Comments on: What Matters?

By: Aunt Melanie

Aunt Melanie — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:58:57 +0000

“Knowing God is not in itself an intellectual activity…” As somebody who likes to think but who is not an intellectual or an academic, I found this message to be a relief. I often wish I had more years ahead of me so that I could read all the wonderful written works of Christendom–the doctrines, the lives of the saints, the history–and understand it all. And, sometimes I feel quite inferior and out of place because I do not have this background and training. I wish I could consume all the libraries of the world like Communion bread–which is probably an oxymoron.

“…we know God because knowledge of God is life itself…” of which intellectual knowledge can only be a part–and there are other parts such as icons and loving one’s neighbor and praying. And, I suppose each individual balances these qualities within the capacities of their own life.

“This blog does not matter…” Indeed, “this matters” and is fulfilling its purpose even in this very moment.

By: Why You Can’t Do Orthodoxy By the Book (or the Blog) « Glory to God for All Things

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 13:03:05 +0000

[...] There is a grave problem with Orthodoxy – you can’t do it by the book. Even less so, can you do it by the internet (he says as he types away at his blog). The reason for all this is simple: we teach that God has revealed Himself as Person. As I’ve noted before, God cannot be known in general or in a non-personal way. Indeed, it is God Who reveals to us what it means to be personal. Prior to the revelation of the Trinity, mankind did not know of truly personal existence. It is the gift of God. [...]

By: Melanie

Melanie — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 23:14:44 +0000

I have enjoyed so very much reading your posts, and they give me much think about. This one really has been really nice, as I am much more in the habit of thinking about God and just beginning to understand what it means to know him.

Thank You,
Melanie

By: Alyssa

Alyssa — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 18:49:30 +0000

Thank you for expanding on this.

By: fatherstephen

fatherstephen — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 20:26:38 +0000

Of course, in a sense, everything matters to God, but not the way we would typically use that phrase. Delusion does not matter except inasmuch as it destroys us. But what matters here to God is us, and not the delusion. In the catechumenal process, an appropriate question to ask is, “Why does God want me to be Orthodox?” My answer to that was clear, “God wants me to be Orthodox for the salvation of my soul.” Not in any legal or forensic sense, viz. only the Orthodox get their tickets punched. That’s silly. But because by faithfully following the Orthodox Way of life, which is the way “once and for all delivered to the saints,” I will find that by His grace, God is changing me from glory to glory into the image of His dear son.”

By: Alyssa

Alyssa — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 19:54:05 +0000

Fr. Stephen,

In the retraining of my mind, this post is very helpful. It is not the first time I have heard it, but I am dense and need to be reminded often.

I have one question, though. Is there something about which God does not care? Is there something that does not matter?

Thanks,
Alyssa

By: Steven Todd Kaster

Steven Todd Kaster — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 05:30:10 +0000

“Knowing God is not in itself an intellectual activity for God is not an idea, nor a thought. God may be known because He is person. Indeed, He is only made known to us as person (we do not know His essence). We cannot know God objectively – that is He is not the object of our knowledge. He is known as we know a person. This is always a free gift, given to us in love. Thus knowledge of God is always a revelation, always a matter of grace, never a matter of achievement or attainment.”

The personalism of Eastern theology is what attracted me to the Ruthenian Church.

Thanks for the wonderful post.

God bless,
Todd