The NPR is full of Idiots

 

The NPR this week has been making headlines, and not for the right reasons. After an absolute hit piece on the Orthodox Church, it is only fair that I respond. So please bear with me as I try to spell it out for the idiots at the NPR.

            First, the NPR suggests that all Orthodox Christians are white supremacists. I can tell you from personal experience that is not the case. As an Orthodox Christian myself, I have been surrounded by people who love you no matter the color of your skin or the country of your birth. In this day and time the majority of Greek Orthodox Christians in America are first or second generation Greek-Americans. Many have immigrated from Greece in an attempt to provide for their family, or to escape the hardships that have befallen Greece since WW2.  They have seen atrocities that Americans have never even thought of, nor have ever experienced. Yes, I would believe that these first- and second-generation Americans are different than those who have history dating back to the American Revolution or even in the immigrations that took place during the first part of the 20^th century. Just because their experiences are different than those of other Americans does not make them white supremacists, but it does make them leery of the way current American politics are run. They are afraid that the same mistakes that were made in Greece will be made here. The same could be said of those fleeing the former Soviet Bloc, where they have seen the gulags, the murder of innocent children and people, and the persecution of Christians. Remember, the Soviet Union was the largest persecutor of Christians in the history of the world. No one discusses it, but it is true. There is no definitive answer as to the number of Christians killed in the 20^th century because the records kept by the Soviet Union do not have the truth. We may never know what the true number is, but God does.

            This leads me into the second point that was made by the NPR hit piece, in that Orthodox Christians see Vladimir Putin as a savior, or even as a king like figure. I won’t deny that Orthodox Christians prefer monarchy to democracy, with even this particular blog named after one of the greatest saints of the 20^th Century. However, a majority of Orthodox Christians in this country do not agree with Vladimir Putin or his actions. I personally have had many conversations with people on both sides of the aisle. On the one hand, some agree that Vladimir Putin is a hero for standing up to those who seek to destroy Orthodoxy.  On the other, he is seen as someone who does not have the values of diplomacy and discussion that is very prevalent in the Orthodox Church. The Orthodox Church as a synodal church, values discussion and councils above outright action. Thus when an issue between churches boils over into a political and spiritual dispute, it is better that a council is called than for war to break out between nations.  While I do believe that he is doing what is best for his country, I cannot say that it is best for Orthodoxy. Thus whether right or wrong, the actions taken by Putin in regards to Ukraine or any other situation, must be viewed from both sides of the coin, not from just the one side, as the NPR has done.  I do believe that Putin himself is a Christian and that he is defending Orthodoxy against the wiles of the devil. The method by which Putin is achieving his own personal agenda, while also taking advantage of the spiritual situation between the two autonomous churches of Russia and Constantinople is not the most efficient way of achieving unity within the Church. Regardless of any actions that he takes as a political leader, he is not seen in the Church as a spiritual leader in any sense.  Thus his authority on any matters regarding the Church are non-existent, because only the bishops as members of the synodal nature of Orthodoxy are allowed as the final authorities within the church.

            Seeing fake Orthodox Christians be interviewed by the NPR this week accusing priests, bishops and others of abusing the power of the pulpit is a typical attack on Christians. Our values will never align with those of the world. We cannot stand by and allow injustice, or sinful nature to rule the day. We must stand up for those things that we believe in. I have seen firsthand many protestant churches, of which I was a member, back down and change their very core to accommodate and to promote heresies and sin in their churches. I have seen the darkness that is spreading across America infiltrate the churches of our people and seek to destroy them because they stand for Christ. The Orthodox Church may have grown smaller in the years between 2010 and 2020 as the NPR article so prominently points out, but those who have fallen away are still welcomed home. We still seek the salvation of the world, and still seek those who are sinners. If the church stops being a hospital for sinners, and a social club for perfect people, then we have lost the church. That will never be the case with Orthodoxy because Christ says even the gates of Hell cannot overcome us. Yes the NPR has laid a hit piece on us this week, trying to stir the population against us that we might lose a few. However the truth is, that those that remain in the Church, will be strengthened by God to continue the mighty work that he began at the dawn of time. I have to admit that Tsar Nicholas, of whom I have adopted as the Patron Saint of this blog, would be heartbroken to see the Church attacked like this. He defended the Church brilliantly during his final hours against the communists, and I want to believe that I have taken up this sword that he relinquished on his repose and am now carrying it into battle. We will not fail. The Church will stand. Nothing will defeat us.

Amen.