Chapter 20. Faith, Education and Legislation

Reasons for penetration of Protestant culture and how to combat this

Original Arabic Text

Regarding the Protestant penetration phenomenon, His Holiness the Pope said that this matter continues with great activity that needs study. Then, His Holiness the Pope read the reasons for the penetration of Protestants, as set out in the report:

  1. Hymns with loud music.
  2. Bible study (regularly).
  3. Giving a sense of destination, and ease of spiritual path.
  4. Social activity.
  5. External financing.
  6. Weak spiritual care in some areas.
  7. Ideological awareness weakened in some of our meetings.
  8. The weakness of liturgical practice in some of our churches.
  9. Community activity and dialogues.
  10. Individual lost sheep service.
  11. Home meetings.
  12. The exploitation of the ecumenical sphere.
  13. Encouraging young people to serve early (without preparation).
  14. Exploiting differences within some churches.
  15. Sectarian institutions: schools, nurseries etc.
  16. Attempt to penetrate under the guise of Orthodoxy.

The Holy Synod decided the following:

  1. Attention should be paid to serving other areas, because if we do not do this, there will be no Priests in the urban expansion because there are no churches in them.
  2. It is possible that the Priests of these regions receive their salaries from the Diocese, wealthy churches, or from the Patriarchate. The same applies to the servants of these areas.
  3. Organising a wide summer activity program that covers the needs of all age groups.
  4. The phrase "we are all one in Christ" is misleading. Focusing only on the spiritual aspects of educating our children is no longer appropriate for confronting Protestants. "
  5. The quality of servants must be taken into account in our churches so that there is no defiled Protestant.
  6. Sat 7 (See Satellite Channels, p.208).