It reached my ears that, as it
seems, you consider my sermons very strict and believe that today no one
should think this way, no one should be living this way and therefore, no one
should be teaching this way. “Times have changed!”
How glad I was to hear this. This means that you listen carefully to what I
say, and not only do you listen, but you are also willing to abide by it. What
more could we hope for, we who preach as we were ordered and as much we were
ordered?
Despite all this, in no way can I agree with your opinion. I even consider it
my duty to comment on it and to correct it, since – even though it perhaps goes
against your desire and conviction – it comes from something sinful, as though
Christianity could alter its doctrines, its canons, its sanctifying ceremonies
to answer to the spirit of each age and adjust itself to the changing tastes of
the sons of this century, as though it could add or subtract something.
Yet, it is not so. Christianity must remain eternally unchanging, in no way being
dependent on or guided by the spirit of each age. Instead, Christianity is
meant to govern and direct the spirit of the age for anyone who obeys its
teachings. To convince you of this, I will put forward some thoughts for you to
consider.
Some said that my teaching is strict. First of all, my teaching is not my own,
nor it should be. In this sacred office nobody should, nor even can, preach his
own teaching. If I or someone else ever dare to do so, you can put us outside
the Church.
We preach the teachings of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ, of the holy
Apostles, and the Holy Church, which is guided by the Holy Spirit. At the same
time, we make sure to do everything possible to keep these teachings whole and
inviolate in your minds and hearts. Every thought we present and every word we
use, we do so very carefully, so as not to overshadow this brilliant and divine
teaching in any way. Nobody can act differently.
Such a law that calls for each man’s preaching in the Church to be
"God-sent," was established at the creation of the world, and should
thus remain valid until the end of the world. The Prophet Moses, after the
delivery of the commandments from God Himself to the people of Israel,
concluded: “You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take
away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God, which I
command you.” (Deut. 4:2)
This law of constancy is so unalterable that the Lord and Savior Himself, when
He was teaching the people on the mountain, said: “Do not think that I came to
abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For
truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter
or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (Math. 5:17-18)
Then He gave the same validity to his teaching, before interpreting the
commandments in the spirit of the gospel, by adding: “Whoever then annuls one
of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be
called least in the kingdom of heaven.” (Math. 5:19)
This means that anyone who wrongly interprets the commandments of God and
lessens their validity, will be an outcast in the future life. This is what He
said at the beginning of His preaching. He assured the same thing to Saint John
the Theologian, the beholder of ineffable revelations, to whom He described the
final judgement of the world and the Church, indicating in the Apocalypse (Book
of Revelations): “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of
this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are
written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of
this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the
holy city, which are written in this book.” (Apoc. 22:18-19)
From the time of His first appearance in the world until the Second Coming,
Christ has given the Holy Apostles and their successors the following law: “Go
therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all
that I commanded you.” (Math. 28:19-20)
That means “for you to teach, not what anyone else could possibly imagine, but
what I ordered, and this to the end of the world.” And He adds: “And lo, I am
with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” (Math. 28:20)
The Apostles received this law and sacrificed their lives in order to keep it.
And to those who wanted to keep them from preaching what it was they preached
under the threat of punishment and death, they replied: “Whether it is right in
the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for
we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20)
This clear law was delivered by the apostles to their successors, was accepted
by them, and has timeless effect in the Church of God. Because of this law, the
Church is the pillar and the ground of truth. Can you see then what an
inviolable steadfastness it has? After that, who would be so bold as to
stubbornly disturb or move anything in Christian doctrine and law?
Next listen to what is said of the Prophet Ezekiel who for seven days was in
the ecstasy of prayer and after seven days heard the word of the Lord: “Son of
man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel: therefore hear the word
at my mouth” (Ezek. 3:17), and he declared to the people: Here is the law for
you! If you see a wicked person committing iniquity and you do not tell him:
leave your iniquity and change your way, “that wicked person shall die for his
iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.” (Ezek. 3:18) Conversely,
“if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his
wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your
soul. Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits
injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you
have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he
has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand.
But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall
surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.”
(Ezek. 3:19-21)
What a strict law! And though it sounds in the consciences of all pastors
during their election and consecration, when a heavy yoke is put on them,
namely the instruction of the flock of Christ that He entrusted to them, big or
small, not only to guide it but also to preserve it. How could anyone be so
bold, to pervert everything in the law of Christ, when this involves the
destruction of both pastors and flock?
If the saving power of this teaching depended on our opinion of it and our
consent to it, it would make sense for someone to imagine rebuilding
Christianity according to human weaknesses or the claims of the age and adapt
it according to the sinful desires of his heart. But the saving power of
Christian law does not at all depend on us, but on the will of God, by the fact
that God Himself established precisely the exact path of salvation. Beyond this
there is no other way, nor could it exist. Therefore, anyone who teaches in any
other way, is deviating from the true path and is destroying himself and you.
What logic is there in that?
Notice how strict judgment was mentioned when something similar happened to the
nation of Israel during the difficult years of their captivity. Some prophets
out of pity for the suffering and sick talked to the people, not as the Lord
had ordered, but as their heart dictated. Concerning them the Lord gave the
following commands to Ezekiel: “And you, son of man, set your face against the
daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own minds. Prophesy against
them and say, Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the women who sew magic bands upon
all wrists, and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature, in the
hunt for souls.” (Ezek. 13:17-18)
This means: Woe to those who order any kind of special treatment and suggest
such leniency, so no one feels the slightest displeasure, either from those on
top or those at the bottom, not caring whether this is for their salvation or
destruction, whether it is pleasing to God, or repulsive. Woe to them, because
“thus says the Lord God...your pillows and veils,” namely your candied and
comforting teaching, “upon which there you are perverting souls, I will tear
from your arms and I will let their souls that you are perverting, go away...”
(Ezek. 13:20-21) from this teaching of yours and I will destroy you corrupters.
This is the benefit of this special treatment and leniency, such as you want to
hear from preachers! When you put all this deep in your heart, it is not right
for you to want us to make any concessions in Christian doctrine, having the
wrong desire to be pleased by us. On the contrary, you are obliged to
persistently demand from us to remain true to doctrine, as strictly and firmly
as possible.
Have you ever heard of the indulgences of the Pope of Rome? Here is what they
are: special treatment and leniency, which he gives defying the law of Christ.
And what is the result? From all of this, the West is corrupt in faith and in
their way of life, and is now getting lost in its disbelief and in the
unrestrained life with its indulgences.
The Pope changed many doctrines, spoiled all the sacraments, nullified the
canons concerning the regulation of the Church and the correction of morals.
Everything has begun going contrary to the will of the Lord, and has become
worse and worse.
Then came along Luther, a smart man, but stubborn. He said, “The Pope changed
everything as he wanted, why shouldn't I do the same?” He started to modify and
re-modify everything in his own way, and in this way established the new
Lutheran faith, which only slightly resembles what the Lord had commanded and
the Holy Apostles delivered to us.
After Luther came the philosophers. And they in turn said, “Luther has
established himself a new faith, supposedly based on the Gospel, though in
reality based on his own way of thinking. Why, then, don't we also compose
doctrines based on our own way of thinking, completely ignoring the Gospel?”
They then started rationalizing, and speculating about God, the world, and man,
each in his own way. And they mixed up so many doctrines, that one gets dizzy
just counting them.
Now the Westerners have the following views: Believe what you think best, live
as you like, satisfy whatever captivates your soul. This is why they do not
recognize any law or restriction and they do not abide by God's word. Their
road is wide, all obstacles displaced. Their way is broad, all the obstacles
taken out. But the broad road leads to perdition, according to what the Lord
says. This is where leniency in teaching has led!
Lord, save us from this broad way! But it is better to love each difficulty
that the Lord has appointed for our salvation. Let us love Christian doctrines
and let us compel our mind with them, pushing it not to think otherwise. Let us
love Christian morals and let us compel our will in them, forcing it to lift
the light yoke of the Lord humbly and patiently. Let us love all Christian
rituals and services which guide us, correct us, and sanctify us. Let us compel
our heart with them, encouraging it to convey its desires from the earthly and
perishable, to the heavenly and imperishable.
Let us confine ourselves as though in a cage. Or better, let us drag ourselves,
as if we were passing through a narrow passage. Let it be narrow, so no one can
deviate neither to the right left, nor the left. Yet undoubtedly, through this
narrow way we will obtain the kingdom of the heavens in return. For as you
know, this kingdom is the kingdom of the Lord. The Lord laid this narrow way
and said, “Follow exactly this route and you will obtain the kingdom of
heaven.”
Could anyone then doubt whether the traveler will get to his destination? And
what mind would one have who starts wanting all kinds of annulment of the
commandments, when by doing this he would immediately lose his way and be lost?
Once you have fully understood this assertion, do not worry if something in our
teaching seems to be strict. The only thing you should strive for is to
carefully make sure if it is from the Lord. And after you have made sure it is
from the Lord, accept it with all your heart, no matter how strict or obliging
it may be. And not only avoid wanting special treatment and leniency with
doctrine and the ethics, but even flee from all these, as though fleeing from
the fire of Gehenna. Those who cannot escape from this are those who think up
such things and with them lure those who are spiritually weak to follow them. Amen.
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