Ruslan's Bless God Podcast

Why Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was Excommunicated

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Bio: Ruslan KD is a Christian YouTuber of Armenian descent who was a refugee from Baku, Azerbaijan, before moving to the United States as a child. He started his YouTube channel in the mid-2010s, which has since grown into a popular platform for discussing faith, lifestyle, and music. Known for his insightful commentary on Christian living, culture, and personal development, Ruslan has built a community of followers who value his thoughtful approach to contemporary issues. In addition to his YouTube presence, Ruslan is a speaker, author, and advocate for godly ambition, often addressing topics related to leadership, mental health, and the integration of faith in everyday life.

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Duration:: 25m
Broadcast on:: 02 Jan 2025
Audio Format:: other

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He completely forbid him from entering into any of our churches. But there is nothing mentioned if he's a clergyman, letting me depose from the church. So he founded an independent church in the Eastern Syriac tradition of Christianity. Again, it sounds a lot like-- [MUSIC PLAYING] This line. Bishop Mari Mar Emmanuel has made a huge splash on the YouTube stratosphere. The social media sphere in general. He has been someone that has been outspoken about a number of topics from faith to politics. Recently, there was an attempt on his life, and he amazingly survived it. The Lord preserved him. But what many people don't know is that he has kind of a controversial history within his own streams of Christianity. He is from the Assyrian Church of the East. And he got into some hot water with his own, I want to say, patriarchs. So he made a video going over all of the different aspects of what he was charged with and why he denied the charges. And they have left that stream, but apparently are incorporated into a different Orthodox stream. And I want to get into it because I think there's some interesting overlaps here. So I don't agree with everything. Clearly, I'm a Protestant, and there's reasons for that. Maybe we'll talk about those later. But let's jump into this video why I was excommunicated. I have no habit of talking about people. But only I talk when I see someone talking ill about Christianity. This man, his name is-- he calls himself Mar Mari. But his name is Robert Schlimund. He is not a member of the Assyrian Church of the East. OK, real quick. I don't want to go too much on an expedition. But I think they're a part of the first ecumenical council. My brand new, occupied till I come, 60-day devotional has arrived and is shipping just in time for our biggest ever Black Friday sale. Taking you through the entire narrative of scripture in 60 days, 35 days in the Old Testament, 25 days in the New Testament will custom interactive journal prompts for every single day. This is a great way to have a structured devotional, reignite your passion for the word of God. This is something I wish I had 20 years ago, 10 years ago, when I was traveling a lot doing music that could just take me through a general narrative of scripture and help me be interactive and reflect on what it is that I read. That is why there's a journal built in to the devotional with daily prayer request section to also document my prayers. So whether you've been walking with Jesus for a while or you're new to the faith, go to blessgod.shop right now to pick it up. All right, I'll see you over there. Yeah, so they're part of the 431 schism. This is the Nestorian schism split the churches between. So this is even before the Eastern Oriental schism was a split between the churches of Sassan Persia, which affiliated with the Nesterius and those later they became the Catholic in Orthodox churches. The schism rose out of a Christological dispute, notably over patriarchs of Alexandria and the first council. This is before Chalcedon. This is like they're one of the earliest churches that split from the Orthodox and then the Orthodox and the Catholic spirit. Okay, very interesting stuff. Okay, I don't want to get too in a weeds beds, but figure it out, point that out. He's never been member of the Assyrian church of the east. We do not recognize his teachings. We never know he's never been a Mary member. I thought he was at some point a member. That's interesting. He completely forbid him from entering into any of our churches. He was ordained by the ancient church of the east. The Syrian church of the east and the ancient church of the east are both Eastern Christian denominations that claim to be descendants of the historic church of the east, but they split from each other in the 1960s. Oh, okay, so this is a split of a split that happened before the Protestant information, before the great schism of 10, what is it, 1050, before the Chalcedonian split. This is even before that and this is a split of a split. Okay, so they're still similar streams, but they split, what do they split over? 1960, the Syrian church of the east and the ancient church of the east split due to a schism in the mid 20th century, primarily caused by disagreements over the adoption of the Gregorian calendar. They split over the calendar fam in a system of hereditary succession with the patriarchs. Oh man, over the calendar? That seems like a petty reason to split over. But what do I know? What do I know? It means he was suspended from his church. Now he doesn't belong to no church. If he emailed today to his holiness and a clarification and a reply to that nine points that his holiness saying that I have breached. Okay, so he had nine things that supposedly he breached over and he's gonna go over every single one of them. Now he does something really interesting here. I don't see if you guys pick up on it. The canon laws of the church. Number one, his holiness is saying that Marmarie is supposedly not allowed to live with his mother. He's not allowed to live with his mother according to the canon law of the church. I'm not allowed to live with my mother. I have to live in the church premises. Well, here is the reply to that point. The council of Nicaea, the council of Nicaea and the first universal council of the United Christian church, convened by Emperor Constantine the great in the year 325 AD and the third rule of the council, it is stated. The great council has forbidden, generally any bishop or presbyter or deacon and anyone else among those in the clergy, the privilege of having a house made unless she is either a mother or a sister or an aunt or a person above suspicion. Okay, did you guys catch what he did there? Isn't it interesting? Okay, so his church, the ancient church of the east defrauded him based on these reasons, one of the reasons is he couldn't live with his mother. I believe he is a celibate priest not married, right? And so did you guys notice what he did there? This is a great thing to think about. Is he points back to an earlier council for the reason why the new tradition makes no sense? You guys tracking with me? You guys see where I'm going with this? So they tell him that you're not part of our church because of these reasons. And what does he do? He goes and points back to council of Nicaea. The earliest council sounds a lot like the Protestant Reformation. Sounds a lot like the folks who wanted to reform the Catholic church going, wait a minute, we look at the scriptures and we look at the early councils and those don't line up with what we see in the practices. Seems like we have a disconnect here. Perhaps we're gonna go back earlier to find why we are developing new innovations and new traditions. So you're saying a bishop, a pastor, a priest can't live with his mom but that doesn't make any sense. Jesus loved his mom, Peter talks about Peter's mother-in-law, Jesus healing Peter's mother-in-law, right? I appreciate Bishop Mariamara-Manuel but he sounds a lot like a Protestant. Just something to think about. Don't throw stones. Can in three of the first Universal Council of Nicaea. I can live with my mom because then I see him. Then I see him. Can in law is Universal for Catholic Orthodox Alt churches. And he's calling back to a member. He's from the Syrian Church of the East. The Syrian Church of the East and in the ancient, Syrian Church of the East, those two split in 1960s, he's calling back to councils, we all agree on. If you are a Protestant meaning that you came out of a church that came out of the Protestant Reformation and Luther, you adhere to the first council. You probably adhere to some of the first councils. You may not know what they say but we generally, yesterday, men, those councils and the Protestant Reformation is always reforming. That's the idea. We always wanna be going back and reforming back to what the early church was. So good, so good, so good. Amazing deals on active wear for all the ways you move are at Nordstrom Rack Stores now. How did I not know Rack has Adidas? I love these new Reikers. I always sport Rack. Stock up on new gear from the best brands in the game, starting at just $40. Great brands, great prices. That's why you rack. In the time it takes us to say we're making a damn delicious caramelized coffee with Folger's instant coffee, you know we're all about that drizzle. You could be savoring every sip. Damn right, it's Folger's instant. (audience applauding) And I'm not sure if it's a crime to live with mom. (speaking in foreign language) Number two. That Marmari must supposedly attend every morning and evening prayer in public on a daily basis in the church. What? His holiness is saying that I am not attending prayers evening and mornings in the church on a daily basis. I have breached the canal laws of the church. The second council, this is what applied to it, the second council of Constantinople, declares in rule 80 that a clergyman can only be held accountable if he is missing from the services, i.e. Holy mess. It's not a daily praise. So again, sounds like we're adding rules on top of rules. Now I will say that I appreciate the other streams of Christianity in that they really take participation in a Sunday morning gathering seriously. I wanna say in Catholic streams, if you don't attend church on a Sunday, you can be in grave sin if you are without excuse, legitimate excuse. I think there's some value to that. I think we're way too casual. I think this is probably prevalent in all church. I think we're way too casual in terms of that side Baptist, Pastor Pillow. I think people need to be encouraged and invited. The question is, is it a command, is it not a command? They're saying not only does he need to be at every church service, but he also needs to be at every morning prayer at church, which again, sounds like we're adding rules on top of rules. If he be a clerk, let him be deposed from office, but if he be a layman, let him be removed from communion, can an 80 of the second council of Constantinople, but there is nothing mentioned if he's a clergyman, let him be deposed from the church, no mention. - See, he's pointing back to earlier and earlier councils. That's brilliant. Let's go back to this. - Constantinople declares in rule 80 that a clergyman can only be held accountable if he is missing from the services, i.e. holy mass. Not daily praise. If he be a clerk, let him be deposed from office, but if he be a layman, let him be removed from communion, can an 80 of the second council of Constantinople, but there is nothing mentioned if he's a clergyman, let him be deposed from the church, no mention. And that's only if he misses the holy mass, three weeks in a row. I never have. Number three. The accusation is that Marmarie cannot wear the Beruna or head covering. The Beruna, this is a reply. The Beruna is a very, or head covering, is a very important head covering, and it was also worn by the Assyrian holy monks of history like Saint-Abram, Saint-Abram, the great Saint Isaac of Nineveh, and countless others of our beloved church. - They're splitting hairs over him wearing the head covering, fam. This is crazy. If you thought your church had issues, this is crazy. Someone said they think the head covering's kind of cringe. I think the head covering's kind of a vibe. I like the head covering. Definitely gives him a more priestly look, I guess. I think it's kind of fire, personally. - There is nothing odd or unacceptable about this, because it is the ancient practice of the universal church. Another allegation that Marmarie is forbidden to use images of saints in his leaflets or in church. To clarify this point, my beloveds, Marmarie is not the first clergy men to use images in leaflets or in church premises as previously and until now has been seen the use of images and also statues. Let them tell you the statue of the holy mother. - So I wonder who these guys are. If someone's connected to Bishamara, who are these guys and why do they got, why do they got a little table with a little water here? 'Cause you got the regular community here and then you got these guys. These guys like his overseers or something, I'm super interested. 'Cause remember, this isn't a Syrian church, so this whole arrangement is very interesting to me. - From the church of Marmarie in Melbourne, the holy mother, images and also statues. Let them tell you the statue of the holy mother. - Someone said church mafia. (laughing) It does kind of got a mafia vibe to it. No, that's no disrespect. That's funny though. - From the church of Marmarie in Melbourne. And let them take all their-- - They're like, "He ain't having it." He's like, "Go away." - Pictures and icons of saints and crosses in the magazine that comes from Baghdad, Iraq itself, where the pottery I present under the name of Upka, the horizon. - So he's making his case for why he's allowed to use these images in his palace. - Why is Marmarie now all of a sudden a lawbreaker? Another accusation that Marmarie is forbidden to run a charity to help those in need. - This is so ridiculous. - You can't run a charity? (laughing) (speaking in foreign language) - There is nothing. Now listen to this. There is nothing in church law that forbids charity finance. None whatsoever, because Jesus, he gave his life as a charity to win souls for eternal life. He sacrificed his life. There is nothing in church law that forbids charity finance. Another accusation that Marmarie is forbidden from being in church hall for tea or coffee after Bible preach, so-called dinners and parties. (laughing) - He can't be in the church hall for tea. - What? - That is funny as, oh my gosh. This is what I mean by like traditions on top of traditions. This, they're just, this is just nonsense. Like who's making this stuff up? What are you guys talking about? - Or tea or coffee after Bible preach, so-called dinners and parties. - What? - There is nothing in church law. It is not a canon law. What does that got to do with having a coffee? There is nothing in church law to validate this accusation. In fact, servants of the word and of the table is biblical, Marmarie Lovett, refer to the book of Acts, chapter six. I wonder if it has something to do with this view of separating the lady from the clergy and this need to not have the lady interconnected with the clergy too closely if that's kind of some of the logic for it. I think it's dumb. Obviously, I hold to the priesthood of all believers, right? And I think that that disparity between the clergy and the lady is unhelpful, generally speaking, when it's so separated, but this is very interesting that they're tripping about this. - Oh, it's true. - It's biblical, if anything. (audience applauding) Another accusation that Marmarie is forbidden to use words of endearment to members of his parish. - To use words of endearment, especially to women. - Especially women. Do you know what endearment means? (speaking in foreign language) Words of endearment are a part of Australian culture anyway. And they do not reflect any real relationship, but are used even to complete, but are used even to complete strangers to show up alightness and kindness of heart. There is nothing wrong with calling people darling, sweetie, or any such of a term. God calls us to be loving, honorable human beings, not to be cold-hearted, miserable, righteous. (speaking in foreign language) Another accusation that Marmarie is forbidden to. - That's interesting, 'cause you know, he says my beloved, he uses these very gentle terms, and he's saying this is prevalent inside of just Australian culture, and it's not, it's platonic. It's not meant to be taken in a romantic way, right? And it's also different, and maybe this is me, and I'm being too charitable, but I feel like it's different when you have a older gentleman like this, if he were to call a younger woman, a sweetie, or darling, it would be viewed, I would think the way I've, like I call, I have a three-year-old daughter named Zoe, I call her love, hey my love, I also call my wife love. There's a distinction there, when I call my wife love, she's my love, that's the love of my life, that's my person forever, right? On this side of eternity anyway, and when I'm calling my three-year-old love, it is a father referring to his daughter as love, as in an endearing term, and so I would just assume that when he's saying darling, sweetie, it's like a father referring to their children in that sense, 'cause he's an older gentleman, right? Am I bugging on that? I think that it should not go without saying, and it's not in a romantic sense, I don't, yeah, I don't know. - Take his flock on tours to Jerusalem, or to wave the Australian flag with them in the lanes of the Holy City. - Yeah, shout out to Noel, she said, when I help an older man with something and he calls me sweetheart, or something like that, it makes my day. Yeah, yeah, Terry said I'm from the south, and we call everybody sweetie, honey, yeah, I think it's, maybe some of this is cultural, you know, and he's in Australia, and perhaps they have more of that like Southern hospitality charm that we have here, but I think the context in this matter, but it just seems like they're trying to micromanage this dude and really, really, really, really control him. - There is nothing, absolutely nothing in church law that forbids a bishop from taking his flock on a guided tour through the Holy City and the Holy Shrines of Jerusalem. - It's only, you can't take me with Jerusalem, like this is crazy. - Jerusalem. - Number nine, and the last accusation, that Marmarie is forbidden to use a mobile phone and an earphone. - No, no, no airpods for you. (laughs) (dramatic music) - There is nothing, but, there is nothing in the church law that forbids a bishop from using modern technology such as mobile phones or earphones in order to communicate with his flock or to fulfill his duties as a bishop. - What? - Also, as a health hazard, placing the mobile phone on one's ear can lead to health problems. - I just found out, they say, you know, if you Google this, they recommend keeping your phone eight inches away from your body. So Bluetooth has less like whatever receptors, but I literally just discovered this, so that's fascinating. (dramatic music) - Following the bishop's excommunication, he founded an independent church in the Eastern Syriac tradition. - So he founded an independent church in the Eastern Syriac tradition of Christianity. Again, it sounds a lot like Martin Luther trying to reform the church and then planting an independent church that went on to become a part of the Protestant Reformation. And if you go to a Lutheran church, I don't know if any of you guys have been to a Lutheran church, but they're very similar to Catholic churches. Very similar, very similar view of communion as well. This sounds very familiar. Christianity known as Christ the Good Shepherd Church. In a new sermon recently released, Marmari Emanuel, shared some good news regarding his church. Now, this is a part I'm confused about. He says they're viewed as an Orthodox church, but I'm not sure if that means just like legally in the context of their, in the context of their government and how they're classified or is another Orthodox church kind of bringing him back into a part of their structure. I'm not too sure about that. - Here's what he had to say. - I thank the Lord that this church is now officially recognized by the government as a Bill of Parliament. It was passed on the 15th of August this year. So it's officially being recognized by the government. - And we are a church recognized like Catholic church, all Orthodox churches, both Oriental and Eastern Orthodoxy. We are recognized as a Christian, a postolic Orthodox church. - So again, I wonder, he's recognized that, but is he functioning as an independent church? If he's functioning as an independent church, that means that folks, whether they're Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian, Eastern Orthodox are probably going to have an issue with him being recognized as an apostolic church, right? - Eastern Orthodoxy, we are recognized as a Christian, a postolic Orthodox. - Apostolic would imply apostolic succession, which according to the Eastern Orthodox, they would say he does not have. That's how I think they would view him. - Church, I love it. You know, it's incredible. - Yeah, anyway, that's crazy. But yeah, I just, I thought that was interesting in the sense that people are really coming down hard on him in terms of, I would say, legalism, micro-managing him. And I don't know how to process this outside of just my own paradigm of like, yeah, sometimes you need to reform back to the original, you know? And I think that's what the Protestant Reformation was trying to do, is to go back to what the early church was, the simplicity of it. And it sounds like that's what he is trying to do. And I think props to him for standing up and taking a stand. Now, is that gonna come with him now being viewed like he doesn't have quote-unquote apostolic succession? I don't know. Having our biggest sale of the year, our Black Friday sale, right now, the link is pinned up. You can get our Blessed God discipleship bundle, which has my new 60 day devotional with our leadership planner. Get that for, you know, your dad or someone and our prayer journal as well. 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