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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 4/6/2010 6:53:20 AM
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wk_mt2819
Posts: 1309
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Had an amazing Triduum celebration and have finally found the time to share.
Celebrated Holy Thursday with the Lord's Supper and washing of the feet. In our smaller community, we each are offered the opportunity to wash the feet of our brethren. A beautifully humbling experience.
Morning Prayer on Good Friday followed by Veneration of the Cross where we are called to venerate not only the Cross of Our Savior but also the crosses we bear which bring us to salvation.
Morning Prayer again on Saturday followed by preparation (cleaning) of the Sanctuary for the Vigil.
Words cannot even begin to describe the fullness and beauty of the Vigil. Liturgy of the Light, the Exultet, Liturgy of the Word, Litany of the Saints, renewal of our baptismal promises, and of course, the Liturgy of the Eucharist which is the ultimate celebration of the Resurrection. This truly is the fullness of our Faith!!!! Christ is Risen!!!!!!!
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 4/6/2010 3:57:29 PM
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Doghouse
Posts: 2195
Joined: 8/25/2007
From: The Buckle of the Bible Belt
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...hey....
Just logged on for the first time since before Lent to find mail about the new thread.
Interesting timing; my wife and I are attending a 6 week "mini-course" at my Parish around the book "Re-Discovering Catholicism". I might just post some notes from the discussions in there on Thursdays and get a reaction from y'all to ponder.
Hats off to Fritz for setting aside a place for us here on the site....
_____________________________
Do we honestly believe that the firefighter, who gave up his life on Sept. 11, 2001 on his 10th trip back into WTC Tower 1, saving civilians...is eternally separated from God, just because he never set foot in a Church, or cracked open a Bible?
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 4/6/2010 4:02:34 PM
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Doghouse
Posts: 2195
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From: The Buckle of the Bible Belt
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Partially due to the economy - I was not able to get my head wrapped around Holy Week as much as I normally do. I did attend Easter Vigil where we had 3 newly Baptized and about 25 Confirmed and coming into full communion with the RCC.
I have always enjoyed Holy Thursday Mass, offset by being not so keen on Good Friday. I don't know, I must have some repressed childhood memory about it or something, because there is no explanation for it. Stripping of the alter brings home a sense or the ability to imagine a world without a Savior.
It would be a sad and lonely place. Scary to think of where people migrate to without the moral direction of faith to guide them.
_____________________________
Do we honestly believe that the firefighter, who gave up his life on Sept. 11, 2001 on his 10th trip back into WTC Tower 1, saving civilians...is eternally separated from God, just because he never set foot in a Church, or cracked open a Bible?
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 5/10/2010 5:02:57 PM
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mariadreamer
Posts: 172
Joined: 5/17/2005
From: va
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Christ is Risen!
reviving the thread...
The 40 days of Pascha are almost over! What is everyone doing for the Ascension celebration?
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 5/10/2010 6:24:18 PM
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Dred
Posts: 282
Joined: 10/11/2007
From: Alabama
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mariadreamer
Christ is Risen!
reviving the thread...
The 40 days of Pascha are almost over! What is everyone doing for the Ascension celebration?
We do have a liturgy that morning along with vespers the evening before.
The big event for us is the next day when our new little mission church hosts the Saint Moses the Black Brotherhood meeting, featuring, among other guests, the Metropolitan of the OCA, Jonah. The conference will last the weekend.
SMBB Link
_____________________________
"He was born among us for the cure of the disease of sin." --Gregory of Nyssa
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 5/10/2010 8:28:19 PM
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mariadreamer
Posts: 172
Joined: 5/17/2005
From: va
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wow, my husband would have loved to go to that, but it's way too far away! we live in VA.
Are you in an OCA church?
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 5/11/2010 10:12:06 AM
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Dred
Posts: 282
Joined: 10/11/2007
From: Alabama
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mariadreamer
wow, my husband would have loved to go to that, but it's way too far away! we live in VA.
Are you in an OCA church?
Yes, we are an OCA church. Here we are on the web:
St. Luke's
Down at the bottom right is a picture of our youngest son taking his first communion. My wife is the one holding him.
Here are some other pictures, which include my wife and I being chrismated a little over a year ago. We are referred to as Gregory and Macrina here:
Pictures
All of these pictures will zoom in if you click on them.
_____________________________
"He was born among us for the cure of the disease of sin." --Gregory of Nyssa
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 5/11/2010 8:54:02 PM
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walterquez
Posts: 1742
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Those are beautiful pictures.
_____________________________
St. Athanasios the Great
For our Canons and our forms were not given to the Churches at the present day, but were wisely and safely transmitted to us from our forefathers.
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 5/12/2010 3:04:43 PM
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mariadreamer
Posts: 172
Joined: 5/17/2005
From: va
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thanks, Dred, saw the pictures, they are nice.
here are some pics from our site http://www.nativity.es/photogallery.html
there are some of my kids holding icons, my photo is in the choir section.
maria
_____________________________
"I saw the snares that the enemy spreads out over the world and I said groaning, "What can get through from such snares?" Then I heard a voice saying to me, "Humility." "
St. Anthony the Great
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 5/12/2010 4:58:02 PM
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Dred
Posts: 282
Joined: 10/11/2007
From: Alabama
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Thanks, Maria, it was nice seeing those pictures, especially your kids holding icons. My boys love icons. Our 1 year old always seems to know when a picture is and icon and he wants to kiss it.
By the way, that's a very good signature quote.
_____________________________
"He was born among us for the cure of the disease of sin." --Gregory of Nyssa
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 5/13/2010 12:27:28 AM
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mariadreamer
Posts: 172
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From: va
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worthy quotes constantly fly over us at church at lightening speed... but to understand them, to be able to say them from the heart and to live up to them is very difficult for me. the struggle of a lifetime and feels like I will always be just a beginner.
So a question for everyone: how/why did you all end up on this discussion site?
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 5/16/2010 11:52:24 AM
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wk_mt2819
Posts: 1309
Joined: 3/28/2009
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Happy feast of the Ascension! Jesus - take me with you!!!!
Had an amazing celebration yesterday and last night. Our diocese celebrated the ordination of 5 new priests (three of whom came from my parish!) and then we celebrated the Eucharist with one of the newly ordained. (He is being assigned to our parish)
How did I end up on this discussion site or in this thread?
I don't even remember what compelled me to participate in these forums but this particular thread is a great place to come share orthodox beliefs without being told they are unbiblical.
b.t.w. I love the iconography of the Eastern Church. One of the newer chapels at our diocesan seminary is surrounded with beautiful icons. During our liturgy, it helps to realize how we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 5/27/2010 1:23:39 PM
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Dred
Posts: 282
Joined: 10/11/2007
From: Alabama
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Dred
quote:
ORIGINAL: mariadreamer
Christ is Risen!
reviving the thread...
The 40 days of Pascha are almost over! What is everyone doing for the Ascension celebration?
We do have a liturgy that morning along with vespers the evening before.
The big event for us is the next day when our new little mission church hosts the Saint Moses the Black Brotherhood meeting, featuring, among other guests, the Metropolitan of the OCA, Jonah. The conference will last the weekend.
SMBB Link
Here is a picture from that conference which caught my son and I off-guard. He's holding a piece of antidoron, so this is right after communion:
link 1
In this one, our parish priest is getting a birthday present from his parishoners. Metropolitan Jonah is just behind me:
Link 2
And here is a picture of all those attending the conference. I'm sitting on the ground at the front with my wife and kids sitting right behind me in chairs:
Link 3
If you'd like to see more, just click on the "View All" link above any of those pictures.
_____________________________
"He was born among us for the cure of the disease of sin." --Gregory of Nyssa
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 6/11/2010 10:31:58 AM
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patricius79
Posts: 3420
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Glad to see people are chatting without arguing!
I didn't know that was possible anymore
It's like a miracle . peace,
pat
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 6/12/2010 9:12:29 PM
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Heavendweller
Posts: 430
Joined: 12/22/2007
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quote:
ORIGINAL: patricius79
Glad to see people are chatting without arguing!
I didn't know that was possible anymore
It's like a miracle . peace,
pat
This is a place of refuge. As an Orthodox Christian, I desire to bring others to God, not by argument and dissention, but by first living the life of Christ, and then loving my neighbor as myself. Such a calling is required of all who call themselves Christians. Much easier said than done, I must admit.
May Christ our God be with you this day.
Heavendweller
_____________________________
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. I John 3:1
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 6/12/2010 9:35:39 PM
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kielbasa
Posts: 180
Joined: 6/1/2005
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quote:
This is a place of refuge. As an Orthodox Christian, I desire to bring others to God, not by argument and dissention, but by first living the life of Christ, and then loving my neighbor as myself. Such a calling is required of all who call themselves Christians. Much easier said than done, I must admit.
Oh, that says exactly what I am thinking! Arguing makes me so tired--I just don't do it (anymore.)
My husband and I are sacristans now. Next week will be our first week to prepare for the Eucharist.
Love the pictures, Dred!
Is everyone having a nice summer?
_____________________________
ANCIENT COMMUNIONS CHAT THREAD
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 6/13/2010 5:05:01 PM
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Dred
Posts: 282
Joined: 10/11/2007
From: Alabama
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This reminds me of the front page quote on the FB page of our priest:
"Orthodoxy is manifested, not proved. That is why there is only one way to understand Orthodoxy: through direct Orthodox experience."--Fr. Pavel Florensky in his: The Pillar and Ground of the Truth.
This is all the more meaningful, considering the source of the quote. Florensky was an exceptionally brilliant man with training in real mathematics, that is, the proving of theorems. If anyone should be tempted to rely upon argument, it would be him. In the early years of Stalin, he worked for the state as a physicist. He was said to be quite a sight along side all the others in his priest's cassock. Eventually, they had their use from him and he was martyred, but his innate brilliance kept him alive for some years.
Yes, we must manifest our faith. What would Jesus do, after all? He gave a quick one-liner on occasion which some might consider a very brief argument, but it seems His practice was always to reject theological discussions begun by others and, instead, turn it around to focus on the wills, hearts, and lives of His interlocutors. But I am talking about words. In a most general, all-encompassing way, He was not about talking; He manifested the Life in Himself by living with us. He continues to live with us--within us.
_____________________________
"He was born among us for the cure of the disease of sin." --Gregory of Nyssa
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 6/14/2010 1:47:02 PM
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Heavendweller
Posts: 430
Joined: 12/22/2007
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Dred
"Orthodoxy is manifested, not proved. That is why there is only one way to understand Orthodoxy: through direct Orthodox experience."--Fr. Pavel Florensky in his: The Pillar and Ground of the Truth.
Dred,
What wisdom in such a brief comment! To imitate our Lord Jesus is to strive to live in obedience to God as He lived in obedience to His Heavenly Father. Christ's words, all that He said, aligned with the life He lived. I have come to realize, indeed I am more fully realizing it each day, that living in communion with Christ is my purpose, and that particular kind of living requires sacrifice and a putting to death of me that He might live through me. As the Scripture says, "...present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship." Romans 12:1 Do we not do this in our prayers, in our fasting, in our alms giving, in our putting the other/s before ourselves? More and more I am realizing the prescriptions that are placed upon me as a child of God. Jesus said, "If you love me you will keep my commandments." Such keeping is not to burden us, but rather to develop and shape us into becoming truly human, finding in this keeping our true freedom. In turn, we will then be humane to others and treat them as we ourselves want to be treated.
It is easy to argue words about God with a disconnect to the other. Just look at the numerous threads on Crosswalk as evidence, threads that go on and on for pages and bear fruit for what or whom? Such wrangling becomes a war of words which do little to convey the love of Christ.
Only when we practice loving those around us by being Jesus to them, can our words have the greatest effect as to stir up and draw others to Him. "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven." A Christian is one who actually follows Jesus Christ, not one who merely knows facts and doctrines to jostle about frivolously or worse, ignorantly, which can damage the hearers.
May I/we be true imitators of Christ our God that His life be lived in and through us to the praise and glory of His name.
Darlene
_____________________________
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. I John 3:1
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 6/15/2010 3:43:01 PM
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Dred
Posts: 282
Joined: 10/11/2007
From: Alabama
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quote:
ORIGINAL: kielbasa
Love the pictures, Dred!
Is everyone having a nice summer?
VBS at our local Catholic church is enjoying the spice of Orthodoxy this week courtesy of my 3 year old son--the little red haired guy in those pictures. While regular semester classes were going on here at the university where I work, he enjoyed half days at our "Child Study Center", which is a very nice daycare experience. The parents of one of the little girls who also enjoyed that experience with him work in my department and my boy got to be great friends with their daughter. They invited him to join them for VBS at their church, so he's hanging out with his little friend there this week. She has a white dress she calls her "wedding dress" and she intends to marry him. It is possible they'll change their minds before they get old enough, but we'll see.
Speaking of Pavel Florensky, I just got a couple of his books that I ordered. "Pillar and Ground of the Truth" seems to have some real mathematics in it. This is going to be fun. The other is "Iconostasis." That appears to be pondering art, beauty, light, and so on with the Icons in mind. There's a true Renaissance man for you.
_____________________________
"He was born among us for the cure of the disease of sin." --Gregory of Nyssa
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 6/24/2010 4:26:33 PM
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Dred
Posts: 282
Joined: 10/11/2007
From: Alabama
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Connor had a fine time at VBS and we attended the song and dance (with lunch) that the kids did at the end of the week. He was the youngest there and wonderfully cute with his songs and accompanying motions. I had the pleasure of talking with the priest a bit. He, like our own priest, was only ordained 2-3 years ago, getting a relatively late start in his ministry (like our priest). He has 3 grown daughters and grandchildren, so I assume he is a widower.
Next month, my wife will be helping teach VBS at the Episcopal church where we attended several years ago, so Connor will have another fun week there. I hope his mother doesn't cramp his style too much.
At our own church, we had a nice mid-week liturgy today commemorating the nativity of the Forerunner, John the Baptist. This month we have been in the Peter and Paul fast. That ends Tuesday, and I am looking forward to a big bacon-laden breakfast that morning.
Link
_____________________________
"He was born among us for the cure of the disease of sin." --Gregory of Nyssa
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 6/24/2010 5:45:25 PM
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Dred
Posts: 282
Joined: 10/11/2007
From: Alabama
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Our recent and brief interchange on this page concerning the argument of theology as opposed to intending that "His life be lived in and through us," as Heavendweller put it, came again to mind as I was re-reading a little book by Archimandrite Vasileios of Mount Athos. I will write out a paragraph or two:
"How frequently the Lord would stop people who wanted to start a "theological" conversation with Him. They ask, "Will those who are saved be few?" and the Lord replies, "Strive to enter by the narrow door." Again with the Samaritan woman who is surprised when the Lord asks her for water, and explains her surprise, "For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans," Jesus cuts short her comments on the relations between the religious communities with the command, "Go call your husband." In a moment He lead the conversation into the field of personal life, of true theology. In every case He is interested in the person, not in theological discussion as an isolated occupation remaining out of touch with life and with the very person who is speaking. "I seek not what is yours, but you," says Paul; I seek the person and his salvation. And theology seeks the person and his salvation. Therefore, while the Jews of Christ's day were so eager to theological discussions, He let them go unanswered; "But He was silent." For He did not come to discuss, he came to seek out and save the one that had gone astray. He came and took on our whole nature. He entered into us, into the shadow of death where we are, and drew us to the light. We passed into His life: we live in Him.
"This life which is in Christ, and the expression of it constitutes the true theology which is the one truth, because it speaks of and brings us to the one eternal life. Thus we realize that we cannot create theology by taking a piece of paper and writing down our ideas, which may very well be correct, theologically pertinent or socially useful. The material offered to each person to struggle with, to write theology with and to speak about to the Church, is none other than his very own self, his very being, hidden and unknown."
_____________________________
"He was born among us for the cure of the disease of sin." --Gregory of Nyssa
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 7/3/2010 11:14:55 AM
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patricius79
Posts: 3420
Joined: 9/10/2009
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Catholicandloveit
quote:
ORIGINAL: kielbasa
My husband and I are sacristans now. Next week will be our first week to prepare for the Eucharist.
Is everyone having a nice summer?
Hi Kielbasa, (and everyone!)
I hope you are all having a good summer - Things are good here - I am so ready to have this baby, 18 days or less - I hope! Hopefully I'll be around more after that  who am I kidding if it comes down to posting or sleeping - sleep will win!
Hope you all have a wonderful week!
Mary
Hi Mary, thanks for the update. If there's anything that can put theology in context it's a new baby!
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RE: Ancient Communions Chat Thread - 7/15/2010 2:34:33 PM
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Heavendweller
Posts: 430
Joined: 12/22/2007
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Dear Dred,
Thanks for posting these quotes. My responses will be in blue.
quote:
Our recent and brief interchange on this page concerning the argument of theology as opposed to intending that "His life be lived in and through us," as Heavendweller put it, came again to mind as I was re-reading a little book by Archimandrite Vasileios of Mount Athos. I will write out a paragraph or two:
quote:
And here I thought no one really pays attention to what I have to say. 
quote:
"How frequently the Lord would stop people who wanted to start a "theological" conversation with Him. They ask, "Will those who are saved be few?" and the Lord replies, "Strive to enter by the narrow door."
quote:
Hmmm....sort of like an evangelical saying, "Yeah, but do the Orthodox preach being born-again?" This question was posed to me recently and I by-passed it entirely. I suppose I could have said, "Yes, they do, but not in the way you're thinking." Ah...but that would have started a debate. No thanks.
quote:
Again with the Samaritan woman who is surprised when the Lord asks her for water, and explains her surprise, "For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans," Jesus cuts short her comments on the relations between the religious communities with the command, "Go call your husband." In a moment He lead the conversation into the field of personal life, of true theology. In every case He is interested in the person, not in theological discussion as an isolated occupation remaining out of touch with life and with the very person who is speaking. "I seek not what is yours, but you," says Paul; I seek the person and his salvation. And theology seeks the person and his salvation.
quote:
What words of wisdom here. Some folks want to argue to test if we have our theological ducks in line. Do you believe that regeneration preecedes faith? What do you think about the TULIP? Yeah, but are you saved and if so how do you know, do you remember a specific date when you prayed to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? Many questions such as these have been the topic of various discussions I've had in the past. Often times, it was me who was looking for the argument, the debate, so that I could show the other person how wrong they were and put them in their place. Being right often is part and parcel of itching to get into a debate.
quote:
Therefore, while the Jews of Christ's day were so eager to theological discussions, He let them go unanswered; "But He was silent." For He did not come to discuss, he came to seek out and save the one that had gone astray. He came and took on our whole nature. He entered into us, into the shadow of death where we are, and drew us to the light. We passed into His life: we live in Him.
quote:
Those pharisees wanted to see if Jesus had His theological ducks lined up in a row. 
quote:
"This life which is in Christ, and the expression of it constitutes the true theology which is the one truth, because it speaks of and brings us to the one eternal life. Thus we realize that we cannot create theology by taking a piece of paper and writing down our ideas, which may very well be correct, theologically pertinent or socially useful. The material offered to each person to struggle with, to write theology with and to speak about to the Church, is none other than his very own self, his very being, hidden and unknown."
quote:
Me thinks one can have their theology precisely packaged and tied up with a neat, tidy bow, and yet be far from God in their heart of hearts. Such can be the nature of loving a religious system more than loving Christ our God.
_____________________________
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. I John 3:1
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