The Consequences of “What if”!
Many are harmed by the concept of “What if” and doing something that is forbidden and condemned by God. For instance, some say “what if I do not fast,” defying the order of fasting and refuse to abstain from food and beverages consumption. There are others as well who decline to be blessed by the Holy Cross saying “what if I do not kiss the Cross.” The numbers of people who do not attend Church saying “what if I do no go to Church” are not few. Those miss out all of the prayers, praising, sanctification, and attendance of Divine Liturgy in Partaking the Eucharist (eating the Holy Flesh and drinking of The Holy Son) for soul salvation and eternal life.
The Wise King Solomon in his proverb says, “Do not remove the ancient landmark sign Which your fathers have set.” The sign signifies the order and tradition. The landmark is religion. Thus when the wise King say, “Do no remove the ancient landmark sign which your fathers have set”, he meant “do not remove your religion’s order; its’ sign and its tradition. (Proverb 22:28)
Fasting is Biblical. Prophets have fasted which we know as “The Prophets’ fast” in faith and hope of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to be born from human; Holy Mother Saint Virgin Mary for the salvation of us. The disciples of Christ have fasted the “Apostle’s Fast,” in fulfilling His order in teaching the Gospel and change people from gentiles to the pupil of God through baptism. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:18-19)
We fast the seven chronical fasts based on the bible, the tradition of our fore fathers and the Liturgy of the Church. But then, why ask like “what if I do not fast,” as if doing a good or the right thing. This kind of person is benefiting his body but not the soul.
The Apostle Saint Paul’s epistle for the Philippians states “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.” (Philippians 3:18) We are losing our virtue by making the “what if” notion as an excuse and disobeying the order of God. Is it though by food that man inherits Kingdom of Heaven? Or does food and drink enrich us to God?
Saint Paul consults us like this:” But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.” (1 Corinthians 8:8) So, if food does not keep us close to God and if we do not profit by eating, do we not have to make fasting our virtue?
Saint Paul’s message to the Christians of Romans states like this: “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.” (Romans 14:19)
What Saint Paul meant when he said, “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking” is first the truth about are devoid of inhering God’s Kingdom by food and drink. Second, what he called the “Kingdom of God” is the gospel. If we are to perform, keep and live by the Gospel, it enriches us to God’s Kingdom.
The other is the truth about God’s Kingdom being happiness and peace by The Holy Spirit but not by food and drink. It teaches and preaches faith, hope and love but not the consumption of food and drink. Third, he is telling us that Gospel does not dwell on or incarnates with personhood that only consumes nutrition.
Observing these three notions and say “God’s Kingdom is not by food and drinks but happiness and peace by Holy Spirit” we have submitted our personhood to Christ. It is God we have to please in our entire life. If we eat and drink, we are satisfying our body. But if we pray, fast, do prostration and give alms, we make God happy.
In Saint Paul’s epistle to the Hebrews, there are the following words. “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.” (Hebrew 13:7-9)
The Apostle did not say, “Your heart shall be preserved by food and drink” but “By the grace of God.” what he called “The grace of God” is Gospel. And His words “Your Heart shall be preserved by “The Law of Gospel” indicates those who eat or drink did not benefit spiritually and have become their own slave of the belly.
Certainly, Saint Paul have said, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1 Corinthians 6:12) t When he says, “All things are lawful for me,” he is speaking of the free will. Every person has his/her own free will and using that, he/she do righteous or sin. We worship God in our own free will but not because He force us. The saying, “Behold, I have presented to you fire and water. Raise your hand to your will,” is for the indication of “You have free will.”
However, Saint Paul did not seize by saying “All things are lawful for me.” He has also said, “but all things are not helpful.” So, those who consider themselves as smart people, have ignored “not helpful” and only hold on to “All things are lawful for me.” Those with conscience mind shall not leave out the unhelpful and say, “All things are lawful for me” and do the harmful.
The stories in the bible about those who deified the Law and order of God and endure severe punishment, are the precise examples of our topic. The story of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit and sent out of heaven for misery and pain on earth (Genesis 2:16): Chain presenting unaccepted scarification for God and killing his brother Abel and be punished by God (Genesis 4:9-11); Lot’s wife deifying the order of God and becoming the pillar of salt (Genesis 19:1-26); Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for soup and lose his blessing (Genesis 25:34); Korah, Dathan, and Abiram who led a rebellion against Prophet Moses and Aaron which God also punished when He caused the ground to split open beneath their feet swallowing them and their families (Numbers 11:6, Joshua 6:18); Achan who stole garment, 200 shekels of silver and a wedge of gold during the battel of Israel and Jericho defying the instruction of God, stoned to death alongside his families (Joshua 6:17-19,7:1,20); Nadab and Abihu, ordained for in a seven- day ritual, disobeying the order of God who were destroyed (Leviticus 10:1-7); Hophni and Phinehas, appropriating the best portion for themselves and having sexual relations with the sanctuary serving women, who died in one day in the battel filed (1 Samuel 4:1-22); King Uzziah unfaithfully entering the temple to burn the incense on the altar, and struck with stained skin (2 Chronicles 26:1-17); The people of Beth Shemesh who desired to see he Ark of the covenant and God struck them dead in their attempt (1 Samuel 6:1-19); King Saul’s disobedience of the Lord’s words (1 Samuel 10:5); King Belshazzar’s arrogance and Godlessness (Daniel 5:1-31); Sons Sceva’s attempt to exorcise a demon from a man in the town of Ephesus by using the name of Jesus but forced to flee the house naked (Acts 19:13-17); The spouses Ananias and Sapphira holding back the portion of the money which they received from a sale of some land and both dying at the feet of Saint Peter (Acts 5:1-8); are biblical stories exemplary for those who endure severe punishment by negligently assuming to do what they please saying “what if.”
Brethren, our Lord God made the Law and order for us to be good, true and live in His safeguards. All the things He created and made are for the good and better of us. Thus, we shall accept all His teachings, laws and order for us to be right and live the true life.
May God’s safeguard does not live us, Amen!