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I praise God
that 10 years have passed
since I turned to Him
and in these 10 years He showed me many miracles.
In 2005, 2 years after I turned to God,
I started to pray and said:
Lord, please save other priests too, like you saved me,
help other priests leave traditions and customs,
and help them know Your Holy Word, The Bible.
In 2005, while I was praying for this,
I received these two books from a Romanian publisher:
"Far from Rome, Near to God"
and through these books I found out about more testimonies;
50 testimonies from converted priests.
At the end of the second volume, I found a testimony,
given by brother Richard Bennett, who is with me today,
March 5th 2013
It is a powerful testimony, translated into Romanian,
from which I found out that he coordinates and leads
the "Berean Beacon" association of converted Roman Catholic priests.
Ever since I've desired to meet him,
and today is the day when God allowed us to meet,
and see each other in person, to be together in his house
in the state of Texas, the city of Austin.
I praise God for this, and would like to send this message:
that God has saved priests, from the Orthodox Church, as well as from the Roman Catholic Church,
and also from the Reformed Church, Presbyterian Church and Lutheran Church.
The Lord be praised for this!
I would like to ask you which topics to discuss today, at this meeting
that we are having, so that it will be useful to all those watching.
It's a great joy to meet you in person, Cristi Florea Daniel,
and it has been a long time I wanted to see you,
and it's great to be here with you, and that we could share things together,
because of similarities between the Orthodox believers and Orthodox priests, and Catholic priests;
so, I'd like to begin by asking you, Cristi, what is the norm or the standard by which
an Orthodox priest looks for truth? What is his standard?
The standard for the Orthodox believer is the Holy Tradition,
whereas the Holy Scripture is left somewhere in the background.
In our Orthodox country, but also in other Orthodox countries, people rely on
what is called a Spirituality Thesaurus,
passed on from generation to generation from the Church Fathers.
This Spirituality Thesaurus is said to be based on the Holy Scripture,
and that everything the Holy Fathers have left in the books they wrote
and in their teachings, is said to be based on the Holy Scripture.
One day, while reading the Bible, I realized that this is not true,
that, in fact, tradition has replaced the Holy Scripture, the word of God.
People in our Orthodox countries rely on customs, traditions and habits,
and the priests do not encourage the people to read the Holy Scripture.
This is the standard: traditions and customs.
That is quite similar to what is in Roman Catholicism.
I'm amazed that it is tradition that is put before the very word of God, because
the Catholic Church is emphatic that their standard is not the Bible alone.
I'd like to quote from the official teaching of the Catholic Church,
it's paragraph #82 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It says these exact words:
"As a result, the Catholic Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation of revelation is entrusted,"
"does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the Holy Scriptures alone."
"Both Scripture and tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence."
Now, Cristi, they are saying that you have to reverence and have devotion to tradition equally to the Bible,
and that's denying everything that Christ Jesus said.
Christ Jesus said to the Pharisees, "you're making your tradition to nullify the very word of God",
and that's what the Catholics are doing, and from what I've heard you say, that's what the Orthodox do.
They're setting their tradition above the Scripture, and that's the way the practice is, and that's the way it's lived out,
and I think it's heartbreaking, and I praise God for the many Orthodox priests that have been saved,
and Orthodox people out of the Orthodox Church, and the Catholic priests who've been saved,
and Catholic people, that this is the key factor, that they see: Scripture is breathed out by God.
Jesus Christ said, "Thy word is truth". It is truth, it not only contains truth, it is truth,
and we are to show respect only for the written word of God.
That is the standard that Jesus Christ had, that the apostles had, and that the very early church had,
before we got to Romanism and later on to Orthodoxy. It is heartbreaking, but the truth shall set you free,
as Christ Jesus said. The truth is His written word in the Scripture, and when we see that,
and we honor and respect that alone, souls are set free to the praise and glory of His grace.
That is the answer, and I would like to commande and to ask you now:
How does the Orthodox priest teach his people (or the Orthodox bishop) that a person is made right with God?
We all realize that, by sin nature, personally we're sinners, and then we've all committed sins,
but how is a person made right, justified with God? Can you answer that,
how -- what was it like when you were an Orthodox priest, Cristi, what was it like, what did you tell people?
I taught people to come to the Holy Church every Sunday, and every holiday,
to confess during the four yearly fasting periods, to read the prayers addressed
to the Holy *** Mary, because she is the one who intercedes for people in front of God.
Next, if anyone wished for a higher level of holiness than regular people, they could retire to a monastery,
travel to the wilderness in Romania, and practice asceticism and mysticism, and thus,
after practicing asceticism and mysticism, to become one with God.
For regular people, there was the participation to the divine services, assuming that
the power of God would descend through the divine services, and help them rise from the state of sin;
and for those wishing for more, they were to leave somewhere to a monastery, and practice all sorts of spiritual exercises.
We could not tell them anything else related to the Bible, because we were enslaved to traditions and customs,
people and priests who did not know the Bible, the word of God.
Cristi, that is -- it's amazing, I'm amazed at what you say, because that is so similar to Catholicism.
People are not told how to be made right with God directly, but are told to do all of these things,
and to look to Mary to pray for them, because she is so exalted that she is the intercessor between
God and man - so they say, and it's amazing, that it really takes from everything that Christ Jesus said.
Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth and the life; no one can come to the Father except through Me"
It's Him alone, but the Orthodox have this idea of Mary praying for them, and she's the only one who can
really pray for them, and that they are to do all of these things, like go to the Sacraments,
and all of these rituals, and their faith is in rituals and not in the person of Jesus Christ.
I'm amazed that it's so similar to Catholicism, and similar to what I tought Catholic people when I was a Catholic priest
I told them to go to mass, and the Sacraments,and if you really wanted to be better, and to really have
a higher state of holiness, you went into the monastery, or you went into a convent.
And then here you say the same thing, it's amazing. That's why I went into the Dominican monastery, it was
to be more holy, and that's the same sort of thing. It's doing it man's way, and not God's way,
and it really is heartbreaking; but I thank God as we speak now, that this word will go forth on the Internet,
and people will hear the true message, that salvation is in a Person, not in any church.
It's not in the Orthodox Church, it's not in the Catholic Church, it's in the person of Jesus Christ;
He alone is the one who forgives. He said, when He was asked by the Jews, who were people into tradition too,
in these old days, "How are you right with God"?
He said: "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him, whom He hath sent" - He's talking about himself,
that a peson is to believe on His person, because the Father sent Him, and He had said that
He was the only way to salvation; and as we trust in Him alone, that our hearts and minds and our whole person
is transformed, as I see in your life, I see the pictures of you as an Orthodox priest, and then when
you were set free, then as you got married and as you had children, to bring them up
in the fear and the love of the Lord. It's a joy unspeakable and full of glory.
It's amazing to see these similarities, and that as a priest I would say that the Sacraments are necessary
for salvation - in the new Catechism of the Catholic Church, that is paragraph #1129, that the Sacraments
are necessary for salvation. When Paul was in prison, when he was addressed by the jail keeper,
and the jail keeper finally said, "What must I do to be saved?", Paul didn't say "go to rituals or sacraments",
he said "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, you and your household"
It comes back to this simple, powerful message: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Like Cristi Florea Daniel and myself, Richard Bennett, as saved priests out of these two systems,
as I don't dare call them churches, because they're really systems rather than churches, and you are saved,
and may you, the viewer also look to Christ alone - and He is faithful, He will save you to the utmost,
and you will live the rest of your life praising Him, worshipping Him and glorifying His name,
for He alone is holy, and He alone is the one who saves. Glory and praise to His name!
Now, Cristi, we come to a really difficult question that I want to ask you; I want to ask you:
Where does the average Orthodox person, where does the security or the faith rest?
What assurance do they have that they are somehow made right or justified before God?
Where does the faith rest? What surety do they have? Do they have any security? Do they know peace with God?
That is where everything really is lived out. Does a person live in communion with God?
Where does his assurance lie? What rest does he have before God in the Orthodox Church?
I'd like to tell you that, for Orthodox theologians, the basis of their faith are the teachings of the Holy Fathers,
as established at the seven Ecumenical Councils.
For Orthodox theologians, the basis of the faith stands in the teachings of the Fathers from the wilderness,
gathered in a collection called Philokalia or Patericon.
For regular people who are not theologians, the basis of the faith is tradition, and the basis and surety for their soul
lies in the prayers of the saints, believing that the saints are those who intercede continually for their soul,
and the trust in the saints, the angels, the *** Mary, is their only assurance, that they intercede to God for them
and from this intercession the common people derive their assurance.
The common people don't know, nor base their faith and assurance on the act of Salvation brought by the Lord Jesus Christ,
and neither do theologians base their faith and assurance on the act of Salvation brought by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Simple traditions for the ordinary people, and a more elevated teaching for the theologians and for theology scholars.
Cristi, it's really interesting that you say that, because that again is so similar to the Catholic teaching,
and those of us who were priests, and who spent (like myself) 8 years studying for the priesthood,
we based a lot of our faith on the assurance that we were going back to the traditions that were in the Early Church,
and, as you mentioned, we went back to the Ecumenical Councils that were in the very early days,
and we could give the dates of the Councils, and who were the main speakers at those Councils,
and we went to this academic understanding of what the Church was, and even the mystical side of it,
the first monasteries, like those in Egypt and elsewhere, whereby men went aside so that they could
study more the traditions, and they were trying to get closer to God, and they were living a harsh life,
not being married, but living a monastic life - that's what I did myself when I decided to become a monk,
a friar in the Dominican Order - so this is quite similar. And the ordinary people, as you explained,
look to the saints in the early days, and those who have lived holy lives, and knew that they were praying for them,
they had people to intercede for them - and of course Mary was the big one, as you mentioned earlier on, to intercede,
so this is quite similar to Roman Catholicism. It's all based on looking to the past, and councils, and what was handed down,
it's not looking to what Christ Jesus said, it's not looking to His person and His person alone that saves;
it's looking to saints, and looking to traditions as they were lived out in the early years of Christianity,
and men who were supposed to be monks or holy men because they went into the desert and other places
and lived ascetical, difficult lives. None of this is true, it doesn't give anybody assurance,
and it is the joy of the Lord when somebody comes to true faith in Christ Jesus. It is, as the apostle Paul said,
(the apostle Paul came from being a Pharisee, he believed in the Jewish traditions, and he then gave up believing
in traditions, and he believed in Christ and Christ alone after his conversion) - and he summarized it beautifully
in the middle of chapter 8 in Romans (8:16), where he said that the Spirit testifies to our spirit that we are children of God,
whereby we cry out "Abba, Father". The Spirit testifies, the Holy Spirit of God testifies to our own inner spirit
that we are truly children of God, and we can address God, the All Holy One, the awesome God,
Maker of Heaven and Earth, the One who loved us (as all true believers) before the foundation of the world,
we can trust Him, the All Holy God, so much that we can talk to Him in the intimate term "Abba, Father".
It's like saying "Papa, God", "Daddy, God", and that's the assurance and that's the joy that I see in
Catholic people who have been saved, it's a wonderful joy and you know it already, it's a joy like to meet you today,
and it's the joy that is the joy of the Lord, because we know we are secure and we can talk intimately to
our Abba, Father, because we know that we are "accepted in the beloved" - Ephesians 1:6,
we are accepted in Christ and we will forever be beloved, and we have that assurance that we are family to God,
it's just amazing, so I'm really so happy that you share that and that we come back to know as true believers,
that we have the assurance that God, the All Holy One, is our Abba, Father,
and I ask you, who are listening: is this your case, do you have an assurance?
If not, cry out to God for the faith and the grace that He gave to Cristi and myself,
and it will be the same for you, and for those many many thousands upon thousands of Catholics and Orthodox,
who have come intro the true life of the Lord. Cry out to Him and you also will have that assurance,
whereby you cry out "Abba, Father". Amen. Praise God.
Well, Cristi, we're coming towards the end of this interview, where we've shared out hearts and the truth of God.
I'd like to ask you then, when you are talking to an Orthodox person, or to an Orthodox priest,
and I know you've talked to some Roman Catholic priests too - what is your message, what do you say to them?
My message for the Orthodox people is to strive to leave the traditions and customs,
and get close to the Holy Scripture, the word of God.
Lord Jesus Christ Himself urges people by saying: "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
For the priests in our country, for the Orthodox priests, my message is to put the Bible,
the word of God, in people's hands; but before that, to leave the traditions themselves,
to leave the books of the Holy Fathers, to turn around and study the Bible; to begin Bible study programs
before studying any other books. My message is that the priests from Romania, and the theological schools alike,
must not forget this fundamental dimension of spirituality, which is the Bible.
They must not forget the person named Jesus Christ, son of God, who came to reconcile us with our Father.
They must not forget that the purpose of our creation of that we become like our Father in Heaven.
Genesis 1:26 reads, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness".
They must not forget that God created us, people, to fulfill that purpose,
to enjoy us, and for us to be in fellowship with Him. The priests and theological schools must not spare any effort for the people,
in order to explain to them the purpose with which God created us.
If this will not happen, the blood of our people will be required of their hands.
That is really, really interesting, because my heart is there also, and how to lead a Catholic person
or any person, whatever religion they are believing on, instead of believing on Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said,
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him"
"should not perish, but have everlasting life". It's a message about Him, it's believing on Him, whom God has sent,
and we have everlasting life, which we have explained already, and it's a great joy to be able to speak that.
I would like to ask you something, is it possible - I know it is possible - here in the US, and
when I've been in Europe, I've done the same - when I meet Catholic people, I explain these things to them;
but I look for Catholic people at the supermarket. When I'm coming out of the supermarket, and I'm paying
for my groceries, I always say to the lady - it's usually a lady, sometimes it's a man -
I say, "have you read the Bible today?" - and they say "well, no, but I go to church"
and they're usually Catholic people, and some of my best witnessing is in the supermarket.
I say to the person, "have you read your Bible today?" "No, but I go to church", and then I start to give them
the word of God. And I just thank God to see lives saved in everyday situations.
I've done the same at airports, where you have the security guards, and they take your bags and screen them,
I presume it's the same in Romania and Hungary and other countries like that.
And I would ask them, "have you read your Bible today?", and they say "not exactly, what do you believe in?"
And then I begin to explain, and I had two security guards at one time, and it looked like God is on their case,
because they had such great interest - and this is bringing it down to everyday life. I'm sure it's the same in
Romania and Hungary and other countries there in Eastern Europe, whereby you have banks, and
you go into a bank, and you're depositing money in the bank, and again, I ask the teller,
I say, "have you read your Bible today?", and sometimes I say "what is your goal in life?"
and they say "well, you know, I'm not going to work in a bank all my life, I want to get married and settle down",
I say "what is your goal before God, what's your purpose before God?"
and to see people wake up to the fact that you have to have a purpose before God,
you have to have a desire to know God, otherwise your life is in vain, and to see people come to the Lord...
The first people I saw saved out of Catholicism and out of religion was in a supermarket, where I witnessed to
the checkout lady, and I saw her come to the Lord. Another one was a man in a farmacy, or a chemist shop,
whatever you call it there in Romania, and to see him get convicted that he was a sinner, and come to the Lord,
it's great to give the message, and to give it not just academically, if we praise God, or to give it on videos like this,
but to give it personally, and I would ask the viewer, if you are right with God, and you have the joy
that we spoke of, of knowing God, of knowing Jesus Christ, that you also witness and give testimonies to the faith,
and it is like Christ Jesus Himself went and talked to different people, like the woman at the well,
in everyday settings, that we do the same - in everyday settings that we talk about the Lord,
and we see God draw His own unto Himself, those who are His own, and it is a most encouraging thing
to see people saved, because we have taken it down to everyday life, and it is a joy and a delight to know
that the Lord uses us, because we're still not perfect - we're perfect in Christ, we're still being sanctified day by day
by the Holy Spirit, we're never perfect in ourselves - but to see Him use us to give the message, and then
to see those people saved to the praise and glory of His grace.
So, I thank God for this time I've been able to speak to you, Cristi Florea Daniel, and I ask that you
finish off the message by speaking to your beloved people in Romania and elsewhere.
I really appreciate this opportunity to speak to the people to their understanding, about some
of the truths from the Holy Scripture, useful to their soul. I praise God for giving me
the opportunity and possibility to be here with you, and I would like for our encounter to not end here, in your house,
but I invite you to come to Romania, and attend the meeting that I'm organizing during the 23rd-27th of May, in the city of Suceava,
to which I've invited several converted priests. This meeting's purpose is the evangelization of our Romanian people.
I'd like to invite you to visit Romania for this reason. There, you will meet other priests,
who have been converted by the word of God, by our Lord Jesus.
Anyone wishing to receive more information and contacts related to the ministry of the priests everywhere,
from Romania, from America, from Russia, from Ethiopia, and other countries, where God has touched them,
you can contact me at this e-mail address: CristiFlorea2000@yahoo.com
or use the website of the International Association of The Converted Priests www.PreotiConvertiti.ro
Now I'd like to pray with you, and thank God for this opportunity,
and for the fact that we can be a testimony to our Romanian people, and also to other peoples from everywhere.
I'd like for us to pray, and I'd like to thank you as well.
Lord, God, I come before you, and want to thank you for this day,
Please bless brother Richard, and bless all priests from his association,
along with him, in the ministry of spreading the Gospel. Please bless the priests and friars
from Romania, from Russia, from Ethiopia, who have come to You; please bless our ministry,
the message of the Gospel, Lord, and please help us remain faithful until the end, because,
we all, who were called to You, want to meet again one day, in Your Kingdom, amen.