Tolstoy's Dual Life

Tolstoy did not aspire to be a writer but a prophet. His work became contradictory as he did not pursue what he was born for. Literature historians claim that if he had only been a writer, he would not have searched for meaning throughout his life, nor would he have had a constant sense of guilt.

In his role as a "founder of religion," Tolstoy imagined himself in God's position, seeking God within himself and referring to himself as God's brother. He rejected all authority and demanded that others believe in him. His various definitions of God included "Spirit," "Love," and the "Supreme Principle." He consistently redefined God, and it is unclear whether he truly believed in Him.

He rejected miracles and even Christ's divinity. Tolstoy developed his own Gospel, purged of anything supernatural. He was not concerned with Christ's personality, which he found demonic due to the beauty present in his life. Considering Christ divine, according to Tolstoy, was the greatest blasphemy. He asserted that the only authority in matters of faith is humanity, not God. This led him to create a new, personal religion, attempting to reconcile everything under the common denominator of reason, but this endeavor proved unsuccessful.

Without knowledge of biblical anthropology, Tolstoy couldn't answer questions about the soul, death, resurrection, and free will. He transformed religion into a simple yet bleak ethics based on individual self-denial.

His lifestyle did not justify his thoughts. While preaching love and attempting to change the world starting with his family, he terrorized those around him with his moral expectations. He aimed to create a nonviolent world through spiritual coercion. His artistic greatness was coupled with human weakness. Despite feeling immeasurable greatness within himself, most Russians did not like him due to his arrogance. He failed to establish intimate connections with others, often passing judgment on them.

He led a dual life, substituting actions with poses and words for what he should have proven through deeds. If Christianity is merely a lifestyle that individuals adopt through self-discipline, it is not true Christianity. Individual efforts to transform one's nature through self-discipline result in inevitable failure.

Despite the seemingly hopeless nature of Tolstoy's quest, he sincerely sought salvation. If there is a sense of lack within a person, Christ is already working within them. His personality resembled that of a person under the law (Romans 3:19). While he knew the law, his character did not align with it. He only reached external, theoretical knowledge and did not allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate his soul. His religiousness was pretense and self-deception.

Justification through faith is impossible without God. The Holy Spirit shapes a person in the likeness of Christ. If a person yields to this work, grace reigns in them. If they yield to temptation, they drive away the Spirit. Attaining holiness requires a lifetime of work; occasional efforts are insufficient. Willingness alone is not enough; continuous divine assistance is necessary.

Tolstoy could not fulfill his prophetic calling. One cannot pass on what they themselves do not possess. Without personal faith in the Redeemer, there is no blessed impression. If Christ lives in the heart, it is impossible to conceal.

What was Tolstoy's relationship with the Bible?

If we consider him a teacher, then he believed that the Bible played a positive role in the development of young people, guiding them to live a life close to God and in righteousness.

As a moralist, he looked optimistically upon humanity, believing that individuals could recognize the eternal Spirit. However, he also knew that no one could attain perfection. Tolstoy could not love where there were conflicting relationships, and this caused him great suffering.

In the world around us, the highest being is human, and a being embodying a superior value or measure must be God. Humans have no choice but to believe in the value system within humanity or in God. Tolstoy rejected the fundamental Christian idea of the Bible: "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:16).

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