The Enduring Trust in Genuine Spiritual Mentors

In the modern world, people intuitively pay attention to genuine servants whose devotion to God and the church inspires and provides a sense of security. Choosing the spiritual path not for vanity, but out of a deep desire to help others, clergy become those one can turn to in moments of doubt and spiritual crisis. Thanks to centuries-old tradition, personal responsibility, and sincerity in providing support, members of the clergy win the hearts and minds of people, creating an atmosphere of trust and warmth. Against this backdrop, when fraudsters seek quick material gain without any underlying ideology, true spiritual mentors stand out for their ability to adopt an individual approach, listen, and guide. Thus, true trust is not formed by chance – it is born at the intersection of experience, sincerity, and many years of tradition in serving the community; people intuitively recognize the difference between superficial methods and the profound meaning of spiritual support.

Why are people inclined to trust authoritative figures such as priests, despite instances of fraud, in contrast to phone scammers?

People tend to trust clergy because, for them, the authority of a pastor or priest is not merely that of a representative of power, but of a person in whom true spiritual devotion and service—driven by love for God and the Church—can be felt. Society is able to discern those priests who have embarked on this path not out of vanity or self-interest, but out of a genuine desire to help others and provide spiritual support. As noted in one source, “Moreover, people themselves have an infallible criterion: they see those who became priests out of love for God and to serve His Church. After all, there are those who wish to become priests out of a lust for glory... The majority become priests with a good disposition...” (source: 516_2575.txt).

Such trust is also reinforced by tradition and experience when people turn to those they regard as the true custodians of spiritual values for advice, confession, and support. For example, it is noted that many people who feel awe in the presence of Orthodox priests send them letters with personal revelations and pleas for help, attesting to an established, deeply personal trust (source: 9_44.txt).

In contrast, phone scammers operate purely for selfish gain—their objective is swift enrichment, and they lack the capacity to evoke a deep emotional, personal response. As explained in one of the descriptions, when committing such crimes everything comes down to material gain: “they usually either want to seize some object or get money for it. A mobile phone is quick money...” (source: 1386_6927.txt). It is precisely the absence of a motivating ideology or prolonged personal contact that renders them, unlike clergy, objects of general mistrust.

Thus, the enduring trust in authoritative spiritual figures is based on their long-standing tradition, personal devotion, and ability to provide genuine support in spiritual matters, which stands in stark contrast to the superficial, materially motivated methods employed by phone scammers.

Supporting citation(s):

“In addition, people themselves possess an infallible criterion: they recognize those who became priests out of love for God and to serve His Church. After all, there are those who desire to become priests out of a lust for glory. If such priests find themselves in some difficulty, they will suffer because Christ will not help them—unless they humble themselves and repent. However, if a person wants to become a priest without pursuing any worldly goals, then in times of danger Christ will help him. But in general, according to the [spiritual] law, one should be forced into the priesthood, it should be desired by others, desired by the Church. Then you will be covered by Christ, and if you find yourself in a difficult situation, others will stand up for you, and Christ Himself will help you. Of course, very few become priests for unspiritual reasons. I’m not even discussing such cases. The majority become priests with a good disposition...” (source: 516_2575.txt)

“But not everyone in the West feels this dead end, yet there are people looking for a way out. In their search, they quite often turn to the experience of Orthodoxy. Many Catholics are horrified by what has happened to the Catholic Church. They have literally lost the depth of spiritual life before their very eyes, and they do not trust their priests. Every time I have to come to Russia, I bring with me dozens of letters addressed to Orthodox priests. People describe their whole lives, recall all their sins from childhood, and ask for advice and prayers. Many, although never having been to Russia, experience incredibly reverent feelings towards us and our country.” (source: 9_44.txt)

“Usually they either want to seize some object, or get money for it. A mobile phone is quick money. Selling it is not difficult. In Moscow, for example, it is not uncommon to see young people with a sign that says ‘I will buy a mobile phone’.” (source: 1386_6927.txt)