A homily about evil-- how refreshing
Sunday, November 1, 2009 | Karen Howes We recently got a new priest at my parish, and I'm enjoying his homilies immensely.
He talked about there actually being objective good and evil. What's right and wrong doesn't depend on how we feel or the time period we live in.
He talked about Christianity being true and other religions being false. Not all religions are equally true or good.
He talked about Jesus truly being God, and not just some great moral teacher or social activist.
He talked about the reality of an intelligent being we call Satan. He's not just a personification of a philosophical idea... he's a real being.
He talked about the evils of abortion. About how many would-be scientists, doctors, artists, etc. have been murdered in this holocaust (and yes, Alan Grayson, he used the "H" word!).
He talked about how neo-paganism and the occult are rampant today, and how they represent a "return to our cultural vomit."
And that was just what he said today!
In Catholic churches, you rarely hear this from the pulpit anymore... it's not happy and warm and fuzzy enough. Doesn't make people feel good about themselves.
Well, tough. Christianity isn't about feeling good, or about peace or social justice or making the world a better place. It's not even about being "nice" or moral.
It's about tranformation, salvation, and union with God. Pure and simple.
Reader Comments (19)
I study history for fun and within history, the history of the Christian church is a subject I dwell on intensely. I find it odd how much the church changed in between the first Century and the Council if Nicea. Some flks take this to mean that I am attacking their form of worship. That is not true at all. Many things your Priest discussed, I agree with. I agree with your sentiment that many Chuches (not just Catholic) have fallen into this malaise of Dr Phil theology where "feely good" teaching has replaced hard question and answer teaching.
Just so you know, Feed your ADHD (Dr Dave) and Woman HonorThyself (Angel) are folks I hold in very high regard. I hope that one day I will consider you among such good blogger friends. You are welcome to the blog I co-host...KOOK's Manifesto
(Please ignore previous post as for some reason "Manifesto" went nuts in the spelling dept)
Hey Andrew, thanks for the comment. I think things have changed (not teachings, but more liturgical forms and traditions) since the Council of Nicea too. Change isn't necessarily a bad thing either. You probably already know that Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians hold the Council of Nicea to be extremely important. :-)
It's always nice to meet friends of Dr. Dave and Angel, and definitely will come visit KOOK's Manifesto. Hope to see you around here often as well.
PS-- deleted the duplicate comment for you-- hate it when I make a typo in a comment on someone's blog and can't correct it!
Well, it is great to hear that there are true believers in the priesthood of my Eastern Catholic brothers. We need many more like that to shake up the status quo. There has been too much of the preaching that leads people to believe Jesus was an effeminate wimp, and everything depends on what makes you feel good. That is a big part of the reason this country and the world is in such a mess today.
Yes, there is right and wrong, good and evil, and Satan IS just as real as Jesus Christ.
It sounds like you had a very direct, to the point, statement of the truth about Christianity. This is indeed something that does not happen too often, even in most Churches.
I curious though, Karen, was this in some way tied into to the Feast of All Saints? That is today, at least by the Western Kalendar which I think applies in the Eastern Rite also (please correct me if I am wrong on this point).
You are so right about the wimp part. Funny thing is, the followers of Jesus thought he was going to be their "Messiah" Now the DSS (Dead Sea Scrolls) have strongly confirmed that the "Messiah" would be a military strongman. I believe that the crucifixion story holds a secret than has been long forgotten about the early Christians. (I'm telling this my way) When Jesus was captured, Peter pulled out his sword and hacked a Roman soldier which Jesus promptly healed. Jesus told Peter: Put the sword up. Jesus did not say "now Peter, where did you get that sword? We are a bunch of peace loving anti sword advocates and that sword is dangerous. You should have never had it to begin with! Was Jesus shocked and dismayed at Peters' sword possession? Notice too that Peter won a swordfight with one of the best trained soldiers in the world in the Romans. A Roman soldier did not just stand there and let an armed man cut his ear off. He would have brought dishonor to his whole legion by not fighting back so here we see Peter, who before meeting Jesus was a fisherman, now has paramilitary skills rivaling the Roman soldiers. Add that to the fundamental belief that the Jews had been taught for generations that the Messiah would be a military leader (Which Jesus' followers figured out on their own) and we see a VERY DIFFERENT JESUS than the Jesus peacenik, that has been sold to the masses. One more thing, When Jesus was on trial, he eluded to the fact that he thought his followers could put up a fairly good fight.
Mos. Rev Grigori is another blogger who I have UTMOST respect for, and by the way I am a member of what you'd call a nondenominational protestant congregation. (Part of the "Southern Reformation Movement)I hope you can see that I do study my history though and do not go around like many others saying "if you don't worship like me and think like me you are going to hell." I am not like that. Satan is real and knows our weaknesses. When Jesus spent 40 days in the desert, he was not talking to himself. Just so you know, I hold no official position in the Church other than a being a follower of Jesus. I read my history and am blessed to worship with a group of very well educated and knowledgeable folks. I believe that to understand the story of Jesus, you have to be able to put yourself in the first century and know the peoples,their customs, the lifesyles and every other possible detail of the times.
I added myself to followers list on twitter. I am Andrew033 there. I noticed you follow Apple. I have been a loyal Mac user since 97. I have an Imac,(year old) running Snow Leopard, 2 year old Ipod Nano 2g, and an Iphone 3gs16 gig that I used to post this.
I hope westerners listen to that priest, if they don't, they'll learn it the hard way.
sounds like it was a refreshing service!
Bishop Gregori, yup. Churches in the west have really been neutered. It's great when you find a priest or minister who's willing to say what needs to be said.
Dr. D, no, you're not wrong. Though if there was supposed to be a tie, Father didn't mention it.
Andrew, I always thought it was strange that Peter had a sword. I was like, "where would he have gotten a sword, and how did he know how to use it?" Very interesting!
Oh, and I'm a Mac person too. :-) I upgraded to Snow Leopard, and love it. Also have an iPhone. Guess once you go Mac, you never go back! :-)
MK, I wish more priests and ministers would say what he said. Most either don't believe it, or don't have the guts to say it if they do.
Hi John, welcome. It certainly was!
Those are the best kind of teachers that Christians need to hear today, regardless of religious affiliation. It's about the truth and not being sugarcoated. We don't need to hear "feel good sermons" no we need someone brave enough to point out the facts and let the person digest it.
Tough love, baby! That's what this society needs.
We recently left a parish we liked very much, for reasons having to do with the new pastor not being very supportive of our homeschooling, but I can tell you that one thing I miss is a priest there who would preside over a couple of masses a month and lay into the whole of Catholic parishioners in this very way. It's good to hear this kind of thing.
So we have a Roman Catholic, an Eastern Orthodox, and Southern Reformation movement member sounds like the beginning of a joke does it not? The sad thing is, it's not a joke and we all see the harm that neutering then story of Christ has done to this country. Maybe if the 3 of us can all see this, and how similarly the family unit and especially the Ameri's also been neutered. You can't tell me that the rise of the "Metreosexual" male is not a current and further step in that very disgusting direction. As I said, since we three all see it, and we are all members of very different sects of Christianity I believe that there is hope for us yet. Not all that long ago we would have been at each others throats. I'm glad to know you and hope that I can learn more about your faiths with time.
I too beleive that these are messages that need to be heard. I pretty much abandoned the denomination that I grew up in for that reason-feel good theology that provides no instruction or context for what Christians face in an increasingly secular world. As soon as I find a church that does that regularly, I'll be there.
Anyone read this?
Planned Parenthood Director Quits After Watching Abortion on Ultrasound.
Oh wait, according to the current folks at the White House, Fox News is not a news organization. My bad.
Wow! Karen, there's two "good news" posts here... yours, and Ben's (the comment above mine). I'm glad to hear there are still real Priests out there. It's a shame there aren't more of them, and I'm also happy to hear the Planned Parenthood Director Quit after watching an Abortion on Ultrasound. I'll have to check out that link. :)
While I think those at planned parenthoood will have to face God's judgement for what they have done, those deciding to get abotrtions willl suffer God's wrath for the murder they commit. Rather than not have to make such decisions, I backed out of 3 engagements because I knew they were not the person that I would spend the rest of my life with. The Bible is strict on that and I will not get married only to get divorced in a year. So until I meet the right person and know it 100%, I will remain single.
Andrew, you're very wise to wait for the right person and not marry just out of convenience, as some do today.
And yes, while those involved in abortion will go before God in very ill condition, there are those that repent, like former PP Director Abby Johnson-- who has joined the GOOD fight. :-)
Matt, that's truly a shame. I think the problem is fear... we're simply afraid to say anything that might possibly "offend" someone.
Hey Ben-- yes I read that, and I praised God. It couldn't have been anything other than his grace that converted that lady.
RaDena, yes it's god news all around, for a change!
Leticia, exactly-- we need truth, not feel-good-ism.
Dr. Dave, I admire you for leaving. Most folks just accept it. I decided wouldn't.