When “Defending the Faith” Forgets Christian Charity: A Pastoral Response to “The Juneteenth Joke”
By Bishop Stephen Victory The recently published article entitled “The Juneteenth Joke” presents itself as a defense of Orthodox faith and canonical order. Those are worthy concerns. Canonical order matters. Apostolic succession matters. The boundaries of the Church matter. No responsible Orthodox Christian should treat these things casually or suggest that every religious body claiming the name “Orthodox” must therefore be accepted without examination. Yet the defense of the faith must itself be conducted according to the faith. Orthodox Christians are not permitted to defend truth through misrepresentation, ridicule, guilt by association, or judgments concerning motives that only God can know. Christian charity is not an optional ornament placed upon theological argument. It is part of the very truth we are commanded to defend. As Saint Paul teaches, we are to speak “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Truth without love becomes a weapon. Love without truth becomes sentiment...