Q & A – The Holy Spirit, Eastern ORTHODOXY & Fr. Seraphim Rose’s Accusations Regarding the Charismatic Movement
Q: Was Fr. Seraphim Rose of St. Herman’s Monastery right, that the Charismatic movement was stemmed in deception?
A. Fr. Seraphim who is a holy man, did his research while already biased against the movement to begin with. Like anyone who already believes something, they’re research is inherently flawed by the pre-supposing attitudes and beliefs they bring.
Q. Does Fr. Seraphim’s book, “Orthodoxy & the Religion of the Future”, faithfully speak the truth about what Orthodox Christians believe and teach?
A. No, though Fr. Seraphim was a man who has done great things for the Orthodox Church, there is a shroud of grey concerning his life. While he left a wonderful legacy of helpful books, a blessed monastery, and a wonderful group of brothers who continue to contribute, translate, and print Orthodox literature, following his death, his monastery schismed from the Orthodox church for nearly 20 years. How can someone who left a legacy of schism, be taken so authoritatively on any issue?
Q. If Fr. Seraphim is incorrect why are his views so mainstream?
A. St. Herman’s Monastery, now in communion again to the Orthodox church(thankfully), has operated a journal, “The Orthodox Word”, and published books for many years. Though Fr. Seraphim is not the authoritative voice, his Monastery’s legacy of printing and distributing literature assured he would be the most outspoken and widely read.
Q. What did other Orthodox priests say?
A. Fr. Eusebius Stephanou another Greek Orthodox priest, believed the Charismatic movement was from God. Instead of being rejected, Fr. Eusebius and his work of promoting renewal in Orthodoxy was supported financially and verbally by GOARCH bishops. To his death, Fr. Eusebius was a praised and recognized priest, and former teacher at Holy Cross Seminary. Never was he disciplined or reprimanded or corrected. In fact Eusebius's bishop gave money towards his renewal work in the Greek Orthodox Church. Many saw and do see him as a man like St. Seraphim of Sarov pointing dry bones people to the Holy Spirit. While the legacy of St. Hermans for many years was of schism, Fr. Eusebius faithfully served in communion all his days.
Fr. Eusebius was one of many Orthodox priests who participated. Fr. James Tavralides, Fr. Constantine Monios and Fr. David Buss, Fr. Athanasius Emmert of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, and Fr. Boris Zabrodsky of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America, founder of the Service Committee for Orthodox Spiritual Renewal all rejoiced in God's work in the Charismatic renewal. These Holy men disagreed radically with Fr. Seraphim's assessment.
Q. Fr. Seraphim believed the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the charismatic movement was an ushering into a demonic spiritistic control mechanism. Is this true?
A. Fr. Eusebius, the GOARCH priest, claimed rather than anything evil, it was simply what every Orthodox Christian receives in the Sacrament of Chrismation. Chrismation = the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and connects every believer with the day of Pentecost. It is not a strange novel thing, but simply the “Pentecost” experience that after baptism, every Orthodox Christian receives.
Q. Fr. Seraphim wrote, "Just as UFO's were a new mediumistic technique by which the devil gained occult initiates from secular society, so the Charismatic experience...was to influence unwitting Christian society. " Is the Charismatic movement steeped in Christian “Mediumism” as Fr. Seraphim suggested?
A. While, perhaps some did become deluded overall the charismatic movement was/is the work of the genuine, true Holy Spirit. The fact that perhaps some did become deluded in no way, discounts the movement any more than the fact that ascetics and monks got deluded would discount the monastic movement.Fr. Seraphim concluded that the commonness and normalcy of the miracles, and that ordinary people instead of Ascetical saints on Mt. Athos were experiencing the spiritual gifts, they must be deluded. "The chief actual accomplishment of the modern Pentecostal Movement, is that it has discovered a mediumistic technique for entering into and preserving a state where miraculous gifts become commonplace"'
His beliefs blinded him. In fact several prophecies speak of a day when common miracles will take place.
Moses prayed that ALL people would possess the Holy Spirit and be prophets, not just ascetics, monastics, saints and holy fathers of old.
Num 11:29 Then Moses said to him, "Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!"
The Prophet Joel, prophesied that the Spiritual gifts would become common to all of God’s people in some future day.
Joe 2:27 Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. Joe 2:28 "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. Joe 2:29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
In Acts 2, the Apostle Peter declared that the day of all men receiving the Holy Spirit was here, quoting St. Joel's prophecy. Fr. Seraphim also did not realize how similar true guidance by the Holy Spirit can appear “mediumistic”.
In the lives of the saints, the Holy Spirit would often cause them to do or appear strange to others. Fr. Seraphim searched the Holy Scriptures, but did not realize they were prophesying the very thing he condemned. Like the Pharisees before he was blinded to the Law and Prophets on this issue.
There is a tradition of the Holy Fool, who is pious but does certain things out of humility to appear rather foolish. The recent movie OSTROV http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Island_ (2006_film) is about Fr. Anatoly who does bazaar things and points people to truth. Old Testament stories reveal this truth.
Repeatedly the Old Testament notes “The Spirit of the Lord” came upon Old Testament Saints, such as Elijah. The language is almost identical to shamanistic possession in many ways, except it is the true God. Old Testament saints, experienced burning of the Word inside them, they saw marvelous visions, they sometimes did things against their will.
The true Holy Spirit, led Jesus into the Wilderness to be tempted. Demons mimic true things. Islam mimics Christian prayer postures. False prophets mimic true prophets. Buddhists may pray similarly to Christians. The Spirit of God acts in similar ways to demonic spirits.
1Sa 19:20 Then Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 1Sa 19:21 And when Saul was told, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. Then Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.
Here people who came to arrest David, were caught up in a supernatural experience and prophesied, though they were neither Holy people or in a lifestyle of fasting. Then Saul came and prophesied and stripped naked. God can overrule people’s sense of control and fill human instruments.
Q. Does God permit the devil to answer prayers prayed to Jesus in childlike simplicity?
A. No, “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" - Luk 11:11 - 13
Fr. Seraphim’s mistaken conclusion is based on a view of God inconsistent with both the Bible and the Holy Fathers. The root of the charismatic movement, was simply Christians asking for the Holy Spirit. Fr. Seraphim’s views are denounced by the Bible. God does not give scorpions or allow the devil to possess christians simply because they ask Him for the Holy Spirit or Holy Spirit baptism. If Jesus is evil, or he is something other than taught by the Bible he would give a scorpion, but if Jesus is “The same, yesterday, today and forever” then Fr. Seraphim while a holy man who has contributed much is deadly mistaken regarding these things.
Q. Fr. Seraphim wrote, "The Holy Spirit is acquired...by the long arduous path of asceticism, the path of sorrows. Is it true?
A. Jesus taught God the Father would bestow the Holy Spirit enthusiastically, without requiring anything of them. Like a father giving food to a child, so Our Heavenly Father bestows gifts to us.
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luk 11:9-13
What kind of God would ask his creatures to torture their bodies before giving his gifts or make them wait forever? Jesus taught exactly opposite of what Fr. Seraphim teaches.
Q. Is it true that only “Holy people”, ascetics and otherwise can be used by God to do signs and wonders?
A. No, God is God. He bestows his gifts however he likes. The Scriptures prove otherwise. Samson in the Old Testament, was filled with lust and married ungodly women, yet God used him mightily. Judas did the same miracles as the other 11 disciples, though he fell away. Balaam, a man who was filled with greed, gave true prophecies. Emperor Constantine, while some believe he was worshipping false Gods, yet was used by the true God to come up with “homoousios” to berate and defeat the Arians and compose the Creed of Nicea. Saul, while he was in rebellion against God prophesied truly. Even the chief priest who ordered God’s Son to be murdered, uttered true prophesy. Joh 11:49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, Joh 11:50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." Holiness and ascetic striving is not a pre-requisite for endowment with spiritual gifts. Not one of the disciples fasted vigorously, yet they did mighty works of Christ.
Q. Is Holiness & ascetical striving the doorway to supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit?
A. Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"(Mat 9:14) Holiness and ascetic striving is not a pre-requisite for endowment with spiritual gifts. During the majority of the disciples ministries while they were sent to “preach..Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons” Mat 10:7-8 they were not fasting but operating in Supernatural gifts of the holy Spirit. Meanwhile the asceticism of John the Baptist “did no miracle” (John 10:41).
Ascetical striving does not have to be a pre-requisite for being able to work miracles for Jesus Christ. In fact, both John the Baptist and the Pharisees were very vigorous and did no miracles. Fr. Seraphim though he lived a life of fasting did no notable miracles. Neither him, nor his disciples did. Personally, I have visited St. Herman Monastery and while Fr. Ephrem's Monasteries, St Anthony's and others experience numerous miracles, such things are not known to happen commonly if it all at Fr. Seraphim's monastery.
In the same discussion about fasting, Fr. Seraphim’s spirit is revealed. In his viewpoint on this issue, he is bearing the “Old Wineskin” of the Pharisees, instead of the “New Wineskin” of Christ. This in no way disregards Fr. Seraphim’s great and wonderful gifts to the world in other matters.
Mar 2:20-22 "But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results."No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins."
The Old Wineskin, said only a few can do miracles. The New Wineskin, is the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy, which is quoted on Pentecost by St. Peter the Holy Apostle.
Act 2:15 "For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;
Act 2:16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
Act 2:17 'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;
Act 2:18 EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT And they shall prophesy.
Act 2:19 'AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW, BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.
Act 2:20 'THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME.
Act 2:21 'AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.'
Old men – dream supernatural dreams – Not necessarily ascetics or monks, old men generally
Young Men – See visions, God reveals gifts to youth, it does not take a life of striving and saying the Jesus prayer to be used by God. The young can be used mightily too.
Slaves – Receive God’s Spirit, one does not have to be a priest or a monk, even people despised by the world, of lowest classes can be used mightily by God.
Neither the disciples of Jesus, nor the church in Acts record any needed pre-requisite of prayer and fasting, before receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit. While it is true that the whole church unified for 40 days of prayer before Pentecost, individual converts received the Holy Spirit immediately by the laying on of hands(Sacrament of Chrismation). The Holy Scriptures do not qualify only monastics or people of great stature, but simple slaves, all people, men and women, young and old.
The commonness of the supernatural gifts extends to the church fathers. St. Justin Martyr wrote an apologetic to Typhro the Jew: "If you want proof that the Spirit of God, who was with your people and left you to come to us, come into our assemblies and there you will see Him cast out demons, heal the sick, and hear Him speak in tongues and prophesy."
St. Justin does not say come to our holy monasteries for none were there yet. He does not say the priest or clergy will do this, but Jesus Christ himself. No certain castes or classes are given. Both Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition agree.
Q. What then is the basis for doing “Greater works than Jesus” (John 14:12)?
1) Faith –
a. God has always responded to faith
b. The Apostles healed not by piety(ascetism) but by faith (Acts 3) They say so clearly
c. Jesus healed in response to faith - Mat 8:10 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. Mat 8:13 And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed that very moment.
d. Lack of faith – destroys our foundation for prayer - Jas 1:6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
2) The Holy Spirit
a. Saint Seraphim of Sarov had an especially keen devotion towards the Holy Spirit.”The true aim of our Christian life consists of the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God.” – St. Seraphim of Sarov
b. His devotion to the Holy Spirit produced a life filled with miracles.
3) Discipleship
a. The disciples of Jesus Christ pretty soon began doing the greater works of Jesus Christ, so today if you find someone who is devoted to the Holy Spirit, and is doing the greater works of Jesus Christ, not merely teaching traditions of men, being around them will cause many of those things to occur in your own life
b. Elder Joseph the Hesychast lived a life of miracles. The disciple of Elder Joseph, Elder Ephraim also has and is living a life of miracles.
4) Pursuing Lifestyle
a. When the church became lax, men went to the desert and to the monasteries to pursue God. It was their spiritual hunger and intimacy with God that created faith
b) Most priests and monks discourage laiety from pursing spiritual gifts, and earnestly desiring them, because they fear people will become deluded. The Holy Scriptures teach just the opposite.
b. St. Paul says, 1Co 14:1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.(1) pursue love – Love/Relationship with God, love relationship with people. (2) Earnestly – Paul uses the Word ζηλόω zēloō which means literally to burn with zeal, to be zealous in the pursuit of, to desire earnestly, to envy
Q. Has the devil used righteous people in the church before to attempt to stop genuine moves of God? In other Words, Fr. Seraphim was a blessed man, yet is it possible he unknowingly did the work of the devil in his writings about charismatics in “Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future”?
A. YES, Many people have and continue to.
Jesus himself was accused of being demon possessed! There is a zeal without knowledge that condemns the work of God. It is a deep deception of Satan. The quickest way to shut down God's Holy Spirit is to agree with poisonous people by attributing the works of the Holy Spirit to the devil. The Holy Spirit, was and is very sensitive about certain things. We should not dare risk grieving Him.
John 8:49 Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
Joh 10:20 Many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?"
Joh 8:48 The Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?"
During the iconoclast controversy, people labeled anyone who had Holy Icons as heretics.
Two strategies, seem to be used. First, that accusing spirit. The devil is called the “accuser of the brethren”. Fr. Seraphim did not speak of his brotherly concern with Fr. Eusebius Stephanou, (Matt 18) but angrily denounced him in writing. The devil prefers to accuse. Fr. Seraphim then wrote all charismatic activity was demonic, the same strategy that the Jews used in Jesus day. Despite many chances, he never spoke to Fr. Eusebius Stephanou and merely condemned him from the side.
I believe Fr. Seraphim’s monastery in supporting his views on the charismatic movement, grieved the Holy Spirit and this is the cause of the 20 year schism. The Holy Spirit’s grace decreased and so it was easy for moral failure and other things to enter in.
Unlike those who try to say the Charismatic movement is false because of some who fell clearly into delusion, we must not say Fr. Seraphim is false because he was mistaken on this issue. As Father Seraphim extolled Blessed Augustine’s piety and life of faith, so we must honor and aspire to recognize Fr. Seraphiim for his great work in other ways and not his Theology on the Charismatic Movement. O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon us that we do not call You our Savior a heretic or demon or grieve your Spirit. Amen.
Q. Did St. Symeon the New Theologian advocate a personal relationship with God the Holy Spirit?
A. His "Hymns of Divine Love" showcase a man persecuted for the very things Fr. Seraphim persecuted Fr. Eusebius and others for, a devotion to the Holy Spirit. St. Symeon advocated pursuing the spiritual gifts and power of the Holy Spirit. http://www.stsymeon.org/index.htm - contains books/resources for sale showing how Fr. Eusebius clearly saw what St. Symeon pointed to was very much similar to the modern day outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Q. Is the Toronto Blessing inherently evil because of the strange things that occurred there? Is there any precedent for God offending people’s minds to get to their hearts?
A. Jesus said, “blessed is he who is not offended at me”. The shaking and manifestations in the Toronto Outpouring all have biblical counterparts.
St. Daniel in the Old Testament - Dan 10:9-10 But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
The Holy Scriptures teach that trembling flows from God’s Divine touch. A hand touched him. Trembling resulted.
David speaks of the exiles worshipping God with laughter - Psa 126:2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
Many have attributed laughter to demonic origin. Here laughter is connected with God's action. God has repeatedly given Saints and Ascetics the gift of tears. Laughter is joy as tears are to repentance. There is nothing inherently demonic in joy. Joy is our strength
The strangest manifestations were people barking like dogs and making other animal sounds. This is clearly the most debated of manifestations.
Dan 4:25 [Nebuchadnezzar] that you be driven away from mankind and your dwelling place be with the beasts of the field, and you be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven; and seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.
Animal characteristics being given to people is Biblically an act of God, humbling them for some period of time, with Nebuchadnezzar “7 periods of time”, in Toronto sometimes one or two nights. John Wesley and others reported similar things in the past, where proud people insulted what God was doing, and God made them to bark like dogs, roar like lions or do other strange things. The point in this manifestation is to humble the person to recognize “The Most High is ruler”.
Finally, let us remember how great things have always come in strange packages. Jesus Christ came to a poor peasant girl in a barn. Religious people, the holiest people of his day largely rejected him because of the package He came in.
Of any Person of the Eternal, Consubstantial Trinity, The Holy Spirit particularly offends people’s sense of normalcy.
Act 2:15 "For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour
Something that happened on Pentecost made many people very uncomfortable. People acted like they were drunk
Finally, the cout de tout of strange teachings is Jesus teaching about the Eucharist.
Joh 6:55 "For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. Joh 6:56 "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, "This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?" But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble?..."But there are some of you who do not believe…Joh 6:66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. Joh 6:67 So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?"
First, he was talking to Jews who were forbidden to drink blood of any kind under Old Testament Law. Secondly, he left it ambiguous so some suspected he was prescribing cannibalism. John 6:66 – 666 – is the number of people being offended by Jesus and turning away. Yet, in this strange package, the very bread of heaven, the most precious divine sacrament was given to the church.
Nearly everyone stopped following Jesus after he taught about eating His body and drinking His blood, yet those who stayed are the blessed ones.
So we see both in the bestowing the Eucharist and in the Bestowing of the Holy Spirit on the church, God offended many people.
Q. Is the Charismatic movement wrong because some people like William Branham and others in the Faith Cure movement fell into delusion and heresy?
A. No, Judas fell, yet Jesus message was true. Judas did genuine miracles and fell away. The Holy Scriptures teach, you will know them by their fruits. While some prove by their fruits, that they were not of God, the vast majority have good fruits.
More missionaries have been sent because of the charismatic renewal than at any other time in history.
Q. Why do some so violently oppose the Toronto Blessing and the Charismatic Movement?
A. Righteous people, become like Saul before he became the Apostle Paul. They believe they are murdering evil heretics, either with words or actually. Their zeal for truth is without true discernment. It flows from accusation.
Truly sanctified men in Jesus day spoke like this
Act 5:38 "So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown;
Act 5:39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God."
Many perhaps may not embrace God’s Holy Spirit, yet they do well to be cautious, “if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God."
Since Fr. Seraphim’s evil words against the Holy Spirit, Charismatic believers have done more for Jesus Christ in a few years than the church has seen in over 900 years before.
Q. What is the danger of accusing believers in Jesus Christ if they are in fact under the True Holy Spirit of being Possessed Mediumistic worshippers?
A. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the only unpardonable sin. The Holy Scriptures connect calling the work of Jesus Christ, demonic as the "Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit
Mat 12:24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."Mat 12:25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.Mat 12:26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?Mat 12:30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.Mat 12:31 "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.
