Spiritual People and the Bait of Pietism

Brethren, I beseech you, mark them that cause divisions and scandals contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by their words and flattering words deceive the hearts of the guileless. – Romans 16:17-18

What are these "divisions"? The 15th Canon of the First-Second Council of Constantinople tells us: 

As for those persons, who, on account of some heresy condemned by holy Councils, or Fathers, withdraw themselves from communion with their president (who is preaching heresy publicly, and teaching it bare head in church), such persons not only are not subject to any canonical penalty on account of their having walled themselves off from any and all communion with the one called a bishop before any conciliar or synodal verdict has been rendered, but, on the contrary, they shall be deemed worthy to enjoy the honor which befits them among Orthodox Christians. For they have defied, not bishops, but false bishops and false teachers; and they have not sundered the union of the Church with any schism, but, on the contrary, have been sedulous to rescue the Church from schisms and divisions. 

There can be a senseless and evil division in the Church, but there can also be a good division, i.e., when that separation is from heresy. The Church teaches us that it is the heresiarchs that have already caused division through their separation from the Truth. But what are we to say when “spiritual” men do not separate themselves from a bishop that preaches heresy? How can this be? Satan wars against all men and seeks their destruction. The more illustrious the man, the greater is Satan's accomplishment when he brings about his fall If a seemingly righteous man falls into a personal sin, that sin affects him alone and perhaps a few others; but if a righteous man falls into heresy, all that follow him are separated from Truth and grace. For the student of Church History there are many examples by which we learn this. One example of a righteous ascetic who was ensnared by the passion of ambition and became a heretic and later repented of his heresy through the prayers and admonition of a saint is found in the Life of Saint Joannicius the Great, whose feast we celebrate on the 4th of November: 

When heresy still prevailed and one disturbance after another harassed those who venerated Christ’s image because of the Emperor Theophilus, the majority of the bishops and abbots fled the heretical plague. Abandoning their sees, they were greatly distressed, wandering about the mountains like strangers and paupers. So it happened that Eustratius, the shepherd of the Monastery of Agaurinus, left his post and moved about from place to place for the sake of Christ, and the champions of the heresy of iconoclasm entrusted the presidency and abbacy of that monastery to a certain Anthony from the same monastery, who had consented with the heretics. Although Saint Joannicius had often instructed and warned the aforementioned Anthony and had even thrice rebuked him, he did not desist from this accursed heresy. Finally, the Saint went up a fourth time to censure him, exhorting him again and declaring the right way to him. The Saint said, “Although I have helped you several times as much as I was able by putting forth my hand and disputing with you, Anthony, you have resisted the truth. I know that your end has drawn near and that a period of forty days remains to you to pass through a difficult trial; however, if you bear this salutary chastisement with joy, you shall be saved.” Then convinced by the Saint's words and renouncing his heresy, Abbot Anthony replied, “By your prayers, venerable father, I will endure it,” and soon after he was suddenly struck with great pain in half of his body, and was lifted up as if dead by those who found him. After the fortieth day he reposed in peace. (Life of St. Joannicius the Great, Chapter 36)

In our days, the days of false prophets and false teachers, World "Orthodoxy" has a multitude of "spiritual" people who know how to say beautiful and true things about the life of prayer and spiritual struggle; but when anyone asks them about matters pertaining to the Faith, they say that such things adversely affect the spiritual life and ought not to be occupied with them. Since these people do not struggle for the Faith, they do not offend anyone, and they are on good terms with everyone. The majority say good things about them, and even call them saints. Nevertheless they work great evil upon the innocent and well-disposed souls by convincing them to close their eyes and unquestioningly follow the Ecumenistic Patriarchs and Churches. They are the most effective allies of Ecumenism. This terrible heresy could never take root without them, because they disarm precisely those who could be the most vital combatants for Orthodoxy. This is what Saint Isidore of Pelusium says about them: "Just as fisherman hide the hook with bait and covertly hook the fish, similarly, the crafty allies of heresy cover their evil teachings and corrupt understanding with pietism and hook the more simple, bringing them to spiritual death."

Source: Orthodox Christian Witness, Vol. XXXVI, No. 1 (1508), pp. 8-10.