Nonbelievers

About Bishop St. Theophane the Recluse

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October 19 (November 1)

Col. 4:2-9; Lk. 9:49-56

What should be out attitude towards the unbelievers who do not confess the Lord? The example for us is set by the Lord Himself in the case of a village which did not receive Him. Young zeal and excitement of the Apostles would “command fire to come down from heaven", but the Lord "rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of [Lk. 9:54-55].

Our salvation is essentially receiving the Lord. And He does not take revenge against those who refused to receive him: He simply goes to another village, passing them by, leaving them to their own devices. We should do just the same: let the unbelievers follow their own path — is they choose so — and believers stay on their own.

There is God; it is up to Him to sort everyone out at the right time. We have to feel sorry and pray for them; wishing that they learned the truth, we have to seek a chance to help them find it. If they venture to publicly assault the truth — come forth with a rebuttal, charitably but firmly, and that would be enough.

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