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If You Wish to Destroy a People |
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Written by Fr. Christopher Metropulos
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Aleksandr
Solzhenitsyn wrote that, "if you wish to destroy a people, you must first
cut them off from their past." It is a distinct characteristic of our
modern age to champion historical amnesia as a virtue rather than as spiritual
and cultural poverty.
But what is the value of being historically aware? Is just know dusty facts and
dates and names of by gone times going to really help me live my life today?
Yes,
it will, but not simply because you have information. No, The greatest benefit
of being connected to history is the time-saving lessons you can learn from not
repeating the same mistakes as your ancestors. But even beyond that, you can
also benefit from the wisdom learned from the past.
As believers in Jesus we also go beyond a simple utilitarian "what's in it for
me" attitude when it comes to looking at our past. Ignorance of our spiritual
heritage can be one of the greatest sources of weakness for us.
What is a uniquely Christian understanding of history?
First, History really is HIS STORY, as trite as that sounds. Time is a
creation of God, and as people of faith, we can look at time and history and
"see" the hand of a loving God revealing Himself to the world. As Christians,
we understand that all the events of the past refer to the Person of Jesus
Christ.
The truth of human history is that Jesus Christ stands at its apex. The past
only makes sense in light of Jesus and His ministry of reconciliation for all
humanity.
Second, History reveals the power of communion. We Christians believe in
"the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come." That great
host of faithful Christians who have gone before us have become "a great cloud
of witnesses" surrounding us to this day. Their lives, and the lessons they
have learned through the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, now become a
treasure of spiritual wisdom given to me to foster the work of God in my own
life.
But even beyond that, because I make myself a student of the past, I now am
invited to get to know as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ these heroes of
the faith who even now pray for me as I struggle to become by grace more like
my Lord Jesus Christ.
Finally, History renews my confidence. If God has worked in the lives of
so many, then my life is never beyond hope. How can I lapse into despondency
and discouragement when I have come to know those whom God has rescued time and
time again? People from all walks of life, with varying levels of education,
wealth, culture, language, and situations, all have been transformed by the
grace of God to become true vessels of God's love and His peace to our world.
Knowing His consistent care through the centuries invites me to confront the
doubts and fears of my own life right here and now.
As we begin the spiritual battle of Great Lent, as we join together as a
world-wide Orthodox Christian community to fast, pray, and give alms, let us
take courage in knowing our spiritual heritage and being transformed by the
same Holy Spirit that has healed so many lives before. Let us not be ignorant
of the treasures of our past.
Fr. Christopher Metropulos
is founder, host, and executive director of the Orthodox Christian Network
(OCN) and the Come
Receive The Light national Orthodox Christian radio program (www.myocn.net). He is
pastor of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Fort
Lauderdale, Florida,
where he and his wife Georgia are raising their six children.
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