Orthodixie

“Ain’t Skeered!” is a Southern takeoff on the once popular “No Fear” emblems paraded on sweatshirts and automobiles. Yet, when it comes to certain words, I am afraid. We live in an age when using the wrong word could mean the end of one’s good reputation, career, or, at least, our God-pleasing relations with others. It’s sort of like the ol’ joke: “What’s the last words out of a redneck’s mouth?” – “Hey y’all, watch-isss!” Our words often precede our demise. For instance, using a certain “A” word might be lethal. So, instead, I’ll stick with some humane “A” words while talking about the “N” word: Noitroba.

When the Archangel Gabriel appeared to a young virgin in Nazareth, she was sore afraid. She was scared. Yet, even though he had some truly frightening news for her, she found comfort in these words “Do not be afraid.” Then he told her she was with child. Do not be afraid. Then he told her that the father of her child was none other than God. Do not be afraid. The son she was to bear would be king forever. Do not be afraid. And when she was bewildered as to how all of this — including the news that her aged and barren cousin Elizabeth was with child — could happen, the Archangel said these words “For with God nothing will be impossible.” [Luke 1:37] But, the world continually speaks backwards to us “Be afraid! Be very afraid!” Wanting a quick fix for everything the worldly mantra rings out “No pain! No struggle! No accountability!”

Fidelity to God is the first requirement of the people of God. If we are God’s people, we are marked first and foremost by our allegiance to Him. It’s not simple. If it were, God would not have had to command such allegiance: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” [Exodus 20:3]. Of the Ten Commandments, this is the first. Then, a few rules down, there is another commandment “Thou shalt not kill.” We lose a bit in the translation from Hebrew to English. These words actually mean “Thou shalt do no murder on the innocent.” Humanly speaking, there is nothing — nothing — more innocent than the babe in the womb. All life belongs to God and those whose individual actions lead to the destruction of innocent life place themselves before God. This transgresses the first commandment, not to mention the sixth! It’s another version of the Serpent’s words to Adam and Eve “Eat this fruit and ye shall be like gods.” Heeding this backwards advice has continually led mankind into every sort of abomination.

Ever since the Fall of Adam and Eve, mankind has been held captive to the ways of the world and the lie of the Serpent. Yet God, in His mercy, sent the Law and the Prophets as an aid. In the fullness of time, He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, (born of a woman), as the Saviour. If you are a Christian, you’re probably saying “Well, yeah. I know this and this I believe.” Good. Then, I must ask you: Why do some Christians follow the backward ways of the world and utter such words as, “I’m Pro-Choice?” There is no choice in Pro-Choice. There is only the murdering of innocent life. For the people of God, should never be an option. It is backwards thinking. It is an abomination. Christians must first look to the Lord and His ways in order to act according to His commandments. We must also take care in what we say.

We don’t come by these things naturally. For example, loving and honouring one’s parents is difficult. It does not come naturally. God had to command us to do it. “Honour your father and your mother” [Exodus 20:12a]. But, even though many people grow up with strained parental relationships, I’ve never heard anyone say, “I’m Pro-Choice” when it comes to whether one should struggle to love their Mom or not. Even though we may fall and utter words which we shouldn’t, I’ve never heard anyone say, “I’m Pro-Choice” when it comes to taking the Lord’s name in vain. And although adultery is as old as the hills, how many Christians ever say “I’m Pro-Choice” when it comes to sleeping around? “I’m Pro-Choice” when it comes to pornography?

Words mean things. We should choose them carefully. As stated earlier, we live in an age when using the wrong word could mean the end of our God-pleasing relations with others. In our Christian witness, we should struggle to never lead someone astray. The backwards thinking that noitroba is merely a political issue is wrong. It is a moral issue that, unfortunately, has been politicized. The backwards thinking that noitroba is a woman’s right is wrong. It is a painful, life-scarring sin. Just ask most any woman, or man, who has borne the wrongs of this “right.” The backwards thinking that being “Pro-Choice” is anything other than being Pro-Sin, murder of innocent life, is a fallacy. The backwards thinking that noitroba is ever a God-pleasing alternative is just plain demonic.

We must struggle to love one another and, when necessary, to reprove others in Christian love. We can begin by using the words allegiance and accountability the next time the abominable topic of the “A” word comes up. Aside from being backwards thinking, noitroba ain’t even good spelling. We should be able to spell it like it is. But, I was afraid that if I did, some of you might not read this article. Just as I used to be afraid that if I publicized a Pro-Life event from the pulpit someone might be offended.

Regardless of my fear back then, our faithful prayed in front of the FemCare Clinic one rainy Saturday morning. I was particularly praying for the sidewalk counselor who was speaking into the small sound system words of help and assistance to those who were entering the killing place. She told them that we could help them to let their baby live. She did not condemn them. Rather, she was the only one there who was truly offering them a choice. Once inside the killing place, no choice would be offered. It’s commerce. It’s big business. Outside, the words of the Archangel could still be heard: Do not be afraid. For with God nothing will be impossible. Thank God there was someone there to say it.

Christians should not be afraid to speak the truth in love. Actually, where God is concerned, truth & love are synonymous. Many people in our communities, male and female, have been scarred by bad decisions and backwards thinking. Being judged and condemned by their fellow Christians resembles the ol’ joke about the fiery preacher’s message: “I’ve got the good news! And the good news is … you’re going to hell!” Rather, our message must be tainted with another “A” word, agape. Our Pro-Life witness should include all of our brothers and sisters in Christ. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We’re all scarred by sin. When one suffers, we all suffer. We’re all scarred by the sin of noitroba. But backwards thinking – past, present, future – is a dead end. Who knows? With love and God’s grace, our witness may be able to move someone away from backwards thinking toward Life. Don’t be afraid to proclaim the Good News that was once announced to a virgin in Nazareth. Do not be afraid. For with God nothing will be impossible.

The above link is worth a visit (or three).

A small business owner once told me of a guaranteed way to get rid of pesky telemarketers. “Whenever the salesman calls and immediately goes into his sales pitch,” he said, ” interrupt him and ask, ‘Are you a born again Christian?’ If he replies ‘No,’ you say, ‘Well, I am and I don’t deal with people who aren’t’ – and hang up. If he replies ‘Yes,’ you say, “Well I’m not and don’t deal with people who are’ – and hang up. It works every time.”

A couple years passed before I was quick enough to remember the story during one of those frequent dinner-time phone interruptions. As the pitch began I said, “Are you a born again Christian?” The caller, stunned, asked: “What am I supposed to say?” I said, “Just answer the question. Are you a born again Christian?” “No,” he replied. I said, “Well I am and I don’t deal with folks who aren’t!” I hung up. Forgive me, but my wife and I had a good laugh. Before the chuckles faded the phone rang again. “Hello?” The voice on the other end shouted, “I am! I am! I am!” (Ha! Talk about a coversion!)

“How do the Orthodox evangelize?” The question was posed by a Methodist layman while visiting our church. It’s not a question I’m used to answering. I was stumped. My sinister side wanted to blurt out: “Not very well!” But this is not true. With thousands of Evanglicals and Episcopalians, including myself, coming home to Holy Orthodoxy, something evangelical is going on. Honestly, other than poorly, I don’t remember how I answered the question.

The fact that we live in a culture that is still fairly familiar with Jesus Christ should not prevent us from humbly and boldly imparting the fundamentals of the Faith – over and over again – even to the faithful Chrisitans around us. The fundamentals, the basics, mere Christianity: this is what our society thirsts for, this living water. The popular social knowledge of our Lord has become something other than truth. Jesus is made out to be a mere buddy or pal who is there in our times of trouble, like an insurance company. [“Nationwide (i.e., Jesus Christ) is on your side.”] We who share in the fullness of the Faith are bound to share this treasure with those around us. Along the way, as you will see below, there’s ample opportunity for error and missed opportunities.

An Orthodox Christian friend of mine is constantly bothered by Protestant and sectarian missionaries in Jacksonville, Florida. One evening he decided to have a bit of fun. Two young men were fervently trying to him to the glories of guaranteed salvation. He took them on a tour of his home. He introduced them to all the icons populating his walls. When he got to an icon of the Theotokos holding Christ, he said, “This is Mary and … uh … Mary and … oh, gosh … uh.” One of the Bible thumpers dubiously gasped, “Jesus?” “YES! That’s it! Jesus!” Jim replied. They quickly exited stage right and have not returned.

There used to be a Baptist minister in the Asheville area with the same name as me. On occasion, we’d gotten each others phone calls. One evening an Orthodox Christian called long distance from a pay phone. He reached the Rev. Huneycutt instead of me. He decided, what the heck, to have a conversation with the preacher. Eventually the minister started asking questions about Orthodoxy. True to form, he finally asked my friend, “Do you know the Lord?” The caller replied, “Yes, I know the Lord, his Father, and his Mother!” This is where the conversation broke down.

There is much work to be done if we are to introduce True Christianity into this wayward society of ours. Yet if we’re too full of zeal to convert out neighbor, chances are we’ve neglected God in the process. Christ said, “Love God. Love your neighbor.” Some have interpreted this to mean, “Convert your neighbor and God will love you.” We must begin with God’s love and love of God. Before we do anything else, we must love God above all. St Seraphim of Sarov said, “Find inner peace and thousands around you will find their salvation.” Salvation is the Good News of God’s love that has consumed our very being. This consummation is the beginning of salvation. We must bring our will into accord with God’s will in order to be a Christian and bear Christ to the world. The Theotokos is our model for this fundamental step.

While working in a local hospital some years ago, a man approached me and wanted to pray. Afterwards, he began speaking of his faith and I listened and wondered where this was all leading. I soon figured out that he thought I was a Roman Catholic and he was intent on converting me to Jesus Christ. After I told him about Orthodoxy, he was much more interested in me as a fellow Christian. He even wanted to know the location of the church. Thinking I’d “won” this little faith skirmish, I smiled, gave him my card, shook his hand, and turned to leave. “You don’t pray to Mary do you?” he asked. Whoa! “What?” I pretended. “Y’all don’t pray to Mary do ya?” What to say? Knowing of his bias I asked, “You mean like the Roman Catholics do?” “Yes,” he replied. “No, we don’t have the rosary,” said this silly Orthodox priest. Okay, okay! I realize I blew it! But listen to what comes next. He smiled and said, “Good! Because Mary scares the hell out of me!” I was tested … and failed.

I once stood outside a hospital elevator, dressed in my cassock, with the Sacrament hanging around my neck. I was there to give communion to an Orthodox Christian. A young woman approached the elevator, burst out laughing, and asked: “What are you?” Caught off guard, I replied, “I’m an Orthodox priest. What, may I ask, are you?” “Well, I’m Baptist,” she boasted. “Good,” I said as we entered the empty elevator. On the way up she said, “We believe in Jesus Christ.” “That’s good,” I stammered, “we do too.” “Huh! I thought y’all believed in Mother Mary,” she snorted. “Yes, we believe in the Lord’s Mother as well …” Before I could continue she announced: “We believe in the blood of Jesus!” Without even thinking I caressed the tabernacle and said, “That’s exactly what I have right here.” Just then the elevator doors sprang open – as did her mouth – and she virtually ran out of the elevator down the hall. End of discussion.

We don’t like to be rejected. No one does. Yet, Christ’s disciples should expect to be rejected and even hated:

If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” [John 15:18-19, 20b]

When we run from rejection, hatred, scorn and derision, we are no different than the disciples that fled the scene when it included crucifixion. But they changed. They were converted. We, too, must convert – be willing to die for the Faith – before we can evangelize. Now you might say, “Gee, that sounds a bit extreme.” I agree with you. But the Faith is not something that we make up. The Faith is not something that necessarily soothes us. The Faith is a precious gift from God that requires ALL of us: mind, body, and soul. We may have to die many “little deaths” before the big one that terminates our earthly sojourn. For now, Christ calls us out of the world – He consumes us – and sends us back with fear of God and full of the Holy Spirit to bring in the harvest. We must die for Him to live in us. We must allow our pride to die; our greed to die; our wants to die; our wills to die; our dreams to die; our feelings to die – we must die. Death is the first step in evangelism.

Like St John the Forerunner, we must say of Christ: “He must increase, but I must decrease” [John 3:30]. In taking up our cross daily we crucify our sinful selves only to be raised up to glory and thereby become co-workers with God for the salvation of the world. This is the promise, this is the mission. Evangelism begins with death. We are not to slay our brother for the sake of the Gospel. Rather, it is ourselves who must be slain. This is the Way of Evangelism.

In conjunction with the first step is the second: Prayer. We must spend time with God. Sure God is everywhere and available at all times. But we aren’t. Our busy lives usually serve up schedules where we know neither if we’re coming or going. We need to spend time just plain standing: Standing in the presence of God in prayer. This presence with God is Incarnational involving the Sacraments of the Church. It also entails time alone or with family in our icon corners.

The next step in evangelism is social. We have to be around other people in order to bring them the Good News. This, being in contact with people, happens each and every day in ordinary ways. The day’s fleeting moments are often unrecognized as evangelism’s finest hour.

Back when I was just starting out as a missionary priest, an experienced priest told me: “Pray God sends you people. Pray you recognize the people God sends you.” Living this principle is much more difficult. Oftentimes I feel as if I’m responsible for “converting” everyone who smiles toward Orthodoxy. I get my hopes up when a new face darkens the church door. Too many times I’ve allowed myself to count unhatched chickens. This can lead to mental and emotional exhaustion.

We have to be present with God and present with others. The operative word here is present. If we’re not living in the present, we’re not residing in God. We reject what the French mystic, Jean Pierre de Coussade, calls the sacrament of the present moment. This “sacrament” God offers each moment. Yet, most of the time, we reside not in that moment, but in the past or future – the land of worry, doubt, fear, and concern. This is not to say that most of us have never tasted this precious sacrament of God’s grace. We have. However, this joy is often quickly discarded only to be replaced by our will: future, past, pride, sloth, worry.

This moment that God offers us is not an individual right. It involves personal relationships. It begs us to be the “God bearer” to the world around us. It begs us to recognize Christ in others. Living in the present necessitates love and forgiveness. For there is no other way for us to reside in the will of God than to be living, loving, and forgiving in the present moment.

We evangelize by:

1) dying to self

2) being present with God

3) being present with others

If we do these things we fulfill the commandments of Christ to love God and our neighbor. This sounds simple. It is simple. God is simple. For fallen humans, it is terribly hard. It is much easier to spout doctrine, judge our neighbor, be puffed up with pride – and hide.

Orthodox evangelism is not a matter of endless programs, workshops, revivals, audio and video tapes, etc. Like training wheels, these can be helpful, but they are not the end nor are they necessarily the best means. Christ said there is one thing needful. Remember St Seraphim: “Find inner peace and thousands around you shall find their salvation.” The one thing needful, the inner peace – Christ – leads us to act. As St Paul writes to Timothy:

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside by fables.

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. [2 Timothy 4:1-5]

God forbid that we Orthodox un-shoulder the burden that God has placed on us. Rejection of our calling equals rejection of the Kingdom. We have a calling to share this precious Faith with the world for its salvation. This salvation was purchased by the Blood of the Lamb. This Faith has sprung from the blood of the martyrs and the prayers of the saints. This Faith, this Church, the gates of hell shall not prevail against. We are the people of God; the time is now. Let us work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Let us struggle to die to self and to be found in the presence of God and others.

The final step in evangelism is trust. In dying to self, being present with God and others, we trust. We trust that through our imperfect and unworthy efforts, God will bless the increase and the Holy Spirit will lead others into the Church.

PHOENIX — Anyone with the nerve to create XXXChurch.com

is going to get attention, especially if they keep calling it “the No. 1

Christian Porn Site.”

“We’re No. 1 because there really isn’t a No. 2, which is a good

business plan if you think about it,” said Craig Gross, co-founder of

the ministry in Corona, Calif.

Two years ago, Gross and partner Mike Foster opened their first booth

at the Adult Video News trade show in Las Vegas, handing out

anti-porn brochures to hardcore consumers and sharing their faith

with porn stars and producers. The youth pastors took their wives as

chaperones and to take turns inside their church’s full-body rabbit

costume. The approach was goofy, but intrigued the Los Angeles Times,

ABC, Playboy and others.

This year XXXChurch.com teamed up with veteran pornographer James

DiGiorgio — producer of videos such as “The Sopornos #3” — to make

a surreal public service announcement called “Pete the Porno Puppet”

warning parents not to expose kids to explicit images. As it turns

out, “Jimmy D” is also a parent who worries about porn.

Now comes the hard part. Yes, the online ministry offers anonymous

education, counseling and prayer support. It has free X3Watch

software to help porn users form accountability groups. It has hip

media products for skeptics.

But a website is not enough, said Gross, speaking at the annual North

American Christian Convention. Sooner or later, church people will

have to talk about pornography.

Sadly, it’s easer to discuss God with porn stars than pornography

with many pastors.

Why? A poll by Leadership magazine found that four in 10 pastors with

Internet access had visited a porn site and more than a third had

done so in the previous year. Many skeptical pastors said those

numbers were too low.

“If 37 percent of our pastors are looking at this,” said Gross, “then

this is not a subject they’re going to feel comfortable with in the

pulpit. … Think about it. What is going through a pastor’s mind if

he wants to look at online porn before he preaches on Sunday morning?

What’s that all about?”

Many believers prefer to ignore such questions. Faced with a minister

who gets caught with porn, the typical church board will send the

offender packing — quickly. Yet this kind of zero tolerance policy

will drive other addicts deeper into fear and denial, said Gross.

“What the church keeps saying is, ‘Get out! We have no sin here,’ ” he said.

The goal is to take this secret sin seriously, while still offering

hope to broken people in pews and pulpits, said the Rev. Gary Rowe,

minister of pastoral care at the East 91st Street Christian Church in

Indianapolis. Nevertheless, churches that create ministries for those

struggling with pornography and other sexual sins will face unique

challenges.

For example, it’s hard to promote small-group sessions for porn

abusers without listing the times and locations in the weekly church

bulletin or on a web site, he noted, during another session at the

convention in Phoenix. This sensitive issue must be openly discussed

in the pulpit and in church education efforts, yet without violating

the privacy of those involved.

It’s also important to learn that the most effective ministry may not

begin with the men.

“We had eight guys come forward when we started this work,” said

Rowe. “But we immediately had calls from 100 women, looking for help

with a husband or a child who was involved with pornography. That

really impressed us.”

Gross agreed that wives almost always cry out for help before

husbands. It is also important for church leaders to ask questions

about pornography in premarital counseling and in parenting classes.

Youth pastors have to realize that the teen years are crucial, since

that is when most boys first come into contact with sexually explicit

media.

The trick is to pull this subject out into the open with little or no warning.

“You can’t come right out and say, ‘We’re having a men’s breakfast

and we’re going to talk about pornography,” said Gross. “Guess what?

If you do that, nobody’s going to be there. You are going to have

lots of pancakes left over. …

“We’re at the stage where you’re going to have to ambush people.”

Terry Mattingly (www.tmatt.net) teaches at Palm Beach Atlantic

University and is senior fellow for journalism at the Council for

Christian Colleges & Universities. He writes this weekly column for

the Scripps Howard News Service.

Looks like the editors over at The Onion Dome have been keeping tabs on us hillbillies. 🙂