My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord, God and Savior,
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! ΑΛΗΘΩΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!
IS SPIRITUAL PERFECTION ATTAINABLE?
"Jesus said to him, ‘If you want TO BE PERFECT, go, sell
what you have and give to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me" [Matthew 19:21].
Jesus said, "Therefore YOU SHALL BE PERFECT, just
as your Father in heaven IS PERFECT" [Matthew 5:48].
"…Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, TO A PERFECT MAN,
to the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ” [Ephesians 4:13].
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As Orthodox Christians, we only need to look closely at the divine person of the Theotokos, the lives of the countless, Saints, Holy Fathers, Holy Mothers, Holy Confessors, Holy Martyrs, to truly understand what it means to be perfect, to attain holiness and ultimately theosis. Theosis is the spiritual goal of each Orthodox Christian who is involved in a movement toward God. Theosis, or deification, is the process of becoming more like God and more holy, and of experiencing communion with God. It is a spiritual journey that involves acquiring godly characteristics, gaining immortality and incorruptibility, and becoming united with God. Orthodox Christians believe that God intended this process for humanity at creation, but that the Fall caused humans to lose the ability to achieve it. We believe that the Incarnation and work of Jesus Christ have made it possible again.
For the Orthodox Christian believer, salvation is a process that encompasses not only the whole earthly life of the Christian, but also the Eternal LIfe of the age to come. It is often described in terms of the three stages-PURIFICATION (katharsis), ILLUMINATION (theoria) and DIVINIZATION (theosis). SALVATION is therefore not only becoming sinless (purification), but it is also progress in being filled with the Divine Light (illumination). And it is becoming so filled with God in union with Him that we shine with the likeness of God. In some cases that means even literally becoming a bearer of the Uncreated Light, which is a physically visible ligtht from God that is His presence, such as at the Transfiguration [Matthew 17:1-6; Mark 9:1-8; Luke 9:28-36] or when Moses spoke with God on Mt. Sinai [Exodus 34:29-35]. Though this terminology of three stages is sometimes used, there is overlap between them, and the whole process itself is also called theosis.
It is only and through Jesus Christ that we can be saved [John 14:6]. SALVATION CANNOT BE EARNED. IT IS A FREE GIFT FROM GOD. But being saved requires OUR COOPERATION (SYNERGY) WITH GOD, because God will NOT VIOLATE OUR FREE WILL. A life of REPENTANCE IS NEEDED – that’s TURNING AWAY FROM OUR SIN AND TOWARD GOD. Along with repentance, participation in the DIVINE MYSTERIES (SACRAMENTS), like baptism and Holy Communion, is how we cooperate with God. God’s grace not only forgives sins through Christ’s ATONING SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS BUT ALSO MAKES US MORE LIKE CHRIST. This cooperation is called SYNERGY (SYNERGEIA), MAKING US CO-WORKERS WITH GOD [1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:10.
Having made clear the Orthodox Christian theological position on theosis (deification) one understands there is a great deal more to attaining it than a luke-warm effort on our part. As anyone can see, there is a life-time commitment and sacrifice that a believer must be willing to undertake. No Christian should ever be satisfied with one's weak expressions of faith. The basic characteristics of Christians, are the virtues which contribute to UNITY: though we are many persons, we share ONE NEW NATURE. Though we are members of the Most Exalted body, the Greatness is of God, not of ourselves. Even the cohesiveness of this body is the work of God.
The nature of man is to reduce everything to the least degree so as not exert himself or over work. We need to pay a greater attention to man's inventions and technology to see the things he has invented to make his life more comfortable, effortless, and convenient. Especially currently the advancements in science and artificial intelligence (AI). Man desires his future life to be effortless, painless, and with absolutely no demands on him or responsibilities. Christianity does not agree to man's obsession with comfort, pleasure, and aimlessness. Christians are expected to grow in Christ and to progress spiritually. The Holy Church in which Christian life develops, is not primarily an organization, but an ORGANISM WHOSE PARTS OR MEMBERS RECEIVE THEIR EDIFYING POWER FROM CHRIST GROW UP INTO CHRIST. The Holy Apostle Paul does not look at the Christian as AN ISOLATED INDIVIDUAL WALKING TOWARDS PERFECTION, BUT AS A MEMBER OF THE BODY, STRIVING TO REACH THE PERFECT FAITH AND FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD. Thus UNITY OF FAITH CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD.
The life of the Orthodox Christian is a life of constant struggle and ascesis. The process of Christian growth requires SOUR FREE-WILL COMMITMENT TO WALK IN "RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS." Saint Paul exhorts us, "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer WALK AS THE REST OF THE GENTILES WALK, IN THE FUTILITY OF THEIR MIND, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have NOT so learned Christ, IF INDEED YOU HAVE HEARD HIM AND HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BY HIM, AS THE TRUTH IS IN JESUS: THAT YOU PUT OFF, CONCERNING YOUR FORMER CONDUCT ACCORDING TO THE DECEITFUL LUSTS, AND TO BE RENEWED TO THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND, AND THAT YOU PUT ON THE NEW MAN WHICH WAS CREATED ACCORDING TO GOD, IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS" [Ephesians 4:17-24].
A child of the light can no longer act as a child of darkness. A change of life-style is possible because of Christ, the original NEW MAN." So Christ MUST BE "LEARNED," and RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM MUST "BE RENEWED," a process implying INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP. Further, Christ must be "PUT ON", a clothing metaphor, an allusion to baptism and the haptismal robe. While spiritual grace makes man heavenly, righteousness is both a gift and a goal, a present reality and a promise to be striven for. The way we live AFFECTS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, but also with each other–FOR IN CHRIST WE ARE "MEMBERS OF ONE ANOTHER [4:25]. The moral conduct for the NEW HUMANITY IS THE LIFE APPROPRIATE TO A CHILD OF GOD (5:1)–of the Father (4:32-5:1), the Son of man, demonstrated in self-sacrificing service (5:2 "GIVEN HIMSELF FOR US"); and love of God; manifested in worship ("an offering and a sacrifice to" God. Saint Paul especially emphasizes that Christians must avoid sexual immorality, not just the act of thinking and talking about it also, and greed, which treats things as if they were gods. Ungodly thoughts as well as behavior can keep believers out of His Kingdom.
I believe now that we all have a better understanding of Orthodox Christian spirituality which is a life in Christ and a life in the Spirit. Most of us haven’t even scratched the surface of authentic spirituality. Contemporary Christians are confused and are lost spiritually. Because Christians are fragmented badly, they cannot come to a common understanding about the genuine Gospel message and have lost, some less and others more, sight of Christ. If one was to examine the life of an unbeliever, a Gentile, a pagan and that of some contemporary Christian, he would not see much difference in morality, in greed, in possession of things, in goals, in life-styles, in pride, in selfishness, in politics, in raising their children, in priorities, in permissiveness, etc. There are many who give their own false interpretation of the Divine Teachings of Christ God and always attempt to distort the truth. No matter how determined mankind is to adulterate and to dilute the faith he will never succeed. Saint Paul admonishes us "not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" [Ephesians 4:30].
"Therefore, be IMITATORS OF GOD as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints…" [Ephesians 5:1-5]. Everything that a true Chritian needs to live a life in Christ can be found in the Holy Scripture, the Holy Tradition of the Church, and the sacred teachings of the Holy Fathers of the Church. The loyal Christian follower does not make any compromises in anything pertaining to the Faith, does not listen to the secular world and government which are contrary to the commandments of God, does not fear persecution of any kind, is willing to confess openly his/her faith in the only Savior of the world, Jesus Christ and his/her love for Him is unconditional as is God’s love for mankind.
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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Glorious and Divine Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 