What is truly saddening, is that here someone is taking a poll as to whether Tom Hanks should be excommunicated or not. To add insult to injury, we pull up the usual Canon's that would allow us to judge our brother.
The thing that always puzzles me is this.....
The Canon's were known by the Bishops and I assume the Priest. I am safe to assume that the common Christian back then, was illiterate, and didn't have access to the Canons.
I guess we can thank the Gutenburg Press for being developed, yet even in it being developed, no doubt publication of Canon's was not the first thing on the printing press, nor was the bible itself available to the masses for a long, long time.
No, the common Eastern Orthodox follower, had just enough time no doubt to work the fields and come home and enjoy his/her family. To worship God, and try to live the life that God called him to live.
Times have changed. Behold the internet, and now everything is available. Now we can find canon's that support our position and throw them at everyone else who doesn't measure up to our standard.
We have more "Jurisdictions" who fight amongst themselves, whether they are "Traditional" or "World" Orthodox. The Traditionalists don't even have communion between themselves, and the "World" are not any better. Dueling amongst all themselves as to who is "truly" Orthodox and who is not. Yet, the world perishes and in America, there is only a whisper of Eastern Orthodoxy. Saddening even more so, is that English services, if my understanding is correct, didn't really start to take place until the late 1960's, early 70's. Then of course, you have those, who have churches in America, and do the services in their native tongue. Are they here to proclaim the gospel to America, or to their own respective Immigrant people's?
Now of course, the usual response to all this is, I am defending Orthodoxy. I alone, or my "Jurisdiction" alone, has the truth. All others are without grace. This is the work of God?
Yes, yes, as I am sure all the Pharisee's did the same in defending Judiasm, when they went to stone the woman caught in adultery, yet our Lord said, he who is without sin, cast the first stone.
So, I ask, are all those who are posting and stating that Mr. Hanks should be excommunicated without sin? Please, by all means, respond back and tell us of your sinlessness.
Too much time is spent focusing on what others are not doing, or should be doing, rather than our own individual praxis.
Who has appointed us as everyone else's judge? IF anyone is to give counsel, isn't that the responsibility of an Orthodox Christian's spiritual father or mother? That is unless there are many here who have reached the status of Staretz! If so, please respond accordingly.
I wonder if we really consider our posts and what the ramifications are in posting some of the things that we have here. Perhaps there is a "Traditional" Orthodox Christian, who for whatever reason, decides to leave his "Church". There are no other "Traditional" Orthodox Churches for 600 miles or more in any direction. Even though there is another of the "Traditonal" or "Worldly" somewhat close by that they could indeed attend. But no, due to the postings here, it really doesn't matter. They could attend, but since God is not there, nor his grace, he/she might as well embrace the world and renounce their life in Christ. The same in regards to a "World" Orthodox Christian. He/she has read the posts, and it is evident that the Church is graceless, without God. He/she on the other hand sees the way that those who posts and are "Traditional" and says, if that is what I must become, I too shall embrace the world and renounce my life in Christ.
That my friends, my brothers and sisters, is a "heavy responsibility" that you take upon yourself in posting some of the articles that have been posted here.
I recognize my many short-comings, I recognize my own and many weaknesses. I am sure also, that I am blind to many others. That if God revealed to me, how he truly see's me, it wouldn't be pretty. I just pray that we can at least work towards unity amongst ourselves as Eastern Orthodox Christians, and not continue in the divisive manner that seems more prevalent as days go by.
Your fellow struggler in Christ,
Rd. Chrysostomos
