Evangelizing As An Orthodox Christian | Fr. James Coles
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- Опубликовано: 27 фев 2024
- Fr. James Coles is the priest at St. Ignatius of Antioch in Mesa, Arizona. Fr. James talks about the missionary work and evangelization efforts of the Orthodox Church.
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I wish more Orthodox priests online sounded like you! You sound like my priest. Humility! He once told me about some thinky theological issue "If thinking about this isn't changing the way you love people, then it's worthless." Orthodoxy isnt all about being right and winning, it is about giving yourself in love to everyone.
Great point!
Thank you!!!
My priest is like this too
Oh man thats a good quote. Inserting into brain now, for later.
I want more Orthodox parishes in Latin America 🙏🏻
I love orthodoxy. I think the Orthodox faith is growing, or it is at least at St. Ignatius. Ever since I've joined this church, I've noticed more and more people showing up for Sunday liturgy. There were about 10 or 11 new people last Sunday....I know because my place where I usually stand was usurped and I had to move further towards the front. But I'm sure Fr. James is fine with that. Since I'm a new catechumen, it's better for me to be closer to the front instead of hiding in the back, lol! We're bursting at the seams and it's wonderful!
The parish I attend is growing too 🙂
@@Patrichor777 All glory to God!
This is why i fell Inlove with Orthodoxy! Coming from a Protestant background. The Orthodox Christians doesnt go Knock on houses and randomly coming up to people to Talk about the Bible Unlike the Protestant missionaries.
They Just live the Faith Faithfully unashamed! While keeping The Tradition steadfast and not Reforming the Church with "loud musics", Dance worships"with a lot of Modernization the Protestants had done.
Pray for me.... I'm getting torn, Pray for me to Cling to Orthodoxy till my last Breath
We were talking about this after the Divine Liturgy Sunday past… how our little parish is booming at the moment with visitors every week - and they are staying. Our parish is comprised of a lot of converts - and I shared that we are collectively bringing many good aspects of our Protestant heritages with us into the dynamics of parish life. Folks feel genuine love. They feel esteemed and welcomed…. Father James hits the nail on the head… we share our lives… our love… and our faith… with others. This is exactly what I was sharing…
Was is Brother Lawrence who is attributed to saying, Practice the presence of Christ in front of others, and if necessary - use words…. I heard this years ago and I have taken it to heart. If you are reaching out to folks with an ulterior motive - you are simply not operating in First Love. Love folks where they are - AND - as they are… the Lord will bear witness with your spirit and through your shared life, people will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ… so enjoyed this post today.
“Preach the gospel always- and only when necessary, use words”
I think it was Francis of Assisi
Χριστόσ Ανέστη ☦️🇬🇷
Yes I really like him too. So humble and relatable
Wonderful and please try to put more of your wisdom here. Amazing priest and always with a smile. I’m an orthodox in Lisbon and I learn so much, change so much and always always want to leave my faith day by day and at my church.
Amazing words Father!
Greetings from Pennsylvania ! Thank you Father I recently discovered "roots of orthodoxy" and always look forward to your talks.
Fathers, good health! We really need a story or a documentary about Father Seraphim Rose! In Russia, they love him very much and want to be canonised!
We need to learn how to be ‘fishers of men’ and be real apostolos. It’s essential… just share! Invite!
Thank you father for sharing you’re beautiful, and humble outlook. It’s definitely encouraging and helpful.
Thank you for posting your talk. I found it very informative.
This Father has such a lovely demeanor. He is humble he is clear and he does this in such a welcoming way, it's lovely.
I am from Finland. Orthodoxy came to us about thousand years ago from Russia and it was first form of christianity here. Unfortunately sweden managed to take over Finland forced catholism to finnish people. Later on it turned to lutherism. Nowadays lutherism is totally secular and finns dont respect christianity becouse of that so called church. Still we have native finnish orthodox church also but its minority here.
I get the idea that orthodox believer should be spreading the faith by living it. But in reality this has not been happening here is Finland. We have native orthodox church using finnish language and still many finns dont even know about it. Orthodox church has had thousand years to evangelize this country. When we are saying we should just live the faith actually we might be doing nothing for evangelism. Many people are good even without faith. It seems we MUST also speak about the faith.
I was raised in finnish pentecostal family. Pentecostalism here is totally different that in America. I never considered myself pentecostal but just a christian. I use to do evangelism a lot. People where listening and i was friendly way talking to people on streets and everywhere and people where listening and sharing their thoughta.
When i learned about orthodoxy i accept it as the most authentic faith and i joined to our finnish orthodox church. BUT since then i have been coming lazy spiritually becouse i do not almost any evangelims anymore like i use to. I pray my prayers and go to church but mostly i am just interested in secular things after i became orthodox. I love orthodoxy but i just cannot understand why cannot we do evangelism just like many saints were doing like st. Paraskeva of Rome.
Sounds like you need to talk to your preist or spiritual father. Please do! Sounds like you have zeal, but no where to put it.
@@jasonbryan3135 thank you sir for your comment. I appreciate it. I know i should not ask advice from youtube comment section, but rather my spiritual father as you said. But i have asked him. I have told him that before knew about orthodoxy I even went to live to one non christian country and lived there for years learning the language in order to do simple underground missionary work from person to person.
So i would like to continue that somehow even that i know i am just simple believer. But my spiritual father said to me i need to do nothing. I get him that i still need to just grow as an orthodox, but i am becoming carnal like this and life is short. Unfortunately we dont have to many priests here and they do not have so much time to people. Thats why i am asking other people also.
@@gabrielgabriel5177 it's clear you are passionate! I'm very new to Orthodoxy and I'm to be Chrismated next month, however I'm finding it's a whole paradigm shift in what to think and do with myself
I will quote a few things for you that may remind you of your purpose.
Because God is Life and Being Itself, an intimate relationship with God is not only possible; it is our calling. In fact, we were created for that singular purpose: to have a relationship and eternal life with God. This is not simply a future goal but a process that begins in this life and can even be experienced in this life. The Kingdom of God is present here and now, but the extent to which we participate in the life of the All-Holy Trinity depends on us.
-Thinking Orthodox, page 346
And
Brethren! what is the purpose of our earthly life? It is, that, after our trial by earthly affliction and misfortunes, and after our gradual advancement in virtue, by means of the divine gifts, given to us in the sacraments, we may rest, after our death, in the Lord, the peace of our souls.
-St. John of Kronstadt
We are creatures in motion and we are not static. You can evangelize in many ways if you just direct you energy differently. Start volunteering and be a witness through your works - Find the poor and give them food or drink. Go pick garbage around your town or neighborhood. If anyone asks why you're doing it, you can share Christ then. Live your faith differently. It's not just about finding people and telling them about Christ, it's about living for Christ and trying to experience God. Just approach things differently and I'm sure your zeal will come alive again.
Take this all with a grain of salt as I'm no authority, this is just my opinion based on 2 paragraphs from you. Ha.
I would also spend more time in prayer and read the saint and scripture and live like you have one foot in the grave.
I'll finish with this:
Be watchful over your heart during your entire life, examine it, listen to it, and see what prevents its union with the most blessed God. Let this be for you the science of sciences, and with God’s help you will easily see what estranges you from God and what draws you to Him, what unites you with Him. Your heart itself will tell you when it is united with Him, and when it is estranged from Him. The evil one, more than anything else, stands between our hearts and God; he separates us from God through various passions, desires of the flesh, and worldly pride.
St. John of Kronstadt “My Life in Christ” page 11
@@jasonbryan3135 thank you again for your thoughts. I read you whole comment and you are right. May God help us and may prayers of the saints be with us. God bless your journey my brother.
@@gabrielgabriel5177 thank you! I hesitated in commenting because I'm such a babe in Orthodoxy, so forgive me. Good luck!
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV).
Spot on ❤
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light **so shine** before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
> Mat5:14ff
Rock on, Padre James!
☦️
The main benefit I've found even as a Catechumen is we dont need to share the version of God who is angry and bound by some law that somehow exists above Him that he required some Pagan version of sacrifice to appease Himself. The Orthodox view of Atonement is so much more loving (Jesus came to defeat death) than the usual Protestant version. No wonder people dont want to be Christian. They are being fed some alternate version of God that isnt at all accurate. Anyway, rant over.
Also coptic orthodox church believes that Christ died for peoples sins on the cross. God put sin of the world on Christ on the cross. And their faith is 2000 years old. So that is not any new invention of protestants.
Nice Shout out to Project Mexico.
Huh, ya I here what your saying like dont be somebody not living the life and then get a megaphone on the street and tell people there going to go to hell. But just saying live the life… I just don’t know if that is the orthodox way when we look at the lives of the saints. Like is it the orthodox way that nobody shares the gospel or makes a case for orthodoxy because we aren’t allowed so then everyone discovers it on the internet instead. Like that is weird. There is a strange stigma around wanting to convert people and change others minds. Like what did the apostles do? They preached the gospel. It was also a radical form of charity and true love and acts. But I feel like we are divorcing one from the other. I have a friend who tells me not to convert people but then said, when he had family come over he was reading his prayer book so that when they walked in they would see and possible ask about it. So it’s like instead of just openly saying ya I want to convert people, I want to share the truth because it will save people like it saved me. But then manipulation tactics of trying to convert by not trying to convert just seems strange. I feel like there is a right and a wrong way and I can’t figure out the right way because the only option is just be super nice around people and hope they ask you about your worldview. I feel like the stigma needs to go and pay people should be educated on how to properly share the truth with others.
Yeah, I agree with you. I've had literally about 100 evangelicals over the course of my life just overtly and in good faith say something like "hey man do you know Jesus?".. may be 'corny' to some, but Penn of Penn and teller said it best, believe it or not. He once said he didn't respect any 'Christian' who didn't proselytize. He said, "If I saw someone about to get hit by a truck, I'd yell. If they didn't move, I'd tackle them out of the way. And how much worse is going to hell than being hit by a truck?" . This statement made a big impact on me. If you claim to believe in God and follow Christ, and yet walk around 'just living by example' ect.. while you know ppl may be on their way to hell, are you actually a Christian??? I'd say unequivocally NO. This is one of many major flaws I find it difficult to reconile with in Orthodoxy. I attend an orthodox church at the moment, and almost everyone I've met, 98% of the congregation, are anglo saxon protestant converts, who are just clearly obsessed with 'being orthodox ' and not simply being Christian. It's very clear, this strong 'inner circle syndrome' slash just 'being different'.
@@user-gv9my3jy4b ya I think the best thing to do is bear that cross and tell people about God. The problem is I do believe that there is a different and proper way for monks, bishops, clergy and lay people to engage in evangelism. Like what I’ve read is that monks used to be send out to evangelize. So why is that not common anymore. Like I don’t want to take on a burden I don’t need to bear. I want to fill my responsibilities properly. I’m married with children, but there is still a part for me to play, and it’s annoying that I have to discover that for myself because the answer isn’t just a good guy around people. I overcame crystal meth! But still nobody is walking up to me, “hi can you explain your worldview to me so I can convert to it I noticed you’ve come a long way.” Like you have to actually explain things to people!
Yeah, I prefer to skip the silly mindgames and just talk to people about our faith whenever it's relevant to the conversation. For example: "What are you doing this weekend" asks a friend. "Chilling at home Saturday, then going to Divine Liturgy on Sunday," I reply. "What's that?" asks the friend, and so on with our conversation.
Also, here's a neat article on monastics being missionaries: orthochristian.com/141820.html
Very dissapointing to hear him imply that joking around in bussines is not godly. Maybe he had another idea in his head but sterilizing all facets of life in fear that you go against god is a horrifying idea. Good luck achieveing anything if you're too terrified to be funny
what are you even on about?
why are you casting stones?
he just gave his time and wisdom to us. Be thankful and HUMBLE instead of coming here with such a judgment.
..
.....sorry a complete stranger who already did the service of giving us this video is an individual who is sharing his personal perspective as an ordained priest and couldn't magically have the same exact opinions as you.
he was talking about inappropriate jokes in particular
@@DavinaMaryMagdalene What stone did I cast if you could please explain? I wrote that comment to highlight the issues I see with modern Christians. They are so terrified of having any character and personality that they claim those are loud are ungodly. It is a dissapointing failure of the church. If you think I am wrong then explain it to me instead of insulting me.
@@froge4300 If he is going to make such a claim then he should also take the responsibility of defining what is inappropriate? Oversimplified claims like that are dissapointing as I highlighted
@@MrPokemonlover56he said "coarse joking" if i recall correctly which is a reference to ephesians 5:4