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Orthodoxy and her Social Ethos

In addressing the questions of social responsibility and ethically and morally correct action, people often ask “Why should I help the poor and downtrodden, I am not responsible for their plight?” This is clearly an attempt to evade the necessity of community involvement and flies in the face of what God requires and expects of us as so-called believers.

There is undoubtedly a time when social and political issues must be addressed by the Church. When this necessity arises what is essential is a prudent attitude on the part of Orthodox adherents that corresponds with the mandate of Jesus Christ.

It is abundantly clear from Holy Scripture that Our Lord serves all of humanity all of the time. We too should strive to be servants of our fellow human beings irrespective of the colour of their skins or the magnitude of their bank accounts.

We should selflessly practice agape as God has done by His manifestation of His incarnate Logos. We must apply the agape and ethics that we purport to espouse and not simply give lip-service to our moral obligation to those less fortunate than ourselves.

How can we be Christ-like if we simply ignore the pleas of those in need?

By loving God with all our heart, mind and soul and by expressing true agape for all our fellow human beings, we place ourselves on the path to Theosis.

The Christocentric doctrine was based on the actions of Christ the man-God. It is He who is our role model and who teaches us to apply agape in our daily lives.

Christ teaches us to care for the oppressed, the downtrodden and the poor in spirit. It is our agape for others that unites us to God the Father. If we turn our backs on those in need we turn our backs on our very humanity and grieve Our Lord.

Our Ekklesia is tasked with serving God and following the example of Our Saviour who gave His life so that others may live.

We too must strive to show total dedication and philanthropy towards our fellow human beings. By praying for all others, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, consoling those who are sorrowful and all forgiving those who may have wronged us, we emulate Jesus who is concerned with redeeming all of humanity.

Our Church is not only a place of worship and a fellowship of Christians in Communion, it is also a vital agency of social up-liftment. We must become synergoi or collaborators in the completion of God’s Holy work.

All human beings are important parts of humanity and are indeed a microcosm of the whole of humanity. It does not matter if one is a Greek, Zulu, German, Turk, Japanese or whatever else. We are all God’s children.

We would do well to heed the words of our great Church Father Saint John Chrysostom who writes:

“I have no contempt for any person because every person is worthy of attention as one of God’s creatures.

Even if one is a slave one is not despicable for I am not looking at social ranks but for virtue. I am looking neither for a master nor for a slave but for the human person for who the heavens opened, the sun shines…..my Master was slaughtered and shed His blood for man and who am I to overlook man? How could I be forgiven?”(Patroligiae Graecae PG 48: 1029).

We all receive Holy communion from the same cup. This fact confirms that we are all equal in God’s sight and in fellowship with one another.

Since we partake of one bread, we all become the same body of Christ and one blood . We all become members of each other and one body with Our Lord.

In essence we are invited to the great spiritual feast that Jesus Christ has prepared for us all. Christ gave Himself for all of humanity.

He calls us all to His side.

Caring for the poor and downtrodden is nothing new in Orthodoxy. It was Basil of Caesaria who personally washed the feet of lepers in his leper hospital in Caesaria.

It was Athanasius of Constantinople who organized food distribution for the hungry.

These and each of the Church Fathers laid the strong foundation of the social ethos of the Orthodox Church. Why do some of us frown upon the idea of caring for the poor?

Why do we make it appear as though we are so put out to give a mere ten rand to a person in need? Is this what Jesus teaches us? Certainly not…He gave His precious life for us all, the ultimate sacrifice one can give. It is thus our genuine love for our fellow human beings that separates us from others.

It is our Church which is a hospital for the spiritually infirmed. She heals all who come to her for healing.

As long as we help others we serve Christ and are on the right path. Many who are oppressed and downtrodden are the victims of others who exploit them.

If we fail to be compassionate towards them, we are also guilty of perpetrating social evils. We must be concerned with the total well-being of others.

Each and every individual person is precious - even our enemies. It is therefore our duty to be involved in their healing, both spiritually and physically.

He who lives from the breath of God within, comes to realize that the same breath is in his fellow man.

Both draw breath from the same source. Only once we realize this fact can we have true compassion and empathy for our fellow human beings.

If we hesitate to act in helping others we invite spiritual entrophy. God is three persons because of the inner expression of devotion, one to another, in a relationship of agape.

Let us become true Sons of God in His image by serving mankind. Let us make Christ human again in our own humanity.

Rev Dr Evangelos Nicolaides