Orthodox Christianity does not apologize for its beliefs. It stands firm in its convictions.
When Jesus says, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14) Orthodox Christians believe it.
When Jesus says, "So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions." (Luke 14) Orthodox Christians believe it.
When Jesus says, "Go and sin no more." (John 8) Orthodox Christians believe it.
When we profess in the creeds:
God exists and created the universe. We believe it.
Christ was born of the Virgin Mary. We believe it.
He was crucified, died and was buried. We believe it.
He was resurrected on the third day. We believe it.
The Holy Spirit is a part of God worthy of worship. We believe it.
Orthodox Christianity does not seek to water down its beliefs or tenets because a world caught up in relativism wants it to. Orthodox Christianity does not seek to get rid of classic doctrine because it somehow seems unpalatable or unrealistic according to science and reason. Orthodox Christianity stands firm on its convictions because those convictions give them an identity. Orthodox Christians realize they get their identity from Christ alone, and to say anything else or water it down is anathema.
To some, this is reprehensible. It comes across as inflexible--fundamentalist according to some. It comes across as arrogant. It comes across as exclusive.
It can be all of those things.
It can also be argued that when Christianity becomes inflexible, fundamentalist, and arrogant, it becomes intolerant toward people of other faiths, demands they convert to Christianity, and failing conversion, allows (or even supports!) violence, suppression, and hatred.
These things have certainly happened in the past and present. The Spanish Inquisition was a case in this centuries ago, and more than a few homosexuals have endured the wrath (emotionally, physically, and spiritually) of Christians who go down that path. Religious fundamentalism and fanaticism can certainly lead us toward darkness, deceit, and sin.
However, there is always a tendency to point out the extreme cases and forget about the opposite side of the story. Few would argue the Quaker people are not fundamentalists in their beliefs; yet when is the last time you saw an Quaker physically attack someone who didn't believe as they did? Did you say, "Never."? Why? Well, a big fundamental of the Quaker way of life is non-violence. Fundamentalism does not by necessity lead to violence.
IT ALL DEPENDS UPON WHAT YOUR FUNDAMENTALS ARE!
Orthodox Christianity recognizes something very important, and again, I quote Tim Keller in The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism:
At the very heart of their (Christians') view of reality was a man who died for his enemies, praying for their forgiveness. Reflection on this could only lead to a radically different way of dealing with those who were different from them. It means they could not act in violence and oppression toward their opponents. p. 20
Orthodox Christianity recognizes this about Jesus. It also recognizes that all human beings are made in the image of God. It also recognizes Jesus' call for humility in acting toward others:
"All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted." (Matthew 23)
"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6)
"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6)
Orthodox Christians who take these teachings seriously will hold tenaciously and unapologetically to doctrine, but will exert kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and humility just as their Savior did. They can't help but do so because of their relationship with Jesus.
I am Orthodox because I believe without doctrine--without core belief and understanding, we have no identity. The Church just becomes one more organization in the world which says, "Belief doesn't matter as long as you do good things and be nice to each other." Such an organization will go the way of the dinosaur.
But an organization that knows itself, knows its beliefs and then practices them with humility and conviction. Well, that type of organization changed the world once. Is changing it now, and will change it for years to come.
Can that happen again in the U.S.?
If it's Orthodox, I believe it can.
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