In connection with this, it seems impossible to conduct polemics with sectarians outside the biblical plane. Other would-be missionaries went so far as to completely refuse any meetings and contacts with sectarians and engage only in armchair battles. They forgot that heretics can be turned away "after the first and second admonition" (Titus 3:10). Such a position is called St.

John Chrysostom is satanic, diabolical and inhuman. Supporters of this position have forgotten that 90% of sectarians in Russia are former Orthodox, Russian people who, out of ignorance, left the holy faith of our fathers. And our task is to return them at all costs. St. St. John Chrysostom, speaking of Orthodox Christians and sectarians, said: "And do not say to me such heartless words: 'Why should I care? I have nothing in common with him."

We have nothing in common only with the devil, but we have a lot in common with all people. They have the same nature as us, inhabit the same earth, eat the same food, have the same Lord, have the same laws, are called to the same good as we do. Therefore, let us not say that we have nothing in common with them, because this is the voice of Satan, the devil's inhumanity.

Let us not say this, but let us show the solicitude befitting brothers. And I promise with all confidence, and I vouch for all of you, that if all of you will share among yourselves the care of the salvation of those who dwell in the city, then the latter will soon be completely reformed... Let us share among ourselves the concern for the salvation of our brethren. One man, inflamed with jealousy, is enough to correct the whole people.

And when there is not one, not two, not three, but such a multitude of those who are able to take upon themselves the care of the negligent, then for nothing else but our carelessness, and by no means weakness, many perish and lose heart. Isn't it reckless, in fact, that if we see a fight in the square, we run and reconcile the fighters – what do I say – a fight? If we see that a donkey has fallen, we all hasten to stretch out our hand to lift it to its feet; Do we not care about our perishing brothers?

He who blasphemes the holy faith is the same as a fallen donkey; Come, then, lift him up in word, and in deed, and in meekness, and in strength; Let the medicine be diverse. And if we arrange our affairs in this way, if we seek salvation for our neighbors, then we will soon become desired and loved by those who receive correction" (St. John Chrysostom, vol. 2, pp. 25-26). Thus, the saint teaches us to be caring brothers for those who have lost their way.

Of course, we cannot communicate with them in prayers, sacraments and rites, but we are obliged to bear witness to them about Orthodoxy. Up. Paul taught: "If anyone will not listen to our words in this epistle, let him be rebuked, and do not associate with him, so as to shame him. But do not consider him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother" (2 Thess. 3:14-15). Decision of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church "On Pseudo-Christian Sects, Neo-Paganism and Occultism" (December 1994)

In particular, it specifies: "At the same time, the Council of Bishops calls upon all the faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church to widely preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, to establish catechetical schools, to explain to people the perniciousness of false teachings, to help those who have temporarily stumbled by succumbing to the propaganda of sectarian preachers. However, opposition to false views should not be accompanied by an intolerant attitude towards the bearers of teachings incompatible with Christianity.

"But if any man will not listen to our words in this epistle... do not associate with him, but do not consider him an enemy, but admonish him as a brother" (2 Thess. 3:14-15). We call upon all members of the Church to pray for the enlightenment of those who are possessed by false teachings and to hold fast to what has been handed down to us, "abhorring worthless empty talk and the reproach of falsely called knowledge" (1 Tim. 6:20). Likewise, Ap.

Paul once said: "And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I walked, preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am clean from the blood of all, for I have not missed (the opportunity) to declare to you all the counsel of God" (Acts 2:10). 20, 25-27). Truly, the blood of many, many perishing heretics lies with those who do nothing to return them to the bosom of the Holy Church, but, on the contrary, hinder those who take upon themselves this difficult task.

And moreover, such a position of theirs has nothing in common with the Orthodox missionary. The only religious movement that condemns the conversion of adherents of other sects and religions to its bosom is only Tolmudic Judaism, and only of the post-medieval model. The Origin of Such a Religious Studies "Local" Twist (Apostasy)

, among individual "Orthodox" would-be missionaries and religious scholars, it remains to be clarified. This dispute with Jehovah's Witnesses can also be useful for sectarians of other trends. The emphasis on "Jehovah's Witnesses" is made due to the fact that this trend of heretical thought is most steadily and intensively spreading on the territory of our country.

In 2002, there were 1,206 congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses, 131,130 active preachers, or 1 per 1,098 Russians. The growth of activity of this organization from 2001 to 2002 amounted to 6%. In 2002, 9718 people were baptized. In 2002, the "Easter meeting" in this organization was attended by 275259 members of the sect and their sympathizers (Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, 2003).

In cases where Jehovah's Witnesses use a translation of the New World Bible, it will be marked NM; translation by Archimandrite Macarius – PAM; The "synodal" translation will not be marked with a note. In the case of the part of the dispute where the "Jehovist" speaks, the pronouns and words referring to the Divine Persons of the Holy Trinity are not used. Trinity (by agreement), remain taking into account the opinion of the speaker who pronounces them.