7. Слово в неделю по Крещении (Христианское общество имеет свой дух, свои начала и свои правила, и должно противостать проникновению и укреплению чуждых ему языческих обычаев, как унизительных для христиан и оскорбительных для Господа)

Last time I told you about how poorly some of us celebrated the New Year. Then I hear that many people didn’t think so, and others interpreted it: what can we say against what has become a custom; You can’t do anything, no matter how much you reproach or appease. About the first, that is, what did not appear, as anyone wants, but the truth must be told and wrongs must be corrected. And I propose the second for your consideration: is it true that if some bad custom comes into being, there is no point in arming yourself against it? Can't do anything? Where to overpower when the public spirit is such or the demand of society is such? It seemed strange to me. It turns out: if some bad custom has entered, don’t touch it, let it grow stronger and captivate more and more Christians until it takes everyone into its power. If another bad custom comes along, don’t touch that one; the third one will come in - and don’t touch the third one. What is this?! Is Christian society an indifferent pit that can be filled with everyone?! And in this way we grab ourselves all sorts of things, so that in the end you won’t even know whether this society is Christian, or who knows what?! No, not like that. Like any society, Christian society has its own spirit, its own principles, its own rules, which should serve as a measure of the mutual relations of its members among themselves and the relations of all of them to outsiders. It cannot and should not accept anything contrary to its spirit and its rules, without humiliating or disgracing itself. Rules and customs of this kind cannot force their way into it as long as it knows itself well and understands well what is characteristic of itself and what is not characteristic of it. By chance, perhaps, something will even squeeze through; but one has only to point out that this and that does not apply to Christians, all sincere Christians who allowed any actions without strictly considering them will immediately leave them with contempt, as insulting to Christ the Lord, Whom they love, and humiliating to the Christian name, which they value. In this hope, I also addressed you with a reproachful word and am confident that all well-meaning and straightforward Christians will not throw back the words of truth. After all, when we speak, we do not command, we do not impose force on your necks, but we reveal to your consciences the will of God - good, acceptable and holy. And everyone who is from God will listen to us. He who stands on the side of God, loves everything Divine and inclines his ear to suggestions according to the word of God, will, of course, move his will and desire to fulfill good instructions. It became all about desire. If they don’t want to, you definitely won’t do anything. God himself does not force human arbitrariness and offers everything to his will. Just how does he say it? “If you are willing and listen to Me, you will destroy the good earth; If you don’t want to, listen below; you will girdle your sword” (Is. 1:19-20). Live as you want, who knits? Just look at the consequences and the fruits of the life you choose, and be ready to meet them. From this point, that is, in relation to dispositions and moods, if you look at all the wills, then, of course, a number of souls will be revealed, tempered in secular customs. So what can I say? God said to Moses: Strike the stone with the rod. Moses struck and the waters began to flow. And if God Himself strikes these souls with His word, the sword will rebound with a painful sound. These must be left to their fate. But there are weak, wavering souls who are afraid of losing Christian promises and cannot find the strength to lag behind worldly customs. Such people need a word, and it is not fruitful for them. They usually say: we would like to, but there are many obstacles; Our relationship is so intertwined that it’s hard to refuse. It's difficult. And I find it difficult to understand why this is difficult? It’s hard to do something, but not to do it – what kind of work? It is difficult to carry out secular customs, and they are definitely difficult, but giving them up is not at all difficult. Say one word and sit quietly. On that night that we were talking about, there was so much work and trouble in those houses where they were gathering, and among those people who were gathering, and this went on for two or three days. And those who abandoned it enjoyed bodily peace and spiritual peace. Equally, what happened in other houses in the evening and on the night of the New Year, from the 1st to the 2nd, how much anxiety and care required? What I mean is that some dressed up, I don’t know how, and ran around the houses all night, while others prepared and opened houses for this. This is the height of ugliness and extravagance! And what work was it to avert this? Don’t dress up, and don’t cook at home. After all, no one is forcing you. You say: “We don’t talk about this work, which secular customs require; and what is difficult to refuse is difficult to reverse and break the established pattern. Refuse - what will they say? “But it is necessary, brothers, to show a little courage.” Without this fortitude, without the readiness to enter into a fight with everything that is contrary to oneself on the path of fulfilling good intentions, it is impossible to succeed in anything. This would mean giving oneself into slavery and being torn apart by current circumstances and mother-in-law wherever they lead. No, we must be inspired and, once realizing the demands of Christianity, courageously reject everything that is not in accordance with them. In the first days of Christianity, when it was just spreading, Christians had to abandon not some customs, like ours, but absolutely all of them, because all pagan customs were imbued with the spirit of paganism, contrary to the Spirit of Christ. “Despite, however, they did not think or hesitate, but immediately, they only tasted how good the Lord is, immediately broke off all alliances with the previous one and entered into a new order of life, and, having put this in the beginning, they never violated their decision. They were reviled, persecuted, tortured, but they still stood their ground. They did not want to again bow down to what was contrary to the Lord Jesus, their beloved. Here's your usual example! - Having realized that it is not in accordance with the Spirit of Christ, refuse it outright. Let them say what they want. Tongues will tyrannize you. May you, patiently enduring this and without hesitation, become partakers of the martyrdom of the first Christians. Then the tyrants of Christians were kings and princes, but now public opinion has taken over this position. And who doesn’t know how good it is in this regard? – Current public opinion decisively persecutes and persecutes everything Christian. And as soon as someone begins to be zealous for the works of God, he rebels against him both in language and in deed. It is not hidden from you, and you know it. But understand that this opinion exists, and be inspired with courage against it, knowing that it is not true, not permanent, not reliable, temporary; and that there is another opinion, formed in the circle of humble servants of God, quietly and silently passing among them, ascending to heaven and there acceptable to all who pleased God and sealed by our Lord Himself. Both of these opinions will one day stand - one against the other - in the face of all creation. And we know in advance that the opinion of the sinful world will not stand in judgment; the opinion of God’s servants will be justified and will appear victorious. Keeping this in mind, brothers, take heart and let your heart be strengthened. Do not give in to fear and hesitation from what they will say when you set a good intention - to renounce secular customs, saturated with a pagan spirit and contrary to the spirit of Christ. I say this not only about what you did in the New Year, but I mean all the generally bad customs, both in the upper and lower strata of society. I don’t remember them now, but when I have to, I won’t keep silent. Just tell others and they will stop; others may not suddenly, but will fight some more, but will still stop. For this reason, you shouldn’t leave your bad customs without stipulating them, otherwise you won’t know where you’ll end up. So bear with us if, out of love for you, sometimes a reproachful word is uttered. Amen. You might be interested in: