It is definitely true that both lay people and monks can believe in God and be Christians. Though their ways of life differ, their soul may be with the Lord.

The main thing for us to do in our lives is to learn how to love the Lord and our neighbours. I suppose that there are two ways to do that. The first is to dedicate ourselves to our Creator, to fast a lot, pray and obey our spiritual directors, that is, to become monks. The second path is to stay in this noisy world.

In both cases people should seek to sacrifice themselves in order to be loyal to Christ. Monks sacrifice all their lives in order to be closer to God, they deny themselves any kind of entertainment, and this way is blessed. But that’s surely not for everybody. Someone can be of more benefit leading a family life, bringing up children and taking care of his or her wife or husband. For St. Paul wrote: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:1). Both these choices show people’s desire to serve the Lord. They are equally precious. We should at least try to be Christians, to do something in Christ’s name if we really want to be saved.

Therefore, I agree with Venerable Symeon. We shouldn’t be lazy, but do our best to be with Christ under those conditions that God gave us.

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I agree with Venerable Symeon's words, because God will bless everyone who believes in him. And it doesn’t matter if you are a monk or a lay person, because everyone has their own individual life path: “For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it” (Matt 19:12). It is easier for someone to be a monk and thus achieve salvation, while someone cannot imagine his/her life in the world without a family.

And the main thing here is not to deviate from Christ, regardless of the chosen path. You must also always remember that God is invisibly present in all your deeds and undertakings. Don’t forget and don't be lazy to go to the Liturgy, don’t put off reading the Scriptures and etc. I think only by overcoming this kind of laziness salvation can be obtained.

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