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.

The Church's Response to War

 

War. War never changes. Its an age old saying that truly embodies the very nature of violence that is shed in the name of various factions and rulers as they vie for land and resources. It causes innocent people to lose their homes, their lands, and the families for the sake of disputes and arguments that often times can be solved through diplomatic and peaceful means.  That does not mean that sometimes fighting breaks out and at that point people must do what they must do to protect themselves. But as Orthodox Christians, and as Christians in general what can we do and how should we respond to war?  That is the question I would like to answer today.

First, let me make clear, that the Church prays for those both in public service and in the armed forces at every divine service celebrated. It is part of the very litany of prayers that the Church reads at every service. We pray for peace for the whole world, the holy Churches of God, the deliverance from wrath, danger and necessity. They are our petitions that God would have mercy on us and save us from these troubles that are called. The Church recognizes the need for armed forces and for government.  In the gospels, we see that Christ never nor his disciples commanded the soldiers that they met or witnessed to renounce their job and quit fighting. But the Church does understand that nonviolence and pacifism is the goal of all men. Matthew 26:52 says… “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” The Church also teaches that if a man would devote his entire life to Christ, that both political and military service becomes nonexistent to him. Priests and clergy who have spilled blood even by accident cannot continue in their ministry.  It is a very serious offense and rightly so.  A Christian by example must live his life in complete obedience to God and the teachings of Christ. Just as Matthew 16:24 says, “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” While it may be cliché to say, a Christian would rather surrender his life than for him to take the life of another.

The Orthodox Church and Christian teaching understand that living a completely peaceful existence is not possible in the world today. Not only that but Romans 13:4 gives the authority to the government to punish wrongdoers. It says, “for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.” We also know that due to the fallen state of man, violence, anger, and other forms of brutality are commonplace. Therefore, it is our duty, our responsibility to pray. Not just for those who are for us, but for those against us. Because Christ also said for us to love our enemies. We look at the example of St. Nikolai of Japan, who though Russian by birth was the hierarch of the Church in Japan.  He had been given the flock of the Japanese people who at the very time of his witness in Japan were at war with St. Tsar Nicholas II and the Russian people. Did he abandon those who his country of birth were fighting against? No. Did he condemn his motherland for their actions? Also no. St. Nikolai of Japan prayed for both sides of the war, and commanded his parishioners to pray for the defense of their homeland.

We are seeing in the world today, that people are taking sides in the struggles of the world. There is always a bad guy and a good guy. There is no middle ground. However, Orthodoxy is the Royal Path, the middle road. We strive to deviate not to the right or to the left. Thus, finding the right course of action is difficult. In society today we are called to choose sides and if we are on the opposing side we are often looked upon with disdain. Even now the current situation in Russia with Ukraine has caused many well-intentioned people to falter and lose their way on the straight and narrow path. They have chosen sides in this war without discerning the proper place for the Christian in this conflict. There are many Orthodox Christians on both sides of the war. There are many devout civilians on both sides. The Church calls us then not to condemn but to forgive. These men and women who are risking their lives on both sides are doing so in obedience to their government. Whether right or wrong, the Christian is also called to give obedience to the government.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus lists the beatitudes, and in those one of them are the peacemakers, who will be called the Children of God. It is our duty to acquire the spirit of peace, the Holy Spirit. Let us pray not just for peace in Ukraine or peace in Russia, but the whole world. Today my dear friends the world needs it now more than ever.

Amen.