Jul 15, 2011

Passing Judgement or not

I've joined an Orthodox group on the Internet. One of the things that has surprised me is the amount of disagreement amongst so-called Orthodox. Some of them get very angry and call each other names. This seems to be very much at odds with much of the teachings of the Father's. Here below is a quote from St Macarius, the Great.
"Christians, therefore, should strive in all things and ought not to pass judgement of any kind on anyone not on the prostitute nor on sinners nor on disorderly persons. But should look on all persons with a single mind and a pure eye so that it may be for such a person almost a natural fixed attitude never to despise or judge or abhor anyone or divide people and place them into boxes.
If you see a man with one eye, do not make any judgement in your heart but regard him as though he were whole. If someone has a maimed hand, see him not as maimed. See the crippled a straight, the paralytic as healthy. For this is purity of heart, that when you see the sinners and weak, you have compassion and shown mercy toward them"  

2 comments:

Athair Ambrois said...

Internet Orthodoxy is not real life in the parishes. I sat in on a few Anglican lists ("Saint Sam's" comes to mind) for several years and the level of bitchiness is high.

Athair Ambrois said...

Internet Orthodoxy is not real life in the parishes. I sat in on several Anglican lists ("Saint Sam's" come to mind) and the level of bitchiness was high, pens dripping with acid..