The above expression is of no geographical significance but a theological one. It sets the distinction between the theology that developed in the West during the thirteenth century from the Eastern theology that remained faithful to the Patristic thought. But in this article we refer to all the Christians who live in the Arab East; those Easterners that have adopted Roman Catholic thought and systems and those who have not. This is so because there are common components in all the Churches of the East namely the system of the Patriarchate or that of the Synod, or the predominance of an ancient language like the Syriac, the Coptic, the Armenian, and Ethiopian, in the worship services; also, even though these Churches have an ethnic character, yet the use of Arabic is common in the service of worship and prayer. And Except for Ethiopia, we find these people living in the Arab East.
Then the Evangelical Protestant movement appeared in this land during the first three decades of the nineteenth century; this movement played an important role in the Arab renaissance and in spreading the principles of the Protestant Reformation and in establishing university education.
The above mentioned churches have branched from the ancient root but have some differences and disagreements; yet what brings all these Christians of this region together is their faith in Christ and their following of one Gospel and one Creed. This provides a legitimate foundation for their unity. Needless to say, they are experience unity in loving one another, and their experience of God and in mutual cooperation in what concerns them. So if one group among them becomes lame for one reason or another, they all limp with them. And a weakness that befalls one group is felt by all. Hence their vision for Christian unity in the East. A rough estimate of their number in the Arab world would not be less than fifteen million. The Chrisrians spread in this region of the world, after Christ’s death and resurrection, with the disciples carrying the Gospel to the different parts of this region.
The Christians in general have been in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Asia Minor and Egypt before the Gospels were written. The Christian presence in the East has been from the start and never ceased; and according to some historians they made 75% of the people of Syria and Lebanon in the mid-thirteenth century and even 30% not too long ago.
More important than numbers and quantities, is that Ancient Syria and Alexandria use to carry the whole of Christian thought and theology at a time Europe was not even into that. Christianity in its doctrine, asceticism and monasticism has been HERE. It is sufficient to read the Acts of the Apostles to see that Christian faith was carried by missionaries who traveled to the West from Antioch the capital city of the eastern part of the Roman Empire. Also Christianity spread along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea from Tyre.
That is why those who do not know history associate Christianity with the West. WE, the Christians of the East, have “given birth” to the West in Christ and brought it up in right doctrine and life. We were never the allies of the West in their wars against the East when they terminated Christians, Armenians and Muslims alike. And during the last Crusade which they waged against Constantinople in the year 1204, they destroyed the city and desecrated the Agia Sophia church. One wonders why that crusade changed its target, Palestine, to fight a Christian kingdom. In that, we the Christians of the East were never the allies of the West and we did not take part in the termination of Muslims.
So when Ayman al Thawahiri of Al Qaeda calls us “crusaders”, he in that is not reading history properly or he might be ignoring it. There is no reason why we should pay for the folly of the West. And there is no reason for some to think of us as a community grafted on the East and not one of its origins. O Lord when will you grant them justice to make them trust us when we have not ruined anyone? There is no reason for being accused of being the allies of the colonizers; we did not invite the “foreigner” to occupy our country. It is well known that the British and French colonization of our land was based on the Sykes-Picot decision to divide the Ottoman Empire among them. We did not show accord to or pleasure in having our land be occupied by France and Great Britain and Russia.
What does the Christian presence in the East mean to all its inhabitants? Christians should realize that their cause is more precious than having a share in government. Their share is a divine one in that they are the builders of the country. They are a gift from the Spirit for every spirit and they are an outpouring of love for every heart because in their giving they aspire to what the Gospel’s message is in Paul’s mind and that is that each one of them should become a living gospel written not with pen and ink. And if they do not sense this responsibility, then they had better leave. There is no place for them on the “soil of the country” unless they see themselves as coming to it from the bosom of God.
This does not mean that with the above they defend only themselves, but they also defend every person from his ignorance. And in this there is no room for boasting in the flesh and the luxury of living or richness of culture. And, in the Middle East, the Christians are not privileged over others culturally in that we will be happy if all enjoy such vastness of culture.
If the Christians adorn themselves with purity, honesty, faithfulness to their country, will that bring safety to them? Purity has always been associated with martyrdom and death. Those who have the Spirit receive safety from the Spirit only. If they seek holiness, God will dwell in their hearts. In that case whoever assaults them would be assaulting God himself. If they seek to participate in the divine nature, they will be deified and that is done in them feely; but if they do not seek deification their life runs to emptiness.
When we say “Lebanon without Christians is of no benefit” we imply that the Christians are asked to be great in holiness. And whoever asks that of them would himself have been transformed in seeking holiness and his heart set to music with melodies from Heaven.
When the flesh takes precedence, then one remains earthly; but our flesh, “given to God”, puts on the fragrance of Christ. And thus we remain witnesses to Him in the truth. Our savor is that of love until the Kingdom of God settles on all of humanity. And we become one humanity known by the “New Life”.
Translated by Riad Moufarrij
Original Text: “المسيحيون المشرقيون” –An Nahar- 15.01.2011
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