Christianity

Importance of Patiently Letting Down Our Nets in Obedience to Christ

Importance of Patiently Letting Down Our Nets in Obedience to Christby Fr. Philip LeMasters –
If there is any virtue that seems completely foreign to our culture today, it is patience. From fast food to cell phones, from transportation to losing weight, we want instant results and think that something is wrong if we do not get what we want immediately. Thoughtful people learn, however, that disappointments and delays are often actually good for us. [Read more…]

Without The Certainty Of Truth, People Have No Solid Ground To Endure Deception

Without The Certainty Of Truth, People Have No Solid Ground To Endure Deceptionby Hal Lindsey –
When His disciples asked Jesus to tell them about signs of His return, He started with the words of Mark 13:5. “Take heed lest any man deceive you.”

In Matthew 24, we see Jesus giving worlds of information in relatively few words. That doesn’t leave room for a lot of repetition. But in that one chapter, the Lord warned about last days deception four times. That means it’s important. [Read more…]

Necessity of Speaking Out for the Christian Faith

Necessity of Speaking Out for the Christian Faithby Bishop Luke of Syracuse –
Yes, you should speak out. Don’t be didactic about it, but otherwise, you end up being indifferent or lukewarm. If you have the opportunity to stand up and express your displeasure, if you don’t do that, it’s a great danger. It’s a danger for your soul because the Lord says, “If you don’t confess me before men, I will deny you before the angels” (Luke 12:8-9). [Read more…]

Orthodoxy is Not For Cowards – When Faith is Assaulted, Orthodox Christians Must Take Courageous Action

Orthodoxy is Not For Cowards - When Faith Assaulted Orthodox Christians Must Take Courageous Actionby Fr. Zechariah Lynch –
When clear matters of the faith are blatantly assaulted, every sober-minded Orthodox Christian is called to stand up and make a courageous answer.

There exists a pseudo-humility. This false idea turns humility and meekness into spinelessness and cowardice, in which a person is unable to address anything at all. [Read more…]

What Does the Cross Mean for Us Today?

What Does the Cross Mean for us Todayby Fr. Robert Miclean –
The cross of Christ, the Lord’s triumphant and life-giving death whereby He destroys death, is so important for us to understand and internalize as Orthodox Christians, that the Church gives special significance and specific Scriptural readings for both the weekend before the Feast and the one that follows. This Sunday after the Exaltation, the Church would have us ask ourselves, “what does the power of the cross mean for me personally, living in the world today?” [Read more…]

The Lord Directly Commands That We Rebuke a Sinning Brother

The Lord Directly Commands That We Rebuke a Sinning Brotherby Archbishop Averky (Taushev) –
In order to strengthen their shaky “position”, such false preachers of this trendy, pseudo-“Christianity” like very much to abuse the Lord’s famous saying, Judge not, that ye be not judged (Matt. 7:1). This is their very favorite saying, which nevertheless does not hinder them in the least from judging and condemning in the cruelest manner all of those who do not agree with their heresy, which is no more than a totally deceitful distortion of the Gospel teachings—a fraud by which they confuse and disturb many. [Read more…]

A Calling to Beauty, A Calling to Holiness

A Calling to Beauty, A Calling to Holinessby Fr. Gabriel Rochelle –
“Beauty will save the world,” said the great Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky. But what is that beauty? Not simply art no matter how well executed or in what medium. Indeed, we can become tearful at the sight of graceful dancers or upon hearing a brilliant pianist play Chopin, and we know intuitively that there is something generically spiritual going on. [Read more…]