[Kolokotronis]

" Some choose to issue a cri de coeur on the way out. It is not hypocrisy to protest the destruction of one's church." Oh, I'd hardly accuse the author of the post of hypocrisy, nor is that the point of the story of Abba Pior. But she's very angry and that's a problem. The two stories I told go together in this way. If the entire purpose of the Church is to advance the theosis of the members of the Church, then one would assume that membership in the Church on the part of any individual would be for that purpose. Raging against the sins of our brothers is destructive of theosis and thus would seem to negate the very purpose of membership in the Church. We need to repent for our own sins. The story of Abba Agathon points out that if we are in a situation where even a dear other, in this case ECUSA, causes us to loose focus on our theosis, we should separate from that other. In both cases, the end is to advance rather than block the purpose of our Faith, theosis.

Anger is a dangerous thing. On another thread I quoted Abba Evagrius the Monk:

"Anger is by nature designed for waging war with the demons and for struggling with every kind of sinful pleasure. Therefore angels, arousing spiritual pleasure in us and giving us to taste its blessedness, incline us to direct our anger against the demons. But the demons, enticing us towards worldly lusts, make us use anger to fight with men, which is against nature, so that the mind, thus stupefied and darkened, should become a traitor to virtues." Texts on Active Life no. 15

[PetroniusMaximus]

*** Anger is a dangerous thing.***


Added to this is the principle that we are ultimatley not at war with person or group of people.

This is ultimatley a conflict with spiritual forces of darkness. These men and women are (willing or unwilling) slaved of the evil one and are being promted by him in the fulfilling of his plains. They are quite literally spiritually blind. They will bear their judgement, nevertheless they "know not what they do".

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

This theologian's mocking and cursing tone indicated that she is, more than likely, part of the problem rather than part of the solution.