Good Guys Wear Black | Discerning Your Vocation In The Orthodox Church
For Orthodox Christian Men Discerning A Vocation
by Ruth Siemens How Well Did Paul’s Strategy Work? Many of his lay evangelists were from unsavory, uneducated, pagan backgrounds. Most were slaves. None had anthropological or missiological training. It cost Paul dearly to bring them the gospel, and they risked their lives without pay to take it to others. Paul had provided a model of suffering. In ten years (the three journeys took a decade) Paul and his friends (a small team Read more…
by Ruth Siemens Why Did Paul Work When He Did Not Have To? We will consider only three of the several reasons he gives. The first two are part of his formal defense in 1 Cor. 9 and the third is in 2 Thess. 3. 1. Credibility Paul says twice that he works in order not to put an “obstacle” in the way of the Gospel, so his message and motivation will not become suspect to the Gentiles. (It was fine for Peter and others to get Read more…
By Dan Miller Thank you Fr. Wade Fahnestock for bring this to my attention. From 48 Days blog. Okay, here’s a sticky theological question from a reader: Dan, I love to share my faith with others and I seem to have many natural talents, skills and abilities suited for being a minister. However, I believe that no matter how suited someone may be for ministry they must be called of God in order to be a Minister. Talent is nothing Read more…
by a Priest of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. With no judgment on clergy who do not follow these injunctions, I have always found that dressing appropriately as an Orthodox priest was also a great mission and outreach tool. The opportunities it presents are without equal. In issue no. 6 of The Russian Pastor, an article by Archpriest Boris Kizenko, "Do not associate yourself with this age," was printed. There he touched Read more…
by Elder Paisios I see today a certain love to be the first. Many rush to be first - clergy, etc. Yet they base themselves on human strengths and do not get anywhere. If God calls someone to an office, then God is "obligated" to help him to bring to pass his mission. Those who rush are hassled by various problems and their conscience, both now and in the next life. Christians do not ask much from the clergy. Only two things - that Read more…
by Humbert of Romans As the primary responsibility of any competent clergyman is preaching with excellence, I decided to repost this portion of "On the Formation of Preachers" from Preachers Institute, and post it here. Meditate on these words well, and put them into action! Chapter Two VIII. Knowledge Required by a Preacher We must not overlook the high degree of learning that is necessary for preachers, who are commissioned to Read more…
By St. Cyril of Alexandria Considering a vocation? Then it is a good idea to ponder and meditate on how the Lord Jesus Christ decided on who He called to be Apostles. "And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve, whom He also named apostles." (Lk 6: 13) Choosing the Twelve Apostles Our Lord Jesus Christ spent the night in prayer, conversing with His Father and God in heaven in a way Read more…
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