amyjoe
01-29-2006 Sunday, 10:12 PM
I was up reading late last night and I read two quotes on zeal that really made an impression on me, so I thought I'd share :thumb.
If anyone is offended by these, please forgive me. I tried to give a good warning in my title ;). I know these are from "Orthodox" Saints... but I thought that some of you might find them awesome as well, despite our differences of Faith.
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"If you want to be a true, zealous son of the Orthodox Church, you can do so by the fulfillment of the commandments of the Gospel in regard to your neighbor. Do not dare to convict him. Do not dare to teach him. Do not dare to condemn or reproach him. To correct your neighbor in this way is not an act of faith, but of foolish zeal, self-opinion and pride."
~St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
"O man, you who think to use your zeal against the infirmities of others, you have renounced the health of your own soul! You had better bestow your care on the healing of yourself, and if you want to heal the sick, know that the sick need nursing, rather than reprimand. But you, instead of helping others, cast yourself into the same painful illness. This zeal is not counted among men as a form of wisdom, but as one of the diseases of the soul, and as a sign of narrow-mindedness and extreme ignorance. "
~St. Isaac the Syrian
If anyone is offended by these, please forgive me. I tried to give a good warning in my title ;). I know these are from "Orthodox" Saints... but I thought that some of you might find them awesome as well, despite our differences of Faith.
------
"If you want to be a true, zealous son of the Orthodox Church, you can do so by the fulfillment of the commandments of the Gospel in regard to your neighbor. Do not dare to convict him. Do not dare to teach him. Do not dare to condemn or reproach him. To correct your neighbor in this way is not an act of faith, but of foolish zeal, self-opinion and pride."
~St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
"O man, you who think to use your zeal against the infirmities of others, you have renounced the health of your own soul! You had better bestow your care on the healing of yourself, and if you want to heal the sick, know that the sick need nursing, rather than reprimand. But you, instead of helping others, cast yourself into the same painful illness. This zeal is not counted among men as a form of wisdom, but as one of the diseases of the soul, and as a sign of narrow-mindedness and extreme ignorance. "
~St. Isaac the Syrian