Письмо 65
The Unchanging Truth of God
The author clarifies that while personal perceptions may vary, the truth of God must be preserved and transmitted in its pure, original form.
How is it that N. N. thought I was sullen? Well, she's been set straight about that now. But still, when the talk turns to the real matter, you can't prescribe leniency.1 Casual talk can go back and forth, but you can't twist God's truth. It isn't ours; it was given to us.2 It is our duty to confess it and pass it on to everyone in its purity, just as it came down to us from the mouth of God.
Faithfulness in Confused Times
Despite personal failings and the confusion of the modern age, God remains the guardian of those who hold fast to His truth.
As for living, we live poorly; if only we preach God's truth without any admixture, even that is good. Nowadays everyone is thrown into confusion by the crossroads of thoughts and rules.3 These are hard times. The Lord, however, watches over His own and lets them tangibly see and feel the holy truth.
Read the original Russian
От чего это N. N. считала меня угрюмым? Ну, вот теперь разуверилась. Но все же, когда речь коснется дела, поблажек нельзя прописывать. Обычная речь туда и сюда, а правдой Божией нельзя кривить. Она не наша, – нам дана. Ее исповедать и всем передавать чистою, как она низошла к нам из уст Божиих, есть наш долг.
Жить, плохо живем; хоть правду Божию будем проповедывать без примеси, и то хорошо. Ныне всех сбивает с толку распутие помышлений и правил. Трудные времена! Господь блюдет однакож своих и дает им осязательно видеть и ощущать святую правду.
Notes
- 1 ↩поблажек…прописывать: 'prescribe leniency' keeps the medical/prescription force of прописывать; could also be rendered 'hand out free passes' or 'write out concessions.'
- 2 ↩Она refers to правда Божия ('God's truth') from the previous sentence.
- 3 ↩распутие = crossroads / parting of ways; here figurative for a confusing fork among competing opinions and rules.
Letters on the Christian Life companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit