The missing link

[razeontherock]

"If a man readily and joyfully accepts a loss for the sake of God, he is inwardly pure. And if he does not look down upon any man because of his defects, in very truth he is free. If a man is not pleased with someone who honors him, nor displeased with someone who dishonors him, he is dead to the world and to this life. The watchfulness of discernment is superior to every discipline of men accomplished in any way to any degree. Do not hate the sinner. For we are all laden with guilt. If for the sake of God you are moved to oppose him, weep over him. Why do you hate him? Hate his sins and pray for him. We are mocked by the devil in many instances, so why should we hate the man who is mocked by him who mocks us also? Why, O man, do you hate the sinner? Could it be because he is not so righteous as you? But where is your righteousness when you have no love?"

- Homily 60 of Saint Isaac the Syrian


This is (at least a large part of) what's missing from Christianity, and Christians today. So those of you here who like to take pot shots at it for whatever reason, or loathe it outright, give 'er a go at the contents of the above paragraph. Show us C's how it's done ...

 

[Qman]

I believe this post is going unresponded to because it is not immediately clear what exactly this thread's purpose is.

I read the paragraph, but what leaves me in a state of confusion regarding this thread is the comments following the paragraph.

Could you please clarify what kind of response you are trying to evoke?

 

[razeontherock]

What makes you think I want to evoke a response?

Who's the author, and what response did He want to evoke when writing this? I just read it now, and I think it's the missing link btw what the church is today, and what believers need to see. If somebody thinks the concept(s) in the paragraph is a bad idea, or whatever ...

 

[hikersong]

The guy seems to be describing an attitude of humility and contentment, using Christian language of sin and Buddhist/Christian language of death to self desires. Setting aside the language, we can all do well to endeavour to clothe ourselves with those attitudes, whatever our beliefs. Not sure what the link is between this and people taking potshots at Christianity though Ray.

 

[razeontherock]

Well if the stuff in the OP were commonplace among Christians, people could still take potshots at it. It'd just be a lot less likely, harder, and more obviously abuse.

As it is, lacking what's in the OP sure leaves us wide open ...

 

[hikersong]

Well if the stuff in the OP were commonplace among Christians, people could still take potshots at it. It'd just be a lot less likely, harder, and more obviously abuse.

Maybe so. But could we make a distinction between "taking potshots" and disagreeing, or not believing what you believe. And it is not just Christianity that this applies to. For instance on this forum I would tend to pay far more attention to something that JJ White says than some other muslim contributors, simply because she has a humble, listening attitude, though it doesn't mean that I'll agree with her. However, and perhaps making your point, the attitude towards her by a majority of the Christians on this board is decidedly antagonistic simply because she has the nerve to be a representative of "evil" islam.

As it is, lacking what's in the OP sure leaves us wide open

It certainly doesn't help when that is the case. But maybe you need to be saying this (my guess is you probably are ) in the many sections of this forum that are for Christian only discussion.

 

[Zoness]

...

 

[razeontherock]

could we make a distinction between "taking potshots" and disagreeing, or not believing what you believe?

WARNING: Palinism ahead. You betcha!

 

[MattRose]

"The watchfulness of discernment is superior to every discipline of men accomplished in any way to any degree." Ok I know it's English, but it might be better if you use another translation as this one has obviously been pranked. Maybe if you restated it as you understand it.

 

[razeontherock]

it might be better if you use another translation as this one has obviously been pranked.

You base your opinion on what?

 

[MattRose]

You base your opinion on what?

I base it on the fact that that sentence I quoted earlier appears to be a random combination of words. It didn't make any sense to me anyway. We doesn't talk like that no mores.

 

[razeontherock]

Yeah well, when do you suppose it was written?

 

[dlamberth]

.... and what response did He want to evoke when writing this?

The response that Saint Isaac the Syrian was trying to invoke in us is an inner search of our heart while riding the question of what it might look like to be Christ like.

.

 

[MattRose]

Yeah well, when do you suppose it was written?

Without cheating by using the internet, I would guess in the 1200's. Not too sure when Assyria changed owership.

 

[razeontherock]

The watchfulness of discernment

So it becomes important to be able to attach meaning to this phrase, before you can understand much of what he was getting at. Surely you can get some meaning out of these 4 words? Might not be what I make out of them, but that's irrelevant. What the original author intended is what matters ...