Many have been lost while inside the church or in ministry.
The lecture reflects on the danger of spiritual loss inside the Church itself, even while serving or living close to holy matters. His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that a person may “have a name that he is alive, but he is dead,” because of lack of true repentance or because sins are disguised with religious appearances. He presents biblical and historical examples of people who were inside but fell because of pride, anger, stubbornness, false teaching, or losing the fear of God.
1. Being lost inside service
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Some begin spiritually, then lose their zeal and fall into lukewarmness or mere formality.
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Examples include the Angel of the Church of Sardis, the elder son, Arius, King Saul, and the scribes and Pharisees.
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All were inside faith or service, but their fall happened because of an uncorrected inner corruption.
2. Reasons for spiritual loss inside the Church
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Familiarity with God’s house and losing reverence.
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Sins wearing religious garments, such as:
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Anger called “holy anger.”
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Judgment called “defending the truth.”
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Stubbornness called “spiritual strictness.”
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Personal revenge disguised within preaching or church work.
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Love of authority and desire for appearance.
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Stumbling due to expecting perfection or watching others’ faults.
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False teaching and heresies caused by stubbornness or unwise reading.
3. Spiritual remedy
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Focus on positive spiritual work instead of monitoring others.
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Remove inner hidden sins before serving.
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Grow as wheat and do not focus on the tares.
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Embrace humility and accept correction.
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Hold firmly to the Orthodox faith and true teaching.
Spiritual conclusion
The lecture calls every servant and believer to self-examination, humility, and reverence, and to reject superficial service, because true loss begins from within. The Church is not a place to judge others but a place for spiritual growth, and the true servant guards his heart first.
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