tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27139233.post3223639283128167762..comments2023-12-22T19:01:28.512-08:00Comments on Holy Nativity Orthodox Church: Spiritual MasqueradeFr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981965403145920704noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27139233.post-55882623848770481172012-08-18T12:28:56.382-07:002012-08-18T12:28:56.382-07:00Dear ElderChild,
Thank you for contributing to the...Dear ElderChild,<br />Thank you for contributing to the conversation. However the problem with "simple" spirituality is that it is often mearly spirituality as one person or group understands it and thinks everyone else should. Although, the whole Christain tradition is messy, it nonetheless our Christian tradition. I think we need to take care that we not become like those religious leaders in the Gospel who said,"If we lived in our father's time we would not have joined with them in killing the prophets." Plenty of people have been killed and exploited in the name of simple greed and lust for power regardless of their religious proclivities. It's not bad religion that promotes violence and wickedness so much as it is selfish men and women who use whatever religious and cultural resources that they can manipulate to justify what they want to do. <br />I am not saying that there are no differences in religions, I am saying that even the pure faith of the Apostles can be twisted and that even a godly person with misinformed faith can do good and maybe even find Christ. Fr. Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16981965403145920704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27139233.post-67243648161384016422012-08-18T10:01:42.737-07:002012-08-18T10:01:42.737-07:00The Family of "Our Father and GOD"! -OR-...The Family of "Our Father and GOD"! -OR- a system of religion?<br />"Choose you this day"!<br /><br />As for the numerous and varied systems of religion )-;<br /><br />History, up to and including this present moment in time, has proven and yet proves that multiplied millions have been killed and enslaved in the name of the god[s] of this, or that, religion )-;<br /><br />So it is that the fruit of death is bore of religion's way )-;<br />For life is but a pawn in the wicked game they play!<br /><br />And that is but one of a multitude of reasons why "The Way of Truth is evil spoken of", and especially so because of those systems of religion that declare that they are biblically based!<br /><br />Pagan catholicism, her multitude of harlot christian('jesus') daughters, all muslim sects, and the many judaic systems of this day, all propagate lies, delusion, deception, confusion and every evil work!<br /><br />Was not biblical religion established for a "disobedient and gainsaying(greedy, covetous) people" who were "stiff-necked and uncircumcised of heart and ears"? Those who would rather "a man speak to them than YHVH", and who wanted "a man to rule over them rather than The One and Only True GOD, Father(Creator) of ALL"<br /><br />i believe the first step in realizing what 'religion' is, comes when one truly understands the testimony in James 1:27: "Pure religion and undefiled before GOD and Our Father is this, to visit the fatherless(have no relationship with Our Father) and widows(their bridegroom has not risen from among the dead) in their affliction, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the world!"<br /><br />http://asimpleandspirituallife.blogspot.com/2008/10/pure-and-undefiled-religion.html <br /><br />For understanding reveals that all other 'religion' IS IMPURE AND DEFILED!<br /><br />Continued @ http://asimpleandspirituallife.blogspot.com/2011/07/family-of-faith-or-system-of-religion.htmlelderchildhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09827206019505093406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27139233.post-52372671029513396152010-05-11T17:17:37.941-07:002010-05-11T17:17:37.941-07:00The closer one gets, the farther away one realizes...The closer one gets, the farther away one realizes they are....... <br /><br />And the truly "poor and needy" are but "strangers and pilgrims while on this earth".......<br /><br />Father Help! and HE does.......elderchildhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09827206019505093406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27139233.post-73685275825917834512010-05-10T17:42:16.124-07:002010-05-10T17:42:16.124-07:00Dear Fr. Michael,
Thank you for this post. What ...Dear Fr. Michael,<br /><br />Thank you for this post. What is the difference between spiritual confidence and other kinds of confidence? Is there any kind of confidence that is healthy other than confidence in knowing we are loved by God? Is it normal to feel less and less confidence generally the longer you are orthodox?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com