Oh, that my family and I lived nearby and could be members of your parish Father! Thank you for a voice of wisdom and clarity and love that we are lacking here in America (for the most part).
after attending an orthodox church for a couple months im no longer in a rush to begin catechism. im realizing i have a lot of transforming to do and it may take a long time. i dont want to rush it anymore. i want to do it correctly.
Thank you for this, Fr. Heers. I do not presume to deserve your time. But I wonder if you have wisdom for me. I am a Protestant who has been exploring the Catholic and Orthodox churches for many years. I am filled with tremendous anxiety -- even despair. As an evangelical, I long believed myself to be partaking of the mysteries, and I agreed that the boundaries of the church were the boundaries of the mysteries. I believed that Christ dwelt in his body, and I did not want a partial communion with him. I longed to be crucified with Christ through baptism and through the ascetic life. I believed myself to be doing so. I accepted all the councils as far as I understood them. Yet now I find that more is required. Communion with the "right" bishops. And I have no sure way to judge which those are. I love the Orthodox church and have been immersed in its teaching for several years -- its history, its theology. But it has not become obvious to me that it is that one, pentecostal body such that all others have no share. So now I feel like despite everything -- years of participation in the mysteries and the crucifixion of my flesh -- my eternal destiny hangs in a coin toss, an arbitrary decision. It feels like a cruel joke played by a cruel God (and may He forgive me for uttering such a thing). I am in utter despair for my soul. I am up late into the night begging God to make His church known to me. I would be happy with even the crumbs under my Master's table. But I have no real hope of even that. Is it possible that God would not make the truth known to me? What should I do?
Christ is Risen! I know I’m just a stranger, so what I say means little, but I went through this EXACT same thing a couple years ago. I went with my gut; Orthodoxy. Prayer, patience, and God’s grace have cleared my mind and soul and I can now see where the Church truly is. As for the right bishop? A bishop is a bishop, and in the modern times the issue one should be concerned with at first is a good parish. With time and prayer you’ll start to see who the real Shepards are. Christ the Lord says this Himself “you will know them by their fruits”. God be with you.
Thank you, Father! I'm waiting for an analysis of other threat to Orthodoxy than pseudoecumenism, other obstacle to understand the Church correctly: ethnophyletism. Fathers, please examine a concept of "the Russian world" (русский мир) and similar doctrines.
Always a joy to listen, thank you fr. Heers.
Oh, that my family and I lived nearby and could be members of your parish Father! Thank you for a voice of wisdom and clarity and love that we are lacking here in America (for the most part).
Another jewel! Thank you, father! Monica💒
after attending an orthodox church for a couple months im no longer in a rush to begin catechism. im realizing i have a lot of transforming to do and it may take a long time. i dont want to rush it anymore. i want to do it correctly.
Catechism is meant to instruct you in the faith, guiding you on how your life is to be transformed in the Church 🤗
Thank you for this, Fr. Heers. I do not presume to deserve your time. But I wonder if you have wisdom for me. I am a Protestant who has been exploring the Catholic and Orthodox churches for many years. I am filled with tremendous anxiety -- even despair. As an evangelical, I long believed myself to be partaking of the mysteries, and I agreed that the boundaries of the church were the boundaries of the mysteries. I believed that Christ dwelt in his body, and I did not want a partial communion with him. I longed to be crucified with Christ through baptism and through the ascetic life. I believed myself to be doing so. I accepted all the councils as far as I understood them. Yet now I find that more is required. Communion with the "right" bishops. And I have no sure way to judge which those are. I love the Orthodox church and have been immersed in its teaching for several years -- its history, its theology. But it has not become obvious to me that it is that one, pentecostal body such that all others have no share. So now I feel like despite everything -- years of participation in the mysteries and the crucifixion of my flesh -- my eternal destiny hangs in a coin toss, an arbitrary decision. It feels like a cruel joke played by a cruel God (and may He forgive me for uttering such a thing). I am in utter despair for my soul. I am up late into the night begging God to make His church known to me. I would be happy with even the crumbs under my Master's table. But I have no real hope of even that. Is it possible that God would not make the truth known to me? What should I do?
Christ is Risen!
I know I’m just a stranger, so what I say means little, but I went through this EXACT same thing a couple years ago. I went with my gut; Orthodoxy. Prayer, patience, and God’s grace have cleared my mind and soul and I can now see where the Church truly is.
As for the right bishop? A bishop is a bishop, and in the modern times the issue one should be concerned with at first is a good parish. With time and prayer you’ll start to see who the real Shepards are. Christ the Lord says this Himself “you will know them by their fruits”.
God be with you.
I hope things have clarified for you in the mean time, but whether or not it has; Lord, have mercy!
Thank you, Father! I'm waiting for an analysis of other threat to Orthodoxy than pseudoecumenism, other obstacle to understand the Church correctly: ethnophyletism. Fathers, please examine a concept of "the Russian world" (русский мир) and similar doctrines.
Yes. I have written on this: orthodoxethos.com/post/on-the-essential-identity-of-ecumenism-and-phyletism
🕊.... ❤