by Fr. Stephen Freeman A recent question concerning the “priesthood of all believers” has been an occasion for personal reflection. What is it about the priesthood of all believers that seems so important for Protestant thought? The idea is rooted in Scripture: You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a […]
The Death of Christ on the Cross: The Life of Man
September 13, 2013 By
by Fr. Stephen Freeman Several years ago, someone wrote and asked, “Why did Christ have to die on the Cross?” It is the question that prompted this article. On September 14th (New Calendar), the Church marks the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross. It is a fitting time to ask, “Why did Christ have […]
The Death Of God and The Transfiguration Of Man
August 5, 2013 By
by Fr. Stephen Freeman The story of our creation in Genesis is interrupted. The Divine Council says, “Let us make man in our own image,” and the work begins. But man’s creation is not like the creation of anything else. For the stars and trees, the earth and the sky, God says, “Let there be…!” […]
Is Hell Real?
July 11, 2013 By
by Fr. Stephen Freeman Because sometimes the people of God need a basic lesson in the nature of existence… On one of the roads leading into my small city a billboard has recently appeared. It is part of a larger campaign by a nationally known evangelist who is to have a revival in Knoxville. The […]
A Crisis Of Beauty
March 21, 2013 By
by Fr. Stephen Freeman There is a crisis of beauty within my culture. That is a very kind way to say that much of the world around me, at least the civilizational part, is ugly. It is not an ugliness born of poverty (though poverty is very ugly around here) – unless we understand that […]
The Mystery of Christ’s Baptism
January 4, 2013 By
by Fr. Stephen Freeman This week, the Church moves from the feast of Christmas to the feast of Theophany – the celebration of the Baptism of Christ. The intent of this feast is not to celebrate a succession of historical events (the Baptism of Christ is at least 30 years later than His birth). Rather this feast takes us […]
On Thanksgiving
November 11, 2012 By
by Fr. Stephen Freeman Everyone capable of thanksgiving is capable of salvation. Fr. Alexander Schmemann I do not believe it is possible to exhaust this topic. I have set forth a few suggestions of how we might build and maintain a life of thanksgiving. Particular thought is given to those times when giving thanks is […]
Church Scandals Must Come
October 21, 2012 By
by Fr. Stephen Freeman This an excellent article on why we should neither be surprised, nor wounded in the heart, by Church scandals, or worse, lose faith over them. Scandals must come (Matt. 18:7). These are the words of Christ. He tells us that scandals are not only likely to happen – but that they […]
