sadden ...

[Liudmilla]

As I sit here tonight contemplating the recent discussions on this forum, I am sadden by the lack of Christian brotherhood that one could often find here. We seem to have become infused with intolerance for one another. We have become disrepectful and spiteful. We seem to be affected by a rather large dose of "holier than thou" and we seem to have forgotten the things we were taught as Orthodox children of God.

I have gone through a lot of turmoil in my life in the last few years. I have always felt that I could find the spirit of Orthodoxy here, but lately it seems that even here the spirit of discord has found a home. How sad... Sad that we who call ourselves Orthodox should be so lacking... :ohvey:

I pray that we should once again find that spirit of brotherhood that should exist between us.

milla

[Alexis in Alaska]

Slava Isusu Christu!

Lord, Bless!

Amin! Amin! Amin!

Lord, Bless!

In Christ God,

Alexei

[尼古拉前执事]

Amen Liudmilla and I have had enough of it and will be taking actions to make sure this behaviour does not continue. I am sick of it and will be banning those who in zeal without knowledge are uncharitable, rude and are posting with a total lack of Christian love.

[Justin Kissel]

St. Anatoly of Optina often spoke of "starting over" or "making a new beginning" many times (sometimes even daily) in our lives. It's good advice for us sinners. As the Lord said, "Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matt. 18:6)

[Miriam]

I sit here today , the day we commemorate St. Seraphim, and wonder who is being served by all the recent turmoil in the world. That is bad enough...... but then I look at our "Orthodox" world and despair even more. The fruits of our bickering are so plentiful... the evil one is just reaping in all sorts of prizes. There are those who would say that we are fighting for TRUTH, yet even that seems to have become a tool of the evil one, for what is truth indeed? Especially when twisted, contrived, made to serve our purposes and not GOD's?

It seems we have forgotten many of God's commandments.

He told us to Love one another, yet hatred, bigotry, racism, elitism and all those other -isms prevail with greater and greater force each day.

He told us to help each other, to show compassion, to lend a hand to the fallen, but all we do is practice legalism. Who did what in the "right" way.

If you do not have the love of Christ in your heart, if you do not live according to Christ, what good are the "rituals" we have established? Just to prove to each other that we are righteous? and right? I don't thing any of that will really matter in the end.

All this fighting, mud slinging, corrupt leadership, weak leadership, poltical infighting, slander and soul destruction is doing nothing for our eternal souls except maybe pave the way to gehenna faster and with greater ease.

I don't know how God has tolerated us for so long and with such patience, personally I don't think we deserve such mercy.

May St Seraphim find us worthy to pray to God for our souls.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!

MIra

[Etienne]

This thread strikes a cord for me too. I would like to be both an open advocate for adherence to the Church calendar and, for want of a better term, Orthodox Oecumenism or inclusion; without finding myself in some sort of churchey 'knock-a-bout' session.

The increasing gap between True Christianity, and a huge array of confessional groups saddens and troubles too. Nevertheless, there are moments and people who provide a challenge by their example, or by some other attribute. Some talk of a traditional closeness between Orthodoxy and Anglicanism, which leaves me a bit like someone who missed that part of a conversation. Instead I come across someone like a Baptist minister and writer who seems to have kept faith with much that is essential for anyone who might wish to state he or she was a follower of Him.

Again, an open and honest dialogue without a sense that if they ain't with us, they are beyond redemption. Who knows who will die truly repentant and who will ultimately deny Him? We are only required to love the sinner, and not the sin.

Not long ago I came and was an enthusiastic 'participant'. Now I come less and less for the very reason that brought this thread. 'Cos it is all too easy to either give up or join in. I am struggling to avoid either trap. Not good.........

[viniamim]

In light of all the animosity around here ....perhaps we need to retreat into our corners and observe the Dormition fast more strictly.....else the ill wind blowing here will consume us all.. :ohvey:

Ben