Grade 12 - Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

Sunday School Curriculum Grade 12
VI. False Starts
We should be on guard against Satan. When he sees our enthusiasm to make a spiritual start, he
deceives us and makes us rush into adopting a certain attitude that is not spiritually correct. Some
clarification of such behavior follows:
A. Ethical Teachings
These constitute one of the most popular false starts, since it adopts ethical behavior as a substitute
for spirituality and faith necessary to lead a life with God. People championing ethical behavior
describe spiritual life as rash and compulsive. They substitute worship of God with sweetness
towards others. In its essence, Christianity is communion and acquaintance with our Lord and Savior.
Within such a relationship, He blesses us with His righteousness, purity, holiness, and immortality.
As for self-righteousness, resulting from ethical teachings, it is a dead issue as it proceeds from the
self that is enslaved by sin and Satan for ―He who is born of the flesh is flesh‖. Consequently, those
who declare, ―God is our righteousness‖ are the ones who have been born ―not of the blood (bride in
descent or family lines) or of the will of the flesh (self righteousness) or of the will of man (ethical
teachings), but are born of God. Their nature has been renewed by their union with Christ‖ (John
1:13). The Christian lives by grace and testifies to the truth ―because grace and truth proceed from the
Lord Jesus Christ.‖
Consequently, Christianity calls all who wish to be adorned with good manners and truly good
acts to come and be filled with the Holy Spirit of God. It is He who fills man‘s life with every virtue,
righteousness and good deeds.
B. Sectarian Jealousy and Social Activities
These also constitute false starts. A person may imagine that a correct start would be to practice
some kind of religious activity that serves the community. He does so through jealousy and not real
love, whereas a good start requires repentance and self-repudiation. In fact, a true Christian realizes
that Jesus Christ did not come to insure the interests of His believers or those of social parties for He
said, ―My kingdom is not of this world.‖ Sectarian conglomeration is, actually, a satanic substitute for
true spiritual activity, as well as a fake form of religion adopted by a deceived person. It becomes
clear that a correct start involves repentance and returning to God. In this way, a person becomes a
member in the mysterious body of God who fills heaven and earth. This membership instigates man
to seek to serve everyone and to deny all personal interests with respect to other people‘s interests.
For a Christian is the salt of the world, he dissolves to become adequate light to the world, burning to
brighten the world without fanaticism or discrimination.
VII. The Correct Start Bears The Following Marks
To love the Lord God with all my heart. This love enables me to put my trust in His blessed
Person as the King, Shepherd and Bridegroom of my soul, and my eternal Friend. I enthrone
Him in my heart and entrust His right Arm to purify it of all darkness and corruption.
To hate sin and the advice of the wicked while persevering in repentance and constantly
praying for the eternal and purifying grace of God.
To love others and be concerned about them and all that is theirs rather than myself. For he
who loves his brother has moved from darkness to Light. It is the experience of receiving
communion with our fellow saints and the partaking of the body and blood of Jesus Christ
that can truly develop brotherly spirit among us.
96 DECEMBER