A Stumbling Block to God's Calling and Purpose

Today’s Scripture reading was 1^st Corinthians 10:12-22 and Matthew 16:20-24. Although I am not an Orthodox Christian, I attempt to keep up with the Orthodox Church lectionary according to the days. And today’s reading revealed to me my need to examine and ask myself:

Am I a hinderance to the ministry of God? Am I sinning in such a way that I am eating from the table of demons and causing hinderance to the ministry of God?

In 1^st Corinthians 10:12-22, we find St. Paul talking about living a life in sin. He warns us that as God’s chosen we should not be like the Israelites who were wandering in the desert during the time of St. Moses. Although they were God’s chosen, Israel still suffered the consequences for offending God. They disobeyed God by walking against God’s statues. St. Paul is clear: when we sin as the people of Israel sinned, we serve and partake of the table of demons.

Idolatry is not just the worship of idols as many would understand by reading this Scripture. Idolatry is anything that we put before God. When we sin, we are choosing ourselves over God, elevating our desires as more important than that of the Lord God. When we sin, we serve the devil and his demons.

In Matthew 16:20-24, we find Christ Jesus rebuking St. Peter for being a hinderance to Him. Prior to that, Christ Jesus had made it known what was to be done to Him by the elders, the Pharisees and the Sadducees; that he was suffer in their hands, to be killed, and on the third day be raised. St. Peter took him aside and said, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you." And Christ Jesus said, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men." And Christ goes on to say, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." 

I don’t know if St. Peter in that moment knew that what he told Christ was an offense. Clearly, it was. What other reason would Christ Jesus use such strong words to refer to St. Peter as being Satan? He clearly offended Christ Jesus and Christ referred to him as being a hinderance or a stumbling block to Him.

A stumbling block for Christ God? How is that possible?

When we sin, we commit idolatry; we are serving and partaking from the table of demons. And when we sin, we are actually stumbling blocks to the purposes of God. We are hinderances to God’s calling and purpose. And when we sin, we offend God and if we do not repent we will perish, just like the Israelites during the time of St. Moses. This is where I see the words of Christ Jesus calling us to follow Him by denying ourselves and take up our cross; in essence, we are to join Him and do what He does - not be a hinderance to Him.

Following the readings of the day, I read chapter 1 of part 2 of The Life Of Repentance and Purity, “If You Know Who You Are, You Will Rise above Sin”. And there couldn’t have been a better chapter to read after the readings of the day. God was clearly speaking to me.

Pope Shenouda III wrote:

“He who practices sin is a son of the devil. He is of Satan and not of God. How frightening! The apostle records for us a fundamental principle: “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God (1 John 3:9). By this standard, my brother, you can measure yourself whenever you say that you are a son of God.”

“You will not be able to remain as a partner to Christ if you walk in sin for the Bible will reproach you with its saying: “What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15). When you sin, it is as if you say to the Lord, “The partnership between me and You has been dissolved. I have searched for another partner. I am now a partner with the devil, and I will not return to be Your partner again!”

“When you sin, are you a partner in the divine nature? Certainly not; you are a partner to Satan, for the Bible says: “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning… In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest” (1 John 3:8,10). When we sin, we forget our great glory and lose our rank. For after God says to us, “You are gods,” He continues: “But you die like men, and fall like one of the princes” (Psalm 81:7). Who is this prince who fell? It is Satan, who previously was an archangel!”

The Life of Repentance and Purity was written as a call for us to truly repent and turn to God for purity. While isolating these paragraphs does the book no justice, they are portions of the chapter that affirmed what unfolded before me as I read today’s reading of Scripture.

Pope Shenouda III also wrote:

“You are a partner to the Holy Spirit – not in essence, but in work. He works in you, with you, and through you for the sake of your salvation and the salvation of other people, spreading the kingdom of God and building the body of Christ. You do not work alone, or else you would be relying on your human capabilities. “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 126:1). The Holy Spirit participates with you in the work. He does not work alone, but takes you with Him so that you may receive blessing. So you are a partner to the Holy Spirit, a partner in the divine nature, in work.

The Holy Spirit always works with you for the good. When you do evil or sin, then you were working alone, refusing your partnership with the Holy Spirit.” Pope Shenouda goes on to cite Ephesians 4:30, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, and Psalm 50:11.

Am I a hinderance to the ministry of God? Am I sinning in such a way that I am eating from the table of demons and causing hinderance to the ministry of God?

Honestly, I ask myself this… And wonder what exactly is it that I’m doing that’s a stumbling block to others and to the purpose of God and what can I do to resolve it. 

Repentance is the first step and changing is the next, by God's grace.

Solitary and Dormant Christianity

I don't want to be the cause of someone's Christian faith shattering. On the contrary, I know that the best aim is to be a fellow-worker of the Christian faith who edifies her household and local church congregation. However, for the past 15 years, it has been a continuous struggle in which the war is waging between my own selfish sinful desires and the desire to serve God through a living relationship with Him and His people. My selfish sinful desires win almost every time, and I can't help but wonder if my actions have ever caused someone else to stumble or to lose their faith in Christ.

 It is unfortunate to say this, but I don't doubt that could very well be the case.

The truth is to this point I have lived a dormant and solitary Christianity. When I think of the times my passion for Christ seemed to have been on fire, usually after going to a youth camp or church retreat, I realize now it was a momentarily passion ignited mentally and emotionally that shortly afterwards slipped into oblivion. And I returned to my passionless Christianity. For what good has it done me to cry tears and reconsecrate myself to God for the umpteen time during those alter calls when my hands and feet have been motionless the following days, weeks, and months? I can't honestly say I have fed and clothed anyone. I haven't cared for the orphans and the widows, nor have I boldly stood up for the defenseless; the very things that St James describes in his letter as pure religion, which we as Christians should aspire to practice.

Throughout the years I perceived myself as a servant of God, but the reality is that perception has been false because I haven't lived to serve God and His people. To those who truly live to serve God and His people, Christ will only utter those words of "Well done, good and faithful servant..." Such realization should stir one toward changing that sad reality to a truly more glorious and honorable reality of what God calls us to do, which is to do good works in Christ, of which God has prepared for us to do since before the beginning of time. Christians aren't called to be dead and silent. We are called to be alive and vibrant, our actions causing others to glorify God for our good deeds, and serving God as the center of who we are.

This realization is nothing new. Every so often I think and write about how I am not living the faith I say that I believe, and how now is the time to make the change. Yet, I'm still here, living as if I were not here, not living the faith of which I know I can do so much more with and for Christ,  in which I know that I should struggle to the point of blood. 

There is a Christian song called, "If we are the body" by Casting Crowns that I listen to once in a while that reminds me what it means to be a Christian. The song is more about how the Church a lot of times fails in reaching out to the outcasts, and instead isolates those who are in most need. However, the song doesn't only remind me that a Christian is not one who is alone but one who takes part of a community of fellow-workers that form the Body of Christ doing good works in His name. When I listen to the song, I am also reminded that , "Why am I not doing these things? Why am I not serving as a fellow-worker of the body of Christ? Why am I not imitating the One who I call my Lord, Jesus Christ? Why are my arms not reaching, my hands not healing, my words not teaching, my feet not going? Where is the Love I profess to have?"

"But if we are the Body, why aren't his arms reaching? Why aren't his hands healing? Why aren't his words teaching? If we are the body, why aren't his feet going, why is his love not showing them there is a way?"

Whose life has been lost because of my solitary and dormant Christianity? Whose soul have I caused to stumble because of my lack of commitment to Love? Whose faith has shrunk because of my loveless faith?

 I have much to answer for on the Day of Judgment.  

The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (381 A.D.)

I believe 

in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of
heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of
God, begotten of the Father before all ages;

Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten,
not created, of one essence with the Father
through Whom all things were made.

Who for us men and for our salvation
came down from heaven and was incarnate
of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man.

He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate,
and suffered and was buried;

And He rose on the third day,
according to the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father;

And He will come again with glory to judge the living
and dead. His kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life,
Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the
Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who
spoke through the prophets.

In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

I look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the age to come.

Amen.

"Did God Plan Man's Fall?" is the Question

One of the very important fundamental questions that we must ask as Christians to define our Christian faith is, "Did God plan man's fall?" That question is not just a question that ends with just an answer, but rather it is a question that probes one to ask other questions regarding who God is and what it means to be a human being and a Christian.

For starters, such a question must first be understood as a question that probes for an answer that we might not ever really get, simply because of our finiteness and short-sightedness. Such a question must be understood really as a reminder that "God's ways are not our ways", and "who can know God's thoughts but the Spirit of God himself?" The question "Did God plan man's fall" should be asked with the understanding that God is mysterious and that not everything that happens in mankind's life is comprehendible.

To me, "Did God plan man's fall?" leads to the question, "Did God plan for man to sin?",  which leads to the other question, "Is God the author of sin?" Today I had the lovely opportunity to talk to my awesome boyfriend about these concepts. He likes the idea of Calvinism; me- not so much. But I'll admit, sometimes when we talk about it, I almost want to agree with him because the way he explains Calvinism makes sense. Yet, I can't bring myself to jump onto the train of championing Calvinism simply for the question, "Is God the author of sin?" which I believe is a yes if you were to answer the question, "Did God plan man's fall?" as a Calvinist.

My boyfriend was insistent that the question, "Is God the author of Sin?" didn't make sense; he pointed out to me that sin is not a created thing, that rather is really just the absence of God, good, or holiness. He used the illustration of a piece of paper. God makes a piece of paper and the paper is whole, complete, and perfect. But then man comes along, damages it, and makes holes into the paper. Now, the holes wouldn't exist without the paper, but because of the paper, they are there. God made the paper but he didn't make the holes, man did.With that, I understood what my boyfriend was saying, that everything that happens is in God's plan, in God's will. God predestines everything, including when man sins (and that's where I understand it as God being the author of sin). God didn't make the holes, but it was in God's plan, in God's will, because he knew that man would make the holes (which is where I understood it as him engineering it so that man does sin). Following the illustration, my boyfriend explained that if God knew that Adam and Eve would disobey him, then why put the tree there in the first place? Since God knew it would happen, and he put the tree there, the only sound explanation is that God planned for Adam and Eve to fall. He knew that Adam and Eve would choose to sin, but he put the tree there anyway. It was in his plan, in his will, for them to sin. Otherwise, he wouldn't have put the tree there.

I disagreed; while I certainly can't explain why God, knowing that they would sin, would put the tree there anyway, to me, the more reasonable explanation is that God wanted Adam and Eve to exercise their free will, to practice their obedience to him. My boyfriend thought my explanation not reasonable at all...

And that's where I'll admit. He explains it very convincingly. But yet, I believe it isn't consistent with God's character as Scripture gives testimony. Why would God prohibit man from sinning and then make a plan and engineer it so that man can sin according to his plan when he prohibited it in the first place? I can agree, God allows man to sin, and can even use it for good but not because it is his absolute will for man to sin. We can say it is his permissible will, he permits man to sin but I cannot agree that God wants man to sin or even make a plan so that man does sin. In my mind, to plan sin is to be the author of sin. It just doesn't make sense. Perhaps I may have misunderstood my boyfriend at some point... the good thing is we will continue to discuss these hearty theological conversations.

There was a time when I thought I agreed with Calvinism some time before having met my boyfriend. When we met, I still considered myself Calvinist, to a certain degree. But that's only because I didn't really know what Calvinism taught as a whole, and what I did know, I didn't really think it through. And I'll be honest, while I now know the essentials of TULIP, I actually haven't read Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion" yet. So I can't say that I even know for sure what Calvin taught 100% because -shame on me - I have depended on today's Reformed ministers to summarize it for me. I haven't actually verified if what these ministers say that is Calvinism is actually what Calvin taught himself.

Of course, someone Calvinist would probably tell me, "You don't have to read Institutes. Just read the Gospel. That is essentially what Calvin taught." However, while I can agree with some of the points of Calvinism, according to TULIP, I do not agree 100% that the Gospel is what Calvin, according to TULIP, essentially taught. And as one can see by having read what I wrote already, one of the main problems for me is Predestination. My question is "How can God predestine someone to Hell if really it's not the person's fault that God chose not to reach out to that person and save them like He did for the person whom He did save?"  We could answer, "Because God is God and his ways are mysterious." Certainly, God's ways are mysterious, but even more certainly, God is not a contradiction to himself; God is consistent, and in Scripture we find that God is love, and he is not a respecter of persons. How else can we interpret Scripture when John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life."   

After talking to my boyfriend today, I realize that in my search for Truth, I need to stop being lazy, take my time and examine, really examine, those doctrines that I hold and those doctrines that I don't agree with. It is something that I have started doing, about two years ago. But I realize I need to dig more. I should read Calvin's Institutes and most importantly dig deeper into Scriptures and Church History (perhaps I should attempt do a small series on what I find). 

On a final note, I remind myself as my Orthodox Christian friends would tell me, "Remember, Christianity isn't about just reading and studying theological concepts. It's not a mental exercise. It is about living Christianity. It is about experience."

   

Glory to God for all things!