Comments for Receive One Another http://blog.westsrbdio.org "Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God." (Roman 15:7) Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:50:28 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on By the Numbers: Orthodoxy in America by Fr. Gregory Edwards http://blog.westsrbdio.org/2009/01/27/by-the-numbers-orthodoxy-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-162 Fr. Gregory Edwards Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:50:28 +0000 http://blog.westsrbdio.org/?p=97#comment-162 Dear Peter, The blessing of the Lord! Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I take your point about statistical significance, but even if we are 3,600,000 (or more), that number is still (relatively) quite small, so the overarching question remains the same. I notice that we've had discussion here of some of the difficulties of being a minority group, but what about the opportunities it presents? Dear Peter,
The blessing of the Lord! Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I take your point about statistical significance, but even if we are 3,600,000 (or more), that number is still (relatively) quite small, so the overarching question remains the same.

I notice that we’ve had discussion here of some of the difficulties of being a minority group, but what about the opportunities it presents?

]]> Comment on The Icon and the Kingdom of God: A Homily on the Sunday of Orthodoxy by marsha jovanovic http://blog.westsrbdio.org/2010/02/27/the-icon-and-the-kingdom-of-god-a-homily-on-the-sunday-of-orthodoxy/comment-page-1/#comment-161 marsha jovanovic Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:48:20 +0000 http://blog.westsrbdio.org/?p=151#comment-161 Thank you so much for adding this blog to your very rich website. With your permission, I will be reprinting this sermon in the Voice of St George (Spring issue). May God continue to bless your ministry. Marsha Jovanovic Thank you so much for adding this blog to your very rich website. With your permission, I will be reprinting this sermon in the Voice of St George (Spring issue).

May God continue to bless your ministry.

Marsha Jovanovic

]]> Comment on By the Numbers: Orthodoxy in America by Peter O'Filon http://blog.westsrbdio.org/2009/01/27/by-the-numbers-orthodoxy-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-160 Peter O'Filon Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:56:34 +0000 http://blog.westsrbdio.org/?p=97#comment-160 Father bless--- If you note, the margin of error is also 0.6%, so there may actually be <i>none</i> of us here ... or 3,600,000 of us! (1% = 3,000,000.) What that also means is that most of Pew's figures on the linked page are relatively meaningless, statistically speaking. Pew is relatively reputable, but it's hard to do accurate survey statistics regarding relatively small groups in a sample, i.e., a country, as big as the U.S., beyond say All Catholics, and the main 2 or 3 Protestant branches, such as they do there. One problem I can think of is that we small groups are so hit-and-miss, that one day the pollster can hit the jackpot with us, and another day not find a one of us; even if he splits the difference, is that going to be accurate? Who knows? Exactly. With all the bytes spilled on the WWW arguing over purported/claimed Orthodox numbers, it'd be really helpful if the Census Bureau felt free to ask a religious question as they occasionally used to. Then again, the numbers might get skewed by smart-alecks writing down "Jedi" as I read recently happened in Australia, by way of protest against the government even asking! Father bless—

If you note, the margin of error is also 0.6%, so there may actually be none of us here … or 3,600,000 of us! (1% = 3,000,000.) What that also means is that most of Pew’s figures on the linked page are relatively meaningless, statistically speaking. Pew is relatively reputable, but it’s hard to do accurate survey statistics regarding relatively small groups in a sample, i.e., a country, as big as the U.S., beyond say All Catholics, and the main 2 or 3 Protestant branches, such as they do there. One problem I can think of is that we small groups are so hit-and-miss, that one day the pollster can hit the jackpot with us, and another day not find a one of us; even if he splits the difference, is that going to be accurate? Who knows? Exactly.

With all the bytes spilled on the WWW arguing over purported/claimed Orthodox numbers, it’d be really helpful if the Census Bureau felt free to ask a religious question as they occasionally used to. Then again, the numbers might get skewed by smart-alecks writing down “Jedi” as I read recently happened in Australia, by way of protest against the government even asking!

]]> Comment on Fishing for Souls – His Grace, Bishop Justin, of Timok, Serbia by Lenore Hou http://blog.westsrbdio.org/2009/09/12/fishing-for-souls-his-grace-bishop-justin-of-timok-serbia/comment-page-1/#comment-151 Lenore Hou Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:39:55 +0000 http://blog.westsrbdio.org/?p=119#comment-151 Just browsing around and found your site. Very good post. Will be adding you to my RSS reader. Just browsing around and found your site. Very good post. Will be adding you to my RSS reader.

]]> Comment on By the Numbers: Orthodoxy in America by Fr. Gregory Edwards http://blog.westsrbdio.org/2009/01/27/by-the-numbers-orthodoxy-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-150 Fr. Gregory Edwards Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:02:50 +0000 http://blog.westsrbdio.org/?p=97#comment-150 The situation you describe, Nathaniel, sounds not unlike the situation in some rural parts of the United States in which the nearest parish and priest are several hours away, yet a small group of believers has developed that wishes to start a mission. In these cases, as Fr. Dn. Daniel mentioned above, we can try to establish a long-distance relationship with a spiritual father and travel to the nearest parish as often as time allows. But, as you say, the important thing is to make the most of what we have and not become disillusioned or frustrated by our situation. We pray for your community and all such missionary communities! May the Lord grant you what you need! The situation you describe, Nathaniel, sounds not unlike the situation in some rural parts of the United States in which the nearest parish and priest are several hours away, yet a small group of believers has developed that wishes to start a mission. In these cases, as Fr. Dn. Daniel mentioned above, we can try to establish a long-distance relationship with a spiritual father and travel to the nearest parish as often as time allows. But, as you say, the important thing is to make the most of what we have and not become disillusioned or frustrated by our situation. We pray for your community and all such missionary communities! May the Lord grant you what you need!

]]> Comment on Bishop Atanasije (Yevtich) on the Liturgy and Liturgical Changes by Nathaniel http://blog.westsrbdio.org/2009/03/11/bishop-atanasije-yevtich-on-the-liturgy-and-liturgical-changes/comment-page-1/#comment-149 Nathaniel Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:04:14 +0000 http://blog.westsrbdio.org/?p=104#comment-149 Is there a transcript of what he said in English? Is there a transcript of what he said in English?

]]> Comment on By the Numbers: Orthodoxy in America by Nathaniel http://blog.westsrbdio.org/2009/01/27/by-the-numbers-orthodoxy-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-148 Nathaniel Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:59:54 +0000 http://blog.westsrbdio.org/?p=97#comment-148 This is most interesting Fr. Edwards. We face a smiliar situation in my country - we are far away from a priest and yet we muct meet. Not that many ethnic Orthodox seem to want to meet up for Typika though - only the converts tend to show up. Should we not make the most of what we have instead of hoping for what is not always avaiable? This is most interesting Fr. Edwards. We face a smiliar situation in my country – we are far away from a priest and yet we muct meet. Not that many ethnic Orthodox seem to want to meet up for Typika though – only the converts tend to show up. Should we not make the most of what we have instead of hoping for what is not always avaiable?

]]> Comment on A Few Thoughts on Marriage: Love in the Western World and the Eastern Church by daniel http://blog.westsrbdio.org/2009/09/14/a-few-thoughts-on-marriage-love-in-the-western-world-and-the-eastern-church/comment-page-1/#comment-147 daniel Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:23:25 +0000 http://blog.westsrbdio.org/?p=128#comment-147 Fortunately, Jesus Christ gave us His Church and the lives of saints (whose opinions have behind them the authority of the wonder-working grace of Christ that is wrought in their lives) to interpret His will for us regarding questions that are not explicitly addressed in the Gospels. When one proposes to speak for Christ, it is prudent to submit that interpretation to the Church. In this instance, this interpretation cannot be corroborated with that of any contemporary Holy Father or Mother, any saint, or any authority within Christ's Church. Furthermore, such an interpretation appears to quite seamlessly correspond to the "wisdom" of the present age, against which our Lord warned us when He instructed us that we, as His followers, are to be not of this world. Forgive me for presuming to represent the Church's teachings on this issue, which are not hidden in the least. I realize how sterile the atmosphere of a blog response can be. Do you have an Orthodox priest near you to whom you can submit your thoughts? It might help for you to encounter Christ's teaching on these matters in the person of a living witness of faith in Christ. Fortunately, Jesus Christ gave us His Church and the lives of saints (whose opinions have behind them the authority of the wonder-working grace of Christ that is wrought in their lives) to interpret His will for us regarding questions that are not explicitly addressed in the Gospels. When one proposes to speak for Christ, it is prudent to submit that interpretation to the Church. In this instance, this interpretation cannot be corroborated with that of any contemporary Holy Father or Mother, any saint, or any authority within Christ’s Church. Furthermore, such an interpretation appears to quite seamlessly correspond to the “wisdom” of the present age, against which our Lord warned us when He instructed us that we, as His followers, are to be not of this world.

Forgive me for presuming to represent the Church’s teachings on this issue, which are not hidden in the least. I realize how sterile the atmosphere of a blog response can be. Do you have an Orthodox priest near you to whom you can submit your thoughts? It might help for you to encounter Christ’s teaching on these matters in the person of a living witness of faith in Christ.

]]> Comment on A Few Thoughts on Marriage: Love in the Western World and the Eastern Church by Jan Stubbs http://blog.westsrbdio.org/2009/09/14/a-few-thoughts-on-marriage-love-in-the-western-world-and-the-eastern-church/comment-page-1/#comment-146 Jan Stubbs Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:01:02 +0000 http://blog.westsrbdio.org/?p=128#comment-146 The comments about marriage being only between a man and a woman ignore the question posed by the article. How do we tell what is a man and a woman? Should we use San Antonio law or California law? Church law does not answer this question, nor does Jesus. The fact that Jesus did not think to answer this question means we have to answer it in the way that he would.What would Jesus say to a married transexual person? I think he would decide that their love was more important that any other consideration. The comments about marriage being only between a man and a woman ignore the question posed by the article. How do we tell what is a man and a woman? Should we use San Antonio law or California law? Church law does not answer this question, nor does Jesus. The fact that Jesus did not think to answer this question means we have to answer it in the way that he would.What would Jesus say to a married transexual person? I think he would decide that their love was more important that any other consideration.

]]> Comment on A Few Thoughts on Marriage: Love in the Western World and the Eastern Church by daniel http://blog.westsrbdio.org/2009/09/14/a-few-thoughts-on-marriage-love-in-the-western-world-and-the-eastern-church/comment-page-1/#comment-145 daniel Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:00:15 +0000 http://blog.westsrbdio.org/?p=128#comment-145 Arica: This essay is about romantic love in the Western world as an effort to transcend daily routine (as such its roots are in the 12th century flourishing of Courtly Love in Europe) and, to a considerable extent, as an alternative to spiritual marriage (this can be seen in the literature of Courtly Love where the one disqualifying element that makes a person ineligible to be one's lover is that he or she is one's spouse!). Love and marriage, whether heterosexual or homosexual, is deeply rooted in one's world view and approach to relationships. The Christian model is one where both spouses come together in Christ. Both are primarily oriented toward Christ and, by growing closer to the Lord, they grow closer to one another. You touch on this in your second paragraph. However, homosexuality is a sin. Scripture, Holy Tradition, and 20 centuries worth of teachings from the Holy Fathers supports this understanding of the Church. There is no precedent for an alternate understanding. Love in Christ between members of the same sex, of course, is no sin. However homosexuality, or sodomy as it is referred to in Scripture, is. As much as that may sadden you (which is likely because of your good intentions in not wanting to see the behavior of those dear to you labeled a transgression), neither you nor I have the power to influence how the Lord wishes us to behave when it comes to marital relations. We have no authority to alter this Divinely-revealed understanding anymore than we have authority to approve of usury or to disapprove of fasting or almsgiving. Marriage is between a man and a woman. We are clearly commanded to love one another; therefore, love between men is natural just as love between women is natural. But when that love is sexualized, it is a perversion of spiritual love. To the extent that contemporary notions of homosexual marriage even exist, it is because they are built upon centuries worth of misunderstanding romantic love within heterosexual marriages. I pray that God gives all of us in the contemporary world the strength to continue our struggle to shed our attachment to the world's fallen ideas and sentiments and live according to the Divinely-revealed Truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is a path of love, meekness, and humility. Forgive me for any offense. Arica:

This essay is about romantic love in the Western world as an effort to transcend daily routine (as such its roots are in the 12th century flourishing of Courtly Love in Europe) and, to a considerable extent, as an alternative to spiritual marriage (this can be seen in the literature of Courtly Love where the one disqualifying element that makes a person ineligible to be one’s lover is that he or she is one’s spouse!). Love and marriage, whether heterosexual or homosexual, is deeply rooted in one’s world view and approach to relationships.

The Christian model is one where both spouses come together in Christ. Both are primarily oriented toward Christ and, by growing closer to the Lord, they grow closer to one another. You touch on this in your second paragraph.

However, homosexuality is a sin. Scripture, Holy Tradition, and 20 centuries worth of teachings from the Holy Fathers supports this understanding of the Church. There is no precedent for an alternate understanding. Love in Christ between members of the same sex, of course, is no sin. However homosexuality, or sodomy as it is referred to in Scripture, is. As much as that may sadden you (which is likely because of your good intentions in not wanting to see the behavior of those dear to you labeled a transgression), neither you nor I have the power to influence how the Lord wishes us to behave when it comes to marital relations. We have no authority to alter this Divinely-revealed understanding anymore than we have authority to approve of usury or to disapprove of fasting or almsgiving. Marriage is between a man and a woman. We are clearly commanded to love one another; therefore, love between men is natural just as love between women is natural. But when that love is sexualized, it is a perversion of spiritual love.

To the extent that contemporary notions of homosexual marriage even exist, it is because they are built upon centuries worth of misunderstanding romantic love within heterosexual marriages.

I pray that God gives all of us in the contemporary world the strength to continue our struggle to shed our attachment to the world’s fallen ideas and sentiments and live according to the Divinely-revealed Truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is a path of love, meekness, and humility.

Forgive me for any offense.

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