Humility

Orthodoxy: The Narrow Path
Ronald Clausen

9
HUMILITY

"Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and
He shall lift you up."
James 4:10

As I read the writings of the Orthodox Church and the Saints of the Church, I was struck with true Godliness. Two thousand years of writings by men and women that lived lives that were truly transformed by God, into living examples of Godliness and Holiness. Many of them have suffered martyrdom for their faith with joy. Everyone of them had learned to crucify the flesh and lived as Christ who humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8). For they knew that by humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor and life (Proverbs 22:4). For they no longer thirsted for this world and the things in it. Like a moth drawn to a light, I was immediately drawn to these men and women who had learned the ways of God.


One such example is found in the writings of Saints Barsanuphius & John who were Monks of Gaza, Palestine in the 6th century. In their writings is great spiritual insight and an unsurpassed understanding of the ways of God:

"...Once, when (Abba John), by the Elder's prayers, had received relief from passions, he said: 'The passions have grown weaker in me.' After this he sent (the Elder) a question about blasphemous thoughts and did not receive an answer. When he was surprised at the reason for this, suddenly, by God's allowance, to bring him to his senses, a frightful apparition was manifested to him, and it was repeated again, and then suddenly vanished.
(The Elder wrote to him concerning this:) You presumed to open your mouth before God and say that the passions have grown weaker in you, rather than to say: 'They are all within me as in a storehouse'; and for this you were abandoned [by God], and all your wretchedness was uncovered."
(Saints Barsanuphius & John, Guidance Toward Spiritual Life, #44, p. 50, Selected and Translated by Fr. Seraphim Rose)


These men knew it would end in destruction to say: I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing (Revelation 3:17). For to say they had conquered the flesh and sin and to claim that they had great spiritual power would only prove that they were wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked (Revelation 3:17). These were men that knew the Scriptures:

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
(1 John 1:8)

And the words of Christ:

"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted"
(Matt. 23:12)

For it is better to reproach oneself than to live in sin and pride. Paul said that he took pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches...for when I am weak, then am I strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). Clearly men like Saints Barsanuphius & John transmitted this:

"Q: When I do not see in myself an evident transgression, and likewise and do not find immediately something for which I should reproach myself, what should I do?

A: Say: 'That I have sinned is beyond doubt, but at the present time my transgression is hidden from me.' And this is what it means to reproach oneself."
(Saints Barsanuphius & John, Guidance Toward Spiritual Life, p. 133, Selected and Translated by Fr. Seraphim Rose)


A Russian, St. Silouan (1866-1938) was a modern example of this Godly humility. Because of his wisdom and insight he is a spiritual guide harmonious with the teachings and lives of the early Fathers. He knew and transmitted to others the wisdom of the spirit:

"The Staretz {Elder} insisted that the Saints were concerned, through the humbling of self, to purge the mind of all imagination. The Saints all said: I shall suffer torments in hell -- even though they performed great miracles. They had learned by experience that if the soul condemns herself to hell, but trusts the while in God's compassion, the strength of God enters into her, and the Holy Spirit bears clear witness of salvation. The soul grows humble through self-condemnation, and there is then no place in her for intrusive thoughts, and she stands before God with a pure mind. This is the wisdom of the spirit. With iron drills men drill the earth's crust for oil, and are successful. With their intellectual powers they drill heaven for the fire of divinity, but are rejected of God for their pride."
(The Monk of Mount Athos, p. 106-107, by Archimandrite Sophrony)

These men, like Paul, considered themselves the least [1 Cor. 15:9] of Christians and not deserving of God's mercy. This humility was a way of life and discipline of theirs that would result in life everlasting.


These men, skillfully, would even 'test' each other in front of others, so they could benefit by their examples. Two such men were the Russian Saints, Fr. Leonid (1768-1841) and Fr. Macarius (1788-1860) of Optina Monastery. Here is an example of such humility and spiritual exercise:

"...Fr. Leonid decided to treat him {Fr. Macarius} as his beloved son and disciple in the Lord, and, following the instruction of St. John of the Ladder {Step 4:27}, did not miss an opportunity to provide his skillful struggler with crowns by testing his patience. With this purpose he subjected him to rebukes and reprimands, frequently in the presence of others, so that they could benefit from his humility.

Here is one of many examples of this:
The Abbot, Fr. Moses, summoned Fr. Macarius (after he had been appointed spiritual father of the Monastery) and asked him to be the sponsor for the tonsure of certain brothers. Fr. Macarius, regarding the request of the Abbot as a command, replied with a humble bow. When he came to the Elder, he found his spiritual instructor, as usual, surrounded by a multitude who were asking about their spiritual needs and problems. Fr. Macarius briefly informed him about why the Abbot had summoned him.

Fr. Leonid, with a stern look, asked Fr. Macarius, 'And what did you do; did you consent?'

'Well, I almost consented, or it would be better to say, I did not dare refuse,' Fr. Macarius replied.

'Yes, that is typical of your pride,' said the Elder, raising his voice and making it seem as if he were angry. He then began to reprimand Fr. Macarius. The latter stood with his head bowed, humbly bowing and from time to time repeating: 'I'm guilty. Forgive me, for God's sake, Father.' Everyone present was accustomed to treating Fr. Macarius on an equal level as the Elder and watched this either with bewilderment or with reverent awe.

When the Elder fell silent, Fr. Macarius bowed at his feet and meekly asked, 'Forgive me, Father; do you bless me to refuse?'

'Refuse? How can you refuse? You asked for it yourself, and now you want to refuse? No, you can't refuse now; the matter is settled...' said Fr. Leonid, who in no way intended to deprive of spiritual benefit those who had been entrusted to the spiritual guidance of this experienced instructor. There was a different reason for his reprimand: to test the humility of the Elder-disciple, in which he was advancing, and thus to provide profit for others. This was accomplished in its entirety.

By acting in this way, the Elder at the same time not only nourished a fatherly love but also a heartfelt reverence for Fr. Macarius as his spiritual friend and confidant; and when he considered it beneficial he expressed these feelings to such a degree that his listeners were astonished. Some persons once asked the Elder about the spiritual level of Fr. Moses, Fr. Anthony and Fr. Macarius. The Elder replied briefly, 'Fr. Moses and Fr. Anthony are great men, but Macarius is a saint.' Those who heard this later explained the words of the Elder by the saying of St. John Climacus {Step 22:12}, 'People of high spirit bear offense nobly and gladly, but only the holy and righteous can pass through praise without harm'."
(Elder Leonid of Optina, p. 58-59, by Fr. Clement Sederholm)

Here is an example of Christ-like humility, self control, endurance, obedience and patience. Something every Christian should strive for.


These characteristics of true Christianity seem to be missing in the Protestant Church. The current 'teachers' of the truth seem to be teaching a different truth than the Scriptures. Only for an example of the heresy being taught today under the pretense of Christianity, I quote a few 'popular teachers' today. Listen to the pride (from Hank Hanegraaff's book: Christianity in Crisis):

"God can't do anything in this earth realm except what we, the body of Christ, allow Him to do..."
(Christianity in Crisis, Note #15, p. 380, Pastor P., by Hank Hanegraaff)

"I'm going to be led by the Holy Ghost today. Is that all right with you?...God came from heaven, became a man, made man into little gods, went back to heaven as a man. He faces the Father as a man. I face devils as the son of God. Do you see what I'm talking about? You say, 'Benny, am I a little God?' You're a son of God, aren't you? You're a child of God...What else are you? Quit your nonsense! What else are you?...You can't be human!...Some of you didn't really hear what I said. You said, 'Well, that's heresy.' No, that's your crazy brain saying that."
(Christianity in Crisis, Note #43, p. 382, Pastor H., by Hank Hanegraaff)

"As a believer, you have a right to make commands in the name of Jesus. Each time you stand on the Word, you are commanding God to a certain extent..."
(Christianity in Crisis, Note #59, p. 384, Pastor K., by Hank Hanegraaff)

"When you were born again the word was made flesh in you. And you became flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone. Don't tell me you have Jesus. You are everything He was and everything He is and ever He shall be...It [the new man] says, 'I am as He is.' That's what it says. As He is, so are we in this world. Jesus said, 'Go in my name, go in my stead.' Don't say, 'I have.' Say, 'I am, I am, I am, I am, I am.'...Don't say, 'I'm a sinner.' The new creature is no sinner...."
(Christianity in Crisis, Note #44, p. 382-383, Pastor H., by Hank Hanegraaff)

And to sum up what is so tragically happening today:

"I know a lot of people were blessed and sincerely ministered to by what we sang on TV, and by what we said--but the overall picture, I'm afraid, seemed to say, 'If you follow our formula, you'll be like us,' rather than, 'If you do what Jesus says, you'll be like Him.' It was certainly more exciting to follow us, because to follow us was to identify with success, with glamour, with a theology that made everything good and clean and well-knit together. To identify with Jesus, however, meant to identify with the Cross."
(Christianity in Crisis, p. 192, Patti Roberts (Richard Roberts ex-wife), by Hank Hanegraaff)


Jesus said, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:3). A novice asked Saint Macarius the Great (300-390) of Egypt how one could accomplish being poor in spirit, even in the face of obvious spiritual advancement:

"Q: How can one be poor in spirit, especially when he is inwardly conscious that he is a changed man, and has made progress, and has come to a knowledge and understanding which he did not possess before?

A: Until a man acquires these things and makes progress, he is not poor in spirit, but thinks highly of himself; but when he comes to this understanding and point of progress, grace itself teaches him to be poor in spirit, which means that a man being righteous and chosen of God does not esteem himself to be anything, but holds his soul in abasement and disregard, as if he knew nothing and had nothing, even though he knows and has. And such a thought becomes as it were a part of nature and rooted in a man's mind. Do you not see how our forefather Abraham, elect as he was, described himself as 'dust and ashes' (Gen. 18:27); and David, anointed to be king, had God with him, and yet what does he say? 'I am a worm and no man, a very scorn of men, and the outcast of the people' (Psalm 21:7)."
(Saints Barsanuphius & John, Guidance Toward Spiritual Life, p. 151-152, Selected and Translated by Fr. Seraphim Rose)

No self-esteem here. Just brokeness, humility and disregard for the flesh. The things that Jesus, our Savior, taught us to do. Listen to the spirit of this prayer:

"Oh Lord, I know not what to ask of You. You alone know what are my true needs. You love me more than I myself know how to love. Help me to see my real needs which are concealed from me. I dare not ask for a cross or comfort, I can only wait on You. My heart is open to You. Visit and help me for Your great mercies sake. Strike me and heal me. Cast me down and raise me up. I worship in silence Your Holy will and Your mysterious ways. I offer myself as a sacrifice to You. I put my trust in You. I have no other desire than to fulfill Your will. Teach me to pray. Pray thou thyself in me. Amen."
(prayer by Metropolitan Philaret)

The spirit in which this is prayed is comparable to the way Jesus prayed to the Father in the garden Gethsemane:

"Abba Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me; nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt."
(Mark 14:36)


This is the spirit that we Christians should have. It should be evident in our speech, actions, prayers and worship. I found in Orthodoxy an obvious example of a true likeness of Christ. An example of how we are to act and live our life. Paul made this very clear:

"Do nothing from fractional motives--through contentiousness, strife, selfishness or for unworthy ends--or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself--thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves. Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others. Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus.--Let Him be your example in humility--Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God, God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained; But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity] so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of [the] cross!"
(Philippians 2:3-8, Amplified Version)

We are to have this same attitude and humility in us. Christ was our example. Christ said:

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."
(Matt. 5:5)

And He left us not only these words to follow, but His example. He says to us:

"Take My yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
(Matt. 11:29)


We are to follow in His footsteps that He walked in here on earth. Christ came having salvation, lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass (Zechariah 9:9). The current trend in the 'faith movement' is to say that Jesus and the Apostles were wealthy:

"{Pastor P.} says he's trying 'to get you out of this malaise of thinking that Jesus and the disciples were poor. . . . The Bible says that He has left us an example that we should follow His steps. That's the reason why I drive a Rolls Royce. I'm following Jesus' steps'."
(Christianity in Crisis, p. 187, by Hank Hanagraaff)

Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud (Proverbs 16:19). We should abandon the things of this earth and long for the things of heaven. The Orthodox Church exhorted me to follow Jesus and the Apostles with the prophets and Godly men of the Scriptures. The Church gives me 2,000 years worth of unchanging spiritual council on how to walk in the footsteps of Christ, our example.


I did not feel I was following this example. I was not meek and lowly or poor in spirit. These teachings were actually foreign to my prayers and in my worship. It was obviously foreign to my speech and actions. I would never stand with patience if my Pastor chastised me the way Fr. Leonid chastised Fr. Macarius. I would not have submitted to my Pastors and whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do....(Matt. 23:2-3). I realized that I was not modeling my life after Christ and Scriptures. I was not being taught to be poor in spirit (Matt. 5:3), meek (Matt. 5:5), lowly (Matt. 11:29) and long-suffering (Galatians 5:22). In fact, some of the teachers that I was listening to (by my own choice) were teaching that these characteristics were not acceptable according to who I am as a new creature, or that Jesus was teaching these things to those under the old covenant to show how impossible it was to be righteous (it did not apply to us ).


I realized, because of my pride, I was not searching out sound doctrine, but after {my} own lusts {I heaped} to {myself} teachers, having itching ears; and {I had turned} away {my} ears from the truth (2 Timothy 4:3-4). I wanted to choose where to worship; how to worship; when to worship; who to submit to (or not to submit to anybody); which interpretations of Scriptures to hold; which teachers to follow; and how to pray. In Orthodoxy I was slapped across the face with true models of the life of Christ and a teaching demanding the same. I was not on the path that leads to salvation:

"Disciple: What is the easiest way to be saved? On what path? I'm just asking for myself.

Elder Leonid (1768-1841): Imagine that the Lord Jesus Christ is walking about the earth in all His human, evangelical simplicity. Walking together with Him, would you be any better than you are now?

Disciple: After thinking a moment, I replied to the Elder: I suppose I would remain the same as before, without any special grace from God. After all, were there not many who followed Christ and then fell away?

Elder: And what is it that attracts the grace of God more than anything else?

Disciple: I don't know, Father.

Elder: If you would be simple-hearted like the Apostles, would not conceal your human shortcomings, would not pretend to be especially pious, if you would walk free from hypocrisy, then that is the path. While it is easy, not everyone can find it or understand it. This path is the shortest way to salvation and attracts the grace of God. Unpretentiousness, guilelessness, frankness of soul - this is what is pleasing to the Lord, Who is lowly of heart. Except ye become like children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of God [Matt. 18:13]."
(Elder Leonid of Optina, p. 202, by Fr. Clement Sederholm)


It was time for me to be obedient to God and His ways and learn from the Church, that was built on the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, to abandon the things of life. I gathered around me teachers like Elder Macarius of Optina to teach me about this new way of life:

"But you have still not found the strength to abandon the things of life. What should you do? Emulate St. Peter who was drowning in the waves: O Lord, save me for I perish (Matt. 14:30) and St. David who cried out: Show me, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk (Ps. 142:8) and remove from me the way of unrighteousness (Ps. 118:29).

The reason for all your falls is pride: its offshoot--self exaltation, a high opinion about yourself, despising others and condemnation of them. No matter how we strive to do good deeds, yet in light of these actions they are tainted and bring no benefit because they are criminal and directly opposed to the will of God. The teaching of the Lord and His life are meekness and humility, which He taught us to learn of Him (cf. Matt. 11:29). The cause of all our evil is pride, and the mediator of all good is humility!

If even in the performance of good deeds we must have a broken and humble heart and a contrite spirit, which God will not despise (Ps. 50:19), how much more must we in the poverty of our present state cast ourselves into the abyss of humility."
(Elder Macarius of Optina, p. 331, Fr. Leonid Kavelin)


I now have 2,000 years worth of models to follow that seem to be right out of the Biblical times. Models that do not conform to the things of this world. They exhort me to follow the true Jesus and His examples. This path is not an easy one, but the end is eternal life for though the Lord be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly: but the proud He knoweth afar off (Psalms 138:6).

Obedience