Christianity Archives - Page 3 of 4

The Work That Saves

07/12/2019

By Fr. Stephen Freeman, April 17, 2015 Do we cooperate in our salvation? Do our efforts make a difference? These questions lie at the heart of a centuries-old religious debate in Christianity. Classically, the Protestant reformers said, “No,” to these questions, arguing that we are saved solely and utterly by God’s grace, His unmerited favor. The Catholic Church replied that “faith without works” is dead and that faith alone is insufficient. This debate, with various

Why Has God Created Us Tragically Free?

10/11/2018

In many ancient traditions, as still today in India, salvation is understood as dissolution into the vastness of the universe, re-absorption into an impersonal divinity; but the Fathers insist that humanity must ‘personalize’ the universe; not save itself by means of the universe, but save it by communicating grace to it. And all the while human beings must also humbly decipher the ‘Bible of the world’; they elevate themselves above all life in order to

Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! Friday of the Second Week of Pascha: He was Crucified for Every Being.

04/20/2018

We must have the same consciousness as Christ, who bears in Himself the whole world; this is what makes for the universality of the human person. The word of Christ does not stop; it is without limits. If, as we confess in the Creed, Christ is very God, the Savior of the universe, the Creator of the world, ‘by whom all things were made’, how can we bring our understanding of Him down to a

The Seventeenth Day of Christmas Advent. I’ll Be Small for Christmas

12/01/2017

By Father Stephen Freeman Children today are raised with dreams of greatness. Cultural affirmations of our limitless potential, well-intentioned, have not produced a generation of over-achievers, but have indeed brought forth hordes of great dreams. This is nothing new in American culture. We are the world’s longest sustained pep-talk. Ronald Reagan loved to quote the 1945 Johnny Mercer hit: You’ve got to accentuate the positive Eliminate the negative Latch on to the affirmative Don’t mess

The Last Will Be First

11/06/2017

The message of falling down is very counter-intuitive, yet it is found in most of the world’s religions, especially Christianity. We grow spiritually much more by doing it wrong than by doing it right. That might just be the central lesson of how spiritual growth happens, yet nothing in us wants to believe it. I actually think it is one of the only workable meanings of “original sin.” There seems to have been a fly

Thursday after Pentecost. The Purpose of the Church

06/08/2017

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42 Many times, even those who are very involved in the church (this includes priests, Parish Council members, Sunday School teachers and others in church leadership) forget about the true purpose of the church. As we continue to discuss the life of the early church, today’s verse mentions the main activities of the early church, activities

Wednesday after Pentecost. Three Thousand Souls in One Day!

06/07/2017

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41 That oration of St. Peter must have been pretty incredible, if it converted three thousand souls in one day! I often think about church growth-it is part of my “ministry” as a priest and part of my “job” as an administrator of a parish. Why is it that some churches are growing and others are

Tuesday of the 4th Week of Pascha. Don’t Worry About the Other Guy!

05/09/2017

Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to His breast at the supper and had said, ”Lord, who is it that is going to betray You?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, ”Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is My will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” The saying spread abroad among the

Monday of the 4th Week of Pascha. Peter Really Got It Right When It Counted

05/08/2017

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” (This He said to show by what death He was to glorify God.) And after this He said to him, “Follow me.” John 21:18-19 (From the Eleventh Eothinon Gospel of Sunday

Monday of the Third Week of Pascha. The Resurrection Didn’t Bring Joy to Everyone

05/01/2017

While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell the people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep

Archive

The Work That Saves

Why Has God Created Us Tragically Free?

Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! Friday of the Second Week of Pascha: He was Crucified for Every Being.

The Seventeenth Day of Christmas Advent. I’ll Be Small for Christmas

The Last Will Be First

Thursday after Pentecost. The Purpose of the Church

Wednesday after Pentecost. Three Thousand Souls in One Day!

Tuesday of the 4th Week of Pascha. Don’t Worry About the Other Guy!

Monday of the 4th Week of Pascha. Peter Really Got It Right When It Counted

Monday of the Third Week of Pascha. The Resurrection Didn’t Bring Joy to Everyone

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