Professor MY Yohannan's discussions these days on ICON is a bit
depressing because it is unintentionally projecting an organisation
which the Holy Episcopal Synod has discouraged the faithful from
having any relationship with.
But there are some interesting tidbits coming out of this which may
be useful for further analysis and study. May the Lord guide us.
One such tidbit formed in my mind these days is - Is 'Vachana Shushroosha' as we
hear the term these days - or preaching of the Gospel enough? How much does it
help in the ultimate redemption of all? I guess my main contention against Prof.
M.Y. Yohannan, as also against such persons as Paul Ciniraj and several other
'missionaries' is the disagreement on this aspect. If Prof MY Yohnannan Sir was
not an Orthodox Christian, or if he had not had this good knowledge about the
Orthodox teachings, I would perhaps not even have bothered to write anything -
why bother? - nowadays preachers go at dime a dozen - and in all flavors of
'Christianity'. Reminds me of the warnings in the Scriptures about the last days
when there will be preachers who show 'there is Christ here' and 'there is
Christ there' etc. Hold fast to the Holy Church of 2000 years so that one is not
led astray.
My understanding is that the preaching by the mouth, and the hearing
of this preaching by the ear is an important first step in getting
ourselves aligned with the way of the Lord. A person in wrong ways,
or maimed by the rigors of life, when he hears the word of God, it
causes a great emotional relief in him (me included). Then when he hears it
again and again from good speakers who have influence over them, this emotional
satisfaction is sustained (and the speakers prosper at the expense of these).
But my question is - is this sense of emotional satisfaction enough?
My understanding is that the Holy Church prescribes Holy Qurbana as
the spiritual food needed for salvation. Nothing less. The preachings and
teachings can help and should help to attain this goal. 'Whoever eats my flesh
and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.'
is the word of God. If any preaching or teaching does not lead us to this, it is
not leading in the right way. I would say - flee such places, do not welcome
such teachers - about whom St.Paul, St.Jude, St.Peter all warn us about in the
Scriptures which is the word of God.
Hence it is sad to hear that Prof. MY Yohannan has parallel prayer meetings
during the time of Holy Qurbana on Sunday mornings, when he should be asking the
people to go to the Church instead.Sir, I hope God gives you an even better
voice and that you deliver even better sermons, but I firmly believe, your
prayer meetings even when you have the best voice and even when you are
delivering the most emotionally stirring sermon ever prepared in your life,
cannot compare to the Holy Qurbana in the Church next door, conducted by the
weakest of priests - because Sir, the Holy Church teaches that it is Christ
Himself who celebrates the Holy Qurbana each time and every time, as you would
know more than me, being an Orthodox Christian. May God not judge you for
keeping silent about this.
Anyways, my point - is preaching enough? Why did the Apostles baptise then? Why
did they get together to 'break bread'? What does the Holy Fathers teach about
the Holy Qurbana?
[My church, much to our embarassment, does have problems in that it has focussed
on petty faction fights and several matters which do not help spiritual growth
at all - so much so that even the first step of 'preaching' is not performed
properly many times, some have even decided that evangelisation is not the
mission of the Church - spiritual decay within us is why such groups thrive -
but the solution is not to encourage these groups, but to correct ourselves -
the strength from the Invisible Church should be drawn from to correct
weaknesses in the visible Church]
Challenges can either shatter us, or they can strengthen us. Without the Lord we
cannot do anything, with the Lord by our side we can achieve the impossible. Let
us use such instances to get even closer to the Body of Christ, the Holy Church.
Sincerely,
Mathew Samuel, Albany, NY
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/18744
depressing because it is unintentionally projecting an organisation
which the Holy Episcopal Synod has discouraged the faithful from
having any relationship with.
But there are some interesting tidbits coming out of this which may
be useful for further analysis and study. May the Lord guide us.
One such tidbit formed in my mind these days is - Is 'Vachana Shushroosha' as we
hear the term these days - or preaching of the Gospel enough? How much does it
help in the ultimate redemption of all? I guess my main contention against Prof.
M.Y. Yohannan, as also against such persons as Paul Ciniraj and several other
'missionaries' is the disagreement on this aspect. If Prof MY Yohnannan Sir was
not an Orthodox Christian, or if he had not had this good knowledge about the
Orthodox teachings, I would perhaps not even have bothered to write anything -
why bother? - nowadays preachers go at dime a dozen - and in all flavors of
'Christianity'. Reminds me of the warnings in the Scriptures about the last days
when there will be preachers who show 'there is Christ here' and 'there is
Christ there' etc. Hold fast to the Holy Church of 2000 years so that one is not
led astray.
My understanding is that the preaching by the mouth, and the hearing
of this preaching by the ear is an important first step in getting
ourselves aligned with the way of the Lord. A person in wrong ways,
or maimed by the rigors of life, when he hears the word of God, it
causes a great emotional relief in him (me included). Then when he hears it
again and again from good speakers who have influence over them, this emotional
satisfaction is sustained (and the speakers prosper at the expense of these).
But my question is - is this sense of emotional satisfaction enough?
My understanding is that the Holy Church prescribes Holy Qurbana as
the spiritual food needed for salvation. Nothing less. The preachings and
teachings can help and should help to attain this goal. 'Whoever eats my flesh
and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.'
is the word of God. If any preaching or teaching does not lead us to this, it is
not leading in the right way. I would say - flee such places, do not welcome
such teachers - about whom St.Paul, St.Jude, St.Peter all warn us about in the
Scriptures which is the word of God.
Hence it is sad to hear that Prof. MY Yohannan has parallel prayer meetings
during the time of Holy Qurbana on Sunday mornings, when he should be asking the
people to go to the Church instead.Sir, I hope God gives you an even better
voice and that you deliver even better sermons, but I firmly believe, your
prayer meetings even when you have the best voice and even when you are
delivering the most emotionally stirring sermon ever prepared in your life,
cannot compare to the Holy Qurbana in the Church next door, conducted by the
weakest of priests - because Sir, the Holy Church teaches that it is Christ
Himself who celebrates the Holy Qurbana each time and every time, as you would
know more than me, being an Orthodox Christian. May God not judge you for
keeping silent about this.
Anyways, my point - is preaching enough? Why did the Apostles baptise then? Why
did they get together to 'break bread'? What does the Holy Fathers teach about
the Holy Qurbana?
[My church, much to our embarassment, does have problems in that it has focussed
on petty faction fights and several matters which do not help spiritual growth
at all - so much so that even the first step of 'preaching' is not performed
properly many times, some have even decided that evangelisation is not the
mission of the Church - spiritual decay within us is why such groups thrive -
but the solution is not to encourage these groups, but to correct ourselves -
the strength from the Invisible Church should be drawn from to correct
weaknesses in the visible Church]
Challenges can either shatter us, or they can strengthen us. Without the Lord we
cannot do anything, with the Lord by our side we can achieve the impossible. Let
us use such instances to get even closer to the Body of Christ, the Holy Church.
Sincerely,
Mathew Samuel, Albany, NY
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/18744
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