The Goal and the Means

His Holiness Pope Shenouda addresses the difference between the goal and the means: we often agree on good and righteous goals, but the real difference lies in the means we use to achieve these goals.

Variation of means and their causes

He explains that the variation of means comes from differences in thought, intelligence, temperament, and environmental influence; therefore good people may disagree because of their different methods despite similar purposes.

Practical examples and areas of disagreement

He presents practical examples (repairing the church, raising children, dealing with wrongdoers, caring for the poor) to show how methods differ — from prayer, fasting, dialogue and love to criticism, force or public shaming — and the effect each method has on the outcome.

Warning against the means becoming the goal

He warns that means can become ends in themselves (fasting for the sake of fasting or reading scripture for the number of chapters) and then the means lose their spirituality and true purpose, which is closeness to God and service to others.

Limits of authority and wisdom in using means

He stresses the need to understand the limits of authority and means: authority as a means for care and administration must not turn into domination or self-assertion, and means should not cause harm or division.

How to unify means

He proposes unifying means through a unified culture, exchange of experiences, education, seminars, and apprenticeship and conferences that allow each person to benefit from others’ experience so practices may unite to serve the common goal.

Conclusion and practical exhortation

A call to continually review means and ensure that means lead to the spiritual goal (closeness to God and service to people), and to have wisdom so that means do not distort ends, but remain holy instruments that lead to salvation and a true spiritual life.

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