More Enough!
Okay, so I've had a few days to calm down regarding the most recent developments in the scandal in the OCA. Now maybe I can post something on it a little more edifying than my wisenheimer comments in Enough!
The Church has survived persecutions by Communists that have killed millions, by Muslims that have killed millions more, and on and on back through history to the time of Nero, when there weren't millions of Christians to kill. Through it all the Church has endured and grown. She has also survived crooked priests and bishops whose crimes make those of the current lot seem petty, and She has grown stronger. She has endured in all of this because of Who dwells in her. She has endured because there have been millions who have been willing to suffer torture and death for the sake of Him. Included in these millions are priests and bishops who have preferred exile, torture, prison, hanging, poison and bullets rather than deny the Truth.
The Church will survive this present scandal because of Who continues to dwell in Her. Despite the fact that the millions of dollars that have been misappropriated have apparently bought many influential friends, the blood that was shed on that first Great and Holy Friday has bought many more. And these latter friends are working for a more powerful Spirit than the sickly, self-devouring spirit of greed. Those who have aligned themselves against truth and goodness in the present scandal have aligned themselves against Truth and Goodness. No, this struggle is not over, and there are those who will have to sacrifice much and endure further persecutions to see it through. But looking at how the battle lines have been drawn and how similar battles have ended over the centuries, there is no doubt in my mind Who will win.
The Church has survived persecutions by Communists that have killed millions, by Muslims that have killed millions more, and on and on back through history to the time of Nero, when there weren't millions of Christians to kill. Through it all the Church has endured and grown. She has also survived crooked priests and bishops whose crimes make those of the current lot seem petty, and She has grown stronger. She has endured in all of this because of Who dwells in her. She has endured because there have been millions who have been willing to suffer torture and death for the sake of Him. Included in these millions are priests and bishops who have preferred exile, torture, prison, hanging, poison and bullets rather than deny the Truth.
The Church will survive this present scandal because of Who continues to dwell in Her. Despite the fact that the millions of dollars that have been misappropriated have apparently bought many influential friends, the blood that was shed on that first Great and Holy Friday has bought many more. And these latter friends are working for a more powerful Spirit than the sickly, self-devouring spirit of greed. Those who have aligned themselves against truth and goodness in the present scandal have aligned themselves against Truth and Goodness. No, this struggle is not over, and there are those who will have to sacrifice much and endure further persecutions to see it through. But looking at how the battle lines have been drawn and how similar battles have ended over the centuries, there is no doubt in my mind Who will win.
posted by Rich @ 05:35
1 Comments:
At 1:22 AM,
Brad the Dad said…
Gotta say I haven't read through all your previous posts to know what the battle is that you are facing, but hey, good word. It is refreshing to see someone speaking out the truth about the church.
I have heard many speak of the failings of the church (one even ended his speech with a prayer giving credit to God as the one Who builds it. What??!!), but I have heard very few identify Her for Who She is.
Very cool.
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