Fr. Nicholas Andruchow

It is important to know our history and give credit where credit is due. In America people speak about the economy, the war, health reform but today let’s look closer at the crisis we approach because of the abandonment of our roots. Foretelling symptoms of this are seen in our youth who are caving under the pressures of substance abuse and sexual promiscuity, in decay of the family unit, and in the violence and hate that seems to be the norm rather than the exception in our country. We are blessed to live in a country based on the belief that each person has a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness but where do these beliefs come from and how constant are they. These statements are not meant to create fear in everyone who is a citizen of the Western world but rather have us reflect on our society and identify truly the roots of our values that we hold as essential for our world to function.

 Digging up the roots:

Where do these practices of equality, family preservation and peaceful pursuits have their origins? The founding fathers of America made it clear in the Declaration of Independence that these values are God given and intrinsic in nature. Throughout all humanity there might be disagreement in whom God is but every culture has the same standard of morality which has been made apparent through thorough study and research. 1 If someone tries to convince you that morality is all relative just tell them that I am sure that is what Phillip Garrido thought when he abducted Jaycee Lee Dugard for 18 years. Our values, our standards, our morals are not arbitrary but have a common thread throughout all civilizations and here in America society’s moral base clearly has a single focal point of development.

 Closely looking at the obvious:

In the bible we proclaim the knowledge of God is implanted in us via the Lord’s Word. (James 1:21) St. Paul affirms that God’s will is written in the hearts of every human. (Romans 2:14-15) All societies stress the importance of courage, family stability and honesty but not all have adopted equality of all human beings, fair treatment of women, monogamous relationships and importance of life. Therefore, from where do these beliefs arrive which make up the fabric of the American life style? In Jewish culture it is clear that equality of all humans was not held as a standard. We can see this in the limited role woman would play in religious traditions and their approach on slavery. Also, in the Roman Greco society we see the well developed institution of slavery and the lack of care for human life. The clearest example of their valueless approach of life is seen in the practice of infanticide which would manifest itself in letting a weak child die by left out in the elements 2 or drowning one’s own daughter because of the wish for a male offspring. I do not want to give the impression that Western society has not benefited from Hebrew/Roman/Greco culture in the shaping of its foundation but rather to stress that not all traditions have been adopted in America. Therefore why is the West the way it is?

 Call a spade a Spade!

If you like it or not, it is because of Christianity that we have the liberation of slavery, women’s equality,  human rights and democracy as it is known today.  Christ opened up the flood gates by interacting with not just people in His own social and religious group but He dwelt with men and women within the Jewish faith and outside his belief structure (Matt. 8:5-13, Luke 7:37-50, John 4:7-42, John 8:3-11). He affirms the legitimacy of all humans by not discriminating because of gender, social status or religious belief, but rather that all are equal if they do the will of the Father. (Matt. 12:50) This example did not just come from a special person or a renowned prophet but from Christ, God Himself. St. Paul affirms the depth of Christ’s teaching by preaching that in God’s eyes there is neither Jew, nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free (Gal. 3:28) but all are equal. Monogamous relationships are affirmed in Christ’s teachings (Matt. 5:27-28) and through Paul’s admonitions (1 Tim. 3:2, 12). Individuality and freedom of one’s own will is made apparent in His teachings and is the building blocks of freedom of religion and the democratic system as we have it today. America’s political system, which upholds the right for all it’s citizens to have full access to participate no matter what your race, gender, economic status might be, is the fruit of the Christian teaching of equality. In Greek society no importance was given to individual independence, the right to choose one’s own religion would have seemed criminal. 3 The modern sense of freedom in that every human can choose their own faith and career, buy and sell property and live their own lives has developed from the belief that we are made in God’s image therefore we have the power to participate as architects in creating our own lives. 4 Hence, it is reality that the values we hold; equality of every human being, injustice of slavery, freedom of religion and much more all need to be accredited to Christianity.

 So should everyone have to be Christian?

The founding fathers of America realized our roots and put their lives on the line in order to insure its full manifestation. They held the British Empire to the gun and challenged their violation of human rights and suppression of freedom of religion. They established a country on Christian values knowing that meant not everyone had to be Christian. To maintain morality based on ultimate truths is being responsible but to force everyone to follow a certain faith is tyrannical. Some say true humility is knowing the truth and accepting it. As citizens of the greatest nation in the world, we need to acknowledge the fact of our roots and realize the consequences of rejecting those roots. If we make a country where Christianity is absent then the values of equality, freedom, family stability and importance of life will naturally follow suit. We have seen this in the last century in regards to the Soviet Union, Germany and China. You take Christ out of the picture you have a world without Christian values. It is not being said that everyone one must become Christian but rather that if everyone lives in a world where Christ is absent then what we hold as standard moral values will be absent also. Therefore have strength and live the truth no matter what your faith might be and give thanks for the benefits Christianity has brought into the world.

 1 Dinesh D’Souza, What’s so great about Christianity, 2007, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., pg. 234

2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infanticide#Greece_and_Rome

3 Benjamin Constant, Political Writings, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 102-104

4 Dinesh D’Souza, What’s so great about Christianity, 2007, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., pg. 78-79

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