GRIPPED by SIN. Why doesn't Christ help? 

i have had porn addiction for years and i have wrestled with it so much i hated pornography and masturbation and i hated what it was doing to me it was only after my utter desperation i fell to my knees and prayed to whoever was out there to help me and it was christ & god who answered that is also why i am converting

I finally got out of alcoholism,Pornography and related filth by Demanding if myself change,developing a hate for what I am doing. Demanding from God his help After years of praying nothing was happening. I realised unless we have a BURNING desire to change,nothing is going to happen. That is the starting point of belief and faith

Thank you Father. This is a struggle for me, judgement. Thank you, to the person who wrote you their question. It has helped to strengthen my heart.

I'm a capuchin friar from Barcelona (Spain). I really thank you father for your words. I'm convinced that we need in the Latin Church hear again the wise voice of the Oriental Church. God bless you!

Many of us are gripped by sin and passions your words bring comfort and hope for honest repentance thank you father.

Thank you father. I have been filled by despair and trying to get out. It’s like being gripped by sin as you say. This video was a blessing for me. I appreciate it.

Habitual sin is very difficult. Great video!

Father, I am judgemental. Your wise words helped me see how futile judgement is. Glory to God

Thank you Father. I struggle with judging my father, who committed adultery and then remarried nearly twenty years ago. I find it so hard for to forgive him, yet I know I must , for my own salvation. But inside, I am still so deeply hurt, it’s affected my whole ontology. I am grateful for Christ bringing me to His Church, for here I will find healing. And I know this is a cross I must bear - even so, I get so riled up inside when I think about the hypocrisy of my father’s ways. Yet, I also feel deep compassion, and know he must feel terrible inside too. It’s a neverending elephant in the room… It’s further difficult because he and his wife are Protestants, and they seem to have a justification for everything they’ve done (I dare not mention their condescension towards orthodoxy…). I know I must honor my parents, but what to do when your parent has hurt you? I feel ashamed bringing it up to them, bc I want to honor the commandments. Even so, I wish he and his wife would repent and come to the true light, but I worry they may not… Sorry to unload all this on you. I guess in a word, I’m wondering if you could speak sometime on adultery, and how a child is supposed to forgive a parent in such a situation, without condemnation. It’s always tempting just to “run away” emotionally and mentally, and say, “let them eat their cake.” Yet, I pray so much they’ll repent. Am I just being selfish? Thank you for your videos, Father. Please pray for me (my name is Jason). Lord have mercy on us all.

You know, I live in New York City, and I am surrounded by some of the worst crime and homelessness in the world. It all seems to be getting worse, and my condemnation, judgment, and anger toward some of these "people on the street" are also getting worse by the day. Thank you, Father, for shining a discerning light on this problem. It certainly has helped me rethink my position on how I view others.

Mulțumim Părinte Serafim! Pentru cuvântul ziditor,pentru modul cum abordați fiecare dintre..durerile noastre,pentru binecuvântările care aproape ne cutremură sufletul! Fiți binecuvantat ! Sunteți pentru noi ,o mană cerească,cum zice romanul! Doamne, ajută!

The world in which we dwell judges, many of us are at this juncture in life, incapable of stopping in us, a sinful tendency all because of our pride, as in we think we know better. WOW!

I thank the Lord for His patience toward a sinner like myself. I see some spiritual changes in my life for the better, but I as well see areas of my life where I fail due to particular sin, lust being a big one. Praise God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, they are always faithful

Thank God Fr. For this blessed teaching ☦️🙏🏻❤️

Thank you. father . I will fight too the end. I love orthodox church ☦️

Again thank you so much Father for your God given insight.

OHH! I did not know you were posting videos again. Yay! I just checked this channel a couple months ago. So glad to see this today. I have missed these videos. So, thank you 🙏.

Beautiful soul, I thank you for these wise words. They have blessed me.

Thank you for discussing the dangers of self comparison to others. It seems s exceptional advice I have only heard from one other person in this life. Grateful to see Mull of Fridays Fr. Have a great week.

Thank you . . .

THANK YOU FATHER SERAFIM !

Thank you so very much, Father! Your stories of what others have been through is accounted for by Christ. I keep thinking, as I compare myself to the world, that I will never get into Heaven, but you remind me, and others, that Christ knows every influence that has shaped us, and that He will judge from that viewpoint alone. You have helped me so much to understand that I am going to be judged on the whole truth! Thank you.

Thank you Father Seraphim. You have given me a clearer picture of judgement of others. Without the Lord's help who could hope to even come close.

Will come back FATHER

This is an incredible video. It's an absolute joy to listen to you.

Sarutam dreapta parinte, Doamne ajuta 🙏

Praise God that you speak in such a refreshing way.

Thank You for teaching- it is like manna to the soul.

Beautiful message.

Thank you Father. I really needed to hear this. May the Holy Trinity bless you and all those at the Monastery.

Very uplifting,Fr.!Thanks a lot!God bless!🙏❤

In the words of someone that says this a lot Let go and let God Be still and he will fight for you

If you see people like being saints, you will become a saint.

Hello Fr Seraphim! I love your talks. Thank you so much 😊. I see some people here have resistance to the idea that judgment is a heresy. I would like to say that I visit St Anthony’s monastery in Arizona frequently because it’s a few hours away and the Fathers there would agree with your teaching, Fr Seraphim. If someone is experiencing lust they will ask the person if they’ve been judging. There’s a direct link there that they are pointing to. Also, I took a class this summer from an Orthodox theologian and she shared some stories from the early Desert fathers that were so special on this topic. Basically, a monk/nun would rather take the fall and the blame and look bad themselves, then to judge one of his/her brothers. That is how allergic they were to judgment. Judgement without compassion is coming from our ignorance of the full picture of someone’s life and we don’t stand in Christ in that moment. Discernment is necessary for our spiritual survival but we can be anchored in Christ consciousness where there is peace love and forgiveness in the heart. One is cold and war- like, the other sees the truth but doesn’t leave the warmth of the heart. Bless!

Благодаримо!!

Thank you so much. God bless you.

great video father please keep on posting if you can i have been fighting these sins that you have said thank god that you are alive and that you have the health to post these videos glory be to the father the son and the holy spirit.

Respect from saqartvelo (georgia) 🇬🇪🇬🇪📿📿🇬🇪

You explain things very well, thank you.

Thank you for that amen

Fr. Bless, thank you!

At age 6, I basically lived in a liquor store full of pornography. My mother would party at bars and be missing for days while I would be tormented by foreboding presences; later turned sleep paralysis. I eventually became an idolatrous nightmare. Women and women leaving me became a bane. Presently, I hope I haven't drank and smoked to death over it. If anyone can please pray for my health, God bless! Doxology and Chant finally inspired me to try to worship God that I hope He accepts.

Thank You! ❤

Yeah judgements bad. Even if you're sometimes good at it and particularly angry. The best you can do sometimes is push against polarity. Which can leave you trapped.

Thank you! I needed to hear this. ❤️❤️❤️

pillow in the desert is my new rap name

Thank you father Seraphim teaching about judgement it has been so enlightening God bless you

Dear monk I’m sorry for judging you But I’ve guessed why you never take your hat off. That were you’ve hidden your sweeties Good man👍

Never judge another man until you have walked a mile in his moccasins. - Native American Proverb. Remember that it is elementary to judge someone from a certain viewpoint without sufficient data. What do you think?

You all will be ok.

I would like to see a video about OCD or scrupulosity Im struggling with it that it effects all my life in a negative way.

You can help yourself and you have the power to do so: 6 And the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you annoyed, and why has your countenance fallen? 7 Is it not so that if you improve, it will be forgiven you? If you do not improve, however, at the entrance, sin is lying, and to you is its longing, but you can rule over it." Gen 4

I have sinned pray for me to become orthodox

Is judgement not necessary though to guide our soul to Christ? I understand that the holy spirit can work through us and others can help us, but what of satanic influence? What of our limited ability to let the holy spirit work through us? This seems like a prideful thing to attempt actually. Like a Buddhist sort of pride. Can judgement be an Aristotelian mean rather than an absolute evil as you prescribe it to be? Maybe you are talking of superficial judgement rather than soul/essential judgement. Thank you father, great video

There is no condemnation in Christ. He is merciful. I had a nightmare where demons were dragging me by the arms to a courthouse. Right as the courtroom doors were open I said “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have Mercy on Me” right then a tear in reality happened and light shone down and Christ grabbed me by the wrist and woke me up.

plz father can you talk about how to get back from atheism

I'm guilty of the sin of judgment. This has helped me tremendously. Thank you. Please keep bringing the beautiful words of Christ in this dark world we live in.

What I've been going through recently...that is exactly how it feels. I thought I was trying to just get over porn, but the pride and judgement in me...when I was blessed to see that part of me...pure terror. Utterly terrifying to see that side of me. It seems at times Christ is using my weaknesses to squeeze pride and judgement our of me.

This is a huge problem for me. Whenever I pass judgement on others inside my mind (often without me realising) then the fall always follows. A seemingly endless cycle but as long as we live we have the opportunity to repent sincerely and let Christ lift us up once more. Thank you Father for your insight! Sending prayers and love from Greece!

🔴 What also should help are the followings (these can work in parallel, together, one by one or in any other order) 1. Pay attention to your heart. Do you REALLY want to get rid of that sin with all of your heart? Do you hate the sin? Or you somehow like it, even a little bit? 2. Always REMEMBER the presence of GOD almighty. Can you do the same sin in presence of other people or you cannot, and you hold back yourself from that sin in presence of people? Always call His Name when the temptation comes, ask for mercy and for delivery. 3. Pay attention to your thoughts. Especially those which can lead towards sinful thoughts ( usually they start with an innocent ideas and desires but with the intention to excite the sinful ones). Run from these! 4. Be vigorous with your fasting. This is a powerful weapon, expect the much more intensified attacks by the enemy. Don't be afraid (point 2). Keep going! 5. Pray. Pray for others too. 6. Lessen idle talk, laughing (comedy shows, modern day entertainments). Ideally bring to zero. 7. Handwork helps (also creative activities like painting, drawing etc) 9. Walking (hiking) helps. 10. As Father said in the video, DO NOT JUDGE also is important. Practical steps would be to Bless other people when you see them sinning, wrongdoing. Pray for their enlightenment and deliverance and salvation. Even if you cannot say it with your heart in the beginning. Not judging will come eventually which is a very light feeling, it is like having a stone taken away from your shoulders and heart. This will also bring the state of NOT COMPARING yourself to others. 11. REMEMBER that you ALONE CANNOT do this. 12. Remember the hell. 13. Remember the martyrs and the HEAVEN 14. Read your Bible EVERYDAY 15. Do not allow yourself to be in despair (point 2 and 4). Keep knocking the Door and keep asking for help.

You have a view that is almost wholly absent from the world. I am thankful that Jesus has given you this wisdom to share with us.

I'm not sure about the judgment being heretical... I think it's not heresy unless it's hypocritical... Because how else you should know them by their fruits if you don't make judgments in your mind which are the next verses that you didn't mention when Jesus said do not judge, how else you would know who is pig or dog to not spread your pearls before him? The Permission is Given by Christ himself, also i don't think Paul was a heretic , because he sure was judging others... Judgment Comes from Christ , and belongs to him, but as long as you are one with him then that judgment is shared with you, just as he is one with the Father then you too have the authority of judging the wicked in his name.. Just as he is given eternal authority by the Father to judge all.

Thank you, Fr. Seraphim. I had not considered judgment as a heresy before, but you are right. I had also not considered how judging others as better than myself at resiting sin is still judgment all the same.

Brilliant. Discernment is good it is necessary we don't become gullible either. However I wouldn't say judgement is a heresy Paul says we will judge the angels and Jesus says to judge righteously. If one says being a homosexual is sinful in the eyes of God and that they must repent this is a fact not a judgement of their spiritual situation. I understand that open condemnation can be folly we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God However I do believe its more loving than anything to correct those who are on the wrong path hence street preachers are in the right for stating what they do we must be careful to introduce those boundaries with people otherwise they will simply justify their own acta with "Your a Christian your not allowed to judge" Christians are to judge but righteously not hypocritically and only from the word

Amen, awesome explanation as always thank you Father and May Almighty God bless you always

As someone who is exploring Orthodoxy, i am very blessed by the messages and content of this channel. I am protestant, was raised charismatic and now reformed but something has never been satisfied in me. I have struggled with carnality all my life, i hate it but can't seem to shake it. I needed to hear this, its encouraging. Thank you and God Bless

Father, I am currently in the process of converting. Your talks are a great help to me. God bless you and all in your monastery.

It is always a joy to listen to you! Greetings from austria and god bless you! :)

Thank you soo much.. I don't only like when you teach us, but i feel that you understand human nature. No one of us knows even ourselves, but most of the people judge to others... I feel these days lot if judgement on myself, but i have health issues so i letting myself to pump my ego to get better. I can't explain to everyone my condition, so i keep quiet. I have no other wish, but to die and see Christ, but it seems, it is not my time to go. So, i pray, God give me the strength to endure all this, and be of some use to You, others and myself. Thank you...

☦️~GLORY TO THEE O LORD OUR GOD GLORY TO THEE~ ~Through the prayers of our Holy Father's ☦️ LORD JESUS CHRIST OUR GOD have mercy on us and save us Amen~

Thanks Father so many years in darkness, but now the light of Christ is shining through me ; sinful as I am 😇

This was very helpful, God bless!

Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us, God bless you 🙏🏻

Thank you, Fr. Seraphim for this lecture. Please pray for me as I lived a truly sinful life and am still suffering the consequences of it. God bless you, and all who read this.

Thank you father I always looking forward to hear your teaching

The Litany of Humility is very helpful in this area of keeping from judging others .

Very apt for me Father for pride and judgement plauge me,and I strive to battle these,your words are well heeded,thank you.

Thank you Father dearly for this valuable reminder / warning in regards to staying vigilant not to fall into the temptation of Judgment and Pride. I ask the following in all humble sincerity, Could you please do a follow up video if possible in regards to the difference between one being rightly Discerning for God and not being Judgemental hence committing a very bad sin?and on the other hand committing the sin of complacency or idleness by allowing evil to flourishes abundantly in all forms in ones country, community, church or family when one chooses to say or do nothing by hiding under the umbrella of not wanting to be judgemental? God’s Blessing’s and Strength always, 🙏🙏🙏

Perfect timing

Greetings, Father Seraphim. I recall a story from one of the Desert Fathers. A brother came to him judging one of the other monks. The Father tried to dissuade him but he refused to listen. The Father then turned his eyes to Heaven and said: “God, we no longer need you since we have taken judgement into our own hands.”

Thank you very much brother may God bless you

Thank you

Thank you so much father God bless you Father 🙏🙏🙏

Straight up I struggle with substance abuse. Pride & judgement, pretty much my life, I'm such a blind fool. Thank you Fr. God bless & keep you, thank you so very much, glory to God whose mercy endures far beyond my stupidity & wicked laziness. Thank you.

Thank you, father

Thank you so much for this valuable teaching 🙏

This was such a big revelation! Now the hard part is to not judge. It has become such an immediate and natural habit of my brain. Thank you for these insights Father. I feel quite humbled today. Thank you.

🕊✨🙏🛡⚔

Thank you Father - praying for you!

He doesn't deflect. He doesn't avoid. He speaks from Truth.

Thank you so very much, pride and judgement has been such an evil root in our family we grew up in it thinking it was a normal occurrence. I hate it and want it out of my life forever! Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me a sinner. I received this prayer card years ago it gives me hope. I do not know the Saints name but I pray it all the same.. "O Lord & Master of my life Take from me the spirit of sloth, despair lust of power & idle talk; But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience & love to Thy servant. Yes Lord & King, grant me to see my own transgressions & not judge my brother, for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages Amen."

I think I am not addicted to judge people but it happens from time to time that I judge someone's behaviour. I discovered also when we analyse something it is impossible not to judge if we want to gain knowledge about what is good and what isn't. I would like to know if it is ok to separate someone's being from his behaviour. How you separate analysis from judgement?

Interesting. Pride and judgement are countering the teachings you have shared about humility and gratitude. I pray that I can get the wisdom to recognize my pride and judgement in myself and others

Father you have such deep insight that has moved me and helped me a lot. I only discovered your channel just yesterday. I used to do evangelism to people in gangs years ago. Some were trapped in sins with legal ramifications or maybe even death if they were to leave a gang. Some did leave but it often involved having to hide and waiting for the people they were involved with to die of natural causes or get killed because of their bad lifestyle. But what about someone who is a believer who finds themselves caught in some trap that they can’t get out of and to make it right would bring on death or some other type of dire repercussion? The person wants to live for God only and repent but they are still trapped by he sin because to right it would destroy them. It is a most evil Satanic trap.

Father it sounds like you are distinguishing between judging behavior and judging a person's heart.

Pray for me brother, I have l5 s1 disc bulge aggravated sciatica, left foot drop 8 weeks ago, can't stand or walk, sleep 👈😢☦️🙏❤️😭

You're a tonic to an ailing soul

What if its not even our sin but that of those around us? Sometimes its not our sin that burns us but that of others and there is still no help. Hell is the absence of God, how does one expect to maintain faith when they are burning in this life as believers striving on the path to virtue.

We were "gripped "by our cats for last weeks - jne died , one had recovered - may be it is a sin )

Father, I have never had anyone explain this subject in such an amazing way that itnhas impacted me very deeply and now I understand completely.. Thank you for this and I thank God for you