Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Categories
- All Categories 13.8K
- General Category 10.9K
- General Announcements 184
- Faith Issues 3.4K
- Coptic Orthodox Church 2.5K
- Personal Issues 1.4K
- Prayer Requests 423
- Random Issues 1.8K
- Introductions 294
- Non-Orthodox Inquiries 232
- Youth Corner 606
- Hymns 2.5K
- Hymns Discussion 2.5K
- Technicial Difficulties 368
- Technical Topics 368
Freedom
This is a chapter from the book : [glow=red,2,300]Ten Concepts[/glow] by H.H. Pope Shenoda III, this is the chapter about freedom, I wanna ask what is each of ur opinions on freedom and what do u take freedom as??
THE CONCEPT OF FREEDOM
In this chapter we shall present some concepts pertaining
to certain matters relating to both spiritual and social life.
Beginning with the Concept of Freedom, let us discuss it
with our young people:
God likes everyone to be free:
God created man with a free will and said to him in the
Book of Deuteronomy, "See, I have set before you today
life and good, death and evil ... I call heaven and earth
as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you
life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose
life, that both you and your descendants may live, that
you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His
voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life"
(Deut. 30:15-20).
Freedom necessitates accountability and
responsibility:
A person or any being who has no freedom is not
accountable for his doings.
31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the other hand, freedom necessitates the
accountability of man for whatever he does whether good
or evil so that he might be rewarded for his good works
and punished for his wrong or evil works. Adam and Eve
were free and when they had had God's Commandment
they could have obeyed or broken it. But they broke the
Commandment and God inflicted punishment on them
(Gen. 3:9-19).
Punishment for a wrong doing of a person who has
discretion is double: on earth and in heaven. He may
escape punishment on earth but punishment remains in
the other world not abolished except by repentance (Luke
13:3-5).
Likewise the reward for a good deed of a person done by
his free will is a double reward. Even though a person
does not obtain the reward on earth, it is kept for him in
heaven, "your Father who sees in secret will reward you
openly" (Matt. 6 :4,6).
You are not entitled to absolute freedom:
You are free to do whatever you want provided that you
do not impose upon the rights or freedoms of others, nor
break God's commandments or public order laid down for
the safety and peace of others.
For example, you have no right to violate traffic rules
while driving your car and say: I am free to go wherever I
want !! Nor have you any right to raise your voice and
32
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
make noise that is disturbing to others and say: I am free
to raise my voice as much as I like !!
You have no right to cheat in exams from other papers
and say : I am free to use whatever papers I like!!
As you ought to use your freedom in a way that does
not harm others or violate the public order, you
should also use your freedom in such a way as not to
cause harm to yourself.
Your own self does not belong to us. It belongs to God
who created it and redeemed it. It belongs also to the
community that cared for you and brought you up and
thus you have obligations towards it.
Therefore killing oneself in suicide is a crime which is
punished by God and rejected by law. The same applies
to whoever causes himself harm through smoking or
drugs. Such a person cannot say: I am free to smoke
whenever I like!! He has no right to destroy himself or
deprive the community of his existence and from
performing his duty towards it.
Restrictions against freedom are for your benefit :
Restrictions are useful in that they hold you back from
doing harm to yourself, to others, or to the community
and from breaking God's commandments.
33
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A river has two banks, they do not restrain its water-
course but preserve it.
If a river has no banks it will flow on both sides and
inundate the land turning it into swamps. I wonder if
rivers object to having two banks and say : Banks restrain
our freedom!!
It is the same for you; the banks to you are God's
commandments, the laws and the traditions or perhaps
religion and education. Both are for your benefit; for a
child who refuses education and considers it restricting
his freedom, or the youth who refuses the advice of his
parents, his teachers or his guides, seeing in them a
restraint to his freedom, such a person will be corrupt and
will be led astray from the right path. Can straying be
another name for freedom or a consequence thereof ?
Real freedom is to free yourself of your faults:
One should free oneself of faults, bad habits and bad
feelings of the heart, and free one's mind of deviating
thoughts. One should turn away from being subject to
the devil and his supporters, from the influence of bad
company and corrupt association and from every control
over one's will intended to lead one astray.
Such is the freedom meant by the Holy Bible, "If the Son
makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36).
34
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He who is freed from sin internally, can use external
freedom in the right way:
For example he who is free from hatred, cruelty, violence
and oppression, can use his freedom properly when
dealing with people. But if a person is offensive or cold-
hearted and wishes to use his freedom in whatever way
he likes, he will hurt others with his cruelty and
offensiveness.
Likewise, a person who is not freed from bodily lusts can
abuse his freedom in harming others instead of using his
freedom to preserve his purity and holiness.
A girl, for example, who says: I shall put on whatever
dress I like, and laugh or enjoy myself as I want, is in this
way offending others and may cause others to fall besides
herself. Such a girl is not yet free internally, so she uses
her external freedom in a way that causes harm to herself
and to others.
A student who is not serious in his study all year and
says: I am free to do whatever I want, is in fact doing
harm to himself and is misusing his freedom, and thus
cannot succeed in his life because he is not freed within
from the domination of diversion.
My advice to you is, use your freedom for your own
benefit and for the benefit of others. Free yourself within
first before you practice your external freedom.
35
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some may restrain themselves to attain real freedom:
Such a person does not give himself whatever he wants
lest he should spoil himself or lose control over himself
and lose the real freedom.
So, such a person proceeds into spiritual training to
control himself, restrain his tongue so that it might not
err, control his nerves so that he may not rage and lose
his friends. He proceeds also with spiritual exercises to
control his thoughts so that they may not wander in
harmful matters, as well as spiritual exercises to control
his body through fasting and vigil and to control it
regarding lusts so that he may not plunge into diversion
and sensual delight and lose his spirituality.
Is it right for anyone to say: I shall behave as I wish,
freely, and not restrain myself and force myself to do
good? And if so, is such a person really free or
dominated by his lusts?
36
Defender
THE CONCEPT OF FREEDOM
In this chapter we shall present some concepts pertaining
to certain matters relating to both spiritual and social life.
Beginning with the Concept of Freedom, let us discuss it
with our young people:
God likes everyone to be free:
God created man with a free will and said to him in the
Book of Deuteronomy, "See, I have set before you today
life and good, death and evil ... I call heaven and earth
as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you
life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose
life, that both you and your descendants may live, that
you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His
voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life"
(Deut. 30:15-20).
Freedom necessitates accountability and
responsibility:
A person or any being who has no freedom is not
accountable for his doings.
31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the other hand, freedom necessitates the
accountability of man for whatever he does whether good
or evil so that he might be rewarded for his good works
and punished for his wrong or evil works. Adam and Eve
were free and when they had had God's Commandment
they could have obeyed or broken it. But they broke the
Commandment and God inflicted punishment on them
(Gen. 3:9-19).
Punishment for a wrong doing of a person who has
discretion is double: on earth and in heaven. He may
escape punishment on earth but punishment remains in
the other world not abolished except by repentance (Luke
13:3-5).
Likewise the reward for a good deed of a person done by
his free will is a double reward. Even though a person
does not obtain the reward on earth, it is kept for him in
heaven, "your Father who sees in secret will reward you
openly" (Matt. 6 :4,6).
You are not entitled to absolute freedom:
You are free to do whatever you want provided that you
do not impose upon the rights or freedoms of others, nor
break God's commandments or public order laid down for
the safety and peace of others.
For example, you have no right to violate traffic rules
while driving your car and say: I am free to go wherever I
want !! Nor have you any right to raise your voice and
32
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
make noise that is disturbing to others and say: I am free
to raise my voice as much as I like !!
You have no right to cheat in exams from other papers
and say : I am free to use whatever papers I like!!
As you ought to use your freedom in a way that does
not harm others or violate the public order, you
should also use your freedom in such a way as not to
cause harm to yourself.
Your own self does not belong to us. It belongs to God
who created it and redeemed it. It belongs also to the
community that cared for you and brought you up and
thus you have obligations towards it.
Therefore killing oneself in suicide is a crime which is
punished by God and rejected by law. The same applies
to whoever causes himself harm through smoking or
drugs. Such a person cannot say: I am free to smoke
whenever I like!! He has no right to destroy himself or
deprive the community of his existence and from
performing his duty towards it.
Restrictions against freedom are for your benefit :
Restrictions are useful in that they hold you back from
doing harm to yourself, to others, or to the community
and from breaking God's commandments.
33
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A river has two banks, they do not restrain its water-
course but preserve it.
If a river has no banks it will flow on both sides and
inundate the land turning it into swamps. I wonder if
rivers object to having two banks and say : Banks restrain
our freedom!!
It is the same for you; the banks to you are God's
commandments, the laws and the traditions or perhaps
religion and education. Both are for your benefit; for a
child who refuses education and considers it restricting
his freedom, or the youth who refuses the advice of his
parents, his teachers or his guides, seeing in them a
restraint to his freedom, such a person will be corrupt and
will be led astray from the right path. Can straying be
another name for freedom or a consequence thereof ?
Real freedom is to free yourself of your faults:
One should free oneself of faults, bad habits and bad
feelings of the heart, and free one's mind of deviating
thoughts. One should turn away from being subject to
the devil and his supporters, from the influence of bad
company and corrupt association and from every control
over one's will intended to lead one astray.
Such is the freedom meant by the Holy Bible, "If the Son
makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36).
34
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He who is freed from sin internally, can use external
freedom in the right way:
For example he who is free from hatred, cruelty, violence
and oppression, can use his freedom properly when
dealing with people. But if a person is offensive or cold-
hearted and wishes to use his freedom in whatever way
he likes, he will hurt others with his cruelty and
offensiveness.
Likewise, a person who is not freed from bodily lusts can
abuse his freedom in harming others instead of using his
freedom to preserve his purity and holiness.
A girl, for example, who says: I shall put on whatever
dress I like, and laugh or enjoy myself as I want, is in this
way offending others and may cause others to fall besides
herself. Such a girl is not yet free internally, so she uses
her external freedom in a way that causes harm to herself
and to others.
A student who is not serious in his study all year and
says: I am free to do whatever I want, is in fact doing
harm to himself and is misusing his freedom, and thus
cannot succeed in his life because he is not freed within
from the domination of diversion.
My advice to you is, use your freedom for your own
benefit and for the benefit of others. Free yourself within
first before you practice your external freedom.
35
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some may restrain themselves to attain real freedom:
Such a person does not give himself whatever he wants
lest he should spoil himself or lose control over himself
and lose the real freedom.
So, such a person proceeds into spiritual training to
control himself, restrain his tongue so that it might not
err, control his nerves so that he may not rage and lose
his friends. He proceeds also with spiritual exercises to
control his thoughts so that they may not wander in
harmful matters, as well as spiritual exercises to control
his body through fasting and vigil and to control it
regarding lusts so that he may not plunge into diversion
and sensual delight and lose his spirituality.
Is it right for anyone to say: I shall behave as I wish,
freely, and not restrain myself and force myself to do
good? And if so, is such a person really free or
dominated by his lusts?
36
Defender
Comments
defender
Lazarus the Bishop: the beloved of Christ: whom He raised from the dead: after four days.
- Chris
by the way, Lazarus became a Bishop??? :o
defender
"Lazarus the Bishop: the beloved of Christ: whom He raised from the dead: after four days.
And he lived for forty years: and became a bishop: on the throne of Cyprus: He shepherded the flock of Christ."
- Chris
that's awesome, btw has anyone here visited cyprus b4,
I personally did, it's so awesome, esp. their food
They have lots of beautiful Christian stuff, too bad our Churches are not united yet, but when they are, God Willing, when I go to Cyprus and don't find a Coptic Church I'll go to the Greek Orthodox, I have a question though... Are we allowed to wear deacons in our Sister Churches??
Defender
I believe that You are the Son of God: Who has the might: to call him out by Your power: "Lazarus, come out."
- Chris
defender
The evil powers: who had tied him: in the depth of depths asked: Who is this who may say: "Lazarus come out"?
- Chris
Defender
Guys, I was just wondering whether we are allowed to wear deacons in our Sister Churches r not??
This question is really confusing me...
God Bless and Pray 4 me
Defender
Jacob_mansi
Posts: 1
Joined: Jan 21, 2004
Location: Mississauga Ontario
Posted: May 26, 2004 - 03:40 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I heard regardless of church, country, as a deacon & being ordained as a deacon, you have to dress as a deacon. In fact from what I heard it would be totally wrong not to dress as deacon in another church.
Jay
rimo
Posts: 62
Joined: Sep 20, 2003
Location: Newcastle, England
Posted: May 26, 2004 - 03:46 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
well it is a responsibility of the deacon to serve where ever God takes him, however out of courtesy, you speak to the serving priest and take his blessing beforehand
_________________
1Sa:16:7: But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
Biboboy
Posts: 257
Joined: Jun 09, 2003
Location: Mississauga, ON
Posted: May 26, 2004 - 05:38 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lord Jesus Christ, who ascended to heaven, have mercy on us.
Agape,
According to what I know, every deacon is ordained to serve a specific Church - the bishop, during the ordination, will say that psaltos/oghnotostos/sub-deacon/deacon/arch-deacon "X" for the "Church of St. Y in the city of Z"
So, I don't think that it's correct to just go to any church and serve wherever one pleases, because the service of a particular Church is given to you already - unless, of course, you have your priest's permission (like I needed when I immigrated to Canada, for example).
_________________
"As the occupation of the ploughman is the ploughshare, and the occupation of the helmsman is the steering of the ship, so also my occupation is the psalmody of the Lord by His hymns. My art and my service are in His hymns, because His love has nourished my heart, and His fruits He poured unto my lips. For my love is the Lord; hence I will sing unto Him. For I am strengthened by His praises, and I have faith in Him. I will open my mouth, and His Spirit will speak through me the glory of the Lord and His beauty, the work of His hands, and the labor of His fingers; for the multitude of His mercies, and the strength of His Word" (Odes of Solomon, 16:1-7).
In Christ,
Bishoy
HCOC Member
+ To Protect and Preserve +
HCOC: Sing it! Live it! Love it!
Questions or comments on the copticheritage.org website?
E-mail me: [email protected], or send me a Private Message.
Defender
Posts: 13
Joined: May 23, 2004
Posted: May 26, 2004 - 05:59 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No guys, that's not what I meant, but thanks anyways. What I meant is, can I serve in an indian Orthodox Church, or an Eritarian Orthodox Church or any other Sister Church??
Defender
Biboboy
Posts: 257
Joined: Jun 09, 2003
Location: Mississauga, ON
Posted: May 26, 2004 - 06:03 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lord Jesus Christ, who ascended to heaven, have mercy on us.
Agape,
Defender, how do you ever expect to serve in another Sister Church? Do u know how to speak in Syriac; do u know their hymns; do u know their rites? Unless u know all of that, how can u serve there?
The answer is obviously that we cannot serve in another Sister Church - we shouldn't even move around within our own churches, so how much more would this apply to the Sister Churches?
_________________
"As the occupation of the ploughman is the ploughshare, and the occupation of the helmsman is the steering of the ship, so also my occupation is the psalmody of the Lord by His hymns. My art and my service are in His hymns, because His love has nourished my heart, and His fruits He poured unto my lips. For my love is the Lord; hence I will sing unto Him. For I am strengthened by His praises, and I have faith in Him. I will open my mouth, and His Spirit will speak through me the glory of the Lord and His beauty, the work of His hands, and the labor of His fingers; for the multitude of His mercies, and the strength of His Word" (Odes of Solomon, 16:1-7).
In Christ,
Bishoy
HCOC Member
+ To Protect and Preserve +
HCOC: Sing it! Live it! Love it!
Questions or comments on the copticheritage.org website?
E-mail me: [email protected], or send me a Private Message.
Defender
Posts: 13
Joined: May 23, 2004
Posted: May 26, 2004 - 06:09 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That kinda helps, but by the way, the Eritarian Orthodox have exactly the same Liturgy Book.
Defender!
God Bless,
Defender
Defender
I never knew how to spell it....lool
Defender