As usual, an excellent teaching from Fr. Josiah. I think this is great advice. At the end of the day, Christ is in control of His Church. Yes, we should be vigilant and call out wrongdoing, but we should never dispair.
Here’s a necessary resource (constantly being updated) that faithful Orthodox Christians can use to stay away from impostors and false teachers who scandalize the Church and help them identify the righteous and faithful priests, bishops, and teachers they can trust.
He said everything we wanted to say and better than we could say it. It breaks my heart. We pray for all involved. I have to say, however, the surrounding circumstances have some unanswered questions.
He sure did, him and Fr. Peter Heers have summed up everything perfectly. It is heart breaking, but, it is comforting in a weird way that there have been other points of Church history that have been just as bad or worse.
I have to be honest I’m not sure what the surrounding circumstances are. I assume he’s talking about the recent gay baptism or something?
This is so timely. Just what I needed to receive today.
God bless him and keep him strong. God keep us, everyone, to have eyes to see and ears to hear. Keep us strong and faithful Lord! (I love his homilies and messages.)
I recognize scandals are inevitable, but in what sense are they “necessary”? I suppose seeing as sins will occur, that they come to light/become public (ie., become a scandal) is necessary in order for the Church to be purified and in order that true, godly leaders and members be recognized for who they are.
The recent film about the life of St. Nektarios (“Man of God”) is instructive in this regard and inspirational.
I think he might be causing a little confusion by using the word “necessary.” English translations commonly use “must,” a slightly softer word, including the Orthodox Study Bible. The point is that God does not cause division, rather free will has resulted in human sinfulness, with division the result. But that division then reveals who is good and who is a bad among us, and the suffering the good endure is what makes saints.
Good talk, though the ending lacked one aspect that is important, when he talks about not leaving the Church. It is possible to leave parish life while still remaining in the Church, evidenced by the early hermits who fled to the desert to escape sin, heresy and complacency in the cities. The first generation did not have access to sacraments, as they weren’t priests and lived far from any priests, those only came later. Yet they became great saints. St. Mary of Egypt is one of the early examples of that.
The early Church Fathers support this, in their constant teaching in the strongest terms from their earliest writings, including the Didache, to shun and avoid sinful or heretical presbyters, calling them wild dogs, ravening wolves, etc. Their point is not to lose your faith, to stand firm in faith while avoiding and refusing to follow bad leaders.
If you have no good leaders or parishes in your area, I believe it is entirely possible to simply turn your home into a kind of desert hermitage, following the prayer life and maintaining faith. Especially considering the earliest monastic forms started in private homes, not out in the desert, for example St. Basil and his family. Follow good teachers from a distance, which the internet makes possible, and use good spiritual reading. I’ve done that when I had to, and my faith has not suffered, rather it became stronger and clearer when not confused or affected by bad or weak leadership.
I hear what you’re saying though, and sometimes it can be useful to take a little time away, with the blessing of a spiritual father. Otherwise I think it is probably not a good idea to guide others into thinking they can be like monks in the desert (a dangerous and difficult path even when done the “normal” way) by refusing to go to a parish under a priest or bishop who is lacking in some way other than canonical good standing. While you are right that we are exhorted to close our ears to wrong teaching and even to challenge it, I have never read anything in Scripture or in the Fathers that tells the faithful to stop participating in parish life for any reason unless specifically told to by a spiritual father.
George Michalopulos on A Primer on Money-Laundering: FTX, Ukraine & the MIC: “Joseph, again I read this article. More closely this time. There are many assertions but no evidences that St Lawrence…” Dec 2, 15:20
Gail Sheppard on “OK, Boomer”: “No we didn’t lite it but we tried to fight it.” Dec 2, 15:01
Martin on So, We Don’t Have to Guess Anymore?: ““if the bride-to-be is already pregnant and the wedding is performed to prevent the scandal of illegitimacy” Not only that,…” Dec 2, 14:31
Martin on So, We Don’t Have to Guess Anymore?: “Brian “Polygamy will, of necessity, be next, along with the devil knows what. ” I see it as a process…” Dec 2, 13:48
Joseph Lipper on A Primer on Money-Laundering: FTX, Ukraine & the MIC: “George, the author of this study, Dr. Serhii V. Shumylo, is nonetheless a respected ecclesiastical historian and scholar. Here, for…” Dec 2, 13:38
Misha on So, We Don’t Have to Guess Anymore?: “However, marriage itself is a more complicated matter. Nate has a point on this one: https://www.tahirih.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/State-Statutory-Compilation_Final_July-2019_Updated.pdf” Dec 2, 13:12
Anonymous II on “OK, Boomer”: “Ukraine to prepare law banning churches ‘affiliated’ with Russia The Ukrainian government will draw up a law banning churches affiliated…” Dec 2, 13:07
Misha on So, We Don’t Have to Guess Anymore?: “This is correct, more or less, George. All states have minimum age of consent laws. Some laws have what are…” Dec 2, 13:06
Brendan on “OK, Boomer”: “9 Exciting Careers For A Gender Studies Major https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35h3UCLqPJQ&t=137s [Video – 03:25] Build the future back betterish… No?” Dec 2, 12:00
Brendan on “OK, Boomer”: “Switzerland, Facing an Unprecedented Power Shortage, Contemplates a Partial Ban on the Use of Electric Vehicles https://www.eugyppius.com/p/switzerland-facing-an-unprecedented?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=268621&post_id=88017513&isFreemail=true&utm_medium=email It turns out…” Dec 2, 11:39
Veras Coltroupis on “OK, Boomer”: “They shifted the definition years. The boom ended with the 1960 FDA approval of oral contraceptives, which is why the…” Dec 2, 11:17
Mike on “OK, Boomer”: “What’s the problem with Kurt Cobain?” Dec 2, 11:17
Nate Trost on So, We Don’t Have to Guess Anymore?: “I suggest doing some more research on the topic, the results will probably surprise and disgust you! In many states…” Dec 2, 10:38
George Michalopulos on A Primer on Money-Laundering: FTX, Ukraine & the MIC: “Joseph, Orthodox Times is a highly suspect source. For one thing, it is extremely pro-Istanbul in its partisanship. Secondly, does…” Dec 2, 10:12
George Michalopulos on So, We Don’t Have to Guess Anymore?: “That’s not true Nate. All states allow for “underage” exemptions for marriage if the bride-to-be is already pregnant and the…” Dec 2, 10:05
George Michalopulos on “OK, Boomer”: “Actually, Mike, it’s rather more complicated than that. Most of the kings of Europe wanted nothing to do with the…” Dec 2, 10:02
George Michalopulos on “OK, Boomer”: “Great video!” Dec 2, 09:53
Lina on “OK, Boomer”: “I think the word entropy applies to the situation here and to all organzations. Or maybe the tower of Babel…” Dec 2, 09:20
Nate Trost on So, We Don’t Have to Guess Anymore?: “It doesn’t open a Pandora’s box, because the box has always been open. The Federal government defers to states, and…” Dec 2, 08:35
Constantine W on “OK, Boomer”: “It all started downhill on the morning of May 29, 1453. That is truly the day the Earth stood stil…” Dec 2, 08:32
It’s about to get hot in Antioch.
It needs to get hotter in another jurisdiction as well.
That would be in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese! It’s time!
Yes, the source is Orthodoxy in Dialogue, but all Antiochian parishes received a pastoral letter from Patriarch John X yesterday, Wow.https://orthodoxyindialogue.com/2022/08/22/leaked-metropolitan-joseph-under-investigation-for-16-year-affair-with-married-woman/#more-21299
The hierarchy must clean up its scandal ASAP.
As usual, an excellent teaching from Fr. Josiah. I think this is great advice. At the end of the day, Christ is in control of His Church. Yes, we should be vigilant and call out wrongdoing, but we should never dispair.
Here’s a necessary resource (constantly being updated) that faithful Orthodox Christians can use to stay away from impostors and false teachers who scandalize the Church and help them identify the righteous and faithful priests, bishops, and teachers they can trust.
Warning to Orthodox Church: False Teachers and Deceitful Venues That Contradict and Distort Church Teaching
https://www.orthodoxytoday.org/blog/2019/07/warning-to-orthodox-church-false-teachers-and-deceitful-venues-that-contradict-and-distort-church-teaching/
Extremely important analysis.
Thank you for posting this. Very helpful.
Yes indeed.
This was an amazing video by Fr. Josiah. Very relevant.
He said everything we wanted to say and better than we could say it. It breaks my heart. We pray for all involved. I have to say, however, the surrounding circumstances have some unanswered questions.
He sure did, him and Fr. Peter Heers have summed up everything perfectly. It is heart breaking, but, it is comforting in a weird way that there have been other points of Church history that have been just as bad or worse.
I have to be honest I’m not sure what the surrounding circumstances are. I assume he’s talking about the recent gay baptism or something?
Don’t let “others” drag you down to “hades” alive is what the good Fr. is telling us.
This is so timely. Just what I needed to receive today.
God bless him and keep him strong. God keep us, everyone, to have eyes to see and ears to hear. Keep us strong and faithful Lord! (I love his homilies and messages.)
I recognize scandals are inevitable, but in what sense are they “necessary”? I suppose seeing as sins will occur, that they come to light/become public (ie., become a scandal) is necessary in order for the Church to be purified and in order that true, godly leaders and members be recognized for who they are.
The recent film about the life of St. Nektarios (“Man of God”) is instructive in this regard and inspirational.
I think he might be causing a little confusion by using the word “necessary.” English translations commonly use “must,” a slightly softer word, including the Orthodox Study Bible. The point is that God does not cause division, rather free will has resulted in human sinfulness, with division the result. But that division then reveals who is good and who is a bad among us, and the suffering the good endure is what makes saints.
Good talk, though the ending lacked one aspect that is important, when he talks about not leaving the Church. It is possible to leave parish life while still remaining in the Church, evidenced by the early hermits who fled to the desert to escape sin, heresy and complacency in the cities. The first generation did not have access to sacraments, as they weren’t priests and lived far from any priests, those only came later. Yet they became great saints. St. Mary of Egypt is one of the early examples of that.
The early Church Fathers support this, in their constant teaching in the strongest terms from their earliest writings, including the Didache, to shun and avoid sinful or heretical presbyters, calling them wild dogs, ravening wolves, etc. Their point is not to lose your faith, to stand firm in faith while avoiding and refusing to follow bad leaders.
If you have no good leaders or parishes in your area, I believe it is entirely possible to simply turn your home into a kind of desert hermitage, following the prayer life and maintaining faith. Especially considering the earliest monastic forms started in private homes, not out in the desert, for example St. Basil and his family. Follow good teachers from a distance, which the internet makes possible, and use good spiritual reading. I’ve done that when I had to, and my faith has not suffered, rather it became stronger and clearer when not confused or affected by bad or weak leadership.
You can’t receive communion from afar, and there are some things here that sound a little like Donatism (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donatism).
I hear what you’re saying though, and sometimes it can be useful to take a little time away, with the blessing of a spiritual father. Otherwise I think it is probably not a good idea to guide others into thinking they can be like monks in the desert (a dangerous and difficult path even when done the “normal” way) by refusing to go to a parish under a priest or bishop who is lacking in some way other than canonical good standing. While you are right that we are exhorted to close our ears to wrong teaching and even to challenge it, I have never read anything in Scripture or in the Fathers that tells the faithful to stop participating in parish life for any reason unless specifically told to by a spiritual father.