I have been informed from some of you that you have confusion and even weakening faith when coming to other Christian Churches, such as The Oriental Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, or High Church Protestants like Traditional Lutherans and Anglicans who hold to the Apostolic and Holy faith. Yes indeed, confusion can arise when we look at each others' beliefs and statements, and we may even question if we were ever in Christ's Church, or if we were ever Christians. Such confusion must stop! It is unhealthy, and bears ill fruit, and can even lead us to the deadly sin of Apostasy, that is abandoning the faith altogether. 

Let us first ground ourselves in the truth with the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, issued in 381 AD, with the exact words from 381 AD here: We believe in One God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, of all things visible and invisible. And we believe in One Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. Light of Light, True God of True God, Begotten not made. Consubstantial with the Father. Through him, all things were made. For us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit, he was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake, he was crucified under Pontious Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day, in accordance with the scriptures. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets, and we believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, and we confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and we look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Let us also confess essential truths that we may have forgotten: God, the Holy Trinity, created everything our of nothing, he is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-seeing, and even more than all of these all-loving. From him comes all Grace and Truth. From him flows the rivers of Eternal Life, and he is more than happy to grant Eternal Life, that is intimacy and union with God, to all who really want his wonderful gifts. God is most certainly not the author of confusion and death, but rather the source and author of all clarity, life, truth and love. Satan is the father of all lies, the source of all immorality, bad fruit, wrongdoings, slander, confusion, schism, quarrels, hate, selfishness, evil, death, and sin. He desires to lead as many people away from The God of the Universe, to take them down into the dark depths of darkness and evil, which is much more sinister than one can imagine. But Jesus Christ, Truly God and Truly Man with a definitive unity of the two natures in One, came to grant us and lead us to salvation, truth, and communion with God. Jesus Christ came to lead us to become Holy for God, consecrated for God alone, so that we may live in his life and love for all eternity.

And let us also expose some definite heresies and lies about Christianity: Jesus Christ IS NOT a created god; Jesus Christ IS NOT half god half man; Jesus Christ is not appearing to be human, but actually is fully human, nor does he appear to be divine while also remaining a human; all of these things are indeed wrong beliefs about The True Gospel, which proclaims Jesus Christ as 100% God and 100% Man, united as One, not as two different persons. And the one True God is this: One God, in three persons. The One in three, and the three in One, The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit. There ARE NOT three gods, but One God. One person is not more powerful or almighty than the other; all three are co-eternal, co-creator, and co-existing as One. Yes indeed, this is the true, living orthodox understanding of the God of the Universe, revealed by the Son, Jesus Christ, full of Grace and Truth.

Don't worry if you do not understand. Keep asking God to help you understand the truth about himself, and especially about his Son. It is important to understand and know the truth, for right belief will lead to right behavior. Virtuous desires will lead to virtuous action. Orthodox understanding of God will lead to an Orthodox life in communion with God, which is exactly what we need, and indeed the want we all want, even if you don't confess it openly.

And so now that we have been grounded in truth, it is now time to address some of your worries and concerns regarding your confusion on the One True Church, confusion on doctrine, and some talk on schism and division among the Christian brothers and sisters.

Let us begin. If you profess by the Nicene Creed, which we just did above, then you are a Christian. No doubt, if you truly with faith profess the Nicene Creed and really do believe with authentic faith the beliefs in the Nicene Creed, then truly, you do have the right beliefs about Jesus Christ, Christianity, and The Church. You have the very essential, basic, and important beliefs and truths of the same Gospel that Jesus Christ preached, the Apostles spread, and the Church protects. If you have confusion on whether you are a Christian or not, this ends it. Anyone who says otherwise is most likely a false shepherd. Do not listen to heresy, do not give into false belief and doctrine, and do not even dignify false shepherds by listening to them, but you all remain close to The Good Shepherd, and remain close to the truth which we have stated just a little earlier.

Now on quarreling within the Church of God: it is unprofitable, does no good, and only divides. This division is not caused by the truth, but by people looking to further their own ends. What does it mean to quarrel? It is not asking questions and trying to understand the truthful doctrine and teachings passed down to us from the Apostles of Jesus Christ. No, that is simply trying to understand the truthful beliefs we hold onto, so that we will become Holy for God. All the basic truths of the Gospel have been stated in the Nicene Creed and earlier in this article. No, quarreling is arguing over stupid stuff, stupid and dumb things that actually divide the Body of Christ. 

Allow a few examples: "We use the Julian Calendar, but you use the Gregorian Calendar, so you have deviated from the faith of the Apostles, so you are a heretic going to hell." "You took out seven books of the Old Testament, so you have altered the faith that was preached by the Apostles, so you have schismed away from the faith." "You believe in the Pope having expanded leadership power, totally contrary to Peter's leadership during the Apostolic times, so you are totally an Apostate." "We believe in the unity of the two natures of Christ in One nature, not one person like you, so you have deviated away from the Apostolic Church." Now, I'm not saying that these doctrines are false or contrary to the faith preached by Christ and the Apostles. The unity of the two full natures in One is truthful, and both positions are correct in their meaning and intention, even if there is a word difference. The Pope of Rome indeed does have earthly leadership role in the Church, and is a sign of unity, and you are also right in that his power should not be overwhelming. Slight liturgical differences such as the type of Calendar we use will not prevent us from knowing Christ, nor will omitting seven books from the Old Testament. Arguing over the precise wording use, or the exact books needed will only bring about endless division among brothers and sisters in Christ. We do not need more division, we need unity in the Body of Christ. We do not need more arguing over very small matters or stupid topics, we need to put the Truth of the Gospel at the very top of our priority list. We need to strengthen our brothers and sisters who are struggling to become Holy for God by bringing them the Truth of the Gospel, not useless quarreling over minuscule theological or liturgical matters that really do not matter in our path to salvation by the Grace of the Holy Spirit, laid out for us by the Son Jesus Christ, and under the loving guidance of Our Father in heaven.

Schism is indeed a definite sin. It divides the Body of Christ. However, true schism looks like this: people who refuse to repent of their immoral ways, wrong motives, and their heresies. What is heresy? A belief that is totally incompatible with Christianity. Can you be Christian and not believe in the Holy Trinity as it has been taught throughout the ages? NO. Can you be a Christian and say that Jesus was not born of a virgin? NO. Can you be a Christian and not believe Jesus rose from the dead? NO. Can you be a Christian and claim that Jesus was divided in nature, did not possess the two natures, and did not die for your sins? NO, NO AND NO! That's a schism: someone who really believes in a heresy, thinking they are above the authority of the Church, above the Apostles, and so splits from the Church, and starts their own 'church', thinking they are holding to the Apostolic faith, when in reality they split from the Body of Christ, and are no longer under the Grace of God or the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit dwells where the Church of Christ is.

Do not confuse different viewpoints on Orthodoxy with heresy. It is important that we have the truth, but we can look at the truth from some different viewpoints. Some say the Holy Spirit proceeds from only the Father, while others say he proceeds from the Father and the Son. But are not both correct? Yes, the Holy Spirit proceeds eternally from the Father, but the Son Jesus Christ did play a role in sending the Spirit to the Church. You could say therefore that in respect to the divine nature, the Holy Spirit proceeds only from the Father, but in respect to the Church and the Apostles, he proceeds from the Father and the Son. Similar things can be said for all the other seemingly conflicting theological positions. However, do not confuse the teaching here for the Church's teaching: go and look for yourself what the Church of God teaches, and you will find the truth. 

Division between brothers and sisters in Christ is indeed very sad. Instead of partaking of the Holy Eucharist, giving the highest thanks to God, worshipping together, suffering together, rejoicing together, loving each other in harmony, we quarrel and bicker over who has the exact faith passed down from the Apostles. But no one Church has the exact faith, but the faith evolved over time, while still remaining truthful and faithful, grounded in the same exact principles and truths the Apostles taught. The principles of the Gospel and Apostolic teaching indeed have stayed the exact same in all of the Apostolic Churches that profess the Nicene Creed, it is just that some have applied the doctrines and truths a little differently than others. 

For a last discourse, consider the writings that Saint Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians Chapter 8. Some of our brothers and sisters may be lacking in knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but Love builds up. You may think that you are the One True Church, thinking you perfectly preserved the Apostolic faith of the Early Church, with all your theological doctrines and such, but if you do not have the Love of God that builds that Christian up to become Holy for God, you are nothing. Note what Saint Paul writes in that chapter: he affirms that the Corinthians are correct in their principle and belief that an idol is nothing, simply just carved stone, but they must think about other peoples' consciences. If they go around saying that an idol is nothing with no consideration of others, how many peoples' faith do you think will be destroyed? One thing is for sure, most will take it the wrong way and go and eat before idols, hurting some peoples' faith, and leading some to even Apostatize from Christianity. That's evil. 

So therefore, if you are one saying that you have the fullness of truth, the exact faith of the Early Church to one who is a baby in the faith, you must submit yourself to God, acting in perfect humility like our Lord Jesus Christ, and put aside your "One True Church," mindset, and simply just focus on building that Christian up to become more Holy for God, giving that Christian the truth of the Gospel, the Church, and the Holy Trinity. For this is the one important truth that most have forgotten: God works through all people. Whether a Sacrament is performed in the Roman Rite or the Byzantine Rite, God still works his Grace in it. God can enlighten an Atheist to guide a Priest to Church when he is lost. It does not matter which Church a Baptism is performed, as long as it used the Trinitarian Formula. It does not matter where one receives the Holy Eucharist, as long as the words of Consecration are said when performing the rite, along with correct belief that it is truly the Body and Blood of Christ. Even if there is an immoral or 'bad' Priest or Bishop, the sacraments performed by them are still valid and life-giving from God. And there are other things other than this.

And so therefore, do not be confused over the practice of Christ's Church, nor give yourself over to the various schisms between Christians, for you will lose yourself in the confusion, and indeed be violently distracted from the path of Salvation. The Truth is important, and indeed is the most important thing, which Jesus our Lord gives to us. The Truth should never ever be compromised with false belief or for false unity. The Truth is what should unite us, and indeed, it does. Just know that if you profess the Nicene Creed with all sincerity, with all faith, and indeed with all love, you are a Christian, and you will work the works that Jesus Christ himself worked, in perfect communion with God. 

Of course if I myself have ironically said any heresy, any falsehood, call me out, and I will apologize. May the Love of God of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit be with you all always. Amen.