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Spiritual Attitudes

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Spiritual Life › Spiritual Attitudes

The question

Can we say that there are 2 spiritual lifestyles (Attitudes)
  1. Focus on the love of our Lord Jesus Christ (joyful attitude
    Ex:  St. Paul.

  2. Focus on struggling against sin ( grieving attitude
    Ex: Majority of Coptic Orthodox Christians?

The grieving attitude -> is beneficial only to the person himself/herself.
The joyful attitude -> is what is required to reproduce Christ in others.

The answer

Regarding the two spiritual life styles, I think it is not appropriate to focus on one and leave the other. In my opinion there has to be a balance between the two attitudes. I am sure that St. Paul was focusing on the struggle against sin in the light of Christ's love. What St. Paul wrote in the Holy Book of Rom 7:15-8:2 is a very good example of this balance.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 977 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.