Talk 5: Are We Confessing Our Faith or Our Ego?
Saint Paul says that anyone who wants to live a life in Christ will be persecuted. Are there Orthodox Christians today enduring persecution for Christ’s sake? Is it necessary for those in the West to prepare for persecutions? Orthodox Christians are confused about when to speak up, when to confess the Faith and, in general, what their attitude towards the heterodox (Christians of other faiths) and the non-Christian world should be. In particular, what should our attitude towards those who wish us harm or want to convert us to their faith be?
One can find many examples in the lives of saints of Christians living in the pagan world of the first centuries, who kept their faith secret, many of whom served in the military, the government, and other civil services. Some openly confessed their faith, and were martyred. Others felt that it was God’s will that they not express their faith openly and publicly. Did those who did not publicly express their faith thereby betray Christ? Applying these questions to our contemporary world, are we called to express our faith in every circumstance? Does sometimes hiding one’s belief mean betraying Christ?
Topics covered in this talk: judging and the Orthodox elite; spiritual ignorance; external Christianity; spiritual pride; Communism; deceptive piety; the roles of husbands and wives; fasting; dealing with the non-Orthodox or the lukewarm; sexual sins; the canons of the Church; lying; does God look at our effort or only our virtue? is confidence in one’s own salvation a good sign? and more.
Talk Duration: 126 minutes
2 CD set