mikokiko
posted on Jun 05, 2008 - 02:28 AM
So our houses, our families, our gender, yes and our race, which we cannot change are not God-given? Look I am saying that we have to deal with all things in our life in a Christian way, there is nothing that is just simply irrelevant and there is nothing about it that we do that will matter, even race. There is a right and wrong thing to do about race, and there is a right and wrong thing to do about gender, there is a right and wrong thing to do about cultural heritage, and there is a right and wrong thing to do about everything in life, even politics. My opinion is that we do not ignore the fact that we are Egyptian, as we should not ignore any single detail in our lives, and deal with it the Christian way. What is the Christian thing to do about this thing Coptic that we have?
Is it important for us to use it yes or no? These are indeed questions that our religion must inspire to ask so that we do not do anything superfluous, especially not in our churches. Religion is not only about God and theology and all, its also about my studies, the way I spend my time, the way I treat my family, etc. If there is an important moral issue in the government we deal with it. If there is a linguistical crisis in the Church we deal with it. Is it morally plausible to keep our the tradition of the Church? Yes or no? And whatever we do about it will either be right or wrong, there is no point in saying that our decision about it will be neutral (it may not be as significant as other decisions we make in life), but no moral decision made in this life is completely neutral and irrelevant.
I never argued that Arabic is not God-given it as much a part of their heritage, as Coptic is ours. But remember something when we begin to ignore historical contingencies and things that have been passed on to us, and things that are said in Church, and begin to excuse this with, "Oh well, we all know Arabic, is that God-given too?" OF COURSE IT IS!! Everything but the decisions we make (whether in action or by thought), is God-given. It is out of our hands to control the contingencies of the past that have been laid to us in the present. It is the decisions that we make regarding them that God will judge us by, yes that includes everything in our lives.
Islamic identity is different. Why? Because it is belief, and for the reason that Islam is false, it's not true. Essentially, all that is false, is a non-entity, like a painting of Christianity, but covered all over in mud with heresies and the likes. But surely we cannot make the same argument with Arabic, and Coptic, can we?
How is it against Christianity that I bring up national differences? Did not even St. Paul do this in the first, when he declared Unity in Plurality? When he said: "...where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, male nor female, but Christ is all and in all." (Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11) Was he saying that these differences did not exist? Certainly not, he was stressing the fact that we are One Church of belief, of plural backgrounds. For even he tells how as a male I should respect my identity, and how a female should. And in another place he mentions how he becomes under law to win those under the law (uncircumcision), and those outside the law, as without law (uncircumcision).
Christianity does not blur our differences, to turn us into followers of a totalitarian regime, but members of Diverse Unity, that is essentially what Unity is, bringing together those who are different, not blurring their differences, but bringing those who are different together in the highest form of Unity, the unity of faith.
And this great Unity (Oriental Orthodox Church), the Church has adorned the languages and heritages of the several countries it has preached to, that they might express their spirituality through these tangible means.
Would it be wrong for someone to try and change his race (genetically)? Of course it would. But even that race comes along with an identity as it corresponds to a specific group of people, and what has been their traditions. Just the same as being male or female, there corresponds a correct identity to be followed.
That my friend is how we incorporate Christianity into our lives.
God Bless
Joined: Feb 11, 2003 | Posts: 992
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