The Trouble with Fiction

In the Orthodox Church, we are encouraged to read the lives of the saints. We are encouraged to do so on the grounds of the benefit of a real life example to emulate. The high standard of the godly is worthy of our consideration.

On the other hand, the reading of fiction can be particularly dangerous. In the world of fiction, the author is god. He can create the world in any fashion he so desires. Any falsehood, perversion or fantasy can be reality. And for the undiscerning or unthinking reader, this can form the worldview in error. This is especially true with children. Disney has done a remarkable job forming the minds of children along pagan lines. The writer, acting as teacher, trains up generation after generation to think along particular lines. And for this, he will have to answer. Scripture warns us about being a teacher and being held to a higher degree of responsibility.

Obviously, this does not mean that the average individual is doomed to cerebral damage and deception if they read the latest novel by JK Rowling. I am talking about long term, worldview-forming influence. To immerse oneself in fantasy, in the long term, without regard to what is being said, is to open oneself up to deception. This type of influence is particularly dangerous because it comes across so innocently. The material is usually not sinful in and of itself, but it is damaging because it is false.

When I speak of the material being false I am not speaking of "there not really being orcs, trolls and pixies."  I believe that is pretty obvious. What I am talking about is the truth of the meaning behind the story, the truth of the worldview that holds the story up.

In very much the same way that our bodies are influenced by the food we eat, our souls are influenced by the things we experience through the senses.  The danger I am speaking of in regards to fictional books is also true of video games and movies.  The creative powers of the video game designer or the movie director is the same as the author.

So the point of all this?  Oversee what you and your children are reading. Don't assume that they will get it. Because they probably won't. And live out your faith with your children. This is the greatest way to lead and influence your children.

The Orthodox Christian is....

The Orthodox Christian is someone who loves unconditionally. We are to love everyone because everyone is made in the image of God. We do not love someone because they are lovable. We don't only love those who love us. We don't love someone simply because of the way they look or because of some personality trait they possess.

The Orthodox Christian is one who prays for everyone with whom they have any connection, regardless of how slight. This is more important than evangelizing, than giving a tract/book, than almost anything. Prayer changes things.

The Orthodox Christian is one who is part of the body of Christ. He is part of the Church, he worships, he fasts, he confesses, he repents and he gives. While no one is saved by what he does, no one is saved without working out his faith. Think of Jesus' words to the goats on the left (Matt 25), summarized, you didn't do anything for the needy, so you've done nothing for me. Go away.

And finally, the Christian is one who understands and lives for the things of eternity. We are born into and live in this world, but we need to keep the things of this world only as necessary. The things of the flesh are such a distraction for us, that they cause us to focus on immediate and temporal things instead of eternal. We need to use our time here for healing our souls, not entertaining our eyes and ears.

This last point cannot be emphasized enough. Not because it is more important but because it is basically ignored by the bulk of the Christian world. Everything around us can be and often is, a distraction. Most of the time, the question that is being asked is, "What am I not supposed to do?" Which then leads to the assumption that everything not on that list is then acceptable. But this is wrong thinking altogether. We should instead be asking what things should we be doing to help us grow in holiness. Our souls are so distorted, darkened, twisted, perverse and selfish that we cannot see straight. The world around us though, does not want us to think this way, so they distract us with a 1001 things, many of which are perfectly acceptable and non-sinful. The trouble is that they turn us away from working toward healing our souls and communing with God. Very much like the athlete in training, we must control, direct and subdue our bodies. The athlete doesn't eat chocolate cake, cheeseburgers and soda, not because it would be wrong to do so, but because it would not help him strengthen his body. We need to put the entertainments and pleasures of the world very, very low on our to-do list. We have far too much good and right to do than to be entertaining ourselves with trifles or distracting ourselves with temporary niceties, regardless of how pleasing or temporally useful they may be.

The Orthodox Christian is one who lives in the world as if he is dead to the world and the world to him. Anything else is a waste of time.

Gay Love?

There seems to be a lot in the news lately regarding homosexuals, either in regards to famous men and women "coming out" or about state laws being rewritten to recognize gay marriage. There are a couple of foundational issues with this. First of all, why do homosexuals want to bind themselves in a covenantal relationship?  Marriage is defined by the Church. If they are marrying under state authority, I would have to ask why?  From a secular perspective, marriage as a contractual agreement makes no sense unless it is for tax reasons. And that really empties marriage of any real meaning. They may say they want to be married because they love one another. I say, what does a state sanctioned contractual agreement have to do with love? It used to be said in heterosexual relationships that people married because its "the right thing to do".  But I really don't think homosexuals are concerned about appearing proper to common society.

The other problem has to do with definitions. Why do we care what the state says about marriage?  The Church has defined marriage as a God given sacrament between one man and one woman. Any definition contrary to this is really irrelevant. So really, so what if two homosexuals "get married"?  It has no meaning and no value. Recognized by the state as married or not, they are still living in sin. And the Church will never recognize gay marriage.

One more thing on definitions. Those in the gay community say that they love one another. This is impossible. To lead someone, encourage someone, and be with someone "in sin", automatically means you are not loving them. One may have warm feelings.  One may feel a certain way and want to be with someone else but that is not love. To love someone is to work at helping them be holy.

The gay community is working very hard to be recognized as legitimate. But even if the whole world embraces them as merely an alternate lifestyle, the Church never will. But sin is sin and we should condemn no one, regardless of how distasteful or revolting we may find that particular sin. Loving someone regardless of their sin is our responsibility. And anyone will respond to genuine love. We need to learn to truly love.

Celebrating the Resurrection

This time of year is a time to celebrate the fact that Jesus rose from the grave, defeating death. The resurrection is understood as the most important day in all of history. With Jesus' birth and ministry, the old covenant began its end. Jesus' death and resurrection brought an end to the old covenant. This is not a mere trifle of doctrinal detail, this is world changing. All old covenant laws and rules have been fulfilled and ended. We now no longer live by externals but by the direction of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church.

There are several Protestant camps that expend a lot of time and energy on debating the extent of authority of OT law for the modern day believer. This debate stems from the issue of lack of authority within Protestantism. This is not an issue within Eastern Orthodoxy. The Orthodox Church can and does articulate the historical view on particular doctrines. And they do so with apostolic authority.

But back to the topic at hand. Jesus' resurrection has so drastically changed and defined absolutely every detail of human history that it would take a lifetime to understand its far-reaching effects. Death has lost its power and blessing and curse has moved from the temporal to the eternal. Under the old covenant, God blessed or cursed his people (the Israelites) within the realm of the physical. He did so because that was all the mankind had to look forward to. Once man died, that was it. He was doomed to linger in the shadowy realm of death, waiting for Jesus' redemptive work.  But now, since Jesus has defeated the power of death, blessing and curse are in the realm of the eternal. This temporal life is merely a preparation ground for eternity, where we can anticipate sinless life in the immediate presence of God.

So the resurrection? Unarguably the most important event in human history. One that we should celebrate in a big way and seek to understand even more.

An Open Letter to Adam Darski (Nergal)

Adam, I have been familiar with your project, Behemoth, for several years now and would finally like to take the time to make a few philosophical/worldview comments on the meaning and direction of the band. I would like to start by recognizing your apparent well-educated perspective on things spiritual and mystical. You seem to be well read on the dark, Nietzschean philosophical perspective and explanations, and, judging by your recent video "Lucifer", have some exposure to Eastern Orthodoxy, at least Eastern Orthodox icons.

But I would like to make a few comments on your perspectives, at least as explored in your videos and lyrics. As I see your videos or read your lyrics, I have to wonder at why you find such appeal in darkness, ugliness and death. The worlds you create and the fantasies in which you revel are strictly the fruit of your own imagination, there has never been and never will be, a reality that mirrors your fantasies. What seems especially odd to me is this obsession with darkness, evil and destruction in light of your recent diagnosis of cancer. When you received a diagnosis of cancer, you expended much energy and time to defeat the disease. In that circumstance, you chose to seek after life and to fight against sickness and death. Why?

I would suggest that deep inside your person, you understand that light and life are superior to death, darkness and destruction. The meaning and strength that you seek are found only in historic Christianity. The depth, the mystery and the beauty of the historic Christian faith far surpass anything in Babylonian or Egyptian lore, or the human imagination.

The trouble that so many people have is the failure to rightly see the historic Christian faith.  A large part of this problem comes from the very distorted example of Christianity as represented by Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. These two deviations from the historic Christian faith have dangerously altered the common view of Christianity.

As you are someone well educated in history, I strongly suggest that you pursue a deeper understanding of the historic Christian faith. This would begin with you instigating a dialogue with someone in the Polish Orthodox Church. I would suggest:

Father Darius Jozwik

Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church

ul. Traugutta 45, 80-221

in Gdansk, Wrzeszcz

telephone # 58 341 95 30

I really hope that you are willing to pursue this challenge and honest enough to embrace the results of such an investigation. I am praying for you.