What came to my mind when trying to think about it just now is how easy it is for us to feel hate for Hitler, for example. We all know what he did, and we all recognize it as a great evil. Now just imagine one man dying for everyone on the planet that day, and all the people before him, and all the people after him... now take that a step further and realize that it was God that did it! He became like us and then died for us... that is the most insane thing. I mean, it's pretty crazy to think that one guy in all of history did it, but the one who made us? Made everything? Did that? Whoa...
The modern idea of love is as a feeling, the ancient understanding is how you treat someone. When I asked my priest about this same question last month, he said “follow your prayer rule, fast, and give alms.” One deals with the heart, one deals with the soul, one deals with everything we possess. For Protestants who are reading: this mirrors Luke 10:27.
Good stuff as always, Reader Bojan. I'm not currently active, but I had been a licensed lay reader in my diocese - the non-ordained, non-tonsured rough equivalent in Anglicanism. I regret that I'm very shabby at living out the Faith I claim to possess. Господи помилуй.
I came to Orthodoxy via Catholicism and my folks were very mocking and dismissive of Mary and the Marian worship in the CC. I had zero relationship with her until I started having issues with evil spirits, my priest told me to dedicate myself to Mary. This sounded absurd, but obedience is the best way to drive away the evil spirits of rebellion, so I set about praying to her every day and consecrating my every action to her care. I felt I must be doing something right because the demonic attacks got worse and I was in confession nearly every day!! Slowly but surely, I started to feel the Mother's love, I felt more child like and trusting in my faith, my relationship with God and the saints grew and I got a protection against the darkest of forces ...... oh and She led me to Orthodoxy!! My advice is actually do something every day; a prayer and an act of kindness and dedicate them to Her. The reason for approaching Mary is that our human state is so very confused and conflicted, and it is She who can translate our childish groanings and tears into their truest meaning and present them before Her Son. She is the best teacher of humility and the regaining of innocence, and through her your relationship with Jesus and your fellow humans will only prosper.
Bojan, video looks great! I went to full screen on my 10 inch (254 mm) Android tablet and it looked and sounded great. I thank God for loving me even before I knew what love was. (When I was a baby and even before) ☦️
Hey Bojan what do you think of Redeemed Zoomer? He recently did a video on orthodoxy and tends to have a fairly negative view of it. Hes a protestant who wants to take back the mainline denominations.
Learn the common protestant objections to icons (or any orthodox practices) and how to defend them. You shouldn't really be ashamed of icons, it's heavily rooted in church history, and maybe they could inquire about the orthodox faith if they see them. Of course, I don't really know your situation, but maybe it could be a good idea to show them so they could learn more If icons are truly orthodox, you shouldn't be ashamed of them, like I said just learn more about how to defend icons against protestant objections God bless
@@longbow675Yeah, but some protestants sects reject any form of depiction, let alone of Christ, and in their mind this is automatically equal to idolatry. :(
@jonaszswietomierz8017 Yeah, protestantism is such a wide spectrum. There's even protestants who say you don't need to repent of your sins (even though it's only a minority). Protestantism is dangerous because it's all up to your own interpretation of scripture
"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." -- Matthew 5:11-12
I hate to give advice that might cause conflict, so I'll just give an example of something I do. I am in my 40s, and I don't have to hide my icons. But I also keep a mini set of Icons and a small beeswax tea candle in my purse for a "pop up altar" so I can pray in secret places like my work bathroom. Tiny icons are a thing.
i dont think a god requires human love anymore than a ant requires our loves and vice versa. Human emotions do not transfer onto celestial supernatural beings..even if they exist..amen
I don't think our loving God is for Him as much as it is for us. My love for God is an indication of my relationship with Him. If I don't love Him, I don't keep His commandments. Love isn't a feeling the way we modern people tend to use it. Love is nothing if we don't behave as though that love is true.
Yo i just asked saint to pray for me to truly love God and this popes up 30 seconds later
There's a part in the video regarding coincidences :D
I have felt that I haven’t loved God enough recently, thanks very much for this video Bojan!
What came to my mind when trying to think about it just now is how easy it is for us to feel hate for Hitler, for example. We all know what he did, and we all recognize it as a great evil.
Now just imagine one man dying for everyone on the planet that day, and all the people before him, and all the people after him... now take that a step further and realize that it was God that did it! He became like us and then died for us... that is the most insane thing. I mean, it's pretty crazy to think that one guy in all of history did it, but the one who made us? Made everything? Did that?
Whoa...
Despondency is a struggle for me, so I appreciate this video. A good reminder.
The modern idea of love is as a feeling, the ancient understanding is how you treat someone. When I asked my priest about this same question last month, he said “follow your prayer rule, fast, and give alms.” One deals with the heart, one deals with the soul, one deals with everything we possess. For Protestants who are reading: this mirrors Luke 10:27.
I have noticed that I don't doubt Gods love, but I have an underlying fear that love will be taken away, or be conditional in some way.
Oh yes... ifeel that too...and the pain of betraying that love with my sins.
The new recording is nice
Good stuff as always, Reader Bojan. I'm not currently active, but I had been a licensed lay reader in my diocese - the non-ordained, non-tonsured rough equivalent in Anglicanism.
I regret that I'm very shabby at living out the Faith I claim to possess. Господи помилуй.
Thank you!
Thank you so much Bojan, we forgot a lot of times how much God loves us(btw camera quality is so good)
thank you so much for this help. When i see my priest, i can ask for more knowledge. Thank you
How to love Mary? I've been baptized over a year it's still not happening for me, but I have fairh she has faith in me.
I came to Orthodoxy via Catholicism and my folks were very mocking and dismissive of Mary and the Marian worship in the CC. I had zero relationship with her until I started having issues with evil spirits, my priest told me to dedicate myself to Mary. This sounded absurd, but obedience is the best way to drive away the evil spirits of rebellion, so I set about praying to her every day and consecrating my every action to her care. I felt I must be doing something right because the demonic attacks got worse and I was in confession nearly every day!! Slowly but surely, I started to feel the Mother's love, I felt more child like and trusting in my faith, my relationship with God and the saints grew and I got a protection against the darkest of forces ...... oh and She led me to Orthodoxy!! My advice is actually do something every day; a prayer and an act of kindness and dedicate them to Her. The reason for approaching Mary is that our human state is so very confused and conflicted, and it is She who can translate our childish groanings and tears into their truest meaning and present them before Her Son. She is the best teacher of humility and the regaining of innocence, and through her your relationship with Jesus and your fellow humans will only prosper.
Pray. Akathists are good for this, I'd ask your spiritual father for help in praying them though.
@@FinnishOrthodox thank you 😊
Bojan, video looks great! I went to full screen on my 10 inch (254 mm) Android tablet and it looked and sounded great.
I thank God for loving me even before I knew what love was. (When I was a baby and even before)
☦️
Hey Bojan what do you think of Redeemed Zoomer? He recently did a video on orthodoxy and tends to have a fairly negative view of it. Hes a protestant who wants to take back the mainline denominations.
he said that he won't tell his opinion about other content creators, especially if those opinions would start "conflicts" or any kind of drama
This. :D
How do i hide icons from my protestant parents
Learn the common protestant objections to icons (or any orthodox practices) and how to defend them.
You shouldn't really be ashamed of icons, it's heavily rooted in church history, and maybe they could inquire about the orthodox faith if they see them.
Of course, I don't really know your situation, but maybe it could be a good idea to show them so they could learn more
If icons are truly orthodox, you shouldn't be ashamed of them, like I said just learn more about how to defend icons against protestant objections
God bless
@@longbow675Yeah, but some protestants sects reject any form of depiction, let alone of Christ, and in their mind this is automatically equal to idolatry. :(
@jonaszswietomierz8017 Yeah, protestantism is such a wide spectrum. There's even protestants who say you don't need to repent of your sins (even though it's only a minority). Protestantism is dangerous because it's all up to your own interpretation of scripture
"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." -- Matthew 5:11-12
I hate to give advice that might cause conflict, so I'll just give an example of something I do.
I am in my 40s, and I don't have to hide my icons. But I also keep a mini set of Icons and a small beeswax tea candle in my purse for a "pop up altar" so I can pray in secret places like my work bathroom. Tiny icons are a thing.
Hey
i dont think a god requires human love anymore than a ant requires our loves and vice versa.
Human emotions do not transfer onto celestial supernatural beings..even if they exist..amen
I don't think our loving God is for Him as much as it is for us. My love for God is an indication of my relationship with Him. If I don't love Him, I don't keep His commandments. Love isn't a feeling the way we modern people tend to use it. Love is nothing if we don't behave as though that love is true.
early bird ay