The Church exists in the world for the salvation of human beings. It exists to accomplish its purpose because God loves us. As an Orthodox Christian, embody the life of the Orthodox Church. Carry the Holy Tradition in your heart and express the Way of Christ through your thoughts, words, and actions.
Within the Church, you have access to the Divine Medicines and sacred therapy that can heal you and bring you to your full potential and purpose in life. Always be mindful that the Life-restoring Treasure within the Church has not been given to you to hoard for yourself. You hold the opportunity, the responsibility, and the privilege to share the Way of Life with others. Introduce the people around you to their “Unknown God,” the One Who created them, loves them above all others, and calls them into communion with Him. As a patient who is being treated for the disease of death in the Divine Hospital under the care of the Great Physician, spread the word to everyone afflicted with the same terrible condition that you know where to find the one Physician who can cure them and give them new life.
Together, we actively and boldly work to evangelize, inviting everyone into the Holy Orthodox Church. Evangelism is an expression of God’s love for humankind and our love for others. Some believers publicly proclaim the Gospel, while others privately and personally share the message of the Church with their family members, co-workers, and friends as opportunities arise. Others may invite a group of people to their home for a discussion with their Priest, bring acquaintances to class sessions on the Orthodox spiritual life, or, at least, sincerely share their own experience being an Orthodox Christian. One approach to Orthodox evangelism is “Come and see,” an invitation to see Orthodox faith and practice in action. This compliments the “Go and tell” approach, requiring us to take the initiative to communicate the Faith to others.
A suitable sign for our evangelistic mission in the world is the ancient Labarum. The Chi Rho, a sign representing Christ, stood on top of the vertical pole of this military standard. The horizontal beam, giving the Labarum a cross shape, held a cloth banner that draped downward. (In some later versions, the Chi Rho appeared on the banner itself).
St. Constantine’s army marched under the Labarum as they progressed toward unifying the Eastern and Western halves of the Roman Empire. From the uniting of the Empire in the fourth century until the fall of the Imperial capital of Constantinople over a thousand years later (in 1453), the Holy Orthodox Church stood firmly-established at the center of the Empire and ministered to the people on behalf of Christ.
Although originally a military symbol, today the Labarum serves as a sign of our containing mission to boldly and fearlessness take the Gospel to the world so that our fellow human beings experience the triumph of Truth over lies, Life over death, Humility over pride, Peace over chaos, and Selfless Love over self-love.
Bring the message of Jesus Christ into the midst of people’s lives. Since you have found the Physician, do not neglect to tell others about the cure!
Read: Matthew 28:16–20; Luke 38-39; John 1.35-51; Acts 1.1-11; 2.14-47; 13.1-3; 17.16-34; 1 Corinthians 3.6-9; 2 Corinthians 5.20; Ephesians 4.11-16; 6.10-20; 1 Peter 3.13-17
Text copyright © 2018 by Fr. Symeon D. S. Kees