Good or Holy?
If I were to ask one of your friends to describe your character, chances are they would describe you as a “good” person. In today’s world, it seems that anyone who is not a menace to society is worthy of being labeled a “good” person – your teachers are “good” people (or maybe not, depending on how much homework they give), your colleagues are “good” people, your neighbors are “good” people, and rightfully so. I believe that all people are worthy of being called “good” as a result of being God’s “good” creation (cf. Gen. 1:31). Though the real question is: would your friends describe you as “holy?” The world is full of “good” people, but the world is in desperate need of “holy” people. In this series, I will define and discuss the difference between “good” and “holy” people with hopes that the reader will resolve to grow in their holiness.
The Sinful Woman In the House of the Pharisee
It happened that a sinful woman met the Lord Jesus Christ in the house of a Pharisee (Luke 7) in an encounter filled with mystery. When we look closely at this encounter, we can note the important language used by the Lord Jesus Christ. And, all the while, the woman did not speak a word, but expressed herself through her tears, kisses, and fragrant oil.
A Great Trade
God’s word is likened to a table of appetizing food. Whoever sits at this table and partakes of this word enjoys it greatly and leaves the table gratified.
A Delicate Artist and Deep Fountain
+ I first met him in the midst of a stay in the Baramous Monastery in July of the year 1980. At that time, he was the supervisor of the retreat house in the monastery. During my stay, I was able to pray a liturgy with him alongside 5 other youth from the church of Saint George of Sporting, Alexandria. We had just completed our final high school exams and were awaiting the results.
Stumbling Block (V) To Eat or Not to Eat?
Around 50-60 A.D., an interesting dilemma developed in the Church of the Corinthians. Throughout the Roman Empire, animal sacrifices were offered to the pagan gods. Following the ritual offering, the remainder of the animal that was not consumed in the ceremony was sold in the public market places. Christians shopping in the market began to question whether it was permissible to eat things sacrificed to idols. In this article, we will see how St. Paul answered this puzzling question, and, from his response, we will learn a general principle that will aid us in avoiding being a stumbling block.
Stumbling Block (IV) The Stumbling Block of Sexual Immorality
In the previous articles, we discussed what it means to be a stumbling block, and we examined how Balaam and Jezebel were stumbling blocks to Israel and how they led the nation to commit fornication. For this reason, I wish to speak in this article about the most common stumbling block that is still plaguing our community: sexual immorality.
Stumbling Block (III) Jezebel, the Stumbling Block Queen
In the last article, we learned how Balaam, in his greed for power and money, became one of the most infamous stumbling blocks in the Bible. In this article, we will learn of someone else who was worse than Balaam, namely Jezebel. Jezebel was married to King Ahab, so she was the Queen of Israel.
Stumbling Block (II) Balaam, the Stumbling Block Prophet
In the last article, we discussed the concept of stumbling blocks and how God greatly despises those who cause His children to fall into sin. In this article, we will examine one of the two most infamous stumbling blocks in the Bible.
Stumbling Block (1) Don’t Be a Stumbling Block, Be a Building Block
A week before my ordination, my family and I were visiting the monastery of St. Paul, located in the eastern desert of Egypt next to the Red Sea. Our gracious tour guide, a very simple monk, unlocked all the ancient churches and showed us many of the ancient buildings. One room that he showed us was the mill room where the monks of old used to grind wheat to make flour for bread. The monks would place the wheat on a flat stone surface, and then a donkey would pull another huge piece of stone, called the mill stone, to roll over, crush, and grind the wheat as illustrated in the following picture.
I Felt Humbled
I am writing this article from Maseno, west of Kenya, near Lake Victoria. I have with me over forty youth, the majority from Chicago and New Jersey. Bishop Anba Boulos, the bishop of missionary work for the Coptic Church, is hosting us with his generous hospitality. He has a heart flowing with fiery love. God is using him amazingly in the mission work in this area and in many other areas in Africa for the salvation of many souls.
Deification
Deification is the ancient theological word used to describe the process by which a Christian becomes more like God. St. Peter speaks of this process when he writes, "As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness . . . you may be partakers of the divine nature" (2Peter 1:3,4)
The Fast of the Apostles
We read in the Gospel of St. Mark: "The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, ‘Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days’” (Mark 2:18-20).