Greeks in America - eBooks4Greeks.gr

132 THE GREEKS IN AMERICAchurch who are dissatisfied with the actual conditionsin the church, who are not indifferent to religion,though they seldom attend any services, buthope there will some day be a change and theirchurch will become up-to-date and a greater spiritualpower and center of attraction to all.Moral courage.—But they hesitate to take a decidedstand because they fear the charge of unpatriotism,owing to the close connection of the churchand nationality in the past. They lack the moralcourage to stand for their convictions and face theconsequences. They suspect and fear each other.They hesitate to speak in the presence of others,^but express themselves freely when alone. This istrue both of the clergy and the laity.Illustrations.—One liberal priest said to a colleague,^'It is high time that we all speak out andnot hide our light. ' ' One bright young college graduate,speaking in the presence of other Greek youngmen, praised the Greek Church and, ^^our OrthodoxEeligion," attacked and condemned the missionariesBut later when alone said he wasas proselytizers.for the evangelical truth and attended Protestantservices more than Greek.Other young men, when together, speak as loyalsons of the Greek Church, but wnen alone, professtheir real conviction as Protestants. These are typicalof countless other instances.Eeforms are needed and reforms require reformerswith the ardor and daring of John Chrysostom,Ambrose of Milan, Luther and other reformers, whodared to speak the truth even though they incurredthe wrath of an emperor or an empress, and didnot hesitate to go to exile, imprisonment and death.FOKMS OF KELIGIOUS APPKOACHThere is little effective work being done by the.