The modern reader may find it strange: why read a refutation of sectarian errors, when many of the sects no longer exist: Tolstoyans, Molokans, Pashkovites-Evangelicals, Stundists, Khlysts, Skoptsy, and others have long disappeared. And it seems that the question has closed by itself. But we must understand that the sects did not arise by themselves, but by diabolical teaching, by the demonic seduction of proud people deprived of God's grace. And if satan found "the most vulnerable points" of Christian teaching, it is clear that he will continue to "deceive the nations" (Rev. 20:7), inciting new and new proud "truth-seekers." Some sects have disappeared, but new ones have arisen, and they use the same arguments, weaving a web of quotations and distorted meanings to justify their lusts, or, wishing to tear people away from Christ.
For among those who composed the disappeared sects, many were sincerely convinced that they were walking the only true path of salvation—following Christ—and that all others were mistaken. They undertook feats in the name of their delusions, they mutilated themselves (for example, like the Skoptsy), and in the end, it is clear that by this they only pleased the demons. And where are they now? It is even terrible to think about it! A terrible mistake!
You see that all their theories can be easily debunked. But the devil has lived long in the world, and knows the Scriptures better than us. It is not surprising if new sects use other arguments (besides those considered here) to defend their errors. And surely many will fall into their nets. How to avoid this?
1. Be in the bosom of the Church of Christ.
2. Study the Word of God yourself, in order to know what is being said in this or that text.
3. If possible, avoid meetings and debates with sectarians, if you are not confident that you can convince the erring one.
All this need not be explained to a person who has strong faith in Christ and in His Church. Faith is indeed a lifebuoy, holding onto which you will never drown. But today people are raised in such a way that they want to get to the truth with their own minds in everything. This is what the ancient enemy of God and misanthrope—satan—uses. It is not for nothing that they say that logic is the weapon of the devil. Everyone, of course, has the right to decide for himself how best to go to salvation, but one must know about the existence of the enemy, his goals, and his cunning.
I wish everyone to be saved!
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Notes
¹ There are many scholarly books about it, which set forth the Khlyst teaching in detail. For example, K. Kutepov: "Khlysts and Skoptsy." V. Barbarin: "Khlystovshchina or the Sect of Spiritual Christians. An Analysis of the 12 Commandments of the Sect's Founder." Priest Ars. Rozhdestvensky: "Khlystovshchina and Skopchestvo in Russia." Archpriest N. Kutepov: "A Brief History and Doctrine of Russian Rationalistic and Mystical Heresies."
² John Chrysostom, vol. 1, book 2, pp. 726-727, ed. 1898, St. Petersburg.
³ John Chrysostom and Canon 16 of the 6th Ecumenical Council.
⁴ Deut. 25:4.
⁵ For more details about this phenomenon, read S. Rose, "Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future," chapter "The Charismatic Renewal as a Sign of the Times" – Ed.
⁶ In Orthodoxy, it is believed that at the Liturgy we become partakers of the same Last Supper that the Lord accomplished once: all this happens outside of time and space – Ed.
⁷ In our time, most Protestant sects have a good attitude towards marriage (e.g., Baptists...). But they have no Sacrament of Matrimony, just as they have no other Sacraments – Ed.
⁸ Modern research has proven that water can store information, be structured—and useful, or unstructured—harmful to life. It has been proven that prayer puts in order the structure of the so-called clusters—associations of its constituent molecules. Not only a spoken holy word sanctifies (puts in order) water, but even one written on a vessel with water; a holy image also possesses the same property. Conversely, negative words, images, and even emotions and thoughts—"discharge" water, making it formless and carrying disordered and even negative information. This destroys the organism. – Ed.
⁹ That many were released from Hades is spoken of in Matt. 27:52-53; and John speaks of the first resurrection in Rev. 20:5-6 – Ed.
¹⁰ Recently, another apocrypha was brought to light—the so-called "Gospel of Judas." – Ed.
¹¹ and Jehovah's Witnesses – Ed.
¹² In the Orthodox Church, Saturday is celebrated; it is always particularly set apart in the liturgical cycle. But its celebration, compared to the celebration of Sunday, recedes into the background: as the Old Testament compared to the New Testament – Ed.
¹ *The book was published in 1910, so the chain of hierarchs is stopped at 1903. But one must know that not even the storm of satanic rampage of 1917-1940 could destroy it (the succession from the Apostles). And during the entire existence of the second kingdom of the beast (Dan. 7) – or the USSR – the chain of hierarchs was not interrupted. [ – Ed]
² **The entire time that our Lord spent on this earth is compared here to a bridal chamber. Works of St. Ephraim the Syrian, Russian translation, part 8, p. 82: commentary on the Four Gospels.
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