-
Entering the Mystery of Christmas
Read more: Entering the Mystery of ChristmasOrthodox Christianity is deeply associated with the word “mystery.” Its theological hymns are replete with paradox, repeatedly affirming two things to be true that are seemingly contradictory. Most of these things are associated with what is called “apophatic” theology, or a theology that is “unspeakable.” This same theological approach is sometimes called the Via Negativa. […]
-
The Morality of Christmas
Read more: The Morality of ChristmasMorality is tricky business in what is an extremely moral society. I pray my readers to be patient with me as I explain what I think is the problem. First, I will note that morality is all that is left when the most fundamental grounds of a culture have been destroyed. We indeed live in […]
-
God’s Un-American View of the Poor and Why It Matters
Read more: God’s Un-American View of the Poor and Why It MattersAmerica has an odd view of the poor. It is a view that reveals much about the underlying theological assumptions that create and support our culture. I will quickly quell any protests about the mixing of theology and politics by saying, everything, even politics is rooted in theology. More about that later on… In general […]
-
A Secular Kingdom…Where Christmas Never Comes
Read more: A Secular Kingdom…Where Christmas Never ComesTwo people are working at a soup kitchen, feeding the poor. One of them is a Christian, the other an atheist. The Christian is doing what he does out of obedience to Christ, in order to serve Christ “in the least of these my brethren.” The atheist is doing what he does because he […]
-
A Difficult Orthodoxy
Read more: A Difficult OrthodoxyThe difference between “right glory” and “right doctrine,” noted in my previous article, goes much deeper than services of worship. It is true that the Church has, throughout her history, taken great care with liturgical practice so that what is done gives expression to what is believed. The two should be seamless. This, however, becomes […]
-
Sacrifice and Worship
Read more: Sacrifice and WorshipIn the 1970’s, the BBC did a series, “The Long Search,” in which Ronald Eyre explored various religions. To my mind, it remains the best such series I’ve seen. When it came to Christianity, the series wisely presented three separate treatments: the Orthodox, the Catholics and Protestants. In its program on Orthodoxy, Eyre traveled to […]
-
Why Does God Hide?
Read more: Why Does God Hide?God hides. God makes Himself known. God hides. This pattern runs throughout the Scriptures. A holy hide-and-seek, the pattern is not accidental nor unintentional. It is rooted in the very nature of things in the Christian life. Christianity whose God is not hidden is not Christianity at all. But why is this so? In a […]
-
The Senselessness of Suffering and Death
Read more: The Senselessness of Suffering and DeathI recently posted a note on social media in which I said that Christ’s death and resurrection changed the “senseless” character of death. Therefore, Christians need no longer fear it. I got a bit of push-back. What is senseless about suffering and death? There are two aspects of suffering and death that are particularly felt […]
-
Care for the Soul
Read more: Care for the SoulThis article first appeared in 2015. It seems very apropos to our present moment. Glory to God for all things. I do not understand Zombies. When I was a child, Zombie movies were virtually non-existent. The word referred to something like a Golem in Jewish thought – a creature without a soul. It is properly […]
-
Of Kings and Things and What Matters
Read more: Of Kings and Things and What MattersOn October 25, 1415 (St. Crispin’s Day), the army of King Henry V of England engaged the army of Charles VI of France at Agincourt, in Northern France. The battle was famously depicted in Shakespeare’s Henry V. Estimates say that as many as 10,000 Frenchmen died, while as few as 112 Englishmen perished (the numbers […]
Subscribe to blog via email
Support the work
Your generous support for Glory to God for All Things will help maintain and expand the work of Fr. Stephen. This ministry continues to grow and your help is important. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement!
Latest Comments
Dee, But, Moses (the Lawgiver) who most famously spoke with God on the mountain. Elijah, I think, both because God…
Father, Why Moses and Elijah rather than King David or Abraham or Samuel or Isaiah or Daniel? You bring up…
Mallory, Such good questions! I think that, even though the Scriptures have many stories of divine encounters, etc., they are…
When I first heard “Before Abraham was, I am” I felt completely and fully at peace and calm, for no…
Read my books
Listen to my podcast
Please Read
Categories
Archives
Oh dear, yes Elijah not Ezekiel. I’m working on another biblical related topic. Thank you for that correction and the…