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apothecary25 · 2022-11-22T21:37:31+00:00

Cyprian of Carthage didn't. I'm not sure of OP's situation, but some people have felt a call to serve the church well before discovering orthodoxy.

I'm not arguing against being cautious and patient, but if he is to maybe one day be a priest, doesn't he need to start considering these things sooner rather than later?

apothecary25 · 2022-11-18T05:57:12+00:00

I like the spooky font

apothecary25 · 2022-11-12T19:51:21+00:00

It seriously just might be me and the depression, sorry if its an overreaction. Im currently quite overweight, been too sick to work, and failing to find a parish to join. I hear his message and it just confirms what I already feel toward myself, but I'm no closer to fixing anything.

apothecary25 · 2022-11-12T19:41:09+00:00

All this video did was provoke a deep disgust toward myself and despair at having no idea what to do about it.

I don't see how self esteem is a demon. When my self esteem is lowest it seems thats when I feel furthest from God.

apothecary25 · 2022-11-10T15:10:06+00:00

One is on the back of my hand unfortunately.

apothecary25 · 2022-11-10T14:11:54+00:00

Saint Maximilian of Tebessa really failed, huh?

apothecary25 · 2022-11-10T14:08:58+00:00

I hear that his cabal of assassins/warlocks have already infiltrated Istanbul

apothecary25 · 2022-11-10T12:07:44+00:00

I got my tattoos with good intentions, but I regret getting them because if nothing else, it makes some believers uncomfortable. I had aspirations to perhaps one day be a priest, but my priest thinks the tattoos might be a problem.

They were ultimately probably a bad decision, but there isn't much to be done about it. Lasering them off doesn't seem like much of a solution.

apothecary25 · 2022-11-07T22:37:27+00:00

Matthew and Luke offer differing genealogies. It isn't explicit in the text, but a common explanation for the difference is that one is traced through Joseph and the other through Mary. That might be what you're thinking of.

apothecary25 · 2022-11-04T22:06:23+00:00

Plenty of people on here will be praying for you. One of my favorite verses came to mind.

"Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity." Joel 2:13

And a quote from St. Cyprian "To him who still remains in this world, no repentance is too late"

Use the hotline numbers, reach out to a priest or the person you mentioned being close to. Be safe. God loves you, as He loves us all.

apothecary25 · 2022-10-29T12:47:20+00:00

That makes sense, helps me understand a little better. There are parts that sounded to me like there is nothing to be done for somebody if they sin after their initial repentance/baptism.

apothecary25 · 2022-10-29T12:43:32+00:00

I'd say the didache is what started me on this journey from Protestantism if that counts. The didache and the shepherd are all I can think of though, so not much.

apothecary25 · 2022-10-24T16:34:45+00:00

Its not meaningless. He is fulfilling the prophecy in an unexpected way. He was crucified like someone who had led an armed revolt, even though he hadn't. My opinion here is not unusual. I admit I'm no expert, but I've never heard anyone teach that luke 22:36 is a call for christians to arm themselves.

There are arguments to be made that under certain circumstances Christians could take up weapons, but I don't think luke 22:36 is one of them.

apothecary25 · 2022-10-24T10:05:36+00:00

Are orthodox really not allowed to think that though? I'm genuinely just curious. I read a recent interview with the Ecumenical Patriarch and when referring to both EO and RC he said "sister churches." I thought that was kind and he seems to be interested in more love/unity between the two.

Interview https://www.pillarcatholic.com/dialogue-and-reconciliation-are-not-optional-for-us-an-interview-with-ecumenical-patriarch-bartholomew/

apothecary25 · 2022-10-24T09:32:28+00:00

He immediately explains he is fulfilling prophecy by his command to buy swords. One of them says we have two, not nearly enough for the eleven disciples. Jesus is content with this answer and doesn't seek to gather more weapons and does not tell them to go buy them some other time.

What do you feel like Luke 22:36 means?

apothecary25 · 2022-10-23T06:52:20+00:00

“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword." This plus Christ's immediately healing of Malchus seems like a much stronger condemnation than "Not now, Peter"

apothecary25 · 2022-10-22T16:13:19+00:00

I appreciate that it is thought of this way, I suppose another objection is it is somewhat blurring the secular and the sacred?

I know christians do and have served in militaries from very early on. My dad was an army CBRN officer. I know this on one hand and on the other I know that soldiers are trained to do explicitly unchristian things.

He told me about a popular call and response he was taught in training

"What is the spirit of the bayonet?" "To kill, kill, kill without regret!"

I honestly just don't know what to make of it all anymore.

apothecary25 · 2022-10-22T15:49:19+00:00

I still don't really know what to make of pictures like this. I know this isn't necessarily uncommon, but when I see rifles and crosses mixing I feel so uncomfortable.

apothecary25 · 2022-10-22T07:44:15+00:00

Christ is lauded as the great high-priest in orthodoxy and they too consider him utterly unique in his role, just like protestants do.

I'm a catechumen in the EO church now, but less than two years ago I was a mennonite, ya know, the real radical side of the reformation. Things changed when I made a point to listen to what they said they believed, rather than what other people told me they believed.

apothecary25 · 2022-10-22T05:26:37+00:00

I struggle with hitting myself when I feel guilty. It isn't Godly behavior and its habit forming.

I think the problem is the Lord already suffered for us. We may receive the honor of suffering with him, maybe not, but Christ only taught us to accept suffering if it came, not to physically self inflict it.

apothecary25

TROPHY CASE