Trust in the Church
Unexpected Visitors Ilya Repin (oil on canvas, 1884)
by presbyter joshua frigerio
A
fter his transfer to a new parish, a all, that’s where the truly pure and holy people are. certain priest was graciously received by his Forever seeking the perfect church makes it easier new flock. Following his first Sunday Liturgy, to overlook one’s own failures. he formally introduced himself to the parish, adding, If we are not willing to take responsibility for “Some of you may like me and some probably don’t. our choices, then we’ll end up handing over our But rest assured: Sooner or later, I will certainly discernment process to anyone who offers to take it disappoint each and every one of you.” from us—and there is no shortage of people offering. The Church, being the Body of Christ, is divine Taken too far, the result is something more cult-like and lacks nothing. But in another sense, because than Christ-like. the Church is also human, it is often sorely lacking. But this is a temptation for all of us, albeit in Those who are entrusted with its earthly steward- subtler ways. Even those in a healthy, balanced reship will inevitably and regularly disappoint and lationship with their clergy and the Church can be scandalize. It doesn’t take much study of Church severely shaken when those individuals, whom they history, or indeed of current events, to know this trusted with their souls, betray that trust, whether to be the case. Since Saint Paul wrote his letters to out of malice or weakness. A common response is Timothy, we’ve tried to weed out wayward clergy- to seek, at the very least, a new parish, if not to step men. Many ancient canons and modern guidelines back from the Church altogether for a time. This for ordination have that as their goal. happens to clergy too, perhaps even more profoundWe know representatives of the Church will fail ly, as they have given so much of their lives and trust us from time to time despite our precautionary mea- over to people whose decisions sometimes seem, at sures. But what effect does it have on us personally? best, arbitrary. Sacrifices made deeply leave tender Can we inoculate ourselves such that when they spots. do, our faith will not be mortally wounded? And The temperament of the American Orthodox moreover, if we do inoculate ourselves, how do we population, however, predisposes us more to the avoid becoming numb? Are some of us already so inverse problem. Having too little trust, or even proficient at being disconnected from the Church being completely jaded to Church matters, is at that a scandal that should affect us deeply does not? least as serious a challenge. Many of us never even Is there a spiritually healthy, moderate approach to think to check with the Church or our clergy about this issue? anything we do, even large life decisions. We live It’s easy to observe how our lack—or abun- parallel lives: one secular and one spiritual, with a dance—of trust can fail us at either end of the spec- nice, neat separation between them—a consequence trum. Those overly susceptible to a personal faith of accepting the “two-storey universe” paradigm crisis in the wake of some kind of Church infidelity that Father Stephen Freeman writes about. Father are typically those for whom trust in the Church Alexander Schmemann addressed this eloquently in plays an exaggerated and immature role in even the third part of his essay, “Problems of Orthodoxy the most trivial aspect of their lives. Such persons in America”: might consult the holy canons before choosing a It is in good faith that they see in the Church living-room paint color, and then perhaps show an institution that should satisfy their needs, it to their nearest holy elder to make sure. There’s reflect their interests, “serve” their desires and a story told on Mt. Athos of a man who traveled above everything else, “fit” into their “way of all the way from America to his spiritual father on life.” And it is, therefore, in good faith that they the Holy Mountain simply to ask if he should quit reject as “impossible” everything in the Church smoking (uh, yes!). Not only are such people more which does not “fit” or seems to contradict their disposed to despair of faith when pressed, but they basic philosophy of life. also tend to take it in strange directions, like following the latest schismatic spinoff because, after jacob's well
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