I love the theology. The nationalism and the blind support for Putin’s war among the Russian Orthodox Church are very disheartening and make me wonder why every form of Christianity seems to fall for the heresy of authoritarianism.
I love the theology too. And the support for Putin's war troubles me. I'm coming to learn there are different denominations in Orthodoxy as well. I hear you on how Christianity falls for authoritarianism. I have also picked up on fundamentalist threads in Orthodoxy too. I don't think I can shake my protestant roots.
Thank you so much for your post that came at the right time as I was shaping my ideas. And for how you point us to light. I got a hold of Wounded by Love too on your recommendation. My goodness does that look wise, and one you can dip into. I saw his admonition to not seek the prayer of the heart without a spiritual guide which makes much sense.
i find the ‘spiritual guide question’ misrepresents the original writers of the philokalia, and the teachings of bishop kallistos.
st gregory palamas worked so hard to establish hesychia, where many monks on mount athos were against it, and even then spiritual guides were few and far between.
"Anyone proposing to say the JP for lengthy periods of time each day – and, still more, anyone intending to use the breathing control and other physical exercises in conjunction with the prayer – undoubtedly stands in need of a starets, or an experienced spiritual guide. Such guides are extremely rare in our day. But those who have no personal contact with a starets may still practise the Prayer without any fear, so long as they do so only for limited periods – initially, for no more than ten or fifteen minutes at a time – and so long as they make no attempt to interfere with the body's natural rhythms." Kallistos, ‘Power of the Name’ p5
Personal guidance from a qualified teacher should always be sought for. If such guidance is not to be found, then active participation in the sacramental and liturgical life of theChurch, always necessary, will have an added importance in the overcoming of obstacles and dangers inherent in any quest of a spiritual nature. Intro Philokalia vol. 1 p16
What is hesychia? What you say is wise about saying the Jesus prayer in a limited fashion if there's no guide and being active in the sacramental and liturgical life of the church. What Saint Porphyrios says about the dangers of delusion and seeing lights that aren't the light of Christ struck me as particularly wise.
I like this, Katie. I like it very much. There is so much Biblical Truth in these notions that I wonder why I have for so long been attracted to my self-concept that "all our righteousness is as filthy rags" rather than the thought that "we are the righteousness of God in Him [Christ Jesus]!
Would it be a sin of pride if I dwelt on what our Father has done Anno Domini in me and forget about the before Christ version of me whose righteousness, what little there might have been, WAS as filthy rags? I'm slowly coming around to this idea that I can be more and more like Jesus in this world where it can really count for something for others who need to see Him without becoming a self-righteous ass of a man who would be worse than the sinner that He saved.
Let me pray about this some more and try to saturate myself in Him and His Word and just wrap my head and, God willing, my soul too around these thoughts.
Well, that righteousness as filthy rags thing has been a big part of evangelical/protestant theology, so it makes sense you'd hold onto it. I think it's natural to be drawn to those notions. My church's confession includes "we are by nature filthy and unclean." If I am paying attention, I don't say it. Because while we are broken, we were created in God's image and called good. Richard Beck's Slavery to Death talks about a different way of seeing Christ's death. It's more of a rescue operation, saying us from death, than Jesus standing in for God's wrath.
Aren't we supposed to forget about the before Christ stuff? Aren't we supposed to put off the old man and put on Christ? Aren't we a new creation? Don't we forget that which is behind and reach forward to the high calling in Christ Jesus? Aren't we crucified with Christ, right here, right now, but nevertheless we live, yet not us, but Christ lives in us?
I don't think it would be the sin of pride to dwell on what the Father has done. He's done it all and you are God's son. I think it's humility to lean into what Jesus has done, to walk toward how deeply, widely, broadly, we are loved. And he is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think...(Eph 3: 14 - 20.)
Of course we need to confess our sins, but that is different than setting our eyes on our sin rather than setting our eyes on Jesus. I am glad you are going to saturate yourself in Him and his Word and wrap your head and heart and soul around these thoughts.
I also think regularly taking his body and blood, mysteriously transforms us on a cellular level.
This “filthy rags” theology has gotten me very far toward being transformed into the image of Christ Jesus. Rather, I think that it’s hindered my soul’s transformation. 💔🙏✝️❤️
I believe it. It’s a part of my past that I won’t disavow but I’ve needed deep healing from it too. It’s a long walk into knowing how deeply loved we are by God.
I’m tired of thinking of myself in Christ as filth. That kind of thinking has gotten me nowhere near where I long most to go, and, what’s worse, it actually sounds like the evil one who is an accuser and not like my advocate who is the one true lover of my soul. 💔🙏✝️❤️
So glad you are here and see it this way as one to encourage us to keep walking in the light when the temptation to look at the roaring water is there. What's so wonderful is the Lord finds us in the pit too and pulls us out.
I am sorry that you have had to bear so much lately.
I loved your anecdote about the little fast food picnic with your husband. Those little moments are filled with incredible light.
Oh my goodness, yes they are. I am abstaining from Diet Coke/Pepsi which is really hard. But Diet Pepsi was a real gift that day.
This is what was so compelling to me about Eastern Orthodox theology: that the transfiguration is the world as it really is.
It is very compelling. Seems to me you might find it worth exploring. It seems to emphasize the mystic side of Christianity. See what you think.
I love the theology. The nationalism and the blind support for Putin’s war among the Russian Orthodox Church are very disheartening and make me wonder why every form of Christianity seems to fall for the heresy of authoritarianism.
I love the theology too. And the support for Putin's war troubles me. I'm coming to learn there are different denominations in Orthodoxy as well. I hear you on how Christianity falls for authoritarianism. I have also picked up on fundamentalist threads in Orthodoxy too. I don't think I can shake my protestant roots.
dear katie,
thank you for this fresh approach to bird behavior, following Christ, and bathing in LIGHT.
Thank you so much for your post that came at the right time as I was shaping my ideas. And for how you point us to light. I got a hold of Wounded by Love too on your recommendation. My goodness does that look wise, and one you can dip into. I saw his admonition to not seek the prayer of the heart without a spiritual guide which makes much sense.
i find the ‘spiritual guide question’ misrepresents the original writers of the philokalia, and the teachings of bishop kallistos.
st gregory palamas worked so hard to establish hesychia, where many monks on mount athos were against it, and even then spiritual guides were few and far between.
"Anyone proposing to say the JP for lengthy periods of time each day – and, still more, anyone intending to use the breathing control and other physical exercises in conjunction with the prayer – undoubtedly stands in need of a starets, or an experienced spiritual guide. Such guides are extremely rare in our day. But those who have no personal contact with a starets may still practise the Prayer without any fear, so long as they do so only for limited periods – initially, for no more than ten or fifteen minutes at a time – and so long as they make no attempt to interfere with the body's natural rhythms." Kallistos, ‘Power of the Name’ p5
Personal guidance from a qualified teacher should always be sought for. If such guidance is not to be found, then active participation in the sacramental and liturgical life of theChurch, always necessary, will have an added importance in the overcoming of obstacles and dangers inherent in any quest of a spiritual nature. Intro Philokalia vol. 1 p16
What is hesychia? What you say is wise about saying the Jesus prayer in a limited fashion if there's no guide and being active in the sacramental and liturgical life of the church. What Saint Porphyrios says about the dangers of delusion and seeing lights that aren't the light of Christ struck me as particularly wise.
I like this, Katie. I like it very much. There is so much Biblical Truth in these notions that I wonder why I have for so long been attracted to my self-concept that "all our righteousness is as filthy rags" rather than the thought that "we are the righteousness of God in Him [Christ Jesus]!
Would it be a sin of pride if I dwelt on what our Father has done Anno Domini in me and forget about the before Christ version of me whose righteousness, what little there might have been, WAS as filthy rags? I'm slowly coming around to this idea that I can be more and more like Jesus in this world where it can really count for something for others who need to see Him without becoming a self-righteous ass of a man who would be worse than the sinner that He saved.
Let me pray about this some more and try to saturate myself in Him and His Word and just wrap my head and, God willing, my soul too around these thoughts.
Thank you for writing this, Sister.
Well, that righteousness as filthy rags thing has been a big part of evangelical/protestant theology, so it makes sense you'd hold onto it. I think it's natural to be drawn to those notions. My church's confession includes "we are by nature filthy and unclean." If I am paying attention, I don't say it. Because while we are broken, we were created in God's image and called good. Richard Beck's Slavery to Death talks about a different way of seeing Christ's death. It's more of a rescue operation, saying us from death, than Jesus standing in for God's wrath.
Aren't we supposed to forget about the before Christ stuff? Aren't we supposed to put off the old man and put on Christ? Aren't we a new creation? Don't we forget that which is behind and reach forward to the high calling in Christ Jesus? Aren't we crucified with Christ, right here, right now, but nevertheless we live, yet not us, but Christ lives in us?
I don't think it would be the sin of pride to dwell on what the Father has done. He's done it all and you are God's son. I think it's humility to lean into what Jesus has done, to walk toward how deeply, widely, broadly, we are loved. And he is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think...(Eph 3: 14 - 20.)
Of course we need to confess our sins, but that is different than setting our eyes on our sin rather than setting our eyes on Jesus. I am glad you are going to saturate yourself in Him and his Word and wrap your head and heart and soul around these thoughts.
I also think regularly taking his body and blood, mysteriously transforms us on a cellular level.
Will remember you in my prayers.
Thank you, Katie.
This “filthy rags” theology has gotten me very far toward being transformed into the image of Christ Jesus. Rather, I think that it’s hindered my soul’s transformation. 💔🙏✝️❤️
I believe it. It’s a part of my past that I won’t disavow but I’ve needed deep healing from it too. It’s a long walk into knowing how deeply loved we are by God.
I’m tired of thinking of myself in Christ as filth. That kind of thinking has gotten me nowhere near where I long most to go, and, what’s worse, it actually sounds like the evil one who is an accuser and not like my advocate who is the one true lover of my soul. 💔🙏✝️❤️
Some lines from Gerard Manley Hopkins: I am all at once what Christ is, | since he was what I am, and
This Jack, joke, poor potsherd, | patch, matchwood, immortal diamond,
Is immortal diamond.
It does sound like the accuser doesn’t it? You are so not filth. You have so many Christlike qualities.
So glad you are here and see it this way as one to encourage us to keep walking in the light when the temptation to look at the roaring water is there. What's so wonderful is the Lord finds us in the pit too and pulls us out.