the same in relation to all the nations of the earth and among all nations, not undergoing change with respect to time and place. It receives all men alike and equal before the law and are entitled to honor maintaining the same principle regarding all men. The old testament was for a single people, the Jews. The new testament is for everyone and excludes no one from entering the Church because it is catholic it welcomes all. The Church’s beginning was when Christ established it at Caesarea and Philipi, in response to Peter’s confession: “You are the Christ, Son of the Living God.” 

ORTHODOXY – PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
Part One
                                                     

     Recently there was much talk and speculation concerning the declining continuity of those born into Orthodoxy remaining membership in the Orthodox Church. Some objected claiming the numbers were skewed due to PEW disregarding an large influx of converts not included in the research of PEW who raised the subject of decreasing membership by their analysis. However the quantity of Church members is not the only factor indicating the general health of the holy Church. For those who are interested we present here what is  the truly healthy condition of the Church, as well as the unhealthy condition. 

While there are certainly faithful Orthodox throughout the many churches in countries all over the world,  the church is suffering from various ills. Why are our ecclesiastical affairs in a bad way and becoming increasingly worse? For in the church among both clergy and laity there is an abundance of impiety self-love, money concerns and material interests. Why is this condition present in the Church? It is due to the lack of remembrance of the Church and her purpose and how an Orthodox Christian should live.

     The Church was created to radiate divine light before men as Christ described to His disciples: “You are the light of the world; let your light shine before men that may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” When the Church is vibrant and filled with faith, zeal, and brilliance its proof is that it continuously increases in great numbers, as people  That this is true, we must keep in mind the Church’s infancy with only twelve and later seventy apostles and their rapid and lasting increase. The Church is much more than the Priest and parishioners attending Liturgy or Mass  as in the West. It ought to be the Priest and his many active assistants who continuously supply the Priest with converts well catechized and prepared for baptism and who in turn will carry on the same work and this process multiplies.

THE SPIRITUAL WORLD – ITS NATURE

      We are familiar with our physical world observed by our senses, but contrary to some false teaching, but we humans are much more than sensualists like countless other common creatures. There is another spiritual world which is the ultimate destination of every man and women. Observing men with their wonderful intellect and freedom of behavior we see much more than animalistic sensuality. Men are created and rise above all other creatures, for endowed with intellect and the freedom to do what we will, he is not trapped in a particular style of life and fixed behavior. For we live under laws many of which we ourselves have made,  free to distinguish between and choose our preferences. Among all creatures on earth, we alone are endowed with the freedom to understand and choose either good or evil and man lives under laws which reward and punish those who freely make their choice. But there is so much more that elevates man to the heights! Before the physical world was created, God made the spiritual world, where life is endless and this is the destiny of those who heed God and is the abode of angels, who are spirits of fire dwell. This spiritual world is more important to men as it is much higher being vastly superior to the physical world. For God’s plan is to form men and women to become godlike in His own image and likeness.

     God created the heavenly and spiritual world of angels for His own specific purpose and to serve Him in establishing  his great plan for the whole created universe. Angels were created as intellectual  and free beings able to respond or reject the Lord. Angels are not the object of the perfect plan of God but are His assistants who minister to men..  There is a misconception that angels are above and superior to man but this is not true, for they are assigned to assist men in their endeavors. St. Paul says this:  “But to which of the angels did He say at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Heb. 1:13,14).

JEHOVAH WITNESSES

ENEMIES OF TRUTH

     The Holy Orthodox Church founded by Christ has existed and preserved pure Christianity from generation to generation and from century to century.  While the Church has zealously preserved without change the doctrine it received, some members with a corrupted doctrine and established their own churches known as heresies. They were known as heretics because itmeans in Greek “having an opinion.” (Different than the Church)

     Numerous attacks were waged against Christ’s Church by every type of heresy, seeking to corrupt from within the Church’s infallible teaching. Opponents and defenders appeared and waged battle against one another, but the Orthodox or true worshipers did not choose unjust means, but championed the truth as handed down to them from Christ and the Apostles. To mention only a few heresies there were, Adoptionism, Apollinarism, Arianism, Docetism, Luciferianism, Monophystism, Nestorianism and Gnosticism.  These heresies corrupted the truth about Jesus Christ the God-man. They attacked his divinity and humanity, his nature and life as both God and man.

    The most widespread heresy in our time is the Papacy, also called the Roman Catholic Church, which usurped the authority of Christ and the Holy Spirit by establishing a new head, a super bishop the infallible Pope. The Protestants broke away from the Papacy and later divided and subdivided, serving to show that they were not a divine and human institution as is the true Orthodox Church of Christ which never divides, but remains one. They do not have Christ as their head and divine guide as does the true Church where Christ is both divine and human and His Body the Church is the same and will never corrupt the truth but will preserve it forever.

     Christ clearly stated that the gates of hades would not prevail against His Church and they have not, but their attack continues and will continue. Repetition of old heresies is one of the most common forms of attack among belligerents, and such are the Jehovah Witnesses which sprang up in the USA in the year 1874.  It is important to note that the evil one is always behind the action. Thus though sects arise and declare their new beliefs, their aim in not at the many other false beliefs but is aimed at the doctrine of the true Church.

THE IDEAL AND THE ACTUAL UNIVERSE

     The uncaused cause of the single creation of the universe is God who is the only Creator, the Ancient of days, and He remains eternal and ever the same. The world, of course does not have a mind of its own nor can it cthink of or create anything for it is also created by God who determines the course of all that He has made..

     Before the world was created the idea of its existence was in the mind of God, but not the actual  and real world, which would come into existence according to God’s decision. Thus previously the world was non-existent and outside of God. The transition from ideal to actual depended on the decision of God. His decision causes whatever He planned to occur, and the world is a multitude of beings which receive their origin outside of God.  Everything that exists is arranged in a certain order with a specific purpose. The world has come into existence according to the particular and fine plan of the Logos. The ideal world  exists in the mind of God as an internal world, and when He decides it comes into existence and becomes an actual world. 

The world as it exists is the work of a perfect intellect and will which possesses necessary power. It is the work of the Logos of the Father: “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:3). It is also the work of the Spirit because it came into existence through His power and by this power is held together and maintained. 

     At first, matter was invisible because it was transparent and rarefied, but in time it changed to what appears before us today. It was also formless because it did not have the form of the world and things in it were not yet in order nor did they have a regular formation which came later. Out of this created matter the world was to be made, heavenly and earthly, spiritual, physical and moral. Single units of atoms as well as multitudes, in fact the sum total of all particles were in the world. There was nothing excess nor missing, for creation proceeded in accordance with God’s eternal plan. Everything was correct and perfect  for it to serve its purpose.

This is the special quality of an all-wise intelligence that knows everything, knows the composition of each being and its purpose which is no less that a great wonder seeing through this the wisdom and power of God in creation, for all beings that exist, are thus formed including man and his high and noble position among beings.

     Due to these facts nothing is created at the present time  but whatever is born comes into the world. For it does not receive its existence now but its nature and appearance through the law of birth. Therefore let all men recognize and acknowledge how truly marvelous are the great wisdom and power of God. The Father in heaven knew of everything that could possibly be born and exist. The exception is evil which God did not create and which only serves to oppose God’s work, but always fails in the end.

The ideal world found eternally in the perfect and limitless mind of God, receives being in time and outside of God by His own might.  It started as matter lacking form or kind, but still was available and suitable for creation of this world according to the law of progress from the less than perfect to the more perfect.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

THE FORMATION OF MATTER AND 

CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE

     Matter came into existence being created out of nothing by God’s power, without shape or form and remained so until God gave it its final forms causing it to blossom into the magnificent universe, which delights our senses and lies spread out before us far beyond our visibility. We learn and continue to learn much about this universe through our senses. We see countless and various types of beings small and great, including the giant sun, the fluffy clouds, bright light and darkness, mountains and valleys, rivers and lakes accompanied by many streams. We see living creatures. insects, birds. elephants, alligators and lions. We hear the sound of other men, animals, and natural resources. Many and various vehicles which make various noises. Animals and birds howl and tweet singing merrily. We detect the smell of many beings, horses, dogs, cats, sheep. pigs, flowers offer various sounds and smells. So we develop our own very small idea of what a portion of our universe consists. But this is only the visible universe which is quite different from the vast spiritual and moral universe, for this universe is invisible and intelligible. We confess this invisible and moral universe in our sacred Orthodox Creed wherein we declare:  “I believe in one God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.” There are two worlds the world of matter which surrounds us and the other is invisible world with which we communicate.

     In the visible universe we can see an arrangement of beings and different substances, carefully arranged according to reason all having a specific and general design and purpose, and for this reason everything that exists is in perfect order for the designed plan of their creation and function. They do not interfere with each other or destroy one another because their reason for existence is specific not accidental.  Orthodox Christianity alone demonstrates the true concept of God, including His unity as one God in three hypostases. Now we see the visible and invisible universe which was created by the same true God and Creator who made heaven and earth and all therein.

     This is indeed the truth because the universe could not exist of itself and if it did it would have to be a second eternal being. But two eternal beings of two different natures, or essences cannot coexist. If God is the essential being then the universe is something that cannot come into existence of its own.He who is absolute, perfect, eternal and ever-living can only be one.

     There are various thoughts harbored among men and some speculations concerning the origin and source of the universe. The Bible establishes in a few words, clearly and authoritatively, the exact source and cause of the universe: “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth” (Genesis 1:1.)  Creation out of nothing and without a Creator is an impossibility for creation is an effect of the uncaused Cause who is God. Brought before Holy Scriptures, the false suppositions go up in smoke and like a rock the truth prevails. The universe has God for its existence and came into existence in time which was created by God. Who can offer proof contradictory to the truth of God?

                                                                                           

THE HOLY TRINITY

THE THREE HYPOSTASES

     There are three substances or hypostases in the Holy Trinity, and they are of the same essence and nature. One in three and three in one, it is the Holy Trinity for it is co-essential and inseparable.  The three persons are differentiated one is the Father, the second is the Son and the third is the Holy Spirit. The Father exists of himself because He possesses within himself the reason for His existence. The Son and Holy Spirit are not persons who exist of themselves for their reason for existence are not in themselves but are in the Father. If the Father did not exist neither would the Son or Holy Spirit exist, thus the existence of both is from the Father.

     The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are united in their one nature and one essence which are common to the three persons. Thus the Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God – one God  of one nature and essence in three hypostases.  The Father is able to have other persons proceed from Him.  The Father is being itself and the first cause from which the other two persons, the Son and  the Holy Spirit derive their being. The Father is the first person; He is the Lord.  The Father has life in himself and gives life to the Son to have life in himself.

The Son of God has His origin in the Father who is the cause of the Son and the Holy Spirit, but the Father himself alone is without cause. The Son is called God by the Psalmist David: “The Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand . . . (Psalm 101:1). Isaias says of the Son: “angel of great counsel, wonderful counselor, mighty God, Lord and master, prince of peace, Father of the age to come” (Isaias 9:6). 

     The Son, Jesus Christ, has an abundance of life. He speaks of this: “For as the Father has life in himself so has he given life to the son to have life in himself” (John 5:26). Also: “I live by the Father” (John 5:26).  “ . . . . no man knows the Son, but the Father, neither knows any man the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him” (Matt. 11:27).

     The Holy Spirit is called Comforter and life-giving Spirit. The third person of the Holy Trinity is able to create life and comforts our souls;  He is also called God and Lord just as the Father and the Son are called. The Holy Spirit has His origin and cause and proceeds from the Father.

     There are three wills in the three hypostases, but only one will in the essence, three in one and one in three. The relationship between the Father and the Son is that of begetting and of being begotten. The relationship between the Father and the Holy Spirit is that of projecting and of proceeding.

     Those who consider in their imagination that God is a single person, fabricate a pseudo-god who is non existent, for their thoughts are entirely in opposition to the unerring teaching of Jesus Christ. Orthodox theology demonstrates that God is one, that is one in three hypostases – the Father from whom are all things, the Son through whom are all things, and the Holy Spirit in whom are all things. Whoever does not correctly accept and believe these great dogmatic truths of the Holy Trinity, cannot be a Christian, and as St. John Chrysostom says, we need both the correct dogmatic belief in true dogmas and correct moral and ethical belief and action for are both necessary in order to be saved.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

THE NATURE OF GOD 

IN ORTHODOXY

     God is self existent and is distinguished from all other beings for He is a primary reality, set apart from created substances and beings. His existence is necessary, eternal and not subject to change.  He is distinct from other beings that change from worse to better.

     God always remains the same, complete and whole being perfect,  his self existence is necessary. He lacks nothing being himself the cause of everything that exists. All things are empty and must acquire what they lack in order to be completed. These qualities of God are put forth when men think properly about God, it being unable to think of him with different qualities. If anyone thinks of God in completely different terms it would be false for God cannot be other than His true nature. Descriptions of God that differ do not describe God and therefore are irrational and false. History shows many various false opinions of the nations regarding the nature of God in both ancient and modern times.   

        

     St.Paul the Apostle speaks of this, saying: “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by things that are made; even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse, because that, when they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, neither were they thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Rom. 1:20-22).  St. Paul faulted the ancient world because instead of the true concept of God they falsified it changing His incorruptible glory into images of man, into birds and beasts and creeping things.   They worshiped the creature instead of the Creator and the truths concerning God into a lie.  This was true of the entire ancient world until Greek philosophy established the existence of orthos logos as being the cause.

     Against the eternal existence of God has been proposed by pseudo scientists that matter is the source of created beings and that life is accidental not intentional. God is declared to be a specific force who merely shapes formless matter into different types of creatures.