Our life must be a living Gospel for others
Perhaps, I am about to write a rather unpopular opinion. And at first glance, it may seem to someone that my goal is to accuse and seek negativity.
But I have said more than once that I will write what my conscience dictates to me. Regardless of what others may think about it.
And I have never tried to please everyone and cater to them.
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«We must live in such a way that if all the Gospels were lost, people could read them on our faces».
(Metr. Anthony of Sourozh)
And first of all, as an Orthodox Christian, I apply these words to myself… and do not absolve myself of personal responsibility in where I could and should have acted differently.
And also in where I, as a Christian, did not manifest myself as I should have.
And this is not an attempt to blame someone specifically and everyone together. This is an attempt to see the problem, which unfortunately has become catastrophic.
The struggle for truth is not only about speaking against the evil around us and opposing it. It is also about noticing our own mistakes. Therefore, now, I would like to talk about our mistakes. Both clergy and laity.
In general, all believers. At least, as we consider ourselves.
The mission of the Church is salvation.
There is a saying:
"Baptized Rus', but not enlightened".
When the Church began to «revive» after decades of persecution and prohibition.
We began to massively build churches, restore monasteries. And this is a good and God-pleasing deed.
But in all this, we forgot about something else, about the mission and preaching.
About the main goal of the Church: the salvation of those souls that are lost. The salvation of the sinful and spiritually sick. The salvation of every person for whom Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice.
And also, to bring the word of God to people and speak about Christ, the meaning of life, salvation, spirituality, about the meaning of the Church itself.
Saint John Chrysostom said: «Do not only build the Church with temples, but with the hearts of people».
That is, true service is not within walls, but in the souls of people. And we cannot be satisfied with only the external appearance: crosses, domes, bells. Without preaching, without teaching, without spiritual guidance, we create only a cultural shell, not a living Church.
And unfortunately, it is mostly our fault that many do not know what the Church is, do not know about the teachings of Christ, do not know what the meaning of Christian life is, know nothing about schisms and why the truth is in the Orthodox Church, as well as know nothing about the Church itself.
That people, and often youth, are increasingly moving away from the Church, and sometimes even see it as an enemy.
Perhaps, because of this, everything that is happening in our society is happening now.
All the evil that is growing exponentially.
All the hatred, lies, which like a tumor are spreading on the body of society that has moved away from God and His commandments.
Yes, of course, one can say that it is primarily the fault of those people who themselves did not want to accept the truth and did not seek the truth. That it is their freedom of will and action. That they are to blame themselves.
And also the problem lies in the methods of upbringing by their parents... society... and other factors. Perhaps partially, this also has a place. Because the environment in which a person is raised also greatly influences the formation of their qualities, views, morality, faith, and other things.
But let's be honest, even sectarians in terms of missionary work acted better than us.
Yes, they carried false teachings.
But they went to people.
And did not limit themselves to the walls of the temple and the pulpit. I won't say that we had no missionary work at all. But it was rather a rarity.
«Faith that does not reach those in need is dead. Only through preaching and life does faith come alive».( Saint Ignatius of Antioch)
We built churches, and that's wonderful. The House of God is a holy place. And churches need to be built, it is a good deed.
But, besides this, it was necessary to preach more actively, to teach.
More effort needed to be invested in missionary work.
And most importantly, missionary work by the example of one's own life.
Because how can a person teach someone about goodness, mercy, faith, humility, and everything else if they themselves do not know in practice what it is, but only in words. And do not show it in their way of life.
What is the use if a priest baptized a person or performed a wedding.
And the person left an hour later, not understanding what happened.
Because it's just necessary, just a tradition. And what is its spiritual meaning, many do not care.
And this person will never return to the church again. Or only on Easter to bless a basket, or to light a candle when some misfortune happens, or to buy an icon «amulet» for the car.
Saint John of Kronstadt said: «We cannot wait for people to come to the Church themselves, the Church must go to them».
And also, as Saint Symeon the New Theologian said: «The temple in which God dwells is not always stone, but alive in the heart of a person».
The true Church — is not just a building, but those who live with Christ.
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