We, as Orthodox Christians, view ourselves quite highly. I avoid the use of the word 'pride', for it is pejorative in this context. But we believe that we have the faith handed down from our Lord to His Apostles, the faith established by the Holy Fathers, a faith that has not been contaminated by divisions. Some would argue, "That's not true - you Orthodox have your divisions. Look at how many times church has broken communion with church!" And while that comment is true, those breaks in communion have come specifically over issues of defending the faith, and they are healed when one or the other parties repents and returns to the fullness of what the church continues to teach. I dare say we may expect such issues to continue until the time our Lord returns.
And so it would appear that there is this 'contemporary' sense that we are now 'the Chosen People', having supplanted God's intention for the descendants of Abraham. We take scripture as it is presented to us and conclude that when our Lord said, "God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones," (Mat 3:9) He was speaking of His Church.
But is our view of our position of chosenness consistent with our behavior? The Jews, and without doubt the Pharisees whom our Lord so often derided in His ministry, believed similarly about themselves. And yet Jesus called them hypocrites, brood of vipers, "whitewashed tombs which appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness." (Mat 23:27)
What would Jesus say about us today?
In order for humor to have its intended effect, there needs to be an element of truth within the joke. There's a long standing joke that has appeared online for quite some time. It details a discussion between two men, one of whom is telling the other that he is leaving the Orthodox Church for another. The second man states categorically, "I was born into this faith, and I shall never deny it." The first man asks him, "How often do you attend Liturgy?" The reply - "Never...."
Perhaps this is an extreme indictment of the many, but if we're honest with one another, we as a people are not exactly committed to the fullness of the faith. Within our little mission, Sunday attendance can vary from as few as 11 (on some summer Sundays) to as many as 38 to 40 (on a "good" Sunday) to over 60 for Pascha. Why are there such stark differences?
We have Vespers every Saturday evening, which the Church teaches is an essential preparation for the Eucharist. We've taught this in sermons from time to time. And still, Saturday attendance is 4 to 6 people. If we have a week night Liturgy for a Feast, maybe we'll find 8 or 10 people. When we schedule Adult Studies, we'll have the same 5-6 people each week. Do these ministries (services, teaching) have no place in the church? Are we as a people simply "too busy"? Or does Christ not take that central, core position in our lives?
If we're "chosen" by God, what did He "choose" us to do? Where did He choose us to be? What has He chosen us to do?
Jesus, as He looked upon the city of Jerusalem, bemoaned their loss of their own "chosenness", as He said, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing." (Mat 23:37) That same heart of God no doubt wishes to gather us together.
Are we willing?
I think it's fair to say that "the Chosen People" are not the people whom God has chosen from among the masses, but rather the people who from among the masses have chosen God. Remember the account of the Canaanite woman who came to Jesus seeking help for her possessed daughter, and to whom our Lord tested her faith (for the Canaanites were not "chosen" people) by responding to her plea, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." (Mat 15:26) Saint Matthew records that this woman "worshiped Him", and that even through the testing of giving her a negative reply, her faith did not waiver. Ultimately, she received the blessing of hearing from our Lord's lips, "O woman, great is your faith. Be it done to you as you desire." (Mat 15:28). She was not chosen by being grouped with a people. She first chose Christ, and then received blessings.
So it must be with us.
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