Ara Shanlian Jr.
ashanlia@uci.edu
Most Armenians forget that Armenia was the first nation to accept Christianity as a national religion. Since then, there have been branches in the once proclaimed Armenian faith. The two major Armenian Christian faiths that I have grown up with are the Armenian Protestant and Armenian Orthodox.
The Armenian Orthodox is rooted in Armenia and is a traditional faith that practices many things that are not mentioned in the Bible. These are either pagan practices that are remnants of our Zoroastrian past, or traditional Armenian practices that don’t contradict what the Bible actually says.
So what is the main difference between Protestant and Orthodox? Is there one? There is a big difference indeed. Protestants and Evangelicals do not believe in a mediator between people and God. Their churches have reverends who simply preach the Gospel to help people better understand it and apply it to their lives. Since there is no mediator, people are pretty much left on their own to grow their faith with the help of the church and its members. Good deeds are not fundamental to the Protestant/Evangelical doctrine, but living a Christian or "Christ-like" life is important. Being born-again, or giving one’s heart to Christ and accepting Him as the Lord and Savior, is the only way to Salvation that the Bible truly preaches.
In the Orthodox doctrine, the priests give sermons in traditional Armenian, which is hard to grasp. If the word of God is hard to grasp, then how are you expected to grow as an individual in your walk with God? The Orthodox have a tradition of baptizing children at a young age, while Protestants believe that baptism is a choice, one that comes after being born-again as a seal to your commitment in the faith. Orthodox Christians also practice fasting, which isn’t really mentioned in the Bible as a required practice, but has become a popular occurrence amongst Armenians as well as the fashionable strings worn on the wrist. We have kept the Orthodox faith and the Armenian traditions alive, but these practices don’t really do anything for the yearning soul.
Armenians think that going to church for Christmas and Easter is enough for their soul, but this is something of an Armenian tradition, and not something God intended. The Bible says that going to church doesn’t make you a Christian, even if you go every Sunday. God’s word tells us that you are only a true Christian if you are born-again, and that is how Protestant Armenians interpret the Bible. This is something that all Armenians need to re-evaluate. Being born Armenian and coming from a nation that was the first to adopt Christianity as its people’s religion just doesn’t cut it.
Ever wondered why Orthodox churches are so lavish? They are filled with beautiful paintings and depictions of Christ, tall altars, and priests dressed in robes with gold necklaces and rings to kiss. Ever wondered why Protestant churches are so modern, yet plain and simple? The pastor or reverend is dressed in a simple suit, there are modest decorations inside the church, but there are no extravagant objects around. That’s where Armenian tradition comes in, but the Bible doesn’t require lavish and rich churches. The Bible says lay a piece of wood and when a group is together, He is present. Jesus doesn’t ask for much, and He certainly doesn’t ask for big churches, robes, and gold.
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4 comments:
Ara, a nice article... Let me add that the Protestans/Evangelicals are very much diverse today.
As for the Armenian Evangelicals, they believer in Jesus as the only mediator between people and God. They are not left alone, since the church concept is different; the church is the group of believers. They pray for each other (based on the book of James).
As for good deeds, they are the outcome of your faithful life, and your fruits will reflect your faith.
Armenian Evangelicals, do also baptize children and born-again grown-ups.
I agree with the rest of the points that you raise. And I wanted to add some variations or additions that I know of.
Note: I sensed that you may be pointing to Armenian Brotherhood Evangelicals in some of the points you mention.
Who allowed this article to see the light of day?
A few things I'd like to mention, Ara.
I believe the proper nomenclature is not Armenian Orthodox, but Armenian Apostolic.
Second, you should mention that Armenian Protestants are the same Protestants that gave up their traditional Armenian Apostlic religion during the times of missionaries in exchange for Protestantism because they were promised money and lavish lifestyles.
Just some food for thought
Anonymous,
Maybe you are not Armenian, and therefore have never been educated concerning the state of those who decided to turn to Christ in repentance and faith, and away from useless idols, and the hypocrisy of unbelief. I will therefore bring to your attention that the protestant missionaries were unable, and many times unwilling to give aid to the Armenians who did turn to God in faith. Pis Porot was what they were called (translation for odarner "filthy/disgusting leper").
They were released from their jobs, thrown out of their houses, ostracised, and marginalised. They certainly did not gain temporal comfort, but they endured hardship, not denying Christ, not for acceptance by their countrymen, or for food and safety.
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