We were given a chance to become the Church, but we chose religion instead
Church or religion? How to distinguish living faith from hollow imitation – and why the fight for “truth” in this world distracts us from saving our souls.
"I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" – these words of the Apostle Paul are heard during the festive Sunday Divine Liturgy.
But the divisions among us only continue to grow. They increase the distance between people who, in theory, profess the same Orthodox faith and partake of the same Chalice. There are many reasons for this, but the chief one is that Christians have lost their spiritual unity around Christ and His Word.
For many believers – and for their pastors too – the Gospel has long since ceased to be the central meaning and content of life.
They have invented countless justifications for disregarding the clear and direct commands of the Sermon on the Mount.
History’s lessons and the choice between faith and religion
Nearly forty years ago, we were given – perhaps for the last time – a chance to become the Orthodox Church. But instead, we chose once again to resurrect Orthodox religion – that very same religion the Lord shattered on our land over a century ago. Hegel was right: "History teaches us only one thing – that it has taught nothing to any nation." Which means we are facing one of two outcomes: either God will once again sweep this counterfeit faith from the face of the earth, or it will grow stronger with the help of the authorities and become a grotesque parody – one of many monstrosities that will together crown the Antichrist.
Meanwhile, God is sifting us through a sieve. The weeds are being separated from the wheat: supporters of nationalistic worlds, political religions, militarists of every stripe and persuasion, idolaters – all are being separated from those Christians for whom Christ is dearer than anything else. These are the faithful who have not drowned in the sea of words, who have not choked on the dust of political sermons, who have not confused the voice of the Good Shepherd with another.
While the scribes and Pharisees once again crucify Christ and persecute His followers, God quietly gathers His own to Himself.
He gathers them in silence. And they, too, follow Him silently and quietly. The time for speaking is past. Everything has already been said and understood, and everyone has made their choice. Now comes the time of resounding darkness – and our quiet silence.
The lie of the modern world and the salvation of the soul
When we feel the urge to rage, let us remember that the world we see is merely a mirage, a deception – and that everything in it is built on lies. Lies have become the very air we breathe. The media, politicians, journalists, salespeople, advertisers – and even some Orthodox preachers – all breathe this air.
Anyone who justifies the breaking of God’s commandments with some notion of practicality – no matter what kind – even if they quote the Fathers and appeal to common sense – is still lying. Unwittingly, perhaps. They may even truly believe they are speaking the truth. But anything that contradicts the Gospel is always a lie, no matter what name it hides behind.
The only thing in this world we must defend and liberate – is our immortal soul.
There is no longer anything in this world worth killing or dying for. All the wars and cataclysms shaking our planet today stem from lies. They are a last remedy for those who have forgotten the truth. God allows us to suffer and be tormented in order to strip bare the deceit and false prosperity of this world. He confronts us with the truth: that we have never truly possessed anything in this world – nor ever will.
Everything we thought was ours was but a dream. One moment – and all our possessions turn to dust and ash. The world persecutes the Church because the Church carries the truth of God. And lies always hate the truth – and reveal themselves through their hatred.
Freedom or subjugation?
Religion demands submission to the authority of the clergy – even if that authority seeks to mark its fanatical followers with the seal of Cain. Orthodox faith demands nothing of a person – offering instead complete freedom. Everything depends on our own free will and desire. Christ compels no one – He only invites. It is the devil who compels – through lies, flattery, and violence.
God is the supreme, awe-inspiring, boundless power – and at the same time, the deepest humility.
Love and humility are the very essence of the God-Man Christ. This is a mystery. For the strong have no need of humility – they can overcome all. And the humble need no strength, for they do not intend to use it.
God is infinite life. And each of us, created in His image and likeness, is also life without end. Love is the chief path to the knowledge of God. Since the Lord encompasses all things, then in this infinite Divine life everything and everywhere is alive – not of itself, but alive in God. Thus, nothing created by the Creator can be killed. Only what is temporary dies. The human spirit knows no death.
What our soul needs – is freedom in God.
There is no need to conquer nations or lands, to raise revolutions, to demand rights and freedoms, to clamor for justice and so on. All of that is for those who imagine they will live forever on earth; for politicians who lust after power; for oligarchs who profit from it all. But we need only one thing: to free our soul from bondage to this world.
True truth and the path to salvation
People fail to understand one simple, obvious truth: no matter whom you kill, what revolution you spark, how you try to change the world – with a pickaxe or a rifle – this world will always, to the very end of its days, be ruled by scoundrels and rogues. The rich will always live at the expense of the poor; the rulers – at the expense of the people; lies will be called truth; and envy and rage – justice. So it has always been, and so it shall be.
In this world, holiness will never be honored, virtue never respected, nobility never cherished.
All this may be praised in words – but in reality, people will live by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. So it will continue until God burns it all with fire and brings forth a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness will dwell. Political preachers in cassocks urge people to fight the evil world, while wise spiritual guides counsel fleeing from it. And in this lies the fundamental difference between Orthodox religion and Orthodox faith.
The power of humility and divine love
We must never forget that it is our mind that assigns value to everything we see. The mind gives names and definitions to all things. If we would only deny the mind its right to judge and label everything, we might see the world differently. We assume everyone sees the same world – but that’s not true. Each person sees it in their own way. And in that divergence of perception lies the root of all wars, conflicts, quarrels, and strife.
Every “truth-warrior” has his own truth and his own view of the world – and each is ready to go to the bitter end for it, whatever the cost. But all their little truths lead to one tragic conclusion: “And now, behold – Hell. And it’s forever.” Such is the deceit of all the small, aggressive, vengeful truths.
Only he will be saved who endures to the end – without striking back, without killing, without avenging himself or anyone else; who keeps peace and love in his heart; who does not become embittered, who curses no one.
This is that union of strength and humility that makes a person godlike. For to humble oneself requires great strength – far more than it takes to take revenge. Christ could have pulverized His executioners into dust, scattered them to atoms. But He said only one thing of them to the Heavenly Father: “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.”
Spiritual joy is found in unity with God
True human joy is not found in being pleased with the world, but in union with God. When we are one with Christ – and in Him, one with each other – that is happiness. But if we hate even one person – let alone an entire nation – then the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven will remain forever closed to us.
Spiritual joy is the incorruptible light of the Holy Spirit, descending into the chambers of our heart.
Christ shed His Blood on the Cross not so we would kill one another “for the truth,” but so that we might be saved and enter into eternal life. It is not righteous anger that leads a man to salvation, but dispassion and inner peace in all circumstances of life.
Such a state is not granted to those who do nothing. Dispassion is the victory of the spirit over the mind and over the world: “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14).
The value of spiritual experience
When asking how we are to live, we must ask God – not our own mind. God will surely answer – we need only have patience. Egoism is always butting in with its advice – and that intrusiveness is how we can recognize it. God answers with grace – full of love and humility. We know His Name – God – but what lies behind that Name is hidden from us. As is all that lies behind the names of the world around us. God’s Providence is hidden too. Therefore, we should not rush to judge what is happening around us.
Perhaps one day we will understand – that all our losses were, in fact, gain.
The demons can snatch away our book knowledge of God in an instant – and no theological theory will help in a moment of trial. But the spiritual experience we have actually lived – not even Satan with all his legions can steal from us.
Meekness and humility – conquerors of fate
If we reject the circumstances of life, they return and strike us again with the force of a taut string. But when we overcome them with meekness and humility, we draw out their strength – and they gradually lose their power over us. We must not imitate spirituality with false humility, pious sighs, or humble-sounding speech. We must not play the saint, or pretend to be one. A priest should not pretend to be a priest before his flock; a bishop should not play the bishop. We must not try to fit into images crafted by our lying minds – posing as what we think others expect to see.
Worse still is when this performance conceals a thirst for power: “What? I have the right – God gave it to me.” The flock, likewise, should not pretend to be humble sheep – replacing inner truth with outward show, posing as what does not exist within. Be who you are – and strive to become better – but do not play a role before either God or people. God seeks sincerity from us in everything – in service, in prayer, in repentance, in simplicity, and in purity.
May God grant that we all be united in Him. That is a great happiness!
Let us remember: as long as the world endures, “the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Divisions and temptations will enter our lives, testing our faith and probing our love. Let not our hearts be troubled by what is happening around us – in the world or in the Church. For “all these things must come to pass” (Matt. 24:6).
