The Faith of our Orthodox Church is Upright

by Fr Dawood Laamy (during a Q&A session) (Translated from Arabic by Andrew Bakhit)
Father Dawood lectures on the uniqueness of the Orthodox Church after someone asks the question "Why do we always feel that the Orthodox are closed-minded, rigorist or extreme?"

ranscri!t is from a "ideo entitled #$%&'()*+,*($-).$'/012345)*,&'$,/)67(8)9159)*,1:5 ;u<lished on => ?ay =@AB htt!CDDwwwEyoutu<eEcomDwatch?"Fe=Gd!kHIDAJ

Transcript: Q !hy do we always feel that the "rthodo# are closed$minded% A & am "rthodo# 'ersonally( but &)m not closed minded* or at least & don)t think that & am+ ,y belo-ed( look( there is a difference between holding firmly and being closed minded+ And the .cri'ture instructs /hold fast to what you ha-e0 (1e- 2 33)+ .t 4aul instructed .t Timothy to /guard what has been entrusted to him0 (3 Tim 5 67)+ !e (the "rthodo#) are holding fast and being discreet+ This is how it should be+ But we are neither e#tremists( nor are we ++ what is the word you used ++ closed$minded+ This is not who we are+ Look here( my belo-ed( we cannot follow a general calling that does not ha-e a foundation( saying( /we are all one+0 !hat does 8we are all one mean%) !e are all one in lo-ingkindess 9 we certainly are( there is no argument here+ !e are one family called :hristians+ ;ntil here( we are good+ But how are we one if your :hurch denies 'riesthood 9 who am & to you then% !e are one( but your :hurch does not ha-e a sanctuary (altar)( how then can we be one% (!e are not one) yet+ <ou mock me when & fast .t ,ary)s fast( how are we one then% <ou look at me and ask( /what is this delirium( why would you fast%0 Therefore( we cannot claim to be one+ Dearly belo-ed( in the 4rotestant teachings we are called( and feel free to look this u'( we are called non$belie-ers+ =-eryone that has dogma (rite)( and has incense( and has 'riesthood is a non$belie-er> This is how we are looked u'on+ And if we begin to discuss this( they call us e#tremists+ &n their books we are unfaithful( and we are charged with e#tremism+ !hat do you think about that% !e do not claim that they are non$belie-ers* & am the first to say that a 4rotestant has faith in the Lord ?esus :hrist( of course+ Does he not call on the name of ?esus like & do% Then he has faith in :hrist+ But he says that & am unfaithful+ !ho at this 'oint is an e#tremist% This is worth noting+ And whene-er they hold meetings( they take all our children( and we kee' silent 9 and if we talk about it then we are e#tremists> Does this make sense to you% <ou can bring in 'eo'le who do know of @od( or others who are non$belie-ers ++ but why are you 'reaching to :hristians (the "rthodo#)% This is not right+ &ndeed( these claims in truth 9 you know when something is u'side$down% !hen something is in-erted% !hat is ha''ening is not 'ro'er* that we are charged with the o''osite of what we are+ Being committed to our Tradition( dogma( :hurches and doctrine 9 this is holding 8hold

fast() why does this bother you% & ha-e two thousand year history of saints who li-ed the mysteries( and you want me to let go of the sacrament of confession or the =ucharist or Ba'tism% !hat about the de'osit & recei-ed two thousand years ago% And the Fathers( the history and the martyrs% & will tell you another thing( bear with my honesty( this mo-ement is a western one 9 the 4rotestant mo-ement is western+ !hy couldn)t they kee' the faith in the west% Aow$a$days :hristianity in the !est is colla'sing+ =uro'e was once :hristian( now only ten 'ercent are so+ Aorth America was once also :hristian( now it is less than thirty 'ercent :hristian+ Australia was the same( now only twenty 'ercent :hristian+ Those are the lands we used to 'roclaim as :hristian+ !e( as the :o'tic :hurch( are flourishing although we are hard$'ressed+ !ho should follow the other% .hould we follow the west that couldn)t 'reser-e their :hurches 9 their :hurches are being sold abroad( and for chea' 9 because there are no occu'ants+ And here( we are martyred to build a :hurch> !hat do you think% !ho should follow the other% .hould we follow after the west( after their claims and commotion Bust because there is a colorful sha'e to it% "r should we follow authenticity( history( and de'th% Tell me of a :hurch in any 'art of the world that has its members 'ray for an entire week and not wish to sto'* and that is a'art from fasting 9 a :hurch that has its member fast like this+ <ou com'lain about fasting ++ you do (audience laugh)( but hold on a little( we acce't your com'laint+ !e acce't that one member ski's a week+ And another member due to illness* but at the end 9 look at the :hurch with all its members( the :hurch is fasting+ And not fasting for a day or two( but more than half the days of the year+ &s there a :hurch successful in getting her members to fast( or ha-ing them stand for 36 hours $ and those who do so await the day( @ood Friday( to do so% Look at the @ood Friday 'rayer in other :hurches now$a$days( two hours at most and that)s it+ And the 'eo'le eat from the beginning of the day+ "ur members after @ood Friday say( /& will go rest a little and come back0 9 come back% :ome back where% &t)s unbelie-able and the 'eo'le don)t 'ercei-e the state in which we are in+ !hat do you call that% &t is success within the :hurch and lo-e towards :hrist+ And the result is to be called non$belie-ers of :hrist% & want to tell you that our :hurch is strong and beautiful and is 8holding firm) and not e#tremist+ .ome members are e#tremists( we will not differ 9 one e#tremist doesn)t make the entire :hurch to be so+ & confess o'enly that the 4rotestant 'reached the @os'el( and we couldn)t 9 due to -arious circumstances+ .ome of them died for the @os'el to be 'roclaimed to the ends of the world( this is something one cannot deny+ The :atholic :hurch built the greatest schools and hos'itals 9 and they ser-ed all of humanity* is this something small% !e gi-e credit to whome-er credit is due+ But are the "rthodo# bad and closed$minded and e#tremists% And they ask to 'artake of :ommunion with us 9 how can & if you do not belie-e that it is in truth the body and blood of :hrist% Cow% <ou do not share my faith and ba'tism+ Before saying one .'irit (.t 4aul)( he said /"ne Lord( one faith( one ba'tism0 (='h D E)+ !e both confess one Lord( we has still ha-e two more 'aths to work on 9 one faith and one ba'tism( we don)t agree yet+ Therefore( unity is not com'lete e#ce't in the one faith+ "ne faith in all its clauses> &t is not enough to only agree on the Trinity 9 e-en the way we cross oursel-es we don)t agree

together on+ :rossing oneself is faith+ "ur sight u'on .t ,ary is faith+ 4lease be careful because some say one is good and so is the other 9 if the two are good then they cannot o''ose each other+ The Coly .'irit cannot intend in the Aew Testament to claim 'riesthood and claim in the Aew Testament that there isn)t 'riesthood> &s this acce'table% !ill the Coly .'irit 'reach 'riesthood and say that there is no 'riesthood% !ith what logic% Therefore one must be correct and the other incorrect+ Therefore & cannot claim all teaching to be good+ =ither Ba'tism in truth grants a new life( or it is a toke or a symbol with no -alue+ =ither one is correct or the other( but don)t tell me that both of them are correct+ Don)t tell me the bible 9 & inter'ret the bible( as the "rthodo# :hurch( and he too inter'rets+ !ho will inter'ret correctly% Cistory> !hy would history inter'ret correctly% Because there weren)t any denominations+ Let)s go back fifteen centuries when there weren)t any denominations( and no schisms ++ was there ba'tism% !e kee' telling you of -arious saints and what they taught+ They s'oke of 'riesthood( and the =ucharist and ba'tism and continual struggle( and re'entance( and intercessions* then it is settled+ The Fathers and saints is my reference+ "ne time two youth came and s'oke with me( they left "rthodo#y for another :hurch and didn)t come back( they Boined a 4rotestant :hurch and didn)t come back+ "ne of them came and told me( /Look Father( tell me( is your reference the @os'el or not%0 & re'lied( /,y reference is the @os'el+0 Ce asked( /The @os'el or the :hurch%0 .o & said( /& didn)t understand you* my reference is the @os'el AAD the :hurch>0 The youth said( /Then you are wrong>0 & answered( /?udge me as you 'lease( but & want to ask you( which is older 9 the @os'el or the :hurch%0 Ce got confused( answered and said( /The @os'el( of course+0 Then & told him that he does not know history+ The :hurch is older than the @os'el+ Cow% The thirty years the A'ostles li-ed in the book of Acts( did they ha-e a @os'el in their hands% !as there an account of ,atthew( ,ark( Luke and ?ohn% &t was not e-en until the end of the first :entury that the account of ?ohn was written+ !as there :hristianity or not% Therefore the :hurch is older( and the :hurch is a reference to the @os'el+ And it was the :hurch who canoniFed the @os'el and said( /This is what the Lord meant+0 The :hurch 'ut the cannons together+ After all this( you wish for me to refute the reference of the :hurch so that you can inter'ret the @os'el on your own( and tell say to me( /The @os'el says ++0 & ha-e the @os'el> But you say different than what & say+ The :hurch arbitrates between us+ And more than this( the de-il says( /The bible says>0 The de-il when tem'ting :hrist Guoted .cri'ture( /Throw yourself down and the angels will carry you+0 And he Guoted the -erse 'erfectly* /Ce will gi-e his angels chare of you to guard you in all your ways+ "n their hands they will bear you u'( lest you dash your foot against a stone0 (4s H7+33(36)+ But its inter'retation is wrong> Throw yourself 9 incorrect inter'retation+ .o :hrist re'lied( /<ou shall not tem't the Lord your @od+0 Thus( not e-eryone who holds a bible and teaches from it will s'eak the Lord)s teaching* no> And not e-eryone who claims a teaching from the Coly .'irit will be truly from the Coly .'irit( no> "f course it may not be from the Coly .'irit+ Because it is not 'ossible for the Coly .'irit to refute Cis .'irit 9 Ce won)t o''ose himself+ Therefore the bible directs us to /test the s'irit0 (3 ?n D+3)+ Test the s'irit+ Aot e-eryone who claims :hristianity is correct+ Arius was a 'riest in Ale#andria and was a good s'eaker+ Ce too claimed( /The bible says+0 Do you know how .t Athanasius re'lied% Ce re'lied( /But the :hurch doesn)t say so+0 The -erse says( /The Father is greater than &0 (?n 3D+6I)( .t Athanasius acknowledged( but

re'lied( /The :hurch doesn)t say so>0 .t Athanasius told Arius how the :hurch inter'rets the -erse( and e#'lained it to him 9 and all the Bisho's were im'ressed with Athanasius and confessed that he is correct* this deacon is correct 9 that 'riest is wrong+ They were a deacon and a 'riest( and both were =gy'tians+ Athanasius in front of Arius 9 but Arius wanted to inter'ret with his own head thus he understood wrong* he inter'reted that :hrist was not @od> Athanasius absorbed the :hurch)s teaching and claimed( /This is not how we recei-ed the teaching+0 Therefore we cannot let go of what we recei-ed e-en if they accuse us of e#tremism( with all due res'ect( they may accuse us as they wish+ &t is seldom that & attend a meeting like this and not recei-e a similar Guestion 9 you are closed$ minded( e#tremists( and rigorous+ Almost daily & recei-e a similar sheet of 'a'er+ And & see otherwise> & truly see that our children are taken away from us( and if we o'en our mouths( we are said to be 8this and that+) This isn)t 'ro'er+ & feel 'ity when a youth lea-es and a few years later & ask him why he didn)t recei-e communion( and he re'lies( /:ommunion% And is that real%0 ,y son( you were brought u' in our :hurch* you were ba'tiFed "rthodo#+ <our 'arents are ser-ants* you know hymns 9 what ha''ened to you% Ce re'lies( /& came to the knowledge of :hrist+0 !hy( didn)t you know him( e-en when you were younger% !ho else do we s'eak of in our :hurches( if you Bust got to know him% This is saddening+ They ha-e con-inced him that our :hrist is not the true :hrist* our :hrist is an idol> That is being taught+ They say we worshi' idols+ Because we ha-e incense 9 it is mentioned in 1e-elation( ,alachi( and in other books as well+ !e raise incense to @od( and no one else but @od+ And is it still idols% Lord ha-e mercy+ Let us be wronged as :hrist was( there is no harm there+ But the dangerous 'art is our children when they are daFFled+ This feeling is not necessarily true( nor is it re'entance( or the work of the Coly .'irit+ There is a mo-ement called 8:harismatic mo-ement+) A E7)s mo-ement( it is full of emotion and e#citement+ This mo-ement started abroad se-enty or I7 years ago( and it is this mo-ement that caused the colla'se in the western :hurches( Bust so you know+ ;ntil an hundred years ago( .unday to :hristian was of great -alue+ This emotional mo-ement that you see on the foreign channels( 'eo'le yell and fall( and do other things ++ and tongues( this emotional mo-ement( what is it built on% &t is based on the declined self$state of the indi-idual 9 'sychologically e#hausted+ This charge to the self and emotion causes a kind of astonishment 9 they are down( so there is this 'ull 9 it is charismatic+ .o it attracts many with great attention( and greatly influences their state of mind and emotions( and begins to mo-e them in any direction it wishes+ &f they feel like dancing( they dance 9 cla''ing( they cla' 9 falling( they fall+ This is all from 'sychological influence+ This is all written and studied in 'sychology( you will find it in books+ This is not the work of the Coly .'irit at all( with all due res'ect to what is said+ The Coly .'irit is a .'irit of meekness* Guietude+ !e didn)t see :hrist making 'eo'le fall or scream 9 rather he would talk for hours( for hours he would talk and the 'eo'le would be listening in Boy to the stories and the intelligible way by which he s'eaks( with the de'th of it and the meaning that enters their mind+ But there weren)t any of these strange reactions+ The emotional mo-ement leads the ones in-ol-ed to be addicted to this state+ They become addicted to this wind( similar to one who inclined to a certain kind of music or a certain en-ironment+ And then the

name of :hrist is mentioned as if it)s nothing( and with no difficulty( Bust like it was mentioned in the book of Acts that non$:hristians used the name of :hrist+ The de-il also said( /?esus & know( and 4aul & know* but who are you%0 (Acts 3H+3E)+ Therefore( the use of ?esus) name is not e-idence for a certain mo-ement to be correct in faith or the teaching is u'right( of course not+ And freGuently :hrist warned us that by his name many things will ha''en+ !hat does this mo-ement do% &t 'ro-ides one with the state of eu'horia or self$comfort to con-ince one that there has been a change and now he)s a new 'erson( and he)s this( that( and the other+ This mo-ement o''oses the teachings of the @os'el+ & will tell you why+ &t does not focus on 'er'etual re'entance( and to @os'el instructs( /;nless you re'ent you will all likewise( 'erish0 (Lk 32+2)+ The mo-ement weakens the :hurch)s standing in general( and the stature of the mysteries+ &t does not em'hasiFe 'artaking of the =ucharist( or confession( or fasting ++ 8no( no+ Aow you are a good 'erson> <ou ha-e come to the knowledge of :hrist+ :hrist lo-es you( and you ha-e become someone new+) A new 'erson( how( without re'entance% And a new 'erson how without ba'tism% The faith is not correct+ And this emotional and e#citation mo-ement brings comfort to the self( like we said before+ Cowe-er( it strikes one with a kind of 'ride 9 self$righteousness+ 8& am good 'erson( & ha-e become ++ ( & ++ ( & ++ ( & ++) And this morning & told you that the word /&0 is disastrous+ 1ight% And we said that what hinders us from the Jingdom of Cea-en is the word /&0+ /&f any man would come after me( let him deny himself0 (,t 35+6D)+ That)s why you will also notice( our s'iritual songs always ha-e this kind broke$s'irit+ They mock us for that too 9 /those "rthodo# 'eo'le are gloomy+0 @loomy% 1e'entance has become gloominess% !hen & humble myself and tremble before the Lord that has become gloominess% And this commotion and ha''iness (that they ha-e)( is that the true s'iritual Boy% :ome( and & will tell you how to taste true Boy in re'entance+ :ome and & will gi-e you a taste of how the Liturgy is full of Boy that cannot be uttered+ :ome and & will gi-e you a taste of how much Boy is in the 'raises( which is full of humility+ But you are telling me that all this commotion is Boyful and re'entance is gloomy% Then we fli''ed the scales and fooled others+ <ou mean to tell me that the sinful woman brings sadness% Cow does that make any sense% !e are fooling each other if we say so+ !here did the teachings of :hrist go then( who taught us to re'ent( and the teachings em'hasiFed in the @os'el of continuous re'entance% This mo-ement leads a 'erson to trust in himself( e-en s'iritually( and is ready to go out and 'reach+ "n what basis% "n what basis do you claim to be full of the .'irit% Ca-e you become .te'hen( full of the .'irit% But .te'hen was altogether different than this+ There is a difference between the image of the self and the s'irit( and the bible says that as well 9 concerned with the self but without s'irit+ Therefore we are threatened with mo-ements that look bright on the outside( charismatic( but this is not what changes the heart( this is not what builds the 'erson from within+ The true indi-idual takes it ste' by ste'+ Ce may fall( but he gets back u'+ & also want to tell you( among the mo-ements there is another one that is also 'o'ular abroad( and that is after a certain day you do no make mistakes+ .ince you know :hrist you won)t make any errors again+ And as long as you belie-e then the kingdom is guaranteed 9 /whoe-er belie-es in him should not 'erish0 (?n 2+35)+ They messed the @os'el u' for us+ Did 4eter not ha-e faith when he denied :hrist% Ce used to 'erform miracles> And he fell straight down and denied :hrist+ &t was @od)s mercy that led 4eter back to re'entance+ ?udas

whom :hrist hand 'icked( amidst all the others who followed him( did he not ha-e faith% Ce 'erished> Aot only did he do wrong( but he also 'erished+ And the -erse( /But my righteous one shall li-e by faith( and if he shrinks back(0 (Ceb 37+2I) 9 where should & 'lace this -erse then% Thus the righteous can shrink back* it)s ob-ious+ The -erse is clear( it says that it is 'ossible for the faithful to shrink back at a time+ But they say as long as you ha-e faith( the kingdom is guaranteed( and nothing else will ha''en+ Cow can that be% Am & not still ali-e% Did @od take my will away from me% & can do wrong> And if & do wrong and don)t re'ent( e-en if & li-ed right( now &)m away from @od and can 'erish+ .t 4aul says( /Therefore( while the 'romise of entering his rest remains( let us fear lest any of you be Budged to ha-e failed to reach it0 (Ceb D+3)+ .o there is a 'romise of hea-en( but some do fail+ Ce also says( /!ork out your own sal-ation with fear and trembling0 (4hil 6+36)+ !here is the fear and trembling in their teaching% "ur teaching does hurt( indeed+ The "rthodo# teaching( because it is u'right( is 'ainful+ !e don)t bring 'eo'le to 'ad them on the back+ !e care for you and want to lead you to hea-en+ @od didn)t send us to continually say to you that you are good and there isn)t any better+ Ao+ .hould we fool you% And .t 4aul 'ro'hesied saying( /The time is coming when 'eo'le will not endure sound teaching( but ha-ing itching ears they will accumulate for themsel-es teachers to suit their own liking0 (6 Tim D+2) 9 gather teachers that will 'lease them with their words+ Ao( we won)t 'lease you with our words+ .t ?ohn the Ba'tist didn)t 'lease 'eo'le( he used to rebuke them+ But he truly lo-ed them( and cared for them dee'ly+ Cis words were harsh( and the 'eo'le lo-ed him( and knew that Truth was in his words+ /!ho warned you to flee from the wrath to come% Bear fruit that befits re'entance ++ Ce who has two coats( let him share with him who has none0 (Lk 2+K(I(37)+ And one lea-es such te#t thinking( 8Cow can & be this bad% & ha-e to take a stand in my life+) But if & come to you and tell you that you are good and lack no actions( then &)m fooling you+ !here is :hrist)s teaching if & do this% Did he not instruct you to re'ent and change( and do this and not that% &f & do such a think then & lead you to forget :hrist)s teaching+ At times & feel that such teaching( which is also directed towards the ill 9 one can go to a doctor for a check u'( and the doctor is ignorant in his dealings+ The doctor knows the illness is difficult( but thinks within himself( /Am & going to tell this 'erson that he is ill and 'ursue thera'y% Ce)s almost dead anyways0 ++ /<ou are well> <ou are well+ ?ust make sure you eat well and slee' well+0 And the doctor sees the illness and can)t find thera'y for it( and tells the 'atient that he is well+ And two weeks later that 'erson will be ++ e#tremely well (audience laugh)+ The doctor comforted the 'atient( But comforted him in the wrong way+ The shrewd doctor 9 & saw one doctor yelling at his 'atients> !hy is the doctor angry( why is he u'set% Because he is faithful( because he cares for his 'atient( because he knows the 'atient is destroying himself+ Therefore when you see our teaching admonishing and rebuking you( don)t think it is a hea-y burden+ Take it as 'aternal lo-e from the :hurch+ The :hurch that cares for her children deli-ers u'right teaching( the one that :hrist 'aid for with his blood( and the martyrs followed him+ But the teaching that is easy( which widens the gate $ the wide gate doesn)t lead to hea-en+ !here is the narrow gate% The narrow gate means fasting( 'rayer( ascetics( struggle against sin( tears of re'entance continually( lo-e towards enemies regardless of the

circumstance+ :hrist didn)t mention the wide gate with good words* rather the wide gate is scary+ Those who sim'lify :hristianity to such things and widen the gate are cheating the 'eo'le+ And :hrist said( /,any are called( but few are chosen0 (,t 66+3D)( and that those who find the narrow gate are few in number 9 /The gate is wide and the way is easy( that leads to destruction( and those who enter by it are many+ For the gate is narrow and the way is hard( that leads to life( and those who find it are few0 (,t K 32(3D)+ Does that mean that & should torture 'eo'le% Absolutely not> & do not claim that we( as the "rthodo# :hurch( are ideal and doing the things that should be done* no+ & 'ersonally am honest with myself and with e-eryone 9 we ha-e a lot of shortcomings( es'ecially towards our children+ "ur meetings are weak+ "ur ser-ice towards the youth is weak+ "ur 'rograms with the little children are 'rimiti-e+ The child grows u' and sees us ignorant+ "f course> Then & must de-elo' myself and create better 'rograms and hold better meetings 9 but the teaching must remain u'right( and en-ironment the same( and the :hurch remains the :hurch+ And & won)t change anything from the things & recei-ed( but & will 'rogress+ There isn)t anything wrong with that+ !e can see what the youth want( and deli-er it to them( but in the 'ro'er way 9 not any kind of music( not any kind of s'iritual song( not any kind of acti-ity 9 there is not com'romising+ &t is im'ossible that one com'romise will lead us to :hrist* if the way is not u'right( then neither will the end be u'right+ !e do not go by a means to an end( we go by the Colies for the Coly 9 the end is u'right and the way to it must be u'right+ & cannot do something that will trouble my conscience in order to achie-e something that will satisfy my conscience+ That is not us+ Thus( there are many things that need to be re-isited+ But & will return to say that & learn from each denomination( we do not ha-e an issue with this+ But let us be clear( e#tremism is not a root in our :hurch 9 we hold fast+ And if it wasn)t for our 'reser-ation and firm hold of the faith( it would)-e been robbed from us+ The world testifies that Athanasius and :yril 'reser-ed the faith of the :hurch+ And they are sa)ayda like us+ They taught the world :hristianity 'ro'er the time the :hristian =m'eror was led astray( and was leading the world astray with him( and :hristianity was almost lost+ !ill & lea-e all this( and follow in the footste's of westerners whose :hurches are being sold% ?ust because of the charisma and commotion and because it is good to watch% Be careful( my belo-ed( your :hurch is strong+ !e are born in wealth+ "ur Tradition is strong+ !e ha-e :hurch Father)s saying to 'rotect us+ !e ha-e bible inter'retation to enrich us* we don)t need anyone to e#'lain the bible to us as he 'leases 9 not us( we are s'eaking of Fathers from antiGuity+