From
a young age we are taught to look to the left and then to the
right and then to the left again before we cross the road. This
very practical traffic rule applies not only to the roads but
also to the spiritual path and journey of our Christian life.
The hazards of any road are not always familiar and the risks
can be quite significant. especially for the unsuspecting traveller.
The hazards in a Christian's spiritual path are considerable and
treacherous. Many of us have no familiarity or sense of the hazards
involved on this spiritual path and what is required to safeguard
ourselves from the risks that can lead to absolute disaster.
It was well known to the early fathers of the Church and
those who achieved a spiritual life close to God, that Christians
must be attentive and discerning of the hazards that lie to the
left and to the right and by what means one can be prepared and
protected against them.
The temptations of the devil come to us from the left and
right spheres. To be caught from the 'left' incorporates what
most people understand to involve sin. These influences from the
'left' says Father Michael (Practical Guide of Orthodoxy and Orthopraxia.
Orthodox Kypseli publications Thessalonika, 1998 pp.61) "casts
us directly into the so-called physical sins, such as: drunkenness,
pleasure- loving, fornication. gluttony, adultery, murder and
abortions, theft, anger, thievery from Churches, bestialities,
evil desires. smoking, painting faces, adornments and every comfort
of the flesh, fashion, money loving, card playing (gambling) and
other things."
The temptations of the devil that come to us from the right
are much more subtle and far less transparent than those that
occur from the left. The attacks from the right are seemingly
friendly, harmless, even uplifting and affirming of Christian
ways. But hiding behind these attacks is the devil who is responsible
for anaesthetising and immobilising many people of their spiritual
struggle thwarting their spiritual pursuit even though they may
be devout Christians, monks, priests and even the hierarchy of
the Church. The craft of the demons that attack from the "right"
is based on the art of delusion and deception. These influences
can occur through thoughts, dreams and visions designed to convince
the unsuspecting that they are in receipt of direct and 'prophetic'
messages. all the while working through self esteem as if all
is "given to them from heaven." (Orthodoxy and Orthopraxia
pp. 60)
These delusions are often "accompanied " by pride,
vainglory, hypocrisy, falsehood, egoism, heresy, and all the similar
sins of the soul, with a purpose of leading the person to believe
little by little, with the demon's cooperation, that God has chosen
them especially out of very many people as "His own instrument."
Such persons can often take on a cause to undermine and to "put
down the Orthodox Church, together with the priesthood, which
was founded by our Lord Jesus Christ and which has Apostolic succession."
(pp. 59-60)
This influence from the right can go further so that people
can even believe they have the power of healing and to perform
miracles.
The means by which one can protect themselves from the
crafty influence of the devil is through an earthly spiritual
Father; the priest in other words. But it appears this sure antidote
to fight the devil is much forgotten by Orthodox Christians today,
a most powerful form of attack from the right today. The priest
to many is regarded as no more than a social acquaintance, at
best an important dignitary, a source perhaps of some spiritual
knowledge and peripheral symbol of their cultural heritage, a
talking point, one who has no vital role to play in the course
of their life: other than perhaps for what is obligatory and involuntary.
Involuntary in terms of the experience of their infantile Baptism
and Chrismation which has not been activated and which bears no
active meaning or significance in their everyday life: and obligatory
in terms of their ritualistic ceremonial and lifeless participation
and unwilling compliance to the Sacraments of the Church and God's
Commandments during the course of their life until death.
Little do they know of the vital and important role of
the priest in protecting them against the deception and delusion
of the devil. Little do they know that the perceived dismissiveness
of the priest is not to do with their person but for the correction
of their ways, founded on the primary responsibility to set their
relationship with God right through obedience and living a Sacramental
life.
It is not the role of the priest to be pre-occupied with
how to please, so that he can strike a personable social and working
relationship with people. The relationship that the priest must
always have foremost in his mind, is the guidance he must offer
to ensure that his flock set their relationship with God along
the right path, even if it is not what members of his flock may
want to hear. Although kind words are useful in achieving this
end, the use of flattering words are not, in that they appeal
to pride.
In their relationship with the people of the early Church,
the Apostles knew of the importance of this primary relationship
with God which took precedence over all other relationships and
dealings in the world ensuring that they always spoke the truth,
and resisted at all cost the crafty deception and delusion of
the devil. This grace and enlightenment from above protected them
from inadvertently partaking in the attacks from the 'right' whilst
imparting the Word of God to the people.
"But as we have been approved by God" said
St Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thess. 2:4) "to
be entrusted with the gospel even so we speak not as pleasing
men, but God who tests our hearts. For neither at any time did
we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness
-- God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from
you or from others when we might have made demands as apostles
of Christ."
from The Truth, 2000, Perth, Western Australia
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
