Orthodox Pharisees
The Orthodox Faith is nothing without transformation of life
By Abbot Tryphon, March 9, 2020
If our spiritual life is concentrated only on external practices and traditions, but does nothing to bring about real change, we have gained nothing. Too many people think as long as they keep the fasting rules, do their prayers, and attend the services, they are good Orthodox Christians. Yet if there is no love, no charity, and forgiveness of others, and our life is filled with gossip and judgement, our Orthodox Christian faith is worth nothing.
Christ condemned the Pharisees not because they kept the law and attended to the traditions of the Jewish faith, but because they did so while filled with pride and arrogance. Without sincere repentance and holiness of life, their encounter with God led to an emptiness of heart.
Because our Orthodox faith is one of tradition and liturgical structure, it is easy to fall into the trap of being nothing more than a Pharisee. Being strict in one’s observance of Orthodox practices can easily lead to pride and arrogance. If we find ourself feeling better than others and proud of our piety, we have gained absolutely nothing. The external practice of the Orthodox Christian faith without heartfelt humility and repentance leads down the road of spiritual ruin.
The Church is the hospital of the soul, but healing can only come if we put effort into it. If our doctor prescribes a medication for our condition but fail to follow our doctor’s orders, we will not get well. The Church has all that we need for spiritual transformation, but healing only comes if we cooperate with the healing process.
The goal is holiness (wholeness) and is the direct result of our having submitted in all humility to a life of repentance. When we do this Christ changes us. If we simply go through the motions of our Orthodox faith, we are no better off than the Pharisees whom Christ condemned.
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
~Abbot Tryphon, The Morning Offering, https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/morningoffering/2020/03/orthodox-pharisees-2/.
Why Do You Judge Your Brother?
Doing combat against the critical spirit within yourself
By Abbot Tryphon, March 13, 2020
Fearing the loss of control, we construct a wall of defense around us, keeping authenticity at bay. Fearing rejection, we see ourselves as unlovable, and blame others. Knowing we are inauthentic, we flee from the truth by becoming critical of others. We lie to ourselves, and to others, hiding our insecurity and unworthiness, and walling ourselves off from love. We feel we are unworthy of love, so we reject the love of others, and, ultimately, the love of God.
When confronted with our own critical spirit, we must ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the source of it. Why do we choose to be critical of others, when in truth we are wounded souls, suffering within a cloak of deception? Fault is found in others, only because we dare not face our own inauthentic self.
The fullness of life is knowing ourselves, and giving back to others. When we don’t forgive ourselves for falling short, we blame others. Insecure and unworthy, we reject the love and friendship of others, thinking ourselves unworthy, if they knew the truth. We are fraudulent. We lie to ourselves, and to others. We tell lies big and small, and ultimately, we lie to God. We live in fear that we will be found out, and mask the truth by being critical of others. We seek authority over others, because we are not authentic, and we have no integrity.
“But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore, let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way (Romans 14:10-13).”
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
~Abbot Tryphon, The Morning Offering, https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/morningoffering/2020/03/why-do-you-judge-your-brother-2/.
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