Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: Alamo-Girl
It is not an either/or.

INDEED.

Then, the enemy further pollutes the well by messing parenting up so much for so many that we/they grow up with intense obsessive compulsive needs to try and cram God into tiny tidy white little FIERCELY EITHER/OR boxes

. . .

which, of course, are different than a long list of brothers and sisters that are suspected intensely of NOT being brothers and sisters because they don't FIT into OUR particularly tiny tidy whitey little FIERCELY EITHER/OR boxes . . . .

Therefore, the enemy wins again because such hostile perspectives offer little possibility of unbelievers knowing we are Christians by our love.


12,740 posted on 04/15/2007 1:43:09 PM PDT by Quix (GOD ALONE IS GOD; WORTHY; PAID THE PRICE; IS COMING AGAIN; KNOWS ALL; IS LOVING; IS ALTOGETHER GOOD!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12724 | View Replies ]


To: Quix; Alamo-Girl; kosta50; betty boop; Mad Dawg
"Therefore, the enemy wins again because such hostile perspectives offer little possibility of unbelievers knowing we are Christians by our love."

Without that love, Q, we can't even properly proclaim our Faith. That's how basic it is to our existence as Christians. We Orthodox are reminded of this at every Divine Liturgy just before we recite the Creed, when the priest chants:

"Let us love one another that we may with one mind confess."

And the people chant in reply:

"Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Trinity, one in essence and undivided.", going on thereafter to recite the Creed.

The Greek Fathers speak endlessly on this Love which we are to have for one another. +Maximos the Confessor wrote that those who manifestly love God, first loved their brothers. +John Climacus taught, at Step 30 of the Ladder of Divine Ascent, "Love bestows prophecy; love yields miracles; love is an abyss of illumination; love is a fountain of fire, in the measure that it wells up, it inflames the thirsty soul. Love is the state of angels. Love is the progress of eternity."

Of particular relevance to us here on FR, well, of particular relevance to all Christians actually, is this from a saint through whose intercessions miracles from God have occurred in my own family:

"Love should never be sacrificed for the sake of some dogmatic difference." +Nectarios of Aegina

12,743 posted on 04/15/2007 2:34:21 PM PDT by Kolokotronis (Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12740 | View Replies ]

To: Quix
What an outstanding post! Thank you so much for your insights!
12,779 posted on 04/15/2007 9:27:17 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12740 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson