Everything that comes without reservations or contraindications, or does not allow for an algorithm to deny or refute itself, is not true. (We are not talking about the Truth that is beyond assertions and denials—we are talking about pointing to the Truth).
“Self-medication can be harmful to your health,” warns the Ministry of Health (of body and soul—V.A.). This warning in large letters is mandatory on every advertisement for medicinal drugs, remedies, or treatment methods. And how loudly must the Church (the “Ministry” of spiritual health of the hypostasis-personality) warn that autonomous “spiritual” life and reading various kinds of spiritual literature (including the Bible and writings of the Holy Fathers and Mothers) can be harmful to your spiritual health?! And on every book! (Were you surprised that we mentioned the Bible? Yes, even on the title page of the Bible, in big letters! [we are not talking about the design of the Book]. Actually, this warning is in the Bible: “…our beloved brother Paul, given the wisdom that has been granted to him, has written to you, speaking of these things in all his letters in which there are some things hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. Therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware…” (highlighted—V.A.), but so far and deep that few read to it, almost all stop at the Old Testament—at the Ten Commandments of Moses, and unfortunately, do not reach the New Testament [and if they do read the text, they do so through “glasses,” not removing the Old Testament veil, through the prism of the Old Testament—they only interpret moral prescriptions and images]. This needs to be known and preached by all missionaries: internal, who preach the Gospel to baptized pagans, formal Christians, and external, who declare pagans, preparing them for baptism! More about the Scriptures, and how to read it, in the penultimate section of this part). This writing, this warning, precaution (half a page!) should be printed before the title page, not the formal blessings, which bring great harm to those illiterate in spiritual life because they think that since there is a blessing from the patriarch or metropolitan, or a council of bishops, then everything in this book is true. Indications of the Truth in this form of existence should always have contraindications. For example: whoever does not partake will not have life in himself, and immediately: whoever eats and drinks unworthily—judges and condemns himself; “pray without ceasing” and right there— “not everyone who says, Lord, Lord…” (more details below).
Treatment must occur in the Church-Hospital, and all spiritual church literature must be read only ecclesiastically (in the Church), not just with its (church’s) blessing.
If we talk about moral (fleshly: bodily and soulful) life, there are no global questions, misunderstandings, or ambiguities—here everything is clear. Do not kill, but if you kill—you will suffer, and this “suffer” is tangible on “your own skin”—you will be imprisoned, lynched, etc. And if Church Scriptures are used as ethics manuals—there are no problems. And in principle, to be a highly moral person, one can do without church spiritual literature. In the Soviet
Union, with its godless ideology, they say (I personally have not researched), there was high morality among citizens. From a moral point of view, there is no difference between “zero” (formal) Christians and atheists: both want a car, an apartment, earthly happiness, bodily pleasure, and that is all they live for. (about the difference between spirituality and morality in the next parts).
But as soon as we start talking about spiritual life—we begin to understand (if we try and make an effort!), that simply formally, “by the letter,” reading the Bible, the Writings of the Holy Fathers, and other spiritual literature is dangerous! There are more than enough examples. How many people have harmed their spiritual, and consequently, mental and physical health by reading the Bible and other Orthodox literature incorrectly! (illustrations below).
Spiritual life is not in the “letter,” not in formalities—but in the Holy Spirit. “The main thing in spiritual life is faith in God’s Providence and discretion with advice,” says one spirit-bearer of our times. God’s Providence is not from us—it is a gift from God (though we determine it, condition it—that is, it is granted to us every moment, considering our spiritual state), and from us comes discretion with the advice of more experienced brothers and sisters in spiritual life. Therefore, we will talk in this and subsequent parts about discernment (the core of which is theology, God-thinking), learn to reason, draw conclusions, and apply them in spiritual life. Great attention will be paid to the issue of whom to consult, what the advisor should be like, so that communication with them does not harm the soul, and what advice is and how to take it.