False Teachings In Metropolitan Jonah
St. John of Damascus: “he who damages a small part damages the whole.”
I speculate that a lot of the modern attacks on traditional Christian beliefs are rooted in Masonry. Masons want to "strip from all religions their orthodox tenets, legends, allegories and dogmas." (Clausen, Clausen's Commentaries on Morals and Dogmas, p. 157).
Please note: There are six updates near the end of this article. I have received responses from ROCOR clergy. Metropolitan Jonah is in the wrong.
WHO IS METROPOLITAN JONAH?
Metropolitan Jonah came out of the modernist OCA and is now a clergyman of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. Metropolitan Jonah said some things in a video that concern me. He was actualizing catechizing people in the video, called,“A Talk With Catechumens: the Mosaic Law, the Crucifixion... Hell, Universalism, & Old Believers.” His blasphemy against Christ and his rejection of Orthodox tradition are matters of public record for anyone to access. And since he is actually not Orthodox, and lacks humility, discernment, and obedience (to Tradition), and is actually condemned by the Orthodox Church (see below), he has no business guiding anyone on spiritual life. I asked Metropolitan Jonah about his teachings, and there was no apology from him and no repentance. He showed no concern for my threat to leave ROCOR if in fact his teachings were officially theirs.
If Metropolitan Jonah was a good person with a good heart, he would have responded similar to this:
“Dear brother, please forgive me. We have different views. My views are not the official views of ROCOR. I would encourage you to stay, and forgive me a sinner. If I can be of any assistance to you, let me know. Much love in Christ.”
Thankfully, a ROCOR clergyman assured me that Metropolitan Jonah’s views are not officially ROCOR’s.
THE FALSE AND SCANDALOUS TEACHINGS OF METROPOLITAN JONAH
Here is a list of the false teachings of Metropolitan Jonah, which conflict with Orthodox Tradition. Theologoumena (theological opinion) is not an option here. Concepts that contradict the teaching of Christ and Scripture are not negotiable.
1. He claimed that the Old Testament has contradictions. What kind of message is he sending catechumans?
2. He rejects the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch, contradicting the Holy Fathers, ancient Jewish authorities, and the teaching of Christ and Scripture itself.
3. He claimed that none of the books of the Old Testament existed before the 6th century B.C. (contradicting the Holy Fathers, ancient Jewish authorities, and the teaching of Christ and Scripture itself).
4. He claimed that the Orthodox Church rejects universalism, but that they lean that way. Not only is his claim contradictory, but universalism is condemned by the Synodikon of Orthodoxy every year at Lent. How can you lean toward something which the Orthodox Church condemns? Leaning toward a condemned heresy only serves to encourage people to defy Church authority.
5. He claimed that only Judas Iscariot and Antichrist are in hell, directly contradicting Christ who taught that most people end in hell. Even St. Paul gave lists of the damned, going far beyond Judas Iscariot and Antichrist. St. John in Revelation also gave a list of the damned.
I find it disturbing that Metropolitan Jonah did not state that he was giving his opinions, and that he was contradicting the traditional belief of his own church. Consider, the video in question remains in the public a year after I issued my complaint to the ROCOR, which reveals that they are tolerating his errors. This also reveals that Metropolitan Jonah has not repented or converted to the Orthodox faith (since to be Orthodox, one must embrace the whole system). I address his errors below.
CONTRADICTIONS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT?
Metropolitan Jonah should have qualified his claim about Old Testament contradictions. Does he believe the original autographs have contradictions, or later translation(s)? The Old Testament scholar, Gleasen Archer clears up difficult passages in the Old Testament in his book “Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties.” I recommend this book, because it does a good job, and because I am not familiar with any Orthodox books dealing with alleged OT contradictions. Dr. Archer was an OT scholar and knew over twenty languages. Also recommended: "Does the Bible Contradict Itself?” by Arndt. I want to challenge Metropolitan Jonah to give me the best example he has of an Old Testament contradiction. Only if one rejects, or is ignorant of the patristic teaching of Scriptural inerrancy can he maintain the view that there are contradictions in the Bible. St. Epiphanius of Cyprus writes: “Nothing of discrepancy will be found in Sacred Scripture, nor will there be found any statement in opposition to any other statement.” Blessed Augustine: "If we are perplexed by any apparent contradiction in Scripture, it is not allowable to say,"The author of this book is mistaken." ; but either the manuscript is faulty, or the translation is wrong, or you have not understood."St. Irenaeus: ..."the Scriptures are indeed perfect, since they were spoken by the Word of God and His Spirit"… Also note, the Neo-Orthodox Emil Brunner claimed that there are contradictions in the Bible. This blasphemy originated outside the Orthodox Church.
CONCERNING UNIVERSALISM
When teaching catechumens, Metropolitan Jonah contradicted himself when he said that the Orthodox Church rejects universalism, but that they lean that way. That’s a contradiction. How can someone lean toward a heresy that they reject? And who is “they”? I am Orthodox and I don’t lean toward universalism—because I accept the teaching of Christ and Holy Scripture, and the teaching of the Orthodox Church. Again, since universalism is a condemned heresy, it would be wrong to lean toward it. Leaning toward a condemned heresy encourages people to defy Church authority, and could eventuate into skepticism of the Church.
See the link to my article on universalism at the end of this article.
JUDAS ISCARIOT AND ANTICHRIST IN HELL
In total contradiction of Scripture, Metropolitan Jonah claimed in the video in question that the Bible says that only Judas Iscariot and Antichrist are in hell. That claim is patently false. Christ taught that most people end in hell. (Matt. 7:13-14). St. Paul gave a list of the damned in Galatians 5, categorizing their sins as works of the flesh: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and specifically states that people who practice these things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. (5:19-21). See Paul's other list in 1Corinthians 6:9-10. St. John gave a list of the damned in the Book of Revelation, which includes dogs, sorcerers, sexually immoral (people), murderers, idolators and people who practice falsehood. (Rev. 22:15). In Jude the saint speaks of ungodly men who are condemned (Jude 1:4). St. Paul teaches that only the elect will be saved (Romans 9:14), which implies that the non-elect (plural) will be damned. St. Paul also taught that only those who are "in Christ" are reconciled with God. (2Cor. 5:17). St. John taught that no murderer will be saved (1 John 3:15). There have most certainly been a lot of murderers throughout the millennia. What is Met. Jonah going to do with all these passages? Does this man believe in Christ and the Word of God? I can also quote Church Fathers, but the above is adequate to refute Met. Jonah since the Bible is the highest doctrinal and spiritual authority in the Orthodox Church.
HE DENIED THE MOSAIC AUTHORSHIP OF THE PENTATEUCH
See my article “Moses Wrote the Pentateuch” here:
METROPOLITAN JONAH IS CONDEMNED BY THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
Orthodox Christians and bishops do not have the right to innovate, or to contradict Scripture and the Tradition of the Church. We are bound by Tradition. Part of being an Orthodox Christian is humility, obedience and commitment (to the teachings). Through these virtues we preserve unity. Metropolitan Ambrosios (formerly of Kalavryta and Aigialeia) got it right when he wrote: "Her ministers (deacons, presbyters, bishops, patriarchs, synods) are not authorized to say and do whatever they feel is appropriate, according to their personal opinion."
I find it unacceptable for an Orthodox bishop who has been given the charge to instruct and guide the laity, to suggest that the Tradition of the Orthodox Church needs to change. Metropolitan Jonah's teachings imply a need for the Churches Tradition to change; and this is precisely due to the fact that he is an unconverted, unbelieving and condemned MODERNIST.
The sixth session of the 7th ecumenical council:
"Those who, moved by Divine zeal, always concur with the Fathers and the traditional ordinances of the Church flee from all who hold contrary opinions, as though from enemies."
From the Synodicon of the Holy Spirit:
"To all things innovated and enacted contrary to the Church tradition, teaching, and institution of the holy and ever-memorable fathers, or to anything henceforth so enacted, ANATHEMA."
Eighth proceeding of the Seventh Ecumenical Synod:
“If anyone breaks any ecclesiastical tradition, written or unwritten, let him be anathema.”
St. Vincent of Lérins accurately reflects Orthodoxy with these words: "for Christians to declare something which they did not previously accept has never been permitted, is never permitted, and never will be permitted,—but to anathematize those who proclaim something outside of that which was accepted once and for ever, has always been a duty, is always a duty, and always will be a duty."
UPDATES
Update (4/2/2022): A ROCOR (Hilarian) priest informed me that Metropolitan Jonah’s views are not the official views of the ROCOR, and he said that they have spoken with him about their disagreements. So here we have an odd situation. The ROCOR knows Jonah is in error, but they are allowing him to be a leader in their church, and to guide souls. I find it unacceptable that a bishop, who vows when he is ordained that he will guard the faith will do the opposite and attack the faith.
Update (6/23/2022): Someone informed me that Met. Jonah has been Synodally disciplined for the erroneous teachings he published on YouTube, and HTM in Jordanville is publishing an article from the Scriptures with Professor, Fr. John Boddecker on the issue. I was told there is a short version already available online. But if this were true, why is Met. Jonah’s false teachings still posted online? I have no evidence that Met. Jonah has been disciplined.
Update (12/8/2022): A ROCOR priest-monk told me: “You have done your duty in bringing the teaching of Metropolitan Jonah to the attention of the bishops.”…
Update (12/26/2022). A ROCOR bishop told me: "I do not follow Metropolitan Jonah's videos, but I heard that he sometimes has "borderline" views. I will pass-on your e-mail to the next Synod meeting."
Update (3/27/2023): Another ROCOR priestmonk told me that the Fathers attribute the Pentateuch to Moses. He also said that he believes it is wrong for bishops to reject or questions this, even if there is evidence to justify his point. He also notified me: "You are correct that the Fathers accepted the authorship of Moses of the Torah and you are right to maintain this position."
Update: (4/24/2023). I am not sure what jurisdiction this priest is in, but he’s a theologian with a Th.D. When I notified him of Metropolitan Jonah’s teachings, he replied: “And, yes, I am aware of these problematic teachings. Lord have mercy. “
In conclusion, if I get blacklisted, penalized, or demonized in anyway, just for stating the truth, then this would mean that ROCOR is not healthy. A sick church makes you the problem for pointing out it's problems. The Cult Education Institute website states about potentially unsafe religious groups/leaders, "No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry." Since I am an Orthodox Christian, I am morally, biblically and patristically obligated to guard the Tradition of the Church, and to report Metropolitan Jonah to the church leaders. Metropolitan Jonah is a false teacher. I want to encourage Orthodox Christians not to tolerate his false teachings. We see in the book of Revelation, that the churches of Thyatira and Pergamon tolerated false teachers, to the chagrin of Christ.