Cultural or Cosmic Wars?

    About this time I see again such phrases as Orthodoxy does not “actively advocate” such and such, or we are not “political,” or we do not “get involved in cultural wars.” What does this mean? Is it because we want to appear so heavenly, that we do not dirty our hands with such “mundane” earthly things? I am not addressing political parties or platforms, or the confines of narrow American politics. What troubles me is when issues, which True Christianity has always had a clear voice on, are brushed aside under “culture wars,” or whatever the label may be. Is this an attempt to appear more sophisticated than other Christian groups? (I am wondering.) Am I “involved” simply because I affirm that Christianity has always upheld the dignity of human life, and therefore understands that abortion is an all out attack against the dignity of the human person? Or that cold and ruthless drone killings are inhuman and criminal? If we as Orthodox are not “involved” in the struggle to preserve human dignity what are we doing? Or in regard to the question of proper sexual expression, if we affirm the timeless teaching of the Faith, that sexuality is a relationship between a man and a woman in the mystery of marriage, is this “political?” The Faith does not condone pornography, masturbation, homosexuality, fornication or any sexual misuse. I am not “warring” I am stating what the Faith has always upheld, regardless of the times. If I fail to do this I am failing in my obligation to uphold the Faith (a vow every Orthodox Christian takes at baptism). Are these new issues? I don't think so. As Metropolitan Jonah has said: “So often, people think that if we name sin for what it is, that we are judging people. No, we're just pointing our reality. It is not a matter of judgment to say abortion is a sin. It is not a matter of judgment to say that homosexual activity is a sin. It is a matter of simply stating the truth of the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.”

 An answer might come “we are not simply a moralizing Church,” true, if the meaning of morality is contained in the narrow dictates of puritanical thought. But we do not draw a line between the inner workings of the heart and the outer expressions of a person. That is, the outward deeds of a person reflect his inner state; thus, true “morality” is the reflection of an inner disposition, it has roots in the heart. An exterior veneer morality, with no roots in the heart, is of course condemned by Christ and the Saints, and conversely I can't “love Jesus in my heart” and be engaging in behavior clearly spoken against by the Faith. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, fornications, adulteries, thefts, murders, covetings, wickedness, guile, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, folly; all these evils from within go forth and defile a man” Christ Jesus says. St. John the Theologian clearly states, "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments" (1 Jn 5:3). The “job” of the Church is to bring mankind to spiritual health in Christ, how can we do this if we fail to address the ailments? We do not hate, nor are we against anyone, we simply know what Christ has revealed to be true spiritual well-being for His creation; and failing to properly convey this to my society and times would be an utmost lack of love, akin to a doctor who refuses to inform his patients that they are sick, even though a cure may be offered.  I am still trying to find the part in history where Christianity has been on the sidelines. (Please keep in mind I mean all this beyond our limited national politics.)

The Faith transcends  the narrow mentalities of the ages. Our “war” is never cultural. As Met. Jonah said, “we're just pointing out reality.” The reality is: as humans we are created and we will answer (sooner or later) for our heart and actions to our Creator: God. This is something the world does not want to be reminded of (and sadly many “christians”), and when we cower in a corner trying to appear detached we are failing. We must be the leaven in the world, we must be the salt of this age. This transcends earthly politics, indeed to relegate proper living to politics is to betray a sad lack of understand regarding the essence of the matter. Politics and culture have nothing to do with it. Christianity, in it's essence, is the penetration of eternity into this mortal corruptible existence. It stands as a testimony that mankind is not its own master, that we are created for God and only in giving our whole self to Him, abiding in Him and through Him, will we have true Life. And yes, this will be reflected in our outward living.

   I am sorry secular society your desire for a free-for-all amorality is wrong. I would be remiss if I failed to tell you.

   If we are not the voice of Truth we are called to be, then who will be? There is a war and it will not leave those on the sidelines in peace, “For us the wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the cosmic rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of evil on account of the heavenly things” (Eph. 6:12). St. John Chrysostom comments, “What darkness? That of night? Not at all, but if wickedness. 'For you were once darkness [Eph. 5:8],' he says, so naming that wickedness which is in this present life; for beyond it, it will have no place, not in heaven, nor in the ages to come.”

   We must both be tending our own hearts and speaking the Truth in love. As a Joseph at arimathea.org says: “One’s responsibility for his own spiritual state does not negate his social responsibilities. One’s lack of ultimate spiritual perfection must not paralyze him from tending to more worldly duties. That some Christians seem unable to grasp this reveals a rot in Christendom.”

I am afraid there is a war, and there is blood on the ground, but it is not cultural it is cosmic.