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Be mindful, oh Lord . . .

“Be mindful, O Lord, of those who bear fruit and do good works in thy holy Churches, and who remember the poor.” — from the Anaphoras of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil. So, what might a costly grace look like? The Department of Education of our Archdiocese set the above phrase, which every Orthodox priest prays every time he celebrates a Divine Liturgy, as the theme of our summer... [Read more]

Orthodoxy, Bonhoffer, and cheap grace

Why should a person whose only commitment to Christianity is that they attend church on most Sundays, give some, and behave correctly (by and large) not feel a little concerned? Pastor Dietrich Bonhoffer said, “cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline. Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace... [Read more]

On right-wing wackos and the Dept of Homeland Security

In April of this year, Secretary Napolitano warned the USA that we were in danger from right-wing extremists. At that time she was attacked for having improper views of people with conservative political views and asked to apologize. In particular, she was pilloried because she warned that people with a military background might be more easily recruited than others. She was forced to explain and re-explain... [Read more]

On yesterday’s Holocaust Museum shooting

Yesterday we all received the shocking news of the attack on the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. A known racist and extremist, James von Brunn, decided to make the Holocaust Museum a blood bath that would be remembered on his tombstone. And, he must have thought that his dreams had come true when the door was opened for him by an African-American. Security Officer Stephen Tyrone Johns was simply trying... [Read more]

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Posts from 1850’s southern arguments part 03

Again, my apologies for not having much analysis, but I am quickly posting this from our diocesan conference. This next excerpt has to do with Dr. Ross’ view of the development of human history. As I have said before, I do not agree with Dr. Ross. And I do promise that more analysis will be coming. Meantime, feel free to comment and rant. Ham will be ever lower than Shem; Shem will be ever lower... [Read more]

Posts from 1850’s southern arguments part 02

This will be a quick post, since I am at an Econolodge on the way to the diocesan conference. Let me do a quick cut and paste from the Wikipidea on a movement that has had much influence in American Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism. That movement is Christian Reconstructionism. Christian Reconstructionism is a religious and theological movement within Protestant Christianity that calls for Christians... [Read more]

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Posts from 1850’s southern arguments part 01

This week I am at the diocesan conference. So, I am going to publish some excerpts from a book in the public domain. I do not agree with the arguments in the book. If I can, I will make some comments, but, mainly, I want you to see the exegetical arguments used, and see if they resemble anything in use today. Again, let me repeat, I do not agree with the arguments in the book. You are likely to see... [Read more]

Evangelism and the Orthodox

I work in a mission church. We are short of money. I have been unsuccessfully looking for a job that will allow me to be a priest for a year now with an incredible lack of success. Our mission is running out of money and in less than a year they will not be able to support me. So, why do I do it? St. Paul makes an interesting statement.: For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity... [Read more]

On learning humility

Abba David said, “Abba Arsenius told us the following, as though it referred to someone else, but in fact it referred to himself. An old man was sitting in his cell and a voice came to him which said, ‘Come, and I will show you the works of men.’ He got up and followed. The voice led him to a certain place and showed him an Ethiopian cutting wood and making a great pile. He struggled... [Read more]

Two more desert fathers stories

They said of Abba Macarius the Great that he became, as it is written, a god upon earth, because, just as God protects the world, so Abba Macarius would cover the faults which he saw, as though he did not see them; and those which he heard, as though he did not hear them. ========== Some of the monks who are called Euchites went to Enaton to see Abba Lucius. The old man asked them, “What is... [Read more]