@@shatter_point Pretty much every church I've ever seen this is S.O.P. it's just pride and self-righteousness masquerading as faith and holiness. I'm guilty of it, you probably were too once. It is tiresome though, and you get older and realize how stupid and irksome you were when you were being that person
As a catechumen who also joined because "culture was falling apart", I was rewarded with what I seek by just letting it all go. I stopped worrying about the things around me and focused on building a relationship with the Lord through prayers, fasting and trying to live to his standards.
"Rebuilding Christendom" is an unnecessary thing. Christ's Kingdom is everlasting. We can participate in that Everlasting Kingdom or we can rebel against it.
That hit home... I originally came to Orthodoxy because of "culture falling apart," but I've stayed because it genuinely feels like the true "home." I'm far from the most arduous practitioner, but I know this is part of me no matter how long the struggle.
This is a concern for me that Orthodoxy is being used as a label for a young men's based/red-pill club. This priest is correct. Being Orthodox means being an authentic Christian in Christ's Church and has nothing to do with what political groups you support or don't support.
I do agree to an extent. But my husband and I joined for those reasons and stayed because of Christ. Sometimes God works at each individuals needs and reveals himself differently.
I joined the Orthodox Church because I knew deep down that Holy Communion was the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, and that our Lord did not leave us without a Church, and without direction. I had never had that in my Protestant experience. Everything in my soul was crushed with that realization. I agree with everything you said here Fr. So grateful to have been brought into the Church. Us converts are “guests” in the Church in a way, and I pray I continue to remember that. I pray we don’t assume every convert is coming to be “cool” or for political reasons. Some are coming for the right reasons, and can be absolutely crushed in spirit when they are approaching the Church. If someone thought they knew God, but realized they NEVER knew him, that is a very delicate situation. It is devastating until someone is communed.
Christ died once for all, 2000 years ago in Jerusalem, not endlessly, hundreds or thousands of times daily across the world for 2000 years. Jesus was speaking symbolically of his death on the cross, which He would suffer the next day. Jesus made it clear to his followers to take bread and wine "in memory of Me" and what His death and resurrection accomplished for God the Father and believers "once for all."
I was wondering about this, I see a lot of people posting orthodox memes that also post a lot of political stuff. I’m glad people are making their way back to the faith but I feel like it’s for the wrong reasons
Its fine you think that. But you and this man in a purple robe arent GOD. YOU PEOPLE dont get to dictate HOW people come to Christ. This man is saying it cant be done and that is blasphemy against the holy spirit. Who are you to judge how GOD decides.
@@jota7000 I know it’s fine that I think that, but thanks. Also I never implied I was god, just stating a pattern I see. I’ve not told one single person not to do anything religious because X,Y, or Z . Go touch grass you twat
I recently converted to Christianity, and I've been going to Orthodox Church, and it's seriously the best part of my week. Everyone is so kind, and we are all there for one reason, which is to worship God. and the divine liturgy is beautiful. I'm excited for when i can join the church and participate in communion.
I remember telling my former Protestant pastor the reason we were converting to Orthodoxy after hearing his concerns for us, it all came down to “The Eucharist. It’s a deal breaker for us.” And I have not regretted it for a single moment. ☦️
That’s beautiful. God bless you and your family for seeing that importance. It took me some time as a Protestant until I reread and analyzed John 6 and just couldn’t get past it. Realizing the horror in my false theology when reading Christs seriousness in this teaching. Lord have mercy
You don't come to church because you hate the world, you come to church because of your love for Christ and you love and pray for the world just as He did.
Actually, you are supposed to seek Christ in his Church with the Eucharist and other sacraments to be healed and made whole (Holy) by facing your sins and the sins you have been inflicted with. Any other reason is not right and sin. Only this proves your love for him.
@@WarriorBride723 The first step to coming to the Church is having love for Christ within your heart and opening your heart to Him to dwell within. Those Holy sacraments and especially the Holy Eucharist mean absolutely nothing unless you have that love in your heart in the first place.
I don’t understand how people can think Father Paul is rejecting inquirers or being harsh to them. He is cautioning them out of love. You will not find political stability in the church. You will not find social acceptance in the church. BUT you will find Christ in the church, and in him eternal life. THAT is the only reason WORTHY of coming. In love, examine yourself.
Yoo… that’s totally one reason why I joined. Thanks for this. It’s been a struggle trying to live as I should. I’m even having a tough time desiring to go to church now. And where in the middle of lent….
It happened to me as a TRADITIONAL LATIN RITE CATHOLIC I made an appointment with the Parish Pastor to guide me throughout Spiritual-warfare... The consultation lasted 1 hr. All he did was make weird faces,clean his eyes. I learned later that many things are not taught at the Seminars This priest ignored me as a parishioner in desperate need of Spiritual assistance I paid him all together for 1 hr, then for 1/2 an hr,then for 20 min over $ 200.00... I cried that even if I paid him he judged me for my sins and not the person that I am. This is why some Catholics find faith,hope,spiritual help in other nominations where God is truly adored, worship with open hearts..no hidden agendas. I feel sorry for priests who are burnt out,tired and lukewarm priests are a danger to Catholicism.We need strong warrior priests for God...
Either you are lying or the priest lied to you. The laity may make gifts, money or in kind. If a priest charges by the hour, lodge a report. You'll be helping the local bishop. And if you're lying, you need confession.
Why hinder someone who is coming willingly. Accept them as they are and let Christ complete their journey even if they are coming for the “wrong” reason according to you. Please welcome all and let God do the work in them and change whatever needs to be changed.
You have a point this seems like the priest is judging too much. Negativity is usually the demonic’s fault. It seems like a lack of knowledge about this topic.
that's not what the priest said, he said that people will come to him for political reasons, but then leave if the Church isn't at the standard of those political reasons.
@rocketwayav5771 "You must change" That's the exact opposite of the gospel. The gospel doesn't say "you must change before Christ will accept you", the gospel says "Christ will change you". How are you going to change anything about yourself? You're a wretch, what are you going to do? Apart from Christ, you can do nothing. So if you can't come to Christ without being perfect, and you can't change yourself to become perfect, there is no hope and you're condemned. Now consider that God judges us with the same measure we use to judge one another. Now do you realize why this false teaching is problematic?
This heresy is older than the church, it's the same heresy the jews fell into. It's the denial of the power of God. Anyone who thinks they are a good person, anyone who thinks that their salvation or holiness was in any way part of their doing is following that heresy, they're denying God. The Bible says we are vessels Romans 9:21. Older scriptures like the book of Enoch indicate that all sin comes from azazel and all good comes from God. You, man, are just a vessel. You cannot take credit for all the good you do. You can not take credit for all the evil you do either since God ascribed it to azazel. So what are you going to take credit for? There's nothing we can do, good or bad, in our own power it's something else working through us. Christ is the potter, we are the clay. And, Christ has promised to keep all the vessels that come to Him. Didn't say anything about the condition of that vessel, God can just as easily grind you up back into dust and mold you into something else if He desires to. This only bothers people who don't want to let go of their pride, who feel like they earned or are entitled to something
I cannot speak for orthodoxy but I have seen some people come into catholicism with this type of attitude and it usually would end up being divisive within the church. It may be good intentions but wrong approach
Beautifully said Father. Thank you for your dedication to Christ and His church. Many are flocking to Orthodoxy - particularly online - because they see some kind of validation of their conservative political beliefs. The Church (neither East nor West) is not a political institution. It is a Christian institution. The Christian institution. If people come to the church expecting all of their political beliefs to be validated they are in for a shocking surprise. The Church stands first and foremost for Christ, above all else. The call for humility, servitude, and love for our neighbors supersedes all secular ideals and principles no matter how “traditional” they may seem. Search for Christ alone and you will find Him in His church. Search for political and social validation and you will not find such things in the Church. Sending you love and admiration from the West. May our Lord reunite us so that we can adore Him in unity and love. God bless you Father. ❤✝️☦️
Im seeking the truth and how to get as close to Christ as i can. Ive always let everyone down in my life but nothing has hurt worse than feeling like im a disappointment to God and i just want to not be a disappointment anymore
It’s like the same thing with Andrew tate he only joined Islam not because of a spiritual reason but for the reason that he saw it as a stronger religion may Christ save him 🙏🏼
Im not a priest, or a theologian, but i believe whatever gets you in the door has the potential to blossom into the right reasons. I had no clue i was being introduced to the bride of Christ, the Holy Orthodox Church. So much beauty and poetry. Ive fallen in love
I've watched people I know personally go into schism--and worse, apostasy--over precisely these issues. Ironically, they have legitimate grievances, but their response to it is guided by the wrong spirit.
I wonder sometimes if I should even be a Christian, I believe but the devil believes also. I appreciate this man's candor and feel this is a cause for reflection. I am not a very good Orthodox Christian.
Thank you for your words father! This is also huge for me as a Catholic. Often we see faith dismissed as some set of so called "traditional" moral values, when really all morality comes down to one's unity Christ.
When I first began reading about orthodoxy I second-guessed myself because I was thinking that maybe I was just taking a stand and sticking my flag down against the cultural decay, but the more I inquired and when I attended services my heart was softened
You will find the light by seeking the kingdom, deny himself and only live in peace in guidance in the way of Christ Jesus to our Father's unconditional love and truth😊.
In all honesty the reason I am drawn to orthodoxy is because in my heart I know yeshu was a real man who suffered greatly for the good and creation of all of us. There’s such a sense of respect and love for the creator, the one who wove every single one of our hearts and souls.
My churches have used my vulnerabilities to attack me on the alter . People use their position of power to attack my sorrow. I think orthodoxy is calling me.
Not true. Negativity in the world brought me to Jesus Christ and ive been tested many times since then. You are pushing children of christ away JUST BECAUSE they dont do it the way YOU think.. judge. And you speak of shaking the tree and letting "dead fruit fall" wow.. no one is beyond redemption and you preach this? Ask yourselves, people. Is this how Jesus would have said it? I think not.
While this priest has the correct message, he is delivering it the wrong way. Do not turn these seekers away! Christ is drawing them to His Church, just because you don’t like the methods that are being used doesn’t mean these people aren’t worthy of salvation. In seeking to avoid being political, you are becoming the Pharisee who said “I thank God that I’m not like these polítical reactionaries”
he never claimed that he turned them away, you got the wrong impression. He said that people will come for political reasons and then leave on their own, that's what he meant.
@@retro-orthodox I don't see how its judgmental to want to embrace all people called to Christ's Church, no matter the means. We're all broken and need to be loved in our brokenness. Like I said, this priest has the right message, but the wrong delivery.
@@player1playforfun Maybe that is what he meant, but I was replying only to this clip where that isn't conveyed. That is one of the reasons I don't like these shorts, you can never see the whole message.
I became Orthodox Christian 6 years ago and unfortunately I had retired my service dog and I was in the process of getting another service dog my question to you father is why is it I understand separation of church and state grants all houses of worship the ability to refuse service dogs where is anywhere else they would have to accommodate a service dog that is not emotional support not therapy or an Esa but our actual service dog. I have my new service dog is medical equipment and although I finally thought I found a church that's Orthodox Church to come to they had a double standard while people with a oxygen machine or a wheelchair crutches or a walk or a welcome to sit anywhere I had to be sat out of sight out of mind. The excuse was from the priest that they didn't want any disruption or anybody being not focused in church because it could be a distraction to have a service dog there I said you have the power and the authority to explain to everybody that my service dog is a service dog not to distract him and to give us space you could do that but instead you're choosing to ostracize me yet claim to welcome me into the Orthodox church but I have to go by your rules of sitting in the back next to a pillar where I cannot hear I cannot see what's going on in the church or here because of my one condition Wichita Falls have surgery for Meniere's disease and that it is because you don't want any distractions but wait a second you also want to add in that I shouldn't be coming and attending your coffee hour but you want ties from me to the church but at the same time you're telling me not to after church services go and meet with other parishioners but to just go home. That sense of your alarm goes off in my head that not only is it just spiteful of what we want to welcome you but we don't want to tell you to leave your service dog at home but at the same time if you do bring your service up we need to give you double standards that we wouldn't put on people with a wheelchair or oxygen machine because we don't want people being distracted I've been in church I've been distracted by the sounds of obnoxious oxygen machines and I've never said leave her oxygen machine at home or ask the Prairies to tell him to leave her oxygen machine at home. So how is this any different it seems to be a double standard you want my ties to the church you want to let me worship and receive communion after everyone else receives communion but at the same time you don't want people to be aware I'm even in the chair and to me that's saying you don't want me being part of the parish and partaking in Paris activities because you're afraid of what might happen and I'm kind of like these people we'll see service dogs in their lifetime outside of the church and this is no different than me going to an ER or a ENT or a dentist or anywhere else to a wedding whatever. However telling me I can come to church but I got to stay in the back and then leave after is telling me that I'm walking through those doors but I'm not welcome to become part of the parish I'm not welcome to mingle with a parish and get to know the people in do perish because what it will distract them from church house that after after Church's services are over how is that distracting after Church's services are over if people want to mingle with me and you're telling me don't mingle with anybody go home and don't even go to the coffee hour. I don't feel then that I have a place in that church even though it's north of Knox church and they claim to go by Orthodox teachings and the biblical teachings because I feel like I'm being shunned to the back like Rosa Parks that have a right to be there but at the same time I don't have the right to be included because I require a different form of medical equipment that is not an oxygen machine or a wheelchair. I'd like to know where the Orthodox Church gets off saying that they're welcoming to people with service dogs but then literally not including them instead putting them to the side out of sight out of mind just to go to workshop and then telling them that they have to wait till everyone and you have to come up later to receive your community it's degrading and humiliating why am I even part of the Orthodox Faith then I thought the Orthodox faced it for something better than how I'm being treated this was not how I was raised to treat other people but if that is how the Orthodox faith in the churches are going to treat people require a medical alert service animal I need to look to go to a different church and yeah I don't want to but whatever choices of Orthodox Church giving me. Therapy dogs and they have a right to ask them for medical documentation on our script because they are exempt from Ada law Section 3 they could do that if they wanted to clarify whether or not that dog is a service dog or not and even contact the service dogs training academy or organization that they went through to get their service stuff they could do that but instead they say we're going to exclude you from every activity and you're just going to have to come up on your own alone to receive your communion after everybody and you're going to have to sit in the back and after Services is done I'd appreciate if you could just send go on out and go on your way like okay then I'm not paying ties to your church why am I even here then cuz it tells me you're just doing this to get an additional parishioner in here but the same time I'm not a person or cuz you're really not letting me partake in all of the things that are part of being in an orthodox church and a parish your ostracizing me by saying you don't want me to mingle with a parish after church get to know anybody in my Parish you just want me to be there for worship receive communion and leave I don't think that is something that God teaches to do and treat people based on their disability and the medical conditions they have where they require medical equipment that anybody has a free should be treating somebody like that and then claiming while we're not really ostracizing you we just don't want you to do this this and this but it's okay if it was somebody else with a wheelchair or oxygen machine. And I like people's take on this because I don't know whether or not to walk away from the Orthodox Faith at this point and that is literally where I'm at and it's going to be a hard decision because I can't just come in there and sit there in the back like Rosa Parks be discriminated against but then told I'm not fully discriminated cuz you're allowed to worship here but that's what we're going to allow you to have because you have a service dog with you everything else we'd like you not to and respectfully not do with the parish because you have a service dog with you.
As someone from an Orthodox country who was born and brought up into the orthodox tradition, I have the unpleasant feeling that for Americans our Church is just another venue for the based / red pilled people and their toxic politics. As if to prove my point, I commented under a video of an American Orthodox priest that’s often featured on this channel and questioned his proclivity to talk about politics, only to be told off that because I come from a poor former communist country (ironically, it’s one of those that’s the bedrock of Orthodoxy), I don’t know what I’m talking about due to the authoritarian nature and repressions of our past. And it’s perfectly acceptable for a priest to talk about politics! 😳 Well…I guess I wasn’t too far off in my assumptions. Orthodoxy is about being a Christian and your relationship with God. Nothing more, nothing less. Take it or leave it. I beg you, if you are going in with any other idea but that one - just don’t. Please, don’t corrupt this too. 🙏 There are so many other denominations and the US has countless Christian sects that would be much more appropriate for these worldviews.
1st Corinthians 10 15-17. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? *** For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.***
3 heretics worse than the first, this is the problem with false teachings. "Nooo my motives were pure" 😂 no they were not, grow up already guys. You're all too old to be doing the self righteous circuit, the only good in any man is from God and the only evil is from the devil, give credit to whom it is do and stop hogging it for yourself, in both aspects.
The culture is falling apart because men do not seek Christ with all their being. Skipping that step will not rebuild the culture. Trying to rebuild the culture will not rebuild the culture. Any motivation not of Christ is an idol and should be treated as such.
Not an idol. A self centered pursuit maybe, missing the mark definitely and therefore sinful. But an idol is an idol. A image fashioned of stone or wood that houses a demonic spirit. We have strayed so far from the biblical understanding of idols. Idols are sinful but sins are not idols.
My problem is that I'm annointed from outside their permissions and tjis causes division. I will not lay down my mantle, simply because they did not give it to me. In truth, I am already an orthodox christian. I model after the first century. The hunted and reviled generation. However, I did it in lieu of religion, I found it in the wilderness. Deep and in Isolation. To be told, that I do not measure up because i am not ordained specifically branded. Gives me a sort of righteous indignation. Though, if there where a church near. I would happily attend as a seeker and partake of the holy culture. However, when I leave those halls I would return to my station unquestionably. It really is the place for me. It certainly also is not the time. I think they will be coming to me soon anyway.
Principle here is similar to Jesus talking to the rich young ruler. Jesus told him he had to lay down a morally neutral or good thing, by which the young man was convinced he was right. But it was in the way of Jesus himself in his life.
Our “culture” will be saved when the hearts of its people are. Yes the Christian Roman Empire was great and mighty, but it came about after 300 years of persecution and martyrdom. Not saying it will take that long in America(if it ever happens)
I am pursued by a woman, we get married, she decides to divorce me due to the lack of care/attention I give her. I set her on fire for doing so. Did I love my wife?
@@deacon6221 firstly, even if I did (which there is absolutely no proof to her that I did, besides everyone just telling her that I did). My wife did not ask to be created from nothing. She did not ask to be supposedly given life and a universe. So me holding her under an unconsentual contract of eternal hellfire if She doesn’t follow my stipulations is unfair and cruel. Second, your comment reminds me of a red pill argument. Essentially saying, if I pay all my wife’s bills, and physically protect her from danger. Then I have the right to cheat and slap her around every now and then. If the wife’s cool with it, that’s her choice not mine, but I think we can both agree that she has every right to not want to be in that relationship, right?
@@SlickRick12 See you keep make value judgements such as cruel or unfair, but you don’t have any claim to objective morality under your worldview. You have no justification to claim what something should be you can only say what is.
@@deacon6221 before we divert too far I would like you to respond to my previous points before we change subjects. I don’t have claim to have objective morality. That does not mean I don’t have any morals tho. I personally believe smoking some jazz cabbage every now and then isn’t that bad. Some do. I think eating some bacon is okay, others don’t. I don’t have to believe in a religion to know being punched in the face, being given cancer, or dying in natural disaster is a bad thing that I don’t want to happen to me. And from an evolutionary stand point. We kind of have “the golden rule” baked in us to a degree (if your not a psycho/sociopath). Not only do I know it’s not nice to punch people in the face, but from a purely self-interest stand point, I don’t want to be punched in the face, so I’m not gonna go around punching ppl in the face. Another point. In our hunter gatherer days, if I k!//ed someone in my tribe, let’s say the berry forager, then whenever my tribe can’t get find any animals, now me and my tribe will starve bc I k!//ed the berry man. Also the rest of my tribe probably won’t like me for endangering their lives too, and I’ll be excommunicated from the tribe. We have evolved to be social creatures, so when we do things to endanger the society we have created we tend to try to curb them. Another example of something harming society is slavery. (Ofc owning humans is bad, but again from a pure self - interest view) If we have slaves, there will be much less jobs, less jobs means more unemployment, more unemployment means more poverty. Poverty bad. “So you don’t do bad things only bc you don’t want bad things to happen to you?” That is not the only reason, but it is one of them. Just bc I don’t allow a book to tell me what my morals should be, does not mean that I do not have morals.
Evry Christian needs to understand that our Nation is Heaven ruled by our King Jesus Crist and our people is every human and we need to help as many as possible to make it to Heaven with us!
There's probably more reasons also the people go to church other than for Jesus like socializing I suppose it all depends on as long as you're making Jesus the number one thing I suppose you can still socialize and I suppose you can still have political opinions and share them?
I think it’s silly to judge or reject anyone who comes to the Church of their own volition. We have faith in the Spirit of God and the ability of the Spirit to change people. If people are coming to the Orthodox Church because of politics then this is a great thing! Orthodoxy is finally growing after centuries and to turn away converts is not beneficial.
John 6:37 "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me, and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out" But since you doubt the word, the Lord has proven Himself to you by the commentors here stating they found their way by the Grace of God, despite their "impure motives". Jesus, please help me to be kind and merciful here because all I can speak to this judaizer from my own heart is condemnation. Isaiah 65:5 [5] which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. Paul. If you are going to be a teacher, you need to seriously humble yourself, what you preached here is not the gospel it is your own doctrine in direct contradiction to the doctrine which the real Paul taught. You have denied the power of God to change these people, while having an air of godliness yourself, claiming you were saved and pretending like your righteousness, your purity was something that you could claim as your own. This directly contradicts scripture, wisdom, and all knowledge and truth. Humble yourself and repent. And when you do, this too will prove God's word that He will not cast out anyone who comes to Him. Jesus put my shoulder back into place, just as He will restore you. God truly is the greatest, I love how He turned this around ❤️ I don't know much, but I know His mercy is beyond comprehension, and I stand in awe of it daily. Accept that mercy, Paul
Thats not BECOMING Orthodox for the wrong reasons. Its a leading to the church because of Un Orthodoxy, and its your job in turn to help them realize that, which your video does but the title is misleading
He is talking about people joining the Orthodox Church to "own the libs" or "stick it to the LGBT", people try and join churches to fight the culture wars, that is NOT what religion is supposed to be about.
I don't think he meant to say that the moral values were negative I think he said political reasons and then other negative reasons I think the moral values part he was agreeing with as a good thing
There were some white supremacists that came to our Orthodox parish to find a home operations base at one time. Our Priest straightened them out on Christ centric things. And they sought life/"death" elsewhere.
I just don't like my fellow humans being addressed in this tone of voice, Leviticus26:29, I'm offended on their behalf. You call this 'my great standard', but I think this is a very bare bones, minimum standard of decency.
Orthodox internet trads crying at this rn
Really think that’s appropriate
Absolutely. Christ comes first, if you wanna be trad and all that it can come after
This statement seems negative and unproductive
@@shatter_point
Pretty much every church I've ever seen this is S.O.P. it's just pride and self-righteousness masquerading as faith and holiness.
I'm guilty of it, you probably were too once. It is tiresome though, and you get older and realize how stupid and irksome you were when you were being that person
no this was good. But associating "trad" with the Church makes me want to cry - do not do that
As a catechumen who also joined because "culture was falling apart", I was rewarded with what I seek by just letting it all go. I stopped worrying about the things around me and focused on building a relationship with the Lord through prayers, fasting and trying to live to his standards.
Exactly. That’s why it took us a while to start going to an Orthodox Church. We needed to make sure it was for the right reasons.
Very wise.
I did the same but I’m becoming Catholic 😊
Can’t rebuild Christendom sans submission to Christ
"Rebuilding Christendom" is an unnecessary thing. Christ's Kingdom is everlasting. We can participate in that Everlasting Kingdom or we can rebel against it.
“My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36)?
That hit home... I originally came to Orthodoxy because of "culture falling apart," but I've stayed because it genuinely feels like the true "home." I'm far from the most arduous practitioner, but I know this is part of me no matter how long the struggle.
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
This is a concern for me that Orthodoxy is being used as a label for a young men's based/red-pill club. This priest is correct. Being Orthodox means being an authentic Christian in Christ's Church and has nothing to do with what political groups you support or don't support.
This was me initially. I had to let one go as you can’t serve two masters. I’m scheduled to be baptized on Holy Saturday 🙏
Congratulations! I can't wait until I'm Chrismated and can take Eucharist.
I do agree to an extent. But my husband and I joined for those reasons and stayed because of Christ. Sometimes God works at each individuals needs and reveals himself differently.
i agree with this
Yup. I know dozens even hundreds of people who were attracted and stayed foe this reason. It gives a deeper foundation.
Exactly but the point is you need to realize that faith needs to be positive. That can change over time from negative reasons
I joined the Orthodox Church because I knew deep down that Holy Communion was the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, and that our Lord did not leave us without a Church, and without direction. I had never had that in my Protestant experience. Everything in my soul was crushed with that realization.
I agree with everything you said here Fr.
So grateful to have been brought into the Church. Us converts are “guests” in the Church in a way, and I pray I continue to remember that. I pray we don’t assume every convert is coming to be “cool” or for political reasons.
Some are coming for the right reasons, and can be absolutely crushed in spirit when they are approaching the Church. If someone thought they knew God, but realized they NEVER knew him, that is a very delicate situation. It is devastating until someone is communed.
Do you taste blood and human flesh when you take Communion? This is an honestly question, no disrespect.
Do you taste blood and flesh when you take communion? Honest question, no disrespect.
@@denisefarmer366 Do you want to know or do you want to debate?
Christ died once for all, 2000 years ago in Jerusalem, not endlessly, hundreds or thousands of times daily across the world for 2000 years. Jesus was speaking symbolically of his death on the cross, which He would suffer the next day. Jesus made it clear to his followers to take bread and wine "in memory of Me" and what His death and resurrection accomplished for God the Father and believers "once for all."
@@zumbinisgm Hey man. Yes we believe Christ died once and for all.
Do you celebrate communion?
I was wondering about this, I see a lot of people posting orthodox memes that also post a lot of political stuff. I’m glad people are making their way back to the faith but I feel like it’s for the wrong reasons
Its fine you think that. But you and this man in a purple robe arent GOD. YOU PEOPLE dont get to dictate HOW people come to Christ.
This man is saying it cant be done and that is blasphemy against the holy spirit.
Who are you to judge how GOD decides.
@@jota7000 I know it’s fine that I think that, but thanks. Also I never implied I was god, just stating a pattern I see. I’ve not told one single person not to do anything religious because X,Y, or Z . Go touch grass you twat
@@jota7000
He's right though. I have seen it often.
@@jota7000
This biggest flaw with Orthodoxy in America is a desire to remain isolated. They want to remain ethnic enclaves in many places.
Don’t assume or judge another person’s heart. We don’t know them or how they repent
I recently converted to Christianity, and I've been going to Orthodox Church, and it's seriously the best part of my week. Everyone is so kind, and we are all there for one reason, which is to worship God. and the divine liturgy is beautiful. I'm excited for when i can join the church and participate in communion.
You might have to get baptized in the Orthodox Church. Good luck. As to be made a catechumen
I remember telling my former Protestant pastor the reason we were converting to Orthodoxy after hearing his concerns for us, it all came down to “The Eucharist. It’s a deal breaker for us.”
And I have not regretted it for a single moment. ☦️
god bless you brother.
@larisacallan8288mocking whores
how american.
So glad for you, and your neighbours brother..
God bless from Serbia.
Yes yes yes!!! That's exactly what I was thinking. The Eucharist is real!
That’s beautiful. God bless you and your family for seeing that importance. It took me some time as a Protestant until I reread and analyzed John 6 and just couldn’t get past it. Realizing the horror in my false theology when reading Christs seriousness in this teaching. Lord have mercy
You don't come to church because you hate the world, you come to church because of your love for Christ and you love and pray for the world just as He did.
There's a famous orthodox priest who says the opposite. He hates the world and that's why he loves christ.
Actually, you are supposed to seek Christ in his Church with the Eucharist and other sacraments to be healed and made whole (Holy) by facing your sins and the sins you have been inflicted with. Any other reason is not right and sin. Only this proves your love for him.
@@WarriorBride723 The first step to coming to the Church is having love for Christ within your heart and opening your heart to Him to dwell within. Those Holy sacraments and especially the Holy Eucharist mean absolutely nothing unless you have that love in your heart in the first place.
Because you love Jesus
Amen. Christ is not an avenue to social change. Christ is God and King.
God bless you Father. 🙏🏻☦️
Based take. Love this message
I don’t understand how people can think Father Paul is rejecting inquirers or being harsh to them. He is cautioning them out of love. You will not find political stability in the church. You will not find social acceptance in the church. BUT you will find Christ in the church, and in him eternal life. THAT is the only reason WORTHY of coming. In love, examine yourself.
My boy ain’t playing he said once In a while you gotta let that dead fruit fall. I respect these orthodox priests they keep it real
Yoo… that’s totally one reason why I joined. Thanks for this. It’s been a struggle trying to live as I should. I’m even having a tough time desiring to go to church now. And where in the middle of lent….
I think people politicizing christianity has done more damage to the religion than anything else.
I love hearing father Paul's Homily's!
Those are some beautiful vestments!
It happened to me
as a TRADITIONAL
LATIN RITE CATHOLIC
I made an appointment with the
Parish Pastor to
guide me throughout
Spiritual-warfare...
The consultation
lasted 1 hr. All he did
was make weird
faces,clean his eyes.
I learned later that
many things are not
taught at the Seminars
This priest ignored
me as a parishioner
in desperate need
of Spiritual assistance
I paid him all together
for 1 hr, then for 1/2
an hr,then for 20 min
over $ 200.00...
I cried that even if
I paid him he judged
me for my sins and
not the person that
I am. This is why
some Catholics find
faith,hope,spiritual
help in other nominations where
God is truly adored,
worship with open
hearts..no hidden
agendas. I feel sorry
for priests who are
burnt out,tired and
lukewarm priests
are a danger to
Catholicism.We need
strong warrior priests
for God...
charging you money for consulting the book of christ that was no priest that was a pharasee.
Why did you pay him? As a Catholic I never "paid" a priest for such a thing.
I’ve never heard of paying a priest for a consultation! I’m going through OCIA right now and they’ve never asked any money from me.
Either you are lying or the priest lied to you. The laity may make gifts, money or in kind. If a priest charges by the hour, lodge a report. You'll be helping the local bishop. And if you're lying, you need confession.
Contact your bishop. No priest should ever charge you. Was this a diocesan priest?
Thanks Father. I needed that
Why hinder someone who is coming willingly. Accept them as they are and let Christ complete their journey even if they are coming for the “wrong” reason according to you. Please welcome all and let God do the work in them and change whatever needs to be changed.
You have a point this seems like the priest is judging too much. Negativity is usually the demonic’s fault. It seems like a lack of knowledge about this topic.
that's not what the priest said, he said that people will come to him for political reasons, but then leave if the Church isn't at the standard of those political reasons.
@rocketwayav5771
"You must change"
That's the exact opposite of the gospel. The gospel doesn't say "you must change before Christ will accept you", the gospel says "Christ will change you".
How are you going to change anything about yourself? You're a wretch, what are you going to do? Apart from Christ, you can do nothing. So if you can't come to Christ without being perfect, and you can't change yourself to become perfect, there is no hope and you're condemned.
Now consider that God judges us with the same measure we use to judge one another. Now do you realize why this false teaching is problematic?
This heresy is older than the church, it's the same heresy the jews fell into. It's the denial of the power of God. Anyone who thinks they are a good person, anyone who thinks that their salvation or holiness was in any way part of their doing is following that heresy, they're denying God.
The Bible says we are vessels Romans 9:21. Older scriptures like the book of Enoch indicate that all sin comes from azazel and all good comes from God. You, man, are just a vessel.
You cannot take credit for all the good you do. You can not take credit for all the evil you do either since God ascribed it to azazel. So what are you going to take credit for?
There's nothing we can do, good or bad, in our own power it's something else working through us.
Christ is the potter, we are the clay. And, Christ has promised to keep all the vessels that come to Him. Didn't say anything about the condition of that vessel, God can just as easily grind you up back into dust and mold you into something else if He desires to.
This only bothers people who don't want to let go of their pride, who feel like they earned or are entitled to something
Jesus Christ saved me cause of faith in the Orthodox Church ❤
I cannot speak for orthodoxy but I have seen some people come into catholicism with this type of attitude and it usually would end up being divisive within the church. It may be good intentions but wrong approach
Truth. Thank you!!!!!!
Jesus Christ over all else ❤
Beautifully said Father. Thank you for your dedication to Christ and His church. Many are flocking to Orthodoxy - particularly online - because they see some kind of validation of their conservative political beliefs. The Church (neither East nor West) is not a political institution. It is a Christian institution. The Christian institution. If people come to the church expecting all of their political beliefs to be validated they are in for a shocking surprise. The Church stands first and foremost for Christ, above all else. The call for humility, servitude, and love for our neighbors supersedes all secular ideals and principles no matter how “traditional” they may seem. Search for Christ alone and you will find Him in His church. Search for political and social validation and you will not find such things in the Church. Sending you love and admiration from the West. May our Lord reunite us so that we can adore Him in unity and love. God bless you Father. ❤✝️☦️
An important message that hopefully softens the hearts of new comers and doesn’t make them turn away. Lord help them to embrace the faith fully 🙏🏻☦️
AMEN x's INFINITY!
Im seeking the truth and how to get as close to Christ as i can. Ive always let everyone down in my life but nothing has hurt worse than feeling like im a disappointment to God and i just want to not be a disappointment anymore
Kinda reminds me of a quote by CS Lewis: "Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you will get neither."
It’s like the same thing with Andrew tate he only joined Islam not because of a spiritual reason but for the reason that he saw it as a stronger religion may Christ save him 🙏🏼
Im not a priest, or a theologian, but i believe whatever gets you in the door has the potential to blossom into the right reasons. I had no clue i was being introduced to the bride of Christ, the Holy Orthodox Church. So much beauty and poetry. Ive fallen in love
As a Reformed Christian, I can whole heartedly say Amen to that
Amen 🙏💯
Fr Paul rocks
I've watched people I know personally go into schism--and worse, apostasy--over precisely these issues. Ironically, they have legitimate grievances, but their response to it is guided by the wrong spirit.
Can you give an example?
The exact situation where such a person should re read the parable of the seeds. Matthew chapt 13
Let them come and try, we Orthodox cannot be judge and jury. We can only welcome and pray for them.
Internets Trad Christian right now:😢😭
I wonder sometimes if I should even be a Christian, I believe but the devil believes also. I appreciate this man's candor and feel this is a cause for reflection. I am not a very good Orthodox Christian.
❤❤❤🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽😭
Thank you for your words father! This is also huge for me as a Catholic. Often we see faith dismissed as some set of so called "traditional" moral values, when really all morality comes down to one's unity Christ.
❤
I feel like he just put me in my place
Being holy is hard and rewarding in the same time
Does anyone have any tips or resources to best approach exploring the Orthodox church and what they believe?
I can appreciate that approach.
Christ is king, our worldly traditions are a mockery of his greatness
Jesus wouldn't turn anyone away. He would teach them the correct way.
When I first began reading about orthodoxy I second-guessed myself because I was thinking that maybe I was just taking a stand and sticking my flag down against the cultural decay, but the more I inquired and when I attended services my heart was softened
You will find the light by seeking the kingdom, deny himself and only live in peace in guidance in the way of Christ Jesus to our Father's unconditional love and truth😊.
In all honesty the reason I am drawn to orthodoxy is because in my heart I know yeshu was a real man who suffered greatly for the good and creation of all of us. There’s such a sense of respect and love for the creator, the one who wove every single one of our hearts and souls.
Me for 10yrs 😢
Christ first, politics second.
My churches have used my vulnerabilities to attack me on the alter . People use their position of power to attack my sorrow. I think orthodoxy is calling me.
Not true. Negativity in the world brought me to Jesus Christ and ive been tested many times since then. You are pushing children of christ away JUST BECAUSE they dont do it the way YOU think.. judge.
And you speak of shaking the tree and letting "dead fruit fall" wow.. no one is beyond redemption and you preach this?
Ask yourselves, people. Is this how Jesus would have said it? I think not.
you misunderstood everything, he didn't say that he turned these people away, he said that he saw those people come to him and then leave unsatisfied.
Christ preaches almost identical sounding things more than once.
Good to see Catholicism isn’t alone in this.
Christendom is not utilitarian. It is salvific.
While this priest has the correct message, he is delivering it the wrong way. Do not turn these seekers away! Christ is drawing them to His Church, just because you don’t like the methods that are being used doesn’t mean these people aren’t worthy of salvation. In seeking to avoid being political, you are becoming the Pharisee who said “I thank God that I’m not like these polítical reactionaries”
he never claimed that he turned them away, you got the wrong impression. He said that people will come for political reasons and then leave on their own, that's what he meant.
Yep - you’re reading into things that aren’t there. You’re seeing a clip out of a bigger sermon, and are being super judgmental based on it.
That’s not what he said
@@retro-orthodox I don't see how its judgmental to want to embrace all people called to Christ's Church, no matter the means. We're all broken and need to be loved in our brokenness. Like I said, this priest has the right message, but the wrong delivery.
@@player1playforfun Maybe that is what he meant, but I was replying only to this clip where that isn't conveyed. That is one of the reasons I don't like these shorts, you can never see the whole message.
🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤❤
I became Orthodox Christian 6 years ago and unfortunately I had retired my service dog and I was in the process of getting another service dog my question to you father is why is it I understand separation of church and state grants all houses of worship the ability to refuse service dogs where is anywhere else they would have to accommodate a service dog that is not emotional support not therapy or an Esa but our actual service dog. I have my new service dog is medical equipment and although I finally thought I found a church that's Orthodox Church to come to they had a double standard while people with a oxygen machine or a wheelchair crutches or a walk or a welcome to sit anywhere I had to be sat out of sight out of mind. The excuse was from the priest that they didn't want any disruption or anybody being not focused in church because it could be a distraction to have a service dog there I said you have the power and the authority to explain to everybody that my service dog is a service dog not to distract him and to give us space you could do that but instead you're choosing to ostracize me yet claim to welcome me into the Orthodox church but I have to go by your rules of sitting in the back next to a pillar where I cannot hear I cannot see what's going on in the church or here because of my one condition Wichita Falls have surgery for Meniere's disease and that it is because you don't want any distractions but wait a second you also want to add in that I shouldn't be coming and attending your coffee hour but you want ties from me to the church but at the same time you're telling me not to after church services go and meet with other parishioners but to just go home. That sense of your alarm goes off in my head that not only is it just spiteful of what we want to welcome you but we don't want to tell you to leave your service dog at home but at the same time if you do bring your service up we need to give you double standards that we wouldn't put on people with a wheelchair or oxygen machine because we don't want people being distracted I've been in church I've been distracted by the sounds of obnoxious oxygen machines and I've never said leave her oxygen machine at home or ask the Prairies to tell him to leave her oxygen machine at home. So how is this any different it seems to be a double standard you want my ties to the church you want to let me worship and receive communion after everyone else receives communion but at the same time you don't want people to be aware I'm even in the chair and to me that's saying you don't want me being part of the parish and partaking in Paris activities because you're afraid of what might happen and I'm kind of like these people we'll see service dogs in their lifetime outside of the church and this is no different than me going to an ER or a ENT or a dentist or anywhere else to a wedding whatever. However telling me I can come to church but I got to stay in the back and then leave after is telling me that I'm walking through those doors but I'm not welcome to become part of the parish I'm not welcome to mingle with a parish and get to know the people in do perish because what it will distract them from church house that after after Church's services are over how is that distracting after Church's services are over if people want to mingle with me and you're telling me don't mingle with anybody go home and don't even go to the coffee hour. I don't feel then that I have a place in that church even though it's north of Knox church and they claim to go by Orthodox teachings and the biblical teachings because I feel like I'm being shunned to the back like Rosa Parks that have a right to be there but at the same time I don't have the right to be included because I require a different form of medical equipment that is not an oxygen machine or a wheelchair. I'd like to know where the Orthodox Church gets off saying that they're welcoming to people with service dogs but then literally not including them instead putting them to the side out of sight out of mind just to go to workshop and then telling them that they have to wait till everyone and you have to come up later to receive your community it's degrading and humiliating why am I even part of the Orthodox Faith then I thought the Orthodox faced it for something better than how I'm being treated this was not how I was raised to treat other people but if that is how the Orthodox faith in the churches are going to treat people require a medical alert service animal I need to look to go to a different church and yeah I don't want to but whatever choices of Orthodox Church giving me. Therapy dogs and they have a right to ask them for medical documentation on our script because they are exempt from Ada law Section 3 they could do that if they wanted to clarify whether or not that dog is a service dog or not and even contact the service dogs training academy or organization that they went through to get their service stuff they could do that but instead they say we're going to exclude you from every activity and you're just going to have to come up on your own alone to receive your communion after everybody and you're going to have to sit in the back and after Services is done I'd appreciate if you could just send go on out and go on your way like okay then I'm not paying ties to your church why am I even here then cuz it tells me you're just doing this to get an additional parishioner in here but the same time I'm not a person or cuz you're really not letting me partake in all of the things that are part of being in an orthodox church and a parish your ostracizing me by saying you don't want me to mingle with a parish after church get to know anybody in my Parish you just want me to be there for worship receive communion and leave I don't think that is something that God teaches to do and treat people based on their disability and the medical conditions they have where they require medical equipment that anybody has a free should be treating somebody like that and then claiming while we're not really ostracizing you we just don't want you to do this this and this but it's okay if it was somebody else with a wheelchair or oxygen machine. And I like people's take on this because I don't know whether or not to walk away from the Orthodox Faith at this point and that is literally where I'm at and it's going to be a hard decision because I can't just come in there and sit there in the back like Rosa Parks be discriminated against but then told I'm not fully discriminated cuz you're allowed to worship here but that's what we're going to allow you to have because you have a service dog with you everything else we'd like you not to and respectfully not do with the parish because you have a service dog with you.
As someone from an Orthodox country who was born and brought up into the orthodox tradition, I have the unpleasant feeling that for Americans our Church is just another venue for the based / red pilled people and their toxic politics.
As if to prove my point, I commented under a video of an American Orthodox priest that’s often featured on this channel and questioned his proclivity to talk about politics, only to be told off that because I come from a poor former communist country (ironically, it’s one of those that’s the bedrock of Orthodoxy), I don’t know what I’m talking about due to the authoritarian nature and repressions of our past. And it’s perfectly acceptable for a priest to talk about politics! 😳
Well…I guess I wasn’t too far off in my assumptions. Orthodoxy is about being a Christian and your relationship with God. Nothing more, nothing less. Take it or leave it.
I beg you, if you are going in with any other idea but that one - just don’t. Please, don’t corrupt this too. 🙏 There are so many other denominations and the US has countless Christian sects that would be much more appropriate for these worldviews.
Amen
“It’s necessary to shake the tree every now and again to let the dead fruit fall.” Sometimes the most profound thoughts just spill out.
If you enjoy truth and reality that is not the place for you.
This needs to be said. I see a lot of politics on Orthodox forums. Less so in parishes, but it’s there too.
1st Corinthians 10 15-17. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
*** For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.***
Where is your church at?
Its sad to see a priest give up on someone so easily everyone deserves a chance at redemption as hard as it is to say even the worst of us .
He didn’t give up. The person will give up. Fr. Truebenbach is just speaking from experience.
It's not giving up when someone turns away from or rejects the teachings
As one of his parishioners from out of state, believe me, Fr. Paul doesn't give up on anyone, people give up the faith.
3 heretics worse than the first, this is the problem with false teachings.
"Nooo my motives were pure"
😂 no they were not, grow up already guys. You're all too old to be doing the self righteous circuit, the only good in any man is from God and the only evil is from the devil, give credit to whom it is do and stop hogging it for yourself, in both aspects.
A parishioner of his corrected you on your false assumptions that you made based on one clip. Be humble and delete your slander.
Jesus is Jesus. Follow him……..not man made religion
The culture is falling apart because men do not seek Christ with all their being. Skipping that step will not rebuild the culture. Trying to rebuild the culture will not rebuild the culture. Any motivation not of Christ is an idol and should be treated as such.
Not an idol. A self centered pursuit maybe, missing the mark definitely and therefore sinful. But an idol is an idol. A image fashioned of stone or wood that houses a demonic spirit. We have strayed so far from the biblical understanding of idols. Idols are sinful but sins are not idols.
My problem is that I'm annointed from outside their permissions and tjis causes division. I will not lay down my mantle, simply because they did not give it to me.
In truth, I am already an orthodox christian. I model after the first century. The hunted and reviled generation.
However, I did it in lieu of religion, I found it in the wilderness. Deep and in Isolation. To be told, that I do not measure up because i am not ordained specifically branded. Gives me a sort of righteous indignation.
Though, if there where a church near. I would happily attend as a seeker and partake of the holy culture. However, when I leave those halls I would return to my station unquestionably.
It really is the place for me. It certainly also is not the time. I think they will be coming to me soon anyway.
🙏🏿☦️
I'm still afraid to give orthodox a chance. Any advice?
Principle here is similar to Jesus talking to the rich young ruler. Jesus told him he had to lay down a morally neutral or good thing, by which the young man was convinced he was right. But it was in the way of Jesus himself in his life.
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
I would say this is the heart of a born again believer orthodox or not. Any other fruit is evidence of no true salvation in such a person.
What about Orthodox people getting involved with politics?
Our “culture” will be saved when the hearts of its people are. Yes the Christian Roman Empire was great and mighty, but it came about after 300 years of persecution and martyrdom. Not saying it will take that long in America(if it ever happens)
Bu- bu- but orthodoxy is based and Red pilled 😢
I am pursued by a woman, we get married, she decides to divorce me due to the lack of care/attention I give her. I set her on fire for doing so. Did I love my wife?
Did you create your wife from nothing? Did you give your wife life and an entire universe?
@@deacon6221 firstly, even if I did (which there is absolutely no proof to her that I did, besides everyone just telling her that I did). My wife did not ask to be created from nothing. She did not ask to be supposedly given life and a universe. So me holding her under an unconsentual contract of eternal hellfire if She doesn’t follow my stipulations is unfair and cruel.
Second, your comment reminds me of a red pill argument. Essentially saying, if I pay all my wife’s bills, and physically protect her from danger. Then I have the right to cheat and slap her around every now and then. If the wife’s cool with it, that’s her choice not mine, but I think we can both agree that she has every right to not want to be in that relationship, right?
@@SlickRick12 See you keep make value judgements such as cruel or unfair, but you don’t have any claim to objective morality under your worldview. You have no justification to claim what something should be you can only say what is.
@@deacon6221 before we divert too far I would like you to respond to my previous points before we change subjects.
I don’t have claim to have objective morality. That does not mean I don’t have any morals tho. I personally believe smoking some jazz cabbage every now and then isn’t that bad. Some do. I think eating some bacon is okay, others don’t. I don’t have to believe in a religion to know being punched in the face, being given cancer, or dying in natural disaster is a bad thing that I don’t want to happen to me.
And from an evolutionary stand point. We kind of have “the golden rule” baked in us to a degree (if your not a psycho/sociopath). Not only do I know it’s not nice to punch people in the face, but from a purely self-interest stand point, I don’t want to be punched in the face, so I’m not gonna go around punching ppl in the face.
Another point. In our hunter gatherer days, if I k!//ed someone in my tribe, let’s say the berry forager, then whenever my tribe can’t get find any animals, now me and my tribe will starve bc I k!//ed the berry man. Also the rest of my tribe probably won’t like me for endangering their lives too, and I’ll be excommunicated from the tribe. We have evolved to be social creatures, so when we do things to endanger the society we have created we tend to try to curb them.
Another example of something harming society is slavery. (Ofc owning humans is bad, but again from a pure self - interest view) If we have slaves, there will be much less jobs, less jobs means more unemployment, more unemployment means more poverty. Poverty bad.
“So you don’t do bad things only bc you don’t want bad things to happen to you?”
That is not the only reason, but it is one of them. Just bc I don’t allow a book to tell me what my morals should be, does not mean that I do not have morals.
Evry Christian needs to understand that our Nation is Heaven ruled by our King Jesus Crist and our people is every human and we need to help as many as possible to make it to Heaven with us!
Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus
There's probably more reasons also the people go to church other than for Jesus like socializing I suppose it all depends on as long as you're making Jesus the number one thing I suppose you can still socialize and I suppose you can still have political opinions and share them?
I think it’s silly to judge or reject anyone who comes to the Church of their own volition. We have faith in the Spirit of God and the ability of the Spirit to change people. If people are coming to the Orthodox Church because of politics then this is a great thing! Orthodoxy is finally growing after centuries and to turn away converts is not beneficial.
John 6:37
"All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me, and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out"
But since you doubt the word, the Lord has proven Himself to you by the commentors here stating they found their way by the Grace of God, despite their "impure motives".
Jesus, please help me to be kind and merciful here because all I can speak to this judaizer from my own heart is condemnation.
Isaiah 65:5
[5] which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
Paul. If you are going to be a teacher, you need to seriously humble yourself, what you preached here is not the gospel it is your own doctrine in direct contradiction to the doctrine which the real Paul taught. You have denied the power of God to change these people, while having an air of godliness yourself, claiming you were saved and pretending like your righteousness, your purity was something that you could claim as your own. This directly contradicts scripture, wisdom, and all knowledge and truth.
Humble yourself and repent. And when you do, this too will prove God's word that He will not cast out anyone who comes to Him. Jesus put my shoulder back into place, just as He will restore you.
God truly is the greatest, I love how He turned this around ❤️ I don't know much, but I know His mercy is beyond comprehension, and I stand in awe of it daily.
Accept that mercy, Paul
Thats not BECOMING Orthodox for the wrong reasons. Its a leading to the church because of Un Orthodoxy, and its your job in turn to help them realize that, which your video does but the title is misleading
Division still exist. Jesus told Paul to go to Rome.
Did he?
How is joining the church because you like the moral lessons and values a “negative” reason?
Because it’s joining for worldly reasons, not spiritual reasons. The church is not a worldly institution. It is not an ideology
He is talking about people joining the Orthodox Church to "own the libs" or "stick it to the LGBT", people try and join churches to fight the culture wars, that is NOT what religion is supposed to be about.
I don't think he meant to say that the moral values were negative I think he said political reasons and then other negative reasons I think the moral values part he was agreeing with as a good thing
It just so happens to be a natural extent of the Church. @@nothingelse1520
That makes much more sense. Thanks.
Name of the priest?
Fr. Paul Truebenbach
Of Saints Peter And Paul Orthodox Church in SLC, Ut
There were some white supremacists that came to our Orthodox parish to find a home operations base at one time. Our Priest straightened them out on Christ centric things. And they sought life/"death" elsewhere.
That’s awesome
Kanye west
Licimeri
This happened at my old parish and it was a nightmare. Groups within groups
I just don't like my fellow humans being addressed in this tone of voice, Leviticus26:29, I'm offended on their behalf. You call this 'my great standard', but I think this is a very bare bones, minimum standard of decency.