Common Pitfalls of Orthodox Christian Beginners - Fr. Stephen Freeman

[@ProtectingVeil]

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[@tennesseegirl5539]

I found Orthodoxy 2 years ago. Got scared. Decided it was too hard. I can't believe I fell for that! I'm back. Never leaving 😇

[@adambenedict6155]

As a Catechumen in The Orthodox Church, I find this to be reassuring and well-balanced. Thank You for posting this.

[@FatherAndTeacherTV]

I had never heard of the "fast of demons". I enjoyed the wisdom in this video. I'm still growing as a catechumen.

[@youbetyourwrasse]

I fasted as self discipline YEARS before I believed. I suppose that was the "fast of demons" as I did not pray. But I was able to quit smoking after seven days of not eating. So I don't know about demons, but I DO KNOW that God causes it to rain on the just and unjust alike. I suppose the fast of demons would be a Christian who is going though the motions (fasting) without any heart (prayer) bgehind it?

[@D-A-K]

Fr Stephen is a treasure. I see him as another Fr Thomas Hopko.

[@davidpope2189]

I always enjoy listening to Father Stephen. He's down to earth, and what he says makes a lot of sense.

[@feeble_stirrings]

Fr. Stephen is a treasure and has been a tremendous help to me in my journey.

[@M3124-t5f]

I'm the "rule-lover", I actually needed this

[@CA_Watchman]

I’m not orthodox, I used to fast once a week, not eating, not praying either though. Recently I’ve started again to fast, usually 36-40 generally , just water, this time it’s accompanied with prayer. Fasting on its own I’ve always felt was good on a spiritual and physical level. It’s actually watching videos on Orthodoxy that brought to my remembrance the importance of it. I think denying oneself is always a step in the right direction when it comes to drawing closer to God.

[@paladinhansen137]

I find these Orthodox videos very encouraging words. Never let the guard down and pray always over the matter! The Jesus Prayer!

[@aleisterbroley900]

I'm looking into converting, myself. Harder than fasting for me would be doing it exactly as I'm instructed... Meaning this would be good for me. I pray the Lord guides me to as wise a spiritual mentor as this.

[@livinhuge]

That is perfectly stated Fr, Stephen. "People find aspects of Orthodoxy" and all the while they are only finding aspects of their own personalities - so well said. As stated toward the end, we are all to go out 'beyond' ourselves. "More than human or less than? Which one? The answer to that is 'yes.' Beyond categories? You bet.

[@julijanacvejic517]

Great advice for me! I always put myself down because I am not able fast according to rules....

[@Mark-yb1sp]

Same here. Feel like such a failure.

[@johnnyd2383]

Progress slowly... one bit of a rules at a time, keep tightening slowly and in a due time you will reach the goal. God bless.!

[@DnDOldGuard]

As someone just starting to look into the Orthodox church more fully, this was very educational, and inspiring!

[@mrs.jesshorst]

Born and raised Catholic; I am investigating and this was so helpful!! 🤍

[@rev.georgeaburdeineh3107]

Thank you Fr. Stephen!!! Sounds like you are teaching pretty much what The Apostles taught. In the book of The Didache, The Apostle Peter says that one should fast as much as one can bare it!!! And given that we are in a Pandemic, maybe no fasting or much lighter fast… In any case, fasting is a means of drawing nearer to God, otherwise may not have much effect. Meanwhile, what The Church prescribes in fasting, is also good for your health. For those who try to follow it, have MUCH less RISK of getting a cancer or heart disease. And would live longer, given all equal!!! I always enjoy fasting as it makes me happier, healthier & inspired in The Way of God!!! Love in Christ!!! Rev. George

[@devindalton-talbott]

J'aime souvent lire le blog du père Freeman.

[@hdgskevdb]

Glory to God for all things! Fr. Stephens statement on the fast of demons really struck me

[@rebeccaharrishunt1181]

Thank you so much for this; in my former residence, I had a superlative father confessor/spiritual father who understood, explained, and supported the very traditional praxis of the Faith. Sadly, he passed in the same month that my husband did (after we'd moved from that locale), and while I trust in God and know that He provides, my heart was completely broken. After yet another move with my then 14- 15 year-old children, I now have a father confessor who is part of a (Greek) modernist paradigm about these things, which has really put me off from confession and attendance, with which I struggle; I feel I've been taught the "higher path", and it's a struggle I grapple with daily.. Thank you so much for your videos which support the more traditional and purist among us.

[@b_ks]

Interesting, thank you.

[@nancyd001]

Great advice. Would have liked to hear this when I was a catechumen (although my priest did handle me gently).

[@TaraandSky]

As a catechumen, this is life changing. I have not been moving forward with it because I feel it's too hard.

[@ProtectingVeil]

Good strength...slowly, slowly!

[@tallmikbcroft6937]

Amen and Amen.. Bless Father! that was good news

[@hyweldda56]

Very very balanced advice. Many thanks.

[@curiouskittenn]

Thank you for this!

[@JohnMiller-li3nq]

That's a really good answer.

[@nv6679]

Thank you.

[@Mark-yb1sp]

I’m in a pitfall right now. Need some prayer and advice.

[@vsevolodtokarev]

O Lord the Lover of men, have mercy on Thy servant Mark, take demonic despondency away from him by Thy holy Angels, and lead him to salvation.

[@evans3922]

Grab from Theotokos dress as St.Paisios the Agiorite used to say...Pray to her like to your own mother,like a little baby...she delivers us from all evil influence...put all your hope to Her asking to cover you under Her protecting veil.

[@feeble_stirrings]

Lord have mercy. Just try to do one thing today that you know you should. Give 5 minutes to prayer if you’ve been neglecting it. Ask one person’s forgiveness that you know you’ve wronged. Send an email to your priest and schedule a time to talk. Haven’t been to church in a while? Try to at least get to Vespers. It can be easy to stand at the lowest point of a valley, looking up at some colossal peak and wondering how you’re every going to get there. Just take a step. And then another and another.

[@Mark-yb1sp]

@@vsevolodtokarev Thank you Vsevolod.

[@Mark-yb1sp]

@@evans3922 Thank you so much!

[@peregrino1655]

I have much more questions and doubts than these two.

[@randallgoulet1550]

You’ve got a good channel going man, you would do even better if you shortened or just rid of the intros altogether. Don’t wanna come off rude just constructive criticism ♥️

[@ProtectingVeil]

I appreciate constructive criticism...thanks for reaching out! What do you think of the new intro?

[@johnnyd2383]

I tend to disagree with the statement at 1:30... In patristic literature fast was never divided into "monastic" and "laymen", and that is because there are no separate rules for either monastics or laity. It is one and same rule for all. What does differ are typikons for monasteries and common sense for laity. Difference come in a form of QUANTITY of certain rule. If monastics have one meal a day as per typikon they observe, lay people who are not on a same spiritual level as monastics, will have three meals a day, for example. It does not mean that if layman who feels ready to go to that level can not reduce number of meals to one only. yada...yada.. yada..

[@matthewhamstein3811]

Ask Father Freeman if he thinks snitching out an entire parish to antifa is a common pitfall for new orthodox in general or just something he’s unrepentant of

[@alfonzo9152]

Life is short! Log off and have a nice conversation with your parents.

[@matthewhamstein3811]

@@alfonzo9152 good idea, but doesn’t address what I asked. This is a serious concern with endangered the soul of many friends of mine, including one who passed away recently.

[@lwconley2005]

How are your friends being endangered by “Antifa”?

[@matthewhamstein3811]

@@lwconley2005 no, being betrayed by a priest, and as a result being asked to stay away from your home parish until the controversy dies down put at least 5 people I know into a serious pit of doubt and despair

[@lwconley2005]

@@matthewhamstein3811 I’m confused about how he betrayed people and I’m also confused about why you or whoever were told to stay away a while.