Full Speech of Metropolitan Hilarion (Russian Orthodox) to the Roman Catholic Synod

Russian Orthodox Church ^ | 10-21-2015 | Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk

[NRx]

Axios!

[NRx]

[sockmonkey]

Thanks for posting. Fidelity to Truth seems to be a rare commodity in the western lung of the Church. In fact, I think there is a tumor in the Western lung. Glad the Eastern lung is
Healthy.

[Jeff Chandler]

I like the hat. And no, I am not being sarcastic. This time.

[Jeff Chandler]

proceeding from the mission that Christ has placed upon them – to bring humanity to salvation.

Hey. Rome. Are you listening?

[deputytess]

Watched some Russian Orthodox liturgy on YouTube. It was a lot longer then the RC liturgy but beautiful, majestic and spiritually stirring, all things in praise of God should be. Sometimes at an RC Mass I feel like it’s a drive thru service. Just a lot of talk and gestures. God forgive me but I just might consider converting.

[markomalley]

The salt which has lost its savour are those Protestant communities which call themselves Christian, but which preach moral ideals incompatible with Christianity. If in this type of community a rite of blessing of same-sex unions is introduced, or a lesbian so called ‘bishop’ calls for the replacement of crosses from the churches with the Muslim crescent, can we speak of this community as a ‘church’? We are witnessing the betrayal of Christianity by those who are prepared to accommodate themselves to a secular, godless and churchless world.

That's going to leave a mark.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Good for him. Good job.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

The only part I do not really understand is this:

” The crisis of traditional values which we see in the consumer society leads to a contradiction between various preferences, including those in the realm of family relationships.”

I am not sure I would frame it as a fault of the consumer society. It is an interesting perspective, but I don’t think that is really the heart of the problem. Perhaps in the sense that people are consuming filth, pornography and the like, they gain an appetite for deviancy. But if we follow what Romans teaches, I think it is more about a rebellion against God, denying Him and His authority, as a root cause. Consuming filth is just a symptom.

[markomalley]

” The crisis of traditional values which we see in the consumer society leads to a contradiction between various preferences, including those in the realm of family relationships.”

In a consumer society, the acquisition of material items is seen as the supreme good. You will sometimes see both Catholic and Orthodox sources as metaphorically extending this to persons as well.

There are those who will trade up to a newer model car each year or so, not because of a reliability issue but simply because it's the "new model." (We see that a lot with people who trade up to the new iPhone as soon as it happens)

What about the person who trades his wife in for a newer model?

What about a couple who choose to not have children because they would impact their lifestyle?

What about sex-selection abortions? Abortions because the child has some kind of a handicap? Abortions because the child's genes indicate the wrong hair color or a nose that will be too big?

And so on.

But if we follow what Romans teaches, I think it is more about a rebellion against God, denying Him and His authority, as a root cause.

Yes, because in the "consumer society," individuals make a choice to own material possessions (and to own people) as their god. And so it is actually a form of idolatry.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I actually think a consumer society is just a reality of economic freedom. In and of itself it is not bad. It displays, however the symptoms of underlying problems while more state controlled economies merely cover them up with oppression. They are still there. It is probably harder to fix them when they are hidden under oppression.

[Trillian]

We were just talking about this earlier today..

The Church is called to be a luminary and beacon in the darkness of this age, and Christians to be the ‘salt of the earth’ and ‘light to the world’. We all ought to recall the Saviour’s warning: ‘If the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men’ (Matt. 5: 13-14). The salt which has lost its savour are those Protestant communities which call themselves Christian, but which preach moral ideals incompatible with Christianity. If in this type of community a rite of blessing of same-sex unions is introduced, or a lesbian so called ‘bishop’ calls for the replacement of crosses from the churches with the Muslim crescent, can we speak of this community as a ‘church’? We are witnessing the betrayal of Christianity by those who are prepared to accommodate themselves to a secular, godless and churchless world.

[markomalley]

I actually think a consumer society is just a reality of economic freedom. In and of itself it is not bad. It displays, however the symptoms of underlying problems while more state controlled economies merely cover them up with oppression. They are still there. It is probably harder to fix them when they are hidden under oppression.

I was simply trying to explain to you what +Hilarion was talking about.

Just for curiosity sake, how widespread have you seen the "prosperity gospel" being preached in this country?

Do you believe that "prosperity gospel" preachers are accurately conveying God's word?

One other question, what do you think about the discourse between Christ and the rich young man (Mark 10:17-31)?

[Mrs. Don-o]

Hilarion is a brilliant guy, pretty uncompromising, and I hope our Synod members listen well.

I've had my eye on him for awhile.

Yesw, Axios!

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

The prosperity gospel is no gospel at all. It is a get-rich-quick dream for those walking through the wide gate that leads to destruction.

Christ and the rich young man: You cannot buy salvation. The love of money is an obstacle to true salvation. Neither of those truths means money prevents salvation one way or the other: Being rich or being poor. Paul said he learned to be content with plenty and with want. Money is not the issue. The heart is the issue. There are sinful pitfalls in wealth and poverty and everything in between. What we do in each situation displays what is in our hearts. Evil in the heart has a way of showing itself. So taking the wealth and consumer power away from errant sinners will just leave you with poor errant sinners. The money is not the problem.

[Kolokotronis]

AXIOS!

[NRx]

Met. Hilarion’s name is often, though discreetly, mentioned as a possible successor to Patriarch Kyrill when that sad day comes.

[markomalley]

The money is not the problem.

Agreed. Money is not the problem. The worship of money is the problem. The treatment of people as mere acquisitions is the problem.

[MarMema]

If you do, welcome.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Yes. An economically free society will show its sin in what they consume and in what they choose. An economically controlled society will show its sin a little differently, but their absence of freedom in no way breaks their slavery to sin. It will just display itself in different ways. But, forced behavior modification does not save, either, any more than those forced muslim conversions are genuine. I would not take that to the extreme that libertarians take it. I think government should be a structure for good in society. it is just that it must be limited BECAUSE of the corruption sin has wrought on every human heart. The restrains need to come primarily from within. The cancer and corruption in our churches is more a source of the problem than wealth and consumerism.