11 September 1998
The Pious Clergy and
The faithful Members of the
Church of
of the Holy Diocese of Denver
You have heaped up treasure in the last days. (James 5:3)
Beloved in the Lord,
We are living in the last days.
Wherever one looks today in the world, in his country, in his society or neighborhood, or in his very home. he realizes that there is only one meaning to life, one criterion of success, one purpose for living: it is money.
Big industry has raped God's planet. It has stripped the world of its forests; it has gouged the terrain and even the bottom of the seas for minerals and for the "liquid gold." It has polluted the rivers and lakes and even large bodies of water like the Mediterranean Sea.
Mankind has invaded the natural places where birds and beasts have had their habitations for thousands of years and he continues to destroy the animals that forage in his back yard Ð the native habitat of the animals which he now claims. He has callously harvested most of the edible sea food of the oceans to the point of the extinction of some species.
The mindset of man is one: to heap up treasure!
The lowering of traditional moral standards among people of all ages has been reduced to one response: "So what!" If the most powerful man in the world states that his private life is his own business, then certainly everyone else can easily say the same thing, with the further response: "If you like it, do it."
The concerted teaching of "self esteem" to the young which allows false fantasies in their young minds to believe that they are more and better than they really are, fuels their selfish and self-centered philosophy among the inhabitants of the planet.
The frightening result is that the planet earth which is a living organism has begun to fight back and trying to heal itself from the many abuses and exploitations that have been heaped upon it. The reaction has been floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, fires in new residential areas, and increasing earthquakes.
Without any doubt, this greed for amassing treasures on earth has affected more and more people in every place. It has also influenced and affected the people of this Diocese and the Church in general.
Although we have read so much material lately about the clergy attempting to control the people and the parishes, if one is honest and objective he would readily see that this is not so. Actually it is the opposite. Without mentioning specific persons or parishes, we are witnessing the fulfillment of Saint James' prophecy when he writes, "You have heaped up treasures in the last days." It is a sad reality that the clergy are considered only secondarily, while the main concern in the minds of the people is to gather more and more funds for the parishes. No one seems concerned about saving souls for God's coming Kingdom. The mark of success in the parishes is not the increase of members, but the increase of funds. However, in most cases it is even cutting back on responsibilities like the priest's remuneration and the Archdiocese stewardship commitment. As long as the local bills are paid, the priest does not matter, neither the Church at large, nor concern for works of philanthropy, just as long as the parish enjoys monetary security. All this has been compounded by the increasing "investment clubs" in our parishes and parish organizations.
More and more parishes are establishing restricted funds of different kinds as an alternate way of not using the funds for educational, cultural, and athletic programs, including projects that would bring about growth in membership. Some parishes do not want to grow any more, much like a husband and wife who have so many children and do not wish to have more because it would cost more money. Other parishes are chasing converts away because they want their parish to be an ethnic club exclusively for them Ð even though their numbers are dwindling. Yet they never turn down non-Greek money at their ethnic festivals.
Why do so many of our parishes portray such a dismal picture rather than being vibrant Christian centers where people are joined to Christ and seek His coming Kingdom? The answer is one: they prefer to heap up treasures during these last days.
Can anyone deny that the spirit of the evil one is gaining more and more control as the world proceeds toward a one-government world? Can members of the Church disagree that this spirit of accumulation and material wealth which was one of the temptations which Satan gave to Christ in the wilderness is rampant in the world and in the lives of those who claim to be members of the Church? Look at how the American stock market system has been replicated throughout the world and how many millions look up to the electronic boards as their main hope in life.
I ask the priests, the parish councils, the Philoptochos Society, and the people of the Diocese of Denver to stop and to analyze prevailing conditions in your lives and in the life of your parishes. Have you been tainted by this spirit of the latter days? Have you given more attention and value to finances and funds than to the souls of those who are seeking God's Kingdom? Stop and think about these things. It is a matter of eternal life or eternal death. Where will we meet in the next life?
Saint James is giving ample warning to us. He writes, "Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."
Beloved in the Lord, the Diocese of Denver is the last Orthodox outpost in this country which must reflect God's love through you, His people. This part of the country is the least populated by Orthodox Christians and because of this we must have strong parishes no matter how small they may be. Do not let this opportunity go by. It could be your final experience of demonstrating your love for our Lord Jesus Christ and His holy Church. Do whatever is necessary to turn your parish around, so that it will be first and foremost the Eucharistic community of your city. With Christ our Lord as its center, your parish will bring forth a great harvest for the Lord and His approaching Kingdom.
With Paternal Blessings,
+Metropolitan Isaiah
Presiding Hierarch
of
the Diocese of Denver