Metropolitan Orestes Scholarship Essay..…………………………………….Pages

2022 Revised Julian (New) Ecclesiastical Calendar 2022 Metropolitan Orestes Scholarship Essay: The Involvement of the Church in Politics By: Anastasia Benc

Saint John the Baptist Church Perth Amboy, New Jersey

As a student during some of the most monumental events of this century, it is clear that the time period of my college career will have its own chapter in future history books. From a chain of events that sparked the biggest civil rights protest in history, to an international pandemic that stopped the world for longer than expected, the events of the past two years have compelled every individual and institution to reconsider their lifestyles and their values. As young adults, we are impressionable and eager to learn. Our families, our friends on social media, our teachers, and our government all project their own experiences and opinions and try to convince us to agree. We are constantly introduced to new information, and this overflow can blend opinion and fact, leaving us polarized and overwhelmed. The nature of this world will always be difficult to navigate, but the Church is one place to which we know we can always retreat for clarity and truth. Our Orthodox Church has remained steadfast in its traditions, statutes, and culture for thousands of years, and it is our faith that guides our own lives. Although free from external influence, a question becomes increasingly relevant: Should we involve ourselves in the heated and seemingly neverending political discussions that we observe every day? The response to this question is that

yes, we should involve ourselves in the political discussions of the day – and while the answer is simple, putting it into practice is quite the opposite. Being an active contributor to discussions is often so difficult because to do it properly requires us to first hold ourselves accountable. Examining our learned biases, stereotypes, and hatreds is uncomfortable – we know, as Orthodox Christians that loving thy neighbor is one of God’s most important commandments, yet we struggle with managing and eliminating our earthly perceptions. However, the Church teaches us that we cannot grow in our godly lifestyle unless we recognize and confess our sins. We must approach our place in conversation with a humble and respectful but confident attitude as we cannot politically involve ourselves as true Orthodox Christians until we commit to examining our harmful perceptions. One of the most important principles of loving thy neighbor is empathy, and we must attempt to feel this empathy for every race, class, and political party. After all, we will never interact with a person that God does not love. Furthermore, we should involve ourselves in current political discussions as our faith can guide us to be a voice and catalyst for the marginalized. I know that God is real and undoubtedly believe in Him because of my experiences. Just because I cannot explicitly see Him does not mean I cannot feel Him in all aspects of my life, from the miracle of the Weeping Icon at our parish in Taylor, to things I often take for granted such as clean water or a safe and accessible Church in which to worship. Furthermore, I belong to a race, class, and religion of the majority, and while these aspects of my life can be complex to navigate, I know they are not the things that are making my life more difficult. It is our utmost responsibility as Christians to use these privileges and blessings to help those without them to be respected and heard. Jesus teaches us that we must sacrifice our bubbles of comfort to defend and empower those who society deems as “less,” as we saw Him do with the lepers, the prostitutes, and the tax collectors. If we are afraid that speaking up will result in offending or even losing friends, then we need to ask ourselves why we are friends with those people in the first place. We must trust that God will eventually surround us with respectful, emphatic, and giving individuals and communities. It is important for all Orthodox Christians, especially those that are young, to be active contributors to political discussions, because choosing to remain ignorant goes against the very teachings of our faith. Jesus, through multiple examples, showed his followers that to live a Christian lifestyle is to reach out to those that need the most help and support. In Luke Chapter 15, Jesus discusses the Parable of the Lost Sheep: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine

in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” It would have been easy for the shepherd to pretend he did not notice the one lost sheep as doing so would require less effort. Similarly, it is easy for us to turn a blind eye to the sufferings of others. But Jesus shows us that what is the right choice is very rarely the easy choice. Involving ourselves in political discussions with an Orthodox attitude is necessary if we want our world to move toward long-term, equitable solutions. We must be like Jesus and be a protector of the “lost sheep” of our society, and when this becomes too difficult, we know where to turn for strength and guidance. We all feel strongly about our opinions, but many times we may be hesitant to share our ideas because we don’t want to offend another or cause conflict. Other times, people hide behind social media and fire off angry tweets or post disrespectful comments. Yes, this is one way to be involved in the political discussions of the day, but these discussions should be initiated with empathy and respect. We hear frequently that it is important to walk in the shoes of others in order to gain insight from their perspective. Before one discusses, one must listen–then think, then act. Should young people be involved in political discussions? Absolutely. But our words must emanate from a place of love, understanding, and mercy while adhering to the tenets of our Orthodox faith. Do we want to live on a greener planet? Do we want an end to abortion? Do we want to do more or less to help the poor? Then we must be willing to speak for the poor in spirit and we must be willing to speak up if we want to see change in the world. As Orthodox Christians–young or old–we can be role models for those around us. When their speech is filled with hate and rancor, we can speak with love and empathy. In this way we can become a part of the conversation while staying true to ourselves and our Church.