How would you greet a bishop?

SaintNick said:

Except I'm the victor.

Click to expand...

David Cabrera said:

How does one body affect the point?

Click to expand...

Does your hand address your mouth with a title before it will put in food? Will your mouth look down upon the hand after it takes in the nourishment needed to energize the hand? While not realizing the hand is also supplying nourishment for the mouth's own use?

David Cabrera said:

Ok, this is getting nonsensical now.

Click to expand...

No it is not. Its taking you out of your apparent comfort zone.

David Cabrera said:

How does one body affect the point?

Click to expand...

Does one part get more honor than another?

I'm not sure what to make of these posts from our Protestant friends like Genez and others. They don't seem to make a lot of sense. I asked about St. Peter's use of elevated language and got a response about not calling anyone "Father", even though that's not present in any of the salutations (though he does call Timothy "a beloved son"...hmmmmmm... ).

So what is there to say about that? I think we're having different conversations by this point.

dzheremi said:

I'm not sure what to make of these posts from our Protestant friends like Genez and others. They don't seem to make a lot of sense. I asked about St. Peter's use of elevated language and got a response about not calling anyone "Father", even though that's not present in any of the salutations (though he does call Timothy "a beloved son"...hmmmmmm... ).

So what is there to say about that? I think we're having different conversations by this point.

Click to expand...

Sorry missed it. Whats the scripture?

The salutation from his second epistle to his disciple St. Timothy. I chose from that, his epistle to the Romans, and his first epistle from the Corinthians, though the same point would apply to any of his canonical epistles, and really the entire Bible. That's the point: this is so well established, by what rationale do we reduce it or otherwise not follow it in our interactions with our bishops today, as they are the successors to these very same people? (To St. Paul and the other apostles and disciples.)

If all these people clamoring for respect to be given by honoring their "title," were to show the same respect for dedicating their lives to constant study and growth in the Word of God? There would be no need for formalities.

Respect will be intuitive and earned. Not demanded. Only demanded when believers rebel and want to run contrary to the truth (not, merely rules and traditions = religion)

I have seen too many teachers who are superficial, but have an effect over the people who show a near superstitious religious deference to those whom have a title. But, the same people never being taught what is needed to be made strong and mature in Christ. That requires in-depth knowledge and understanding that these merely academically inclined religious men have no desire for. Its all become secularized. Satan feels secure when that is achieved. No threat to his domain when Christianity can be neutralized. Satan is the king of forming religions. True Christianity to him is like holding up a crucifix to a vampire. That is why he so carefully grooms men for teaching religion.

dzheremi said:

The salutation from his second epistle to his disciple St. Timothy. I chose from that, his epistle to the Romans, and his first epistle from the Corinthians, though the same point would apply to any of his canonical epistles, and really the entire Bible. That's the point: this is so well established, by what rationale do we reduce it or otherwise not follow it in our interactions with our bishops today, as they are the successors to these very same people? (To St. Paul and the other apostles and disciples.)

Click to expand...

I believe in exalting the word given us, not the speaker.

W2L said:

I believe in exalting the word given us, not the speaker.

Click to expand...

And yet Christ was incarnate as a man, not as a text. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

genez said:

If all these people clamouring for respect to be given by honoring their "title" were to show the same respect for dedicating their lives to constant study and growth in the Word of God?

Click to expand...

There was no hint given about any clamoring for respect to be given to any title.

The same people who wouldn't address a bishop with at least the title of bishop don't hesitate to call their physician "Doctor," I am sure, nor do they think of that as giving into any "clamoring."

dzheremi said:

And yet Christ was incarnate as a man, not as a text. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Click to expand...

And yet His words are spirit and life

David Cabrera said:

I'm sure this could apply to the head yet we know why you won't apply that concept.

Click to expand...

Christ is the head. He is our BRAIN...

He wants us to become one with Him. He was the Word made flesh. And? He is the Word of God found in John 1:1. How well we truly understand God's Word will reflect in how well we function in the body part we have been assigned.Many are paralyzed and crippled and do not know it.

When the body parts are malfunctioning? What happens?

W2L said:

And yet His words are spirit and life

Click to expand...

Yes; how could they not be, when He Himself is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life?

My point, in case it was not clear, is that to deny proper honor to those whom Christ has given the responsibility of shepherding His flock amounts to nothing less than an implicit denial of the incarnation itself. You exalt the book or the speech or the whatever as something separate from the presence of God in the man or men who have written it, canonized it, or spoken it, dividing the life-giving Word from His creation in the name of not exalting a man...all the while paradoxically recognizing that Christ is a man!

So, as Christ is incarnate as a man, blessing our nature in Himself by assuming it from the ever-virgin St. Mary the Theotokos (cf. St. Gregory Nazianzen: "That which is not assumed is not saved"), would it not make more sense to 'exalt' a man as being indwelt by the Holy Spirit (as Christ specifically told us would happen; Matthew 10:19-20), as our Lord's incarnation itself is what makes such an indwelling possible? Or are we going to pretend as though the incarnation only affected the Word of God Himself, and did not have any effect on the wider world or the people in it? Or maybe it only affected the world insofar as people in it may preach from a text that you recognize? (But would not have were it not for the work of great saints such HH St. Athanasius, St. Jerome, the fathers of the councils at Carthage that accepted HH St. Athansius' canon, etc.)

I'm sorry, but I cannot follow such a position that implicitly denies that our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ became man by the power of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary. That's what the incarnation is. That's why we have a New Testament at all.

dzheremi said:

Yes; how could they not be, when He Himself is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life?

My point, in case it was not clear, is that to deny proper honor to those whom Christ has given the responsibility of shepherding His flock amounts to nothing less than an implicit denial of the incarnation itself.

Click to expand...

How highly you exalt yourself. Prove your responsibility by how well you feed (teach) your flock.

Anyone (with some teaching ability) can teach something.

Very few know how, and what to teach.

Alithis said:

Its likely i would share the Gospel of Jesus with them calling on them to repent... I do so without respect of persons.

Click to expand...

Do you share the Gospel with all clergy, or is this a jab at Orthodox clergy in particular? Most members of the clergy know the Gospel quite well already.

PloverWing said:

Do you share the Gospel with all clergy, or is this a jab at Orthodox clergy in particular? Most members of the clergy know the Gospel quite well already.

Click to expand...

Billy Graham had led ministers to the Lord. Wake up. Religion has become a business.

One would think those child molesting priests have yet to have the Holy Spirit enter them in regeneration. Religion sets a scene for learning the program and getting a job.