Ouch, ouch!

The difference between kanon (canon) and nomos (law) in Eastern thought is very strong. For almost any rule, you can find an Eastern Father explaining why in this particular case it should not be enforced and why in this other case it should be even more rigorous. That is, while the rule, if read juridically, would appear to mandate certain observances with certain punishments, in an unthinking manner, when one reads the Eastern Fathers and their written guidelines for application, one realized that a kanon is not a nomos.

Read St. John Chrysostom’s Easter Sermon and you will see kanon being expressed. GRIN.

I observe that those coming from a forensic legal model of how to understand Church “mandates” to fast will likely never comprehend the Eastern Orthodox mindset unless they are willing to call into question these forensic presuppositions. As formerly a longtime evangelical (going through various of its many camps over my 40 or so years under that banner), I seldom, if ever fasted (since it was not mandated), and derived little or no discernible spiritual benefit when I did. In contrast, I experience the “mandated” fasts in the Eastern Orthodox Church as well as its other structures (i.e., Liturgical cycle of prayers and services, Confession, etc.) as an unmitigated blessing for my wandering soul and look forward to them already (this is only my second year as an Orthodox Christian) and have heard other Orthodox of many years say the same–a joy that only increases through the years. They are a blessing since I am abominable at structuring myself, and I know many others who have similar struggles. Now, I do not yet observe the full strict fasting rules because I am a beginner and there is much economy (as Fr. Ernesto has explained) to adapt rules for various individual personal aptitudes and needs under the guidance of one’s Priest. The spiritual disciplines, properly applied, are a means to fuller intimacy and communion with Christ (which I have definitely experienced since becoming Orthodox). They are not the end of the spiritual life in themselves and if practiced as such will benefit no one. I hope this is a helpful perspective for some.

http://cyberbrethren.typepad.com/cyberbrethren/2009/03/on-fasting-and-lutheranism.html

I do not think some of these things should be mandated as much as they should be modeled. There is a greater chance of congregants fasting if the pastor is doing it, he speaks about it in such a way that it is evident he is doing it (knows about it from 1st hand experience), and he speaks under the authority of Scripture in order to challenge them to do it.

“…Church administered punishments. I recognize that this is a leftover from the Middle Ages in the West, but such was not the Early Church stance.”

I thought there were some cannons in the early Ecumenical Councils that mandated a certain frequency of communion and/or assisting at Divine Liturgy in order to remain in the Church. Is not this the same principle? Do X, Y, Z or you’re out!