I was so interested to read this essay, mostly because I’m quite certain I’m from the “other side” of you politically, but have come to the same conclusions you reached through my own prayer and study and the guidance of Orthodoxy. There’s something about the inner practice of faith vs the outer virtue signaling I felt the need to engage in via social media that, while a radical shift, has led me to a much better place. Orthodoxy is funny like that, maybe the church knows a thing or two after 2000 years. May God bless you!
Orthodoxy is funny like that, drawing us ever more deeply into a praxis that truly heals and transforms us, and if God wills it, heals and transforms the world around us too. Thank you for reading.
Reading through this, I felt my whole body give a sigh - thank you for giving voice to the struggle of living among the smoke & mirrors. The way in which we have become so comfortable in manipulating reality to fit our worldview actually does such a disservice to our various causes.
...and OOF, your priest's advice is both spot-on and SO difficult, isn't it? (Yet, a burden easy and light).
Though I agree wholeheartedly that we Xians have strayed from our roots, the system of 'roots' is not orthodoxy. Retrieving any sense of orthodoxy would be as if the Pharisees and Saduccees to retrieve their sense of orthodoxy [ten commandments], which Jesus was known to have said about that: "...came to fulfill the law." The Patristic era of the Church, though a significant and essential part of our history, is not the 'right teaching' [orthodoxy] for today. This 'fulfillment' builds upon itself, within the Church, and throughout all time. Faith is not just about what is known. Actually, Faith is more about what remains unknown. Jer31:33-34. “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. Esse Quam Videri !
Hi Joseph, thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts. My post is not an apologetic for Orthodoxy, nor is it a directive for you and others to become Orthodox. I did, however, suggest that we all ought to prioritize tending our inner lives and I shared about my approach to doing that within my own faith tradition. May you find the grace and resilience to do the same within yours.
I was so interested to read this essay, mostly because I’m quite certain I’m from the “other side” of you politically, but have come to the same conclusions you reached through my own prayer and study and the guidance of Orthodoxy. There’s something about the inner practice of faith vs the outer virtue signaling I felt the need to engage in via social media that, while a radical shift, has led me to a much better place. Orthodoxy is funny like that, maybe the church knows a thing or two after 2000 years. May God bless you!
Orthodoxy is funny like that, drawing us ever more deeply into a praxis that truly heals and transforms us, and if God wills it, heals and transforms the world around us too. Thank you for reading.
Reading through this, I felt my whole body give a sigh - thank you for giving voice to the struggle of living among the smoke & mirrors. The way in which we have become so comfortable in manipulating reality to fit our worldview actually does such a disservice to our various causes.
...and OOF, your priest's advice is both spot-on and SO difficult, isn't it? (Yet, a burden easy and light).
Smoke & mirrors is exactly right. 😅 Lord have mercy.
Yes to everything you say here. I'm so glad you're book will be out in the world soon!
Thank you, Grace.
Appreciate your journey. All roads lead to Bethlehem! Shalom.
This was a really thoughtful, important read. Thank you friend 🫶🏼🫶🏼
Thank you, Kaitlin. 🩵
Though I agree wholeheartedly that we Xians have strayed from our roots, the system of 'roots' is not orthodoxy. Retrieving any sense of orthodoxy would be as if the Pharisees and Saduccees to retrieve their sense of orthodoxy [ten commandments], which Jesus was known to have said about that: "...came to fulfill the law." The Patristic era of the Church, though a significant and essential part of our history, is not the 'right teaching' [orthodoxy] for today. This 'fulfillment' builds upon itself, within the Church, and throughout all time. Faith is not just about what is known. Actually, Faith is more about what remains unknown. Jer31:33-34. “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. Esse Quam Videri !
Hi Joseph, thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts. My post is not an apologetic for Orthodoxy, nor is it a directive for you and others to become Orthodox. I did, however, suggest that we all ought to prioritize tending our inner lives and I shared about my approach to doing that within my own faith tradition. May you find the grace and resilience to do the same within yours.